Take a look at this week’s Apple news and headlines, including the latest iPhone 16 leaks, foldable iPhone details, iPhone 17 specs revealed, Apple Maps comes to the web, fixes for the Mac notch, Apple TV’s budget problem, and Android’s iPhone adoption rate increases.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions surrounding Apple over the past seven days. You can also read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes.
A participant looks at the current Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max phones (Photo by Justin … [+]
A new look for the iPhone 16 Pro
Apple seems set to follow the recent trend by offering a pink colorway, and it could arrive on both the standard iPhone 16 and the more capable iPhone 16 Pro. With increasing competition from established manufacturers like Samsung and newcomers like Nothing Tech, ensuring the iPhone feels current is a quiet but important part of the brand:
“This fall, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a new color, called Rose, according to a new report from OvO Baby Sauce OvO. This source is relatively new but gaining traction, and the claim matches previous reports:
(Forbes).
How the iPhone will bend
Apple’s plan for a foldable iPhone appears to have made progress this week, with multiple reports of a decision being made on the shape. Where Samsung’s competition has focused on different choices (foldable tablet size for phone, or foldable phone size for a memory of StarTACApple seems ready to focus only on the regular form factor:
“There are two types of binders, one that unfolds to transform from a phone to a tablet, and the other that is the size of a phone when open and folds back to become a more compact device like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6. Apple’s binder will fall into the latter category,” the report said. It also said that when unfolded, it will have dimensions similar to the current iPhone, and that Samsung could be the supplier that will supply the new phone’s displays.
(Forbes).
iPhone 17’s stunning display revealed
As more details about the iPhone 16 family come out, it’s also becoming clear that the upcoming phones won’t be as revolutionary as many had hoped. Some of the biggest expected changes won’t arrive until 2025. The 120Hz display, popular on many mid-range Android phones, won’t arrive until the iPhone 17 at the earliest:
“… leaker “Ice Universe” on Weibo, who has a good track record of detailing iPhone displays, has released a series of specifications and pricing for the iPhone 17 lineup. The leak confirms the use of LTPO displays, with the exception of one model marked as the iPhone SE 4, which will have the older LTPS displays.
Web Mapping
One of the key things that differentiates Apple’s software suite from Google’s is Apple Maps. Until now, it’s been purely an app-based experience, but that changed this week with the release of a beta version of Apple Maps On The Web. It’s not a full feature set, but it’s in development:
“Apple says that Apple Maps on the web is currently in public beta. The web interface includes directions, businesses and points of interest, guides, and more. More features, including the popular Look Around feature, will be added in the “coming months.” You also currently can’t sign in to your Apple ID on the web to access saved places and personalized guides.”
(9to5Mac).
The Mac Notch is reborn
Apple’s notched display on the Mac allows for smaller bezels, much in the same way that the notch allows for more display space on the iPhone. However, macOS doesn’t handle the notch as part of the user interface the way iOS does. Fortunately, Igor Marcossi decided to fix this problem:
“Much like the dynamic island, NotchNook extends from the notch, revealing a “Nook” with basic media controls (much like Live Activities in iOS) and other customizable widgets. Then there’s a “Tray” tab where you can drop files or apps; it’s similar to the macOS dock, except the tray empties when you exit NotchNook.”
(The edge).
Apple TV production budget
The days of big-budget projects for Apple TV may be coming to an end. As streaming competitors multiply, Apple’s list of expensive movies and TV shows will shrink as budgets tighten and more risk is handed to production companies rather than Apple:
“Management is trying to pay less up front for shows and canceling shows that don’t work more quickly (see chart below). It’s forcing third-party studios to shoulder more of the burden when productions go over budget and is starting to license programming to competitors to reduce the service’s reliance on original series.”
(Bloomberg).
And finally…
Apple is increasingly attracting new users from the Android market. The latest CIRP study shows that 17% of iPhone sales are to former Android users, an increase of 10% over the previous year. But there is a spicy side to this story:
“While this may seem like good news for Apple, CIRP believes that the higher percentage of people switching from Android could be a factor in the relatively weak iPhone 15 sales this year. The theory is that Android users are mostly interested in a new operating system and a new device at a competitive price, but they don’t need Apple’s latest and greatest.”
(9to5Mac).
Apple Loop brings you seven days of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Be sure to follow me so you don’t miss anything in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read hereOr This week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.