Looking back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop features a new iPhone 16 Pro display, more iPhone 15 options, the awkward M3 MacBook Pro, Apple’s iPhone 14 freebies, the value of Safari’s search and App Store award nominations.
The Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the very many discussions that have been happening around Apple over the past seven days (and you can read my weekly roundup of Android news here on Forbes).
Apple support for RCS updated November 19: article originally published November 17.
Apple’s Cross-Platform Surprise
Update: Sunday 19 November: Just as the Apple Loop went to the digital press, Apple announced that it would support the cross-platform RCS standard in iMessage. Apple is committed to preserving the iMessage app and ecosystem to bring more users who want to send messages to the iPhone ecosystem.
That will now change shortly. Mark Gurman takes a closer look at the effects of the move to RCS:
“Apple said last week that it plans to introduce RCS — or Rich Communication Services — ‘later next year.’ For those who don’t know, RCS will allow iPhone and Android users to send larger files to each other, communicate more seamlessly in group chats and text over Wi-Fi.”
(Bloomberg).
A new look from iPhone 16
Apple is set to rework the OLED display for next year’s iPhone 16, starting a new two-year display design cycle:
“The next iPhone series, the iPhone 16, will arrive next fall, but reports are already leaking out about what to expect. These include larger screens, which is very good, but could lead to greater battery drain keeping them lit. Now, a new report offers welcome news of greater energy efficiency… it suggests Samsung is working on a new OLED material specifically for next year’s iPhones.
(MacRumors via Forbes).
Apple has another OLED option
On the OLED display front, there is also a new supplier for the iPhone 15. One of China’s display manufacturers, BOE, has started supplying Apple with displays for the latest iPhones, and plans to supply the iPhone 15 Pro are underway:
“BOE recently received approval to supply OLED panels for the iPhone 15 standard model (6.1 inch) and has begun shipments. BOE is expected to supply approximately 2 million units by the end of the year. Approval for iPhone 15 Plus (6.7 inch) model) also expected within the year.”
(via @Tech_Reve).
Is this MacBook Pro really Pro?
The new 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro isn’t all it seems. That’s not only because of the power of the 14-inch M3 Pro and M3 Max laptops, but Apple has also removed many of the valuable ports and hardware. Consumer laptop feels more like a MacBook Air with the word “Pro” scrawled under the screen:
“… in addition to the branding, we have two high-end ‘professional’ laptops and a lower-spec ‘consumer’ model… changes on the outside, such as removing a thunderbolt port. Inside, the M3 has been limited to a single cooling fan, while the more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max have two Assuming the same M3 chip will be launched next year with the MacBook Air, I expect to see a fanless Air, which will have slightly lower performance than this MacBook Pro due mainly to the fan which makes the M3 run a little hotter and faster.
(Forbes).
More time to call SOS than you thought
The launch of the iPhone 14 saw Apple debut the ability to use satellite communications to send an SOS emergency message. This is not a free service, although two years of service were bundled at no additional cost to consumers. Apple has extended the offer by another year.
“It’s just been extended by a year, so provided you have an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max activated before today, you now have two years of access again. It’s also available for all iPhone 15 series models, with a two-year free trial available for these phones from the moment they are activated as well.”
(Forbes).
The value of search
As the Google Antitrust trial continues in Washington DC, more information is being revealed about the various deals between Google and other search companies. Apple is one of the parties that receives a share of these search revenues:
“Google pays Apple Inc. 36% of search advertising revenue made through the Safari browser, the top financial expert for the Alphabet Inc. unit said Monday.
“Kevin Murphy, a professor at the University of Chicago, revealed the number during his testimony in Google’s defense at the Justice Department’s antitrust trial in Washington. John Schmidtlein, Google’s chief litigator, visibly cringed when Murphy said the number, which was supposed to remain confidential.”
(Bloomberg).
And finally…
It’s time for the annual Apple App Store Awards, and to get everyone excited (and furthering the cause), the nominations are out! Forbes’ David Phelan has picked his four favorites, and I’ll narrow it down further to my one pick (it’s a classic) before you explore the rest!
“If you’re old enough to remember the first Monkey Island games, you’ll know that the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood were brilliantly witty point-and-click stories with fiendish puzzles. (Return to Monkey Island) is a new title that continues in the same vein and looks spectacular.
(Forbes).
The Apple Loop brings you seven days of highlights every weekend here at Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
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