At least for high-end (above $500 handsets) according to a new report from DigiTimes
They estimate Apple’s iPhones had a 500 percent share of the market in the off season and up to 60 percent in the peak season with the predictions that 60 percent or more could become normal based on the popularity of Apple’s latest devices
So far we’ve sort of had mixed reports on what’s happening in Apple’s iPhone 14 supply chain
Some say Apple is cutting orders, especially for the non-Pro devices
DigiTimes notes that their checks show Apple’s suppliers have not received orders to slow productions but have been asked to adjust the which components they are producing for which devices.
That could line up with reports that the Pro models are, at least currently, vastly outselling their non-Pro counterparts
We had reports last week from Ming-Chi Kuo that Apple had asked suppliers to ramp up iPhone 14 Pro production my 10 percent
This week there are stories from Bloomberg that Apple had planned to increase iPhone 14 production by about 6 million units to keep up with holiday demand. Those plans have now apparently changed based on lower than expected demand form the entry level models.
Ming-Chi Kuo questioned that there was ever a planned “increase” by Apple and reiterated the fact that this adjustment is more about shifting the focus based on higher demand for iPhone 14 Pro models and the reduced price iPhone 13
Display analyst Ross Young’s checks of the display supply chain show that iPhone 14 Max panel orders are 18 percent higher than those for the iPhone 13 Max were last year
He also says iPhone 14 panel orders are about 38 percent lower than the orders were for iPhone 13 panels.
Overall though, based on the panel shipment it seems Apple is on track to deliver more iPhone 14 models in the last half of the year than they did for iPhone 13 models. Coming in somewhere around 80 to 90 million units, which seems to be right on with many analysts early predictions.
Because of this buying trend Kuo is also predicting Apple might choose to further differentiate the feature set between the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Max in an attempt to further push consumers to the larger, higher-end, higher priced (and more profitable) device.
There have also been rumors rom Bloomberg that Apple could swap the “Max” branding for “Ultra”
I really hope this is NOT the case. Since I really don’t have an interest in the larger form factor.
FYI, there was also reports this week that there were iPhone 14 Max references, in image filenames, on Apple website.
May or may not indicate that the switch to iPhone 14 Plus, was a last minute branding decision.
Apple’s October event. Or not?
Despite many of us believing that we will still get one more Mac / iPad event out of Apple this year. Mark Gurman in his recent newsletter says don’t count your Apples before they’re ripe.
Gruman thinks the new products might not be enough to justify a keynote and says Apple could just roll the updates with a few press releases instead. Wah wah (sad trombone)
The idea is based on something Apple did a few years ago where they announced new products, via PR and their website, for about a week
This year were still expecting:
Updated M2 Mac mini, and maybe an M2 Pro Mac mini
M2 Pro and M2 Max 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros
M2 iPad Pros, 11 and 12.9-inch versions
And updated A14 Apple TV
The Mac Pro M-Series update we’re not expecting until 2023 (why are so few people mentioning that Apple will miss the “full line-up” Apple Silicon conversion deadline? (end of 2022) “Apple Studio”)
Technically their PR from June of 2020, said they’d complete the transition in “about two years”
Other things, “in the works”
Apple Music Classical
Apple said they’d have a "dedicated classical music app" coming in 2022.
Apple Pay Later, which Gurman thinks might be delayed to 2023 due to “fairly significant technical and engineering challenges“
A new HomePod
With S8 Processor
Apple’s AR/VR Headset
Report from The Elec that Apple has asked Samsung to produce an even higher resolution, 3500ppi (pixels-per-inch) display (up from an original ask of 2800ppi)
14-inch iPad Pro and updated 15-inch MacBook Air
Does iOS 16 have a battery situation?
Typically with a new iOS launch users will start to report issues with battery drains that can seem more extreme than normal
At least for a week or two
This can feel like something is wrong in the OS, but often it can be a normal effect of the update and should calm down in a few days or so.
There are a lot of background things that happen after an update or in getting a new device.
New photo processing in the background, like the on-device scanning for duplicates
Though this should be only happening when the device is not in use and connected to power
So if you’re not seeing a “Duplicates” album yet you might need to plug-in your device and wait.
Mine found about 1,800 photo dupes and 15 video dupes (out of ~ 20,600 photos)
options to “merge” the exact dupes only or similar where it merges the metadata and keeps the highest resolution image and format.
Spotlight indexing, automatic app updates, etc.
Apple notes in a support article that enabling the “keyboard haptics” (a feature I love now that it’s separate from the keyboard “clicks” in iOS 16. Can have an impact on battery life
They don’t note by how much (I think it has to be small and worth it for me)
You can adjust the settings in Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Keyboard Feedback. Toggle sound or haptics.
iPadOS 16.1 beta 3 has expanded some previously M1 iPad Pro only features
Out in public and developer betas now
Apple’s Stage Manager will now work on the 11-inch iPad Pro (first generation and later) and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (third generation and later)
On non-M-Series iPads it will be limited to on-device support, no support for Stage Manager on an external display.
It appears the same models will also be getting the Display Zoom option to give them more space
Based on references in iOS 16.1 beta 3 uncovered by 9to5 Mac, there may be a Satellite Connection Demo to allow iPhone 14 users to have the experience without triggering an actual emergency response.
Apple Music is new NFL Super Bowl Sponsor
Announced by the NFL Apple Music will take over from Pepsi as the sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show starting February 2023
The contract is a multi-year deal with Apple and the NFL
Apple Music will also offer "exclusive details and sneak peeks" leading up to the show.
We know from previous rumors over the years that Apple has been attempting, unsuccessfully so far, to do deals with the NFL for Thursday Night Football and NFL Sunday Ticket on Apple TV+.
I can only imagine that tightening the relationship with the NFL could possibly help future negotiations.
Almost immediately after the announcement we started to see news and reports on which acts might be featured
“Variety” had a report from sources “close to the situation” that Taylor Swift was set to headline the show.
Swift may or may not be part of the show, but Rihanna was officially announced as a headliner on both the Apple Music and NFL official Twitter accounts
Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2 teardown
Now that these devices are out in the wild they are being brutalized for our benefit. Letting us know how rugged they are and what makes them “tick”
Let’s start with Apple Watch Ultra
Overall it’s getting pretty rave reviews and seems to be more durable than the Apple Watch Series 8, though not indestructible (if you smash it with a metal sledgehammer)
It’s the first Apple Watch with a “removable” back. Five pentalobe screws holding down the ceramic rear plate and sensors
Opening though reveals a waterproof gasket that is easily damaged and will likely need replacement if you try to open it.
Plus you don’t gain access to much outside of a plate
Harder to remove the display without damage due to the raised housing and flat screen
Battery has a metal casing and is about twice the capacity as the one in the Apple Watch Series 8
32 screws inside the case to get at the depth sensor.
Depth app, included by Apple limited to 40 meters (130 feet)
Watch is rated to 100 meters, but you’ll need the Oceanic dive app (or other app) which isn’t set to release until later this year.
Some reports, via MacRumors, of at least some Apple Watch Ultra and Series 8 models experiencing mic issues
Mics become unresponsive and give errors in some Apples
Apple is aware of the issues and it’s not clear how many units are effected.
They are offering replacements in some cases and hope is there is a software fix soon
And AirPods Pro 2
iFixit says do not tear them down as it requires actually tearing them apart
And seriously… because the charging case has a battery and it could be very dangerous
A CT scan showed that the "lanyard loop" is internally connected to the Lightning connector and thereby the logic-board leading to speculation that it could be doubling as an external antenna
Maybe for the U1 and FindMy support
The new speaker offers charging sounds
They can be enabled / disabled while connected to your device (with the case open) via Settings > Tap your AirPods Pro > Toggle Enable Charging Case Sounds
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Feedback, commentary, opinions
Another cable management option
Got an email from Brenden who says he build industrial process electrical cabinets for a living and they use Panduit Panduct wire duct.
He mentioned that if you search “wire duct” products on Amazon there are a ton of options to fit different sizes and amount of cables
Even large enough to fit transformer bricks if you want.
There’s lots of sizes and lengths and you can cut to size if needed
It can be mounted to a wall or surface with screws or foam tape
It’s also surprisingly affordable. 183 inches of duct for about USD $20 bucks
Is Apple quality control slipping?
Vince wrote in to ask if Apple’s QC is beginning to slip with respect to their products and software.
The reason for the questions was that he had both his new iPhone 14 Pro Max and his wife’s iPhone 14 experience a “black screen of death” not long after receiving the devices
For his Max a hard reboot got things going again
On his wife’s device it was tougher. Hard reboot didn’t work. Connecting it to power didn’t work. Connecting to a Mac, “device not recognized”. Only connecting to wireless charging and rebooting worked even though when it came back it claimed to have a 98% charge.
Vince wonders if things have gotten “buggier” in the past few years and if the pressure to bring new stuff to market seems to be the culprit.
The iOS 16.0.2 update did address a “Display may appear completely black during device setup” issue, but Vince’s issue seemed a little different
I think often the “bugginess” perception with new OS releases and new products comes with a lot of confirmation bias
I think we are on heighten lookout for bugs and issues and I think also that our memory of bugs and issue from past releases has faded.
I’m not saying there are not issues. We know that with ANY new updates and releases some users are going to experience bugs.
But are there MORE bugs now then in the past…?
As Vince remembers… “I remember the days when you never had to worry about glitches with new Apple product.”
I think “never say never”
Past devices and features we’re simpler, especially with iPhone. We’re now on the 14th generation and Apple has packed on way more sensors, cameras, chips, and technology along with all the software features and updates.
There’s just more moving parts.
I think Apple gets betas into the hands of developers and customers (with the public betas) pretty far in advance and I think they get a lot of feedback from those channels
Do they have to prioritizes what gets addressed and what might have to wait due to tight deadlines? Yes.
We’ve already seen that they will delay features… if they are not quite ready for launch. As frustrating as that is… I think that shows they are more dedicated to making things work then intentionally rushing a feature to make a deadline.
What about customer service?
As i’ve mentioned in the past we often get related topics in wavs here at the Maccast
I’ve already shared with you my recent experience with Apple support over the wrong address on my iPhone 14 Pro order.
That was a long ordeal in getting mixed information and answers from Apple support
Now, I have a story and question from Josh
“Have you heard any feedback about poor customer support lately with Apple?”
Josh is asking because of his recent experience in trying to get an issue with a Series 7 Apple Watch fixed.
He was experiencing issues with the cell feature not work well and the bluetooth to his AirPods pro cutting out when I dropped my arm down.
It was sent into Apple for repair via the Apple store and came back saying there were no issues
It worked Ok for a day then had troubles again
More phone and watch resets. A lot of debugging/work/long phone calls, finally Apple agreed to replace it, which is nice
But… they wanted his existing watch first and it took six days for them to send a return label and box
Then a week after receiving it, they had not sent out the new watch. After contacting him they said they no longer had Series 7 replacements and they’s be sending a Series 8 (cool). But… another week had gone by and still nothing is shipped.
Now he has several "personal" representatives, who are often not available and want to schedule calls, at times that don’t work for Josh, so it’s hard to get updates
So here’s my take…
As imperfect as it might seem at times… at least Apple is providing support and try very hard to make things right. Not many companies even let you get to a human these days.
For this replacement… it’s sort of a case of bad timing being between watch releases.
Hopefully you get the watch soon Josh
Overall… I personally feel Apple still is doing a great job with their support, at least for me.
I’m not getting a lot of emails from our community from folks who have had bad experiences, but it does happen from time to time (though I feel rarely).
Air Pods Pro 2, mini-review
I got my new AirPods Pro 2 and have had a few days with them.
Overall I feel like they offer some nice enhancements.
The noise cancellation is better, but I’m not sure I feel it’s “vastly” better than before
Same sort of goes for spatial audio. The custom spatial audio scanning was interesting. Don’t know if a perceive a big difference from “out of the box”?
Volume controls on the stems is nice, but a bit tricky (at lest for me) to use.
Adaptive Transparency mode is not active yet.
Probably my favorite feature is the sound and find my features in the case.
Bottom line… if you already have a set of AirPods Pro you’re not missing out on a lot. Doesn’t feel like a must have upgrade. If you’re looking for your first set of AirPods or have non-Pro AirPods these are probably the best you can get at the moment.
