New Features Spotted in tvOS 16
08 JUNE 2022 - While Apple spared not a moment for tvOS 16 during Monday’s WWDC event, the beta’s been out for a couple of days now, and folks have had time to poke through it. 9 to 5 Mac has a list of what’s new for Apple’s digital living room device. It includes:
Compatibility with controllers for Nintendo Switch
Public beta testing HomePod Software 16
HDR10+ support
Some sort of rich video preview function for Apple Originals
Support for the Matter smart home standard
Improvements to Apple Fitness+
New Remote Control app
Not an exhaustive list, but good for a start. Beta number one of tvOS 16 is out to developers now. It’ll be out to Apple’s public testing program next month. And of course, the consumer release is expected this fall.
Rapid Security Response: Optional Automatic Security Updates for iOS 16
08 JUNE 2022 - News of a feature that I missed in Tuesday’s iOS 16 recap. A piece from Engadget says version 16 will automatically install security fixes. Called Rapid Security Response, the piece says the feature lets Apple “automatically apply security fixes to users’ devices in between its standard software updates.”
If that sounds intrusive, don’t worry. The piece says there’s a new section coming to Automatic Updates called “Install System and Data Files.” When that is toggled on, “users can get software fixes that aren't tied with full updates, installed automatically…” no restart (or anything really) required on the part of the user.
One thing to note: As it stands now, that toggle is switched on by default. Assuming that’s the way for the general release, not just the beta, people who don’t want the automatic updates will need to find the “Install System and Data Files” toggle and toggle it off.
Analysts React to the WWDC Keynote
08 JUNE 2022 - On a services-heavy or hardware-heavy Apple event, financial analysts might move their price targets or even their ratings on Apple shares. Monday was not that kind of day. No changed ratings nor altered price targets. Still, a few analysts had some interesting reactions.
It wouldn’t be correct to say that Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty was disappointed in Monday’s keynote. That said, she did note a lack of meaningful mentions of protecting user privacy during the event. She also noted the lack of hints around Apple’s AR/VR plans. Additionally, she expressed surprise around the move to M2 and the update of the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It’s hard to imagine she hadn’t heard the rumblings, yet checks by her team “were unclear on timing of the M2 introduction,” according to her note.
That said, she seems to have liked a lot of what she heard. While AR was nowhere to be found, she thinks she’s seen the outline of Apple Car. Apple Must quoted part of her note, addressing Apple’s CarPlay announcement. Quoting that bit:
We believe this update is significant because it puts the Apple ecosystem at the center of the auto software experience in a way it hasn’t before – becoming more like a carOS than just one available app on a center-console display. We believe this is likely one part of Apple’s path towards developing a car operating system and could be a small taste of what’s possible with a potential Apple Car project…
Meanwhile, a piece from Apple 3.0 had Huberty saying:
… [the] WWDC keynote once again brought out what we believe is the most compelling characteristic of the company – Apple’s deep focus on in-house hardware and software innovation combined with an increasing set of features that allows Apple’s platform of products and services to function more uniformly, ultimately providing an unmatched, and unreplicable, user experience.
Huberty has an “Overweight” rating on Apple shares. Her price target on the shares is $195.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives seemed of two minds on the keynote, both of them pleased. While the “highlight” was the news around iOS 16 in his estimation - specifically Apple Pay Later, “the biggest announcement of the day was unveiling two new MacBook models using Apple’s new and innovative M2 chip,” according to the analyst. He was actually on CNBC making that case midday Monday. Ives actually posted a clip of himself on CNBC to Twitter. There he said:
Apple has more control over its ecosystem. It’s no longer just waiting for Intel to pick up the phone. They’re beating Intel at their own game. It’s a negative for Intel. It’s another gut punch…
Saying that M2 gives Apple more control over its ecosystem and - on the business side - better margins as well, he added:
…that’s another tale and that’s why this is so important. Remember the haters that say that innovation is in the rear view mirror. Look at M2. They’re beating chip companies at their own game.
That is two big votes for innovation at Apple. Ives has an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $200.
Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani ran a list of top “6” Takeaway’s from Monday’s keynote. Pulling out three of those:
Apple is adding live sports scores and standings to Apple News which will effectively make the News app a competitor to popular sports scores apps like ESPN and CBS Sports. This likely won’t get much attention but we think it is meaningful as News is one of the only platforms where Apple sells advertising space, and we continue to think Live Sports is a sizable opportunity.
Apple Car Play remains an underappreciated platform and the new changes signal greater integration with the real time operating systems used by automakers. This will expand Car Play to all the information displays in the vehicles rather than just the infotainment screen.
The MATTER smart home standard will be officially launched, enabling interoperability between Apple smart devices and other major manufactures (Google, Amazon, etc).
Most of the rest of the list was computers and processors. “Net/net,” wrote the analyst:
The event announced features that should accelerate numerous growth vectors including Apple Pay, Apple Sports, and Apple Car while also building upon Apple’s best in class operating systems and silicon.
Daryanani has an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares. His price target on the shares is $210.
Ming-Chi Kuo Expects VR/AR Apple Headset by June 2023
08 JUNE 2022 - Monday’s WWDC keynote is so… day before yesterday. Headed into it, most talk of seeing Apple’s mixed reality headset or even hearing much mention of augmented reality during the keynote had pretty much died down. It’s possible though that TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was playing it safe - waiting until the keynote had passed before putting firm dates on his expectations around Apple’s anticipated accessory. This he did Monday night in a couple of posts to Twitter. In the first, the analyst said:
I believe Apple's AR/MR headset shipping date will postpone to 2Q23 (vs. 1Q23 of market consensus) because Shanghai lockdown interrupts the development. As expected, there were no clues for AR/MR headset at WWDC 2022. Here is my prediction for Apple AR/MR headset schedule.
That followed in a second Twitter post:
EVT (Engineering Validation Test?)starting from 3Q22.
Media event on Jan 2023.
Delivery of development toolkit within 2-4 weeks after the event.
Starting pre-order in 2Q23.
Hitting store shelves before WWDC 2023.
Personally, I still like a September tease into an April launch, just like with Apple Watch. Of course, what I really like is having this stuff two years ago, so I might not be the best person to ask.
Production Notes for Apple TV+
Steve McQueen - Image via IMDB
Apple TV+ Nabs McQueen WWII Film “Blitz”
08 JUNE 2022 - News of some new productions for Apple TV+. iMore highlights a Deadline report that says the Cupertino-streamer has picked up the next film from Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen. Titled Blitz, the film will tell “stories of Londoners during the Blitz of World War II…”
The 12 Years a Slave director will write, direct, and produce the picture. No word on casting. Filming is expected to begin later this year.
Malkovich, Mortimer, and Bang Join Apple TV+ Series “The New Look”
Sticking with life in wartime, a piece from Variety says the cast for the Apple TV+ series “The New Look” is fleshing out. Set in Nazi-occupied Paris during WWII, the piece says the series tells the story of:
…when Coco Chanel’s reign as the world’s most famous fashion designer ends and Christian Dior rises helping return spirit and life to the world with his ground-breaking, iconic brand.
Juliet Binoche will play Chanel. Ben Mendelsohn will play Dior. Added recently added to the mix are John Malkovich, Emily Mortimer, and Claes Bang. No word on when it’ll hit the stream.
Carol Burnett Joins “Mrs. American Pie”
Put another big name on the call sheet for “Mrs. American Pie.” That’s the series about an outsider trying to get in to Palm Beach high society. Already in the cast were Kristin Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Ricky Martin, and others. And now there’s another. Apple Insider highlights a Variety report that says Carol Burnett is in as “a central character.” According to the piece, “Burnett will star as Norma, the most important person [in Palm Beach] society.”
Apple Studios Inks Deal forJoseph Kosinski/Brad Pitt Formula 1 Film
“Apple Studios has landed [a] sought-after Formula One racing feature…” so says a press release from Apple TV+.
The as yet untitled film comes with a crazy amount of star power, starting with lead actor Brad Pitt. He’ll play “a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport.” Directing the film is Joseph Kosinski, currently flying high on Top Gun: Maverick. It’ll be produced by Plan B Entertainment and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Plan B did World War Z and an upcoming Apple TV+ film with Pitt and George Clooney. Jerry Bruckheimer Films has produced a ton of stuff, including the “Pirates of the Caribbean” films and Top Gun: Maverick.
Aside from Pitt, no word on casting for the film. No indications either on an anticipated release date.
Season Three of “For All Mankind” Begins Friday 10 June - Image via YouTube
Apple TV+ Posts Inside Look at Third Season of “For All Mankind”
The Apple TV+ series “For All Mankind” is headed to Mars, and you can go along for the ride. To get viewers revved, Apple has produced an inside look at the series’ third season. Seasons one and two are available to stream now on Apple TV+. The third season of the alt-history sci-fi drama starts this Friday 10 June. Between now and then, you can catch the inside look below.
Talkin’ Tim Talks to TIME
Apple CEO Tim Cook at TIME100 Summit
08 JUNE 2022 - Talkin’ Tim’s been talkin’ again. A Twitter post form TIME Magazine had Apple’s CEO appearing yesterday at the TIME100 Summit. Topics hit included being a socially conscious company is #TheseTimesInWhichWeLive, whether a return to the office is necessary, his concerns about user privacy, his decision to come out publicly several years ago, innovation at Apple, and more. No news broken, but an interesting and enjoyable conversation. You can catch the conversation below (the interview starts 13:28 into the video).
Apple Silicon Hits the M2
07 JUNE 2022 - Apple on Monday introduced the first big upgrade to Apple Silicon, starting the move from M1 processors to the very cleverly titled M2. Sounds like I’m being snarky, but so was Apple Senior VP of Software Engineering Craig Federighi, so I feel okay about it. According to Apple’s press release on the processor, M2 sports a CPU that’s 18% faster than M1, a GPU that’s 35% more powerful, and a Neural Engine that’s 40% faster. “It also delivers 50 percent more memory bandwidth compared to M1, and up to 24GB of fast unified memory,” according to the company.
Sounds impressive at first, before quickly becoming just… numbers. More illustrative, perhaps, to say:
Compared with the latest 10-core PC laptop chip, the CPU in M2 provides nearly twice the performance at the same power level. And, M2 delivers the peak performance of the PC chip while using just a quarter of the power. When compared to the latest 12-core PC laptop chip — (…) — M2 provides nearly 90 percent of the peak performance of the 12-core chip while using just one-fourth the power.
You know… without the bulk and the heat and the noisiness. Specs are still hard to get the head around, though. Better perhaps to talk about the first machines M2 will power.
Detail of M2 MacBook Air - Image via Apple
Two New(ish) MacBooks
Apple on Monday announced a couple of laptops - one that was totally expected and another that was somewhat expected. The Cupertino-company offered up redesigns of the world’s bestselling laptop - MacBook Air, and the world’s second bestselling laptop - the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
According to Apple’s press release, MacBook Air got a new, thin design, a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that’s 25% brighter and able to support a billion colors, a 1080p FaceTime camera, and four finishes - Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, and Midnight (that last one being the blue machine referred to over the weekend by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman).
Less doorstop, more laptop this one. Gone is MacBook Air’s signature wedge shape. “It measures just 11.3 mm thin,” according to the company, and weighs in at 2.7 pounds. The redesign results in a “20 percent reduction in volume,” according to Apple. Despite the reduction in volume, MacBook Air welcome MagSafe Charging back to the fold, while still holing onto its two USB-C ports and its 3.5mm audio jack. Also - function keys, Touch ID, and a Force Touch trackpad.
As for performance, Apple says for intensive workloads like editing videos in Final Cut Pro, the new MacBook Air is 40% faster than an M1 MacBook Air and “up to 15x faster for customers that haven’t upgraded to Apple silicon.” All of that with the same all-day battery life with up to 18 hours of video playback, according to the company.
And what can we say about the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2? According to Apple, the faster 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU make intensive photo work nearly 40% faster than an M1 machine and nearly three-and-a-half times faster for folks moving from Intel to Apple Silicon. Same goes for playing AAA video games. Upping the specs ups performance, of course. That said Apple says the machine delivers “phenomenal battery life with up to 20 hours of video playback.”
Fun (and Not Fun) Facts Around the New Macs
If you’re a fan of Touch Bar for Mac in the market for a new machine, you’re actually in luck. A piece from TechCrunch say the much maligned mini-screen lives to fight another round on the M2 MacBook Pro. Despite being removed from the 14” and 16” M1 counterparts, it’s not an option on the new 13” machine. It’s the only option. TechCrunch doesn’t see a resurgence for the input device. Rather, the site figures Apple just wasn’t “ready for a full-body redesign…”
Something that disappointed a few people in my Twitter timeline - despite the more powerful M2, the new MacBook Air and 13” MacBook Pro still support one external display. Anyway, that’s the official line. Unofficially, a piece from MacRumors says it was discovered with their M1 counterparts that multiple displays could be connected using DisplayLink adapters. While that’ll probably still be true for M2, officially it’s only the higher-end 14” and 16” MacBook Pros that support more than on external display.
You’ll Get a Charge Out of This
Remember a couple of months ago when Apple posted, then quickly removed, a support doc covering a dual USB-C 35W Power Adapter? Guess who’s back. In the press release on the MacBooks, Apple heralds “a number of charging options” for MacBook Air, “including an all-new 35W compact power adapter with two USB-C ports, so users can charge two devices at once.”
Go figure!
Also, the release says the new Air “supports fast charge for charging up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes with an optional 67W USB-C power adapter.”
WHEN How Much Would You Pay?!?
If you’re wondering about pricing and availability, pricing we can do. The old M1 MacBook Air sticks around for a starting price of $999. It’s available now. The MacBook Air with M2 starts at $1,199, with education pricing starting at $1,099. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 starts at $1,299, with an education starting price of $1,199.
I saw something online that said you could order the M2 MacBook Air now, though that does not appear to be the case. Rather, Apple says both the M2 Air and the M2 Pro “will begin arriving to customers, and will be in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, next month.”
As for powering the machines, the 67W USB-C adapter is available form Apple now for $59. There are two models of the 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter - one compact, one less so. They will run buyers $59 each. Both are listed on Apple’s site as “Coming Soon.”
Next Stop: macOS Ventura
macOS Ventura running on a range of Macs - Image via Apple
07 JUNE 2022 - macOS 13 Ventura has a lot of features that aren’t just macOS features. I’ve joked for years that Apple is merging macOS, iOS, and iPadOS into one operating system for the whole of the ecosystem. I do think you could make that argument, though it might be more fair to say that Apple is building a language for computer use. Not like a programming language. More like a set of expectations around how devices will work. For example, Stage Manager is a feature for both macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16. Remember Spaces for Mac, the feature that would let you create multiple desktops through which you could scroll? This is sort of like that, but more convenient. Rather than moving from one desktop to another, Stage Manager lets the app or group of apps with which you’re working take center stage, while the rest of the open apps hang out to the side. Click one of the apps in the wings, and the app or group of apps you had been using moves to the wings, with the new one selected taking center stage.
Sounds gimmicky at first, though the more I saw it, the more useful it seemed.
Another one that blurs the OS line is Continuity Camera. Put simply, this feature lets Mac users use their iPhone as a webcam, and then some. The iPhone/Mac combo gives the user Center Stage, Portrait mode, Studio Light, and something called Desk View. Basically, if you want to show someone something on your physical desk, Continuity Camera can show both your face and your physical desktop without moving or repositioning the iPhone.
And I was - seriously - this close to buying a webcam to go with my M1 Mac mini. Glad I waited.
Other features include:
Shared Tab Groups, letting select users share their favorite sites in Safari and see what tabs others are looking at live. That, plus a shared Start Page, and the ability to start a Messages conversation or FaceTime call in Safari make the browser an interesting collaboration tool.
Improvements to Mail, including more comprehensive search, scheduled delivery, reminders for following up on messages received, and the ability to cancel delivery after hitting send, provided you change your mind in ten-seconds or less.
Messages on the Mac can be edited or undone, provided that’s done within 15-minutes of sending. Sharing file via Messages is no longer just sending a copy, with collaboration added as an option instead. And SharePlay has made its way into Messages for Mac as well.
There are improvements to Spotlight.
There’s an iCloud Shared Photo Library, letting users “create and share a separate photo library among up to six family members…”
Browsing in Safari gets more secure with passkeys. Made to replace passwords, Apple says “Passkeys make it simple to sign in securely, using Touch ID or Face ID for biometric verification, and iCloud Keychain to sync across Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV with end-to-end encryption.”
Games get better with Metal 3. That’ll allow such AAA games as GRID Legends, Resident Evil Village, and No Man’s Sky to hit the Mac later this year.
And that is just some of what’s in store for the Mac update.
Hitching a Ride
If you’re wondering whether you can get to Ventura from where you are, a piece from MacRumors lists machines that’ll make the move. They include:
iMac (2017 and later)
iMac Pro
MacBook Air (2018 and later)
MacBook Pro (2017 and later)
Mac Pro (2019 and later)
Mac mini (2018 and later)
MacBook (2017 and later)
As for when you can get your hands on it, the first beta is out to developers now. Betas will be available for Apple’s public testing program sometime in July. The public release is slated for sometime this fall.
Apple Announces New Features for iOS 16
07 JUNE 2022 - The update announced Monday that’ll likely affect the largest number of people is iOS 16. Lots of tweaks coming for that, starting with a personalized lock screen experience. Pictures on the screen get a multi-layer treatment, allowing effects to be added to the pics, with time and other elements inhabiting a space behind the subject. Users can also add widgets, which take their inspiration from Apple Watch complications. That means at-a-glance info like weather, battery levels, Activity ring progress, and so on.
There are improvements for Focus, improvements for Live Text and Visual Look Up, and improvements for Family Sharing and Parental Controls.
Apple Maps finally gets multistop routing, which is awesome.
Dictation sees improvements - allowing users to move easily between voice and touch. Apple says:
Users can type with the keyboard, tap in the text field, move the cursor, and insert QuickType suggestions, all without needing to stop Dictation. In addition, Dictation features automatic punctuation and emoji dictation.
Siri has picked up the ability to run shortcuts “as soon as an app is downloaded without requiring upfront setup,” according to Apple.
The Fitness app is coming to iPhone - no Apple Watch required.
The Wallet app is adding an interesting feature called Apple Pay Later. According to Apple:
Apple Pay Later provides users in the US with a seamless and secure way to split the cost of an Apple Pay purchase into four equal payments spread over six weeks, with zero interest and no fees of any kind. Built into Apple Wallet and designed with users’ financial health in mind, Apple Pay Later makes it easy to view, track, and repay Apple Pay Later payments within Wallet.
That just sounds crazy.
Probably the most futuristic tech displayed is the next generation of CarPlay. According to Apple:
CarPlay will be able to provide content for multiple screens within the vehicle, creating an experience that is unified and consistent. Deeper integration with the vehicle will allow users to do things like control the radio or change the climate directly through CarPlay, and using the vehicle data, CarPlay will seamlessly render the speed, fuel level, temperature, and more on the instrument cluster.
Sounds kind of “Jetsons,” but should be coming soon. Well… relatively soon. With commitments from carmakers like Ford, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti, Honda, Acura, Jaguar, Land Rover, Audi, Nissan, Volvo, Porsche, and more, a piece from MacRumors has Apple saying that “the first vehicles to support the new CarPlay experience will be announced in late 2023…”
There’s a new privacy tool called Safety Check meant to help people at risk from domestic or intimate partner violence.
There are improvements to the Home app. There are improvements to Health. Apple News gets a My Sports. You can make your own Personalized Spatial Audio profile.
The iCloud Shared Photo Library mentioned for macOS Ventura makes its way to the phone. Makes sense. It’s a cloud service, after all. See also updates to Messages, new tools for Mail, and Passkeys for Safari.
And that is not even close to everything.
Who’s Turning 16?
Just like with macOS, some iOS devices will not be able to make the jump. A piece from MacRumors has Apple indicating that iOS 16 will be available only on the iPhone 8 and later. The first iPhone SE is out, according to that report. Meanwhile a separate report from MacRumors indicates that Apple is well and truly done with iPod touch. According to that piece, Apple on Monday:
…removed the iPod touch's product page from its website in all remaining countries where the page was still available, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, marking a final farewell to the portable music player.
The piece goes on to say that “Apple's newly announced iOS 16 software update is not compatible with any iPod touch models, according to Apple's website.”
The first iOS 16 beta is available to developers now. It’ll be out to public testers next month. The great unwashed get the update this fall.
Apple Demos iPadOS 16
Freeform in iPadOS 16 - Image via Apple
07 JUNE 2022 - Between the iOS 16 update and macOS Ventura, we’ve already hit a lot of the features coming to iPadOS 16. There are the new features and improvements for Messages, the tweaks to Mail, the iCloud Shared Photo Library, the collaboration and security features for Safari, the improvements to Live Text and Visual Look Up. Stage Manager is making its way to M1 powered iPad Pro units as well as M1 iPad Airs. And one wonders again whether they are just making one operating system to run them all.
There were features specific to iPadOS 16 though, like Freeform. Think of it sort of like a never ending whiteboard - one that everyone can add to. Apple says collaborators can “start a session from FaceTime and see the updates from others right in the Messages thread.” Kind of nifty.
iPad is finally getting a built-in Weather App.
I was on a FaceTime call with a friend over the weekend. He wanted to switch from his iPhone to another device, and wondered whether there was a way to handoff the call from one device to another. There was not. But there will be. Handoff in FaceTime will let users start a FaceTime call on one device then seamlessly hand it off to another nearby. Not sure why that’s in the iPad press release, but whatever.
On What and When?
Plenty more where that came from. iPadOS 16 will work for the fifth-gen iPad or later, fifth-gen iPad min or later, third-gen iPad Air or later, and all of the iPad Pro models.
The first iPadOS 16 beta is available to developers now. It’ll be out to public testers next month. General release is set for this fall.
Morgan Stanley: Slowdown in App Store Revenue May Tank 3Q Forecast
06 JUNE 2022 - Echoing sentiments shared last week, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty has noted slower growth than expected for the App Store. I told you Friday of a note from Evercore analyst Amit Daryanani, wherein he said App Store revenue for May grew 4%, a significant decline from April’s 9% growth. He and his said
[They] had expected growth to accelerate as comps became easier, so the slowdown is somewhat surprising, especially as China saw a large deceleration when we were anticipating some uplift from the ongoing lockdowns…
Now, Apple Insider has Huberty seeing similar numbers. She and hers also saw App Store revenue growth of 4% in May, down from the 8% growth they’d tracked in April. Huberty also points to China as an area of interest, though for a very different reason. Basically, her team thinks April’s 8% growth was driven by a spike in COVID lockdowns in China. As those eased in May, so did App Store revenue growth. This presents a problem for her Apple expectations, as year-on-year App Store comparisons get tougher in June. According to the Apple Insider piece, “Huberty believes there is now downside to her June quarter revenue forecast of 15% year-over-year growth.”
It’s not Apple. It’s the everything. Quoting her note:
While we believe Apple user spending is more resilient at all stages of the economic cycle, which positions Apple better than other consumer hardware peers, a deceleration in App Store growth likely points to fading consumer spending on goods/services that accelerated during the pandemic…
“Beyond the June quarter,” Apple Insider says Huberty “believes there's a path for growth to accelerate once more.” Morgan Stanley has a positive rating on Apple shares. Huberty’s price target on the shares is $195.
WWDC Drumroll Please…
06 JUNE 2022 - So - today is Apple’s next big day. Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference enters its third-round as a truly worldwide event, having gone remote in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020.
Talking it over with a friend of mine over the weekend. She argued that consumers expect too much from WWDC because everybody on every level watches Apple like a hawk, these days. I took a bit of a counter stance, pointing out that from 2007 through 2010, a new iPhone was at the center of the keynote that was ostensibly for developers.
Angels on the head of a pin.
We seem to have gotten over the idea of seeing a mixed reality headset at today’s event. That we won’t see one today was an idea supported over the weekend by the New York Times. Still lots of hardware speculation, starting with what appears to be an “oops” from a big Apple Authorized Reseller.
B&H Posts Mac mini Placeholders Ahead of WWDC Keynote
A piece from Apple Insider says B&H Photo posted a couple of unannounced Mac mini models over the weekend - an “Apple Mac mini 8/256 M2” and “Apple Mac mini tower 8/256 M1P.”
That first one makes sense to Apple Insider. It could well indicate a Mac mini with 8GB RAM and 256GB of storage, powered by an M2 processor, an unannounced though practically inevitable successor to the M1.
Less natural sounding to the site is the Mac mini tower with the “M1P” at the end. Apple Insider says “it seems that this would be for a compact Mac that houses the M1 Pro, though how that would differ from the M1 Max and M1 Ultra-equipped Mac Studio is” questionable. The site thinks this one could be the Apple Silicon-based Mac Pro known to be on the horizon. They don’t seem to think so, though. In fact, the piece says while the “product listings are encouraging, they are likely only a retailer's preparation for the possible introduction of new hardware to sell.” So, it could be something or it could be nothing, seems to be the Apple Insider stance.
And no - I don’t think we can actually call that a stance.
Something in a Laptop, Perhaps?
Staying on the hardware side, something seen as a pretty safe bet today is a new MacBook Air. Another piece from Apple Insider has TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo opining on that device. He actually made his comments on Twitter, though we have to do a bit of background before we get to those.
A new MacBook Air at WWDC22 has been one of the most accepted rumors. Somewhere around the middle of May, rumors started surfacing that those would come in a range of bright colors, similar to iPad Air and the iMac. On Twitter on Friday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman rained on the multi-color parade. Gurman said:
The much-reported idea of the new MacBook Air coming in a range of “several colors” is probably exaggerated. Right now it comes in space gray, silver and gold. I wouldn’t expect more than those colors (though the new gold will be more champagne like) plus my favorite iMac color.
To that was attached a picture of a Blue iMac, so - I guess he’s expecting a blue MacBook Air as well. To this, TF International’s Kuo added on Twitter:
Agree with @markgurman. The new MacBook Air (MBA) will more likely offer three standard color options and probably plus one new color, rather than the rainbow style like the iMac as the market expects.
Whatever the case for colors, Kuo thinks the machine will sell well, provided enough can be made. In Tweet 2 of 2 Kuo continued:
2H22 shipment forecast of new MBA is 6-7mn units if Quanta's Shanghai capacity can be back to pre-lockdown level before 3Q22. Delivery for new MBA made by two EMS (Quanta the 1st & Foxconn the 2nd) should be better than existing 14"/16" MacBook Pro (shipped by Quanta only).
Amusingly, neither Ming-Chi Kuo nor Gurman say anything about the MacBook Air hitting today. That said, Apple Insider does list it among today’s expectations.
Pulling Back on the MacBook Pro
While a new MacBook Air in a muted palate is still seen as a “go” for WWDC22, Bloomberg’s Gurman is tapping the brakes on another MacBook expectation. 9 to 5 Mac cites a passage form Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter. According to that, Apple had planned to release “a faster 13-inch MacBook Pro” along with (or around the same time as) the new MacBook Air. There have been lockdowns in China though - not sure you’ve heard. Seeming to hedge his bets, Gurman says those “lockdowns in China could have thrown off that part of the roadmap…” that part being the part with the new MacBook Pro.
In summation, hardware at today’s keynote seems wide open. That’s pretty much why I try to not talk about it until zero-hour.
What Developers Develop For
Platforms and operating systems are pretty much the only elements guaranteed to be addressed. MacRumors has a list of vague possibilities for iOS/iPadOS/tvOS 16, macOS 13, and watchOS 9. Really vague, and sprinkled with recent rumors. Hard to get too worked up about those. They’ll be proven right or wrong in the next few hours.
WWDC22 Stickers Available for iMessage and FaceTime
One thing we’ve already gotten from WWDC is stickers! Not actual stickers that you can actually stick on anything, but still! iDownloadBlog has news of the new batch, which - sad to say - is nowhere near as cool at the neon sign pack Apple hit with for WWDC back in 2019. Yes. That’s how cool they were. I remember a virtual sticker pack from a few years ago. You can buy actual stickers of those stickers on RedBubble, by the way. I doubt they’re authorized by Apple, but that’s between you and your god.
Anyway, there’s a new pack out this year. Not unlike the stickers you get for completing Apple Watch Activity challenges, the WWDC stickers can be applied to messages in iMessage or on FaceTime. To get them, iDownloadBlog says:
Download the free Apple Developer app [App Store link] for iOS or iPadOS.
In the Messages app, start a new chat or choose an existing thread.
In the Messages app drawer at the bottom of the app, swipe left to get to the Apple Developer icon, then tap it to open the sticker pack.
Now touch the sticker you’d like to send to the recipient via iMessage.
They’re not bad. They’re just not as cool as the stickers from 2019. Anyway. Get in the WWDC sticker spirit. ’tis the season.
On with the show!
It’ll be a bit early for popcorn on the west coast, but showtime will soon be upon us. The WWDC22 keynote is set to fire off at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern. You can watch it through Apple’s Developer app, on Apple’s Events page, or on YouTube. Apple should make the event available as an audio podcast or a video podcast soon after the simulcast. And - of course - we’ll hit highlights and reaction right here on Tuesday.
Apple Cumberland Mall Organizers Say Union Vote Postponed, Not Cancelled
Image via Twitter
06 JUNE 2022 - Something of a clarification from Apple Cumberland Mall employees in Atlanta. They were supposed to have held a vote on unionization last week, though headed into the week that vote was cancelled. Except, not cancelled - and therein lies the clarification. A piece from The Mac Observer has organizers at the store pushing back on a Bloomberg article that said the vote was cancelled. Taking to Twitter, organizers said that the vote was not “cancelled” but postponed. “And it wasn’t out-of-the-blue,” said the message, adding, “it was due to intense union-busting from Apple. Details matter.”
Apple Rating System Hits Apple Maps Germany
06 JUNE 2022 - The new rating system for Apple Maps has landed in Germany. iMore says the Cupertino-company’s own recommendation system is starting to show in the app there, alongside systems run by Foursquare and Yelp. The piece points out:
This comes just weeks after Apple also brought its all-new maps to Germany, improving the 3D mapping technology and adding a new navigational experience that includes Siri Natural Language Guidance.
Disney Poaches Apple Games Exec for Metaverse Plays
06 JUNE 2022 - News of a mind-blowing hire for Disney. A piece from Variety says Mark Bozon, “a top gaming executive from Apple,” has been fitted with a pair of mouse ears. The piece says he’ll now serve “as a senior creative leader for [Disney’s] cross-divisional Next Generation Storytelling initiative — which encompasses Disney’s ‘metaverse’ ambitions.” According to Variety:
As Disney’s VP of Next Generation Storytelling creative experiences, Bozon will be responsible for leading the creative vision for the group and to turn that strategy into executable plans. He’s expected to build a multidisciplinary team that will work with Disney businesses across gaming, film, TV, toys, parks and more to deliver interconnected consumer experiences.
What is it they say about porn? Faced with defining it, a former Supreme Court Justice said he could not, “but I know it when I seen it?” See also: the metaverse. “According to Disney,” according to Variety:
…because the term “metaverse” means different things to different people, the company (…) has coalesced efforts under the Next Generation Storytelling banner and defined a strategy focused on creating “new canvases for storytelling and audience engagement” spanning digital, physical and virtual experiences.
You kind of wonder what Apple’s been working on between realityOS, its anticipated mixed-reality headset, Services, and its storytelling side that made Bozon seem the right fit for Disney. According to a piece over the weekend from the New York Times:
[Apple] has enlisted Hollywood directors such as Jon Favreau to develop video content for a headset that it is expected to ship next year, according to three people familiar with that work. Mr. Favreau, an executive producer of “Prehistoric Planet” on Apple TV+, is working to bring that show’s dinosaurs to life on the headset, (…) and aims to offer virtual- and augmented-reality experiences, these people said.
Entertainment, TV, and Apple TV+ are going to look wildly different in ten-years time. Curious to see what Bozon does at Disney. And whether the company will give him more time than it gave Disney Infinity.
As a matter of fact I am still upset.
It Starts on the Page: Deadline Posts Script for “Severance” Finale
06 JUNE 2022 - If you’re a fan of the off-kilter Apple TV+ series “Severance,” or simply a production nerd, there’s something cool to check out on Deadline. The entertainment site has an annual feature called It Starts On the Page, highlighting the scripts of some of the most talked about titles in a given year. “Severance” has been one of those this year, and its seson-one finale is among the scripts presented. Scripts chosen by Deadline are all being submitted for Emmy Award consideration. Others include episodes of “Yellowstone,” “Yellowjackets,” and “Squid Game.”
Apple TV+ Releases “Loot” Trailer Ahead of Late-June Premier
06 JUNE 2022 - A straight-up comedy from Apple TV+ has a trailer and a premier date. The Cupertino-streamer issued a press release last week offering both for the Maya Rudolph comedy “Loot.” The show centers on a billionaire divorcée (Rudolph) who apparently flames out publicly over her husband’s infidelity before deciding to take an interest in the philanthropic foundation she didn’t actually know she had.
The first three of ten-episodes land on Apple TV+ on Friday 24 June. The rest will follow one-per-week for the following seven-weeks. Between now and then, you can catch the trailer below. .
Evercore’s Daryanani Notes Slowdown for App Store Revenue in May
03 JUNE 2022 - Evercore analyst Amit Darynani doesn’t seem worried about growth in the App Store, but he is taking notice. Seeking Alpha outlines part of a note he wrote, wherein the analyst points to “muted” revenue growth for the App Store, and a perceived need for “new drivers” to juice growth for Apple services.
By his firm’s reckoning, revenue for the App Store grew 4% last month. That was down from revenue growth of 9% seen by the App Store in April. Quoting his note:
We had expected growth to accelerate as comps became easier, so the slowdown is somewhat surprising, especially as China saw a large deceleration when we were anticipating some uplift from the ongoing lockdowns…
That said, the piece has Darynani highlighting other areas that could pick up some of the Services slack, “including advertising, and subscriptions.” I say he doesn’t seem worried based on his stance on the stock. He’s got an “Outperform” rating on Apple shares and a price target of $210.
Bloomberg: Apple Retail Changing Scheduling Requirements to Please Employees
Apple Tower Theater - Image: Ken Ray
03 JUNE 2022 - Apple may be trying to make peace with disgruntled store workers. A report from Bloomberg says the company:
…has agreed to make work schedules at its retail stores more flexible, according to employees with knowledge of the plans, part of a push to improve conditions in the face of unionization efforts.
Changes said by the secret-so-and-sos to be coming include:
A minimum of 12 hours in between shifts, an increase from the current minimum of 10 hours.
A maximum of three days per week when employees can work past 8 p.m., unless they choose to work late shifts.
Employees won’t be scheduled to work more than five days in a row, a change from a maximum of six days in a row. There could be exemptions during new product launches and holidays.
Full-time employees will be eligible for a dedicated weekend day off for each six-month period.
The first of those changes will apparently hit over the next several weeks, though the full slate will take months to deliver.
The scheduling shifts are just the latest move to assuage worker grievances by the Cupertino-company. “In February,” Bloomberg says, “the company doubled paid sick days, increased vacation days and expanded backup care for children.” More recently, the company announced plans to raise its minimum pay for hourly workers sooner than had been expected.
Square Opens Testing for Apple’s Tap-to-Pay
03 JUNE 2022 - Square’s move to Apple’s Tap to Pay draws closer. Cult of Mac had the digital payment platform announcing an early access program Thursday, ahead of the full release. Refreshing the memory, Cult of Mac says:
Apple’s Tap to Pay feature lets one iPhone user pay another without any other hardware. It started rolling out at Apple Stores nationwide last week.
On the Square platform, select sellers in an early-access program can accept in-person contactless payments starting Thursday using an iPhone and the Square app. They’ll need no additional hardware for the transaction.
Folks wanting in on the testing phase can apply on the Square site. No word on when the feature will go wide for Square users.