News & Reviews:   Apple

Apple is reportedly planning to release a 15-inch version of the MacBook Air in late 2023, the first time that the lineup would feature that screen size. The report is an update to previous rumours regarding Apple’s MacBook lineup, which also suggested that the tech giant is working on a 12-inch MacBook Air too.

Apple has long been rumoured to be working on its very own AR/VR headset, with the operating system already allegedly having a name, xrOS. Now, based on claims by industry insiders, it looks like the tech giant is ready to announce the mixed-reality headset as early as the first half of this year.

Apple introduced MagSafe wireless charging with the release of the iPhone 12 series which utilises magnets to keep the charging puck in place. Now, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) is set to adopt the same functionality as it has announced that the next-generation Qi2 wireless charging standard will be built on MagSafe charging technology supplied by Apple.

Since the introduction of the first-generation AirPods and the ‘brave’ decision to get rid of the audio jack back in 2016, Apple has pretty much started the wireless earbuds trend that we see in the market today. While the AirPods lineup has been pretty popular and sold millions, it looks like the tech giant is not fully satisfied and may be looking into entering the budget wireless earbuds market as well.

The Apple Watch Ultra was unveiled in September last year and is the most premium, biggest and most durable model in the entire Apple Watch lineup. Well, the next-gen Watch Ultra may get even better as according to an industry insider, the version to be released in 2024 will not only have a larger display but also be equipped with a new panel technology.

Apple has announced an increase to the price of its out-of-warranty battery service for all iPhone models in the United States which will take place starting March 2023. Following the enforcement of the revised price, users of older iPhone models who want to replace their batteries will have to fork out up to USD89 or ~RM391 to do so.

Some three years after its removal from the Apple App Store for violating store rules, Epic Game’s Fortnite may set for a dramatic return to the platform this year. While nothing concrete has been unveiled just yet, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has teased the matter prior to New Year’s Day recently.

Popular iOS weather app Dark Sky has officially shut down, with it no longer functioning for existing users beginning New Year’s Day. The app was previously removed from the Apple App Store in September last year after being acquired by Apple back in March 2020.

Previously, we reported on the OPPO MariSilicon Y, the company’s self-developed audio SoC with the first lossless wireless audio technology. Well, OPPO may follow up on the aforementioned chipset and its impressive MariSilicon X imaging NPU with a full-fledged smartphone mobile processor in the near future.

Over the last few weeks, Apple had some production issues due to the protests that happened in one of its factories. The Chinese government was imposing some strict COVID restrictions and Apple was behind by six million iPhone 14 Pro units.