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  • iPhone owners are upgrading their phones sooner

    iPhone owners are upgrading their phones sooner

    People with iPhones are starting to get new ones a bit quicker than before, according to a report by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP).

    In the last three months of 2024, CIRP found that more iPhone buyers were replacing their phones earlier than in past years. About 36% of new iPhone owners had their old phone for two years or less, which is up from 31% the year before. On the other hand, the number of people keeping their phones for three years or more dropped to 33%.

    This change is the first big shift in how often people upgrade their iPhones since CIRP started keeping track in 2014. Even though people generally kept their phones longer over time, something seems to be pushing some users to upgrade sooner. The percentage of people upgrading after just two years is back to where it was in 2020.

    CIRP thinks several things are causing this. One big reason might be deals from phone companies that make it cheaper or easier to get a new phone. Another could be Apple’s new AI features, which might make people want to switch to the latest model to use them.

    This trend in upgrade habits comes at a time when Apple’s iPhone sales have not been as strong. CIRP guesses that the people upgrading now are the most active Apple fans, more eager to get the newest tech. Meanwhile, those who upgrade less often might be holding out for something really special before they decide to buy a new phone.

  • Apple launches new study on health with iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods

    Apple launches new study on health with iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods

    Apple has just started a new health study that you can join using the Apple Research app. If you’re in the U.S. and old enough, you can sign up by agreeing to the study’s terms.

    The Apple Health Study

    This study wants to see how gadgets like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods can help improve our physical and mental health, as well as our overall well-being. It’s going to look at how different parts of health are connected. For example, it will check if your mental state affects your heart rate or how your sleep might change how much you exercise.

    This project is the biggest health study Apple has done so far. It will check how tech affects lots of health areas like how active we are, aging, heart health, blood flow, thinking, hearing, women’s health, mental health, how our body uses food, how we move, brain health, breathing, and sleep.

    Building on Past Studies

    This new study follows on from other Apple studies like the one on women’s health, hearing, and heart and movement. Apple is working with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which is connected to Harvard Medical School, to run this study. The Apple Research app, where you can join the study, is available on the App Store for iPhone and Apple Watch. The app got an update today to include this new health study.

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  • New iPhone SE model spotted on french retail site

    New iPhone SE model spotted on french retail site

    Rumors about the next iPhone SE have been swirling, and now there’s a new hint from France. A French electronics store called Boulanger has accidentally put up a page for a “new” iPhone SE model. The page simply says the phone is “coming soon” but doesn’t give any real details or a true price.

    iPhone SE 4 Teaser

    This sneak peek was noticed by someone reading the French tech news site Numerama. It’s not clear if Apple gave Boulanger a secret tip about the new phone or if the store just guessed based on all the gossip.

    Even though the page doesn’t tell us much, it does seem like we’re getting closer to seeing a new iPhone SE. Originally, tech expert Mark Gurman thought it would come out this week, but he’s now saying it should be announced by next week.

    iPhone SE at Boulanger

    When it finally comes out, the new iPhone SE is expected to have some big upgrades. It might have a bigger 6.1-inch screen that’s really bright, no home button but Face ID to unlock it, a USB-C port instead of the old one, and just one camera at the back but with 48 megapixels. It’s also supposed to have a new 5G chip from Apple and enough memory to handle new smart features.

    Apple hasn’t planned any big events yet for 2025, so they’ll probably just announce it on their website with a press release.

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  • Trump picks Apple exec for road safety chief

    Trump picks Apple exec for road safety chief

    President Trump has chosen an executive from Apple to lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Jonathan Morrison, who is not the well-known tech YouTuber, was previously the chief legal advisor for the NHTSA during Trump’s first term. He has been working at Apple since 2021.

    According to the Senate:

    Jonathan Morrison, from California, has been nominated to become the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, replacing Steven Scott Cliff who stepped down. The nomination was announced just yesterday and will be reviewed by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    Although Morrison’s LinkedIn doesn’t reveal much about his specific role at Apple, it’s likely he was involved in policy matters linked to Apple’s now-abandoned self-driving car project. Before joining Apple, Morrison worked as a lobbyist for car dealerships, where he was instrumental in advancing automotive policy changes.

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  • When will Apple’s new Robots hit the market?

    When will Apple’s new Robots hit the market?

    Apple is working on new types of robots for homes, according to an expert who studies Apple’s supply chain, Ming-Chi Kuo. These robots include both human-shaped and non-human-shaped designs. However, Kuo suggests we might have to wait a while for these robots to actually be made in large numbers, if they ever are.

    Right now, Apple’s robot projects are just at the early stages where they test if ideas can work. If Apple decides to go ahead, Kuo thinks they might not start making these robots in big amounts until 2028 or even later.

    This news follows after a group of Apple’s robotics experts created a robot that looks like a lamp but moves like a living thing. Last year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared that Apple was also working on a smaller robot with a screen like an iPad on a movable arm. He thought this robot might be announced in 2026 or 2027, but Kuo now believes it could be 2028 or beyond.

    Gurman explains that this smaller robot would be controlled by Siri and Apple’s smart tech. It could move its screen to look at you if you say “look at me,” especially handy during video calls. It would also know who’s talking to it by recognizing different voices.

    This robot might be a premium version of Apple’s upcoming smart home controller, which is expected to come out this year. Gurman guesses it might cost around $1,000, but this could change as plans develop.

  • Apple’s plan for super thin glass in new folding gadget

    Apple’s plan for super thin glass in new folding gadget

    Apple seems to be getting serious about making its first gadget that can fold. They’re looking at companies that can make very thin glass for this new device. Lens Technology, a company from China, is going to be the main maker of this ultra-thin glass (UTG) for Apple’s new projects, according to reports from The Elec and DigiTimes. They’re expected to get about 70% of the orders, while Corning from the US will probably supply the materials.

    Lens Technology is really good at making this glass because they have the right tools and money to do it. They’re especially skilled at making the glass strong and avoiding cracks when it’s cut. They also know how to etch glass well.

    They plan to increase how much UTG they can produce in 2025, right before Apple might show off its foldable device in late 2026. Apple wants the middle part of the glass to be very thin, but the rest of it can be a bit thicker to make it last longer.

    There are also two companies from South Korea, Dowoo Insys and UTI, who might help make this glass too. Interestingly, Dowoo Insys got patents in October 2024 for making the middle part of the glass thinner, which sounds a lot like what Apple patented around that time.

    Samsung Display might be the only one making the folding screens for this new Apple product, which could be a folding iPhone. Experts like Ming-Chi Kuo, Jeff Pu, and sources from The Information and The Wall Street Journal think we might see this new device towards the end of 2026 or the start of 2027.

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  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra outspeeds iPhone 16 Pro Max in app loading

    Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra outspeeds iPhone 16 Pro Max in app loading

    In a recent speed test by PhoneBuff, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has shown it’s faster than the iPhone 16 Pro Max when opening apps. This test looked at how quickly each phone could handle tasks across different programs, from social media to games.

    The Galaxy S25 Ultra, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and equipped with 12GB of RAM, took the lead right from the start. It was quicker in opening work apps and even faster in processing photos in Snapseed, an editing app. When it came to video editing with LumaFusion, the Samsung phone was 25% faster than the iPhone, which is surprising since Apple phones usually do well in this area.

    Even in games, where iPhones have often led, the S25 Ultra kept ahead. It did better or just as well as the iPhone in games like Subway Surfers and Flip Diving. The iPhone only slightly won in some games, but overall, Samsung was ahead.

    The first round of app openings took the Galaxy S25 Ultra just 2 minutes and 18 seconds, beating the iPhone by 15 seconds. In the second round, which checks how well the phones keep apps running in the background, the iPhone narrowed the gap a bit, but Samsung still won by a clear margin, which PhoneBuff described as one of the biggest victories in recent speed tests.

    Samsung’s advantage seems to come from its powerful chip, more RAM, and a larger cooling system. This setup, along with Android 15 and One UI 7, gives the Galaxy a performance boost. Although Apple has had time to fine-tune iOS 18 for its hardware, Samsung has seemingly taken the lead in speed.

    Looking ahead, Apple might catch up with the iPhone 17 series expected in September. The new models could feature an A19 Pro chip made with an advanced manufacturing process, potentially offering better speed and efficiency. Also, all iPhone 17 models are rumored to have better cooling to manage heat during heavy use.

    This speed test shows that while both phones are top performers, Samsung currently holds the lead in how quickly apps can be loaded and processed.

  • Could Apple fix the biggest issue with its most exciting product soon?

    Could Apple fix the biggest issue with its most exciting product soon?

    With whispers of new Apple product reveals just around the corner, I’ve been thinking about what could be coming up this Friday. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is set to give the media an update on the Apple Vision Pro this Friday.

    Here are some guesses I had before:

    • New M5 Chip – No M5 products have been announced yet, but they’re apparently in production. Maybe Vision Pro will be the first to get it, like how the M4 came with the iPad Pro.
    • Apple Intelligence Support – Vision Pro has enough RAM for this, but maybe all the memory is already being used. They might increase the RAM.
    • PSVR Controller Support – Gurman says it’s happening, but it won’t shake things up much.

    Now, I’m thinking about another big change: a price cut. It would be a great piece of news to share on a Friday evening.

    Apple has always defended the $3,500 price tag by saying you’re buying into the future. But Susan Prescott’s recent statement – “for now, the price is what the price is” – hints that this might not be the final word.

    Apple doesn’t usually lower prices before new models come out, but the cost of Vision Pro has been its biggest barrier. There’s history here; they reduced the price of the first iPhone by $200 shortly after it came out.

    Would a price drop on the Vision Pro, which starts at $3,499, make a big impact? Maybe not a huge one, but any reduction helps. They could also offer more storage for the same price. However, since there’s no shortage of stock, even this seems up in the air. Still, my bet is that we’ll see some kind of price adjustment for the Apple Vision Pro this Friday. It’s speculative, but it’s something to think about.

  • What’s next for Apple’s AirPods after the Powerbeats Pro 2?

    What’s next for Apple’s AirPods after the Powerbeats Pro 2?

    Apple and Beats recently introduced the eagerly awaited Powerbeats Pro 2 wireless earbuds. This new model brings features not yet seen in Apple’s AirPods. But what does this mean for the future of AirPods?

    Rumors About Upcoming AirPods

    One standout feature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is its heart rate sensor. This marks the first time Apple has included such a health-focused tool in a product other than the Apple Watch. It suggests that future devices might also focus more on health monitoring. Although Powerbeats are designed for workouts, it’s notable that Apple chose to debut this technology in a Beats product.

    What About AirPods?

    Will AirPods follow suit with a heart rate sensor? It seems likely, as various sources confirm Apple is indeed developing AirPods with health sensors. The next big update, expected in the AirPods Pro 3, will likely include this sensor. Although we don’t have a specific release date, considering the AirPods Pro 2 came out in 2022, we might see the next version soon, perhaps even this year.

    Mark Gurman from Bloomberg mentioned last year that Apple is looking into sensors that could measure body temperature through the ear canal. There’s also talk about integrating camera sensors into AirPods, but these innovations won’t make it into the AirPods Pro 3.

    AirPods Pro 3 Expectations

    For the AirPods Pro 3, expect a new design, though details are scarce. The basic AirPods model got a recent update with a fresh look and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), so don’t expect another update soon. As for the AirPods Max, after last year’s update to include USB-C, there are no significant updates planned shortly.

    This glimpse into Apple’s strategy shows a clear direction toward enhancing personal health monitoring through their audio products, promising exciting developments for AirPods users.

  • New iPhone SE 4 coming soon, along with other updates

    New iPhone SE 4 coming soon, along with other updates

    The much-anticipated fourth generation iPhone SE might be announced very soon, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In a recent post, Gurman suggested that we could see the new iPhone SE “by next week.” Although he had earlier hinted at a release even sooner, there seems to be a bit of uncertainty about the exact timing.

    Interestingly, Gurman also mentioned that Apple has some smaller announcements lined up. There’s one small announcement expected tomorrow, and Apple’s team for Vision Pro is already contacting journalists about something new coming soon.

    The new iPhone SE isn’t the only thing on the horizon. Gurman also talked about the M4 MacBook Air, which he believes will be introduced in the coming weeks. Despite previous speculation, the exact launch date for this MacBook remains a mystery.

    Furthermore, fans of Apple’s tablets can look forward to new additions to the iPad family. Both the M3 iPad Air and the iPad 11 are expected to be unveiled in the next few months, although specific dates are still under wraps.

    In summary, Apple is gearing up for a busy period with several product announcements that could excite their fans. Keep an eye out for the new iPhone SE, the M4 MacBook Air, and updates on the iPad models.

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