Latest news with #MaijinBu
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Apple iPhone 17 Pro could see another controversial design change, but there's a good explanation
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary Apple will reportedly shift its logo and MagSafe charging ring down the rear of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. This is to ensure MagSafe connectivity still works with the new, larger camera unit. Apple is making big changes to its iPhone lineup for 2025, with many leaks already showing big design tweaks when it comes to the rear cameras. Indeed, we've seen the iPhone 17 family from just about every angle already – and from a number of sources. Apple will reportedly adopt a candybar, Google Pixel-style camera unit that runs the entire width of each iPhone, and that in itself has prompted another major, possibly controversial design decision, it's claimed. Serial leaker Maijin Bu, who has been posting all manner of iPhone 17 images on his X feed of late, suggests that the Apple logo on the rear of the iPhone 17 Pro (and presumably, iPhone 17 Pro Max) will be moved further down the rear. He claims this is a result of the larger camera unit taking up so much room, as it ties in with the MagSafe charging ring. If it was to remain where it was, the Pro iPhones would not be compatible with many existing MagSafe chargers – there wouldn't be enough room between the top of the MagSafe ring and the camera housing. Any lip on a charger would fail to see the iPhone connect properly. And so Apple will reportedly shift the logo and MagSafe ring further down the phone. The benefit to shifting the ring will be that existing MagSafe chargers should still work – something I was personally worried about. However, some might still bemoan the change as it spoils the symmetry of the rear of the device. This is something that has been oh so Apple for oh so long. Of course, it doesn't matter to cases as existing iPhone cases won't work with the new camera units anyway. You might wonder why Apple doesn't just leave the logo where it is and simply move the inner MagSafe gubbins, but the logo has always been a visual indicator on where the centre of the ring is for placement. We've got a while before we find out for sure, as Apple isn't expected to replace its best iPhones for a couple of months yet. It'll likely hold its next big launch event in the first couple of weeks of September. It'll certainly be one to look forward to, though.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Forbes
Apple Loop: iPhone 17 Design Leaks, Apple's Gaming Problem, MacBook Air Special Offers
Taking a look back at this week's news and headlines from Apple, including WWDC dates, iPhone 17 Pro design leaks, Apple's foldable iPhone, MacBook Air special offer, AirPods Pro Max upgrades, solving Apple Arcade's visibility problem, and massive clean energy investment. Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes. Apple has announced the dates for this year's Worldwide Developer Conference. The annual get-together, split between physical and online events, will occur the week of June 9, 2025. Tim Cook and his team will have lots to show off and demonstrate, but no doubt the key attraction will be how he positions the weak and late generative AI offering that is Apple Intelligence: "Available for free to all developers, WWDC25 will spotlight the latest advancements in Apple software. As part of Apple's ongoing commitment to supporting developers, the conference will provide them with unique access to Apple experts, as well as insight into new tools, frameworks, and features." (Apple Newsroom). Following a leak of the CAD files, Maijin Bu has a closer look at the designs of the iPhone 17 family through the use of 3D printing. The different depths are clearly on show, with very little to tell the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max apart: The USB-C ports at the base of each phone can be seen on all the models. Apple has been considering going 'portless' for some time, and the fashionably thin iPhone 17 Air would have offered the perfect justification to launch such a phone. Alas, Apple's opportunity to innovate here has been passed over. (Maijin Bu). Another iPhone is in the wings, although it's unlikely to arrive in September. This is the foldable iPhone, and some more details on the manufacturing of the all-important hinge have been revealed this week. It is now expected to use metallic glass, which you'll see branded as 'liquid glass': "Unlike traditional metals that have a regular, repeating crystalline atomic structure, metallic glass features a disordered arrangement of atoms that is more resistant to bending, deformation, and denting. Achieved through rapid cooling techniques, its unique structure is 2.5x harder than titanium alloy. It also features a smooth, glossy finish that makes it aesthetically similar to stainless steel." (MacRumors). The launch of the M4 MacBook Air saw Apple clear out the portfolio of all other models. As a result, the totemic $999 price point is held by one of the M4 laptops. Curiously, this isn't the cheapest new MacBook Air out there… Apple has continued its deal with Walmart to offer 2020's M1 MacBook Air: "With the recent M4 MacBook Air launch, Walmart's offer has been updated. While the specs remain low—this is still the 8/256 option on the M1 MacBook Air—the sticker price has dropped to $649. The lowest-priced MacBook Air Apple currently offers is through its refurbished store. That's an M3 MacBook Air with 16 GB of memory and 256 GB of storage for $759." (Forbes). Apple has pre-announced an update to the AirPods Max, which should offer advantages for those looking to use the wireless headphones in production. Reducing latency and switching to lossless audio will smooth out the experience… although it does prove that sometimes you can't beat a cable: "Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio enable music creators to fully utilise AirPods Max throughout their entire professional workflow on Logic Pro and other music creation apps. Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max will become the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalised Spatial Audio with head tracking.1 By delivering lossless, high-resolution digital audio with low latency, artists can seamlessly record and mix with AirPods Max without compromising fidelity." (Apple Pressroom). What should Apple do with Apple Arcade? While Apple TV+ gets all the plaudits—even with its significant paper loss—the all-you-can-eat gaming service remains tucked away in the portfolio, gathering little attention from gamers, developers and apparently Apple management. Chris Brandrick has a proposal: "Discoverability is the key barrier for me. I'd suggest ripping Arcade out of the App Store and giving it its own dedicated app — if TV can have its own why not Arcade? You could roll the Game Center stuff in too and have a one-stop destination for pushing great new releases in front of a ton of eyeballs. Apple's own Game Pass." (Overkill). As part of its drive to go carbon neutral across its entire business, Apple has announced a near $100 million investment in Chinese clean energy, especially to provide this through its supply chain: "The investment will go towards the second phase of the China Clean Energy Fund, which aims to add approximately 550,000 megawatt-hours of wind and solar capacity to China's grid each year, according to Apple. The first phase added more than a gigawatt of new wind and solar projects across the country, the company said." (Apple China via MacRumors). Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on 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.
