In a bid to promote its own apps, Apple has created a website titled "Apps by Apple" that mentions homegrown apps that Apple developed for its products such as the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV. Apple has a good reason to promote its own apps with iPhone units in the 27 European Union (EU) countries being opened for sideloading thanks to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Sideloading is the process of installing an app from a third-party app storefront. Apple has always claimed that its ban on sideloading was done for security reasons so that it could prevent users from installing malware-laden apps. But in some countries, the sideloading ban is seen as a way for Apple to force app developers to use its own App Store payment platform which gives Apple a 15% to 30% cut of in-app transactions and subscriptions generated in the App Store.

By promoting its own in-house selection of apps, Apple is hoping to keep these titles in the minds of Apple device users who might consider sideloading a similar third-party app from a third-party app storefront.

Apple has its apps divided into six major categories:

• Communication: "Apps to keep you connected." Such apps include Phone, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, and Contacts.
• Creativity: "Tools for pros and passionate creatives." These apps include Photos, Camera, GarageBand, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro for iPad.
• Productivity: "All you need to make your work of art." Apps in this category include Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Freeform, and Pages.
• Exploration: "Discover the world and navigate it with ease." Such apps feature Safari, Maps, Weather, Find My, and Wallet.
• Entertainment and Home: "Brilliant ways to watch, read, listen, and relax." Apps in this category feature Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Music Classical, and Podcasts.
• Health and Fitness: "Wellness for your mind and body." Such apps include Apple Health, Fitness, Workout, Sleep, and Cycle Tracking.
• Features: Siri, iCloud, CarPlay, Continuity, and Family Sharing.

Apple says that "Every app by Apple comes with powerful privacy features to help protect your data and give you control over your information." The teach giant adds, "Accessibility features are built into every Apple product and app - to help all people learn, create, and do what they love."

As for the App Store, Apple states, "The App Store has millions of apps that bring you amazing experiences. And every one of them meets Apple's standards for privacy, security, and content." If you do not live in one of the 27 EU member countries (the U.K. is not a member), you still will not be allowed to sideload apps on your Apple devices at this time.

With the unveiling of the iPhone 15 series approximately a month away, many consumers are gearing up to upgrade to the next iPhone iteration. But not everyone thinks that you should be so quick to upgrade to the new iPhone 15 line. X tipster Unknown21, aka @URedditor, (via BGR), says, "After the 15 series is announced, you can expect a ton of shills to overhype it like it's the most revolutionary thing in the world. I'm telling you straight up - they're just mediocre, not worth it. 2024 lineup is where it's at."

The non-Pro iPhone 15 models are getting some nice improvements this year including the addition of the Dynamic Island and stacked 48MP camera sensors for the Wide primary camera. The chipset that currently powers the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the 4nm A16 Bionic, will be driving the non-Pro iPhone 15 models this year.

The iPhone 15 Pro models should feature a new titanium build and be equipped with the 3nm A17 Bionic SoC. Apple will supposedly hike the amount of RAM on the new Pro units to 8GB from 6GB depending on the amount of storage on the phone. The iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a periscope lens for the first time in iPhone history which will increase the optical zoom capabilities of the phone from 3x to 6x.

All four models will get a hike in battery capacity and will have a shiny new USB-C port for charging and data transfer on the bottom of the device. This replaces the proprietary Lightning port which was introduced in 2012 on the iPhone 5. The Lightning port took over for the unwieldy 30-pin port that Apple used on the first four generations of its smartphone.

So why wait for 2016? First of all, Mark Gurman has said that next year we will get an iPhone 16 Ultra to promote more differences between the Pro and top-of-the-line model. According to @URedditor, Apple is "experimenting with different things," which "means that something more promising is ahead."

What we have heard about the iPhone 16 series is that the iPhone 16 Ultra will reportedly carry a larger 6.9-inch display, and the iPhone 16 Pro screen will be hiked in size to 6.2 or 6.3 inches. Expanding the screen size of the iPhone 16 Pro will allow Apple to include a periscope lens in both Pro models next year. Remember those non-mechanical solid state volume buttons that were originally supposed to be used on the iPhone 15 Pro models this year? We could see them next year.

And the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are rumored to return to the vertical layout for the rear camera array, a design that hasn't been used by Apple since the iPhone 12.

Commercially released more than two years ago, the AirTag tracking device is probably the least discussed product in Apple's current portfolio, especially if you choose to ignore news stories and reports tackling various security issues and privacy concerns among both existing users and prospective buyers waiting for some sort of a "fix."

While it's unclear if the AirTag stalking problem will ever be resolved (or even if it can be resolved in a satisfactory manner), Apple is believed to be working on a sequel to the original 2021 edition that could see daylight as early as late 2024.

That's... still pretty distant, leaving a lot of room for a change of plans (or ten), and of course, today's AirTag 2 information doesn't come from an official source either. Ming-Chi Kuo's new "prediction" of a "4Q24" mass production start doesn't even seem particularly firm, and although the reputable analyst's inside sources are more often than not right on the money, this rumor feels like a guesstimate first and foremost based on the OG AirTag's sales figures so far.

These are obviously not part of public domain, but evidently, Kuo has reason to believe they've proven strong enough over the last year or so to justify the development of a second generation.

Because the AirTag 2 is likely to go on sale either during the final calendar quarter of next year or sometime in the opening quarter of 2025, it's virtually impossible to make any confident predictions regarding its specific features, capabilities, and potential upgrades over the first generation.

For what it's worth, Ming-Chi Kuo also "believes" (which sounds like another hunch rather than concrete info gathered from supply chain insiders) that the AirTag 2 will be used (alongside other devices) by Apple to create a new spatial computing "ecosystem" with the Vision Pro headset at its center.

No, we're not entirely sure exactly what that means either, but it's safe to assume that the AirTag 2 will be deeply "integrated" and closely coordinated with the Vision Pro... whenever both products actually become available for the masses.

Apple is planning to reduce bezels not only on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, as reported, but on future iPad models, as well. Thinner bezels - and ultimately, Apple's long-haul dream: a truly bezel-less device - are possible with the help of LIPO technology (not to be confused with Li-Po battery tech).

A Bloomberg piece hints at LIPO technology for the iPad, but it's not mentioned which sub-models of the popular tablet are to benefit from this hardware liposuction. The question of ‘when' is also not addressed, but given the fact that we're about to see LIPO technology in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, we're surely not too far away from an (almost) bezel-less iPad.

LIPO is not LiPo

LIPO is short for ‘low-injection pressure overmolding', something it was used on the Apple Watch Series 7, which trimmed borders down and allowed for a larger display. Here's what Gurman's piece reads:

This year, two of the biggest changes to the iPhone 15 line will get Apple closer to that dream iPhone. The standard iPhone 15 models will trade in the notch for the Dynamic Island, while the Pro and Pro Max displays will be made with a new technology: low-injection pressure overmolding, or "LIPO" as it's dubbed inside Apple. [...] LIPO was first used in the Apple Watch Series 7 to make that device's borders thinner and increase the size of the display. And Apple plans to eventually bring the feature to the iPad as well, I'm told.

Although LIPO and LiPo consist of the same letters, upper case makes the difference. LiPo (abbreviated as Li-Po as well) is short for ‘lithium polymer battery' (a rechargeable battery of lithium-ion technology using a polymer electrolyte).

How to trim down 0.0275591 inches

Trustworthy Mark Gurman noted that the current 2.2mm bezel on the iPhone would be shrunk down to 1.5mm. In terms of Imperial measurements, the reduction is a total of 0.0275591 inches (from 0.086 inches to 0.059 inches).

0.027 inches might not be listed as an overwhelming change in your book, but remember - technology deals in nanometers (one inch is equal to 25,400,000 nanometers), so every atom of free space counts.

Apple has exciting news for developers as they unveil the Vision Pro headset developer kit, now available for application through the company's website. This comprehensive kit comes complete with the Vision Pro headset, extensive support for setup, code-level assistance, and even valuable "check-ins" with Apple experts, offering invaluable guidance for app creation on visionOS.

Priority will be given to applicants working on apps that fully leverage the features and capabilities of visionOS, highlighting Apple's commitment to driving innovation within their ecosystem. So don't expect YouTube to be first of the list of apps you search for when getting your new headset.

However, Apple's emphasis on security cannot be overlooked. Recipients of the developer kit are required to strictly adhere to their "out of sight and locked away" policy, keeping the Vision Pro headset safe from unauthorized access at all times. This precautionary measure ensures the utmost protection of the technology is always kept in the right hands.

This isn't a program for just anyone those. Those who are keen on applying for the developer kit must meet specific criteria. Being an Account Holder in the Apple Developer Program is a prerequisite, and applicants will be required to showcase their team's development skills and demonstrate their existing apps.

In parallel to this initiative, Apple is organizing Vision Pro developer labs in various major cities worldwide, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among developers. The list of cities includes Munich, London, Cupertino, Tokyo, Singapore, and Shanghai. So if you're interested in being more hands on with others who are also using the tech, be sure to keep an eye out for Labs popping up in yoru area so you can join in on the festivities.

To further support developers, Apple has thoughtfully released a compatibility checklist, providing a valuable resource for ensuring that their apps are well-prepared for visionOS integration.

The eagerly anticipated Vision Pro headset is scheduled for release early next year in the United States, with a starting price point of $3,499. With the anticipation building, developers are enthusiastically gearing up to explore the vast possibilities of this cutting-edge device. Which has been poised to redefine the boundaries of app development and enhance the user experience in unimaginable ways. Where Apple will be successful in providing what they claim will have to be seen.