Week 2, May 2023
“A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock pile when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind.” — Antoine Saint-Exupery
1. Foldable iPhone and iPad: Here’s what the latest rumors say
● We don’t yet know when, or if, the company will introduce a foldable iPhone or iPad — but read on as we detail what we know so far.
2. Apple expanding its online store to Vietnam next week
● Apple announced that it will officially launch the Apple Store online in Vietnam next week on Thursday, May 18. This launch has been highly anticipated by Apple fans in the country.
3. Feature request: Expand Optimized Battery Charging to the Apple Pencil
● Back in 2019, Apple introduced a new feature to iPhones, as part of iOS 13: Optimized Battery Charging. The same feature subsequently came to AirPods, Apple Watch, and the Mac. But one Apple product doesn’t yet have it, and that’s the Apple Pencil
4. WhatsApp users in Singapore can now pay merchants directly from the app
● WhatsApp has its own payment platform called WhatsApp Pay, which lets users transfer money within a WhatsApp chat. After launching the platform in India and Brazil, the messaging app is now rolling out WhatsApp Pay to businesses in Singapore.
5. Dell 32-inch Apple Pro Display XDR alt now available with Thunderbolt 4, 4K webcam
● Dell announced its new UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor back in January at CES, now the external display is available with a compelling feature set for a few thousand dollars less than Apple’s 32-inch Pro Display XDR. Read on for all the details.
6. Google continues spending keynote time to remind us iPhones don’t support RCS
● Google is holding the 2023 edition of its annual I/O conference today, and the company announced many new things for Android and Pixel products. During the keynote, the company again teased Apple for not providing support for the RCS messaging protocol on the iPhone.
7. Best apps for young kids to foster fun and creative learning
● Just like adults, it can be easy for kiddos to get sucked into passively watching videos on iPad or TV. But what about more engaging digital experiences that encourage creative and fun learning? Follow along for a look at some of the best apps for young kids.
8. Here’s how long Apple users are holding on to their iPhones
● Last week we saw a report from CIRP on Apple achieving an all-time high iPhone average selling price. Today, the firm released a study showing how long Apple users are keeping their iPhones before upgrading, here’s what the results show.
9. Children’s use of social media should be managed, says American Psychological Association
● Children’s use of social media may have both positive and negative impacts, but parents and other caregivers should ensure they remain watchful, says a new health advisory. The American Psychological Association (APA) has made 10 recommendations to reduce the risks of harm, several of them being to better educate children about the issues they may encounter.
10. How to Protect Your Apple ID With Security Keys
● Apple has introduced security keys as an additional step to help users protect their Apple ID accounts. Keep reading to learn why the alternative authentication method is the most secure method available and what you need to do to set it up.
11. Shazam Now Supports Apple Music Classical
● Shazam was updated today with support for Apple Music Classical on the iPhone, allowing the two apps to work together for classical music.
12. Apple Confirms iOS 16.5 Will Be Released Next Week With These New Features
● In a press release introducing a new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch today, Apple confirmed that iOS 16.5 and watchOS 9.5 will be released to the public next week. The software updates have been in beta testing since late March.
13. Apple announces Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro coming to iPad
● Mic drop moment for pro apps team at Apple this morning. Apple just announced that Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro are officially and finally coming to iPad. Final Cut Pro is Apple’s professional video editing software that has been exclusive to Mac before now. The same is true for Logic Pro, Apple’s professional audio editing software for Mac. Both apps will land on the iPad later this month.
14. Apple Watch Series 9 could include the first speed boost in years
● Expectations are building for what could be a major update with watchOS 10. And now it looks like a valuable upgrade may come with the hardware of Apple Watch 9 to offer a potentially major performance improvement.
15. Final Cut Pro iPad compatibility, capabilities, release date, more
● Final Cut Pro — as well as Logic Pro — is officially coming to iPad with a touch-based UI. Read on for Final Cut Pro iPad compatibility, its capabilities, pricing, release date, and more.
16. Twitter rolling out improvements for sending DMs; announces voice and video calls
● Twitter has been working on a lot of changes recently. And while some of them are quite controversial, the company also has some cool features in its plans. On Tuesday, the platform began rolling out an update to its iOS and Android app that brings improvements for sending direct messages (DMs). In addition, Twitter confirmed that it will soon let users make audio and video calls.
