Top Stories: Apple Vision Pro Launch Recap, iOS 17.4 Beta Features, and More

[MacRumors]

Apple Vision Pro has been out for a week, so regular users are starting to get settled in with the new device and sharing their thoughts on it while teardown experts have been digging into the hardware.

Beyond all the news surrounding Apple's long-anticipated headset, this week also saw more progress on iOS 17.4 and related operating system updates expected to launch next month, fresh iPhone 16 rumors, and more, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Vision Pro Apps to Check Out

Following the launch of Apple's new Vision Pro headset on Friday, we shared an in-depth list of apps optimized for the visionOS operating system, from both larger and smaller developers.

Apple announced that over 600 apps have been optimized for visionOS so far, and our list highlights many notable ones, while we've also shared a video looking at ten of our favorites.

Vision Pro is also compatible with more than one million iPad and iPhone apps.

iFixit Shares Apple Vision Pro Teardown

Repair website iFixit recently shared written and video teardowns of the Apple Vision Pro, providing a closer look inside the headset. The headset is an engineering feat, with an array of cameras, sensors, fans, and many other precisely-arranged components.

iFixit also shared some technical details about the Vision Pro's internal and external displays, battery pack, repairability, and more in a separate video.

iOS 17.4 Beta: All the New Features

Apple last month confirmed that iOS 17.4 will be released at some point in March. The upcoming software update includes several new features and changes for the iPhone, as outlined in our list.

Key new features include major App Store changes in the EU, Apple Podcasts transcripts, SharePlay for the HomePod, and new emoji. The update also prepares for the launch of next-generation CarPlay later this year.

Apple also released iOS 17.3.1 with a text-related bug fix.

Apple Testing Slim Camera Bump Design for Base iPhone 16

The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models launching later this year could be equipped with a slim, vertical, pill-shaped rear camera bump, according to leaked schematics.

The return to vertically-aligned rear camera lenses would allow for spatial video recording on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The feature is currently exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 15 lineup.

Apple Now Selling Refurbished 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro

Apple this week added the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the standard M3 chip to its online refurbished store for the first time since the laptop was released in November. Prices are discounted by around 15%.

Apple's certified refurbished products are nearly indistinguishable from brand new models, in our view, so they can be an attractive choice for customers who are looking for a discount directly from the company.

The MacRumors Show: One Week With Apple Vision Pro ft. Quinn Nelson

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show podcast, special guest Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs joined Dan and Hartley to discuss what it's been like using the Apple Vision Pro over the past week since its launch.

The MacRumors Show now has its own YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for the latest episodes. The show is also available through your preferred podcast app.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Article Link: Top Stories: Apple Vision Pro Launch Recap, iOS 17.4 Beta Features, and More

 

[CharlesShaw]

I didn’t buy an AVP, but I’ve devoured so much coverage about it this week that I actually feel like I need to take it off of my face and have a relaxing weekend without it. [However, my personal use case would be watching TV and movies all weekend.]

 

[flofixer]

If you enjoy watching golf the PGA tour app looks pretty cool. I can't wait to see what apps will be available six months from now.

 

[sza]

For those who bought the Vision Pro, is it picking up dusts in your drawer already?

 

[flofixer]

For those who bought the Vision Pro, is it picking up dusts in your drawer already?

That's a fair question. It's still too new and I'm still exploring. Eventually its biggest use for me will be when I travel.

 

[Realityck]

Apple also released iOS 17.3.1 with a text-related bug fix.

I wish MacRumors would stop with the emphasis on iOS discussion only with most news when this text-related bug was also commonly experienced on iPadOS and MacOS and they also received patches. Is it that difficult to provide broader news topic coverage?

Apple today released iOS 17.3.1 and iPadOS 17.3.1. According to Apple's release notes, the update includes a fix for a bug that could cause text to unexpectedly duplicate or overlap while typing.

Today's update addresses a frustrating ‌macOS Sonoma‌ bug that could cause text to get randomly replaced while typing. There have been multiple complaints about the issue, which affected web pages and apps like Mail and Messages.

 

[notabadname]

This deserves the attention it is getting, as revolutionary as the original iPhone or iPad. The price is totally in line with the amazing tech stuffed into this. It is an actual laptop, for your face - not just a couple of half-baked, pixilated eye screens to let you virtually ride a roller coaster, as its predecessors have been. M2 Chip, R1 chip, 5,000 patents. 12 cameras, two infrared beams and receivers, six microphones, Lidar scanner. And a Micro OLED display with Approximately 11.5 million pixels driving the display at a ppi of 4,800. No display tech has ever come anywhere close. (And the list of tech is longer, those are just some impressive highlights. People complain that Apple doesn’t innovate anymore, and only worries about emojis for the iPhone. I’d say this kind of drops the mic.

 

[Realityck]

This deserves the attention it is getting, as revolutionary as the original iPhone or iPad. The price is totally in line with the amazing tech stuffed into this. It is an actual laptop, for your face - not just a couple of half-baked, pixilated eye screens to let you virtually ride a roller coaster, as its predecessors have been. M2 Chip, R1 chip, 5,000 patents. 12 cameras, two infrared beams and receivers, six microphones, Lidar scanner. And a Micro OLED display with Approximately 11.5 million pixels driving the display at a ppi of 4,800. No display tech has ever come anywhere close. (And the list of tech is longer, those are just some impressive highlights. People complain that Apple doesn’t innovate anymore, and only worries about emojis for the iPhone. I’d say this kind of drops the mic.

More like it's a 3D adaption of a iPad stuck to your face. I don't equate the AVP as comparable to a laptop because there is no way you can use it as efficiently with arm and finger gestures as a keyboard and mouse/touchpad. visionOS might be more capable then iPadOS in some ways, but is not a multitasking equal to using a Mac for applications with more user interface depth and processing power.