Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro and Headset Rumors, CES 2023, Dark Sky Shutdown, and More

[MacRumors]

2023 is here, and Apple rumors are already flying about this year's iPhone 15 lineup, the long-rumored mixed-reality headset and more.

This week is also the annual CES event in Las Vegas where all sorts of companies are showing off their latest products, while the first of the year saw Apple finally shut down the much-loved Dark Sky weather app it acquired back in 2020. Read on for all the details on these stories and more from the past week!

iPhone 15 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Titanium Frame, Taptic Buttons, Increased RAM, and More

Apple's next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have several new features, including a titanium frame, solid-state buttons with haptic feedback, and more RAM, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

The solid-state volume and power buttons would be similar to the Home button on the latest iPhone SE. Instead of physically moving, two new Taptic Engines would simulate the feeling of the buttons being pressed.

Apple's AR/VR Headset Said to Feature Digital Crown, Waist-Mounted Battery Pack, and More

Apple's mixed-reality headset will feature a physical dial for switching to a view of the real world, a waist-mounted battery pack, small motors to automatically adjust the internal lenses, and much more, according to a report this week from The Information.

The headset is expected to be announced in 2023, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying this week that Apple is likely to reveal it at a spring media event or at WWDC in June as continued development delays have pushed back mass production to late in the second quarter or into the third quarter of this year.

CES Video Roundup: Hyper Find My Backpack, Nanoleaf 4D TV Kit, Withings U-Scan, and More

MacRumors is at CES 2023 in Las Vegas this week for a hands-on look at all of the new Apple-related devices and accessories being announced.

We've shared video recaps of the first, second, and third days at CES 2023, offering a closer look at new products like Hyper's backpack and Ember's travel mug with support for Apple's Find My app, an iPhone-connected urine reader from Withings, and other interesting finds on the show floor.

Apple Shuts Down Popular Weather App 'Dark Sky'

As planned, Apple has shut down popular weather app Dark Sky. The app had already been removed from the App Store in September and it stopped functioning for existing users on January 1.

Apple acquired Dark Sky in March 2020 and it has since incorporated many of the app's features into the preinstalled Weather app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Earlier this month, Apple shared a support document with information on how Dark Sky users can use the Weather app.

AMD Claims Its New Laptop Chip is 30% Faster Than M1 Pro

At CES this week, AMD claimed that its new Ryzen 9 7940HS chip for Windows laptops is up to 34% faster than Apple's M1 Pro chip available in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

While it appears that Apple silicon competition is increasing, it is worth noting that Apple introduced the M1 Pro chip around 14 months ago and that AMD did not offer a comparison to Apple's faster M1 Max chip.

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: iPhone 15 Pro and Headset Rumors, CES 2023, Dark Sky Shutdown, and More

 

[socialwill]

The Dark Sky shutdown still stings.

While Apple weather is better, I miss the ease of use and ability to see the global animation of weather several days into the future that Dark Sky had. Too bad they just could not leave the data source on.

 

[FightTheFuture]

The fun part of AMDs presentation was that the CES AV techs were running it on M1 MacBooks.

 

[PantalonesSucia]

Totally agree. Apple weather is fine, but Dark Sky was so good.

 

[omf]

Where the M1 excels is efficiency: performance with low power. There are plenty of x86 chips that are more powerful than an M1, but they achieve this by using far more energy. I don’t see energy usage in AMD’s charts.

 

[ceriess]

2023 is here, and Apple rumors are already flying about this year's iPhone 15 lineup, the long-rumored mixed-reality headset and more.

This week is also the annual CES event in Las Vegas where all sorts of companies are showing off their latest products, while the first of the year saw Apple finally shut down the much-loved Dark Sky weather app it acquired back in 2020. Read on for all the details on these stories and more from the past week!

iPhone 15 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Titanium Frame, Taptic Buttons, Increased RAM, and More

Apple's next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have several new features, including a titanium frame, solid-state buttons with haptic feedback, and more RAM, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

The solid-state volume and power buttons would be similar to the Home button on the latest iPhone SE. Instead of physically moving, two new Taptic Engines would simulate the feeling of the buttons being pressed.

Apple's AR/VR Headset Said to Feature Digital Crown, Waist-Mounted Battery Pack, and More

Apple's mixed-reality headset will feature a physical dial for switching to a view of the real world, a waist-mounted battery pack, small motors to automatically adjust the internal lenses, and much more, according to a report this week from The Information.

The headset is expected to be announced in 2023, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying this week that Apple is likely to reveal it at a spring media event or at WWDC in June as continued development delays have pushed back mass production to late in the second quarter or into the third quarter of this year.

CES Video Roundup: Hyper Find My Backpack, Nanoleaf 4D TV Kit, Withings U-Scan, and More

MacRumors is at CES 2023 in Las Vegas this week for a hands-on look at all of the new Apple-related devices and accessories being announced.

We've shared video recaps of the first, second, and third days at CES 2023, offering a closer look at new products like Hyper's backpack and Ember's travel mug with support for Apple's Find My app, an iPhone-connected urine reader from Withings, and other interesting finds on the show floor.

Apple Shuts Down Popular Weather App 'Dark Sky'

As planned, Apple has shut down popular weather app Dark Sky. The app had already been removed from the App Store in September and it stopped functioning for existing users on January 1.

Apple acquired Dark Sky in March 2020 and it has since incorporated many of the app's features into the preinstalled Weather app on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Earlier this month, Apple shared a support document with information on how Dark Sky users can use the Weather app.

AMD Claims Its New Laptop Chip is 30% Faster Than M1 Pro

At CES this week, AMD claimed that its new Ryzen 9 7940HS chip for Windows laptops is up to 34% faster than Apple's M1 Pro chip available in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

While it appears that Apple silicon competition is increasing, it is worth noting that Apple introduced the M1 Pro chip around 14 months ago and that AMD did not offer a comparison to Apple's faster M1 Max chip.

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: iPhone 15 Pro and Headset Rumors, CES 2023, Dark Sky Shutdown, and More

Wish there was a way to get rid of that stupid looking snorkel image. I think it could actually hurt sales.

 

[Realityck]

MD Claims Its New Laptop Chip is 30% Faster Than M1 Pro

At CES this week, AMD claimed that its new Ryzen 9 7940HS chip for Windows laptops is up to 34% faster than Apple's M1 Pro chip available in the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

I thought it was hilarious that AMD presenters were using a 14" MBP to run their CES presentation claims.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1610847756394065921

 

[anthogag]

Apple could change iPhone “Pro” to ”Ultra”. Too many other businesses are using “Pro”; it is now ridiculous.

 

[JamesHolden]

Where the M1 excels is efficiency: performance with low power. There are plenty of x86 chips that are more powerful than an M1, but they achieve this by using far more energy. I don’t see energy usage in AMD’s charts.

Because a lot of people don't care about energy usage. They are only interested in performance.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

Because a lot of people don't care about energy usage. They are only interested in performance.

With laptops most people care. Battery life matters.

 

[JamesHolden]

With laptops most people care. Battery life matters.

It matters to a certain point. It matters a lot if you're talking 4 hours versus 8. It hardly matters if you're talking 14 hours versus 16. I think it's pretty safe to say that most people charge their devices daily.

I'm not really up to speed on today's PC laptop specs, so I did a quick search and found this article on laptops with the best battery life. Apple's 13" M2 MacBook Pro comes in at 18:20 of battery life. The Dell Latitude comes in at 18:17. Yes, MacBooks have impressive battery life. And so do plenty of PCs these days.

 

[phenste]

my brain might actually explode the next time I see one of the same two Apple headset “renders” that we’ve been seeing for almost two years

(if you think that’s an overstatement: https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02/04/apple-mixed-reality-headset-features-report/)

 

[JimmyHook]

It matters to a certain point. It matters a lot if you're talking 4 hours versus 8. It hardly matters if you're talking 14 hours versus 16. I think it's pretty safe to say that most people charge their devices daily.

I'm not really up to speed on today's PC laptop specs, so I did a quick search and found this article on laptops with the best battery life. Apple's 13" M2 MacBook Pro comes in at 18:20 of battery life. The Dell Latitude comes in at 18:17. Yes, MacBooks have impressive battery life. And so do plenty of PCs these days.

The Dell Latitude “achieved” that by having a display with a paltry 1920 x 1080 resolution and only 150 nits. That’s pathetic. You won’t find a PC that can match brightness, resolution, and maintain that level of battery life.

 

[Bsj80]

A sad day..

 

[flofixer]

A waist mounted battery pack is an excellent idea for VR headset. Battery weight would no longer be a problem and thus capacity greatly increased. I really hope the VR headset meet/exceeds expectations.

 

[Flight Plan]

Because a lot of people don't care about energy usage. They are only interested in performance.

That describes me. Except in this case: FAN NOISE and heat blowing EVERYWHERE, even while a game is in idle. That bothers me a lot more than anything.

With laptops most people care. Battery life matters.

For me it's the heat and noise. If battery lasts me 3-6 hours, I'm good.

A waist mounted battery pack is an excellent idea for VR headset. Battery weight would no longer be a problem and thus capacity greatly increased. I really hope the VR headset meet/exceeds expectations.

I already hang too many things off my waist, ranging from my firearm and spare magazines, a pocket knife, sometimes a tape measure or multi-tool, and on occasion a phone holster, hammer, or machete. Oh and my pants; there's that too, lol!

Anyway, it all depends on what I'm doing, where I'll be doing it, what kind of dangers may be present, and how many cumulative legs those dangers might have.

I don't remove my EDC gear just because I'm playing a game. Only for swimming or showering. Sleeping? I'm not saying.

But maybe having options would be good? You know, like being able to mount on the waist, or on arm, leg, chest, or back? You could even use styling to make it fun...like Iron Man's chest unit or the Falcon's backpack unit. Hah, or maybe Doc Oc's extra legs, which if I remember correctly, would use needle-like probes to tap directly into the spinal column of the wearer.

Fun times, fun times!

For those of you old enough to remember the old "Photon" laser tag game played at the "Photon Centers" in town (it didn't use real lasers, but DID have decent targeting capabilities) might remember that the battery pack would strap on to your chest and there was a thick power cable that went from the power pack to the blaster gun in your hand, and another cable that would go to the helmet to operate the external lights and the headphone sound, which was built into the helmet.

That game was great. The chest unit was a legit target, as was the helmet. Both had lights that would be your team's color. When you hit either with your blaster fire, the lights on that person's gear would flash yellow and the person hit would lose the ability to shoot for a preset number of seconds. Both players would hear a sound. The person shooting would hear a "target hit" kind of sound and the person who got hit would hear a "blat-blat" sound that was unmistakable in the heat of battle.

And the equipment, including the helmet you wore on your head, was really durable. What fun that game was!

 

[JamesHolden]

The Dell Latitude “achieved” that by having a display with a paltry 1920 x 1080 resolution and only 150 nits. That’s pathetic. You won’t find a PC that can match brightness, resolution, and maintain that level of battery life.

Agreed, although that article implies that all laptops were tested with a screen brightness of 150 nits.

As for resolution, I think we're at the "good enough" stage for most people. As much as I love the retina display on my MacBook, I still find that my dinosaur Thunderbolt Display looks very good. We've reached the point of diminishing returns with a lot of this stuff.

 

[Rygaard]

First off, congrats - you beat a 2,2 years old chip.

Now that that is out of the way, how is your performance / watt compared to M1 ?
also M1 is not the flagship chip of Apple... so you beat the Absolut entry level chip from Apple - I feel like this is not something I would boast about..

and also