Top Stories: Last-Minute iPhone 13 Rumors, Apple Announces App Store Changes, and More

[MacRumors]

The finish line is in sight! Apple's annual iPhone event is likely just a week or so away and all eyes will be on the company as it unveils the next version of its most popular product line. With any luck, we'll also see the next-generation Apple Watch and perhaps even some new AirPods.

Other news this week saw Apple making some more changes to its App Store policies in response to a Japanese investigation and delaying the rollout of its controversial child safety features that raised privacy concerns. Read on for details on these stories and more!

iPhone 13 Feature Breakdown: Everything Rumors Say We Can Expect

The calendar has turned to September and that means Apple's annual iPhone event is likely just around the corner. Ahead of time, we've put together a detailed breakdown of the iPhone 13's expected features, as well as a list of five iPhone 13 rumors you may have missed.

Apple has yet to announce a date for its iPhone event, but the safe bet is on Tuesday, September 14. It's likely that Apple Watch Series 7 models will be unveiled at the same event, and we've got more details on what to expect from that device and more below.

iPhone 13 Satellite Communication Rumor Disputed

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said the iPhone 13 was "likely" to support Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication, a feature that he said would allow iPhone users to make calls and send messages when cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity is unavailable, but the rumor has since been disputed by some experts in the field.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman later provided new details on what the satellite capabilities could mean for future iPhones, but he says the feature is unlikely to launch this year.

What to Expect From the Apple Watch Series 7

The next-generation Apple Watch is likely just weeks away, and rumors suggest it will be a notable upgrade, complete with a new design, larger display sizes, a new color option, and more. Here is what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 7!

Apple is also reported to be working on several new health features for the Apple Watch, but most if not all of the features are expected to launch in 2022 or later.

Apple to Let Apps Like Netflix and Spotify Offer Links for Account Sign Ups Outside of the App Store

Apple this week announced that, starting in early 2022, it will allow developers of "reader" apps to include an in-app link to their website for users to set up or manage an account. "Reader" apps allow a user to access previously purchased content or subscription-based content for digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video, according to Apple, such as Netflix, Spotify, and the Amazon Kindle app.

While the change is a step in the right direction towards a fairer App Store, some developers think it isn't enough.

Apple Delays Rollout of Controversial Child Safety Features to Make Improvements

Apple this week delayed the rollout of the child safety features that it announced last month following negative feedback, the company has today announced. The planned features include scanning users' iCloud Photos libraries for Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Communication Safety to warn children and their parents when receiving or sending sexually explicit photos, and expanded CSAM guidance in Siri and Search.

Apple confirmed that feedback from customers, non-profit and advocacy groups, researchers, and others about the plans has prompted the delay to give the company time to make improvements.

Apple's Upcoming AR/VR Headset to Require Connection to iPhone

For years, Apple has been rumored to be working on an AR/VR headset, and a report this week claimed that it will need to be wirelessly tethered to an iPhone or another Apple device to unlock full functionality — similar to the early days of the Apple Watch.

The report offers new details on the Apple-designed chip and other features we can expect from the headset, which is expected to launch in 2022 or later.

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: Last-Minute iPhone 13 Rumors, Apple Announces App Store Changes, and More

 

[Serban55]

Bottom line is that we should have the invites Monday or Tuesday to confirm the rumours for the event held on 14th

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This was a very long week. Glad it’s finally September. Best month of the year is finally here.

Highly expecting the invites to go out for iPhone event on Tuesday, September 07, 2021 at 10:00AM PST.

Happy Labor Day weekend yall (People in the USA). 🇺🇸

 

[ke-iron]

Damn no satellite connection means no buy for me. I’m still on 11 pro and it’s so fast I have no big enough reason to upgrade.

 

[Serban55]

Damn no satellite connection means no buy for me. I’m still on 11 pro and it’s so fast I have no big enough reason to upgrade.

that display will be so slow compared with the promotion...so, if you want everything to be smooth, you have to go with 13 pro...promotion is far better useful day by day than that satellite connection

 

[alpi123]

Bottom line is that we should have the invites Monday or Tuesday to confirm the rumours for the event held on 14th

There's no should, we will lol
Tuesday for sure, since they send them 1 week prior to the event

 

[Shasterball]

Is it not odd that we still do not have a rumored date for the new product announcements?

EDIT: errr, we do. Time for more coffee.

 

[I7guy]

Recap:
👍
- Delay of csam scanning
- ability to post links in app store

👎
- no satellite

We’ll see who the winners and losers of rumor roulette will be in a few short days.

 

[ajfahey]

Is it not odd that we still do not have a rumored date for the new product announcements?

EDIT: errr, we do. Time for more coffee.

A rumored date for rumored products.

 

[ajfahey]

Recap:
👍
- Delay of csam scanning
- ability to post links in app store

👎
- no satellite

We’ll see who the winners and losers of rumor roulette will be in a few short days.

Satellite functionality would be a good “belt and suspenders and suspenders” feature (cell towers/Wi-Fi/satellite. It may or may not be worth the price of admission or use though. It would certainly be cheap for Apple to include hardware support but there will be high connection costs.
Satellite connectivity will not necessarily be cheap. It will, however, be competition for terrestrial cell connectivity where conventional cell connections already exist.
It will be interesting to see how satellite providers charge for satellite access, whose marginal cost of connection is independent of geography. They will be free to charge more in locations not covered by cell towers and use that revenue to subsidize lower rates in areas that are covered by terrestrial cell towers or Wi-Fi.

 

[Shasterball]

A rumored date for rumored products.

To be fair...like every year! lol

 

[FightTheFuture]

Satellite connectivity will not necessarily be cheap. It will, however, be competition for terrestrial cell connectivity where conventional cell connections already exist.

Would be really cool on Apple Watch. Hoping it makes its way into iPhone eventually.

This was a very long week. Glad it’s finally September. Best month of the year is finally here.

It was a ba de ya

 

[scgf]

Satellite functionality would be a good “belt and suspenders” feature

Hah! Never heard that phrase before. In the UK we say 'belt and braces'. Suspenders here are the things that hold a woman's stockings up - but then you probably don't use the word 'stockings' for this item of hosiery either! The differences between the US and British English are always interesting!

 

[BlueCreek]

Would really like to know when the iPhone announcement is, my iPhone X is on its last legs, 5 hour battery life, green screen, no longer charges via lightning cable and I can fry an egg on it.

 

[Mykipip]

Welp, it’s just 2, maybe 3 more days till we’ll find everting out. Stay strong

 

[bobob]

A rumored date for rumored products.

Try: forums.macfacts.com

 

[Denzo]

Damn no satellite connection means no buy for me. I’m still on 11 pro and it’s so fast I have no big enough reason to upgrade.

Would that have honestly gotten you over the line? How rural are you? But yeah upgrading from an 11 pro would be purely an indulgence. Not saying good or bad. Personally- can’t wait to get my 13 pro.

 

[5105973]

Hah! Never heard that phrase before. In the UK we say 'belt and braces'. Suspenders here are the things that hold a woman's stockings up - but then you probably don't use the word 'stockings' for this item of hosiery either! The differences between the US and British English are always interesting!

In the US “braces” are the metal or plastic things used to straighten teeth. What do they call those in the UK?

As far as I know, women’s hosiery hasn’t needed anything to hold it up since the 1970’s. At least that’s the last time I saw that kind of hosiery. I personally have only ever worn hosiery held up by elastic and I’m 55

And we use the term “pantyhose” or just “hose” or “nylons.” But I’ve heard “stockings” used now and again. Whatever you want to call them, American women are not wearing them as often as we once did.

Getting back to the new products, I was so hoping for new health sensors on the Apple Watch, especially for glucose monitoring. I’m not going to upgrade just for the new style.

I travel semi rural routes a lot. There ought to be decent coverage but so far that hasn’t been the case so it would be cool if the phones could just switch over to a satellite connection. But of course it would not likely be as easy and as affordable as what I’m dreaming of.

 

[scgf]

In the US “braces” are the metal or plastic things used to straighten teeth. What do they call those in the UK?

Yes, we call those teeth things braces too. Same thing with stockings here too - something of a niche product these days, but if they're not tights they need suspenders to hold them up.

I'm going from an iPhone 12 to a 13 Pro Max so it will be a big jump for me, whatever Apple decides to include - and with what has been rumoured I am very excited!

 

[5105973]

Yes, we call those teeth things braces too. Same thing with stockings here too - something of a niche product these days, but if they're not tights they need suspenders to hold them up.

I'm going from an iPhone 12 to a 12 Pro Max so it will be a big jump for me, whatever Apple decides to include - and with what has been rumoured I am very excited!

You mean from 12 to 13 Pro Max? Going Max is a big jump with the camera capability so it’s definitely worth being excited for.

 

[GuruZac]

If the iPhones launch with LEO Sat feature, I‘ll replace my 11 Pro with a 13 Pro. If LEO isn’t available this year, I’m going to replace my Series 5 watch with the Series 7 cellular.

 

[GuruZac]

You mean from 12 to 13 Pro Max? Going Max is a big jump with the camera capability so it’s definitely worth being excited for.

I’ve taken pictures from the same angle with my 11 Pro next to my cousin‘s 12 Pro Max and I just don’t see much of a difference. Maybe the 13 Pro sensors change that, but 11 Pro to 12 Pro is a really small difference, and negligible when lighting is good.

 

[5105973]

I’ve taken pictures from the same angle with my 11 Pro next to my cousin‘s 12 Pro Max and I just don’t see much of a difference. Maybe the 13 Pro sensors change that, but 11 Pro to 12 Pro is a really small difference, and negligible when lighting is good.

Ah, but it’s not negligible in bad lighting, which is where most of my photos are taken. Like in restaurants with family and friends.

I also use the ultra wide angle lens to fit everyone into the photo and saw a definite improvement between 12 Pro max and my 11 Pro for that. And there’s still room for improvement so I’m hopeful for such improvements to continue to be made.

Indoor photos of kids and pets seem to always benefit the most from these painfully incremental upgrades.

Photo quality in good lighting hasn’t really changed much in years and indeed sometimes seems to take a step back here and there in some circumstances. My original iPhone SE’s outdoor photos can still stand up against photos taken with more recent and expensive iPhones.

Also that post was talking about the leap from regular to the pro features. Regular phones don’t have the optical zoom.

 

[Okasian]

Would really like to know when the iPhone announcement is, my iPhone X is on its last legs, 5 hour battery life, green screen, no longer charges via lightning cable and I can fry an egg on it.

If you manage to get around the other issues, it’s relatively easy to fit a new battery in your iPhone X for around £30.

I replaced the original 2710mAh Apple battery (was at 80% health) on Friday with a 3210mAh one and it’s much better, noticeably more capacity than even when I first got the phone. It also makes the UI feel snappier smoother, or at least not as many dropped frames.

But if the phone is totally knackered then I understand. This was more of a general PSA tbf. 👍

Less waste, good for the environment, no need to dip into Apple's closed supply chain! Thanks third-party vendor!

 

[hunter_a]

Just give me iPhone 13 mini with a better battery, the rest is horsesh*t.