Ming-Chi Kuo may not be at KGI securities anymore and he seems to still be making informed predictions on what Apple might do with it's future products
He shared his opinions on Apple pricing strategy for 2018 iPhones and if you we're happy about the 2018 iPhone X price 2018 might be a better year for you.
He's looking for Apple to bring prices back below $1000 USD and that includes on a new larger 6.5-inch OLED iPhone X Plus.
He thinks Apple could price the "plus" model between $900-1000 an the 5.8-inch model between $800-900.
He cites a few factors like “concern over the negative impact of a higher price”, but better predicted yields and cost reductions in components are a larger contributing factor in the prediction.
He also thinks Apple rumored LED 6.1-inch "entry" model could come in priced between $600-$700 USD
For release date he expects an announcement in September with new model on sale within September as well.
Reports that Apple might be being a bit more conservative about launch stock
Apple reportedly ordered about 100 million iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X models
This years three phone lineup orders are thought to be more in the 80 million range.
That has Wall street spooked. A sign Apple doesn't expect to sell as many phones this year?
Stupid because of what we were just talking about. Major parts of the supply chain have already worked out bugs on new components developed fro last years models.
there's more supply and more capability to ramp up more if needed. Apple is smart to be conservative with launch estimates and see how customers respond and to which products.
I would bet money in the end Apple sells more iPhones in 2018 then they did in 2017.
iOS 12 'evidence' of TrueDepth iPad
MacRumors points out several UI changes made to iPad in iOS 12
Swipe up from the dock to brings up the Home screen
Swipe down down the top right to bring up Control Center (I already do now)
Status bar has been changed with the time, day, and date are located on the upper left hand side of the screen and the Wi-Fi/LTE connection, Bluetooth status, and battery life on the right. Splitting a virtual "notch" like on the iPhone X
There have been rumors from several sources that Apple would bring the TrueDepth camera system, thinner bezels, and the NO Home Button designs to iPads, at least the Pro models, this year.
There is some who think the iPad may not adopt a notch and simply integrate the cameras into the bezel.
Some more new iOS 12 stuff
TechCrunch reported Apple will add "Live Listen" to AirPods
Was announced in 2014 and allowed hearing aids to tap into the iPhone microphone
Your iPhone can become a remote mic for your AirPods.
Likely an Accessibility feature.
Option is there in settings and there is a "Hearing" Control Center item.
Some of my thoughts on "speed tests".
Yes, faster, but come on?
"TV launched almost instantly on iOS 12, while it took three seconds in iOS 11" OMZ, three whole seconds? How ever will you survive with that old phone you have to wait on for three whole seconds?!!
I GET that yes anything faster is better and in aggregate it makes a BIG difference, but I also am cognizant enough to know that we're all a little spoiled these days.
watchOS 5 beta was briefly pulled, but updated when Apple rolled out new betas.
More details on Mac iOS porting
Craig Federighi provided a bit more detail in a Wired interview
The frameworks have been in development at Apple for two years
iOS and MacOS share a common kernel and have common sets of frameworks for things like graphics, audio, and layout display.
Parts of UIKit, the iOS interface stuff, are being leveraged to allow iOS developers to be able to target the Mac just like they would an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
How easy the app is to port and how well it will run on the Mac really will depend on the App and how it was developed.
Some app might, "just work" and others could require serious changes. Most will fall someplace in the middle.
An example, the API turns a "long-press" into a two-finger click.
Stressed that having different chip architectures really didn't make a difference.
iOS apps ported to macOS won't be forced into the App Store. Developers can still price and sell the apps as they want.
Starting in macOS Mojave app developers can "notarize" their apps. Allows the app to run even when Gatekeeper is on.
Apple also announced at WWDC that beginning with macOS Mojave it has deprecated support for OpenGL and OpenCL on the Mac in favor of it's Metal API
Shouldn't be shocking. OpenGL on macOS High Sierra uses version 3.3 from 2010. Version 4.6 was released in 2017.
Metal and Metal Performance Shaders give developers the functionality of OpenGL and OpenCL in a single Apple API
The issue is it's proprietary and not open like OpenGl and OpenCL
Older games will stop working on Mac and developers will have to target Mac in future development
Graphics engines and libraries developers use to develop games will have to expand to support both Direct3D and Metal. Many already do.
Worst case is possibly fewer indie and non-first-tier titles get ported to the Mac.
"Free-trials" on non-subscription apps aren't quite new or really "free"
Basically it's a change to the guidelines that let developers continue to do something some were doing already
Download a "free" app with IAP times "0" amount IAP that unlocks the full features.
Problems:
Paid apps are basically listed as "Free" though not really "free".
Can't offer "bulk purchase"
Doesn't support "family" purchases
The "free" app likely wouldn't be allowed to be fully crippled after the "trial" and even if it was customers for be more pissed.
Paid apps, would be ranked and featured as "Free" apps.
The change also don't address what many see as a bigger issue, lack of "paid upgrades".
I believe Apple feels subscriptions are a better solution for this.
More money for the developer and Apple.
Apple orders J.J. Abrams and Sara Bareilles show
A half-hour dramedy called "Little Voices" (Ba-rell-us)
Described as a love letter to "the diverse musicality of New York which explores the universal journey of finding your authentic voice in your early 20s."
Bareilles will also debut original songs in the first 10 episode season.
Screenwriter Jessie Nelson ("I Am Sam", "Stepmom") will serve a show runner and will also write, executive produce, and direct the first episode.
Variety also reported that Apple has earned the TV adaptation rights to Gregory David Roberts' 2003 novel "Shantaram."
Story of a convict named Lin who flees an Australian prison and disappears into the city of Bombay. There he finds a new life in the slums, bars and underworld of India.
The show will be produced by Paramount Television and Anonymous Content and "American Hustle" screenwriter Eric Warren Singer will serve as the show runner and executive producer.
Other recent shows
A half-hour show about the life of poet Emily Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld
An adaptation of the Isaac Asimov series Foundation being created by Skydance Television
An animated series from the creator of "Bob's Burgers", called "Central Park"
Apple has built a larger team focused bringing original content series to Apple headed by former Sony TV execs Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht operating out of The Culver Studios
No word on how Apple will incorporate all their new series into the services, but shows are expected to start being released sometime in 2019
Apple Watch Face-off lawsuit
Much like Nicholas Cage and Travolta looks like some Apple Watches are losing their faces, though not swapping
I don't typically cover lawsuits, but looks like enough people have had this problem with their original, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 watches for a class-action to be filed.
The complaint, filed in Northern California district court, alleges that Apple has sold millions of watches with the defect throughout the United States.
They say Apple is denying existence of the defect and calming it is the result of accidental damage caused by consumers.
Apple did acknowledge an issue with swollen batteries on some Series 2 models that in some cases caused the face to pop-off, but this is different.
Share my experience
Originally thought to have a swollen battery
Repair depot said no, but the face still had become detached without any "damage" from myself.
FastCompany report that Apple could replace the Apple Watch side button and digital crown with "Taptic" versions as soon as this year.
crown would still scroll, just not "push".
Improve reliability and water resistance
free up space for more battery
Possibly use the tops of the "buttons" as sensors fro health data like EKG (heart rhythm)
Sponsor
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Setapp, an app subscription service created by CleanMyMac developers, now offers more than 119 apps, with big names like Ulysses, Bartender, and iMazing.
The collection of apps is AMAZING and grows every month.
Setapp attracts more and more loyal users, one of the reasons why it recently won Consumer Product of the Year on Product Hunt.
There are so many advantages of being on a set app subscription
Quality. These are curated top tier apps.
You get an catalog of apps you can just browse or search through to find what you need in the moment. It's already part of your Setpp subscription so no added costs. Install and use.
You always have access to the latest version and no upgrade costs, because again you're already subscribed.
It's so affordable. If there are just 2-3 apps you need you've likely already covered the cost of the yearly subscription (these are quality apps remember).
But you don't even have to take my word for it. You can get a 7-day trial for FREE and earn six more free months by referring friends.
Ok, I'm being deliberately dramatic and inflammatory
But when I read in iOS 12 there is a new lockscreen gesture to trigger an immediate rescan I knew others feel my pain.
Honestly FaceID only works fro me about 60-70 percent of the time first try.
In iOS 12 a failed scan will display the number pad, along with a notification advising "Swipe up for Face ID or Enter Passcode."
I've also heard from some earlier testers that FaceID seems to be working better/faster.
Open FaceTime. What happened?
Remember this? Play clip.
That was in 2010, almost 8 years ago.
With the new group FaceTime and up to 32 people supported wouldn't it be really nice to also have not just iOS and macOS, but also Windows, Android, and anyone else we know in on those calls?
One reason often cited for why FaceTime never went open is a patent dispute
VirnetX Holding Corp. sued Apple in 2010 alleging that Apple's FaceTime, VPN on Demand and iMessage features infringed four VirnetX patents.
In 2016 Apple was ordered to pay $625.6 million after two lawsuits were combined, but then a federal judge voided the verdict because combining two lawsuits into a single trial confused the jurors and was unfair to Apple. He ordered they be tried separately.
In October of 2017 a Texas judge ordered Apple to pay VirtnetX $439.7 million in damages and that was raised to $502.6 million in April of 2018
But irony of ironies the Patent Trial and Appeal Board invalidated all four of VirnetX patents in 2016.
Because of all of this Apple had to re-write FaceTime in 2010 to use their own "relay servers" instead of allowing FaceTime to work point to point.
Apple would have to provide relay servers for the service, presumably at a cost or require other companies to set up servers and lose control of the experience.
Many things are open and still have different experiences.
I would also guess that maybe some of the parts Apple employed to get around the VirnetX patents could be more proprietary and possibly things that would expose things or compromise security of FaceTime in ways that Apple wouldn't want.
Backing up apps, updated apps, and stuff
Email from Susan who recently had to have an iPhone replaced at the Apple Store
No big deal because she has a backup, right?
When she restored and apps started to reload and she launched them she got a dialog:
Unable to Install "Drafts 4 (legacy Version) : The app is no longer available in the App Store"
Remember that apps are no longer stored locally on your Mac and if the developer removes them from the App Store they cannot be re-installed.
On newer devices and OS many older 32-bit apps will no longer run.
So what to do:
See if there is a new version. Many times this can be listed as an entirely NEW app and it may be a "pay again" situation.
If you really want iMazing, http://imazing.com, has the ability to pull down the IPA, export, save, and restore saved IPA files.
For a long time I had ChronoSync archiving all my ~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Media/Mobile Applications/
Thing of the Moment: Notability
Had a Wordcamp this week and took only my iPad Pro
At this sort of event prefer to take hand written notes and my favorite app for that is [Notability]()
I typically use a ruled yellow legal pad style (that's my default), but you can set whatever styles you want.
I will also use the built in recorder so I can go back and add anything I might have missed
There is a "Note Replay" feature that plays back your notes as you listen to the audio.
You can also select the hand written text and have it converted to text
Either convert it in place or copy the converted text to the clipboard
Can add items
Photos or Gif
Figure
Web clip (website)
Figures
Syncs on my devices via iCloud and can backup to your favorite web service (I use Dropbox)
Pick format. PDF+audio (RTF, Noteability format)
Unfortunately no Mac version yet.
USD $9.99. There are in-app purchases for other "themes". Comes with Light and Dark.
