I am eager to believe the rumor about the oversized iPad Air.
Macworld
Introducing our weekly Apple Breakfast feature, where we provide a condensed summary of all the Apple updates from the past week. We chose the name Apple Breakfast because we believe it pairs well with a Monday morning beverage, but feel free to read it during any mealtime.
Customers also have a preference for larger displays.
Apple has shifted towards being a company that values listening to its customers more than it did in the past. In the time when Steve Jobs was in charge, the approach was primarily focused on telling us what technology we needed and how to use it. However, nowadays there is a greater understanding and acceptance of customers’ individual preferences.
One way this has been seen (both positively and negatively) is through the use of different forms. In the past, Jobs preferred to keep Apple’s product line simple. He believed that the company’s designers knew what was best, so they should focus on making high-quality laptops and phones that would sell well. However, under Cook’s leadership, Apple has become more responsive to consumer demand for larger screens and smaller phones, resulting in a wider array of similar products being sold. There was a time when the Mac lineup consisted of four products that could easily be organized into a quadrant, and the iPhone and iPad were single devices. Now, all three ranges have expanded so much that even experienced tech journalists find them difficult to navigate.
However, it has taken Apple a significant amount of time to acknowledge that size and power are not interchangeable, and there will always be customers who prioritize one over the other. Presently, the MacBook Pro is available in 13-, 14-, and 16-inch sizes, while the MacBook Air previously only came in 13-inch and smaller options. In the past, Apple has typically equipped its larger iMac models with more powerful processors. Additionally, until 2022, the largest iPhone screen was only accessible with a Pro-level feature set. Similarly, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is currently the largest option, with the standard and Air models limited to 10.9 inches.
Could the release of the initial iPhone Plus and the 15-inch MacBook Air have marked the end of narrow-minded ideologies? As I explore in my evaluation of the 15 Plus, linked below, the display is a key component of the smartphone experience, and it’s understandable for certain consumers to prioritize it over cameras (which may already be too advanced) and processors. Apart from maximizing profit through upselling, what rationale is there for restricting the largest screen size? The iPhone 15 Plus may not be affordable, but it’s also not as expensive as the Pro-level models.
Last week, I became interested in the rumors surrounding a larger iPad Air, which would have the same dimensions as the larger iPad Pro. Similar to the reasoning behind the iPhone Plus, a 12.9-inch iPad Air would also make sense for certain users. For these users, a larger screen is valuable, but it is not necessarily the same group of users who require a desktop-level processor in their tablet. Personally, I use an iPad Air as a secondary screen while working on my MacBook Pro, mostly for emails and music, so having a bigger screen would be greatly beneficial. However, I do not need it to handle complex graphics, store massive amounts of data, or have advanced features like ProMotion and dual-lens cameras. Therefore, I do not believe it is necessary to pay extra for these features.
There is a valid argument for sticking to traditional methods, where one simply accepts what is given and privately recognizes that Apple has once again provided the necessary solution. Sometimes having too many choices can be overwhelming, and in less significant aspects of our lives, having limited options can actually be beneficial. This is the corporate mindset that has led to the success of today’s Cupertino, but things have changed at Apple Park and the company now prioritizes catering to individual needs. However, they do have a peculiar fixation on large screens and high-quality processors being paired together.
I must mention that I am not entirely convinced by the rumor, as there is limited information available and the source has a questionable credibility. This is the first report of such a project, so I require additional evidence before accepting it as truth. However, I do believe it would be beneficial if it does come to fruition and hopefully Apple has taken feedback into consideration.
Foundry
Trending: Top stories
It is highly likely that Apple’s autumn Mac event will not be held again in the future.
The A18 chip in the iPhone 16 will bring about significant changes, yet also maintain the status quo.
Apple is experiencing an issue with iCloud. The essential features, which are available to everyone for free, are in dire need of some attention.
What is the purpose of the Apple Pencil? It appears to be nonsensical.
Apple has found what they were looking for: they have 20 billion incentives to continue using Google.
Podcast of the week
We closely examine the iPhone 15 Plus and consider the trade-offs of choosing it over the Pro Max. Are these trade-offs worthwhile?
All episodes of the Macworld Podcast are available on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, and our website.
Reviews corner
-
Review of iPhone 15 Plus: A stunning compromise between size and aesthetics.
The rumor mill
Unfortunately, a new iPad will not be released by Apple this year.
There is a possibility that Apple will release a 32-inch iMac, but it may not happen for some time.
The M3 Mac roadmap from Apple is becoming more defined, but also more puzzling.
According to reports, the release of AirTag 2 is not expected until at least 2025.
Updates to the software, bug fixes, and issues
Hackers have exploited a security flaw to target iOS 17 iPhones with a ‘notification attack’.
The latest Apple Watches are experiencing a display problem, but a solution is in development.
Instead of focusing on new additions, here is a list of all the problems that have been addressed in iOS 17.1.
The new AirPods Pro firmware 6A305, which fixes a bug, was released only a week after the previous update.
In the near future, Apple will have the capability to update your iPhone without having to remove it from the packaging.
We have come to the end of this week’s Apple Breakfast. If you want to receive regular updates, subscribe to our newsletters. You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for discussions on the latest Apple news. Have a great week and keep up with all things Apple.
