Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which incorporates all of the Apple information you missed final week in a useful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we predict it goes nice with a morning cup of espresso or tea, however it’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours too.
‘Unfastened’ change
Defying all expectations, Apple final week despatched out invites to a special event on Could 7. Based mostly on the art work (which options an Apple Pencil and a creative Apple brand) and the dearth of latest Apple tablets since 2022, you will be nearly sure that iPads are again on the menu… however primarily based on the truth that Apple determined to do that at an occasion moderately than by way of a much less ostentatious press launch, there may be a couple of surprises too.
New AirPods and AirPods Max
The promotional art work strongly implies that iPads are the celebrities of the present, however that isn’t essentially the case: Apple may wish to preserve again one thing extra thrilling for the “yet one more factor” slot. And I’d argue that extra individuals care about new AirPods than new iPads.
There’s cause to hope, too. In December the commonly dependable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman predicted that 2024 would see the launch of not one however two customary AirPods fashions (one with energetic noise cancellation, one with out), and a brand new set of AirPods Max in addition. And there’s a precedent for Apple releasing new AirPods within the spring: the 2nd-gen AirPods got here out in March 2019.
The AirPods Max particularly desperately want an replace. They weren’t utterly convincing at launch, however over the previous three and a half years they’ve aged like milk due to their lack of an H2 chip, USB-C, and Lossless Audio. My colleague, in actual fact, thinks Apple ought to scrap them and start over.
A report close to the beginning of April steered the 2nd-gen AirPods Max received’t arrive till the autumn, however don’t rule out a shock look on Could 7.
David Worth / Foundry
A HomePod with a display screen
We’ve been listening to for a while that Apple is about to refresh its smart-home technique, however it’s nonetheless not clear what that can entail. One principle is that it’s going to improve the standard HomePod by adding a screen so it could actually act as a hub with out being so depending on Siri. You’d additionally be capable to use it for FaceTime calls and watching information stories whilst you eat your breakfast–useful for a tool you would set up within the kitchen. Some stories have steered that the HomePod with a display screen will merely be an iPad that attaches to a HomePod dock. That will surely match the occasion’s iPad motif.
Like up to date AirPods, a brand new HomePod might nearly match into the inventive “Let Unfastened” theme of the occasion; when you examine the animated art work in Tim Prepare dinner’s tweet you’ll discover some musical iconography in there.
The entire iPads
Apple hardly ever updates a whole vary unexpectedly. The MacBook Air will get a refresh at a special time to the Mac Professional, the iPhone SE is introduced at a special time of yr than the flagship iPhone, and the varied iPad fashions seem on an unpredictable staggered timetable.
It’s simply potential that may change this yr.
Logically we’re solely anticipating new variations of the iPad Pro and iPad Air, every of which has been the topic of a number of rumors and supply-chain leaks. (This additionally tracks with the invention of four unreleased models on the Bureau of Indian Requirements web site, which might match the 2 sizes of Professional and Air respectively.) This stays by far the most definitely consequence.
However Apple has two different iPad traces, and these are simply as sorely in want of an replace because the Professional and Air. The Tenth-gen iPad got here out in October 2022, similtaneously the final iPad Professional, whereas the Sixth-gen iPad mini got here out in 2021 and is positively historical. (Clue-hunting readers may be questioning why Apple is holding the occasion at an unusually early hour of seven am PT on Could 7, and whether or not this may level to the 7th-gen iPad mini being a major aspect. I’m… not solely satisfied by that, however it’s a enjoyable thought.)
The wait since any iPads had been introduced is getting ridiculous. It’s a protracted shot, however we’d find yourself with a whole set of latest iPads this Could.
However don’t anticipate…
There are some bulletins that wouldn’t merely be a shock: they might be a miracle. Listed below are the product launches that I’d put under a 1% likelihood.
New iPhones: The iPhone 16 (and 16 Plus, Professional and Professional Max) will come out within the fall. And the next iPhone SE is unlikely to look earlier than 2025. Each time Apple holds an occasion our iPhone rumor articles gentle up with optimistic readers, however it’s not going to occur.
New Apple Watches: Similar story because the iPhones. The Apple Watch Series 10/X received’t be right here till September (presumably accompanied by a third-gen Extremely) and whereas the final Apple Watch SE got here out 19 months in the past, it appears to be a following a two-yearly launch cycle and there haven’t been any related leaks from the availability chain.
A brand new model of Siri: Oh, I wish. However that is an announcement for WWDC, assuming Apple is ready to confess that Siri 1.0 was horrible. Which it most likely isn’t.
The subsequent model of the Imaginative and prescient Professional: Far, far too early. Anticipate this in 2025 on the earliest, and fairly presumably 2026.
Trending: High tales
Apple will lastly let its new iPads ‘Loose’ at a stunning Could occasion.
If it desires us to purchase new stuff on a regular basis, Apple must become a software company once more.
Peter Müller switched from an iPhone 14 Professional to an iPhone 15 and hasn’t looked back.
Neglect iPhone 16, Apple’s most essential new product this yr is on-device AI.
FineWoven will be a part of a protracted line of short-lived Apple failures.
The brand new Snapdragon X chips are quicker than an M3, however should we believe it?
Podcast of the week
Apple broadcasts a Could 7 occasion. Is FineWoven achieved for? Is there an enormous change in retailer for the Calculator app? We discuss concerning the newest rumors and information bits on this episode of the Macworld Podcast!
You may catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.
The rumor mill
Apple kills off troubled FineWoven line, report claims.
Report: New 12.9-inch iPad Air won’t have the identical high-end show because the iPad Professional.
iPad users rejoice! iPadOS 18 will lastly embrace a Calculator app.
Software program updates, bugs, and issues
iOS 17.5 beta 3 arrives as Apple broadcasts Could iPad occasion.
The third beta of macOS 14.5 is right here. Get it on your Mac proper now.
And with that, we’re achieved for this week’s Apple Breakfast. When you’d prefer to get common roundups, join our newsletters. You may also comply with us on Facebook, Threads, or Twitter for dialogue of breaking Apple information tales. See you subsequent Monday, and keep Appley.