Second-generation AirPods wireless earphones along with AirPower, Apple's long-expected multi-device Qi wireless charging mat, a fifth-generation iPad mini and an inexpensive 9.7-inch iPad are all thought to be announced in March ahead of launch on Friday, March 29, 2019.
Apple could announce second-generation AirPods at a special media event which should take place in March, but the new earbuds may not go on sale until later in the year or the fall.
Apple is expected to announce and release quite a few new or updated products in the spring, including the $150 AirPower wireless charging mat and second-generation AirPods along with a version of the charging case for the current earbuds that can be charged wirelessly.
From today's report by MySmartPrice:
Our source has claimed that the AirPower wireless charging pad will finally be released in Spring this year alongside the wireless charging case for the first-generation AirPods. The battery inside the wireless charging case will be slightly smaller in capacity compared to the current AirPods charging case.
While MySmartPrice lacks an established track record for corroborated Apple rumors, it did spot the upcoming AirPods in the Bluetooth SIG's regulatory database back in November.
There has been some confusion as to whether this forthcoming case will only work with AirPower, Apple's multi-device Qi charger, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Like all gadgets compliant with the Qi protocol, this case will certainly work with any third-party Qi charger. I must admit, I'm way more interested in the next AirPods than this case but who knows—I could easily change my mind once I start using the AirPower charging mat.
What do you think?
Nomad today released its first metal band for Apple Watch that the accessory maker previewed in January at the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show 2019 in Las Vegas.
Apple's HomePod wireless speaker could gain a host of additional capabilities in the future, including 3D hand gestures, the Face ID facial recognition system and much more.
Apple on its website sells LG's UltraFine 4K and 5K displays as recommended options for its pro customers, but soon the company may start selling an unreleased LG model as well.
Tesla has opened up a new Amazon storefront to sell iPhone cases and other merchandise. First spotted by 9to5Mac, the store features everything from sweatshirts to coffee mugs, and even 1:18 scale die cast models of some of its vehicles.
Accessory maker Anker today opened pre-orders for the industry's very first officially sanctioned Lighting to USB-C cables ahead of their launch later this month.
Apple's second-generation Smart Battery Case for the latest iPhone XR, iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max smartphones is definitely a solid accessory. But at a somewhat pricey $129 a pop, is it really worth basically a $100 more than inexpensive third-party alternatives on the low end?
A setup card in the iOS 12.2 beta confirms Apple's working on a new AirPods version with a built-in Hey Siri that could launch around iOS 12.2's release in a matter of few weeks.
Totallee's super thin cases for the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR are now available on Amazon for Prime shipping.
I'm not going to beat around the bush: Totallee cases are my favorite cases, period. Cynics might think I am just being paid for saying that, and while it is true the company is sponsoring this message, it certainly doesn't change my opinion of Totallee's products as I've been using these cases for 4 years, well before they became a sponsor.
Apple's mid-January release of its Smart Battery Case for the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR models wasn't entirely unexpected. Our video editor Harris Craycraft has managed to get his hands on the new battery case, this is his unboxing experience.
For starters, the case now looks sleeker than the previous version. While the hump is still present, the bottom chin is gone because this case was specifically designed for the Face ID-enabled iPhone models that feature a fullscreen design (except the notch, of course).
And now, watch Harris's video covering the unboxing experience:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLPor9rHqMI Subscribe to iDownloadBlog on YouTubeAside from improved appearance, other innovations in this Smart Battery Case include support for Qi wireless charging, meaning you can now charge either the case’s battery or both your iPhone and the case via any Qi-compliant wireless charger.
The new case also fits last year's iPhone X though charging requires Apple's recently-released iOS 12.1.3 software update. See how it increases each handset’s battery life:
iPhone XR: 39 hours of talk time, 22 hours of Internet use and 27 hours of video iPhone XS: 33 hours of talk time, 21 hours of Internet use and 25 hours of video iPhone XS Max: 37 hours of talk time, 20 hours of Internet use and 25 hours of videoThe new Smart Battery Case has a larger battery capacity than the previous version. With a pair of integrated cells at 1,369 mAh each, you’re now getting around 1.4 additional watt hours and almost 400 more milliamp hours than before. Even though the mAh rating is lower, the new case does have a larger capacity than the old version when taking voltage into consideration.
Harris will be playing with these cases for a bit more before publishing his complete hands-on video walkthrough so watch this space for his full review.
You can find the new Smart Battery Cases for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR on Apple’s website. It's available in Black and White and priced at $129 regardless of the version.
What do you think about the unboxing experience?
Let use know by leaving a comment below.