Apple's rumored electric (autonomous?) vehicle, internally referred to as Project Titan, should use custom-designed batteries developed by engineers that Apple poached from A123 Systems, the makers of advanced batteries. According to a new report Tuesday, Apple has now tapped scientists and engineers from a small, unnamed South Korean firm to help co-develop hollow battery packs for Project Titan.
Based on leaked components, supply chain chatter and analyst reports, it's fairly safe to conclude that Apple will release two iPhone models come this fall—a 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus. For a while, word on the street was that a third, premium iPhone 7 model was in the works as well, referred to in press reports as 'iPhone 7 Pro'.
The logic was, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus would have regular cameras while the Pro model would come outfitted with a dual-lens system.
As alleged by a Japanese outlet, Apple has killed off the iPhone 7 Pro for good earlier in the summer after experiencing soft iPhone demand amid increased competition.
The rumor-mill has been adamant that a 2017 iPhone model—dubbed by the press a Tenth Anniversary iPhone because the original iPhone was announced and released in 2007—will adopt power-saving organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology and feature an all-new industrial design.
Japanese outlet Nikkei is now reporting that iPhone contract manufacturer Foxconn is developing both OLED displays (Foxconn bought Sharp earlier this year) and glass casings to secure orders for the Tenth Anniversary iPhone in 2017.
Taiwan's Economic Daily News is reporting that Apple is developing a brand new health-tracking hardware product that will be released in 2017. Although the report sheds little light on the matter, a machine-translated version of the story suggests that the device, described as a “killer new” gadget, will be a first-generation product so we can rule out a second-generation Apple Watch.
It's also unclear if the rumored product will be worn on one's body and whether it will operate standalone or require an iPhone, like the Apple Watch.
I known we've had enough of uninspiring iPhone 7 mockups. Also, dummy iPhone cases like this one are a dime a dozen on Chinese sites like Ali Express as vendors have always been eager to produce rumor-based iPhone housings to gain free press.
That said, the 4K video you're about to see offers a different look at three iPhone 7 dummies—one is 4.7-inch and the other two are 5.5 inches—in line with questionable rumors that Apple could ship two different versions of the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus.
The same source that posted images allegedly showing a claimed iPhone 7 chassis alongside a bunch of SIM trays in Apple Watch-like Space Black finish has now re-published a new photo that seems to picture iPhone 7 logic boards, obtained from Ming Technology on Weibo. Prolific leakster Steve Hemmerstoffer also posted his own iPhone 7 motherboard images.
Apple's carrier partner China Unicom may have just hinted subtly that the next iPhone could come in an all-new Deep Blue colorway, as first suggested two months ago by the Japanese blog Mac Otakara.
According to Dutch blog TechTastic.nl, China Unicom on its Facebook page posted an image featuring an iPhone 7-like dual lens camera superimposed on a huge “7” surrounded by four squares that allude to existing Space Gray, Gold and Rose Gold colors, plus the rumored Deep Blue colorway.
Soon after, the carrier removed its post from Facebook.
Bloomberg this morning ran a report which seemingly lends credence to earlier rumors that the next iPhone may include a pressure-sensitive Home button with Force Touch haptic feedback akin to the MacBook trackpad, in addition to improved low-light photography, cleaner antenna bands, iPhone 6s-like design, no headphone jack and more.
Apple is planning to release two new Apple Watch models this year, reports Ming-Chi Kuo. The noted analyst issued a note to investors on Sunday, saying he has learned that both a faster Apple Watch 1 and an all-new Apple Watch 2 are in the pipeline for the second half of 2016.
Noted Australian leakster Sonny Dickson, who made a name for himself by supplying a steady stream of photos showing genuine components for unreleased Apple products, has been pretty silent lately. Silent, but not inactive.
Yesterday, Dickson re-joined the rumor game by tweeting out a pair of quality images that appear to show off a 4.7-inch variant of the iPhone 7 next to its 5.5-inch brethren. Both devices are in Rose Gold and have a tweaked camera design on their backside.
Apple has spent the last few years developing a custom Bluetooth radio chip for wireless earbuds, reports Forbes. Citing a source with knowledge of the project, the outlet says the earbuds could be ready to launch this fall.
If true, the timing makes sense, given that Apple is slated to unveil a new iPhone in September. The handset is expected to ship without the customary headphone jack, indicating the company is going all-in on wireless.
Apple has started talking to TV programmers about creating a digital TV guide, reports Recode. The guide would work on both Apple TV boxes and other devices, like iPhones, allowing users to quickly find their desired TV shows and movies, and play them with a single click.
The new direction is a spinoff of the skinny-bundle TV service the company wanted to launch last year. After several years of failed negotiations with networks and studios, Apple has decided to just build an interface for content, and let everyone else worry about the red tape.