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Apple in collaboration with other browser engine developers has announced the release of Speedometer 3.0, described by Apple as “the best way yet to measure browser benchmark performance.”
Apple’s WebKit team is excited to introduce Speedometer 3.0, a major update that better reflects the Web of today. It’s built together by the developers of all major browser engines: Blink, Gecko, and WebKit with hundreds of contributions from companies like Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Mozilla.
Apple’s WebKit team originally released the benchmark tool in collaboration with the Google Chrome team in 2014, but this is the first time the Speedometer benchmark has been developed through a cross-industry collaboration supported by each major browser engine.
The goal of developing and releasing Speedometer under a joint multi-stakeholder governance model is to “create a shared understanding of web performance so that improvements can be made to enhance the user experience,” according to the announcement. The latest version improves how Speedometer captures and calculates scores, shows more detailed results and introduces a wider variety of workloads.
“A few tests and workloads can’t simulate the entire web,” admit the contributors. “But while building Speedometer 3 we have established some criteria for selecting ones that are critical to user’s experience. We are now closer to a representative benchmark than ever before.”
Speedometer 3.0 takes into account the most common versions of popular frameworks including React, Vue, Angular, Preact, Lit, Backbone, and Svelte. It also features an updated set of simulated workloads to measure more of the work the browser does in response to user actions, such as painting and asynchronous tasks.
In addition, there is improved developer tooling so that browser engineers can better understand results, profile, and customize the test. The test runner architecture has also been redesigned to make it easier to write and maintain complex test cases.
Google Chrome for Android features Chrome Custom Tabs, which developers can use to offer a web browser experience in their applications. Take Gmail for example. It is one of the apps that uses this feature. When you click on a link to a website in an email, the email client opens that webpage within itself, in Chrome Custom Tabs. Well, Google has now upgraded Chrome Custom Tabs with an interesting and useful feature.
According to a new report from 9To5Google, the latest stable version of Chrome for Android (v122) lets you use Chrome Custom Tabs in the Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. For instance, now when you click on a link to a website in an email in Gmail and the email client loads the webpage in Chrome Custom Tabs, you can minimize that webpage into a PiP window, which will free up your phone’s screen to perform other tasks.
To use Chrome Custom Tabs in the PiP mode, all you have to do is tap the downward-facing button, which is located beside the back button at the top-left corner of the screen. The webpage will then shrink into a PiP window in the bottom-right corner of the display, showing you the logo, name, and domain of the website. You can even resize the window according to your liking or move it from the left to the right of the screen. To go back to the fullscreen mode, tap the fullscreen icon, and to close it, press the ‘x’ button.
According to the publication, Google hasn’t rolled out the feature to everyone yet, and that’s indeed true as we don’t see the option on our Galaxy S23. At the moment, there’s no information about when the company will make the new feature available to everyone. Considering Google Chrome’s feature rollout history, the new feature should become widely available in the next few weeks. So, update the app to the latest version.
Earlier this month, Samsung released a new security update to the Galaxy S24 series in Europe. Now, the company has started expanding the update to other markets, including India. It brings the March 2024 security patch to the Galaxy S24 series.
Galaxy S24 series more secure with March 2024 update
The new software update for the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra is now available in India. It comes bearing firmware version S92xBXXS1AXBN and brings the March 2024 security patch. According to Samsung’s security bulletin, it brings 44 fixes for security vulnerabilities in the previous software version.
The update’s download size is just 285MB because it only brings security fixes. To download the update on your Galaxy S24 series device, open the Settings app, navigate to Software update, and tap Download and install. Alternatively, you can wait for the new firmware to hit our database and flash it manually.
The devices in the lineup received a major update last month to offer the ability to improve display saturation and camera shortcomings. You can watch the February 2024 update’s improvements in our in-depth video below.
The Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra were the first Samsung phones to run One UI 6.1 out of the box. The newest version of One UI is expected to be released to existing devices in Q2 2024. Yesterday, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55, but they aren’t the first mid-rangers to run One UI 6.1 out of the box.
Galaxy F15 5G is cheapest Samsung phone to come with One UI 6.1 pre-installed
As you can see in the image below, the Galaxy F15 5G appears to be the first affordable Galaxy phone to run Android 14-based One UI 6.1 out of the box. The device was released in India a few days ago and is already available for purchase. It will get four major Android OS updates, similar to the Galaxy A35, Galaxy A55, Galaxy S23, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5/Fold 5.
It isn’t clear if all the non-AI features debuted with One UI 6.1 on the Galaxy S24 series are available on the Galaxy F15 5G. However, it comes with the new Quick Share, search engine selection for Chrome (and default search engine), Secure Folder, Samsung Knox, Samsung Wallet, Smart Hotspot, and Voice Focus.
Galaxy F15 5G pricing and features
The phone is priced at INR 12,999 ($157) in India and comes with 4GB/6GB RAM and 64GB/128GB storage options. It has a 6.5-inch Infinity-U Super AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It uses the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, a microSD card slot, a 6,000mAh battery, 25W fast charging, a fingerprint reader, and a 3.5mm headphone port.
Apple’s next-generation iPad Pro models are expected to be announced in a matter of weeks, so what can customers expect from the highly anticipated new machines?
The 2022 iPad Pro was a minor update that added the M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover, and specification upgrades like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The iPad Pro as a whole has generally only seen relatively small updates in recent years, but rumors indicate that the next-generation iPad Pro will be the first major update to the product since 2018, introducing “fundamental changes.” Below are some of the most important rumors about the new machines to be aware of as we approach their announcement.
Revamped, Thinner Design
The iPad Pro has retained the same design through four successive generations since 2018. Multiple reports suggest that the biggest design change coming to the new models will be a substantial reduction in thickness, reducing from 5.9 mm to 5.1mm and 6.4mm to 5.0 mm, respectively.
CAD renders indicate that there will be no other major design changes, but there have been vague reports about the device potentially featuring a landscape front-facing camera like the 10th-generation iPad, a much more natural placement for video calls when using a Magic Keyboard. Rumors dating back to 2021 have suggested that a relocated front-facing camera is headed to the iPad Pro. Such a change would likely also require changes to the location or charging system of the Apple Pencil, since the wireless charging components for the accessory are currently located where the camera would move to.
Earlier rumors suggested that a glass back could come to a future iPad Pro model, which would be a major design change for the device, but it is no longer clear if this is still a possibility.
M3 Chip for Improved Performance
The next-generation iPad Pro is widely expected to feature Apple’s M3 chip to deliver improved performance and efficiency.
The M3 is based on the A17 Pro chip, which is manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm fabrication process. In benchmark tests, the M3 outperforms the M2 by about 17% in single-core tasks and approximately 21% in multi-core tasks. A tentpole feature of the M3 is a completely redesigned GPU with hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, leading to dramatically improved graphics capabilities. In GPU performance, measured by Metal benchmarks, the M3 exhibits a notable improvement of around 15% over the M2.
4TB Storage Option
Apple will offer next year’s OLED iPad Pro models with a 4TB storage option, a rumor coming out of Asia claimed. Since 2021, the iPad Pro has been available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage.
If Apple increases the maximum storage of its forthcoming OLED iPad Pro models to 4TB, it would likely also increase the base storage to 256GB to maintain five capacity categories, making all seventh-generation models capable of recording ProRes in 4K at 30fps.
It is also worth noting that iPad Pro RAM is variable based on storage capacity, so iPad Pro models with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage come with 8GB of RAM, while iPad Pro models with 1TB or 2TB of storage feature 16GB of RAM. Whether that means a 4TB iPad Pro would feature 24GB or 32GB of RAM is unknown, but not improbable.
OLED Display Technology
OLED display technology is perhaps the most anticipated upgrade coming to the next-generation iPad Pro models. The current 11-inch model features an LCD display, while the 12.9-inch model has a mini-LED display.
Apple already uses OLED displays on the Apple Watch and iPhone, but has yet to bring the technology to larger devices. OLED displays use less power, sport greater color accuracy, and provide much better and more consistent contrast than LCD displays. As a significant upgrade, the change will likely be very prominent in the Apple’s marketing materials for the next-generation iPad Pro.
Bigger Screens and Slimmer Bezels?
The new iPad Pro models are also rumored to get display size increases from 11- to 11.1-inches and 12.9- to 13-inches, facilitated by slimmer borders around the screen.
This would allow the footprint of the devices to remain the same while increasing display size. The slight increases are unlikely to add any meaningful functionality to the device, but they would provide a more modern “all-screen” appearance. However, display analyst Ross Young has since cast doubt on this rumor as it may simply be a misinterpretation of screen size rounding.
Higher Prices
The more advanced OLED display technology in the next-generation models is expected to drive up the iPad Pro’s price, with current estimates starting at $1,500 and $1,800 for the 11-inch and 13-inch models, respectively. Pricing on the current 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $1,099. Models with cellular connectivity are available for an additional $200 over the base price for each storage tier.
More recent reports suggest that the price hikes may have been overstated and they may not exceed a $160 increase, but it does look like higher prices are on the way.
Improved Cameras
The iPad Pro has had the same 12-megapixel main rear camera with a ƒ/1.8 aperture since 2017. The 12-megapixel ultra wide camera with an ƒ/2.4 aperture and brighter True Tone flash have also remained the same since its introduction on the 2021 iPad Pro. Camera upgrades are rumored for other future iPad models with related hardware such as the seventh-generation iPad mini, so it follows that similar improvements are on the way for the iPad Pro.
Since 2021, the iPad Pro has also featured a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with an ƒ/2.4 aperture. With 2022’s iPhone 14 models, Apple introduced an upgraded 12-megapixel front-facing camera with an ƒ/1.9 aperture and autofocus. It seems plausible that this hardware could be ready to trickle down to the iPad Pro in its next incarnation.
The current iPad Pros support Smart HDR 4, so an upgrade to Smart HDR 5 is likely. The Photonic Engine and other iPhone-only photography and videography features could also make their way to the next iPad Pro.
A subsequent report suggested that Apple may have ultimately scrapped the glass back design after testing due to concerns over breakability. Citing sources familiar with Apple’s design plans, the report claimed that Apple has developed iPad Pro prototypes with a larger Apple logo made of glass, which would still allow for wireless charging. One of the prototypes was said to feature MagSafe with stronger magnets than on the iPhone to prevent accidental damage, and it was also said to support faster wireless charging speeds compared to MagSafe on the iPhone.
There is no guarantee that the iPad Pro with a glass back or Apple logo will ever be released, but rumors do seem to agree that Apple has extensively explored some kind of wireless charging solution for the iPad Pro. In December, MacRumorsobtained information suggesting that the new iPad Pro models might include support for MagSafe charging, and this now appears to be Apple’s chosen wireless charging technology for the device
Apple is also rumored to be working on reverse wireless charging for the iPad Pro, which would allow users to charge their iPhones, AirPods, and other accessories by laying them on the back of the iPad. Apple has filed multiple patents related to this feature.
Redesigned Magic Keyboard for ‘Laptop’ Experience
According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning a complete revamp of its Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad Pro that makes the device more laptop-like.
The updated version of the Magic Keyboard for iPad will offer a larger trackpad, addressing criticisms of the current model, and “makes the iPad Pro look even more like a laptop than the current setup.” The area around the keyboard itself will apparently be made of aluminum, resembling the top case of MacBooks, to provide a sturdier structure.
The exterior shell of the keyboard will retain the silicone cover material used on the current model and a single USB-C port. Gurman mused that the redesign using more premium materials could lead Apple to raise the accessory’s $299 price point.
The Weibo leaker known as “Instant Digital” claims that the next-generation Magic Keyboard will also be 100% carbon neutral thanks to its redesign and use of different materials. Last year, Apple unveiled its first carbon neutral products: The aluminum Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE when paired with a new Sport Loop, as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 when paired with a new Trail Loop or Alpine Loop. The company plans for all of its products to be carbon neutral by 2030.
New Apple Pencil
A new Apple Pencil is now actively rumored to arrive alongside the next-generation iPad Pro models. The current, second-generation Apple Pencil is now well over five years old.
In March 2021, the leaker known as “Mr. White” shared an image purporting to depict a next-generation Apple Pencil prototype that featured a shorter design, glossy finish, and a larger, deeper tip. Apple was believed to have worked on a smaller Apple Pencil designed for the iPad mini, as well as a $49 model for the iPhone, but both products never emerged and are said to have been canceled entirely.
Multiple rumors suggested that the third-generation will include range of interchangeable magnetic tips to emulate different drawing styles. There have also been report about color-sampling capabilities, but little else is known about what the new accessory could offer later this month.
No Apple Event, But Announcement Any Day Now
Reports from a wide range of sources are consistent that the new iPad Pro models will be announced in March. While it was initially speculated that Apple would host an event to introduce the new models, the company is no longer expected to hold a traditional event for the announcements. Instead, Apple is reportedly planning to announce new products on its website with a “series of online videos and marketing campaigns.”
Last week, Apple announced the new MacBook Air models featuring the M3 chip, so this rumor now seems to be true. As a result, Apple is highly likely to reveal the new iPad Pros via a press release on its website during a morning in the next few weeks, likely on a Monday or Tuesday, followed by launch on a following Friday. The new iPad Pro models may launch toward the end of the month or in April, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, but they could appear as soon as tomorrow.
Shortly after the Vision Pro launched, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made it clear that he believes the Quest 3 is the better VR headset, and over the weekend, he again took to Threads to reiterate his belief that the $3,500 Vision Pro is inferior to the $500 Quest 3 (via 9to5Mac).
Analyst Benedict Evans said that the Vision Pro is the “device Meta wants to reach in 3-5 years,” and that it is confusing that Meta VR engineers have suggested the Vision Pro is “basically just the same thing” as the Quest. In response, Zuckerberg said that the Quest “is better” than the Vision Pro now, and that if the Meta Quest has the “motion blur,” weight, or “lack of precision inputs” as the Vision Pro in the future, then Meta will have “regressed significantly.”
I don’t think we’re saying the devices are the same. We’re saying Quest is better. If our devices weigh as much as theirs in 3-5 years, or have the motion blur theirs has, or the lack of precision inputs, etc, then that means we’ll have regressed significantly. Yes, their resolution is higher, but they paid for that with many other product tradeoffs that make their device worse in most ways. That’s not what we aspire to.
Zuckerberg also took offense to the Meta Quest being called “a games device,” and clarified that some of the top apps on the Quest are social, browser, and video player apps.
Actually, 3 of the top 7 Quest apps are already social apps – Horizon, VR Chat, and Rec Room. Browser and video player are top apps too. Fitness isn’t as high up there, but has a passionate community as well. So I think the narrative that these headsets are only for games is out of date. And yes, more resolution is better – but trading off ergonomics and motion blur isn’t a clear win when Quest’s resolution is also quite good.
Device weight and “motion blur” have been two points that Zuckerberg has focused on in his criticism of the Vision Pro, and he has dismissed the higher resolution of Apple’s headset as unnecessary given the “tradeoffs” that he sees.
Zuckerberg in February said that the Quest 3 is superior because it is 7x less expensive than the Vision Pro, it’s more comfortable, the Quest is “crisper,” there are “precision controllers,” and there’s a “deeper” immersive content library.
Compared to the Apple Vision Pro‘s 4K microLED displays, the Quest 3 has two 2K LCD panels. It also weighs in at 515 grams, while the Vision Pro weighs 600 to 650 grams depending on the Light Seal combination used, and the Quest does not have a separate battery pack.
Apple recently started distributing internal builds of iOS 18 to factories and relevant vendors, according to credible information shared on X by a private account with a track record of sharing accurate details on Apple’s plans. The version of iOS that Apple provides at this stage is called “VendorUI,” and access to it is strictly controlled.
Sent out on an annual basis, VendorUI is a variant of iOS that is provided to factories for quality control testing. Because it has a pre-production version of the iOS user interface that Apple won’t publicly unveil until WWDC, Apple is careful about where it is distributed. VendorUI can include references to new features, new settings or changes in branding. Unlike the versions of iOS used by Apple’s software engineers, VendorUI often has certain apps omitted, ensuring that only the apps necessary for testing are present.
With every iOS release, Apple develops several different versions of iOS:
Release – Stock iOS intended for end-consumers.
InternalUI – Created for Apple’s software engineers, often contains pre-production version of the iOS user interface, with unreleased and unannounced features.
VendorUI – Designed for quality control testing in factories and can contain elements of pre-production iOS user interface.
NonUI – Developed for hardware engineers and calibration machines, does not feature the standard iOS user interface.
LLDiags – Intended for use in low-level diagnostics and has no user interface at all except for a simple diagnostics menu (Diags).
The distribution of the VendorUI version of iOS 18 means that we could soon start seeing more iOS features leak because the operating system is available to a larger number of people.
Even without VendorUI, information about iOS has started to come out. We’ve heard that iOS 18 will have a heavy focus on AI, and there will be new Accessibility features, such as Adaptive Voice Shortcuts and Live Speech Categories. Internal versions of iOS can also contain hardware information, and back in December, we shared details on the iPhone 16 hardware sourced from iOS 18 code.
To learn more about the features that are expected in iOS 18, check out our dedicated rumor roundup page for iOS 18.
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
Apple has ordered an initial 8.5 million OLED display panels from South Korean suppliers for its upcoming redesigned iPad Pro models, which are expected to arrive as soon as this month. The refresh will mark the biggest design update to the Pro lineup since 2018. Apple is relying on different OLED display suppliers for the upcoming ~11-inch and ~13-inch iPad Pro models, with Samsung Display…
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including some of the first notable M2 iPad Pro discounts in months, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get…
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 17.4.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website’s logs this week. Our logs have revealed the existence of several iOS 17 versions before Apple released them, ranging from iOS 17.0.3 to iOS 17.3.1. iOS 17.4.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear when…
iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already several rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined below. iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features for Siri and many built-in apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4 comes over a month after macOS Sonoma 14.3, an update that brought collaborative Apple Music playlists. The macOS Sonoma 14.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of…
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman today held a Q&A session focused on the Apple Car, in which he revealed that the vehicle’s chip would have been equivalent to four M2 Ultra chips combined. He also said the vehicle had an underlying “safetyOS” system that was one part of the overall operating system, but he did not elaborate.
Gurman also briefly touched on a few other topics, including that Apple apparently “just started formal development” of a new MacBook Pro with an M4 chip. He did not provide any additional details about the chip, which has yet to be announced by Apple.
Apple announced the M1 chip for Macs in November 2020, followed by the M2 chip in June 2022 and the M3 chip towards the end of October 2023, so there has been around a year-and-a-half gap between each of the chips being introduced. If that pattern continues, the M4 chip would be released in the first half of 2025.
Apple last updated the MacBook Pro lineup in October with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips. As part of that refresh, Apple discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro and replaced it with a new base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M3 chip. Apple has also updated the iMacand MacBook Air with the M3 chip, leaving the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro as the only current-generation Macs still equipped with the M2 family of chips.
Current Chip
Last Updated
Next Chip
ETA
13″ MacBook Air
M3
March 2024
M4
2025
15″ MacBook Air
M3
March 2024
M4
2025
14″ MacBook Pro
M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max
October 2023
M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max
2025
16″ MacBook Pro
M3 Pro and M3 Max
October 2023
M4 Pro and M4 Max
2025
iMac
M3
October 2023
M4
2025
Mac Studio
M2 Max and M2 Ultra
June 2023
M3 Max and M3 Ultra
2024
Mac Pro
M2 Ultra
June 2023
M3 Ultra
2024
Mac mini
M2 and M2 Pro
January 2023
M3 and M3 Pro
2024
Apple’s chipmaking partner TSMC is expected to begin volume production of chips based on its 2nm process in the second half of 2025, so the M4 chip will likely remain 3nm like the M3 chip. However, the M4 chip will likely be manufactured with an enhanced version of TSMC’s 3nm process for improved performance and power efficiency.
Last month, the Taiwanese publication Economic Daily News reported that the M4 chip will feature an upgraded Neural Engine with “significantly” more cores for artificial intelligence tasks, but no other specific details are known about the chip at this time.
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
Apple has ordered an initial 8.5 million OLED display panels from South Korean suppliers for its upcoming redesigned iPad Pro models, which are expected to arrive as soon as this month. The refresh will mark the biggest design update to the Pro lineup since 2018. Apple is relying on different OLED display suppliers for the upcoming ~11-inch and ~13-inch iPad Pro models, with Samsung Display…
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including some of the first notable M2 iPad Pro discounts in months, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get…
iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already several rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined below. iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features for Siri and many built-in apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is…
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 17.4.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website’s logs this week. Our logs have revealed the existence of several iOS 17 versions before Apple released them, ranging from iOS 17.0.3 to iOS 17.3.1. iOS 17.4.1 should be a minor update that addresses software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear when…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4 comes over a month after macOS Sonoma 14.3, an update that brought collaborative Apple Music playlists. The macOS Sonoma 14.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of…
AirPods Pro will gain a new “hearing aid mode” with the release of iOS 18 later this year, according to the latest report by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
Writing in the subscriber edition of his regular Power On newsletter, Gurman claims that the “big news” for AirPods Pro in the near term will be support for a hearing aid-style function when iOS 18 drops in the fall.
To be clear, this isn’t the first time we have heard a potential hearing aid feature for AirPods Pro. The first rumor appeared in a 2021 Wall Street Journal report, but it was previously framed as a feature that would be exclusive to a next-generation model of AirPods Pro. However, Apple in September 2022 released the second-generation AirPods Pro, while the company more recently released a refreshed model with a USB-C port.
AirPods Pro already offer a Conversation Boost feature, which boosts the volume and clarity of people directly in front of the wearer, but Apple has not advertised the earbuds as a hearing aid device, because this would require FDA regulatory approval.
As per the FDA, a hearing aid is defined as “any wearable device designed for, offered for the purpose of, or represented as aiding persons with or compensating for, impaired hearing.” This definition encompasses both air-conduction and bone-conduction devices in a variety of styles (for example, behind-the-ear, in-the-canal, or body worn).
Notably, in August 2022 the FDA approved a new category of over-the-counter hearing aids that do not have to adhere to the same strict legal requirements. The new category is called Personal sound amplification products (PSAPs). PSAPs are defined as any “electronic product that is intended for non-hearing impaired consumers to amplify sounds in certain environments, such as for hunting or other recreational activities, and is not intended to aid persons with or compensate for impaired hearing.”
Unlike hearing aid devices, PSAPs are “not intended to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent disease, and are not intended to affect the structure or function of the body.” As such, there is no regulatory classification or product code for these products, and there are no requirements for legal registration by manufacturers or listing of these products with the FDA.
It is not yet clear whether Apple will need FDA clearance in order to make explicit or implicit claims about the rumored “hearing aid mode,” which may not even adopt this exact name. If, for example, Apple subsequently suggests that AirPods Pro are for users with certain types or severity of hearing loss/impaired hearing, or for use as an alternative to a hearing aid, then they will require FDA regulatory approval to be marketed as such.
Apple is set to preview iOS 18 in June at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, and will inevitably release the major software update when the iPhone 16 series is launched, which is likely to be sometime in September.
Apple today highlighted the Vision Pro’s ability to aid the healthcare industry, showcasing a wide range of apps now available on the visionOSApp Store.
Apple explained how immersive apps that blend digital content with the physical world can transform how medical professionals train, plan surgeries, and engage in patient care both in clinical settings and at home. For example, the myMako app leverages the Vision Pro’s 3D capabilities to enhance surgical planning, providing surgeons with intuitive and dynamic access to surgical plans and insights. On the other hand, CyranoHealth utilizes spatial computing to offer comprehensive, immersive training on medical equipment, aiming to boost confidence and reduce anxiety among frontline healthcare workers.
Siemens Healthineers’ Cinematic Reality app creates immersive, interactive holograms of human anatomy, enhancing medical education and patient consultations. Epic Systems is reimagining patient record management with the Epic Spatial Computing Concept, allowing healthcare professionals to interact with patient data using intuitive gestures and spatial computing. Meanwhile, Cedars-Sinai’s Xaia offers a unique approach to mental health support, providing AI-enabled, conversational therapy in customizable, calming environments. See Apple’s full article over on its newsroom webpage for more information.
Earlier this week, Apple announced new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, the first Mac updates of the year featuring M3 series chips. But there are other Macs in Apple’s lineup still to be updated to the latest M3 processors. So, where do the Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro fit into Apple’s M3 roadmap for the year ahead? Here’s what the latest rumors say. Mac Mini Apple announced …
Apple has ordered an initial 8.5 million OLED display panels from South Korean suppliers for its upcoming redesigned iPad Pro models, which are expected to arrive as soon as this month. The refresh will mark the biggest design update to the Pro lineup since 2018. Apple is relying on different OLED display suppliers for the upcoming ~11-inch and ~13-inch iPad Pro models, with Samsung Display…
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including some of the first notable M2 iPad Pro discounts in months, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get…
iOS 18 is still months away from being unveiled, but there are already several rumors and expectations for the software update, as outlined below. iOS 18 is rumored to include new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features for Siri and many built-in apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is…
Apple today released macOS Sonoma 14.4, the fourth major update to the macOS Sonoma operating system that launched last September. macOS Sonoma 14.4 comes over a month after macOS Sonoma 14.3, an update that brought collaborative Apple Music playlists. The macOS Sonoma 14.4 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of…
Apple today released tvOS 17.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.4 comes over a month after the release of tvOS 17.3. tvOS 17.4 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the Apple TV. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to…
