Apple likes a surprise and so, just a week before WWDC 2019, we have a new iPod touch to marvel at. The iOS-based media player had seemed like the afterthought of Apple's range, going untouched in 6th Generation form since 2015. Now, with a new 7th Generation iPod touch arriving, it's hard not to read some key messages into Apple's decision not to put the iPod out to pasture.
It's been nearly four years since the current iPod Touch launched, so you'd be forgiven if you thought Apple was just going to let the line slowly wind down. As it turns out, Apple won't be doing that, because it revealed a new iPod Touch model today. What will be the 7th-generation iPod Touch comes with a number of hardware upgrades and new features over its predecessor.
It's not long now before we see the next iPod Touch, a device we've not seen refreshed since July of 2015. Word from rather reliable sources suggested this week that a three-device reveal schedule was set for this week, including a new set of iPads, a new iMac, and a new iPod Touch. This device will look and feel similar to that of the most recent iPhone lineup, more than likely.
Apple's next iPad touch was tipped to be appearing later this year with a look related to that of the iPhone X. This device will likely feature Face ID, will have a collection of sensors and such to make it a real gaming and media-playing beast. The only question is - will it be able to make calls, just like Ryan Howard wanted?
Apple might finally be learning how to give oldies but goodies some love. Late last year, it finally updated the Mac mini, turning the little computer that could into a “mini PC” to reckon with. This year, if not the next, it might be giving the venerable iPod touch a refresh as well. That’s according to supply chain sources who also say that the iPhone will finally ditch Lightning in favor of USB-C though can’t really say when.
Those who frequently shop for cases and accessories for their iPhone or other Apple device have likely become accustomed to seeing the "Made For iPhone/iPad/iPod" (MFi) logo, which lets customers know the products are compatible with and meet Apple's standards. Well, Apple users might soon notice a new logo, as the company has given it an update and told third-party accessory makers they have 90 days to start using it.
There's an image of a pendant drawn by Apple in a document produced in the year 2015. This product is part of a collection of examples for products in which a new type of NFC integration would work. NFC for services like Apple Pay would work through the display of this pendant, making it somewhat of a key card for buying all manner of consumables.
Today we're prepped and ready for the big Apple Event here at Apple Park, the company's new campus. This event takes place at the Steve Jobs Theater, and is the first public event ever held at this location. Below we've arranged a selection of photos from the event, separated by location on the map of the campus provided by Apple Maps.
Both the iPod touch models left in this backwards, messed-up world have been given boosts to storage while the classic iPod nano and iPod shuffle have been discontinued. It's like Apple didn't even care about the people who were putting off buying an iPod shuffle for the past several years - it's as if they didn't even think of me! Meanwhile those users that wanted an iPod nano will have to buy one like a neanderthal, finding them on eBay or wherever the deepest, darkest, dankest resellers now dwell.
This morning Apple released iOS version 10.3 Developer Seed software to iPhones, pushing with it a number of new features. To be abundantly clear up front, this is not the public beta version of the software, it's the Developer Beta, which means the public will need to wait a bit longer to get their hands on this software for everyday use. In this newest update, users of Apple's own AirPods with the help of Bluetooth and a secondary device.
We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of the iPhone, a now iconic device that changed the world, whether you like it or not (and some definitely don't). Just in time for the birthday cake, we recently got a glimpse of a prototype interface, inspired by the iPod click wheel, that could have been the iPhone we know today. So what happened? A second prototype, that's what. And we're getting a look at both, courtesy of Sonny Dickson, the same Australian teen who rose to fame because of rare scoops like these.
Apple historians may know that before Cupertino settled on going with iOS as the iPhone's software, it considered adapting the iPod's interface and OS to power the now-iconic smartphone, including the MP3 player's click-wheel. The original prototypes of that software have never been seen before, but frequent leaker Sonny Dickson has managed to get his hands on a selection of screenshots and even video, revealing what was once known as "AcornOS."