Apple Vision Pro may be taking a backseat while the M4 iPad Pro has its day in the sun, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t big things brewing for the premium mixed reality headset. GamesIndustry.biz has interviewed Owlchemy Labs CEO Andrew Eiche about their experience bringing Job Simulator and Vacation Simulator to Apple Vision Pro, and their perspective on its role in the world is clear.
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Zac Hall is 9to5Mac Editor-at-Large with a focus on technology news, product reviews, and analysis. Zac previously served as 9to5Mac Editor-in-Chief, hosted over 400 weekly episodes of the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and has been a member of the 9to5Mac family since 2013. Zac has over a decade of experience in technology journalism, including as a tech columnist for the Clarion-Ledger newspaper, part of the USA Today network.
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Use CarPlay? Ditch the wire with this affordable adapter
Do Wireless CarPlay adapters actually work? My Honda Civic came with wired Apple CarPlay. I really wanted Wireless CarPlay in the Civic, but replacing its entertainment system seemed unwise. However, there’s a solution for turning standard CarPlay into Wireless CarPlay, and it works with iOS 17.5 and iPhone 15.
Expand Expanding CloseAs M4 iPad Pro arrives, Joz sets the record straight: ‘tablets suck, and iPads don’t’
Happy M4 iPad Pro launch day! Whether you’re picking one up for yourself or dreaming about which configuration you’d order, there’s plenty of M4 iPad Pro material to go around this week.
The latest insight into Apple’s vision for the iPad is included in an Apple exec interview by Harry McCracken for Fast Company. John Ternus and Greg Joswiak, or “Joz,” talk M4, AI, OLED, and what makes the iPad a “Pro” machine.
Expand Expanding CloseLook, this is the definitive answer to what ‘Air’ in iPad Air really means
Remember when Apple discontinued the original HomePod and still sold the HomePod mini? The question at the time was “mini compared to what?” Apple later revived the HomePod with a second-gen model, restoring balance to the universe.
Now the iPad lineup is in a similar situation. Apple blasted the M4 iPad Pro with its Super Galactic Thinnifier 3000 Ray Gun, leaving the M2 iPad Air thicker than its pricier companion. In a world where Air means thin, the question is then “thin compared to what?”
The answer exists in the annals of etymology.
Expand Expanding CloseMeta unveils travel mode for using Quest headsets during flights like Vision Pro
Update: Three weeks later, Meta has announced the feature alongside a new partnership with an airline. Original coverage from April 18 below…
Today I learned two things. First, apparently Meta Quest headsets don’t work on planes? I guess Apple knew to prioritize that feature for Vision Pro. And second, support is reportedly on the way. Add this to the list of ways competition from Vision Pro is making Meta Quest 3 a better product.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases iOS 17.5 with News+ games, Pride wallpaper, cross-platform tracking detection, more
Apple has officially released iOS 17.5, bringing new games in News+ and cross-platform tracking detection to iPhone users. Apple’s latest Pride wallpaper is also featured. The update is available alongside iPadOS 17.5, macOS 14.5 Sonoma, and more.
Expand Expanding CloseiPad lineup could have more clarity with one change
With 48 individual iPad configurations available from Apple, there are more choices in the lineup than ever. When simplified, though, the iPad line is divided into four models: iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. As Logan Spurgeon points out, however, there’s one thing Apple could do to really bring clarity to the iPad line.
Expand Expanding CloseApple releases macOS Sonoma 14.5 RC with release notes
Following release candidate versions of iOS and other operating systems this week, Apple has seeded out macOS 14.5 RC to testers. This version could be what ships when the final version reaches customers. Here are the release notes:
Expand Expanding CloseBest Apple Vision Pro apps
What does Apple Vision Pro actually do? It turns out the answer is a lot. While this is not a comprehensive list of every visionOS app, these are some of the many great experiences possible on Apple Vision Pro!
Expand Expanding CloseSonos takes a cue from Apple, citing ‘courage’ as why its new app is disliked
Not loving the new Sonos app? Cut ’em some slack—it took courage. That’s what the company says in response to criticism from customers.
Expand Expanding CloseYes, Apple, nano-texture all the things!
One takeaway from the latest iPad event is that matte versus glossy is a polarizing topic when it comes to displays. This take is based on some of the reactions to Apple bringing its nano-texture matte display technology to the iPad Pro at last. For me, nano-texture coming to the iPad is easily my favorite piece of news from Apple’s Let Loose event.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Pencil Pro packaging is an inspiring piece of art
Love those artistic Apple logos promoting the latest iPad event? It turns out the new Apple Pencil Pro carries that same energy with its packaging.
Expand Expanding CloseEvery M-series Apple silicon chip, device, and release date
M-series Apple silicon chips tout impressive performance but unpredictable release cadence. That makes it hard to keep up with which chips are in which devices. Apple currently has three generations of M-series chips, up to four variations of each generation, and three product categories that use M-series chips. Here’s the data to make sense of it all.
Expand Expanding CloseTim Cook rocked ‘Made on iPad’ Nike Air Max 1 ’86s during Apple’s ‘Let Loose’ event
Tim Cook doesn’t just talk the talk when it comes to the iPad lifestyle. The Apple CEO literally walks the walk… in custom, 1-of-1 Nike sneakers. It turns out Cook’s “Let Loose” event attire included a special pair of Nike Air Max 1 ’86s. Hypebeast has the scoop…
Expand Expanding CloseAll 48 iPad models in the 2024 lineup
Apple has refreshed the iPad line for 2024, and there are more choices than ever. In addition to the usual hardware upgrades, Apple has added a larger iPad Air to the lineup. Meanwhile, the iPad Pro has a nano-texture glass option for the first time.
Expand Expanding CloseApple reduces iPad 10 price to $349, discontinues iPad 9 with Home button
While refreshing the iPad line at the mid to high end, Apple has also rejiggered the starting lineup as well. Starting today, the iPad 10th generation is priced from $349. Meanwhile, the iPad 9th generation is discontinued, ending the era of Home button iPads.
Expand Expanding CloseiPad Air 6: Redesigned model available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, landscape front camera, more
Apple has officially unveiled the all-new iPad Air 6. For the first time, the iPad Air comes in two sizes: 11-inch and 13-inch.
Expand Expanding CloseWaterField Shinjuku is a slim messenger bag for traveling with your new iPad in style
WaterField is debuting an all-new travel bag just in time for Apple’s new iPads. Shinjuku is a slim messenger bag that’s packed with pockets. Available in two materials, Shinjuku comes in two sizes and three colors.
Expand Expanding CloseCan the new iPad compete with my preferred tablet?
We’re less than a day away from Apple unveiling the first updates to the iPad line since 2022. In other words, there are only a few more hours left to speculate about new iPads! That made me think of something that I’ve been meaning to write about — and have been regularly writing on — for a few months. And no, it’s not an iPad.
Expand Expanding CloseA unique Apple marketing campaign for iPhone that you’ve probably never seen
As we await tomorrow’s iPad event, we’re looking back at a playful Apple marketing campaign that you’ve probably never seen. That’s because it ran in a single market at the time: Japan.
It turns out Apple relied on whimsical puppetry to convince Android users to switch to iPhone for a few years. If you haven’t experienced it, the ad campaign is unlike any other marketing campaign from Apple.
Expand Expanding CloseApple Maps cycling routes come to bicycle-friendly Netherlands
Starting today, Apple Maps users in the Netherlands can access cycling route data on iPhone and Apple Watch. Dutch culture is known for being especially bike-friendly, so bringing this navigation feature to users is notable.
Expand Expanding CloseMidiWrist Unleashed is the first standalone MIDI controller for Apple Watch
Geert Bevin is adding a new tool to his collection of music utility apps for Apple devices. MidiWrist Unleashed “turns your Apple Watch into a standalone MIDI controller that directly connects to any advertised Bluetooth LE MIDI device,” and it’s completely independent from the iPhone.
Expand Expanding CloseApple not making major AI news at upcoming product event, WWDC still expected venue [Updated]
Update: It turns out Tim Cook was misunderstood in the CNBC story. The full quote in context does not imply an AI software announcement at next week’s hardware event, although Apple does infuse its silicon with AI readiness. Here’s the full quote in context:
”Looking ahead, we’re getting ready for an exciting product announcement next week that we think our customers will love. And next month, we have our Worldwide Developers Conference, which has generated enormous enthusiasm from our developers. We can’t wait to reveal what we have in store. ”
Additionally, with a pause inserted to explain what happened:
“And we’re getting into a period of time here where we’re extremely excited like I’m in the edge of my seat literally because next week, we’ve got a product event that we’re excited about. And then just a few weeks thereafter, we’ve got the developers Worldwide Developers Conference coming up and we’ve got some big plans to announce in in both of these events. [pause] From an AI point of view…”
Apple is still expected to unveil its AI software innovations in June during its Worldwide Developers Conference.
Expand Expanding CloseApple announces Q2 2024 earnings, slightly beating expectations with $90.75 billion revenue
Apple has disclosed its fiscal year 2024 Q2 earnings results. The company reports $90.75 billion in revenue during the three-month period, dropping 4.31% year over year. Analysts expected revenue around $90.33 billion. Apple netted $23.64 billion in profit, 2.15% decline.
Apple reported revenue of $94.8 billion for the same quarter a year ago. Apple argues that last year’s results included around $5 billion in revenue from “pent-up demand from the constraints” of Covid-19 factory shutdowns.
Other numbers from Apple’s quarterly results:
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