The Sellers Research Group (that’s me) is dubious, but a rumor from Apple YouTuber Luke Miani says new AirPods will likely be announced on May 18 via a press release that could also include an “Apple Music HiFi” debut.
I do think we’ll see the third generation of the AirPods (as well as new AirPod Pros) this year, but not next week. Whenever, they arrive, the (non-Pro) wireless earbuds will likely sport a shorter stem, replaceable ear tips, and better battery life, but not the Pro version’s noise cancellation features.
As far as “Apple Music HiFi,” Apple will announce a new high-fidelity audio streaming tier for its Apple Music + service in the coming weeks at the same $9.99-per-user price point as its standard plan, according to a May 3 Hits Daily Double article.
According to a post on a Korean forum, shared by Twitter user @FrontTron, and noted by MacRumors, Apple is developing a portable hybrid games console, comparable to the Nintendo Switch. However, the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) thinks there’s 0% chance this is happening.
Here’s the rumor:
The device will apparently feature an entirely new Apple-designed application processor, neglecting to use an A-series or M-series chip. This chip appears to be specifically designed for gaming and is said to feature enhanced GPU performance and improved ray tracing.
Apple is purported to currently be in negotiations with a number of well-known video game studios, including Ubisoft, the maker of popular titles such as “Assassin’s Creed,” “Far Cry,” and “Watch Dogs,” about developing games for the new device.
Apple has filed for a patent (number 20210134245) for an “electronic device with adaptive display.” It involves the “Apple Glasses,” the rumored augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display (HMD).
In the patent filing, Apple notes that, if care isn’t taken, an HMD may be cumbersome and tiring to wear. The images on the display may appear too dark and washed out when the user first puts the head-mounted device on his or her head. The user may experience dazzle or discomfort when transitioning out of a virtual reality viewing experience. The dynamic range of a head-mounted display may be perceived as insufficient depending on the adaptation state of the user’s eyes.
In a note to clients as noted by MacRumors analyst Ming-Chi Kuo the first Apple-designed 5G modem is likely to debut in 2023 iPhones.
“We predict that the iPhone will adopt Apple’s own design 5G baseband chips in 2023 at the earliest,” he says. “As Android sales in the high-end 5G phone market are sluggish, Qualcomm will be forced to compete for more orders in the low-end market to compensate for Apple’s order loss. When the supply constraints improve, MediaTek and Qualcomm will have less bargaining power over brands, resulting in significantly higher competitive pressure in the mid-to low- end market.”
Apple has filed for a patent (number 20210134245) for an “electronic device with adaptive display.” It involves the “Apple Glasses,” the rumored augmented reality/virtual reality/mixed reality head-mounted display (HMD).
In the patent filing, Apple notes that, if care isn’t taken, an HMD may be cumbersome and tiring to wear. The images on the display may appear too dark and washed out when the user first puts the head-mounted device on his or her head. The user may experience dazzle or discomfort when transitioning out of a virtual reality viewing experience. The dynamic range of a head-mounted display may be perceived as insufficient depending on the adaptation state of the user’s eyes.