Highlights: WWDC 2021 announced, rumors about iPhone SE, iPhone design “Cheese Grater”?

While we’re still waiting for news of a possible Apple event in April, we received confirmation about an upcoming Apple event this week, WWDC 2021, which will return to its regular early June period, but will remain in a fully virtual format similar to last year’s edition.

Other news and rumors from Apple this week included a report on future models of iPhone SE, a crazy Apple patent filing showing an iPhone with the same wire mesh design as the latest Mac Pro and some new changes in the latest version of iOS 14.5 beta that we have had patiently. awaiting its public release. Keep reading for details on these stories and more from last week.

Apple announces the WWDC 2021 digital event in June

This week, Apple announced that its annual World Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held June 7-11. For the second year in a row, the conference will be held in a fully online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the advantages of the WWDC 2021 digital celebration is that admission is free for all developers, as sessions and other content can be shared on the Apple Developer website and the revamped Apple Developer app. By comparison, Apple has historically required developers to buy a $ 1,599 ticket to attend WWDC in person, and only after winning a lottery to attend.

As usual, Apple says that WWDC 2021 will take a look at the future of its software platforms, which will presumably consist of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8 and tvOS 15. There is always the possibility of making an announcement of hardware or two. at WWDC as well, such as redesigned MacBook Pro and iMac models with Apple silicon.

Until April 18, Apple is accepting submissions for its annual Swift Student Challenge, a coding contest that instructs students to create an interactive scene in the Swift Playgrounds app. Winners will receive exclusive WWDC 2021 outerwear, a custom pin set and a year of membership in Apple’s Developer Program.

All in all, WWDC is always one of the most exciting weeks of the year in Apple’s world for both developers and users, and we’ll have in-depth conference coverage as it unfolds.

The next iPhone SE will have a 4.7-inch screen, version 2023 that will have a full screen design

According to display industry analyst Ross Young, the third-generation iPhone SE that will be launched during the first half of 2022 will feature the same 4.7-inch screen as the current version.

Young said he also feels that a 2023 iPhone SE model could include a screen design called a “hole” like some Samsung smartphones, which would result in an almost full-screen, low-cut design with only a small hole. for the front camera. It is unclear where Face ID sensors will be housed with this design if Apple continues to offer Face ID, but there are facial recognition and fingerprint systems that are not displayed on smartphones. In fact, there is talk of touch screen identification for at least some iPhone 13 models.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier that the “perforated” screen will be released on at least some high-end iPhone 2022 models, so it’s plausible that the design will be expanded to the iPhone SE next year.

iOS 14.5 adds new Siri voices, no longer by default to women

The sixth beta version of iOS 14.5 released this week adds two new Siri voices for the English language and introduces a new configuration option that will allow people to choose their preferred voice ‌ for Siri, which currently has a female voice in the United States.

“This is a continuation of Apple’s long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion, and products and services designed to better reflect the diversity of the world we live in,” Apple said in a statement on the change.

Apple has also announced that iOS 14.5 will recalibrate maximum battery capacity and maximum performance capacity on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max models to address inaccurate estimates of some users ’battery health reports. Apple said the error does not reflect any issues with the actual battery health.

IOS 14.5 has been in beta testing since February 1 and includes new features, such as the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch while wearing a mask, support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on models iPhone 12, the new Waze- such as Apple Maps features, new emojis, AirPlay 2 transmissions for Apple Fitness + workouts and more. Apple previously said that the software update will be released for all compatible devices in “early spring.”

Apple is researching Mac Pro’s “Cheese Grater” design for other devices like the iPhone

Apple is considering extending the distinctive lattice design of the 2019 Mac Pro’s “cheese grater” to other devices, including the iPhone and an acMac Pro‌ “trash” style, according to a recently granted patent dossier.

Apple introduced the innovative milling lattice pattern in ‌Mac Pro‌ and Pro Display XDR in 2019, which is created by machining a spherical die on the inner and outer surfaces of the aluminum. The result is a light lattice pattern that maximizes airflow and creates an extremely rigid structure.

While patent applications are often included and cannot be considered solid evidence of Apple’s plans for real consumer hardware, they can provide an interesting insight into the company’s research areas.

Apple scam approved Bitcoin Robs iPhone user app for $ 600,000 or more

A scam Bitcoin app designed to look like a genuine app was accepted by Apple’s App Store review team and ended up costing an iPhone user 17.1 bitcoins, or more than $ 600,000 at the time of the theft, seconds The Washington Post.

In a statement, Apple said that in “limited cases” when criminals scam its users, the company takes “swift action” to prevent similar violations in the future.

“User trust is the foundation of why we created the‘ App Store ’and we’ve only delved into that commitment in subsequent years,” Apple said. “Study after study has shown that the ‘App Store’ is the safest app market in the world and we are constantly working to maintain that standard and further strengthen App Store protections.”

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