That was a bust: Apple is axing its $3,500 AR headset, the Vision Pro. They’ve already cut production in half and the end is near. In a podcast interview, Tim Cook called the headset an “early adopted product.” You know, like early adopters with a ton of money to spend on a device that developers are staying far away from.
iPhone 15, MagSafe upgrades, Apple Watch: Everything we’re expecting from Apple’s next reveal
The leaves change colors, you grab a scarf, pumpkin spice is back and Apple has a big announcement — all classic signs of fall. Sept. 12 is Wonderlust — yeah, Apple’s naming them now. I know.
Fear not if your eyes glaze over at yet another camera and processor chip upgrade. Apple’s big promos can start to feel a little same-old, same-old, but some big things are coming this year. Here’s what my grapevine is vining about.
iPhone 15’s big debut
It’s right on schedule following iOS 17, and all rumors point to yes: If you’ve been waiting to upgrade your iPhone for a while, it may be a great time to do it. Highlights include:
- A new titanium shell. This rumor is almost confirmed, thanks to a leak from iPhone suppliers. Titanium will make the new iPhone stronger and more shock-proof than ever, a boon to those of us who fumble our phones on the reg.
- Maybe, probably, the huge switch to USB-C for all new iPhones. I’ve been expecting this since the EU told Apple it would require it, and the iPhone 15 is a great place to make the change. There’s a good chance AirPods will get USB-C, too!
- A shapeshifting Dynamic Island bar that acts like a responsive notification center and general “look at me” spot for everything your iPhone is doing.
New Apple Watch gets wander and lust
Apple loves to dump new tech into its smartwatch updates, and since wanderlust = “a big desire to get out and travel,” I’m foreseeing a lot of travel-happy upgrades.
That may include a dual-frequency GPS that recently came to the iPhone 14 line, more durable strap options and a long-awaited update to 5G.
Extra support for the Vision Pro (and AR goodies)
The Vision Pro mixed reality headset is expensive, but that’s what you pay to be at the forefront of augmented reality (AR) tech. With so many years and millions of dollars Apple has spent on this project, it’s understandably going to do everything it can to promote Vision Pro ahead of its consumer release.
My crystal ball says that once again, Apple will go hard on mentions of AR, how the iPhone 15 will work with Vision Pro, and maybe even how new AR tech has made its way inside the latest iPhones — like an AR shopping feature to help with in-store price comparisons.
Better MagSafe tricks
Awesome way to turn trash into treasure
Food labels are hard to make sense of — Do we really need “use by,” “best buy” and “sell by”? — and lead to a lot of food waste, to the tune of 80 million tons each year.
That’s why Carlos Thompson’s company created Reusables, an augmented-reality filter that shows what you can do with the food you don’t want to eat anymore.
Can Apple's pricey headset make us accept VR in our everyday lives?
According to ’80s and ’90s movies, we should all be using virtual reality (VR) daily by now. But the tech has yet to catch on. People don’t want to be immersed in an all-digital world (We’re looking at you, Facebook metaverse).
Google has revealed more details on Bard, its answer to ChatGPT
ChatGPT, or Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is one of artificial intelligence’s (AI) most innovative voices. But did you know that the version everyone’s been playing around with is just a pilot program? OpenAI will be launching a subscription-based plan soon.
Apple’s Vision Pro won’t be around much longer: In September, only 10 new apps dropped for the Vision Pro. It’s a classic chicken-and-egg problem (paywall link). Developers don’t see enough customers, and people aren’t excited to spend $3,500 on an AR headset without much content.
Here VR: Apple is cutting production on the augmented reality Vision Pro headset. An analyst says Apple only expects to sell half of its original estimate of 700,000 to 800,000 units this year. Here’s hoping this flop leads to a cheaper model or at least a price drop. Not many people can spend $3,500.
10 hidden Google Maps tips and tricks
Google Maps is more than just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s also a way to learn more about the world around you and even play games. For instance, Smarty Pins is a trivia game within Google Maps. It asks you geography-based questions, and you move your pin around the map to answer.
10 ways to use Google Maps Street View you never thought of before
Google Maps and its Street View feature can present some truly interesting sights. Whether you’re exploring an area you want to visit or you’re preparing for a trip, both are invaluable tools.
You never know what you’ll see there, for one thing — and sometimes the sights can be downright shocking. Tap or click here to see how people found shocking pictures on Google Maps.
Review: Anker Soundcore Frames merge sound, sunglasses and style
Remember Google Glass? This, let’s say unique, introduction to smart eyewear was supposed to change the tech world as we knew it. And when it was finally made available to the masses in 2014, it certainly made headlines … but not in the way Google had hoped.
Facebook is changing its name - You have to see these suggestions for a new one
Social media giant Facebook has decided it’s time for change — by changing its name. But before you think that you’ll have to log in to some different website, it’s only the name of the company that’s changing, not the name of the social media site.
Apple just sent out an invite for its iPhone 13 release event - with a hidden message
After much speculation, Apple revealed that September 14 would be the day you can learn all about the new iPhone 13. If you are like us, you rushed over to the official event page on Apple’s website.
All the details for when the event will be hosted live are presented in a neat invitation. It details the date and time, and there is a handy button to store the info in your calendar. But we bet that there is something that you missed in the minimalist design.
7 brilliant ways your smartphone can help you get things done
You email, text, check your step count and hit “reject” on all those spam calls. But there’s so much more you can do with your smartphone. Let’s jump into seven uses I’ll bet you never thought of before now.
Remember back in the day when you’d mark a line on the wall as your child grew? Consider this the modern equivalent. Fair warning: You do need the latest high-end iPhone.
Google's new augmented reality tool transports you to the other side of the Earth
Have you ever wondered where you would end up if you dug a hole straight through Earth? Standing in your backyard, shoveling directly down until you reach the other side, where would you be? Tap or click here to see how Google Maps’ new feature takes navigation to the next level (literally).
Pandas, giraffes, hippos, oh my: Watch 3D animals walk around your house
Most of us would agree that 2020 has been incredibly rough, and we can’t wait for it to end. If there has been some positivity to come from living through a pandemic, it’s all the new technology to help us make it through. Who would have thought grandma would be a Zoom expert before all this began?
New iPhone tech lets people who are blind or low-vision 'see' when others are coming
Apple’s newest iPhone models are expected to be a huge hit this year. Not only do they have the typical upgrades like a better camera and faster processor but the new iPhones also come with 5G capabilities.
Conspiracy theorists aside, we’ve all been waiting for 5G technology to become a reality for quite a while and it’s finally here. Tap or click here to find out what you should know before buying an iPhone 12.
Use this map to track wildfires in real time
As anyone who lives in California can tell you, late summer is wildfire season. During this time of the year, the dry Santa Ana winds kick into gear, which can spread small sparks over a wide distance until massive flames erupt.
Can these smart glasses tell you if someone has COVID-19?
Everyone is worried about catching the coronavirus and looking for ways to avoid it. Beyond washing your hands constantly, there are some other things you can do that will help.
For one, when you order groceries or supplies to be delivered you should always disinfect the packages as soon as they arrive. Tap or click here to find out how to place orders safely and sanitize deliveries.
Google Maps is getting a new look - here's how to use it
Do you remember the days of road-tripping for family vacations before GPS? Many a fight would break out back then when people too stubborn to pull over and ask for directions would flail away trying to figure out the paper map. Ah, the good old days.
Design your dream home with this easy-to-use 3D floor planner
Moving into a new home is exciting, so is redecorating! But planning furniture and accessories for tricky areas can be tough if you have a hard time visualizing them. That’s why I love this free app that lets you build 3D models of your space without having to learn any complicated commands!