Looking at the latest news and rumours in the Apple Space. The AR/VR headset is being rumoured to make an appearance at the WWDC 2023, which has just been announced to take place in June. There have also been rumours surrounding the AirPods, starting with a new product reference found in iOS 16.4, as well as health-tracking features being expected to be introduced.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Apple has also included six new countries to those that can access Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro; and classical music lovers can now download Apple Music classical directly from the app store. Keep on reading for more details.
WWDC 2023
Apple has announced the dates for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2023. This year’s in-person event will happen from June 5 – 9 in the US (June 6 – 10 in Australia and New Zealand) at the Apple Park. Students and developers are encouraged to submit a ‘Request to Attend’ for the event, with invitation to be extended to successful applicants by April 5 (6PM PDT).
AirPods Pro With USB-C Case
Apple is expected to go-hard on the extending USB-C port to various products this year. The AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen) is expected to feature a USB-C case, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The AirPods model number (A3048) and AirPods case number (A29680) references found in iOS 16.4 apparently belongs to this modified earbuds.
The original case for the AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen) has a lightning port and is compatible with Apple Watch, Qi and MagSafe chargers.
Read More: Beats Working On Studio Buds Plus With Improved ANC
AirPods With Health Tracking Features
Still on the AirPods, Apple may be extending health-tracking features from the Apple Watch to its earbuds. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the AirPods will become a health tool of some sort in the next year (2025) or two (2026). The company could include health monitoring sensors such as Accelerometer, gyroscope, and Optical heart.
Apple Music Classical Rolls-Out Worldwide
The Apple Music Classical app is now available on the App Store to the public and everyone who pre-ordered. Based on the 2021 acquisition of PrimePhonic, the app is a hub for classical music lovers to indulge in over 5 million tracks from famous and contemporary composers. The standalone app requires any of the Apple Music subscription plans except the Voice plan.
Emergency SOS Available in More Countries
Apple has extended its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature to six more countries. iPhone 14 and 14 Pro users in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, and Portugal will be able to send and receive messages from emergency services when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
The service requires the iOS 16.4 update and is currently free for the first two years after activating any of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models.