We are only about a week into 2024 and already so much has happened in the world of tech. This is especially true for Apple!
So far, we are looking at legal issues, an upcoming launch, and more!
In this post, we will explore everything that’s upcoming (and ongoing) for the tech conglomerate.
Apple Vision Pro Coming to the US
Beginning Friday February 2, 2024, Apple Vision Pro will be available at all US Apple Store locations and online.
Apple has said that Vision Pro is a revolutionary spatial computer that will change how people work, play, and connect forever.
Per Apple:
Vision Pro seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world and unlocks powerful spatial experiences in visionOS, controlled by the most natural and intuitive inputs possible — a user’s eyes, hands, and voice.
An all new App Store will give users access to over a million compatible apps across iOS and iPadOS. It’s powered by visionOS. VisionOS is built on the foundation of decades of work in macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
It has been created to deliver powerful spatial experiences with a brand new 3D user interface and input system. This system is controlled entirely by a user’s eyes, hands, and voice.
Preorders for Apple Vision Pro begin shortly. You can preorder yours starting Friday, January 19th.
Apple Sales On The Decline in China
Apple sales are on the decline in China, a trend which is supposed to continue into 2024 and quite possibly beyond it. According to Jefferies Analysts, quoted by Bloomberg, the iPhone 15 had an unusually sluggish start in China.
This led to a 30% year-on-year decline for Apple in China.
This may be the result of the stiff competition that Huawei poses to Apple in China. Their Mate 60 lineup was incredibly successful. The launch of the iPhone 15 happened right after a surprise announcement of the Mate 60 Pro device.
Analysts claim that patriotism inspired the Chinese market to purchase Mate 60 phones instead, as their processors are made in China.
Apple’s 30% drop in sales is expected to carry on into 2024. While the new iPhones have been spotted at discounts on sites across China, still, their sales volume has not improved.
Apple Pays Out Following Accusations of Deliberately Slowing Down iPhones
This year Apple has begun making payments due to a long-running class action lawsuit.
This lawsuit claims that Apple deliberately slowed down certain iPhones for US users. Those involved will receive a cut of $500 million, leading each complainant to receive about $90 per claim.
According to the BBC:
Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit in 2020, stating at the time it denied any wrongdoing but was concerned with the cost of continuing litigation. A similar case under way in the UK is seeking £1.6bn in compensation.
The US litigation goes back to 2017. This was when Apple confirmed a longtime suspicion of iPhone users. For years and years, iPhone users have been saying that Apple deliberately slows down iPhones as they get older.
According to Apple, at first, this was the result of the batteries naturally decreasing in performance as they aged and were used.
However, users accused them of enacting planned obsolescence by intentionally making their own phones unusable without their consumers’ knowledge.
Apple says, despite settling:
“We have never – and would never – do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades”.
While the US lawsuit only applied to the iPhone 6 and 7 ranges, the UK lawsuit seeks over a billion in damages for those who had iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X devices. The UK lawsuit was started by Justin Gutmann in 2022.
Gutmann told the BBC that he is glad to hear about US consumers getting compensation, but that because Apple settled instead of admitting wrongdoing it has no bearing on the UK case.
He said:
“It’s a moral victory but not much use to me. I’ve got to plough on and pursue the case in the UK jurisdiction.”
Gutmann hopes the UK case will go to trial in late 2024 or early 2025.
Is Apple Falling Behind When It Comes to AI?
Bloomberg postulates that Apple may be years behind competitors when it comes to developing and using AI technology. At least at present, Apple has no concrete AI tools incoming shortly.
Their offerings will come nearly two years after ChatGPT exploded onto the scene, a year after Amazon announced its revamped Alexa, and a year and a half after Microsoft and Google debuted their AI tools.
Apple plans to make official announcements at its Worldwide Developers Conference this June. Meanwhile, Apple has been working on a large language model called Ajax, which they have been testing for about a year.
Currently, Apple is doing some work with AI. This includes adding auto-summarizing and auto-complete to its core apps and offerings, like Pages and Keynote. They also plan to merge AI with Apple Music and overhaul Siri.
But the totality of Apple’s generative AI vision will take at least into 2025 to fully scale. At the same time, the company’s biggest smartphone rival — Samsung — is set to launch a Galaxy S24 line later this month that is all about new AI features.
Considering issues with sliding sales and its brand positioning as a major innovator, it is interesting that Apple is moving so slowly on releasing AI products.
A Look At The Apple Watch Ban
A current patent infringement case is pushing for Apple to halt sales of its two latest Apple Watch models: the Series 9 and Ultra 2.
Sales froze online as of December 21, 2023. Apple Watches disappeared from physical store shelves before the ban officially went into effect the day after Christmas.
As of December 27th, Apple is appealing the ruling and the ban has been temporarily paused. This means that sales can continue online and in-store for now.
The initial import ban was handed down by the US International Trade Commission. It ruled last October that Apple infringed on patents for medical device maker Masimo’s pulse oximetry tech device.
This means that, if Apple cannot solve this issue, it will not be able to import or sell its watch models in the US.
They are trying to work around this. Bloomberg has reported that they are submitting algorithm changes to the US customs agency as well as doing a few other things to try and get the devices back on the market.
However, it may take a long while to completely resolve this dispute.
Apple Fitness+ Gets Some Updates To Help You Stick To Your New Years Resolutions
Staring Monday, January 8th, Apple Fitness+ is introducing a brand new sound meditation theme and a host of other new offerings. These include:
- A new workout program for golfers featuring rising golf star Rose Zhang
- New workouts celebrating the countdown to the Apple Music Super Boel LVIII Halftime Show featuring USHER
- New guests on the award-winning Time To Walk including Al Roker, Trixie Mattel. Lilly Singh, and Common
Fitness+ also offers 10 meditation themes and will introduce a new one called Sound. This offers users ways to feel relaxed and restored using a variety of soothing tones, rhythms, and instruments. These include singing bowls and gongs.
7 new Sound meditations are available. They come in 5, 10, and 20-minute lengths. New ones will come out weekly going into 2024.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, a lot is going on with this company already in 2024! From exciting upcoming releases, to Fitness+ expansions, to legal trouble in the US and abroad.
Apple is always in the midst of both innovation and controversy as one of the largest and most influential tech companies in the world.
Next month’s Vision Pro release will be particularly exciting. Are you looking forward to trying it out? We are also looking forward to further AI integration into Apple products in the coming years.
What do you think? Comment below.
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