Thoughts and Observations on This Week’s ‘Wonderlust’ Apple Event
Friday, 15 September 2023
Was Tuesday’s “Wonderlust” occasion principally predictable? Sure. Does that imply it was boring? For some folks, sure. However for most individuals, it was the most important tech information occasion of the yr, identical to Apple’s iPhone occasion is yearly of late.
That’s bizarre and new, traditionally — and for a lot of tech lovers, disappointing. The best way tech has historically labored is that firm fortunes wax and wane over the course of every decade. And the massive new “tech product of the yr” not solely adjustments from one firm to a different each few years, it adjustments throughout product classes. From PCs to PDAs to digital cameras to iPods.1
However for the previous decade, the most important occasion on the whole tech calendar has been Apple’s annual introduction of latest iPhones. You possibly can argue that it shouldn’t be the most important occasion of the yr, nevertheless it objectively is, media-coverage-wise. I’m undecided I do know a single one who isn’t no less than conscious of the truth that Apple simply introduced new iPhones this week. That alone is extraordinary. It’s rather a lot just like the Tremendous Bowl, which frequently isn’t even the perfect soccer sport of the yr, not to mention sporting occasion, however is undeniably the most important. Even individuals who don’t watch it know when the Tremendous Bowl is performed. However even the Tremendous Bowl is only a U.S. phenomenon — the iPhone occasion is worldwide, extra just like the World Cup or Olympics, however the World Cup and Olympics are solely held each 4 years.
And in the identical means that the Tremendous Bowl garners media consideration from far outdoors the world of sports activities journalism, so too do the iPhone occasions entice media protection from outdoors the world of tech. There’s only a completely totally different and distinctive vibe attending the iPhone occasions in particular person. There’s a buzz, a way of hustle and anticipation, and most of all a palpable sense of unimaginably excessive stakes that pervades these iPhone occasions from the angle as a media attendee. You possibly can say these occasions are boring as a result of they’re predictable, however Apple wants each iPhone era to be a success product, the press is aware of it, and the press is at all times on the lookout for a slip-up to dwell on, just like the antennagate nonsense controversy again in 2010 with the iPhone 4.2 Die-hard sports activities followers are irritated by all of the non-sporting facets surrounding the Tremendous Bowl, like the eye centered on the halftime live performance performers and even the TV commercials. Die-hard tech followers are likewise irritated by the “what planet have you ever been on?” protection of latest iPhone particulars the remainder of us knew have been coming for just like the final yr. Exhibit A: this week’s mainstream information protection being totally dominated by the swap from Lightning to USB-C.
The Steve Jobs Theater is a superb place and these iPhone occasions are, to me, fascinating experiences. (I shot a video Tuesday that makes an attempt to seize the format and expertise of the post-keynote hands-on space scrum.) However they’re by no means fascinating within the sense of “Boy I ponder what Apple goes to announce at this time.” It’s extra like intense curiosity concerning how Apple chooses to border bulletins that everyone knows are coming. And it makes excellent, however boring, sense, to pair the introduction of latest iPhones with the introduction of latest Apple Watches and, this yr, up to date AirPods Professional.3
Once more, although, this isn’t how the tech business is “supposed” to work. All issues come to an finish, and finally that truism will apply to the iPhone, however the truth is that for over a decade Apple’s September iPhone occasions have been the Tremendous Bowls of expertise. Iterative cellphone designs from the identical firm, yr after yr after yr. No different occasion compares. You possibly can add the following 10 occasions collectively — together with Apple’s — and you received’t get the cumulative electrical energy of the iPhone occasion. This, although the iPhone occasions are predictable. There’s by no means been something prefer it, fairly probably by no means will probably be once more, and a number of tech lovers resent it.
However there’s no denying that that is true. Apple has a formulation and that formulation continues to work.
Atmosphere
The 20-minute “Mom Nature” sketch within the keynote, with Octavia Spencer within the titular position, has been broadly panned. I do suppose it went on too lengthy — the entire phase (sketch plus particulars) in actual fact was simply 10 minutes lengthy, not 20. However seemingly everybody, together with me, felt prefer it lasted 20 minutes, which is rarely a great signal.
However I get it.
The message is that this: most corporations at this time are making guarantees about their future environmental influence. However Apple hasn’t simply been making guarantees. They’ve been engaging in really nice feats on this entrance. It’s no fucking joke you could now purchase a complete Apple Watch that’s carbon impartial. Apple has made drastic adjustments within the supplies it makes use of, the best way it ships merchandise around the globe, the best way it packages them, the methods it produces its personal electrical energy, and extra. What they needed to clarify is that this entire space is likely one of the firm’s highest priorities, really a part of their institutional ethical compass, has implications for all the things Apple does, and that they’ve already achieved nice issues. And that the majority different corporations are principally simply greenwashingly stuffed with shit on these things.
However how can Apple make this level? They’ll’t simply put Lisa Jackson up there and name out different corporations as company liars, though they’re. Comedy is the reply. Comedy helps you to say issues that may’t in any other case be stated. Satire, parody, and farce are all deceptively highly effective methods to speak critical arguments.
The issue with this phase was merely that it wasn’t humorous sufficient. It was an excellent idea however the outcome was merely OK. It wanted extra of a Tina Fey 30 Rock tempo — funnier jokes and extra of them. (Was Apple hamstrung by the WGA strike on this? I can’t assist however marvel if that’s the case. The skit regarded high quality — it was the writing that felt limp.)
One landmark side of this phase was Apple’s declaration that they’re performed with leather-based. No extra leather-based iPhone instances, no extra leather-based watch bands — together with from Hermès. Their profitable partnership continues, however with material and rubber straps alone. (Except you purchase an Apple Watch from Hermès itself.) Apple has changed its personal leather-based iPhone instances and watch straps with a brand new materials they name FineWoven. I hung out within the hands-on space taking part in with each the brand new cellphone instances and watch strips, and I just like the FineWoven materials. The keynote emphasised solely the moral angles, vis-à-vis leather-based: carbon influence and animal rights. However for the iPhone instances no less than, I believe FineWoven is simply plain nicer than the outdated leather-based ones. I personally like good leather-based items, however I at all times felt just like the leather-based Apple used to provide iPhone instances was, at finest, OK. Specifically I don’t suppose it weathered nicely, and I’ve by no means been a heavy person of iPhone instances, typically carrying mine un-cased. Put all the moral points apart and faux that Apple have been nonetheless promoting leather-based iPhone instances alongside these new FineWoven ones, and I’d slightly purchase a FineWoven one. I’m not solely offered on the FineWoven Apple Watch straps based mostly on my hands-on expertise, however at worst, they appear fairly good. (Apple’s leather-based watch straps have been inexpensive than the Hermès ones, but additionally very clearly not as good.)
Pre-orders for the brand new instances have already begun arriving, and reactions to the brand new materials are blended. I’m curious the way it’s going to climate over time, particularly the watch straps, however my first impression is that this can be a high quality improve over Apple’s leather-based merchandise, not simply an moral one. I don’t suppose the FineWoven materials is nicer than high quality leather-based, however I do suppose it’s nicer than the leather-based iPhone instances Apple made, and maybe on par with their very own earlier leather-based watch straps. And one factor that it’s not is pretend leather-based. As Jony Ive may describe it if he have been nonetheless at Apple, it’s unapologetically material.
The Common iPhones 15
It looks as if the iPhones 15 — non-pro — are precisely what we might have hoped for: successfully, the iPhone 14 Professional with out the telephoto third digicam.
That leaves me to carp in regards to the colours, which strike me as bland and washed out, excluding black, which, as common, is a really deep black certainly. Shade traits change seasonally, and I ought to most likely belief Apple’s designers greater than myself to remain on prime of traits, however man, this lineup seems bland. Possibly pale hues are “in” this yr, however I extremely doubt that down the street anybody is ever going to say “Keep in mind how nice the iPhone 15 colours have been?” Examine and distinction with the common affection all of us appear to share concerning the unique iMacs.
New this yr: the common iPhones 15 have frosted glass blacks; heretofore the non-pro fashions had been shiny, and the Professional fashions frosted/matte. For the primary time, the Professional and non-pro iPhones really feel very a lot alike in hand: brushed steel sides, frosted glass backs, very related sizes, and lastly, related weights.
The iPhone 15 shows are brighter, with the identical distinction ratio and most brightness because the shows within the 15 Professional fashions. Lacking from the non-pro iPhone 15 fashions, although: ProMotion dynamic refresh charges, and no always-on show mode. In flip, the dearth of an always-on show signifies that the brand new StandBy characteristic in iOS 17 is rather more helpful with the Professional fashions. With the non-pro iPhones 15, StandBy will solely present till the show instances out and goes to sleep; with the iPhones Professional (together with final yr’s 14 Professional fashions), StandBy is at all times on.
iPhones 15 Professional
The colour choice for the Professional fashions matches current traits: black (which is de facto extra of a really darkish grey), white, and a coloration of the yr. Final yr with the iPhones 14 Professional, that coloration was purple. This yr it’s blue, and it’s a pleasant however fairly darkish blue. Intriguingly — and including extra grist to the argument that Apple simply doesn’t have a lot enjoyable with colours of late — there’s additionally “pure titanium”, which isn’t actually pure however is achieved via a PVD tint that appears like what folks suppose titanium naturally seems like. By itself, “pure titanium” seems like a impartial brushed metallic shade. Aspect-by-side with the iPhone 15 Professional in white, nonetheless, you’ll be able to see that Apple’s “pure titanium” is hotter. It doesn’t take a look at all gold, however there’s a wee contact of yellow to it. The general impact of the pure titanium fashions is “premium grey”, sorta kinda alongside the vibes of a basic Aston Martin DB5. The white ones, I believe, might pretty be described as “silver” — each really color-temperature impartial and seemingly shinier. Neither the pure nor white titanium on the iPhone 15 Professional matches the titanium physique of the Apple Watch Extremely, however pure is nearer.
The 15 Professional and Professional Max really feel so a lot lighter in hand in comparison with all the stainless-steel iPhones within the post-iPhone-X period. Assuming they show sturdy in actual world utilization, the shift from polished stainless-steel to titanium is a large win, simply based mostly on weight alone. However I additionally want the look and really feel of it — barely textured slightly than extremely polished. I consider my iPhone as a software, not jewellery; a refined end by no means appeared acceptable, the best way it does for the metal Apple Watch fashions.
The rounded fringe of the body — a design change that can be within the aluminum non-pro fashions — can be a win. This seems like an optimum center floor between the utterly spherical sides of the iPhones X/XS/11 and the flat sharp-edges sides of the iPhones 12/13/14. Search for this kind issue to carry regular for 3 generations, too — Apple is an organization of patterns.
The Motion button appears nice. Out of the field it defaults to appearing as a mute toggle, nevertheless it’s simple (and arguably fun) to decide on one other motion. Constructed-in actions embody: flashlight, launching the Digicam app, beginning an audio recording in Voice Memos, and Magnifier. However the choices actually go infinite while you assign it to execute a Shortcuts workflow.
R.I.P. iPhones Mini
I wasn’t anticipating the iPhone 13 Mini to stay within the lineup, however now it’s official: it’s gone. What a disgrace. It clearly wasn’t well-liked sufficient however each single particular person I do know who purchased an iPhone 12 Mini or 13 Mini beloved it, and dreads the concept of their subsequent iPhone being greater.
AirPods Professional ‘2.5’
In case you’re not paying shut consideration, it’s simple to mistakenly consider that the one change to the AirPods Professional 2 is the connector on the charging case. However the USB-C AirPods Professional 2 are literally totally different earbuds too, successfully extra like a model 2.5 or one thing. From Apple Newsroom:
AirPods Professional (2nd era) are upgraded with USB‑C charging
capabilities, extra mud resistance, and Lossless Audio with
Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. With iOS 17, all AirPods Professional (2nd era)
stage up with entry to new audio experiences like Adaptive Audio
and Dialog Consciousness. […]AirPods Professional (2nd era) with MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C)
will allow Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency to ship the
excellent true wi-fi answer with Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. The H2 chip
within the newest AirPods Professional and Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, mixed with a
groundbreaking wi-fi audio protocol, unlocks highly effective 20-bit,
48 kHz Lossless Audio with an enormous discount in audio latency.
The change from Lightning to USB-C is apparent. The elevated dust-resistance is good. However the ultra-low latency (single-digit milliseconds, I’m reliably informed) lossless audio from Imaginative and prescient Professional is fascinating. (And I believe, will probably be thought-about a bit annoying to individuals who already personal AirPods Professional 2 with the Lightning case.)
Pictures and GPUs
On the floor, digicam options and GPU specs don’t appear associated, however they share one thematic similarity: they’re two areas the place Apple is behind the business state-of-the-art. iPhone cameras aren’t behind the state-of-the-art for cellphone pictures, in fact — they’re most likely the perfect, and undeniably among the many finest. However they’re not the perfect cameras, interval, full cease, on the planet. Apple desires them to be, and is pursuing this relentlessly yr after yr. And whereas Apple Silicon GPUs are additionally undeniably market-leading for telephones, they’re simply as undeniably not market-leading in PCs, the place Nvidia reigns supreme. I firmly consider Apple desires to do to Nvidia with GPUs what they did to Intel with CPUs — match or surpass them in pure efficiency, and totally blow them away in performance-per-watt.
On the pictures entrance there have been two main new options introduced Tuesday. The primary is a brand new era of portrait pictures, the place Portrait mode could be utilized to a picture after it was shot as a daily nonetheless picture. I’ve needed this characteristic ever since Portrait mode debuted. Whereas capturing, you don’t need to do a rattling factor. You simply body your photograph and hit the shutter. No switching modes. However on-device machine studying will resolve on the spot whether or not Portrait mode would enhance the picture (which can solely occur mechanically if the topic is an individual, canine, or cat), however you’ll be able to allow it, disable it, and regulate it to your coronary heart’s content material in publish.
The second is the iPhone 15 Professional fashions’ means to seize spatial video. I had speculated over the summer season that it might be cool if Apple might launch this for iPhones this yr, and they did it. Clearly the optimum method to watch spatial video will probably be with a Imaginative and prescient headset, however one of the simplest ways to seize them — particularly by way of the outdated adage that the perfect digicam is the one you’ve gotten with you — will probably be with iPhones. I thought-about it a lock that iPhones would finally be capable of seize spatial video recollections, however to me it’s an indication of operational excellence and cross-device collaboration that Apple pulled it off this yr, with iPhones that can ship months forward of the first-generation Imaginative and prescient Professional. (The power to shoot spatial video utilizing an iPhone 15 Professional isn’t accessible but — it’s “coming later this yr”. And the hands-on space items didn’t have the characteristic, nor any instance spatial movies preloaded. So the one factor we all know in regards to the characteristic is what was broadcast within the keynote.)
With regard to the A17 Professional, let’s begin with the title. Apple makes use of “professional” in a number of other ways for lots of various merchandise, however one factor they’re fairly constant about is that “Professional” merchandise are the one ones with “professional” parts or options. (Observe, for instance, that ProMotion dynamic refresh charges are solely accessible within the iPhone Professional, iPad Professional, and MacBook Professional.) So I believe Apple has as soon as once more tweaked their two-pronged annual iPhone technique: I wager subsequent yr’s iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will get an A17 SoC, however I may also wager that chip won’t be the A17 Professional. Possibly that would be the A17 “Bionic”, perhaps simply the no-adjective “A17”, however I don’t suppose will probably be the A17 Professional that’s delivery within the iPhones 15 Professional.
What is perhaps totally different within the non-pro A17 subsequent yr? I believe the GPU won’t be as beefy (maybe, with binning, it would supply 5 cores as a substitute of 6), and I believe it may need 6 GB of RAM (just like the A16 Bionic chips) as a substitute of the 8 GB of RAM within the A17 Professional.
However my god, what a GPU the A17 Professional appears to have. {Hardware} accelerated ray tracing is a large deal, and a significant differentiating issue between Apple’s M-series chips (which don’t have it) and high-end PC GPUs from Nvidia and AMD (which do). Clearly, this new GPU is not only the most important side of the A17 Professional, it’s going to be the most important side of the M3-series chips for Macs and iPads (and, finally, Imaginative and prescient headsets) too. The A-series chips have at all times had world-class GPUs for telephones, however Apple is trying to slender the high-end GPU hole on the PC facet as nicely.
However when? The A17 Professional is the de facto launch of TSMC’s next-generation 3nm fabrication. Knowledgeable hypothesis means that Apple has secured 90-95 p.c of TSMC’s 3nm output for the following yr, and it appears like TSMC’s manufacturing won’t be capable of sustain with iPhone 15 Professional demand — the 15 Professional fashions may wind up backordered for months to return. That’s a side of Apple’s two-pronged annual iPhone technique I didn’t point out final week. I don’t suppose it might have even been doable for the non-pro iPhone 15 fashions to make use of the A17 chip as a result of they’re going to have hassle sufficient producing them for the Professional fashions alone.
So based mostly solely on TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing functionality, I don’t anticipate to see M3 Macs or iPads this yr, and maybe not till halfway via subsequent yr. Consider too that the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air simply launched three months in the past. That to me was an indication that the M2 would stay “present” till no less than subsequent yr. Individuals hoping for brand new M3 MacBook Airs this yr are setting themselves up for disappointment, I believe.
It speaks to the iPhone’s preeminence in Apple’s product lineup — a preeminence based mostly, fairly, on profound reputation and profitability — that it will get essentially the most cutting-edge silicon lengthy earlier than some other product.
Apple Watch Sequence 9 and Extremely 2
The Sequence 9 watches proceed to have their collection quantity etched on the caseback. However the brand new Extremely doesn’t say “2” on it wherever. It’s simply the brand new Extremely. I suppose it’s indistinguishable from final yr’s authentic Apple Watch Extremely on the surface — you’ll must energy the watch on and examine in Settings → Common → About to inform whether or not an Extremely is from the primary or second era. Apple nearly by no means labels its merchandise with era numbers or mannequin years on the surface. However this looks as if an inconsistent method to deal with the 2 totally different traces of Apple Watches. It’s nearly sufficient to make you suppose that when the Sequence Apple Watches launched, there was an influential govt who thought numbering them was a good suggestion, and that govt is now not at Apple.
The most effective new characteristic in Apple Watch this yr needs to be the brand new double faucet gesture, enabling no-touch manipulation of the watch. We received to do this within the hands-on space, and it Simply Labored™. Quick, correct, and pure. Within the keynote and their advertising and marketing supplies, Apple says it is advisable faucet your thumb and index finger, however I attempted with my thumb and center finger and it labored simply high quality. No extra touching your nostril to your watch when your palms are soiled from meals preparation or carrying one thing you’ll be able to’t set down. And the double faucet gesture parallels the principle gesture that will probably be used to navigate VisionOS. (One query that happens to me now: What occurs while you’re utilizing a Imaginative and prescient Professional whereas carrying an Apple Watch, and you double faucet together with your watch hand? Does the gesture apply to each gadgets? Or do they by some means negotiate with one another and decide which one acts on it?)