Apple Loop: iPhone 15 design shock, sneaky iPhone USB trick, massive Apple privacy issue

Looking back on another week of Cupertino news and headlines, this week’s Apple Loop includes new iPhone 15 design leaks, Apple’s sneaky USB trick, iPhone impacted by protests from Foxconn, iPad Pro vs. iPad Air, Apple’s latest privacy issue, competition authorities investigating Apple, and will Tim Cook buy Manchester United?

Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many, many discussions that have taken place around Apple over the past seven days (and you can read my weekly Android news roundup here on Forbes).

iPhone 15 leaks reveal echoes of the C

Did you like the design of the iPhone 5C? If so, the iPhone 15 will bring back memories of simpler times to Apple’s smartphone portfolio. New information about the potential design suggests that the square look will have rather familiar rounded corners:

“The iPhone 5C was one of Apple’s most comfortable iPhones, but the design was not liked because the chassis was plastic. However, this mistake will not be repeated, with ShrimpApplePro stating that the chassis of models ‘iPhone 15 will be made of titanium.

(Forbes).

Apple’s sneaky USB trick for the new iPhone

Following the decision of the European Parliament making the use of USB-C charging mandatory on small electronic devices, Apple is set to remove the Lightning port from the iPhone 15 family. It remains to be seen whether this will be only for models Europeans or whether it will be a global change. Still, the latest leaks around upcoming handsets suggest that Apple is making the sneaky decision to create more distance between regular and Pro handsets:

“[[Analyst Ming-Chi] Kuo says the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds (the same as Lighting), but the premium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (potentially rebranded as “Ultra”) will support “at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3.”

(Forbes).

Apple faces impact of Foxconn protests

The ongoing protests at Foxconn factories in China following the harsh CoVID-19 restrictions put in place by the Chinese government:

“The rare scenes of open dissent in China mark an escalation of unrest at the massive factory in the city of Zhengzhou that has come to symbolize a dangerous buildup of frustration with the country’s ultra-tough COVID rules as well as management situationally inept by the world’s largest contract manufacturer.

The resulting actions will have a material effect on its production, which is heavily focused on the iPhone. Practically, this will see few iPhones in the retail chain during the critical holiday period:

“iPhone production at the factory could drop by as much as 30% in November, and Foxconn intended to resume full production there by the second half of the month. Apple had warned that it would expecting lower shipments of high-end iPhone 14 models than expected…Foxconn accounts for 70% of iPhone shipments globally, manufactures most phones from Zhengzhou factory , although it has other smaller production sites in India and southern China.”

(Reuters).

Comparison of iPad Pro and iPad Air

If you’re looking for top performance from your iPad, the choice is obvious: go with the iPad Pro running the Apple Silicon M2 chipset. But if you’re looking for a more practical tablet, is there a better option than the iPad Air. The 9to5Mac team has a one-on-one to help you:

“If you know you’ll often push your tablet to the limit, iPad Pro offers the most capable package with up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, a 120Hz ProMotion display, Thunderbolt support, and the ability to capture ProRes 4K video, all powered by the new M2 chip… Considering all the similarities, the iPad Air is probably going to be the best choice for most people.It’s priced around $200 less than iPad Pro while still including most premium iPad Pro features.”

(9to5Mac).

Apple’s latest privacy issues

Apple’s ability to track users moving through the App Store was published this week by Musk Inc. Naturally, Apple needs to track App Store purchases, but the latest privacy concerns go deeper into how the App Store works, but also how Apple has tracking that can identify you and which cannot be disabled. When you’re doing big privacy marketing, issues like this show the fine line between legal agreements and public messaging:

“Of course, users might assume that disabling device scanning while they set up their phone would stop this type of data collection. And who can blame them; Apple touts its privacy chops all the time, and disabling this option is supposed to deprive Apple of “data about how you use your devices and apps.” But what it doesn’t say is that the apps themselves can perform all kinds of tracking outside of this system; therefore, almost all of Apple’s apps have their own privacy agreements (which you implicitly accept by using them).”

(The edge).

Apple and Google under investigation in the UK

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Google and Apple’s practices regarding mobile software in general and web browser engines in particular:

“Ultimately, these restrictions limit choice and may make it more difficult to bring innovative new apps to UK consumers. At the same time, Apple and Google have argued that restrictions are necessary to protect users. L The CMA’s market investigation will examine these concerns and determine whether new rules are needed to achieve better results.”

(Forbes).

And finally…

With legendary football club Manchester United now up for sale, Apple is considering a bid for the company. It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds – witness Apple’s recent strides in sports streaming on Apple TV… witness the $2.5 billion spent to secure the broadcast rights to Major League Soccer . Buying a football club with its own TV channel, a rich history and a dedicated fan base? Why not. Why not, indeed :

“Tech giants Apple are interested in buying Manchester United for a staggering £5.8 billion. United owners the Glazers have decided to sell the club after giving in to fan demands who wanted them ousted. The US billionaires will sell the club to the highest bidder – and Apple bosses have expressed interest in discussing a potential deal.”

(Star of the day).

Apple Loop brings you seven days of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column Android Circuit is also available on Forbes.