Apple Prevented Volkswagen From Exhibiting Wireless CarPlay at CES

Apple has blocked German car maker Volkswagen from showcasing wireless CarPlay connectivity at CES in Las Vegas this year, according to a report from Car and Driver. Apple introduced the ability to connect an iPhone wirelessly to CarPlay in iOS 9, but there has yet to be a commercial release for an infotainment system that supports the function.

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“We wanted to demonstrate wireless CarPlay and the owner of CarPlay technology didn’t allow us to,” Volkmar Tannerberger, head of electrical and electronic development at Volkswagen, told Car and Driver.
The current CarPlay setup requires users to connect an iPhone to a vehicle via USB port, and many have seen the wireless feature as a natural evolution of the in-car system. Although Tannerberger didn't divulge the specifics behind Apple's stonewalling, it is likely the Cupertino company wanted more control over all of the elements going into the public debut of the wireless feature.

In lieu of its inability to show off wireless CarPlay features, Volkswagen used its CES booth to demonstrate a new project that connects a smartphone to a car's infotainment system and mirrors its functions and controls. The car maker used an open-sourced standard called MirrorLink, unavailable on iPhones, to show off the technology, which would let users stream content from a smartphone and onto the in-car system. Volkswagen was said to "envision" the feature working in tandem with a wireless charging system to keep a phone topped off.

CarPlay news has been flowing out of CES this year, with companies like Kenwood, JVC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and others announcing incoming support for Apple's in-car system. There are still a few opting out of the service, however, including Toyota, which decided to go with SmartDeviceLink over CarPlay and Android Auto earlier in the week.

NFL in Talks With Apple Over Live Stream of London Games

The National Football League is in talks with technology companies like Apple and Google as the NFL seeks out a partner for three London games that it plans to stream next season, reports Reuters. Apple is said to have expressed interest in purchasing the rights to conduct the stream, perhaps in an effort to secure the games for the Apple TV.

In December, news leaked suggesting Apple and other digital companies like Google, Amazon, and Yahoo had talked with the NFL about streaming "Thursday Night Football" games online on a non-exclusive basis. It is not yet known who secured those digital rights.

Over the past year or two, live-streaming has become important to technology companies who want to cater to sports enthusiasts and an ever growing number of cord cutters. In 2015, Yahoo partnered with the NFL to live-stream a London game for free to viewers, setting off a trend that is continuing this year.

The NFL believes last year's Sunday night streaming experiment was a success, with approximately 15.2 million viewers having tuned in as it was broadcast.

According to Reuters, it is not clear if the NFL plans to sell the rights to the three games as a package deal or split them up individually. The fee the NFL is seeking is also not known, but last year, Yahoo shelled out $15 million to stream a single game.

The three games that will be played in London include the Indianapolis Colts vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 2, the New York Giants vs. the St. Louis Rams on October 23, and the Washington Redskins vs. the Cincinnati Bengals on October 30.

SEC backs shareholder’s call for vote on accelerating diversity among Apple’s directors & senior execs

The Securities and Exchange Commission has said that a resolution submitted by an Apple investor to accelerate diversity on the company’s board and among senior execs should be included in proxy materials sent to shareholders. Bloomberg reports that proposal was prompted by a conversation the shareholder had with his teenage son.

The proposal for an “accelerated recruitment policy” was submitted in September by Antonio Avian Maldonado II, who owns 645 Apple shares. He said he was spurred to act after looking at photos of the directors with his teenage son, who asked him why nearly everyone was white.

Apple rejected the proposal, stating that it was an attempt to micromanage recruitment. Apple told the SEC that it was actively trying to attract minorities but “has no power to ensure that its recruits will accept offers.” The SEC, however, does not accept Apple’s position …

The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance said in a Dec. 11 letter that the agency didn’t agree with the company.

While the Commission has no powers to force Apple to have shareholders vote on the resolution, it could potentially bring an enforcement action against the company afterwards if it fails to do so. Bloomberg says that Apple didn’t respond to emails and phone calls, and that the SEC declined to comment on the possibility of sanctions.

Apple publishes an annual diversity report, which this year showed small improvements across the company’s total workforce, with Tim Cook acknowledging that “there is a lot more work to be done.” However, Bloomberg notes that among senior roles – those classified by Apple as Leadership positions (click the tab) – white employees this year increased from 55% to 63%, while there were falls in the percentages of those classifying themselves as Hispanic, black or multi-racial. Among racial minorities, only those listed as Asian saw an increase. Six of Apple’s eight board directors are white.

Cook has repeatedly spoken about the company’s commitment to diversity in its hiring, stating last month that “the best companies in the world will be the most diverse.” Apple also supports the Code2040 fellowship program geared toward increasing diversity in the tech industry.

Photo: SeedInvest

Opinion: Apple had a good year for product launches in 2015, despite unrealistic expectations from some

The view that Apple lost its innovative edge with the sad loss of Steve Jobs has been one of the oft-repeated criticisms of the company in recent years. But this idea is based on an entirely mythological view of Apple as a company that was constantly launching ground-breaking new product categories.

The reality is a little more mundane. The Macintosh, a truly revolutionary computer, was launched in 1984. We had to wait 17 years for the next groundbreaking product: the iPod in 2001. We had to wait six years after that for the next major product category: the iPhone in 2007. And a further three years for the iPad in 2010. (If you wanted to push things a little, you could argue that the MacBook Air was also so revolutionary that it deserves to be included; if so, we’re up to five new product categories in 26 years.)

Note, too, that none of the product categories were invented by Apple. Xerox, of course, invented the graphical user interface for personal computers. There were MP3 players before the iPod; touchscreen smartphones before the iPhone; tablets before the iPad. What Apple did in each case was what the company does best: take something clunky and used only by techies, and turn it into a slick product that will appeal to the masses.

So no, Apple never has churned out revolutionary new products on an annual basis. If we’re going to assess its performance today, it has to be against a realistic background. Zac recently reminded us of Apple’s product timeline for 2015. Looking at this in the context of a company whose true history is occasionally taking a new product category and doing it better than anyone else – and in between times merely refining its existing product ranges – how did Apple do this year … ?

Firstly, of course, there was the Apple Watch. Ok, Apple announced the product in 2014, but it went on sale this year, so I’d argue it counts as a new product category in 2015. As with the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone and iPad, Apple looked at an existing invention – the smartwatch – and figured out how to do it better. Much better.

It was so successful in this that even I – a techie who normally needs little excuse to buy a new gadget, but couldn’t see the point in smartwatches – was assimilated. When we asked you to name the Apple Product of the Year, the Apple Watch was the clear winner, taking more than twice as many votes as the second-placed iPhone 6s/Plus.

Granted not all of you were sold – a recent poll showed that some 16% of owners had abandoned the device, and a further 13% are not wearing it daily – but there’s no question that the Watch is a successful product. Admittedly, Apple has declined to reveal sales numbers – stating only that sales are strong and growing – and analysts have had to make wild guesses, but it’s abundantly clear that Apple has sold more smartwatches than every other manufacturer put together. Way, way more.

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One could debate the status of the iPad Pro – new product category, or just a ginormous iPad? I can see arguments on both sides. While technically it is just a larger iPad, you could equally well have argued that the iPad itself was just a larger iPod touch. Sometimes size matters.

Although I concluded that the iPad Pro wasn’t for me, I did not in any way dismiss the device. As I said at the time, it’s a great device for many people. Brilliant for artists and designers (you easily chose the Apple Pencil as Apple Peripheral of the Year). A great tool for corporate warriors. Very handy for musicians. A better choice than a laptop for those with relatively basic computing needs. And a fantastic personal entertainment machine.

Importantly, the iPad Pro – together with all those enterprise apps – is clearly going to take the enterprise market by storm.

So, new category or not, the iPad Pro will, I’m sure, prove to be a hugely valuable product for Apple, and one which could very well help the company turn around those flagging iPad sales.

Oh, and the new iPad mini brought it into line with the design and capabilities of the iPad Air 2. Not unexpected, of course, but still a worthwhile upgrade.

macbook

The 12-inch MacBook doesn’t qualify as a new product category – it’s just the latest refinement of the MacBook Air concept – but again, as product evolutions go, it’s an impressive one.

It hasn’t yet sold itself to me personally. I’m still very happy with my 11-inch MacBook Air, and appreciate the fact that this can drive my 27-inch display to provide a full desktop experience when needed.

But it takes the MacBook Air concept to the next level. Its power will of course increase, and I’m confident that support for external monitors will come. Once it’s a little more capable, I have no doubt that this is the machine that is set to replace the MacBook Air.

Admittedly, we didn’t see anything else exciting on the MacBook side. The Retina MacBook Pro got Force Touch, and a refreshed MacBook Air just got a Broadwell CPU and faster graphics. We’re going to have to wait until next year for more significant enhancements there.

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On the desktop side, there were the new 4K and 5K Retina iMacs. Sure, evolution rather than revolution, but it was clear from the reviews that the 5K iMac was blowing people away. At a time when almost everyone else has given up on desktops, Apple is still there launching new products that continue to wow people.

Apple also didn’t forget desk-based customers when it came to peripherals, launching the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad 2 and Magic Mouse 2. Again, nothing amazing (despite the names), but still keeping things fresh.

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The Apple TV 4 got a more mixed reception. Many viewed it as effectively giving non-gamers a games console in their living-room for the first time, and one which will at least keep the kids amused. Siri was also welcomed by most. Others complained that it was inexplicable that a TV box launched in 2015 omitted 4K.

6s

Finally, we have a to give a more than honorable mention to the iPhone 6s. 3D Touch expanded the capabilities of the user-interface, and the camera functionality got a big boost with Live Photos, 5MP FaceTime camera, 4K recording and 1080p slo-mo at 120fps – even if the boost from 8MP to 12MP was something of a mixed blessing.

LTE Advanced will also be appreciated once it is more widely supported. For an S-year, it’s an impressive release.

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Apple cannot, of course, please all of the people all of the time. I still grumble about the disappearance of the 17-inch MacBook Pro, and still cling to the hope that the 12-inch MacBook could lead to new even-numbered sizes that at least sees a 16-inch MacBook Pro in my future.

And we’re all techies, so we’re of course always impatient for new toys. But viewed in a sensible historical context, I think we have to say that 2015 was an impressive year for Apple. Do you agree? Take our poll, and please share your reasons in the comments.

With the end of that year almost upon us, it only remains to say that I’ve had enormous fun writing these opinion pieces throughout the year, and have been very appreciative of the responses. I’ve very much enjoyed reading your comments, and look forward to doing so in 2016. Happy new year!

Apple TV Brawl results: Apple solidly wins the 4K debate for now – and here’s why

Yesterday, we gave you the chance to speak your mind on Apple’s choice to omit 4K video support from the latest Apple TV — did Apple blow it, or does 4K support not yet matter?

After over 6,500 votes, and more than 125 comments, we have a clear answer: roughly 2/3 of readers said Apple made the right call leaving 4K support out of the Apple TV, as they didn’t care (yet) about the feature. That’s a decisive majority. But a solid 35% of readers opined — often strongly — that neglecting 4K support had cost Apple their business, given that 4K Ultra HD TVs are becoming affordable and more popular.

I hoped we’d see some intelligent discussion, and was thrilled that so many comments actually delivered, including insights on why Apple’s approach was practical — for now. Here are some of the best comments readers posted on each side of the debate…

Representing the 65% of users who said “No, I don’t care about Apple TV 4K support (yet),” the most common thread was that 4K content currently isn’t compelling enough to be a necessity, particularly in a low-end Apple TV, and mightn’t be for 2 years.

4K is just not an issue right now. And I don’t see much need to future proof a $150 item.   – Jon C

The reality is that 4K is not “there” yet. [1080p] HD is where +95% of current content is filmed and distributed. Why would I stress future proofing a $150 device? By the time 4k is ubiquitous enough to make it a no brainer that generation of Apple TV will have enough features to make it worth upgrading.   – Akil Ford

Some of the most interesting comments discussed a compromise — using (much-improved) 4K upscalers built into 4K Ultra HD TVs to make better use of higher-quality 1080p source files.

I had a perfectly fine 1080p Sony XBR television but recently upgraded to a Sony XBR 4K TV… And all content is upscaled to 4K and looks PHENOMENAL. So even without a lot of 4K content out there, you’re still reaping the major benefits of a razor sharp image 99% of the time for viewing. […] Since my TV upscales the content anyway, I’ll take the standard 1080p file that I know will load quickly and stream beautifully.   – verizon2828

There were lots of comments regarding the current state of 4K streaming standards and broadband service.

Apple never uses half baked technologies, instead it implements those when everything is ready and polished…. HEVC (H.265) is not finished yet, it still doesn’t render videos with grain as good as H.264/AVC does. And videos with grain are almost 9/10 of all movies ever shot because it is the side effect of the film itself and only movies shot on digital cameras don’t have grain. So, it means that 4K videos is not yet ready for “everywhere use” at Apple. You can’t see these rendering problems on iPhone screen, but you will notice those in a second on TV.   – Gagik Stepanyan

Netflix has a handful of shows and documentaries that support 4K. For me 4K streaming is a no go… because of 300 GB a month data cap on my 100mbs cable broadband. Just normal HD on Netflix eats quickly into my data caps. The infrastructure and way ISP’s are set up now does not make 4K streaming a good experince for most people… It needs time.   – taoprophet420

The average US broadband speed is 12.6 Mbps per Akamai. High quality and reliable 4K streaming would require 20 Mbps or more with current compression technology.   – Ondray Wells Jr.

And some of the comments focused on the modest benefits 4K offers users of smaller TVs.

Yes, everyone wants 4K TVs, and if you have a 4K TV, you want devices that work with it. So Apple is behind in what people want. However, I don’t think it actually makes in difference in useable quality. Unless your TV is bigger than 65″, you’re not actually going to notice any difference when you’re sitting on the couch. You’ll only notice when you go up and get really close to the TV.    – dwsolberg

Not everyone agreed with this, however. Representing the nearly 35% of users who said “yes, I’m skipping it because it can’t play 4K videos,” several readers noted that they own 4K TVs and appreciate the improved visual quality they’re already seeing in 4K streams.

“Daredevil” in 4K on my 55″ Samsung looked much better than in 1080p on my old 46″ set. – Samuel A. Maffei

I purchased a 4k Samsung 40″ Smart TV this month…. I have to say, I can see the difference between 4k native and 1080p DVD or 4k upscaled [1080p] streamed content. Upscaling generally looks good but I can appreciate the difference with native content…. Aside from a noticeable general improvement in picture quality with 4k content, 4k resolution on my 40″ TV is particularly appreciated with video content that contains text…. I have to say, now that I’ve had time with the Samsung Smart TV environment, I don’t see any need to buy an AppleTV in the future.   – sbandyk

For some people, the lack of 4K support is important for theoretical reasons.

I decided to skip this Apple TV because it doesn’t have 4K, even though I don’t have a 4K TV yet, and the only 4K content I currently have is from my iPhone. But I decided that anything I upgrade at this point should be 4K. Since Apple has already implemented 4K on the iPhone and iMacs I imagine a 4K Apple TV isn’t that far off.   – davegolden

Mirroring comments we’ve seen on earlier Apple TV articles, quite a few readers expressed anger at what they felt was either planned obsolescence or development inconsistency by Apple.

Anyone who wants to think Apple didn’t include 4K because there isnt enough content yet or it hasn’t taken off yet has their heads in the sand…. The fact is 4K TVs are dirt cheap right now, 9to5Toys was offering one at 600 yesterday I believe. This is classic Apple, just like you stated, they pulled the same stunt with 1080p. And I for one will skip it this year so that I buy a future proofed device. Not to mention that A8 is going to be pretty choppy once Devs start coding their games for the next model released with enough power to push 4K.   – chrisl84

A bigger concern for me is the lack of technology consistency in Apple’s lineup. You have phones that can now record 4K but a brand new Apple TV that cannot handle it. You have an iMac which is 5K and a high end Mac Pro which is stuck with an aging non-HD display…. And you have a company which is so secretive that you have no idea whether and when these inconsistencies are [ever] going to be addressed.   – Warren Shaw

One thing that’s clear from both the comments and the poll, which again has over 6,500 votes counted, is that while there’s a strong majority that doesn’t care about 4K support yet, a 1/3 minority that cares a lot about 4K — enough to skip the new Apple TV over it — is not trivial, despite what some commenters might suggest.

0.0.0.0.0.0.1 of people care. You can talk about future proof, but the fact is, 4k is not standard on everything right now.   – viciosodiego

That’s just plain wrong. Our poll’s very large sample size, combined with the science of statistics, provide us with numbers that are very broadly generalizable. Even if we only had 4,200 responses, we could say with 99% confidence that the roughly 65% “no” and roughly 35% “yes” split we saw would be accurate to +/- 2% for a much larger population of people. Even today, with 4K penetration at as low of a level as it will be for decades, around 1/3 of people think it’s a major omission in the Apple TV. Leaving it out this time was a reasonably safe bet for Apple, but since 4K Ultra HD TVs keep falling in price, it’s clearly going to be at the top of the next version’s list of features.

More From This Author

Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a personal gift guide for Apple fans, a great gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed gift guide for Mac users, and a separate gift guide for Apple photographers.

Poll: What content would you like to hear on other Beats radio stations?

When it was discovered that Apple applied for trademarks for Beats 2, 3, 4, etc, it seemed pretty obvious the company was considering expanding its 24/7 Beats 1 radio station that it’s promoted as a key part of its new Apple Music service since launch.

And it’s not a stretch to imagine how it could easily expand on the mainstream programming found on Beats 1 currently. Think of a 24/7 station that focuses specifically on one genre like rock, jazz, or hip-hop, for example, with shows programmed to focus on subgenres or featuring guest hosts and regular segments much like Apple’s Beats 1 station. To me this seems like a natural progression for Beats radio as part of Apple Music, but it’s possible Apple could also include more than just more music with Beats 2, 3, and beyond.

Sports/Talk Radio/Podcasts…

Apple already could have a bit of a head start with talk radio content beyond music if you consider iTunes and its dominance when it comes to attracting podcasters. Most popular podcasters are already distributing content through iTunes and as of this year estimates say most mobile podcast listening— around 82%— is happening on iPhones and in Apple’s own Podcasting app. With Spotify, Google and other music streaming competitors recently integrating podcasts, Apple has to be at least considering the potential of content beyond music for its streaming service.

A Podcasts app for the new Apple TV is apparently on the horizon, but that doesn’t necessarily rule out bringing sports programming, talk radio, and podcast-style series to Apple Music and Beats radio. Sports alone, for instance, is a category big enough to have a channel or more per sport or league. Sirius has a popular station dedicated to NFL programming, for example.

Add in the possibilities of 24/7 news coverage and the long list of hit podcasts on iTunes, and you can start to see what Beats radio might look like a year from now if Apple goes that direction.

Live streaming for iTunes Connect |

Opening up Beats streaming to any artist the way Apple Music is essentially open could get messy (Beats 4,205,405 anyone?), but integrating similar live streaming capabilities into Apple Music Connect— Apple’s service that lets artists upload content to their artist profile on the fly— could make it at least possible for any artist to host their own live content. And on that note, Apple has a lot of Beats radio video content we’ve yet to see…

Video content |

We reported earlier this year just before the launch of the new Apple TV 4 that Apple was also planning a new streaming video service. It’s currently working behind the scenes to launch the service, which would include bundled content from various networks for as low as $40 per month, sometime next year for owners of the latest Apple TV 4 and the previous generation Apple TV 3.



Apple already releases short video clips of full-length interviews it’s done with artists on Beats 1 online (Beats has a YouTube channel) and in various places in Apple Music, which means it’s already compiling a catalogue of video interviews with artists and that could give us an idea of what a Beats video channel might look like on Apple’s new video streaming service. Add in the potential for artist performances, live streaming of concerts and other events (like Apple already does with its own Apple Music Festival), and it’s easy to see how Apple’s new video service could be a big part of expanding Beats in 2016.

Other languages/international stations |

Yet another possibility for the expansion of Beats is to launch channels in other languages, to help it expand into markets where the service is yet to launch or might not be particularly popular due to the english-language programming. One report regarding Apple’s plans for other Beats stations noted the possibility of “a Beats 2 station headquartered in Australia or Asia.”

Poll |

What content would you like to hear on Beats 2, 3, 4, etc stations? Sports programming? Talk radio and podcasts? 24/7 news? Have your say below in the poll, and hit up the comments to continue the discussion.

Apple in 2016: What we expect from new iPhones, iPads, Macs, & Apple Watch this year

With Apple’s big fall product launches behind us and the last of its 2015 lineup launching with the iPad Pro, we now turn our focus to what’s on deck for 2016. Should you buy a new Apple Watch, MacBook, iPad, or iPhone now? Or wait until Apple’s inevitable refreshes coming later this year?

Below we roundup all of our info on what we expect from the company this year, starting with a March Apple Watch 2 event through the much rumored 4-inch iPhone, new MacBooks, iPad Air 3, an Apple TV streaming service and much more…
Apple Watch 2 in March |

Apple Watch first went on sale in April of last year, and its second generation Apple Watch is currently scheduled for a similar timeline. An unveiling is currently scheduled for March 2016 based on our reporting and it will likely be the highlight of Apple’s first half of next year alongside other new product introductions at the event.

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We reported earlier this month that the company has internally scheduled a press event for March and that sources say it’s for Apple Watch and possibly other new Apple products. Possibilities for the new device include a FaceTime camera, more iPhone-independent features over Wi-Fi, sleep tracking, and health sensor technologies, but it’s always possible Apple will have a feature or two or new designer accessories. The product line last got a refresh in September when Apple released new straps and Sport model colors.

And if Apple goes ahead with these plans, the updated watch models would be ready to ship in April. But what else might we see at that event…

A 4-inch iPhone |

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Apple still has a ton of customers who want 4-inch phones and it isn’t going to continue to try to sell these users iPhone 5ses. If an alleged leaked roadmap from carrier China Mobile turns out to be legit, then Apple’s much rumored new 4-inch iPhone will arrive in April. That would make the March Apple Watch 2 event an ideal time to officially unveil the device publicly.

The iPhone 6c (or 7c), as it’s currently being referred to, is rumored to sport a smaller 4-inch display that Apple hasn’t used since the iPhone 5s. It will, based on several reports in recent weeks, sport upgraded specs over the iPhone 5s, however, including a 1642mAh battery, an A9 processor, 16GB of storage, Touch ID, and 2GB of RAM. So it will essentially be a metal, faster version of the 5c, but with rounded rather than squared edges to fit in with iPhone 6 design (something like our render above showing what the device might look like next to other iPhones in the lineup).

New Mac/Books |

macbook-air-sale

Apple upgraded most of its MacBooks recently, and also introduced its new 12-inch MacBook in 2015, but next year it could introduce an update to its extremely popular MacBook Air. According to reports, that might include a new 15-inch model and a thinner, redesigned form factor.

But what that means for the rest of the MacBook lineup remains to be seen. Where does would a new MacBook Air fit into a lineup with an upgraded Air and other MacBooks models, for example? It’s possible a few Retina MacBook configurations will be released and the MacBook Air line paired down, but you can likely expect to see the usual refreshes to other Macs this year as well with at least the typically upgraded internals. One thing you can expect to show up in Apple’s Macs this year: Intel’s upcoming Skylake processors. Expect performance and battery improvements courtesy of Skylake to be a highlight of upgrades this year.

It’s likely we’ll see Macs in 2016 get USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 across the board as well as the new Intel chipsets. We expect the MacBook Pro to get updated early with Skylake, and USB-C ports that do Thunderbolt 3, alongside some other internal spec bumps. Heck, Dell already did it, and Thunderbolt 3 will make for a great opportunity to finally introduce an updated 5K Apple Thunderbolt Display.

iPad Air 3 |

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The most recent reliable report on new iPads came from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. His report predicts an early 2016 released for an upgraded iPad Air based on supply chain sources. Apple upgraded its iPad mini model alongside the introduction of larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro in September, so the iPad Air is certainly next in line for the product category in terms of a refresh.

The iPad Air 3 is expected to include the usual upgraded internals but largely remain the same as the second-generation iPad Air in terms of design. But don’t expect Apple to bring its 3D Touch pressure sensitive touchscreen tech to the new iPad, as Kuo predicts it’s currently unlikely for the upgraded iPad Air 3 expected to arrive early next this year.

The timing would also make an upgraded iPad Air 3 a contender for stage time at Apple’s March event.

What else might we see from the iPad line? Following the launch of iPad Pro and its companion Smart Keyboard, we think Apple still has a lot of room for improvement in the keyboard arena for one. We’d like to see a clamshell version for all versions of the iPad. Also, price reductions (which are already happening at retail partners) and getting rid of the 16GB tier make a lot of sense. On the software side, making the iPad OS more like a desktop OS with more windowing options and a file browser/access makes a lot of sense, too, if Apple wants to continue to eat up computer maker market share with its tablet lineup.

iPhone 7 |

6s

Currently expected for its usual fall release timeframe, iPhone 7 will continue Apple’s relentless march towards thinner products with rumors of the headphone jack being ditched for Lightning only. Don’t worry Apple fans, the company will sell you a Lightning to 3.5mm headphone adapter for a reasonable price if you need that old set of wired headphones to work. And opening up Lightning for headphone makers a couple years back puts it in a good position to make the transition. Most people will be pushed to wireless headphones, of which Beats and those making Lightning headphones have plenty to offer. Will there be Beats Wireless headphones (or Lightning) in the iPhone 7 box? That’d be interesting!

In addition to losing the headphone jack and all that implies, I think Apple will again strive to improve the display perhaps (or perhaps not) with AMOLED. Apple’s display technology of choice on the Apple Watch could save battery life and give those pixel off blacks that Samsung and other Android makers have been bragging about for awhile. The display isn’t the only thing coming from Apple Watch however. I think Apple will go the next step on waterproofing and ruggedizing. While the iPhone 6s can withstand a lot of water, Apple doesn’t officially cover or claim any amount of waterproofing. Giving it IPX7 waterproofing would also a great excuse for the removal of the 3.5mm audiojack.

A technology that Apple should steal from Motorola is its unbreakable display. I’ve cracked the screens of 5 iPhones in my life both in and out of cases. This technology ends that. Apple should buy it from Motorola if it has to. It is a game changer.

Apple TV streaming service |

AppleTV-CBS-All-Access

Apple is planning its first TV streaming service of sorts, as Mark first reported last year. For now, Apple’s newly launched Apple TV 4 and App Store still requires logins to cable networks to unlock most content from TV networks, but a streaming service offered by Apple could see bundles of multiple television channels or paid video services in a monthly subscription. How exactly that will position Apple and Apple TV in terms of competing with other services from Amazon, Netflix and others remains to be seen.

And not just new Apple TV 4 owners will benefit. We reported Apple is planning on brining the service to older Apple TV 3 users as well, unlike the new Apple TV’s App Store and redesigned user experience, although plans could change depending on timing.

The Beats Go On |

Zane-Lowe-Studiio-Beats-1

Even the people running Apple’s new free, 24/7 live streaming radio station Beats 1 don’t know if it will prove to be an integral part of the Apple Music listening experience. But Apple does indeed have plans to expand the service that it makes accessible for free outside of Apple Music subscriptions and touts as a major differentiator of its service compared to competitors.

Beats 1 played host to on-air hosts Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden and Julie Adenuga, as well as shows from celebrity guest hosts, but what might Apple have planned for the Beats 2-5 trademarks it’s registered behind the scenes? The possible addition of other live streaming channels could mean Apple has plans to have a network of live streaming audio shows, not unlike competitors such as Sirius Radio.

There are lots of opportunities for other Beats channels beyond music— sports, talk, podcasts, news, etc—and Apple is already home for a lot of the most popular audio content creators via iTunes.

Apple Pay |

Square Apple Pay

As Apple continues to add more retailers, banks, and card issuers to the list of those officially supporting Apple Pay in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada, Apple is also doing work to bring the platform to more users as it plans a launch in one of its biggest markets, China. The service is scheduled to launch there as soon as this year through a partnership with local bank China Union Pay, and it’s likely Apple will look to bring Apple Pay to other markets this year as well.

Other advancements on the horizon for Apple Pay: Apple is reportedly interested in developing a person-to-person payment service, which in theory would allow it to offer money transfers between friends and family not unlike PayPal, Google, Square and other services.

Wild Card |

imac

Thunderbolt 3 means 5K video at high frame rates, so we think Apple FINALLY updates its Thunderbolt Display in 2016 with essentially the same look and display of the 27-inch iMac. Because it will be USB-C/Thunderbolt, which can also carry over 100W of power, it will require just 1 cable to go into the Mac/Book. Living the dream.