Taking a look at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including iPhone 17 specs leaked, the latest iPhone software issues, the M4 iMac review, Apple Watch anniversary celebrations, an early iOS release , the cost of Apple Intelligence and the return of the iPod.
The Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions surrounding Apple in the past seven days. You can also read my weekly roundup of Android news here on Forbes.
An iPhone 16 lineup on display inside an Apple Store (Photo by Annice Lyn/Getty Images)
The slow arrival of a faster screen for the iPhone 17
Apple seems ready to accept another widely adopted hardware option in the Android ecosystem, which it has stubbornly refused to add to its entire portfolio. The rise of fast-refresh screens on Android began in gaming-focused handhelds, with premium devices following soon after. It is now a common feature in mid-range handsets. 2025 may see it (finally) arrive on the vanilla iPhone 17:
The next iPhone could change all that as the same low-temperature polycrystalline oxide panel technology will be applied to all iPhone 17 series models, according to a new report from South Korean website ET News. …it’s hard to escape the idea that it’s coming, too, since LTPO allows for variable refresh rates with less power consumption, meaning Apple can introduce ProMotion without hurting battery life.”
(Forbes).
If your iPhone is missing your notes
Some iPhone users who have updated to iOS 18.2 are facing a blank Notes app and a loss of their personal memories. It’s not the end of the world; the culprit appears to be an issue around cloud syncing, and no doubt Apple will issue an iOS patch as soon as possible. For now, Benjamin Mayo has a possible fix:
Go to Settings -> [your name] -> iCloud -> Notes.
Wait for the “Sync this iPhone” switch to appear and make sure it’s turned on.
“Wait a few moments and reopen the Notes app.
The Notes app should now kick in and start redownloading all your notes from iCloud.
(9to5Mac).
M4 iMac review
Alongside the sleek MacBook Pro laptops launched late last month, Apple also updated its consumer desktop iMac hardware. M4-equipped iMacs offer a minimum of 16GB of RAM, the basic foundation for Apple’s AI generation kit. With the M4 Apple Silicon, the desktop has plenty of power, as the Forbes contributor revealed as part of his review:
“The new iMac has the Apple M4 chip at its heart, a step up from last year’s M3 version. To be clear, the M3 iMac I’ve used so far has always been fast and capable, and I’ve never known it to slow down or be shiny. But, surely, this is faster.”
(Forbes).
Let’s party like it’s 2025
As the Apple Watch approaches its tenth anniversary, the team behind the wearable is planning a celebration. Included in the latest iOS beta is the code for an anniversary achievement:
“Apple appears to be planning an activity challenge to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, which was released in 2015. In the latest iOS 18.2 beta, there is mention of a ‘Decade Celebration’ with references to an activity achievement, so that looks like something is at work.”
(MacRumors).
Christmas is coming early
We are likely to see the next version of iOS earlier than expected. iOS 18.2 wasn’t originally “end of the year,” but with the holidays winding down and the release of betas, a more concrete timeline is becoming clearer:
“The iOS 18.2 operating system update, which includes major improvements to Apple Intelligence… is likely to arrive in early December, I’m told. How early? The week of December 2nd, barring any unexpected delays.”
(Mark Gurman via Bloomberg)
The Literal Cost of AI
iOS 18.2 – alongside iPadOS and macOS – will introduce the second wave of Apple Intelligence apps. The main feature will be the addition of ChatGPT to Siri, but it will not be smooth. Unlike Galaxy AI and Google AI, those who want the latest ChatGPT models will need a subscription… Apple will not subsidize the service at the same level as the competition:
“…system settings [of the iOS 18.2 beta] displays a daily limit on ChatGPT usage and an option to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus plan or downgrade to an older AI model. Existing ChatGPT Plus users can sign in on their iPhone, while those new to the system have the option to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus. I’d be interested to know if Apple will take its usual 30 percent fee on the $19.99 monthly subscription fee.”
(Forbes).
And at the end…
Apple may have stopped selling the new iPods, but that doesn’t mean the community has given up their love for the revolutionary digital audio player. Bradley Chambers has profiled a company that serves that community… Elite Obsolete Electronics:
“What started as buying broken Apple products on eBay, repairing them and selling them for a profit quickly turned into a full-fledged business. Elite Obsolete Electronics tapped into a growing community on Reddit and other online forums dedicated to iPod fans. Lucas noted, “There used to be a huge iPod community, but as people moved to iPhones and iPads, the skills to repair iPods dwindled.” However, Elite Obsolete Electronics became the go-to source for those who wanted more than just battery replacement.”
(9to5Mac).
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here at Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any future coverage. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of the Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.