Apple has "considered" releasing a bumper case for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Similar to the bumper case that Apple introduced for the iPhone 4 in 2010, Gurman said the iPhone 17 Air version of the case would cover the edges of the device, but not the back of it. Those bumper cases were made of rubber.

Given that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have an ultra-thin design, customers who purchase the device might be reluctant to put it inside of a regular case, due to the added thickness. A bumper case would be a fitting compromise, as it would provide some level of protection against drops and scratches, without being overly thick.


Apple eventually ended up offering customers a free iPhone 4 bumper case, due to the infamous "antennagate" issue, which related to spotty cellular signal reception when the iPhone 4 was held in a way that covered the device's antenna bands.

The Information's Wayne Ma previously reported that Apple also plans to release an iPhone 17 Air battery case, for extra battery life on the go.

Apple last released battery cases for the iPhone 11 lineup, followed by the since-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 models and newer.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series and any related accessories in September.
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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects Apple to release new AirPods Pro this year, and he said the earbuds will have a key new feature: heart rate monitoring.


From his Power On newsletter today, with emphasis added:

As for Apple's other devices, there's a lot in the fall pipeline — though many of the new products are only incremental upgrades.

There will be Apple Watch updates, faster Vision Pro headsets and iPad Pros with the M5 processor. You should also expect new AirPods Pro earbuds (I reported earlier this year that Apple is working on a pair with heart-rate monitoring), as well as HomePod minis and Apple TV set-top boxes.

Apple already introduced a heart rate monitoring feature on the Powerbeats Pro 2 earlier this year.

When both Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are placed in the ears, and heart rate monitoring is active, Apple says LED optical sensors pulse at over 100 times per second to measure heart rate via blood flow. The feature integrates with popular fitness apps to collect data during workouts and sync it to Apple's Health app on the iPhone.

The feature is based on the Apple Watch's heart rate sensing technology. If someone is wearing both Powerbeats Pro 2 and an Apple Watch, Apple says apps default to using Apple Watch heart rate data, and that will likely be the case for the new AirPods Pro too.

Beyond heart rate monitoring, it is likely that the next AirPods Pro will feature improved sound quality, increased active noise cancellation, design changes, and more.

The current AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022, and they were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks in September 2023.


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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said he expects a paid Apple Health+ service to debut next year.


In his Power On newsletter, Gurman said Apple Health+ will consist of an AI-based health coach that offers nutrition planning and medical suggestions.

Gurman initially expected the coaching feature to be part of iOS 19.4 (now known as iOS 26.4), but he later said that it would not be available until at least iOS 27. It would be built into Apple's Health app on the iPhone and iPad.

He did not say how much the service will cost.


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Apple's first foldable iPhone will be equipped with four cameras, and Touch ID instead of Face ID, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the four cameras will consist of one front camera, one inner camera, and two rear cameras.

The latest iPad Air, iPad mini, and entry-level iPad models have Touch ID power buttons, and this feature will likely extend to the foldable iPhone.

The foldable iPhone will use Apple's second-generation C2 modem for cellular connectivity, but it will lack a physical SIM card slot, said Gurman.

Apple is currently testing black and white color options for the foldable iPhone, he added.

Gurman expects the foldable iPhone to have a book-like design, with a large inner display when unfolded. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the foldable iPhone will have a 5.5-inch outer display, and a 7.8-inch inner display.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7 has an 8-inch inner screen, and a 6.5-inch outer screen.

Kuo said the foldable iPhone — and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold8, will feature a "crease-free" inner display. He said Apple will achieve this feat by using a laser-drilled metal display plate, which can disperse the stress generated by bending.

Gurman said Apple recently pivoted from on-cell to in-cell display technology, and he believes this change should help to make the foldable iPhone's crease "less obvious."

He said Apple plans to release the foldable iPhone next year — as widely expected.


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Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should be unveiled in a few more weeks, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman corroborated a rumor that iPhone 17 Pro models will be "available in an orange color."

Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:

• Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a stainless steel frame. The back of the devices will supposedly have a new "part-aluminum, part-glass" design.


• Rectangular camera bump: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to have a large rectangular camera bump.
  
• Anti-reflective display option: While it has been an on-again, off-again rumor, the latest word is that iPhone 17 Pro models will feature an anti-reflect display option with a matte finish. Perhaps this will be the same nano-texture glass option that is available for the iMac, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro.


• Redesigned antenna system: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to feature a redesigned antenna system that wraps around the large rear camera bump on the devices. This may result in improved 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity compared to previous models.


• Orange/Copper color: A new copper-like color option is expected for the iPhone 17 Pro models, along with Dark Blue.


• Longer battery life: The iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumored to have a slightly thicker design that allows for a larger battery. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will apparently surpass the 5,000 mAh battery capacity mark.


• A19 Pro chip: iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to use Apple's next-generation A19 Pro chip, which will reportedly be manufactured with TSMC's newer third-generation 3nm process. Like usual, expect modest year-over-year performance gains and power efficiency improvements compared to the current iPhones.


• 12GB of RAM: iPhone 17 Pro models, and even the iPhone 17 Air, are rumored to have 12GB of RAM. This upgrade should help to improve the performance of Apple Intelligence and multitasking. All four iPhone 16 models have 8GB of RAM.


• 24-megapixel front camera: All four iPhone 17 models are said to feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, whereas all iPhone 16 models are equipped with a 12-megapixel front-facing camera.


• 48-megapixel Telephoto camera: An upgraded 48-megapixel Telephoto camera is rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, up from the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera on iPhone 16 Pro models.


• Dual video recording: iPhone 17 Pro models may allow users to record video with the front and rear cameras simultaneously in the Camera app.


• Vapor chamber cooling system: All four iPhone 17 models are rumored to feature a metal-covered battery and other internal design changes for better heat dissipation. A vapor chamber cooling system has been rumored for the Pro models specifically.

Check out our iPhone 17 Pro roundup to learn more.


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A first-generation iPod in a sealed, never-opened box fetched a staggering $40,264 during an auction run by RR Auction this month.


This appears to be a record-breaking sale price for an original iPod at auction, with the previous known record being $29,000 in 2023. The latest price fetched does include a 25% buyer's premium charged by RR Auction.

In the U.S., the original iPod was priced at $399 at launch.

Introduced by Steve Jobs in October 2001, the iPod helped Apple to become successful again, after it flirted with bankruptcy in the late 1990s.

Jobs famously pitched the iPod as offering "1,000 songs in your pocket," and he unveiled the device by pulling it out of his own pocket.

"With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go," he said. "With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again."

Here are the features advertised on the original iPod's box:

• Holds over 1,000 songs at near-CD quality on 5GB hard drive


• Up to 10 hours of continuous playback with rechargeable lithium polymer battery


• Super portable at 6.5 ounces and only 0.78 inch thick, 2.43 inches wide, and 4.02 inches tall


• Automatically synchronizes music and playlists with iTunes on your Mac


• Unique scroll wheel for simple, one-handed navigation


• Plays MP3, WAV, and AIFF formats


• Skip protection of up to 20 minutes (yes, minutes)


• High-resolution backlit LCD display


• Includes iPod, Apple Earphones, FireWire cable, and AC adapter

In addition, a sealed-in-box original iPhone with a rare 4GB of storage (8GB is more common) fetched $81,989 at RR Auction this month.


While that is not a record price for an original iPhone, it is still a staggering amount of money for a device that cost $499 when it launched in 2007.
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Apple One allows you to subscribe to a bundle of up to six of Apple's services for a discounted all-in-one monthly price, and its value just went up in an artificial way.


The reason why Apple One just became more valuable is because Apple TV+ received a price increase this week in the U.S. and select other countries. In the U.S., for example, the cost of the service increased from $9.99 per month to $12.99 per month. However, Apple One plans with Apple TV+ did not receive any corresponding price increases.

There are three Apple One tiers, all with Apple TV+ included:

• Individual ($19.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ (50GB)


• Family ($25.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ (200GB)


• Premier ($37.95/month): Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and iCloud+ (2TB)

All in all, you can now potentially save even more money by switching to Apple One as opposed to paying for Apple TV+ and other services separately.

Alternatively, you can switch to the annual Apple TV+ subscription, which also avoided a price increase. In the U.S., that plan remains available for $99 per year.

Many streaming services like Disney+ and HBO Max offer annual plans at a discount compared to paying for 12 months individually, although it is worth keeping in mind that there is an opportunity cost to paying in full upfront.

This is a win-win situation for Apple, which gains an instant revenue boost from customers who stick with the monthly Apple TV+ plan, while boosting the appeal of its Apple One and annual Apple TV+ plans with a higher spend or longer commitment.
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Now through August 29, Apple will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store, up to a maximum of $1 million.


Apple has supported the National Park Foundation with this annual charitable initiative since 2017.

The non-profit organization "generates private support and builds strategic partnerships to protect and enhance America's national parks for present and future generations."

Apple celebrates U.S. national parks every August with special content across services like the App Store, Apple Maps, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Podcasts. Apple Maps has a Discover America's National Parks guide for hikes, Apple Fitness+ is offering a selection of Time to Run episodes inspired by national parks, and Apple Podcasts is featuring "The Wild with Chris Morgan" episodes that spotlight various national parks.

Apple also promoted the National Park Service app as App of the Day in the App Store.

Additionally, on August 24, Apple Watch users can unlock a special national parks award in the Fitness app, and animated stickers for the Messages app, by recording a workout of 20 minutes or more with any app that adds workouts to the Health app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is a national parks enthusiast. In 2022, he said the parks provide a "sense of awe, tranquility, and quiet reverence only nature can inspire," and he emphasized that they are "well worth protecting, today and for every generation to come."

All of these initiatives are timed with the National Park Service's birthday on August 25.
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