eXtensions - Tuesday 13 May 2025
By Graham K. Rogers
Apple updated its operating systems this week. Backup your data and install the new versions. Speculation on Apple devices runs rife. Eddy Cue caused a stir at the Google antitrust hearing when he sort of speculated on a future without an iPhone, and AI search for Safari. While AppleTV had appeared in the doldrums of late, announcements suggest several new series and movies are on the way.
On Tuesday morning (here) I checked online news and saw updates reported for Apple devices. My first action, with each of those devices that will have the updates, is to check that backups have been made. For the MacBook Pro, that meant connecting a disk (before and after the update); for the iPhone and iPads, I checked for the last iCloud backup. The iPhone had been done overnight, but the iPads had not been updated recently enough, so a tap or two and they were done. Then I started the update process. When iOS 18.5 was on the iPhone, I checked the Watch app, and started the watchOS 11.5 update process, which includes putting the Watch on the charging stand.
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Current rumors swirling round Apple tell us that we can expect a folding iPhone some time in the reasonably near future, current iPhones will switch to a different delivery cycle, and Apple has stopped innovating, providing only incremental changes to its products. As a long-time user, I am OK with the incremental approach: gradually improving a known and reliable product. At first glance, my M1 MacBook Pro bears a basic resemblance to my 12" PowerBook and all the macBook Pro devices I had before Apple Silicon arrived. That PowerBook came with OS X 10.3. The Macs that replaced it (PowerBook, MacBook Pro (several), eMac, Mac mini (4 or 5) have run versions of OS X and macOS all the way up to the current 14.5. Each update to the OS made a significant difference.
Throwing shade at Apple this week, Mark Gurman wrote that nothing new was expected from Cupertino until 2027. Following this negative outlook, I was expecting a drop in the share price from the current (then) $198 when the markets opened Monday. Instead the price went up to almost $211: politics, not Gurman. Slavishly, several other tech writers followed the no-innovation theme. I still think that Apple policy is set by Tim Cook and not Mark Gurman, but the way everyone takes his words, and those of Ming-Chi Kuo, as Gospel truth, some are clearly not sure. Martyn Kasserly and Karen Haslam (MacWorld) look at the sometimes-suggested idea that the Mac should have, could have a touch screen (something Gurman has predicted), but, although I reach for the screen once in a while, forgetting I am not working on the iPad Pro, this still appears to be a non-starter. Why add on unnecessary bells and whistles?
Testifying in the Google antitrust litigation last week, Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services, threw a couple of spanners in the works: first by suggesting that the iPhone may not be needed 10 years from now; and that Apple is looking into offering search via AI services. Ryan Christoffel (9to5 Mac) notes that Cue's comments were made in the context of some speculation on the direction of technology, including AI, noting that, "Cue's comment was likely an off-hand speculative remark. I wouldn't take it as reflective of his actual belief regarding the iPhone's future timeline." That speculation on changes in technology is well-founded.
At the original 2007 iPhone announcement, making phone calls and sending SMS messages were the major advances that caught the attention of the audience, as well as the music access and touch screen. The "third device" that was announced was " a breakthrough internet communications device" and the audience reaction was muted. Fast forward to now - 18 years of the iPhone - and making phone calls has a fairly low priority for most users.
Even at this point in time, most people (particularly younger folks) use their smartphones to input and read text, or view images and videos (see below). The main function of the iPhone is based on its access to the internet. 10 years from now, who knows what technology we will use? Worrying about what may or may not happen with Apple next year, is not skating to where the puck is going to be, but where it has been.
As well as commenting on Cue's speculation on a future iPhone, William Gallagher (AppleInsider), noted that it was Apple that killed the iPod, not a rival. When the time comes, the iPhone will end, but that does not mean that Apple will give up. Gallagher mentions that Apple is looking at AI for Safari searches, and this is explained more fully by Malcolm Owen (AppleInsider).
Although Apple would prefer to keep using Google search (if only for the annual $20 billion), the company is of course aware that the courts may order the end to this arrangement, so Apple is not sitting there wringing its hands waiting for this legal coup de grâce. As users are making searches already with AI, Apple is ""actively looking" at changing search on Safari to use AI-based versions instead of Google". Cue added that "search providers will probably replace traditional search engines like Google" so this fits in with a general evolution in technology. The various search methods may be added as search options for Safari.
Commenting on Cue's evidence, Ryan Christoffel (9to5Mac), brings in Zuckerberg who also speculated on the future, noting how much content is now text as opposed to voice. Christoffel comments, "When you can just speak, and have AI understand you and do what you need, that's a much better experience for users." Mark Zuckerberg is reported as expecting voice input to be "a lot bigger going forward". There is certainly room for improvement. I am not yet totally convinced. Using voice for input on my devices often requires me to take more time correcting the output than if I had typed it then edited normally. Already basic voice commands (lights on) are useful in some cases, and there is certainly room for the sort of improvement that AI might be able to provide. Speaking slowly, I just turned on all the lights in my condo, then turned off the bedroom light, and finally reduced the level in the living room to 50%. Futuristic movies might offer some guide as to how developers expect to use voice as a means of control.
I was bemoaning the current lack of interesting output from AppleTV last time with the exception of Carême. There seems to be far more interesting content over on Netflix here: different areas have different content. I did make a comment about the soon-to-appear Murderbot which seems as if it will be right up my street (see below). I also listed some of the series that Apple has provided that were good. Currently, I am unmoved by Severance and did not enjoy Hollywood.
Despite the cameo appearances by some famous people, like Martin Scorsese, Steve Buscemi, Ron Howard, and apparently, Ted Sarandos (the head of Netflix), I find the constant shouting interferes with my enjoyment. On that appearance by Sarandos, it now appears that Apple wanted Tim Cook to make an appearance, but Seth Rogan declined (Hartley Charlton, MacRumors). Despite the apparent snub, Hollywood has just been renewed for a second season so someone likes it (Ryan Christoffel, Cult of Mac).
This week I saw Episodes 1 and 2 of the Ewan McGregor, Charlie Boorman, Long Way Home, the latest in their series of motorcycle adventures. The last one was Long Way Up: from the bottom of South America up to Los Angeles, using electric Harley Davidson motorcycles, with Rivian support vehicles. I was surprised that neither company made much of this adventure, although I expect they used the data. This time, the trip is from Perthshire (Scotland) to Surrey, via Europe on older machinery. McGregor made use of a Moto Guzzi twin, while Boorman bought a BMW for the trip. In scenes when the organization is being discussed, the support team claimed a preference for EVs again and their choice was again the Rivian.
I had thought from the earlier trailer that the BMW was the R80 or R90, but in the first episode, although he was originally looking at a Ducati, Boorman settled on a BMW R75. I was delighted when I saw this as this model was the first BMW I ever rode, albeit this was in Police trim. My first police bike had been a 650 Rickman Triumph (I crashed this badly), but when I came back to riding, the fleet had been renewed totally, with 750 Honda CB bikes and a single BMW. One Sunday, as my Honda was in for maintenance, I borrowed the BMW and from that time I always dreamed of having one for myself. I managed that in Thailand, mainly with a series of in-line bikes (K75, K100 and even a K1 for a short time) but also bought a BMW R80g/s (the type that won the Paris-Dakar race once). My riding days are over, but I am still excited by these Long Road adventures. At the end of Episode 2 there was a nasty surprise as one of the pair went down. I will have to wait until Episode 3 is released to find out the damage (I think it was Ewan McGregor and his Moto Guzzi).
Warner Bros. has announced that the AppleTV-destined production of F1 with Brad Pitt and a list of F1 drivers, is to be released to theatres on 27 June. There is
a trailer of the movie on YouTube. Joe Rossignol (MacRumors) also reports on a new Gordon Ramsay-produced series on the quest for Michelin stars. Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars is an 8-episode series that follows "elite chefs at some of the world's most celebrated restaurants" as they seek these ultimate culinary awards. There is no release date as yet.
I have been waiting for months now for news of Invasion and Foundation, the series based on the books by Isaac Asimov. Finally, there is news from Ryan Christoffel that Season 3 of Foundation is to be available on 11 July. Unfortunately, the trailer embedded in the article is unavailable here, although the same trailer is on YouTube. I have commented on two of these before, but Ryan Christoffel looks at three new series that are coming to AppleTV soon and he includes trailers (that do load here) for each of them: Murderbot, Fountain of Youth (which includes some scenes in Bangkok), and Stick. This is a new Owen Wilson series in which the main character is a Ted Lasso-like golfer, with shades of Tin Cup, a 1996 Kevin Costner movie. Murderbot will be here later this week (Friday 16 May), with The Fountain of Youth scheduled for a week later (23 May), and Stick is arriving 4 June, so things are looking up.
I went in to the newest iStudio in Siam Paragon this weekend. I have used this store on several occasions since it opened (around January 2024) as it is easier to reach than the previous (still open) branch on a higher floor. A friend wanted a pair of AirPods like those I had recently bought at this store. The plastic cover on one lead of this EarBuds had begun to come off, exposing the copper wire. That speaker worked only intermittently: definitely time for an upgrade.
As well as the basic AirPods (4,990 baht) he bought a clear carrying case that clips to a belt, which fits so well it took 3 or 4 attempts to put the Apple case inside the transparent one. He had help from the staff to set the AirPods up with the iPhone and while this was being done, I mentioned by dissatisfactions with the new device(s). The arm is short and the ear-piece slightly fatter than my previous AirPods so when I take them out (or replace them) there is potential for slipping out of my fingers.
I mentioned to the staff member that I had liked the feature (now missing) that allowed me to tap the left device and stop music that was playing: apparently replaced by an end call feature. Pinch it, she said. She showed me with my friend's new ones. By pinching the left AirPod just below the section that fits in the ear, I can now stop the music. I did not see this on any of the documentation (maybe I missed it) but my temporary solutions - using the AppleWatch or taking the AirPods out - are now redundant.
Some keen eyed observers noted that the new Pope - the first American in the office - was wearing an Apple Watch Marcus Mendes (9to5Mac).
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Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on X (@extensions_th). The RSS feed for the articles is http://www.extensions.in.th/ext_link.xml - copy and paste into your feed reader.
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