As we start a new year, one cannot help but think about all of the possibilities for the year ahead. In the world of the iPhone and related products, there is a lot to be excited about. Apple has told us that the Vision Pro headset is coming in early 2024, and there are rumors that might mean as soon as January or February. This will be Apple's first new platform since the iPad was introduced in 2010, so this should be a very big deal. Like the iPad, I hope that it starts out good and then transforms into being great. And speaking of which, since 2023 was the first year since 2010 in which Apple did not introduce a new iPad, I'm sure that we will see new iPad models in 2024, and hopefully it will be something that we all agree was worth the wait. And I'm sure that we will see lots of other interesting new products, services, and more from Apple this year; here are Jason Snell of Six Color's thoughts about what might be coming. It is exciting to start the year with so many interesting possibilities. And now, the news of note from the past week:
- Before the iPhone, we had the Blackberry and the Palm Treo, both of which featured a small physical keyboard. John Gruber of Daring Fireball reports on a new iPhone case called Clicks that plugs into the USB-C or Lightning port and adds a hardware keyboard. Of course, that also makes the iPhone much taller, but I'll still be curious to see what reviewers say after trying out this product. I sometimes find it useful to connect a keyboard to my iPhone, so I understand some of the appeal.
- As I reported last week, Apple is once again—for now, at least—able to sell the Apple Watch Series 9 in its stores. Should you get one? Wesley Hilliard of AppleInsider has been using one for the last three months and he shares his thoughts on the Series 9. He likes it a lot, but says that the new double-tap features that is unique to the Series 9 has only limited utility.
- In last week's episode of the In the News podcast, I mentioned an interesting interview by Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal of a prisoner who stole hundreds of iPhones after getting the passcode. It's a fascinating story and video that I recommend if you haven't seen it yet. Let's all be careful out there and protect your iPhone passcode like it is one of the most confidential and important things in your life. Because it is.
- If you have an iPhone 15 Pro, I think that one of the most useful things that you can do with the Action Button is assign it to a simple shortcut personalized to your specific needs. That's how I have mine configured. George Tinari of Make Use Of shares some great examples of shortcuts to use with the Action Button.
- Three-in-one chargers that cost around $150 seem to be all the rage right now. Tyler Hayes of How-To Geek reviews the Mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger, a compact device that unfolds to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
- This story is from around two weeks ago, but it is still worth noting. With Apple's Satellite SOS service, you can obtain roadside assistance through AAA. That's great if you are a member, and there is a charge if you are not. But what if you use a competitor service? One such competitor is the Verizon Roadside Assistance program, which Verizon sells to its subscribers for $4.99/month or as a pay-per-use option, and Juli Clover of MacRumors reports that the Verizon program now works with Apple's Satellite SOS service.
- Stephanie Stahl and Brad Nau of CBS News report on a woman in Delaware who felt herself starting to pass out due to what was later discovered to be carbon monoxide from a faulty heater. Fortunately, she was able to call 911 from her Apple Watch just before she collapsed, and firefighters were able to save her life, plus the life of her cat.
- Chance Miller of 9to5Mac reports on two recent instances in which Apple's crash detection feature was used to help someone after a crash, including a severe crash in Tennessee on New Year's Day.
- One of my favorite Apple TV+ shows is Slow Horses, and I binged Season 3 during my vacation for New Year's. It is so great! Season 4 has already been filmed and should come out later this year. And K.J. Yossman of Variety reports that Apple has just renewed the series for a fifth season. That makes Slow Horses the first show to ever get a fifth season on Apple TV+ since the service debuted in late 2019. Yossman says that the fifth season will be based on the fifth Slough House book by Mick Herron, and to answer your next question, Herron wrote eight of those books so I would certainly love to see eight seasons. If you haven't started watching Slow Horses yet, it is a great spy thriller, and the episodes are not very long so it is easy to binge.
- And finally, here is a really nice and touching tribute and look back at the best actors and shows on Apple TV+ from last year, a video from Apple called A Toast to 2023:
