iPhone 15 Dynamic Island tipped to integrate the proximity sensor

Image: MacRumors

The Dynamic Island isn't going away anytime soon. The Apple iPhone 15 series is expected to bring the controversial notch to all models. But reports are claiming there's going to be a slight change over the iPhone 14 Pro version. Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the proximity sensor will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island area this time instead of sitting below it.

The proximity sensor detects when you hold up a phone to your ear so it shuts off the screen. The position shift might be related to rumours of Face ID improvements. But Kuo said this won't result in any changes to the look or functionality of the Dynamic Island. He said Apple supplier Finisar will move to offer Apple 940nm wavelength proximity sensors instead of the iPhone 14 Pro's 1380nm sensors. This new proximity sensor is supposedly part of a Single Pearl Module with the codename "Sphinx." We expect the Apple iPhone 15 series to debut in September.

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Apple's rumoured HomePod with a display might come in 2024

Photo: Apple

We've heard about Apple's plans to release a low-end iPad that serves as a smart home display. But it looks like that isn't the only IoT (Internet of Things) device in the works. Rumours suggest we may see a HomePod sporting a display. Apple analyst Ming-Chu Kuo reports the company is working on a HomePod with a 7-inch panel, which we could see within the first half of 2024. Chinese supplier Tianma will reportedly manufacture its display. And the device "could enable tighter integration with Apple's other hardware products" and signify a "significant shift in the company's smart home strategy."

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Apple 15" MacBook Air, Apple Silicon Mac Pro reportedly in the works

Aside from the iMac, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports in his weekly newsletter that Apple is getting ready to release the long-rumoured 15-inch version of the MacBook Air. The company is also supposedly working on a refresh for the 13-inch variant as well as the first Apple Silicon-powered Mac Pro. He expects these Macs to arrive sometime between late spring and sometime in summer. But it isn't clear if these new MacBook Airs will ship with an M3 processor. But he speculates "at least" the 13-inch model could feature the new chip given there's an M2 version of it already.

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Apple's Cloud Chief Michael Abbott will reportedly leave the company in April

Photo: Michael Abbott

Apple's top executive in charge of its cloud initiatives is reportedly leaving the company next month, in April. Michael Abbott will be the latest in a wave of recent departures from Apple. He is the second top lieutenant to services head Eddy Cue to leave this year. Abbott is in charge of services and technologies like iCloud.com, iCloud Mail, and the new iCloud data encryption. He also runs the platform that powers services like iCloud, FaceTime, iMessage, Find My feature, and Emergency SOS on iPhones, among others.

In recent years, Abbott has hired several cloud industry leaders to improve Apple's operations, but the integration of the new talent hasn't reportedly gone smoothly as hoped. Abbott has held his role for five years. He joined the company in 2018 after serving as an investor at venture capital company Kleiner Perkins and as an executive at Microsoft, Palm, and Twitter. Jeff Robbin will take over Abbott's responsibilities. Robbin is considered one of the company's most senior engineering leaders, and he's credited with creating iTunes. He has long managed engineering for several services under Cue.

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