The first week of February when rumors of Apple's self-driving EV apple car (provisional) and MR goggles continued. There are signs that both will be high-priced products for companies, but since the Mac was originally used for DTP, the professional market may be developed again.
Apple car (temporary), it works without a driver from the first generation? 8K resolution MR headset under development? Until now, we will deliver the latest Apple rumors together.
The iPhone 13 (provisional) is rumored to have significantly improved ultra-wide-angle cameras for all models
Cameras are now a valuable added value in smartphones, but the 2021 flagship iPhone 13 (provisional) series has significantly updated the ultra-wide-angle camera from the previous year's model in all four models. More specifically, analysts from the British investment bank Barclays predict that the lens aperture will become wider and the F value (the value obtained by dividing the focal length of the lens by the effective aperture) will become smaller.
Larger lens aperture means more light passing through the lens and better low-light performance (strengthened for low-light shooting). Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is familiar with Apple's insider information, also said at the end of last year (2020) that the 2021 model ultra-wide-angle camera would be strengthened in that direction.
However, Kuo's prediction is that "improvements in the ultra-wide-angle camera will be limited to the Pro model." Barclays is forecasting all four models this time, and the scope of the target model is different.
Since then, Kuo said that supply chain competition has increased production capacity for lenses for the iPhone, increasing the chances of it being equipped with "an ultra-wide-angle camera with vastly improved low-light performance." published research notes. It is rumored that the iPhone 12 Pro also has improved camera performance with the LiDAR scanner, and sales are so strong that it causes shortages, but the popularity of the ultra-wide-angle camera may create a sensation this year.
Analyst predicts Apple car (provisional) will be 'very expensive' with Hyundai's adoption of E-GMP
Apple car (provisional) works without a driver from the first generation? Will it be launched for companies first?
Apple, a fabless company, must partner with automakers for the production of self-driving EVs, so rumors of negotiations with Hyundai were not surprising. However, while it was unclear how the two companies would divide their roles, analysts predicted that Apple Car would adopt Hyundai's E-GMP EV platform.
In general, the major hurdles in developing and manufacturing automobiles are the development of the vehicle body itself, the procurement of the necessary licenses, and the construction of a parts supply chain network. According to familiar Ming-Chi Kuo, the time required for such preparation can be greatly shortened through deep collaboration with existing automakers, and the time to market can be accelerated. And Apple can focus on self-driving hardware and software, semiconductor and battery technology, and creating innovative user experiences.
Hyundai, which has become the center of attention, is also one of Apple's partner candidates with resources such as extensive development and production capabilities. If this attempt goes well, it is said that there is a possibility of partnering with other companies such as GM and Stellatis.
The EVs created through such collaborations will be “very high-end models” and “significantly expensive”. It was suggested that the sales destination would be narrower than the standard EV (easier to earn sales volume) that has a good taste for partner automakers.
Following Kuo's prediction, CNBC reports that the first Apple car will be "designed to run without a driver," meaning it will be fully autonomous. Sources say that its primary use will be focused on the last mile, ie logistics services from the final location to the end user.
Apple has been testing self-driving vehicles on public roads for about four years, so it should have accumulated a lot of data. However, since automobiles are more directly linked to human life than smartphones and PCs, the strategy may be to ``collect data in a wider area with logistics that does not transport humans first.''
It was a week when the topic of Apple cars was lively, but Bloomberg reported that negotiations with Hyundai were suspended due to the intention of Apple, who was upset by the leak. There are rumors that Apple is also negotiating with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, and it seems that automakers around the world are paying close attention to future trends.
Apple working on new health hardware product? Clues to job postings
Although there was news that the Apple Watch that was given as a wedding anniversary gift saved a life, clues have been discovered that Apple may be developing a separate health-related hardware product.
A job ad posted by the company's health hardware group says they are looking for someone to "lead the design and development of Apple-branded health hardware products." The Apple Watch is a wearable device with “also” health functions, suggesting that it may be working on a completely new product.
Furthermore, production management is also the responsibility of the factory, which is ``quality and timeliness of preparation before production and the start of mass production.'' It is possible that By the way, in the case of the iPhone, it takes one and a half to two years from the decision of specifications to mass production, and prototypes go through EVT (Technical Verification Test) > DVT (Design Verification Test) > PVT (Production Verification Test). It is customary.
There were rumors that the next Apple Watch Series 7 (provisional) would be able to measure blood sugar levels, but there were previous observations that it would be supplied in the form of an external smart band instead of the watch itself.
It's been three years since CEO Tim Cook said, "Health is the greatest contribution to mankind." He also said that ``early detection of illness greatly reduces medical costs,'' so in the future, it may be possible to introduce new products other than the Apple Watch that closely monitor people's physical conditions.
Analyst predicts Apple VR goggles to be released in early 2022 with LiDAR scanner
Apple MR headset with dual 8K screen and eye tracking? Is the price over 300,000 yen?
Apple is believed to be developing two types of AR/VR products, a headset type and a lightweight glasses type, in parallel, but rumors of a headset type have recently become more active.
If you combine them, the main purpose is VR, and it is also equipped with an external camera and has a MR (Mixed Reality) function that superimposes real information and images.
First, analysts at JP Morgan Securities (via China Times) predicted that it would be "more expensive than VR headsets on the market today" with six lenses and a LiDAR scanner. It doesn't say how much it will cost, but the bill of materials (BOM) alone is over $500.
This is an article from the paid news media The Informaiton. This is expected to be equipped with more than a dozen external cameras, two 8K displays, and advanced eye tracking technology. A high-resolution screen is necessary to create a sense of reality, but since drawing everything will increase the computing load, it is explained that only the part that the user is paying attention to is completely rendered.
However, 8K products already on the market are quite expensive, and the estimated price of an Apple MR headset equipped with two is around $3,000, which is over 300,000 yen. For that reason, it is aimed at companies rather than consumers, and it seems that it is expected to be used for business purposes such as improving productivity in remote work and reducing travel costs (virtual business trips?).
The product image based on eyewitness testimony is reminiscent of AirPods Max, and it is speculated that it will be mainly used indoors rather than outdoors. The favorite for one user is likely to be the lightweight glasses type Apple Glass (provisional), but it is expected that it will be released one year later than the headset type. There are rumors that it is compatible with prescription lenses, and it seems that there are quite a few people who are looking forward to it.
iPhone 13 (provisional) is 85% likely to be "iPhone 12s"? Predicted by a famous leaker
Jon Prosser, a famous leaker (a person who disseminates influential information about hot unannounced products), ranks the credibility (%) of the many rumors related to the iPhone 13 series. The theory that the product name is actually iPhone 12s, which has a high score, was also reported by DigiTimes, which is familiar with Taiwan supply chain information.
In summary, "The two iPhone 13 Pro (provisional) models will almost certainly improve the 120Hz screen and the ultra-wide-angle camera." "It is unlikely that a non-Pro model will be equipped with a LiDAR scanner (because it is a promotional material for the Pro model)." If these are true, the "iPhone 12s" may be suitable as a minor change from the iPhone 12 series.
