Boring Is What We Wanted

Stephen Hackett, writing on 512 Pixels:

Apple silicon has been nothing but upside for the Mac, and yet some seem bored already. In the days since Apple announced the M5, I’ve seen and heard this sentiment more than I expected:

This is just another boring incremental upgrade.

That 👏 is 👏 the 👏 point.

Back in the PowerPC and Intel days, Macs would sometimes go years between spec bumps, as Apple waited on its partners to deliver appropriate hardware for various machines. From failing NVIDIA cards in MacBook Pros to 27-inch Intel iMacs that ran so hot the fans were audible at all times, Mac hardware wasn’t always what Apple wanted.

[…]

The difference is that with Apple silicon, Apple owns and controls the primary technologies behind the products it makes, as Tim Cook has always wanted. It means that it can ship updates to its SoCs on a regular cadence, making progress in terms of both power and efficiency each time.

A predictable update schedule means that incremental updates are inevitable. Revolution then evolution is not a bad thing; it’s okay that not every release is exciting or groundbreaking. It’s how technology has worked for decades.

This is such a well-written piece by Stephen, and he really hits the nail on the head. The switch to Apple Silicon has been one of the best things to happen to Mac hardware in modern times. I’ve owned an Intel iMac as well as an Intel MacBook Pro in the past. As he mentions, it’s completely okay that not every release is exciting or groundbreaking, because barely anyone upgrades on a yearly cycle. Most customers jump from one Mac to the other every 3-4 years, so these releases are never boring for them.

October 22, 2025 · + Permalink

Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV

Apple’s press release announcing the global streaming debut of “F1 The Movie” mentions something interesting about where the film will debut:

Apple TV+ is now simply Apple TV, with a vibrant new identity. Ahead of its global streaming debut on Apple TV, the film continues to be available for purchase on participating digital platforms, including the Apple TV app, Amazon Prime Video, Fandango at Home and more.

“Apple TV” has been the subject of ridicule for many years now, but I don’t think this rebranding has any bearing. As I mentioned on Mastodon, I think rebranding the streaming service as “Apple TV” makes perfect sense. Everyone already calls it that anyway, and it’s already available on most of the popular platforms like Android, Smart TVs, streaming devices, etc. You don’t need Apple TV hardware to watch Apple TV.

Instead, Apple should rebrand the hardware itself. Something like Apple Home Hub or Apple HomePod Hub. After all, the HomePod already runs tvOS under the hood to begin with. So “Apple TV” becomes the name of the streaming service that offers some of the best television content today, accessible on virtually any platform. And for those who prefer Apple’s own hardware experience, there’s the Apple Home Hub — a device that connects to your TV, brings an intelligent new Siri, acts as a Thread networking hub, delivers incredible sound, and does so much more.

October 14, 2025 · + Permalink

Apple to Drop Support for AirPort Time Capsule Backups

Joe Rossignol, writing for MacRumors:

As noticed by @StellaFudge, and by other users who have installed the first macOS Tahoe beta, the Time Machine page in the System Settings app now indicates that the next major version of macOS — aka macOS 27 — will no longer support the AirPort Time Capsule or any other storage drives that use the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP).

The article specifically mentions macOS 27, which while logically true, isn’t mentioned by Apple anywhere. The screenshot posted by @StellaFudge on X says, “The next major version of macOS […]” and the “Learn More” link leads to an Apple Support page that has multiple references to, “a future version of macOS“.

As I understand, Apple is dropping support for the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) in upcoming releases of macOS, and AirPort Time Capsule devices (which Apple discontinued 7 years ago) only support AFP, so Time Capsule backups will consequently no longer be supported.

I’ve always found it surprising that Apple hasn’t brought full-device iCloud backups to the Mac, especially when it’s been standard on iPhone and iPad for years. I’ve long been using SuperDuper! for local backups and BackBlaze for remote, off-site cloud backups. A few months ago, I switched from SuperDuper! to Carbon Copy Cloner instead and am really liking it so far. But I do certainly wish full-device iCloud backups came to the Mac.

July 11, 2025 · + Permalink

Apple Store App now available in India

After several years of ignorance, Apple has finally launched the Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad in India. This comes five years after the launch of the Apple Store online in 2020, and follows the opening of its first physical Apple Store in Mumbai in 2023.

Note that this wasn’t just an availability problem — even if you downloaded the Apple Store app from any other region, you could not select ‘India’ as a country in the app. Apple has now officially enabled support for India in the App Store app.

After Mumbai and New Delhi, Apple is planning to launch physical stores in Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi-NCR and another one in Mumbai.

January 27, 2025 · + Permalink

Reuters: India antitrust probe finds Apple abused position in apps market

Aditya Kalra, reporting for Reuters:

An investigation by India’s antitrust body has found that Apple exploited its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system, engaging “in abusive conduct and practices”, a confidential report seen by Reuters showed.

and

The CCI’s investigations unit, in its 142-page report which is not public but was seen by Reuters, said Apple wields “significant influence” over how digital products and services reach consumers, especially through its iOS platform and App Store.

“Apple App Store is an unavoidable trading partner for app developers, and resultantly, app developers have no choice but to adhere to Apple’s unfair terms, including the mandatory use of Apple’s proprietary billing and payment system,” the CCI unit said in the June 24 report.

Apple has been facing increased scrutiny in recent times in many parts of the world, some of which have forced the company to make important changes to its billing system on the App Store. While I’m off the opinion that Apple’s billing policies are too staunch, they’re in no way a dominant player in the market where Google’s Android and similar billing policies have traditionally held strong ground.

July 12, 2024 · + Permalink

Pegatron may sell India iPhone plant to Tata

Munsif Vengattil and Aditya Kalra, reporting for Reuters:

Pegatron, opens new tab is in advanced talks to hand over control of its only iPhone manufacturing facility in India to the Tata Group, said two sources with direct knowledge, marking the Taiwanese firm’s latest scale back of its Apple, opens new tab partnership.
Under the deal, which has received the backing of Apple, Tata plans to hold at least a 65% stake in a joint venture that will operate the Pegatron plant near Chennai city in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, with the Taiwanese firm providing technical support and holding the rest, one of the sources said.

Tata already operates an iPhone assembly plant in the neighbouring southern state of Karnataka, which it took over from Taiwan’s Wistron (3231.TW), opens new tab last year, and is also building another in Hosur in Tamil Nadu, where Pegatron is likely to emerge as its joint venture partner.

April 8, 2024 · + Permalink

Tata to make iPhones in India

Manish Singh, writing for TechCrunch:

Tata Group will start making iPhones in India for the local and global markets, India’s Deputy IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Friday, after the Taiwanese firm Wistron entered a deal with the salt-to-tech conglomerate.

Tata Group has acquired Wistron InfoComm Manufacturing (India) Pvt for $125 million, the Taiwanese firm said in a stock exchange filing. Wistron said it finalized the deal after strategic considerations in response to the reshaping of the firm’s global manufacturing strategy.

October 27, 2023 · + Permalink

Apple reports "all-time revenue record" from India

Apple reported their quarterly results for Q4’22 yesterday and the folks at Six Colors have published their transcript of the call that Tim Cook and Luca Maestri have with analysts.

During the call, Apple mentioned that the company saw double-digit grown in India and iPhone growth was “impressive”.

iPhone Revenue grew 10% year over year to a September quarter record of 42.6 billion despite significant foreign exchange headwinds. We set September quarter records in the vast majority of markets we track, and our performance was particularly impressive in several large emerging markets with India setting a new all-time revenue record and Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Mexico more than doubling year over year. Thanks to our strong iPhone lineup, we set a quarterly record for upgraders and grew switchers double digits. This level of sales performance, along with unmatched customer loyalty, drove the active installed base of iPhones to a new all time high across all geographic segments.

(Emphasis mine.)

No surprises here. The iPhone continues to get more expensive in India, yet more people continue to buy it every year.

October 28, 2022 · + Permalink