Welcome to our weekend Apple Breakfast column, which incorporates the entire Apple information you missed this week in a helpful bite-sized roundup. We name it Apple Breakfast as a result of we expect it goes nice with a morning cup of espresso or tea, however it’s cool if you wish to give it a learn throughout lunch or dinner hours, too.
Apple makes too many merchandise
There was a time not too way back when you can purchase considered one of two iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, MacBooks, and iMacs, and the query was simple: Would you like the large one or the small one?
Today it’s not really easy. Even if you happen to exclude colour and storage choices, Apple sells quite a few merchandise with overlapping options and screens that want a complete understanding of what every mannequin presents. Contemplate the present lineup and display screen sizes:
iPhone 14: 6.1 inches
iPhone 14 Plus: 6.7 inches
iPhone 14 Professional: 6.1 inches
iPhone 14 Professional Max: 6.7 inches
iPad mini: 8.3 inches
iPad (Ninth-gen): 10.2 inches
iPad (Tenth-gen): 10.9 inches
iPad Professional: 11 inches
iPad Professional: 12.9 inches
Apple Watch Collection 8: 41mm, 45mm
Apple Watch SE 2: 40mm, 44mm
Apple Watch Extremely: 49mm
MacBook Air (M1): 13.3 inches
MacBook Air (M2): 13.6 inches
MacBook Professional (M2): 13.3 inches
MacBook Professional (M1): 14.2 inches
MacBook Professional (M1): 16.2 inches
And that’s to not point out the 24-inch iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Professional, Studio Show, and Professional Show XDR. Or the AirPods, which even have 4 totally different fashions to select from.
And now it seems like there shall be yet one more MacBook within the lineup subsequent yr, a 15.5-inch MacBook Air that may supply MacBook consumers choices of 13.3, 13.6, 14.2, 15,5, and 16.2 inches ranging in value from $999 to $2,499. It’s complicated sufficient for consumers to decide on between the M1 and M2 MacBook Air; now there might be one other mannequin that has a bigger display screen than the 14-inch MacBook Professional however prices a number of hundred {dollars} much less.
It’s the identical downside with the iPad line. The Tenth-gen iPad, iPad Air, and 11-inch iPad Professional all have very related designs and shows. However to an off-the-cuff purchaser, it seems like Apple is promoting the identical iPad at three totally different value factors a whole bunch of {dollars} aside, however when you dive into the spec sheet you possibly can plainly see the variations. Assuming the 15-inch MacBook Air is $1,499, Apple goes to be promoting three Airs inside $500 of one another. Don’t get me unsuitable, I’m certain a 15-inch MacBook Air shall be a incredible product that sells very effectively. However one other laptop computer isn’t what we want from Apple’s Mac lineup.
Apple’s energy was in its selective product line. Whereas firms like Dell and Samsung provided a wide selection of merchandise, Apple selected high quality over amount. Apple didn’t supply two sizes of iPhone till the iPhone 6. The iPad and iPad mini have been the one two pill choices for years. And I can nonetheless bear in mind the times when my decisions when shopping for an Apple laptop computer have been the 12.1-inch iBook or the 15-inch PowerBook G4.
I’m undecided there’s an answer, nonetheless. Apple is the biggest firm on the planet and must cater to as many individuals as potential. A 15-inch laptop computer is a well-liked dimension, the Air is a well-liked line, and Apple is beneath great strain to proceed iterating and innovating. And 2023 might carry a number of new gadgets, together with an AR headset, a bigger iPad Professional, and a brand new HomePod, so this time subsequent yr Apple’s lineup will doubtless be even bigger than it’s now.
Name me old school, however I believe much less is extra. And I believe Apple might stand to prune its product line to offer the remaining ones a stronger id. Individuals aren’t going to cease shopping for Apple merchandise. But it surely wouldn’t be a foul factor to make it simpler to decide on the one they need by eliminating a number of of those they don’t want.
Trending: High tales of the week
Apple’s new Superior Knowledge Safety for iCloud is an efficient begin, however Apple has extra work to do, writes Dan Moren.
The Macalope likes Apple’s new safety features, however lots of people don’t.
Microsoft is dropping help for the Authenticator app on the Apple Watch subsequent yr.
Jason Cross explains how he tamed his notifications and restored his sanity.
Apple would possibly enable third-party app shops in iOS 17–however that received’t change something.
Apple is collaborating with Google and Mozilla to construct the Speedometer 3 browser benchmark.
The rumor mill
A brand new Steam survey by accident revealed the existence of two unreleased Macs.
The iPad Professional and MacBook Air might change to OLED in 2024.
Apple could also be planning to launch an Apple silicon-based iMac Professional subsequent yr.
A number of M3 Macs are within the works for launch throughout 2023.
The iPhone 15 Extremely is predicted to value as a lot as $200 extra when it launches subsequent yr.
Podcast of the week
2023 for Apple guarantees to be an enormous yr. Will the Mac Professional supply large efficiency? Will we see a super-sized iPad Professional? And the way a lot greater are the iPhone costs going to get? It’s our look forward at what we count on to see from Apple in 2023, on the Macworld Podcast!
You possibly can catch each episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our personal website.
Software program updates, bugs & issues
A pesky Wi-Fi bug in M1 and M2 MacBooks is probably going associated to AirDrop.
Huge Sur 11.7.2 and Monterey 12.6.2 have introduced a slew of safety updates to older Macs.
We lastly know why Apple pushed out that emergency 16.1.2 replace.
Apple has launched iOS 15.7.2 with greater than a dozen crucial safety updates.
And with that, we’re accomplished for this week. In the event you’d prefer to get common roundups, join our newsletters. You can too observe us on Twitter for breaking information tales. See you subsequent Saturday, get pleasure from the remainder of your weekend, and keep Appley.
