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iPad Pro update: Apple's tablet gets an M1 chip, 5G and Liquid Retina XDR display in 2021
iPad Pro update: Apple's tablet gets an M1 chip, 5G and Liquid Retina XDR display in 2021
Apple has finally announced the upgrade to its iPad Pro that we've all been waiting for, as part of its 2021 Spring Forward on Tuesday. The iPad Pro has been due for a processor refresh, as well as some more advanced camera and screen technology, and now Apple has delivered -- primarily with the addition of its homegrown M1 chip.
Last year, Apple's 2020 iPad Pro refresh saw little that excited us in the way of design improvements and new additions -- a small processor bump and a depth-sensing lidar sensor aside. That means we've had our hopes pinned on 2021 as the year the iPad Pro gets a more significant overhaul.
"iPad is a magical sheet of glass that can become anything you want it to be," said iPad product marketing manager Raja Bose while introducing the upgraded tablet during Apple's event.
The new iPad Pro will be available in two different sizes: 12.9 inches and 11 inches. The devices will come with up to 16GB of memory and up to 2TB of storage. The 12.9-inch model price begins at $1,099 (£999, AU$1,649), with the 11-inch model starting at $799 (£749, AU$1,199). Preorders will open on April 30, and Apple expects devices to start shipping in the second half of May.
Key among the 2021 upgrades is the addition of Apple's M1 chip, first announced last November and "by far the highest performance" processor the company has ever created. The addition of the eight-core chip to the iPad Pro could mean a huge speed boost and better battery performance, with Apple promising a 50% performance improvement over the previous version.
The existing iPad Pro with its A12Z processor offers a zippy experience as is. But more speed is always appreciated, and will hopefully mean the iPad becomes even more of a multitasking monster and can also offer true second monitor support. The M1 chip will also bring a boost in graphics performance, which is over 1,500 times better than the first-generation iPad, according to Apple.
The 2021 iPad Pro is also the first Apple tablet to offer 5G connectivity. With 5G rollouts speeding up around the globe, users who rely on high-speed connectivity on the go will likely appreciate the option to take advantage of the fastest data speeds available.
Another first for iPads (and tablets everywhere) is the introduction of a high-speed Thunderbolt port on the iPad Pro. Until now, Thunderbolt has only been available on Macs and Windows PCs. It uses the same connector as USB-C, but allows for expanded and higher-speed external storage, improved monitor connection and more advanced docks.
As part of the iPad Pro's screen overhaul, Apple is introducing a Liquid Retina XDR display to its top 12.9-inch tablet. With 5.59 million pixels, this technology is the same as the tech that can be seen on Apple's top-end XDR pro display. It offers brilliant brightness peaking at 1,600 nits, along with a wider-than-ever spectrum of color and extreme high contrast.
Perhaps in recognition of the fact that we're all spending a lot of time on Zoom calls these days, Apple has moved its forward-facing camera from a portrait position on the top of the iPad Pro down to the landscape position on the side. The TrueDepth, 12-megapixel, wide-angle camera should still enable you to unlock your device with Face ID no matter what rotation you're using it in. A new "center stage" feature means that if you're on a video call, the iPad will pan to keep you in the center of the camera's field of vision even if you're moving around the room. If other people join you in the room, it will also zoom out to ensure everyone appears on screen.
The new M1-powered iPad Pro will work with Apple's Magic Keyboard, which now comes in a new white color. From next week iOS 14.5 will be available for all iPads, including the new iPad Pro when it's available, which will offer expanded language support for Apple Pencil and support for the latest games controllers.
As was to be expected due to current circumstances, Apple's spring event on Tuesday was fully virtual. Though Apple hasn't been able to lean on its typical stage format due to the pandemic, it has been able to replicate much of the slick presentation through livestreaming videos instead.
We're also only weeks away now from the second all-virtual WWDC, Apple's annual developer conference, where we're sure to learn about software updates coming to the new iPad Pros, along with other iPad models, later this year. So for all that we got with the new iPad lineup, there's sure to be more to come soon.
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'Shazam: Fury of the Gods' Trailer: First Glimpse at Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu as Villains
'Shazam: Fury of the Gods' Trailer: First Glimpse at Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu as Villains
We now know what's ahead for the superpowered family introduced in 2019's surprise hit Shazam. A new trailer for sequel Shazam: Fury of the Gods was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con during Saturday's Warner Bros. panel.
The movie is set to hit theaters on Dec. 21. You can watch the trailer below.
Fury of the Gods will see the return of some familiar faces, including Zachary Levi as Shazam, Asher Angel as his youthful alter-ego, Billy Batson, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu will play, respectively, Hespera and Kalypso, villainous daughters of the Greek god Atlas.
West Side Story breakout star Rachel Zegler will portray a third sister. Her character appeared in a slightly meta clip shown at the convention on Saturday, according to DiscussingFilm. She reportedly asks Billy how the Shazam family met, prompting him to respond "Comic-Con!" Unfortunately, she doesn't know what Comic-Con is.
Levi wouldn't reveal if his character will encounter Black Adam, who's acted as a villain to Shazam in the comics and is getting his own movie on Oct. 21 (and also got a new trailer on Saturday), or Superman, who had a cameo role in the first movie.
The sequel comes from Shazam director David F. Sandberg and screenwriter Henry Gayden.
Has huawei stopped making phones will my huawei phone stop working is huawei still making phones huawei mobile services keeps stopping huawei phone not working is huawei still making phones huawei phones nova 7i install meetime on non huawei phones huawei phones contract deals huawei phones all models huawei phones usa
Huawei phones can no longer preinstall Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp
Huawei phones can no longer preinstall Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp
Facebook has slapped Huawei with yet another ban by no longer letting the embattled Chinese phone marker preinstall its apps.
Huawei phone owners will still be able to download and update Facebook's apps, but fresh Huawei devices can't come with Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram apps preinstalled, as previously reported by Reuters.
"We are reviewing the Commerce Department's final rule and the more recently issued temporary general license and taking steps to ensure compliance," a Facebook spokesperson said in an emailed statement confirming the move.
In May, President Donald Trump signed an executive order effectively banning Huawei from US communications networks, because of national security concerns about Huawei's close relationship with the Chinese government. Soon afterward, Google cut Huawei off from future Android updates, before temporarily resuming work.
The US is also urging its allies not to do business with Huawei. The company has consistently denied that its products are used for spying, and its chairman said this week that Huawei is willing to sign a "no-spy agreement" with the US.
Huawei didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
First published at 1:44 a.m. PT. Updated at 3:10 a.m. PT: Adds Facebook statement.
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Snapchat's Time Machine AR lens creepily shows what you'll look like old
Snapchat's Time Machine AR lens creepily shows what you'll look like old
So far this year, we've been introduced to popular photo filters like Snapchat'sgender-swapping filter and the FaceApp challenge that makes you look super young or gives you wrinkles you're not ready to see. Now Snapchat has come out with Time Machine, a new filter that lets you swipe left and right to watch yourself age from a child to an adult, and finally to an older and grayer version of yourself.
Unlike the FaceApp challenge I tried, I don't see as many wrinkles as I "age" with this new Snapchat filter -- but I did get white hair, a wider face and saggy skin (ugh!). Somewhere in the middle of the aging timeline seems to be the best look for me.
Snapchat released the new filter earlier this week, so if you don't see it yet, you may need to update the app. Here's how to use it.
Katie Conner/CNET
1. Open the Snapchat app on your phone.
2. The camera screen should be the first to open, but if not, tap the bottom circle to launch the camera.
3. Select the smiley face icon.
4. Make sure the camera is facing you by tapping the rectangular arrows in the top right corner.
5. Multiple filters will appear, but the Time Machine filter will be one of the first options, so select that one. It's purple has a baby face and an older face in the icon.
6. Use the slider at the bottom of the screen to change the appearance of your age.
7. You can either snap one picture or you can record yourself as you go through an entire life cycle.
Now you can send your age timeline to all of your friends and family (and see if you'll look more like Mom or Dad in the future). You can also save your photo or video by pressing the arrow in the lower-left corner to save it to your photo album. Then you can upload it to Facebook or Instagram.
Want more filters to try out on yourself? Check out how to do the gender-face-swap and how to do the FaceApp challenge to make yourself look older.
Galaxy a53 vs pixel 6 google pixel 5a vs samsung a53 samsung galaxy a53 5g vs pixel 6a google pixel 5a vs samsung a53 pixel 4a vs samsung galaxy s10e samsung galaxy s20 fe vs google pixel 6a pixel 6a vs samsung s21 fe pixel 6a vs pixel 6
Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared
Pixel 6A vs. Samsung Galaxy A53 vs. Nothing Phone: Under-$500 Phones Compared
Phones that cost just under $500 are looking better and better as 2022 continues, with Samsung, Google and new contender Nothing all offering three phones at pretty much identical $450 prices. All three of these phones promise a slick and enjoyable experience, even with their lower prices.
The Google Pixel 6A has already earned itself a glowing review, with CNET's Lisa Eadicicco calling it "the best budget Pixel yet." Meanwhile I myself was impressed with the Nothing Phone 1's balance of price and performance -- not to mention its flashing rear lights. Then there's the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, which earned a great review score thanks to its price, its display and its cameras.
But which phone is actually deserving of your hard-earned cash? I got hold of all three to put them through their paces.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Price and availability: The Nothing Phone 1 is hard to get
Let's start with a biggie. the Nothing Phone 1 is on sale in the UK and wider Europe but a rollout into the US is so far uncertain. While Nothing has said it would like to launch its phone in the US, it needs a network partner to make it compatible with US 5G networks. As of the time of writing, there are no plans for a proper US launch. People in the US can easily get the Pixel 6A and the Galaxy A53 5G, however.
All three phones start at very similar prices; $450 for the Pixel 6A, $450 for the Galaxy A53 and $472 for the Nothing Phone 1, based on a conversion from its UK price. In the UK, all three phones start at £399. Simple.
Design and display: Nothing's flashing lights stand out
While many phones in recent years have been forgettable-looking slabs, all three of these midrangers have designs that are very much their own. The A53 keeps things simple with a plastic back, raised camera unit and metallic edging. The Pixel 6A maintains the distinctive camera bar seen on its pricier siblings and while its back is technically plastic, you'd be hard pressed to tell it apart from the glass back of the 6 and 6 Pro.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Between the two, the Pixel 6A has a more premium feel, than the plasticky A53, but it's the Nothing Phone 1 that stands out in the looks department. That's due to its transparent back panel, which not only provides a unique view of its internal components but also allows for its light-up LED "glyph" to pulse when you get notifications. It's arguably a gimmick and one that you may not care about at all, but it's certainly fun and it's nice to have something quirky at this price.
The Pixel 6A is the smaller of the three, packing a 6.1-inch display against the Nothing's 6.55-inch and the A53's 6.5-inch screens. That said, the Pixel's resolution results in a pixel density higher than its competitors, although all three are pin sharp with vibrant colors and high brightness levels. The Nothing's extra size might make it the better choice for mobile gamers among you, or those of you who watch a lot of video on the move, but they all do a good job of displaying vibrant content and colorful games.
Power and performance: Pixel 6A packs a punch
The Nothing Phone 1 makes use of a Snapdragon 778G+ processor and 12GB of RAM (as reviewed), while the Galaxy A53 5G uses an Exynos 1280 chip and 6GB of RAM. The Pixel 6A meanwhile uses Google's own custom-built Tensor processor with 6GB of RAM.
And that Tensor processor put in some excellent scores on our suite of benchmark tests, that put it consistently above the other two. The Nothing was a fair second, while the A53 did somewhat fall behind on both CPU and graphics benchmarks.
Performance comparison chart
Nothing Phone 1
Galaxy A53 5G
Legend:
Geekbench 5 (Single core)
Geekbench 5 (Multi-core)
3DMark Slingshot Unlimited
Note:
Longer bars equal better performance
Benchmarks alone aren't a perfect indicator of real-world performance however and I found all three to be perfectly capable of handling the essentials well. Navigating the interfaces was swift and lag-free on all models and all of them handled more demanding gaming in Asphalt 9: Legends without any noticeable stuttering or slow-down. Video streaming was no problem on any phone and I could immediately jump between open apps with the multitasking switcher.
Over time I would expect the Pixel 6A to generally perform better as it's already starting from a more powerful position. It might mean that as even more demanding games arrive it's well-placed to handle them in a way that perhaps the A53 couldn't. Right now though, any of your everyday emailing, Instagramming, Candy Crushing, WhatsApp group message avoiding fun will be handled perfectly well by any of these phones.
Cameras: Pixel 6A strikes the right balance
All three phones have multiple rear cameras, giving both standard views and ultrawide shots. The A53 includes a 5-megapixel macro camera and a depth sensor for portrait photos, but it's the main and wide cameras you'll likely find yourself using most often. Samsung's phone cameras have often had a tendency to look overly saturated and contrasty and that's absolutely the case with the A53.
Galaxy A53 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nothing Phone 1 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 6A main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Its shots are consistently punchy with the colors, to the point that they look as though you've slapped on some high-contrast filter on Instagram. The Nothing Phone 1 goes the other way, however, with frequently muted tones. It's particularly noticeable when you switch to the Phone 1's ultrawide lens, which produces drab-looking images that look almost shameful against the others.
Galaxy A53 ultrawide camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nothing Phone 1 ultrawide camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 6A ultrawide camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
It's the Pixel 6A that consistently produces the most balanced-looking images in both its standard and ultrawide views. The 6A's colors are accurate and vibrant, without looking overly processed, and it generally captures a more balanced exposure than the other two, keeping bright skies under control well.
Galaxy A53 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Nothing Phone 1 main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Pixel 6A main camera test.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
All three phones are perfectly capable of taking decent snaps at your next family picnic, but if photography prowess is important to you then the Pixel 6A is the one to go for.
Battery life: A close fight but Pixel 6A takes the win
With a huge 5,000-mAh battery stuffed inside I expected the Galaxy A53 to put in the best performance when it came to battery life. It's a more capacious cell than the 4,410 mAh of the Pixel 6A or the 4,500 mAh of the Nothing Phone 1. On my tests, however, it was the Pixel that managed to edge out the competition.
After 1 hour of streaming a YouTube video on Wi-Fi, with the screens set to maximum brightness, the Pixel had dropped from full to 98% remaining. The Nothing Phone 1 dropped to 95% in the same time, while the A53 dropped to 94%. After a second hour, the Pixel had dropped to 92%, with the Nothing phone coming in a close second at 90%, with the A53 having dropped to 89%.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
Sure, the Pixel technically did the best here, but we're really only talking a few percentage points between them, which isn't a big deal. All three put in solid performances: Both here and in everyday use, the battery lift you can expect to see will vary depending on how much you demand of your phone.
With careful use you won't struggle to get a full day out of any of the phones, and all three will likely want a full recharge every night.
Software and other features
All three phones run Android 12 at their core, but you will find some notable differences in the experience. The Pixel 6A runs a pure, Google-produced version of Android 12. It's a clean and clutter-free experience that I've enjoyed using for some time on the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. The Nothing Phone 1 has a visual skin that includes different colors, fonts and backgrounds, but it's also neat and stripped-back, making it smooth and simple to navigate.
The A53 immediately annoyed me with a variety of prebundled apps, including ones for Booking.com, TikTok, Nextdoor and a variety of Samsung's own apps and stores. These apps make the phone feel cluttered before you've even begun to install your own. There are two different messaging apps, for example -- Google's and Samsung's -- so Android novices might find it more complicated to get to grips with.
Andrew Lanxon/CNET
The A53 does have a killer feature not found on the other two though: expandable storage. While the Pixel 6A comes with 128GB of storage and the Nothing Phone 1 is available with up to 256GB, the Galaxy A53's 128GB of storage can be expanded with microSD cards up to 1TB in size. That makes it a great option if you take a lot of photos or videos or want to save a lot of media locally to your phone to enjoy when you don't have an internet connection.
Which phone should you buy?
The Nothing Phone 1's unique design certainly gives it an edge over the others, but if you're not bothered about those flashy lights, you love taking wide-angle photos on vacation -- or if you live in the US and can't even buy it -- then you should look toward the others.
While the A53 5G performed admirably in our tests, it was the Pixel 6A that consistently came out on top. Its processor performance is better, it takes better photos from both its cameras, its pure Android interface is nicer to navigate and it even feels like the more premium device when you hold it.
The A53 is larger and its expandable storage gives it a definite one-up if you want to store a lot of media, but overall it's the Pixel 6A that offers the best value for money.
Pixel 6A vs. Nothing Phone 1 vs. Galaxy A53 5G specs comparison chart
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iPhone 12 finally gets a new design, which means it could be even harder to repair
iPhone 12 finally gets a new design, which means it could be even harder to repair
When Apple's5GiPhone 12, or whatever it's called, gets announced on Tuesday, Oct. 13, during the company's online-only launch event, industry watchers will be looking closely to see how Apple sells us on 5G wireless, its new chips and cameras, and whatever other new features it might pack in. (Here are all the final iPhone 12 rumors we've heard, and the latest major leak.)
But it's the design that may end up being its most important feature. The new iPhone is expected to shave the device's curved edges into squares, much like those on the current iPad Pro. After three years of the same design, the refresh will likely draw eyes from a lot of consumers eager for a shake up.
But it'll also draw the attention of repair experts around the world, who will rush to YouTube and Twitter once they get hold of the device to start dissecting it down to each seam, screw and cable inside to learn what's fixable and what isn't.
"Apple's the best at everything they do except serviceability," said Kyle Wiens, head of repair instruction and parts site iFixit, which typically rushes to perform online tear-downs of new Apple devices when they launch.
People like Wiens highlight an increasingly public debate within the tech industry over form and function. As gadgets from computers to phones get smaller and lighter, people around the tech world are wondering how far this push for slim design will go, and whether it'll take precedence over being easy to repair.
Repair advocates note, for example, that the batteries in Apple's popular AirPods wireless headphones can't be replaced without destroying them. "That's the difference between a product that can last 18 months and what can last 10 years," Wiens added. But at the same time, the AirPods' popularity stems in part from how lightweight, small and slick they are -- all aspects that would likely be altered by having compartments and connectors for replaceable batteries.
A mockup of what the iPhone 12 may look like, with straight edges on the sides.
Svetapple
Over the years, Apple's tipped further toward that consumable end of the spectrum. Its laptops, which once had easily replaceable batteries, are screwed shut with the batteries glued to the case. Pretty much all its computers other than its $5,999 Mac Pro desktop aren't designed to be easily opened by non-technical people either.
Apple has investigated taking those designs a step further, too. In a patent application published in August called "unitary housing for electronic device," the company described a way to build devices with their electronics encased in two pieces that are sealed with "one or more ultrasonic welds." The fully enclosed housing can be hermetically sealed, the company said.
"Even in the more eloquently designed electronic devices, outer housings are still typically formed from multiple parts, which tends to result in at least seams or other discontinuities, if not exposed screws, tabs or other component fasteners," Apple said in its application. "While many designs and techniques used to provide outer housings for electronic devices and components have generally worked well in the past, there is always a desire to provide alternative housing designs and techniques for new and aesthetically pleasing devices."
Sleek obsession
Apple's designs, under Jobs, led to a series of hits including the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad.
CNET
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs famously micromanaged the look of the company's products, in and out. He obsessed over the smallest dot on the screen and the angle of the curves on its devices. The night before the first iPod music player was introduced in 2001, Jobs demanded engineers tear apart and remake the device to make that satisfying click-feeling you get when you plug in a cord.
"The back of this thing looks better than the front of the other guys," Jobs quipped as he showed off the company's first iMac computer in 1998.
While that obsession with design has won Apple praise and loyal fans, it's also attracted criticism. As the company's Mac computers have gotten sleeker, easily removable or replaceable parts like the battery, memory and storage drives became largely inaccessible to people without technical skill.
In 2010, when Apple introduced the iPhone 4, Jobs focused on the device's stainless steel sides that doubled as cellular and Wi-Fi antennas. After its release, users quickly learned that holding the phone a certain way scrambled the device's reception.
Apple's "butterfly" keyboards were largely criticized by reviewers.
iFixit
In 2015, the company introduced a new "butterfly" keyboard for its laptops, which was 40% thinner than previous technologies while potentially offering better accuracy. The design became hated among reviewers as user complaints poured in about failing and mistyped keys.
"Perhaps the kindest thing we can say about the Apple MacBook butterfly keyboard is, 'Thank you for your service,'" CNET's computer reviewer Dan Ackerman wrote after the company finally ditched the technology starting last year. "So long and good riddance."
Whether Apple's newest devices use its seam-removing process is yet to be seen. The company's filed for similar patents in 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018. Each time, the it's given more of a window into how it could use the technology. In 2015, it was for a process to house an "operational component" (think more compactly squeezing parts into a MacBook or iPhone). In 2016, it was for using these techniques in a laptop. Now, it's for a broadly described "electronic device."
Apple's also filed patents for "ultrasonic welding" techniques, indicating they could be used to join metal and plastic parts inside an iPad or iPhone. They could also create a laptop with "no apparent seams or other artifacts of manufacture on its outer surface," Apple's said.
Most people expect to see seams, screws and hinges since they've been visible on products for decades. To designers, those "artifacts" aren't so much a part of the design they created.
"When you look at a hinge you think, 'I get how that opens and closes.' But the more they make it just disappear, you get this magical mystery of 'How's it doing that?'" said Francois Nguyen, head of industrial design at consultancy Frog's North American studio.
Apple loved that manilla-envelope MacBook Air reveal so much it was featured in the device's ads too.
Apple
That kind of "ooh" and "ahh" doesn't happen much in the tech industry, but Apple under Jobs made it happen several times. He showed off the first MacBook Air in 2008 by hiding it in an interoffice envelope to show how thin it was. He pulled the first iPod Nano music player out of the small fifth pocket in his jeans in 2005. He showed off that first iMac's colorful translucent case in 1998 by turning down the stage lights while it sat on a bright pedestal.
"All those little moments and details that Apple focuses on really sets them apart from all these other tried and true processes that everyone else has at their disposal," Nguyen said.
There's only so much you can do to reinvent a sheet of glass on a metal body. Still, Nguyen -- who led design for the original "Beats by Dre" headphones, whose namesake company Apple bought for about $3.2 billion in 2014 -- said he expects new technologies, like additional and more advanced cameras, will continue to force design, ergonomic and other changes as Apple adjusts its devices to accommodate them.
"The technology could still be the size of a needle, you still have to hold this thing," he said.
Steps forward and back
Sen. Elizabeth Warren took a hard position against tech companies during her presidential campaign last year.
Angela Lang/CNET
Apple appears to at least understand that form over function is something the world is increasingly paying attention to.
When a member of the New York Times editorial board asked Apple for comment last year on upcoming legislation from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren pushing for national right to repair laws, it set off a flurry of emails within Apple's PR team.
"We're still not clear on our seemingly evolving position," Lori Lodes, a former director of corporate communications, said in one message.
"Right now we're talking out of both sides of our mouth and no one is clear on where we're headed," added Kristin Huguet, head of corporate communications.
The messages, published by the House Judiciary's subcommittee on antitrust as part of an investigation of Apple and other tech giants, were among the first times Apple's internal struggles between form and function were made public.
So far, Apple has focused its efforts on expanding the servicing programs it has in place within its stores and through repair shops it certifies. Last year, the company began offering independent repair shops the same "genuine parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics" that its authorized service providers have access to. In July, the company said it's working with more than 700 businesses across the US, including uBreakiFix.
"When a customer needs a repair, we want them to have a range of options that not only suits their needs but also guarantees safety and quality so their iPhone can be used for as long as possible," Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer, said in a July statement.
That's why, come Apple's event on Oct. 13, some people will be eyeing the bottom of the new iPhone to see whether the two screws typically used to start opening the phone are still there, as well as any other indications of how more tightly sealed the device is.
"Sadly, it's part of the evolution of technology," said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at market research firm Creative Strategies. The challenge, she said, is that whatever changes Apple makes will need to strike that right compromise between new design, features, and making sure the experience is worth it. Because after all, these phones will likely be used by hundreds of millions of people, all of whom will carry it around with them every day.
"Even if change is better, people just don't like change -- especially when it's with something you're dependent on," she said. "I'm glad it's not my job."
Updated Oct. 13 at 1:55 p.m. PT: To correct the spelling of Carolina Milanesi's last name. We regret the error.
