Part 2 of “Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software and People,” presented by Capt. Grace Hopper at NSA in 1982.
Apple's new gear: An $800 watch and $1,200 phone
Apple.com
Set a reminder for Monday, Sept. 18. That’s when iOS 17 is dropping — and it’s the one thing Apple just announced at its big Wonderlust fall release event that won’t cost you anything.
I’ve been on the beta version for months and wrote up my favorite new features for the Daily Mail. Today, let’s take a closer look at the latest hardware dropping this fall.
The phones
The 15 and 15 Plus are essentially the iPhone 14 Pro, with bigger batteries, screens and fun new colors. Yes, I like the pink one.
The star of the show is the iPhone Pro Max, with a 6.7″ display (soon we won’t be able to fit these things in our pockets), titanium case and processor Apple says can challenge some high-end PCs. Yes, Apple sometimes overstates performance, but there’s no doubt this thing is fast.
Apple watches
The $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a big screen that is bright enough to see in full sunlight, with 72 hours of battery life and a titanium case. Say what you want about Apple, but it’s the best smartwatch out there.
That model and the $399 Series 9 both get “double tap,” a new gesture where you tap together your pointer finger and thumb to do things like answer calls. Pretty sweet.
RIP, Apple lightning connector
All four of the new iPhones and the Apple Watches charge with a USB-C cable. Rejoice, now you can plug in at a friend’s house if they have an Android. I’m all for getting every device in my house charging on the same kind of cord.
Bummer: No more details on the Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, aside from it’s on track to launch in 2024.
Bottom line if you need a new phone
Amazon unveils robot on wheels, a $60 smart thermostat and more
Amazon
Big Tech is rarely content with simple announcements when it comes to unveiling new hardware. It has to be an event, and this continues even as audiences can only attend virtually.
Apple recently unveiled its flagship product, the iPhone 13, which comes in four flavors. Along with this came details on the new Apple Watch as well as some new entries in the iPad family. Tap or click here for our Apple rundown.
Capt. Grace Hopper on future possibilities: Data, hardware, software and people (Part 2, 1982)
Pour one out: After 24 years, Apple finally gave the old “Macintosh HD” icon the boot, replacing the hard disk image with a new SSD-style one in macOS 26 Tahoe. Because nothing says innovation like updating a decorative PNG five years after the hardware changed. Wait until they hear Safari’s icon is a compass.
1 year later
People are still complaining about the Apple Vision Pro. At $3,500, you’d expect comfort, but many can’t wear it for more than 20 minutes without neck pain. It’s not just the hardware either. There are still barely any apps, and the resale value stinks. One guy got $1,900 (paywall link), and that’s considered a win.
Speed up an old PC: Running Windows 11 on older hardware? Try this. Open Start, type “sysdm.cpl” and press Enter. In System Properties, go to Advanced > Performance > Settings > Visual Effects. Choose Adjust for best performance and click Apply. It’ll disable flashy animations, but your system will feel much snappier.
iPhone 13: All the new features in Apple's latest smartphone
Apple.com
Apple makes an event of all of its major releases, whether it’s hardware or software. Even when public gatherings are discouraged, the Cupertino company drums up excitement with streaming presentations.
This year’s Worldwide Developers Conference is focused on iOS 15. iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 are also rolling out. Tap or click here for our WWDC roundup.
Capt. Grace Hopper on future possibilities: Data, hardware, software and people (Part 1, 1982)
Part 1 of “Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software and People,” presented by Capt. Grace Hopper at NSA in 1982.
⚡ Solar hacker warning: Turns out smart inverters in home solar panels can be hacked. If attackers exploit hardware bugs or trick people into granting app access, they could disrupt entire power grids and trigger blackouts. The kicker? These inverters last over 15 years, so even good security now might not hold up later.
🧠 Mark Zuckerberg just dropped a full-blown AI manifesto: It’s a doozy. He says humanity’s future depends on each of us having a personal AI sidekick: smart glasses that listen to your life, know your dreams and nudge you toward your best self. And wouldn’t you know it? Meta just happens to make those very glasses. They lost over $4 billion last quarter building them, so clearly, the real payoff isn’t the hardware. It’s all the juicy data they’ll collect while riding around on your face. Read it here if you’re really that bored.
“Full self-driving” debunked: A Tesla owner just got his $10K back after proving “Full Self-Driving” isn’t even close. The car never qualified for FSD beta, and turns out the hardware can’t handle autonomy anyway. It’s “Full Self-Driving” the way LaCroix is “juice.”
🔥 Banned phone alert: In 2025, the Samsung Galaxy Note7 is still banned from all U.S. flights. Yes, the one from 2016 that tried to reinvent “fire emoji” as a hardware feature. Apparently, a lot of people are getting a deal on the Note7 and using it. The TSA just went viral on TikTok for reminding people it’s still too explode-y to board a plane.
Apple’s under pressure: Jony Ive, aka the guy who helped design the iPhone, is working with OpenAI to build new hardware (paywall link). No word yet on what the first device will be, but leaks say it could be something “screen-free.” Hey, maybe Apple will surprise us with something incredibly new at WWDC on June 9. I doubt it.
📱 ChatGPT is getting physical: OpenAI just dropped $6.4 billion (in stock, because vibes) to buy Jony Ive’s startup, io, the AI device shop he built with ex-Apple folks. Ive’s crew is now officially part of OpenAI, blending brains and beauty to make AI hardware less “black box” and more “please actually use me.”
$0
That’s the price for the dish and router when you sign up for a new 12-month Starlink plan. You’ll save $349, the monthly service fee stays the same, and you’ll have 30 days to return it for a refund. The catch? If you then cancel or change your service address, you’ll have to pay a prorated cost for the hardware.
Move over Kia Boys, the Nissan Boys are here: Steps outlining how to steal a Nissan are all over social media. Thieves use special hardware to intercept a Nissan’s key signal, which lets them unlock the doors and start the engine. To stop your key’s signal from transmitting, wrap it in tinfoil (Yup, that trick again!) when you’re at home or place it in a metal box. Expect an upgrade from Nissan soon.