Welcome to our monthly Apple News Roundup. This column recaps the top 10 most significant Apple news announcements from each month, giving you a glance at all the headlines you need to know. This edition features the highlights from August 2022.
1. Apple September 7 event product rumors
The latest product rumors around Apple’s September 7 event include iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, and the iOS 16 release date. The most anticipated product is the iPhone 14 series, with four new models set to be introduced. The Pro models of the phone are rumored to have a new notchless screen design, while all of the new phones are expected to be updated with a better processor and considerable improvements to the cameras. It has also been reported that three new Apple Watch models could be unveiled.
The in-person event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater and live-streamed on Apple.com on Sept. 7. OWC will also be hosting a live reaction to and breakdown of all the new Apple products on LinkedIn, hosted by our very own “Mac Man” Brian Burke. Click here to sign up and attend.
2. Apple celebrates America’s parks
Apple is donating $10 to the National Park Foundation for every Apple Pay purchase through August 28. This includes purchases made on apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store in the US. Apple introduced more ways to learn about and support America’s parks and joined in celebrating 106 years of the US National Park Service. “Apple’s partnership and generous commitment help to ensure that all people see themselves in national parks and feel welcome in these places that belong to all of us,” said Will Shafroth, the National Park Foundation’s president and CEO.
3. Apple and Major League Baseball announce scheduled games
Scheduled Major League Baseball games are free and available to anyone with internet access, only on Apple TV+ starting in September. Fans can access “Friday Night Baseball” games along with exclusive programs such as “Countdown to First Pitch”, and MLB Daily Recap” in the Apple TV app. The live pre and post-game coverage of “Friday Night Baseball” will continue to be hosted by Lauren Gardner, along with a rotating group of analysts and former MLB players.
4. New features expected for Apple Watch Series 8
The new Apple Watch Series 8 is rumored to maintain the same screen size as the Series 7. What’s said to be new is a sensor slated to be used to monitor body temperature and fertility planning. There will also be better sleep-tracking technology with a built-in solution for those who like to track their sleep patterns. The Workout app also saw a major revamp with more data for runners.
5. Apple extends Self Service Repair to Mac notebooks
Starting on August 23, US customers were able to purchase genuine Apple parts and tools. The Self Service Repair is available for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro notebooks with the M1 family of chips. There are more than a dozen different repair types for each model, including the display, top case with battery, trackpad, and more. To get started, customers must first review the repair manual for the product they want to repair by visiting
support.apple.com/self-service-repair.
6. Apple could soon unveil mixed reality headset
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a mixed reality headset will likely be announced as soon as January 2023. “This time, Kuo says the market has the highest expectations for “AR/MR headset among Apple’s new products in 2023.” Analysts expect the headset to be priced between $2000-$2500. Additionally, Apple is also preparing its AR-only headset. This device is Apple’s main focus, but it’s expected to be announced around 2024.
7. GarageBand drops new in-app Remix Sessions
GarageBand for IOS and iPadOS now include two all-new, in-app Remix Sessions featuring Katy Perry and K-pop supergroup SEVENTEEN. These sessions give aspiring musicians the ability to put their own personal spin on hit songs. The Remix Sessions are available as a free download in the GarageBand Sound Library. Anyone can rearrange and add new elements to the songs, and no music theory expertise is required. You can download the Remix Sessions from the Sound Library in GarageBand by visiting apple.com/ios/garageband.
8. Apple warns of security flaws in iPhones, iPads, and Macs
On August 19, Apple disclosed security vulnerabilities for iPhones, iPads, and Macs that could potentially allow attackers to take complete control of these devices. The security reports explained that the vulnerability meant a hacker could get “full admin access” to the device. Security experts advised users to update affected devices—the iPhone6S and later models, several iPad models, and Mac computers running macOS Monterey.
9. Apple propels environmental business solutions
On August 25, Apple introduced its second Impact Accelerator class—a cohort of 16 Black-, Hispanic/Latinx-, and Indigenous-owned businesses working on the cutting edge of environmental services and solutions. As a part of the company’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, the Impact Accelerator will provide training and mentorship to help grow the selected business. “The fight to address climate change demands that we band together to develop innovative solutions while empowering and uplifting the communities we’re working to protect,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.
10. Apple Card ranks No. 1 in customer satisfaction study
For the second consecutive year, Apple Card and issuer Goldman Sachs ranked highest in the Midsize Credit Card Issuer segment in a J.D. Power satisfaction study. The categories surveyed included interaction, credit card terms, communication, benefits and services, rewards, and key moments. Apple Card was originally introduced in 2019 and was built with customers’ financial health in mind.
I’m calling BS on the Apple card being #1 in satisfaction… They declined their own pre-approved purchases of a Mac Studio Ultra and Studio display for me from the Apple Store. I worked it out, but it required several calls because their system could not figure out that it had already approved the sale months previously. Not a good start.
Not only that, all my Apple-related payments on my business credit card magically moved over to the Apple card without me realizing that this would happen. I am sure it was in some tiny legal text box… but it was unclear and felt sneaky on Apple’s part. This caused me some accounting headaches… and it is an overstep.
Lastly, who actually wants to read credit card statements on a phone? This is the experience you will get from an Apple card. They claim there are statements online, but they are not easy to find.
IMHO, the Apple card is only good for the long-term financing for their products, and the reporting is less intuitive, and not more intuitive… kinda like having no checkout lines in an Apple Retail store, right?