Next iPhone Pro will ditch buttons. Really.

January 11, 2023

The next iPhone Pro may come with no buttons.

Well, not regular buttons.

There'll still be buttons for volume control and sleep, but they won't actually move. They'll be solid state, but will feel like buttons because of haptic feedback.

They'll help improve the iPhone's waterproofing and durability.

And they'll probably work great, if the haptic controls on AirPods Pro and the Magic Trackpad are anything to go by.

Tapping the "buttons" on those products feels freakishly real, despite them not moving at all.

Apple has used haptic feedback for several years in a number of products, from the iPhone 7's solid-state Home button to MacBook trackpads. The company perfected miniaturizing the technology with AirPods.

So the question is -- what took Apple so long?

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

Apple is reportedly phasing out traditional buttons, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro models. The handsets will still seem to have them, but it’ll be a high-tech trick performed with haptic feedback. The change should make the iOS devices more durable and waterproof.

Adonit Star is an iPad stylus for those who love antiques but don’t want to forgo modern technology. It’s designed to look like a fountain pen, not the usual plastic pencil. It’s an accessory any 19th-century lawyer would be proud to own, but it's surprisingly affordable.

Apple’s shipments of Mac desktops and notebooks grew modestly in 2022, according to a market research firm. That stands in stark contrast to shipments of PCs, which dropped enormously last year. And Apple could have done even better!

The SwitchEasy Flash Sale on all iPhone 14 cases started today and lasts for one week (through January 18) in the Cult of Mac Store. That means you get 20% off any of 10 different cases to protect and dress up your fabulous Apple handset. The cases cover the bases from tough and functional to highly decorative. There are regular cases as well as MagSafe options.

Apple wants to reduce its reliance on sourcing displays for its products from Samsung and LG. So, the company is working on its own custom displays that it intends to use as early as next year.

A U.S. judge says Apple infringes on one of medical device-maker Masimo’s patents for light-based pulse oximetry sensor functionality. The sensor in question measures blood oxygen levels in Apple Watch Series 6 and onward. Will a ban come next?

You want to get faster at typing? Sure, you can hold down the Backspace key or mash it really fast. But there’s a better and more precise way to backspace and delete text on the Mac, using the Option (⌥) and Command (⌘) keys. These Mac keyboard shortcuts can make editing text lightning-fast and seamless.

On January 11, 2005, Steve Jobs introduced the world to iPod shuffle, an entry-level music player that lacked a display and celebrated serendipity. The device randomly shuffled audio files stored upon it, while giving the user a chance to skip songs they don’t like.

With modern computer displays, you can have brilliant colors, tons of screen real estate and even a cool curve in the screen. But will you be happy reading text on your giant screen? That’s not necessarily a sure thing.

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One more thing ...

"I haven't got any sort of odd chip on my shoulder about proving anything to myself or anybody else. And remember, though the outside world looks at success from a numerical point of view, my yardstick might be quite different than that. My yardstick may be how every computer that's designed from here on out will have to be at least as good as a Macintosh." -- Steve Jobs, 1985.

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