Apple's week April 11: rollercoaster of incompetence
Apple has had a weird week driven by forces outside of its control. We've all heard enough about tariffs and the ups and downs, so let's skip that. If you want to know more, read our many stories on AppleInsider.
Skylight Social
TikTok is still here for at least another 75 days. However, I think any chance of a deal has been lost due to everything (gestures at tariffs, Vance peasants comment, calling Taiwan a country). So, unless Trump somehow gets the law overturned, TikTok will be banned.
I don't use TikTok and hate what it does to people with addictive algorithms and misinformation, but it is clearly going to be a big loss for social media users. Thankfully, there's Skylight Social. They're a TikTok alternative built on the ATProtocol, same as what Bluesky is built on, and they're working to bring more features.
While I don't like TikTok because the company Bytdance is no better than Facebook when it comes to manipulating users, Skylight takes what makes TikTok special, the content and users, and focuses on that. Like Bluesky, it is social media by the people, for the people, and that is something I can get behind.
Focus Modes make customizing iPhone incredibly powerful. Different Home Screens, icons, widgets, wallpapers, Lock Screens, notification settings, app filters, and more, all tied to Focus. And automat-able!
— Wesley Hilliard (@hilli.tech) Apr 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
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I don't know if I'll start posting videos, but I did experiment by posting one that showed off my Focus Mode configurations. We'll see where it goes once it gets sounds, music, duets, and other features.
Apple Rumors
The rumor cycle never ends.
iPhone
It's incredible that we're already talking about iPhone 20, or iPhone XX (if Apple hates itself). The only way it launches in 2017 is if Apple skips iPhone 19, or releases a lesser iPhone 19 and a more premium iPhone 20 at the same time. Either way, a sketchy rumor suggests to expect a twentieth anniversary redesign in 2027 – I'll believe it when I see it.
There won't be a folding iPhone in 2027, and definitely not in 2026. If the technology ever gets good enough for Apple to bother, it will be too late and the market will have moved on. Let the fad die.
More cases have leaked showing the large camera bar cutout for iPhone 17. Cool. I'm done caring until we see the real thing, honestly.
iOS 19
The iOS 19 rumor is back in the timeline this week as Jon Prosser doubles down on his leaks. This time, he's back with more detail. Well, at least a little more.
The glassy reflective surfaces that react to device tilt were something I guessed at from the last leak, so cool he's called it out specifically this time. The rest of the renders are more of the same, but as I said in my coverage, the only real new information is about the Home Screen.
Whatever Apple does, I'm sure it'll be fine, but this render he shared seems off. The icons are more circle now, leaving behind Apple's iconic "squircle." But that also means they're smaller and the iPhone's screen real estate is once again not being utilized fully.
Gurman didn't even respond to the video except by retweeting his previous post. It said that the rumors floating around are not representative and incomplete and likely based on old information. I'm leaning Gurman on this fight.
Oh, and watchOS might get some visionOS elements, which was expected. However, this same rumor suggests Apple Intelligence will run locally on future Apple Watch models, which is highly doubtful.
Also, I wrote about the Home Hub being delayed and what I think the solution is for contextual AI with app intents potentially hallucinating. Just give users more data and control.
If Apple demands perfection from AI, then give up on AI. It's not going to happen. The technology is fundamentally flawed.
Apple Vision Pro
A new rumor says Apple Vision Pro 2 production begins now for a device expected to ship a year from now. While early to mid-2026 seems plausible, I don't think production is starting now. That's silly. Why would it take a year to produce the minimal inventory Apple needs for the product?
My guess for the next generation of Apple Vision Pro is that Apple could go one of two ways. Either it reveals both the Apple Vision Pro 2 and the new lower-priced model at the same time, or just the Pro 2. I doubt we'll get an entry model two years into the device without any sign of the next pro model.
AppleInsider Podcast
We talk about some of these topics and more, as always, on the AppleInsider Podcast. Give this week's episode a listen.
I'm happy to know that we have a lot of listeners that enjoy the show. We do our best to cover everything even when things aren't fun to talk about. The United States is in shambles, and we have a few listeners that don't like when we point that out. Thankfully, it seems, the overwhelming majority enjoy our Controversy Corner and how we discuss Apple and politics.
Thanks for the support and keep leaving nice reviews in Apple Podcasts. I also appreciate when you reach out on Bluesky, Mastodon, or via email.
