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The new, more detailed Apple Maps is now available across the U.S.

Apple’s revamped Maps is now available across the country. The redesigned Apple Maps adds much more detailed information and reduces Apple’s dependence on third-parties to supply data. Not only that, but it also adds the new Look Around feature that competes with Google’s Street View — though Look Around isn’t yet available in all markets.

Apple originally launched Apple Maps in 2012, but the launch was riddled with bugs — to the point where Apple CEO Tim Cook even apologized for the issues. Since then, Apple has been working hard to improve Maps, and announced a full redesign of the service in 2018. The redesign first made it to certain cities, like the San Francisco Bay Area, and by the end of last year, it was available in around half of the United States.

“We set out to create the best and most private maps app on the planet that is reflective of how people explore the world today,” said Eddie Cue, Apple senior vice president of internet software and services, in a blog post. “It is an effort we are deeply invested in and required that we rebuild the map from the ground up to reimagine how Maps enhances people’s lives — from navigating to work or school or planning an important vacation — all with privacy at its core.”

Other new features have been added to Maps since the announcement of the redesign, too. For example, Apple also added a feature called Collections, which allows users to build and share lists of their favorite locations. Apple is also adding real-time transit information to Maps, but that feature is currently only available in select cities, like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Now that the revised version of Maps is available around the U.S., Apple says it will be expanding to the rest of the world. According to the company, the new Maps will begin rolling out across Europe later this year. It’s likely Apple will aim to bring the new Maps to the entire world over the next few years, though considering the relatively slow rollout around the U.S., it’s hard to predict how long that will take.

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Apple’s mythical folding iPhone might soon become a reality
Foldable iPhone in hand.

It looks like Apple is finally shifting its foldable iPhone project into the next gear. “Apple is building prototypes of at least two iPhones that fold widthwise like a clamshell,” according to a report by The Information that cites an unnamed internal source.
But before you get your hopes up, do keep in mind that a clamshell-style foldable iPhone won’t arrive until 2025 based on the earliest estimates. Meanwhile, three other insiders confided to the publication that there's a bit of a snag when it comes to the price tag and allure for potential buyers.
Apparently, a foldable iPhone would come with a heftier cost, and, in a plot twist, Apple is still scratching its head as it tries to figure out what magical features could possibly convince consumers to open their wallets for this expensive novelty.
iPhone 折叠全球首发!「科技美学」iPhoneV first iPhone foldable iPhone fold iPhone flip iPhone folding@KJMX
Maybe a foldable iPhone with two distinct halves on the screen will finally convince Apple to allow split-screen multitasking. But this is a project still in development, which means it could meet the same fate as the never-released AirPower charging mat. The insider source also hinted that Apple might just scrap the whole endeavor if it fails to live up to its sky-high quality standards.
The report suggests that Apple's industrial design squad aimed for the stars, envisioning a device so slim that it makes the current iPhone look almost chunky by comparison. They dreamt of a gadget that, even when folded, wouldn't feel like carrying a brick. They reportedly toyed with the idea of outward-facing screens for easy peeks without the hassle of opening the device.
Yet, the mundane reality of pesky components like batteries and screens has somewhat clipped the wings of these grand designs. On the positive side, Apple has reportedly approached at least one supply chain partner to source components for the foldable iPhone project.

Apple is apparently on a quest to conquer the infamous folding-screen crease, aspiring to a seamless display that doesn’t pucker up after a bit of bending. Apple is after that perfect, flat surface where users can scribble away with an Apple Pencil without navigating a mini valley in the middle of the screen.
Achieving that crease-free foldable screen nirvana won’t be an easy task. It took Samsung a few product generations before it could find a balance between durability and flexibility for the inner foldable panel thanks to its ultrathin glass (UTG) tech. Instead of plastic, this solution sides with a very thin layer of flexible glass and can now be found inside devices such as the Galaxy Z Flip 5.
In 2021, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the foldable iPhone could have a roughly 8-inch screen, but that doesn’t seem to be particularly palm-friendly for a clamshell-style foldable. Kuo also had predicted that a foldable could arrive by 2023, but that didn’t happen, of course.

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Apple didn’t release a new iPad last year, which means 2024 should be a banner year for the popular tablets. And now there's been word that the upcoming iPad Pro lineup, likely to include OLED for the first time, might not cost as much as we once feared.

According to a new report from DigiTimes, the upcoming iPad Pro models won’t see a dramatic price hike, as was suggested in December. Previously, it was reported that the 2024 11-inch iPad Pro would cost at least $1,500, while the next 12.9-inch model (which will have a larger 13-inch display) would start at $1,800. The current models start at $799 and $1,099, respectively.

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If this is what an Apple smart ring could look like, I need it right now
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Forget the Apple Vision Pro. What many users really might want to see is an Apple smart ring. A new concept shows what one of these first-generation wearables could look like. Consider me sold, Apple; where can I lay down my credit card?

There have been rumors in recent years about the possibility of Apple releasing a smart ring that would compete with the Oura Ring and the long-rumored Samsung Galaxy Ring. If Apple were to release such a device, it would likely track various health metrics to help users understand their sleep patterns, activity levels, and overall health. Essentially, it would be like an Apple Watch for your finger.

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