This week on AI: Wireless charging for 'iPhone 8,' AirPods due date & more

News quieted down in a bit in the wake of Apple's Oct. 27 MacBook Pro event, but as usual in the Apple world, there were still rumors about the company's plans — among them talk about wireless charging in the "iPhone 8," and the unexpected delay of its AirPods.

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Everything you need to know:

The 2017 iPhone might finally implement wireless charging > >
Apple Music's prices might drop 20 percent > >
Apple's AirPods should ship by the end of 2016 > >
Logic Pro X should get Touch Bar support by early 2017 > >
The new MacBook Pros aren't compatible with all Thunderbolt 3 devices > >
A surprise iOS 10.1.1 patch fixed problems with Health > >
Apple shareholders will vote on whether executive compensation should be independently monitored > >
Apple cut the prices on USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 add-ons to keep the MacBook Pro crowd > >

For in-depth discussion of this week's hottest stories, listen to the AppleInsider podcast. Subscribe here, or stream the embed below:

A roundup of all of our hottest stories this week:

Watch: Hands-on with Apple's entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with USB-C

Foxconn working on wireless charging system for 'iPhone 8,' report says

Rumor: Apple mulls 20% Apple Music price decrease

After missing October debut, Apple's AirPods remain on track to launch this year, sources say

Apple exec confirms Logic Pro X getting Touch Bar support by 'early next year'

New MacBook Pro models reportedly incompatible with certain Thunderbolt 3 devices

Apple issues iOS 10.1.1 with fix for viewing data in Health app

Rare reports of poor image quality on iPhone 7 Plus circulate, no root cause known

Apple pushes Irish High Court to fast-track legal challenges to new datacenter

See the new & refreshed emoji in Apple's first public beta of iOS 10.2

Apple shareholder proposal for more executive compensation oversight coming to vote in 2017

New MacBook Pro drops optical audio out through headphone jack

Apple iPhone's global marketshare dips to 12.1 percent on problems in China & Africa

Apple activates single sign-on for tvOS and iOS beta testers

Apple cuts prices on USB-C & Thunderbolt 3 gear in response to MacBook Pro backlash

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10 Comments

tyler82 1107 comments · 18 Years

About 8 years ago

Wireless charging is the biggest gimmick and a feature I could care less about.

spice-boy 1450 comments · 8 Years

As a person that has been buying Apple products for nearly 25 years I have to say that I am not so thrilled with changing device due to port and cable "improvements" every few years. The speed bumps they promise are at a point where it is not distinguishable outside of a testing laboratory and really show no real word benefits. It all just pisses people off and complicates using peripherals and adds yet another cost to using your devices.

Wireless charging means unless I'm wrong carrying around another gadget in the way of a charger with a surface area the size of the Apple Watch white doughnut instead of a thin cable? That is not progress, that is "look mom no hands".

stantheman 332 comments · 11 Years

I would like to see the next iteration of Touch Bar be deeper, where it would replace not only the row of function keys, but also the row of number keys plus 1/2" of the (enlarged) touchpad. So, maybe 2.5" deep. Number keys are not used as often as letter keys, and we seldom rest our fingers on them. So their physical presence is less of an issue and after getting used to it we could function just as well with virtual keys. Taptic feedback could partly make up for the loss of physical number keys, too. Finally, the ongoing implementation of Siri-voice inputs reduces the emphasis on keyboard inputs in general.<br><br>

With a larger pallet to work with, the Touch Bar metaphor could incorporate a wider range of on-screen activities, including pinches and scrolls, on-screen menus and forms, Pencil writing, photo mark-ups, and piano key playing. <br><br>

We may have 13" and 15" computer screens, but most of the time our eyes focus on a far smaller area -- maybe as little as 1" to 3" across. Touch Bar can potentially display that entire "action area" and put it within easy reach of the keyboard home base, while switching automatically to number and function keys when circumstances call for them. Touch Bar is not just a touchscreen: Touch Bar is an AI-touchscreen.

macxpress 5911 comments · 16 Years

tyler82 said:

Wireless charging is the biggest gimmick and a feature I could care less about.

It may seem like a gimmick but its one step closer to Apple not having any connections on its iPhone like it or not. I can see them getting rid of lightning down the road in its iOS devices. Charging is really the only sticking point to getting rid of the lightning connector. Everything else can go wireless. Its already eliminated the headphone port, and the lightning port is next to go. It may not be in 2017, but I wouldn't hold my breath to it sticking around any longer than that.

Apple just needs to get wireless charging working properly without making the phone explode...

512ke 781 comments · 19 Years

I feels like so many of these developments are pushing us to a future in which you will have to pay Apple a monthly fee for iCloud. You won't be able to download your photos to your hard drive without running them through iCloud first. Etc.