Nokia has developed a potential successor to Bluetooth dubbed Wibree. Separating this technology from other potential, but more developed technologies (ZigBee) is its interoperability with existing Bluetooth radios, making cheap dual-mode devices a possibility.
While Bluetooth's power requirements are far less than other wireless protocols such as WiFi/802.11, some deem it still too high for some applications. According to MacWorld(Update: MacWorld was incorrect), the technology is capable of delivering 10 Mbps data transfers at up to 10 meters, however this may be in doubt as the technology's website cites "physical layer bit rate of 1 Mbps" (at up to 10 meters).
Apple currently uses Bluetooth for communication with its wireless keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse, as well as communication with mobile phones via iSync.
It's important to note that this isnt an alternative for the majority of Bluetooth use cases that include the voice, printing, transfer and music scenarios. As the Nokia release points out, they are focused on sensor applications like the watch. However, like most technologies there is some overlap such as the mention of HID devices in the announcement. There are talks between the Bluetooth SIG and Nokia regarding the future of Wibree but at this point there is nothing concrete to say publicly.
Ultra low power Bluetooth technology is definitely part of our roadmap and the Bluetooth SIG is evaluating Wibree for possible inclusion into the SIG. Just like we are working with the WiMedia Alliance to combine Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technologies and create a high speed Bluetooth channel, we will work to do the same at the ultra low power level.
Apple changed the strategy for iOS 17 later in its development process to add several new features, suggesting that the update may be more significant than previously thought, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.
In January, Gurman said that iOS 17 could be a less significant update than iPhone updates in previous years due to the company's intense focus on its long-awaited mixed-reality...
Following nearly six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is expected to be released to the public as soon as this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Below, we have recapped eight new features and...
Some Apple employees are concerned about the usefulness and price point of the company's upcoming mixed-reality headset, The New York Times reports.
Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Initial enthusiasm around the device at the company has apparently become skepticism, according to eight current and former Apple employees speaking to The New York Times. The change of tone...
Apple showcased its mixed-reality headset to the company's top 100 executives in the Steve Jobs Theater last week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the "momentous gathering" is a "key milestone" ahead of the headset's public announcement planned for June. The event was intended to rally Apple's top members of...
We're still almost six months away from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but it seems like every day we're learning more about what to expect from the next-generation models. Notably, this week gave us our clearest look yet at what appear to be some changes for the volume and mute control hardware.
iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new ...
Apple today released iOS 16.4, the fourth major update to the iOS 16 operating system that initially came out last September. iOS 16.4 comes two months after the launch of iOS 16.3, an update that added Security Keys for Apple ID.
iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes...
We saw a lot of great deals on Apple products and related accessories this week, including Samsung's iMac-like Smart Monitor M8 for $250 off, a 30 percent off spring sale at Anker, and the year's best prices on numerous AirPods models. All of these deals are still available to purchase right now, so we're recapping them and more below.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these ...
Friday March 24, 2023 12:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
This year, all iPhone 15 models will include Apple's Dynamic Island that unifies the pill and hole cutouts at the top of the display, but there will also be a material change to the feature that wasn't included in the iPhone 14 Pro models.
According to a new tweet by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 15 series will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island ...
Apple on January 23 released iOS 16.3, delivering support for Security Keys for Apple IDs, changes to Emergency SOS functionality, support for the second-generation HomePod, and more.
