The Week in Tech: Apple iPhone Turns 10, 'iPhone 8' Gets Wet, AirPods Soar
This week, we celebrated an important iPhone anniversary but continued to look ahead to Apple’s next handset model. Meanwhile, we learned just how popular the Apple AirPods have become. Here’s a look back at the week in tech.
Trending, Jan. 8-14, 2017
Are the “iPhone 8” rumors all wet?
We’re at least eight months out from the introduction of the next iPhone. Already, however, there’s been plenty of rumors about the 10th anniversary iPhone.
The newest rumor is that the iPhone 8 could be IP68 certified, which means that the handset would handle being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are both IP67 rated and can withstand immersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
Our special report on the 2017 iPhone offers all of the latest information on Apple’s next flagship device. There’s also one for the 2017 iPad.
This week saw the arrival of an important iPhone anniversary. Monday, Jan. 9 was the 10th anniversary of the unveiling of the first iPhone. Here’s how we covered this very important day in tech history:
Don’t you wish you owned a pair?
You’ve got to give Apple credit. Few companies could release a new product in mid-December (after numerous delays and in limited qualities) and still see it become one of the most popular tech products of the entire year.
Between Dec. 13 and Dec. 31, 2016, Apple AirPods accounted for 26 percent of wireless headphone e-commerce revenue, which was more than any competitor. More impressively, the day Apple AirPods were released, Dec. 13, was the largest single day for online headphone spending for all of 2016.
The $159 Apple AirPods remain in short supply. Orders placed today, Jan. 15, won’t be filled for six weeks.
See also: New Data Suggests Apple AirPods Are Popular with Consumers
Five other tech stories you might have missed this week:
- WSJ: Apple Set to Offer Original Television Programming After All
- Why the 10.5-inch iPad Makes Sense Mathematically
- 4 Simple Ways to Improve Apple TV in 2017: Yes, We Want 4K Too
- The iFixit iPhone Teardown: Which Model Was the Least Repairable?
- Big TV Providers Yet to Embrace Apple’s Single Sign-On Feature
Around the App Store
One of the most controversial games in history is now available on the App Store. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth launched during the week for $14.99.
The universal game follows the story of a boy who, after learning about her mother’s plan to sacrifice him to prove her faith in God, escapes into their home’s basement, where he must fight monsters in a roguelike environment in order to survive.
Studio Nicalis first submitted the game for Apple’s approval in February 2016. However, it was quickly rejected apparently because of the game’s depiction of “violence towards children.” Apple hasn’t said why the game was approved this time around.
For more on The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, be sure to see Christine Chan’s review.
Other recent apps reviews:
Get the apps:
App Collections grow
Our finely curated app collections lists continue to grow, with the following entries added or updated in the last week:
Gadget News
On the gadget front, things have grown mostly quiet after the spectacle that is the Consumers Electronics Show (CES). Nonetheless, these gadgets did make news this week:
What was your favorite tech story during the past week? Leave your comments below.