News about Apple

If you had to get your Butterfly keyboard repaired, you could be owed some money

Apple’s Butterfly keyboards weren’t just bad, they were so bad that they resulted in Apple getting sued. A class action lawsuit was filed in San Jose last year over various defects, and was eventually settled in November — with a judge approving Apple’s proposed $50 million settlement. And now you can submit a claim for your share of the payout.

Emails have already been sent out to claimants, explaining that Apple is paying $50 million into a settlement fund. After legal expenses and fees, this will be distributed among members of the class action suit — though your eligibility depends on a few factors.

The most important point is that the suit only applies to people who purchased a MacBook in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, or Washington state. Affected customers will only receive a share of the pay out if they had keyboard repairs done by Apple or an authorized service provider.

Anyone that needed their keycaps replaced (Group 3) is due $50, while a full keyboard replacement will earn you $125 (Group 2). If your MacBook’s keyboard needed to be replaced more than once (Group 1), you may be owed up to $395. In all cases that’s the maximum amount you could be owned, and you may receive less depending on the number of claimants.

Claims can be submitted through the KeyboardSettlement.com(opens in new tab) website between now and March 6, 2023. If you want to exclude yourself from the settlement, you have until February 10, 2023 to make your wishes known.

The claim site does note that “Apple denies all of the allegations made in the lawsuit, denies that any MacBooks are defective, and denies that Apple did anything improper or unlawful. The proposed Settlement is not an admission of guilt or wrongdoing of any kind by Apple. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California approved this notice.”

So no matter how poor a reputation Apple’s butterfly keyboards now have, the company denies that there was any wrongdoing on its part.

How to submit a malfunctioning butterfly keyboard claim

Filing your claim is pretty easy. You simply head over to KeyboardSettlement.com(opens in new tab) and click the File a Claim(opens in new tab) option at the top of the screen. If you’re already a claimant of the lawsuit, then you need to enter the Unique ID and PIN sent to you in the mail or by email to continue.

If you’re not one of those people, but believe you may have a claim to some of the settlement money, then you’ll need to take a more long-winded route. That involves filling out some forms, and providing proof that you own one of the affected MacBooks and that you had to have some kind of official keyboard or keycap replacement.

The link to this form can be found underneath the ID and PIN fields on the File a Claim page, as pictured below. From there you’ll need to provide your address, MacBook serial number (or proof of purchase) and evidence that you had your keyboard or keycaps replaced by Apple or an official service provider.

The process will take you a few minutes and is fairly self-explanatory, and there are instructions if you’re unsure what to do at certain points — like locate your MacBook’s serial number. If you have multiple MacBooks that are affected by the keyboard issues, then you’ll need to go through this process for each machine.

Before you submit your claim, you have to confirm all your details, and declare that they are correct under penalty of perjury.  So make sure all the details are correct before you sign and hit Submit.

It's all fairly simple, and once your claim has been filed you simply need to sit back and wait. A hearing is currently scheduled for March 16, 2023 to decide whether to approve the settlement or not — though the site notes the dates could be changed and appeals may still happen.

If there aren't appeals then claims will be processed "promptly," though there isn't any sort of timeline on how long it might take. Updates will be available on the Keyboard Settlement website in any case.

MacBook Butterfly Keyboard Settlement emails: What to look for

To find for similar emails in your inbox, search by that address or "In re MacBook Keyboard Litigation Settlement," which is the subject line from all of the emails our staffer was sent. 

Here's how the email begins, with our staffer's name, ID and PIN erased:

Here's how Apple's iPhone lineup could change this year

Any look at what's ahead for Apple in 2023 has to begin and end with the iPhone 15. Apple's phones remain the biggest portion of its business, with iPhones accounting for more than half of the company's $394.3 billion in sales for fiscal 2022.

For that reason, it should be no surprise that iPhone 15 rumors are already swirling, as people try to get a bead on what Apple might plan for this year's fall phone release. But we're not in a holding pattern until that likely iPhone 15 release date — iPhone news should dominate the new year, with the potential for a spring iPhone release followed by a preview of the next version of Apple's iPhone software at the annual Worldwide Developers Conference. And it wouldn't be Apple without an additional surprise or two along the way.

So as we head into what figures to be another big year for Apple's iPhone, here are the questions hanging over Apple's upcoming releases, whether it's the iPhone 15 or other potential additions to Apple's lineup.

iPhone SE 4 or no?

Long before the iPhone 15 arrives in the fall, we could see another Apple phone release. iPhone SE 4 rumors suggest that a new version of the company's low-cost handset may be in the works, with an early 2023 release a distinct possibility.

The iPhone SE 2022 came out last March, two years after the last iPhone SE update. It would be unprecedented for Apple to introduce new SE models in consecutive years, as the device has a niche audience. Likely, the main reason Apple released a new model two years after the iPhone SE 2020 was to get a 5G version of the device out in the world.

Still, there would be a good reason to introduce a new iPhone SE. The current model sports a design reminiscent of the iPhone 8, big bezels and all. And if that looked out of place in 2022, it's even more dated now. Thus, the iPhone SE 4 could adapt the old iPhone 11 design, with a notched display and minimal bezels replacing the current look. And with the iPhone SE still lacking a dedicated night mode for its otherwise impressive cameras, it's not like Apple would struggle to find features to add to a new model.

Add to that the fact that Google and Samsung are likely to produce new versions of their well-regarded midrange phones, and Apple risks getting shut out of that end of the market if the iPhone SE spends the year on the bench.

But a new rumor claims it just might do that. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple might postpone the iPhone SE 4 — or cancel it altogether — to save on the costs of producing a device when there's just not that much demand for cheap iPhones as of late. (Counterpoint: Maybe their would be more demand if the cheapest iPhone didn't look like a holdover from 2017.) Whatever the reason, Kuo doesn't think we're getting an iPhone SE 4 this year, and his track record is solid enough to cast doubt on a spring iPhone release.

iOS 17: What's coming to the iPhone in 2023?

One thing we're pretty sure will happen is the release of iOS 17 just about the time the iPhone 15 is ready to make its debut. But we'll know about the software update's feature long before then, given Apple's habit of previewing the new version of iOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference. This year's event likely takes place in June, with a public beta of iOS 17 to follow.

iOS 17 rumors are less pervasive than iPhone 15 rumblings at this point, largely because Apple develops its own software in-house without any loose lips in the hardware supply chain to spill details about unannounced features. Leaker Majin Bu (opens in new tab)has suggested the Messages app is due for a revamp, with a new look, a chat rooms feature and additional capabilities that tap into augmented reality.

A more recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple may open up the iPhone to third-party app stores, ending its App Store monopoly in response to the Digital Markets Act in the EU. According to the report, Apple could have something in place allowing for outside apps by the time iOS 17 rolls around, though one rumor suggests the feature will be trotted out in Europe first.

Other rumored changes sound like they're more in the vein of wish lists with many online Apple watchers clamoring for interface improvements, notification enhancements and interactive widgets. (Given that widgets have dominated two of the last three major iOS updates, this one might be rooted in reality.) We'd expect enhancements to Dynamic Island as well, particularly if that feature makes its way beyond just the Pro iPhone models. Expect more iOS 17 details to trickle out ahead of WWDC 2023.

iPhone 15: How many models?

OK, let's turn our attention to the star of the show — this year's iPhone 15 release. We can be pretty sure that new phones are coming in the fall. Less obvious is just how many phones Apple plans to release.

For the last three years, it's been four models, with the larger iPhone 14 Plus knocking a mini iPhone out of the lineup in 2022. Reports suggest that consumers aren't exactly embracing Apple's $899 6.7-inch phone, as it lacks the more premium features of the Pro models and doesn't really stand out from the $799 base model, except for its larger screen and better battery life.

If it's true that the iPhone 14 Plus is laying an egg, Apple could scale back its lineup to just three models — the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. It's certainly a lineup that makes sense, as that would give consumers a choice between a base model, a second 6.1-inch model with more features and a premium Pro model with a giant screen.

But rumors of an iPhone 15 Ultra model are throwing a monkey wrench into that speculation. In some rumors, the Ultra mode would simply be a rebranded iPhone 15 Pro Max, retaining the features of Apple's 6.7-inch Pro model with a less unwieldy name. But there's another rumor that maintains the iPhone 15 Ultra would be a smartphone version of the Apple Watch Ultra — a more premium device with features that exceed even the iPhone 15 Pro, and with a price tag justified by those extra capabilities.

iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: How big of a split?

And that leads us to our other big question about the iPhone 15 lineup: Is Apple going to continue the trend of sharply defining the differences between its different iPhone models?

You saw that movement in full-force with an iPhone 14 vs. iPhone 14 Pro comparison. Changes to the base model iPhone in 2022 were very modest, with the iPhone 14 even retaining the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13 Pro models. All the big changes — a new 48MP main camera and the Dynamic Island replacing the notch on the Pro model displays — appeared on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. And that's before we recall that the Pro models still sport dynamic 120Hz refresh rates, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are stuck at 60Hz.

For what it's worth, some believe that the Dynamic Island feature will make its way to every iPhone 15 model this year. It's also likely that every iPhone 15 will make the move to USB-C connectivity. However, Apple might add a bonus for iPhone 15 Pro buyers, as the more expensive phones could get a version of USB-C with faster data transfer rates.

It's likely the split processors will continue with the iPhone 15 lineup, as the base model seems to be in line to get the A16 Bionic currently powering the iPhone 14 Pro models. A new A17 Bionic chip would then make its way into any iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra releases.

Other rumored ways Apple could make its iPhone 15 Pro models stand out from the rest of the lineup involve a periscope-style telephoto lens, haptic buttons and a titanium alloy body to make the phone more durable. That last rumor may be an iPhone 15 Ultra exclusive if Apple decides to make that model even more distinct from the iPhone 15 Pro. We should find out what Apple has planned by September, which is the most likely iPhone 15 release date, though plenty of new rumors will surface between now and then.

iPhone Flip: Is Apple going to release a foldable?

If Apple's going to surprise us with a new model in 2023, it may be the company's first foldable phone. Rumors have been circulating for a while about an iPhone Flip, which would reportedly adopt a clamshell-style design that opens to reveal a folding screen. Think Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4, only with Apple design flourishes.

The trouble with an iPhone Flip surprise is that most Apple watchers don't expect that phone to show up until 2024 at the earliest. While some have raised the possibility of a 2023 release, it does seem like next year would be a more likely target — if Apple is even working on such a phone.

The EU could be about to make smartphone batteries much easier to replace

After making USB-C charging a legal requirement, the European Union's next move could make smartphone and laptop batteries much easier to replace.

This is part of a major new proposal from the European Parliament(opens in new tab) and Commission that's designed to make batteries more eco-friendly, with rules governing their production and disposal, as well as their application in mobile devices and vehicles. That includes making them easier to replace.

If this law does get passed (and that could take a while by the time the European Parliament and European Council have nailed down the details), then there would be a three-and-a-half years deadline for companies to comply with the battery removal rules. That's similar to how even though the USB-C charging law has recently been passed, it won't go into force until 2024.

Big battery producers (smaller companies are excepted) will have to develop policies to ensure they're making their cells in a socially and environmentally responsible way. And they will need to use an increased amount of recycled materials up to 2030, when the legislation states all battery materials must be recycled. Further, the batteries must come with additional labeling to show users the capacity, durability, composition and more.

As big a deal as mandatory USB-C charging is, arguably this proposed battery law would be much more radical. While it's really only Apple that had refused to adopt USB-C charging for its phones, the vast majority of phones and laptops sold today have their batteries firmly glued in.

As a result of the law, smartphone and laptop makers would have to redesign their devices from the ground up. Currently, devices can be glued shut and held together with non-standard screws in order to provide greater water/dust resistance and slimmer bodies. Plus batteries can often be buried beneath other components even when you open up the phone.

Equally, perhaps we won't see that much change in how smartphones are designed. Unless the EU is very specific about how easy battery replacements have to be, phone and laptop makers may decide that the current battery attachment method, which uses removable adhesive tabs, actually complies with what the law says.

This would be reminiscent of Apple's self-service repair initiative that launched earlier this year in reaction to much-discussed right-to-repair laws around the world. Yes, you can technically swap out parts on your iPhone or Mac yourself, but you have to jump through the hoops of sending off for Apple-approved tools and parts, carefully make the repair yourself and then send everything back and contact Apple to get it to verify your repair.

Whatever happens, it could take years before we actually see this EU proposal become law. So while the iPhone 15 and Galaxy S23 will most likely still use glued-in batteries as prior generations of these phones have, your next smartphone may have a battery replacement as straightforward as that of a feature phone from decades ago.

Apple on Wednesday released iOS 16.1.2 for all users. The update, which is now available, improves the reliability of the Crash Detection feature for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro users. According to Apple, it also improves compatibility with wireless carriers.

What’s new with iOS 16.1.2

According to Apple, iOS 16.1.2 also brings important security patches. Here are the full release notes for the update:

This update provides important security updates and the following enhancements for your iPhone:

• Improved compatibility with wireless carriers
• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models

With Crash Detection, iPhone 14 models can automatically call an emergency service when the phone detects a car crash. However, a month ago, a small number of users complained that the feature was erroneously triggered when they were on a roller coaster. Apple then explained that the feature uses G-force sensors combined with other data to detect a crash, but the company acknowledged that G-force on a roller coaster could fool the system.

It’s unclear how exactly Apple is improving Crash Detection with iOS 16.1.2, but since the feature is based on algorithms to detect potential car crashes, Apple is probably tweaking the system to make those algorithms more accurate.

The build number for iOS 16.0.2 is 20B110. iOS 16.1.1, released on November 9 under build number 20B101, brought bug fixes and security updates. Users can now update their devices to the latest iOS version by going to the Software Update menu within the Settings app. It’s worth noting that this update is only for iPhone, so there is no iPadOS 16.1.2 for iPad users.

Following today’s release of iOS 16.1.2, Apple’s next software update for iPhone users will be iOS 16.2. This update is currently in testing with developers and public beta users. It includes a number of new features and changes, such as Apple’s new Freefrom collaboration app, updates to the Home app, and more. It’s expected to be released in mid-December.