Apple recently said its product lineup is “firm” heading into the holiday shopping season, suggesting it won’t release any new Macs or other devices for the rest of 2022. Still, there are at least five noteworthy products in Apple’s lineup expected to be on the agenda before the end of the year, as described below.
iOS 16.2
iOS 16.2 is currently in beta and is expected to be released in mid-December. The software update includes several new features for the iPhone, including Apple’s new whiteboard app Freeform, a new Home app architecture, live events for select sports through the Apple TV app, new sleep and medication widgets for the lock screen, unexpected emergencies SOS call reporting, 5G support in India, and more.
Apple also plans to release iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, watchOS 9.2 and tvOS 16.2 in December. On Apple TV, tvOS 16.2 supports multi-user Siri voice recognition for a more personalized experience with support for up to six family members.
Emergency SOS via Satellite
All four iPhone 14 models support the new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature, which will allow devices to connect directly to satellite, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Apple said in a support document that the feature “will be available in the iOS 16 software update due in November 2022,” but the company hasn’t shared a specific release date.
Given that iOS 16.1 was released in late October, and iOS 16.2 is expected to be released in December, emergency SOS via satellite will likely be enabled with iOS 16.1.1, which is already in beta. It’s also possible that iOS 16.1.2 could enable Emergency SOS via satellite, but there’s no evidence of such an update yet, and Apple may want to roll out the feature a week before Thanksgiving in the US.
At launch, emergency SOS via satellite will only be available in the U.S. and Canada, and will be free for the first two years. Apple has reportedly confirmed that it plans to expand the feature to other countries by the end of next year.
Apple Music Classical
In August 2021, Apple announced the acquisition of the classical music service Primephonic. At the time, Apple said it planned to launch a dedicated classical music app in 2022, combining Primephonic’s user interface with additional features.
While there’s still no sign of the Apple Music Classical app, evidence of the app was found earlier this year in both iOS 15.5 code and an XML file on Apple’s servers. Little else is known about the app, including whether it will be a built-in app or if it will be released on the App Store as a standalone download given its niche use.
Even though Apple Music Classical isn’t a pre-installed app, it looks like the app will have system-level integration, so if Apple meets its 2022 requirements, its release could come later this year with iOS 16.1.1 or iOS 16.2 etc. Software updates are also released with deadlines.
Self-Service Repair Program Expansion
In August, Apple indicated that its self-service repair program will be expanded to additional countries in Europe and to additional Mac models with Apple silicon chips before the end of the year, so Apple has under two months left to meet that promise.
The program first launched in April, providing customers in the U.S. with access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals to complete do-it-yourself repairs of iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE models. The program was expanded in August to include MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with the M1 series of chips.
Black Friday Shopping Event
Over the years, Apple has hosted a four-day Black Friday to Cyber Monday shopping event in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and select other countries, offering customers free Apple Gift Cards worth $25 to $200 with eligible purchases new iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, AirPods or other products.
Black Friday, which falls on November 25 this year, is one of the few occasions every year where Apple offers great deals on its products, but better deals are usually available through resellers like Amazon, so be sure to check out our Black Friday roundup for the entire month.
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