iPhone Clock icon transition right at daylight savings time.

Had to get up for work at 2:30am but that time didn’t exist last night, so I decided to get up at 1:55am and saw the clock transition from 1:59am to 3am. Nothing super special, but you have to wait 8 months to see a transition like this again.

Apple loves the iPhone Air and its durability so much, it didn’t need to release new cases for it.

MacRumors:

Apple's Silicone Case for the standard iPhone 17 model has three new color options, including Bright Guava, Vanilla, and Electric Lavender.

Bright Guava and Vanilla extend to the Silicone Case for iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the Pro models did not get Electric Lavender treatment.

Apple has a Silicone Case for the new iPhone 17e too, and it comes in Bright Guava, Vanilla, Soft Pink, and a handful of other colors.

Apple also has a MagSafe Clear Case for the iPhone 17e.

If you prefer an iPhone 17e case from Apple's Beats brand, there is a new MagSafe case with hard plastic. It comes in Bedrock Blue and Lime Stone.

Any new case options for the iPhone Air? Any?

Of course not, because why would the best designed iPhone, with superior Titanium durability, even need a case? Unlike the other inferior options with their inferior aluminum chassis, the Air can take a beating over and over again.

Apple’s love for the Air is more obvious than ever.

Apple releases iPhone 17e, with MagSafe (Finally!)

Apple:

Apple today announced iPhone 17e, a powerful and more affordable addition to the iPhone 17 lineup. At the heart of iPhone 17e is the latest-generation A19, which delivers exceptional performance for everything users do. iPhone 17e also features C1X, the latest-generation cellular modem designed by Apple, which is up to 2x faster than C1 in iPhone 16e. The 48MP Fusion camera captures stunning photos, including next-generation portraits, and 4K Dolby Vision video. It also enables an optical-quality 2x Telephoto — like having two cameras in one. The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display features Ceramic Shield 2, offering 3x better scratch resistance than the previous generation and reduced glare.1 With MagSafe, users can enjoy fast wireless charging and access to a vast ecosystem of accessories like chargers and cases. And when iPhone 17e users are outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, Apple’s groundbreaking satellite features — including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My via satellite — help them stay connected when it matters most.2

Available in three elegant colors with a premium matte finish — black, white, and a beautiful new soft pink — iPhone 17e will be available for pre-order beginning Wednesday, March 4, with availability starting Wednesday, March 11. iPhone 17e will start at 256GB of storage for $599 — 2x the entry storage from the previous generation at the same starting price, and 4x more than iPhone 12 — giving users more space for high-resolution photos, 4K videos, apps, games, and more.

MagSafe is the real win here, but also Ceramic Shield 2 is a huge win for durability, not to mention double the base storage starting at 256GB. Soft pink will be a big seller too.

All the right upgrades.

Absolute no-brainer recommendation for most people who just want a basic iPhone.

iPhone Air parts to be scrapped due to poor sales.

Kudos for Apple to try and make a new product category, but it isn’t what the people wanted.

Tim Culpan:

Apple and its suppliers are currently tallying up the cost of severely miscalculating consumer enthusiasm for last year’s iPhone Air. Weighing 12 grams less but with a slightly larger screen than the iPhone 17, Apple made the bet that customers would be willing to pay $200 more for, well, “air.” […]

Apple and its suppliers are now stuck with components for up to 1.5 million units of iPhone Air, my sources tell me, even after the order came down in October to cut back production. What’s worse, some of that cannot be repurposed and instead may need to be scrapped, I am told. To be clear, that doesn’t mean 1.5 million iPhones will be scrapped, merely some of the components specific to the iPhone Air.

The three main components discussed are the titanium frame, the 6.5-inch screen size, and the binned A19 Pro chip:

The titanium frame is specific to the iPhone Air in both size and materials, with the other two models using aluminium. Excess inventory here cannot be repurposed but can be recycled. In fact, 80% of this inventory is already recycled, so Apple and its suppliers will recoup some of the cost.

The OLED “Super Retina XDR” screen is basically the same across all models, but the Air’s 6.5-inch size is mid-way between the 6.9-inch and 6.3-inch versions. I am told that displays which have already been cut, framed and put onto modules will need to be scrapped, though some of that will also be crushed, separated, and recycled.

Possibly the biggest hurt could be with the chips. Apple uses the same A19 Pro CPU in the Air as it does with the iPhone 17 Pro. But the Air has only 5 GPU cores — as does the base iPhone 17 — while the iPhone 17 Pro has 6 GPU cores. (To be blunt, this is merely chip binning, not a new chip).

As a result, the unused Air chips cannot be put in the the lower-end base iPhone 17 nor in the higher-end iPhone 17 Pro. They cannot be repurposed. Even worse, the Air has 12GB of DRAM while the baseline iPhone 17 has just 8GB, according to TrendForce. So, any processor modules which have already had their DRAM fused onto the CPU would also result in wasted DRAM — unless Apple and TSMC find some magical way to “unfuse” the memory from the base die.

I agree with Tim that the Air wasn’t a mistake, and Apple broke the mold by trying something new instead of rehashing the same boring set of phones each year. Apple doesn’t spray and pray, but the ability to be more bold with their hardware decisions is welcome.

Now please, make the Pro devices out of titanium again.

iPhone 5s gets a software update 13 years after its debut.

Juli Clover from MacRumors:

iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the ‌iPhone‌ 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The ‌iPhone‌ 5s came out in September 2013, while the ‌iPhone‌ 6 launched in September 2014.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, iOS 12.5.8 extends the certificate required for features like iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation, so they will continue to work after January 2027.

Originally, certificate-limited functions like device activation would have ceased when the certificate expired, but now key features on the two older iPhones will continue to work in the years to come.

Prior to now, the ‌iPhone‌ 5s and ‌iPhone‌ 6 last received software updates in January 2023, when Apple released important security fixes.

Quite unbelievable, honestly. How many of you were in diapers when this device was released? Even more unbelievable - people who are still using these devices today. I wish I could use a device in this smaller form factor, but it goes to show not everyone needs the latest and greatest.

iPhone Air gets a SIM tray?

Saw this on Twitter the other day and the post has been picked up by 9to5Mac with the embedded video:

A viral post is making the rounds today, showcasing what appears to be an iPhone Air modified to include a SIM card slot.

Based on multiple reports on Chinese tech websites and social media, the mod was made by a creator credited simply as Huaqiangbei, which is also the name of a subdistrict of Shenzhen famous for selling cheap electronics. […]

According to multiple reports and posts about the viral video, the mod was achieved by replacing Apple’s haptic feedback component with a smaller, less potent motor, making space for the SIM tray.

As it usually happens with viral posts of modified iPhones, there is no shortage of comments claiming that, rather than being an original iPhone Air that was modified, the device is simply a clone meant to look exactly like Apple’s device.

Whatever the case may be, I’m still sticking to my original theory.

I “accidentally” bought an iPhone Pocket.

Disclaimer: Inspired by true events..near the end of November 2025.

My wife wanted to go visit her brother who just had a baby, and it’s quite a hike from Charlottesville, Virginia all the way to Paterson, New Jersey. I had to come back two days later for work, but we still managed to make a quick trip to New York City, four years after our last one. A great way to spend time with the wife and kids.

The trip was a selfless trip, all about them…

We’ve gone to the city many times, so it was my idea to try something different, a place more cultured, more “boutique,” with a different but still authentically New York City experience.

“Let’s go to SoHo.” I said. Plenty of things to see on the way there, and plenty of spots to get quick bites to eat. A little bit of Belgian fries with powdered parmesan, some Yemeni coffee, great architecture, and cobblestone streets that would bring tears of agony to any Ferrari owner. A world of cultures densely packed in one place.

A new experience for the kids with more cultural exposure. I’m serious…

A lot of the fun is just driving around in NYC, seeing how people interact, and how traffic rules gradually mean nothing the deeper you get inside. The craziest thing we saw before we even parked the car? A well-dressed man in hot pink wearing what looked like a beachcomber straw hat, wrestling with his dog who was upside-down, full monty view of its junk, all to try and tighten his dog vest so he doesn’t get cold.

Aaah, New York City.

For our family of six, the real challenge was walking, since the sidewalks are crowded, barely wide enough for a stroller, and one wrong step on an uneven sidewalk (a hallmark feature of NYC) could smash your head down a set of stairs right into an Italian bakery, no mob activity required.

Challenge #2 - finding a bathroom. It’s already impossible to find a bathroom in the city, but I heard you can go to an Apple Store and use the bathroom without being harassed to buy something. Perfect for the little ones. There happens to be an Apple Store in SoHo not too far from us, so we headed there to freshen up.

Wow what are the odds that there happens to be an Apple Store nearby? Crazy…

I was getting a sip of ice water from my Journey water bottle while standing near the iPhone booth, when my daughter bumped into me as she was making a beeline towards an iPad Pro. She jostled me enough to make me spill ice water all over my shirt and shoe. It’s one of those sneakers with perforated holes, so my sock was soaked.

It was a shock to my system as the iced part of my shirt velcroed itself to my chest, throwing off my reflexes. A cold shiver down my spine and drenched sock sent my brain into a frenzy and made me scream in horror.

It was like a scene from a Michael Jackson music video. I’m screaming, twitching from all the cold and shaking my leg, screaming:

“Oh my God it’s icey!”

“My yucky sock!”

Several of the Apple employees heard me, and well, they quickly rushed away which made me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious all of a sudden. Nobody else really batted an eye, because after all, it’s New York City.

I’m thinking those employees went to get a mop to clean up the mess, but they ended up coming back with an iPhone Pocket. I asked them, why did you bring me this?

“Well we thought you were so excited for the ISSEY MIYAKE sock* so we got you the last one in stock,” said the Specialist.

They mistook my expressions the wrong way.

“Umm, no” I said. “I was just expressing my feelings about how icey I felt, and how yucky my sock feels.”

Apparently the, “OMG it’s icey! My yucky sock!” sounds a lot like, “OMG it’s ISSEY MIYAKE sock!”

Still shivering from the wetness all over my torso, I grabbed my phone to call my wife so she can supervise the kids while I go clean myself up in the bathroom. My hand was shivering, and my quivering thumb accidentally tapped the Power Button twice instead of once activating Apple Pay. The employee with the iPhone Pocket noticed my Apple Pay screen, and tapped her little iPhone kiosk gizmo to my iPhone Air, completing the transaction.

Everything happened so fast…I don’t know if I got high off some weed fumes as we made our way to the Apple Store, but I was now the owner of an iPhone Pocket. Before I “accidentally” spend more money, I decided it was best to leave now that we have 5 empty bladders and a clean diaper.

In retrospect, it’s kind of crazy how I happened to end up in the only store in the USA that was selling the ISSEY MIYAKE iPhone Pocket, and they had it in stock.

TOTALLY didn’t expect that to happen.

---

*Actually how the events played out - I made a reservation that morning while in New Jersey and they had a few colors in stock at SoHo. Went there like a normal person (with family) and I said, “I’m here to pick up my iPhone Pocket.”

“Oh, we call it the sock,” said the employee.

No drama, no flair, but the Belgian fries and Yemeni coffee were real.

So was the man in hot pink.

It was a symbiotic affair where everyone in the family got something out of the trip.

Apple’s “Can’t Decide” video plateaus at 79 million views.

I was tracking the view count sporadically the past 2 months:

11/10- 50 million

11/12- 52 million

11/13- 53 million

11/16 - 57 million

11/23 - 64 million

11/28 - 67 million

12/1 - 70 million

12/2 - 71 million

12/4 - 72 million

12/6 - 74 million

12/7 - 75 million

12/14 - 79 million

Still at 79 million on 1/8/26.

iPhone Pocket vanishes from apple.com as if it never existed.

Clicking the link from their newsroom release article leads to this screen. No more grayed out sold out page like the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand.

The story behind the iPhone 4.

One of the greatest tech stories of our time. I didn’t appreciate it as much at the time because I was an Android fanboy, but this was the first device that convinced me to go iPhone. Also in podcast form.

Apple’s new foldable iPhone needs to nail two key features in order to make it a success.

Those two features are:

1. Foldable display durability.

2. Amazing, intuitive software experience.

I’m not worried about the hinge durability since Apple has been making hinges for years and have some of the best hardware in the market. The main concern is with the foldable display.

Apple did innovate hard with Ceramic Shield 2, being 3x better at scratch resistance, and is the only phone with non-existent scratches on a level 6 to barely scratching at a level 7 on mohs scale of hardness. Every other mainstream and flagship phone scratches at a level 6 with deeper grooves at a level 7. I can’t imagine Apple will release a fragile inner display with a crease requiring a plastic screen protector prone to fingernail scratches. This is the harsh reality is even after 7 hardware iterations of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. Impressive and thin, but with an achilles heel.

Apple waits for technology to be set to a standard that meets their ethos before jumping in. It would be spitting in the face of Steve Jobs if they released a device with a plastic screen protector after he famously ordered a massive shift from plastic to glass in iPhone production the minute he noticed scratches on the display. Hopefully Apple’s continued investment in Corning will mitigate this issue and they have something up their sleeve that will wow us.

I’m also worried about the software experience, especially if we have the iPad to judge by. Having too many options for window layouts and multitasking would be cumbersome on a smaller screen, and hopefully Apple takes a play out of their playbook to make the software fun, simple, and intuitive. When iPhone X was released, it was a huge shift in usability with the removal of the Home Button, but it was once again fun, simple, and intuitive. Dynamic Island was also a new innovation at a smaller scale and followed the playbook, being a useful tool that I miss every time I go back to a notched iPhone.

Now what is my definition of success in this specific case? It’s not record sales numbers, but the ability to execute and make an experience that changes the game. I consider iPhone Air to be a success, because it shows you can make a durable and thin device that lasts all day at scale, something not possible a few years ago. A foldable phone doesn’t have to deliver on all technological fronts with the best cameras and the best battery life, but it needs to be durable like a regular phone, and it needs to have a software experience that makes sense and would make people jump at the opportunity.

Apple’s “Can’t Decide” video is officially its most popular video on YouTube.

It’s at 79 million views just like the previous number one video, but it’s ranked above the “Swiped Mac - Apple at Work” video, confirming a higher view count. Most impressively is the speed at which it reached 79 million.

The “Swiped Mac” video took 2 years to get to 79 million. Apple’s “Can’t Decide” video? 3 months. Of course this makes sense since one is just a comical ad while the iPhone buying guide is much more mainstream and informative. It would be a no-brainer for Apple to do this kind of video for each major iPhone release cycle.

I have a bittersweet feeling about this video’s popularity considering the thumbnail image really is a self-fulfilling prophecy in its own right:

iPhone 17 Pro is shown front and center, and is the most popular variant from both enthusiasts and conscious buyers.

iPhone 17 isn’t shown at all, but is always the sleeper hit that doesn’t need excessive marketing, and is the obvious de facto upgrade for most, “I’ll use my phone till the wheels fall off,” kind of buyer.

iPhone Air? You can barely see it which is part of the marketing ploy, but the, “you can barely see it” mantra also applies to sales and spottings in the wild. It figuratively and literally disappeared from mainstream consumption with only die hard fans taking the plunge.

Most people won’t see the thumbnail in full resolution, but as a low-res image making the disappearing iPhone Air illusion all the more realistic.

Surveillance through smartphones.

Ben Lovejoy from 9to5Mac:

The Indian government has ordered Apple and other smartphone manufacturers to pre-install a state-owned “security” app on all phones before they are sold to users.

Adding fuel to the privacy fire, the government is also requiring smartphone makers to ensure that the app cannot be removed by users …

Reuters reports that those who already own iPhones won’t escape either: Apple and others are also being instructed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to push the app to existing phones via a software update. […]

Apple is likely to push back, hoping to persuade the government to agree to a less extreme policy like offering the app to users during setup and allowing wording that encourages them to install it.

However, ultimately, if negotiations are unsuccessful, it will have to comply with the law. Apple has already been forced to compromise user privacy in China by storing iCloud data on servers owned by a company directly linked to the Chinese government. Apple has also removed VPN and foreign news apps from its Chinese App Store when instructed to do so.

As with China, Apple is in a double-bind here as India is not only a growing market for the company’s products, but also an increasingly important manufacturing centre. Withdrawing from that market in order to uphold its values is not a practical option.

Saw this news story the same day I watched the Mrwhosetheboss’s North Korea video, showing the extreme control North Korea has over their citizens.

Something tells me that even though most world leaders condemn North Korea, they secretly would like to have just as much control over the people.

iPhone Pocket hands on.

I was able to snag a Peacock colored iPhone Pocket last weekend at the Apple SoHo store. It’s funny because I really wasn’t interested in getting one, but then the lore of its rarity got to me. I also wanted one for practical reasons since I always carry a spare iPhone with me when traveling, and the iPhone Pocket would be perfect to keep it stored and protected. To wear it as a fashion piece was never the goal, but for those who wear purses, handbags, etc., it is a nice accessory to accent your bag and allows for more practicality.

The materials are quite premium with no visible split threads or stitches. Even when you invert the Pocket, there are no end seams anywhere. You could call it a unibody piece of cloth with no beginning or end. Very stretchy, premium, and durable. Apple describes it as a “singular 3D-knitted construction,” and now I understand.

Wallpaper from BasicAppleGuy

The process of inserting your phone inside the pocket is a bit tricky at first when trying to separate the tight pleats, but once it’s in there, it is protected well. The ribbed structure is spongy and can absorb minor shocks. Of course if you have a case you’ll be doubly protected. It’s thick, high quality, and would require a lot of force for a phone to fall out due to a tear.

People might scoff at the $149 price tag for the short size (as shown above) or $229 for the long size, but it is compatible with practically every modern iPhone that is in use today and in the future, along with other small items like AirPods, battery banks, wallets, lip balm, etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if people bought it to hold their non-iPhone devices since it really is about the look and design. All they would have to do is make sure the ISSEY MIYAKE label is front and center instead of iPhone Pocket.

For the non-iPhoners, you can stick this label outward.

On the topic of price, Apple did release a leather sleeve in 2020 with the iPhone 12 lineup, and those were only compatible with one single device. The leather sleeve for iPhone 12 was $129, and didn’t sell well. You can still buy it on Amazon today, 5 years later, for as low as $10. iPhone Pocket? Sold out everywhere, and compatible for years to come.

Even when inverted, it looks great and has a crocodile-pattern look, but it only keeps its form factor this way when you put an iPhone inside.

Left to right: empty iPhone Pocket, with an iPhone placed inside, and closeup of the 3D pleats with iPhone inside.

Most fashion clothing and accessories are illogical and luxury purchases, as you can get similar quality and design for a lot cheaper. iPhone Pocket is along those lines, but slightly more justifiable since it does provide real function without looking ridiculous.

Original iPhone SE is obsolete.

Joe Rossignol from MacRumors:

Apple today added the first-generation iPhone SE to its obsolete products list, meaning the device is no longer eligible for repairs, battery replacements, or any other service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers worldwide.

Based on the chassis of the iPhone 5 and 5S, the original SE was the last phone to have what is considered by many to be the best form factor, and still the best dual-tone colored iPhone. The 17 Pro is nice, but still a step back since the dual-tone is more a byproduct of aluminum and glass not portraying color the same way.

The iPhone SE still looks ultra modern today, and damn those volume buttons need to come back.

A household of weird iPhones.

This wasn’t a goal I was trying to achieve, but you can’t say we didn’t try to save the “weird iPhones.”

Heck I even bought an iPhone SE 3rd gen right before it was discontinued because it was the last of its kind, a historic end to one of the greatest devices ever to exist.

The trend will continue over the next few years, I can assure you, if Apple keeps surprising us with new form factors.

The current lineup of iPhones in our house:

1. iPhone SE 2nd gen (kids phone)

2. iPhone 16 Plus (the wife)

3. iPhone Air (yours truly)

4. iPhone 13 mini (my backup phone)

Salacious iPhone Pocket pose.

When Apple released the iPhone Pocket, I had a dream:

One change I would suggest to Apple - swap out the iPhone 17 in this provocative photo to the iPhone Air.

Thinner and sexier.

Well, dreams do come true.

Apple’s high quality, high budget model (left), my low budget version (right).

It’s not a perfect one-to-one copy, but it still riles me up 😅. Not sure how Apple got the flap to float, but maybe their iPhone Pocket was sprayed stiff with some sort of hair spray, or it had tungsten inserts a la Vision Pro? My low-budget affair involved a basic phone stand to prop the phone, and a Q-tip to hold the flap in place.

That’s a clean Q-tip by the way.

Will Apple restock the iPhone Pocket?

MacRumors:

Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released.

iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. It quickly sold out in the United States, but some colors and size options were still available in South Korea and a few other countries until the past few days. [..,]

Given it is a limited-edition accessory, it is unclear if there will ever be additional inventory of the iPhone Pocket now that it is fully sold out worldwide.

I’m glad I snagged one just in time, but I’m confident more will be produced. If you look at the product page, it mentions “Special Edition” for iPhone Pocket, and “Limited Edition” for the Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand. Special Edition doesn’t necessarily mean limited, and nowhere in the press release does it say limited production.

Putting an iPhone 17 Pro under a microscope.

If you love macro photography and videography, this one’s for you. Also informative for those who didn’t know it is normal to have some extremely tiny dust inside the camera lenses because you can’t get a perfect dust-free enclosure.

Apple doesn’t restock the iPhone Pocket, but releases the limited edition Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand.

Not what we were expecting on Friday, but it’s nice to see these partnerships from Apple with other, lesser known companies.

The Product overview from Apple:

The Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand is a MagSafe compatible adaptive accessory for iPhone designed by Bailey Hikawa to celebrate the 40th anniversary of accessibility at Apple. Designed with direct input from individuals with disabilities affecting muscle strength, dexterity, and hand control, this ergonomic grip was designed with accessibility in mind from the ground up. The grip uses magnets to securely snap onto any iPhone with MagSafe, can be removed with ease, and doubles as a stand to support iPhone at two different viewing angles, both vertically and horizontally. Inspired by modern sculpture, each Hikawa product is an art object unto itself. The limited edition Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand is available in two colors, a bold, high-visibility Chartreuse and recycled Crater, exclusive to Apple.

Of course it’s already sold out, but you can still pre-order additional colors and get it directly from the Bailey Hikawa website. Not egregious at $69.95, but it looks to be even more low stock than iPhone Pocket.

P.S. It works with iPhone mini, but without a case.