Apple Inc., based in California, has recently identified three of its iconic products as “vintage.” The latest update to Apple’s list of vintage and obsolete products includes the iPhone X, first-generation AirPods, and original HomePod (via MacRumors).
Apple defines a product as vintage if it has been out of the sales market for over five years but less than seven years. Once a product exceeds seven years off the market, it is classified as obsolete. Vintage products remain eligible for repairs, depending on the availability of parts. In contrast, obsolete products are no longer supported for hardware services.
The first-generation AirPods, introduced in September 2016 alongside the iPhone 7, marked a significant shift by eliminating the headphone jack. These wireless earbuds, released in December 2016, have evolved into a comprehensive range of truly wireless headphones.
The HomePod, unveiled at WWDC 2017, faced delays and was finally released in February 2018. Despite discontinuation in March 2021, the HomePod made a comeback with a new model in January 2023.
The iPhone X, released in 2017, made waves with its innovative features and design changes. It was the first iPhone to showcase an edge-to-edge OLED display, replacing the traditional Home button with Face ID. Additionally, it set a new price benchmark for premium smartphones starting at $999.
These vintage classifications signify a crucial moment for these products, underscoring their historical significance in Apple’s product lineup and the broader tech industry.
On another note, Apple is gearing up to introduce a range of artificial intelligence (AI) features to the Apple Vision Pro. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, these AI upgrades will include advanced Writing Tools, AI-powered Siri, Genmoji, and more. Originally scheduled for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, the Vision Pro mixed reality headset is now expected to receive these enhancements, albeit not within this year.
Gurman, in his Power On newsletter, mentions that Apple is integrating Apple Intelligence into the Vision Pro. While the exact release date remains unknown, it is unlikely that these features will debut this year. Users can anticipate their arrival early next year or possibly with the release of visionOS 3 in the fall of 2025.
Published: 02 Jul 2024, 03:56 PM IST
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