Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including next Apple Launch Event details, a colorful MacBook future, iOS changes security defaults, iOS 26 adoption rates confirmed, podcasting’s new video options, the chart-topping iPhone 17 Pro, and Apple Store changes to address UK concerns.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days.
Apple’s Disruptive Release Schedule
Apple has confirmed it will be holding an in-person event on Wednesday, March, with simultaneous events in New York, London, and Shanghai. It is widely expected that Tim Cook and his team will reveal the iPhone 17e, a new iPad, the low-cost MacBook A18 Pro and potentially the M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro variants. But will they all launch on the same day?
“This would mean product category one announced by press release on Monday, March 2, product two on Tuesday, and product three on Wednesday… And I’ll say I believe this is likely to be correct: remember that the world’s largest smartphone event, Mobile World Congress, begins on Monday, March 2, so a blockbuster announcement from Apple on each day of that conference is a smart way of attracting attention away from rivals.”
A Colorful MacBook Future
If the low-cost MacBook arrives (and Apple’s notoriously unpredictable release schedule does not make that a sure thing), the A18 Pro-powered laptop may have an advantage over the rest of the macOS laptop range that isn’t just the price. It’s the color scheme, with Apple testing a rainbow-load of bright colors for the education- and student-focused laptop:
“Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as “Instant Digital” said that the color scheme of the Apple logo graphic used for the upcoming “Apple Experience” should match the colors of the new entry-level Mac. The invite graphic shows a 3D Apple logo made up of transparent discs in yellow, green, and blue. The post effectively constitutes a claim that the device is set to arrive at the event.”
the Default Is Security In iOS 26.4
With iOS 26.3 now publicly available, Apple has started the process for iOS 26.4, with developer and public betas now available. These have many of the new features in the apps, as well as bug fixes. One of the new features will be improvements to the stolen Device Protection, including it being on by default. David Phelan takes a closer look at the release and the update:
“With Stolen Device Protection turned on, even if a thief knows your passcode, they cannot change your Apple ID password or access saved credit cards without a successful Face ID or Touch ID scan. Additionally, it enforces a one-hour Security Delay if you try to change sensitive settings while away from a familiar location like home or work.”
Just As Popular As The Last One
Discussions over iOS 26 adoption rates appear to have been put to bed by Apple releasing a breakdown of iOS (and iPadOS) versions accessing the Apple Store. The adoption rates for the current version of the mobile OS are broadly in line with previous years. Apple commentator John Gruber:
“At least according to Apple’s own numbers from the App Store, iOS 26 adoption is pretty much exactly in line with the rates for iOS 18 and 17. There’s no conclusion that should be drawn from this about the general opinion of the Liquid Glass UI design or iOS 26 overall. People may love it, hate it, be ambivalent about it, or not even notice — but most of them let their iPhones (and iPads) update via automatic upgrades pushed by Apple. Their opinions about iOS 26 form after they install it. “
Putting A New Video Into A Podcast
Apple has updated its video podcast offerings, allowing HTTP Live Streaming to be used by the Apple Podcast apps, which will sit alongside audio for better browsing and moving between mediums:
“In the Apple Podcasts app, users will be able to switch seamlessly between watching and listening to shows, making the experience of discovering and viewing video podcasts as simple and enjoyable as listening to audio podcasts has always been. Users can watch video from within the app and move to horizontal full display, as well as download videos to watch offline. And automatic quality adjustment powered by HLS technology ensures smooth playback across network conditions.”
The iPhone 17 Pro Tops Another Chart
Which smartphone is the most traded in the current market? According to SellCell’s research and figures, the answer is the iPhone 17 Pro:
“Apple’s latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell internal trade-in data and secondary market pricing trends gathered from 40 independent iPhone buyers.”
And Finally…
Both Apple and Google have loosened policies in their respective app stores under pressure from the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority. The regulator is in the process of putting stricter rules in place, so this should be considered as the first few steps in a longer process:
“The CMA said Apple and Google, whose iOS and Android operating systems power nearly all smartphones in Britain, had committed to ensure their store rankings and reviews operated fairly, and to safeguard data collected from developers. Developers will also be able to request access to more features in Apple iOS to create competing products, for example related to digital wallets or live translation.”
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.