Tech
Will Apple Hold An October Event?
Updated Oct. 13 with further commentary about upcoming releases and more details of the release date and iPad Pro leak.
Apple’s big event of the year took place in September, with the release of iPhone 17 series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11, Apple Watch SE3, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and AirPods Pro 3. Time for a quiet moment following that activity, surely? But there’s more to come and it looks like a reliable source, AT&T may have indicated that the release of one of the new products is coming very soon. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has weighed in on what’s happening. Here’s what to expect, when.
Apple iPad Pro: is a new model incoming soon?
NurPhoto via Getty Images
There are several products in the immediate pipeline, it seems, including an updated MacBook Pro. In fact, this looks like the most likely first release as stocks are short of some models in Apple Stores, it seems. And a video has also been released claiming to show the new model.
Soon after, it seems, there could be an update to the iPad Pro line, last refreshed in May 2024. Reports suggest that both MacBook Pro and iPad Pro will be cosmetically unchanged from the last updates, and the focus will be on upgrading the processor to the latest M5 processor (although, according to Macworld, not yet with M5 Pro or M5 Max chips for the laptop).
The same report says that the same M5 chip will also be introduced for a new version of the Apple Vision Pro.
On Sunday, Oct. 12, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had his own thoughts in his Power On newsletter, which I’m happy to say align with mine. “Apple’s much-anticipated October product launches are about to happen. With the iPhone 17 line, iPhone Air, AirPods Pro 3 and new watches already out, Apple will turn its attention to the rest of its fall product pipeline this week,” he said.
“The lineup will include the M5 iPad Pro and a Vision Pro with a faster chip and improved strap. Both are already in mass production, and the company is gearing up for an imminent release,” he added.
What, no MacBook Pro, you ask? Don’t worry. “It’s also likely that a new MacBook Pro gets announced this week. I previously reported that Apple plans to launch the MacBook Pro updates early next year, slightly later than its usual October or November time frame. The specific reason was that the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips — the central upgrades in the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros — won’t be ready in volume until that point. But the entry-level M5 chip is clearly ready for prime time since it’s in the new iPad. That means the base-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is also ready for launch (the new chip is the main change).”
This does not mean that Apple will lead with the iPad Pro necessarily. I think the focus will be on the chip first and all it can do, justifying its presence in the new MacBook Pro, alongside the iPad Pro and Vision Pro.
So, will there be an October event? Apple has regularly held these in addition to the September shindig, but it’s not a given. Two years ago, a “Scary Fast” event was held in New York City on October 30, to unveil the iMac and MacBook Pro models.
But last year, Apple unveiled the iPad mini by a Newsroom announcement on Oct. 15 followed by a new iMac on Oct. 28, Mac mini on Oct. 29 and MacBook Pro on Oct. 30. That’s a lot of products, but there was no special event.
I believe Apple will take the same route this year, with a series of announcements on apple.com/newsroom. Gurman has a similar opinion. “I’m expecting a number of new products to be introduced in this latest wave — with the announcement coming online, rather than through a flashy event on Apple’s campus,” he said.
The next question is exactly when this might be.
If Macworld is right and M5 is coming to MacBook Pro, iPad Pro and Vision Pro, then the timing may match last year’s, beginning as soon as next week.
Apple likes Tuesday and Wednesday for such announcements, so look out for products to be unveiled at around 8 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, Oct. 14 or Wednesday, Oct. 15, or both.
Another indication of the immediacy of these announcements, or one of them at least, comes from an unexpected source: AT&T. As spotted by Joe Rossignol at MacRumors on Saturday, Oct. 11, the iPad page on AT7T’s website includes references to a completely unannounced iPad. The text, which has now been removed, was pretty clear: “Shop Apple iPad Tablets: iPad Pro M5 Pre-Order Soon,” it said.
Beneath this, it said, “Shop Apple iPads, including the new iPad Pro M5, and get the best prices and deals at AT&T.”
There was no date attached but it tells us several things: Apple will likely call the new model iPad Pro M5, which is in line with current naming procedures, and that there’ll be a pre-order period which will go live some time after Apple’s announcement is made. Please check back as I’ll update this post as things become clearer.
Tech
15 New Apple iPhone 17 And iPhone 17 Pro Cases To Protect Your Phone
Now that the latest iPhones are out, you may want a case to go with it. After all, although the price increases predicted didn’t properly materialize, the iPhone is a valuable piece of kit.
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
Apple
Before you ask, last year’s cases don’t fit, and anyway, do you really want a year-old case on your brand-new phone?
Here are a dozen of the newest releases, and they come in varying styles, from wraparound wallets to high-protection sleeves. Choose from leather, Apple’s new TechWoven or a transparent case to show off the colorful phone within. Unless otherwise stated, all cases here are available for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Look out for whether the case has an open section where the Camera Control sits, or a cover that still allows the pressure-sensitive and capacitive control to work.
The deals highlighted in this post were independently selected by the Contributor and do not contain affiliate links.
Smooth Leather Case
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
$75 from nomadgoods.com
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
Nomad
Camera Control: Cover
California-based Nomad makes a wide range of products, including iPhone cases and a just-released Apple Watch Band. Horween leather is one of the options for the back cover of the Modern Leather case, though other leather options are also available, and are $20 cheaper.
Horween leather, especially, gains a unique patina the more it is used. The case is strong enough to survive an eight-foot drop, the company says. The bumpers are 2.2mm thick and they rise above the display at the corners for further protection. The edges have a concave finish, designed for extra grip.
Slim Protection
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
$59.99 from ipitaka.com
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
Pitaka
Camera Control: Cover
Protection on the Pitaka cases partly comes from cushioning on the rear corners and partly from what’s described as aerospace-grade aramid fiber. The back is textured, to add extra grip.
Unlike some cases which have dealt with the complex needs of the Camera Control capacitive button, Pitaka has developed a cover that’s slim but responsive when you press or slide your finger on it.
Fashion-Forward Protection
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
$79 from beatsbydre.com
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Beats, the other brand that Apple owns, has a case that doesn’t look rugged. Rugged usually means bulky but the choice of colors, such as Sierra orange makes this case more style-focused. If orange is too much for you, Everest black and rocky blue will suit quieter tastes.
There’s a big lip over the edge of the display designed to keep it safe. The bottom half of the case, including the back and edges, is rougher to make it stay in your hand, while the top half is completely smooth.
Transparent Protection
Mous Clarity MagSafe
$69.99 from mous.co
Camera Control: Cover
Mous made its name with phone cases claiming to have exceptional protection – and the company’s stunts throwing phones high up in the air outside the Apple Store aimed to prove the point. It uses a proprietary shock absorption material called AiroShock which is in the corners of the case. The case is designed so that the top and bottom edges are raised for extra safety, but lower at the sides so it fits your face during calls.
The protective cover on the Camera Control requires a firm press to activate.
Apple’s New Material
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
$59 from apple.com
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Colours: Blue, purple, sienna, green, black
Apple no longer makes cases and accessories from leather, citing environmental concerns. TechWoven is a bespoke woven fabric made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. It feels rough rather than smooth, unlike the smoothness of the leather cases Apple used to make, and has contoured edges. There are five colors to choose from: blue, purple, sienna, green and, the quietest of the lot, black.
There are also holes to allow compatibility with Apple’s latest accessory, the Crossbody strap, which holds the phone on an adjustable long strap.
Comfort-oriented Case
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
$59.99 from nativeunion.com
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
Native Union
Camera Control: Open
Paris-based Native Union has a range of iPhone 17 case designs. The frame here is made with a 100 per cent recycled materials. The colors are black, navy and slate green which are muted, though the tan option is a bit brighter. The back and edges have a textured finish while the lining is soft. Unlike some cases, this is slim and light, adding little to the bulk of the phone.
Apple’s Clear Case
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
$49 from apple.com
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Some clear cases, like the Mous Clarity, have opaque panels on the edges. However, this one has completely clear sides and buttons, so the phone inside is fully revealed. The only non-clear button is the cover for Camera Control. Apple says the new case has a scratch-resistant coating and won’t turn yellow — that’s been true of previous Apple clear cases.
Note that the cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a white panel that exactly matches the glass rectangle on the phone itself, complete with its own logo. This is less noticeable on the silver iPhone, but more prominent if you have the cosmic orange or navy blue colorway. The regular iPhone has a fully clear back, apart from the MagSafe magnifying glass.
Colorful Case
Nomad Modern Case
$49 from nomadgoods.com
Camera Control: Cover
This is similar to the leather case from Nomad above, with the same side bumpers and metal button covers. It also has the same Camera Control cover. If you don’t care for leather, this case has similar attributes but has a satin PET backplate which is shiny and smooth.
As well as two quiet colors, Vulcan black and lunar grey, there’s also Volt which has a neon-bright quality to it.
Case With Kickstand Accessory
Beats Kickstand Case $59 from beatsbydre.com
Beats Kickstand Case
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
This isn’t the only case with a kickstand but the way Beats has achieved it is novel. A lanyard in a contrasting-color is attached to the left edge of the case. The lanyard is short, long enough to slip your hand through — which may make some users feel they are holding the phone more securely in less salubrious surroundings.
At the end of the lanyard is a smooth plastic lozenge that slides open to reveal an adaptor which holds the iPhone in landscape orientation. There’s a magnet in the adaptor that connects to another in the edge of the case.
Card-Friendly Case
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
$29.99 from smartish.com
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
Smartish
Camera Control: Open
Smartish makes a range of cases and other smartphone accessories. The Wallet Slayer has an external slot on the back of the phone that holds up to four credit cards and cash. It is designed so that each card is held in place by a springy mechanism.
The flexible material has air pockets in the corners to act as shock absorbers — Smartish says it can protect the phone from a drop of six feet. Note that the card pocket means wireless charging doesn’t work with this case.
Case With Camera Panel Protection
Native Union Active Case
$49.99 from nativeunion.com
Native Union Active Case
Native Union
Camera Control: Cover
If you’re worried about scratching the panel where the cameras sit, this case has a black covering within the plateau, protecting everything except the lenses and sensor. This panel gives a darker look to the back of the iPhone. Unlike Native Union’s other case, above, this one has a cover for the Camera Control. Where the (Re)Classic has more recycled material, here it accounts for 40%. Native Union says it can survive a drop of 10 feet. Choose from apricot crush, black, sandstone or slate green.
Folio Cases
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
From $225 from lucrin.com
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
Lucrin
Camera Control: Open
Lucrin makes a dizzying variety of cases (and other leather goods). So along with the Luxury Wallet there’s also a sleeve, a sleeve with a pull-tab, a pouch with a pocket, a back cover, a zip wallet, a belt case and more.
Once you’ve decided on the form factor, there are different finishes: plant-based material, smooth leather, pebbled leather and crocodile style calfskin, for example. And the smooth leather comes in more than 20 colors. And that’s before you get to the personalization options. The Luxury Wallet has a sleeve for banknotes and three card slots, plus a magnetic flap to hold the wallet closed.
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
$44.99 from snakehive.com
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
Snakehive
Camera Control: Open
UK company Snakehive makes leather wraparound folios from leather but at prices lower than many rivals. The leather has a suede-like finish on the outside and smooth, shiny leather inside. There is a sleeve for banknotes and space for three credit cards to nestle.
A small leather flap with magnetic closure keeps it all intact. The large camera panel on the Pro and Pro Max means there’s a noticeable amount of the TPU inner case visible.
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
From $75 from nomadgoods.com
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
Nomad
Camera Control: Cover
Like the other folios here, the Nomad Modern Leather Folio has three card slots and a longer slot for cash. It also has a magnetic clasp but this one is optional: you slide it through a discreet gap in the edge of the case if you want to use it.
Colors vary according to leather and model. For iPhone 17, there’s regular leather and two colors, brown and black. For 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max there’s also a tan variant with regular leather. The Pro models also have Horween leather available ($109), in rustic brown, black and a limited edition called burgundy chromexcel.
Bluebonnet Executive Leather iPhone Wallet Case Folio
$95 from bluebonnetcase.com
Camera Control: Cover
There are only two card slots in this folio, plus the sleeve for cash. The Tuscan Tan finish uses full-grain calf leather but remains slim and has a magnetic closure. That closure lets Bluebonnet’s pale blue shine through — the same color is in the company’s cartoon images which sit inside the sleeve on the microfiber and cotton lining.
Bluebonnet says the color pays homage to the Texas state flower (the bluebonnet) — the company is based in Texas.
Tech
Is The Mystery iPhone Update Nearly Here?
More than a week ago, the news was clear: the next iPhone update (the content of which remains a mystery) would be iOS 26.0.2 and would land in the week beginning Oct. 20. But it’s nowhere to be seen. What’s happening, you might ask.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro: the next software update may be almost here.
Getty Images
It’s not that there were no Apple software updates last week. Anyone who bought the new iPad Pro, which went on sale on Wednesday, Oct. 22 alongside the latest MacBook Pro and Apple Vision Pro, had to update to a new version of iPadOS. But that was iPadOS 26.0.1 and was a new build for the latest model only.
The iOS 26.0.2 update (and presumably iPadOS 26.0.2 if needed) could have arrived on Thursday, Oct. 23 or Friday, Oct. 24 — several reports thought that was likely.
Since it didn’t, we’re now in different territory. The next big update, until the rumor of iOS 26.0.2 had reared its head, was thought to be iOS 26.1. That’s so far into beta that it’s thought the release candidate will be available on Monday, Oct. 27 or Tuesday, Oct 28, with the general release expected the week after.
There are two options, it seems. Either Apple will kill off iOS 26.0.2 before it sees the light of day and instead go straight to iOS 26.1 on or around Monday, Nov. 3, or iOS 26.0.2 will appear first.
Which really only leaves Monday, Oct. 27 or Tuesday, Oct. 28 as likely days for release.
It’s not known exactly what will be in iOS 26.0.2, though it’s thought to address bugs and flaws, not launch new features which will be part of iOS 26.1.
So the fate of iOS 26.0.2 may rest on how urgent those fixes are and which handsets they affect.
My guess is that we will almost certainly see iOS 26.0.2 on Tuesday, Oct. 28, a day after the release candidate for iOS 26.1. I’d further guess that the fixes will mostly affect the iPhone 17 series or iPhone Air rather than all models.
If there’s no sign of it then, it looks like iOS 26.1 will be the next update, likely on Monday, Nov. 3. Look at it this way, there will probably be a new iPhone update in the next eight days at most.
I’ll update this post as soon as there’s more news, so please check back.
Tech
X Issues November 10 ‘Account Will Be Locked’ Twitter Security Warning
Update your Twitter security keys now, X Warns.
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Given the continuing popularity of Elon Musk’s X social network, and the swathing staffing cuts made when the world’s richest man bought what used to be (and still is in my mind) Twitter, it doesn’t make the cybersecurity headlines as much as you might have thought. With PayPal users currently warned of ongoing attacks, ditto WordPress website owners, and even LastPass password manager customers, all being in the threat actor crosshairs, this is a good thing. However, X users have now been warned that unless they make a change to a legacy Twitter security setting, they will be locked out of their accounts from November 10. Here’s what you need to know.
The X Safety Team Issues Clarification After Warning Of Twitter Account Lockouts
Whatever you call it, X or Twitter, the social network isn’t immune to security threats. This year alone, I have reported on outages caused by a claimed DDoS attack and a warning for 650 million X users not to change their passwords. Sometimes, though, the perceived security threat comes from inside the building. Such was the case after the X safety team tweeted on October 24: “After November 10, if you haven’t re-enrolled a security key, your account will be locked until you: re-enroll; choose a different 2FA method; or elect not to use 2FA.”
This, rather unsurprisingly if you ask me, created a wave of concern amongst both ordinary users and security experts on the social media platform. One asked whether not using 2FA meant their account would remain active; another asked whether there had been a security breach; and another asked whether this only impacted passkey users?
The confusion sat with X warning that “all accounts that use a security key as their two-factor authentication method to re-enroll their key to continue accessing X,” and adding that users could “re-enroll your existing security key, or enroll a new one.” A typical example of someone who knows what they are talking about but not how to communicate that in such a way to people who do not. Translating tech-speak into ordinary language is an essential skill and one that the X safety team appears to have misplaced on this occasion.
What X should have said, and ended up being forced into actually saying a day later, was: “To clarify: this change is not related to any security concern, and only impacts Yubikeys and passkeys – not other 2FA methods (such as authenticator apps). Security keys enrolled as a 2FA method are currently tied to the twitter.com domain. Re-enrolling your security key will associate them with x.com, allowing us to retire the Twitter domain. If this relates to you, you’ll be prompted automatically to re-enroll.”
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