Other news this week included Verizon announcing a hefty monthly charge for the iPhone Handoff feature that lets two iPhones share the same phone number, while the public release of iOS 27.2 and related updates appears to be right around the corner, so read on below for all of the details on these stories and more!
Top Stories
Apple Announcing New Products Next Week: 'Pro and Tell'
The Apple launch parade continues, with Apple teasing another set of product introductions next week under the tagline "Pro and tell." Apple is holding a media "experience" for the new products in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, so we're expecting a wave of press releases that day.
The event tagline and animated logo are suggestive of the long-rumored touchscreen MacBook that looks like it will be appearing as part of the MacBook Pro family rather than as a separate "MacBook Ultra." We're also expecting an iPad mini 8 with an OLED display, as well as updated iMac and low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro models featuring the M6 chip. Be sure to check out our overview of launch expectations for more details.
iPhone Duo Brings Back Long Lines at Apple Stores
After Apple saw "extraordinary" demand for the iPhone Duo on pre-order launch day last week that quickly saw shipping estimates slip all the way until January 2027, some customers held out hope of being able to score a unit on a walk-in basis at an Apple Store when sales began on Friday.
The situation marked a return to long lines at many Apple retail stores, a phenomenon that had largely disappeared in recent years as Apple emphasized offering online orders with pickup appointments rather than first come, first served walk-in sales.
Some retail store staff were advised to discourage walk-in customers from coming in on Friday with expectations of buying the device, and Apple said it would have "limited" availability of iPhone Duo in its stores in most countries.
A few lucky customers were able to score walk-in purchases of the iPhone Duo, and Apple appears to be reviving online ordering for in-store pickup that was quickly removed under the crush of pre-order day.
Here's What Apple's Apps Look Like on the iPhone Duo
We had been a bit light on details about just what apps would look like on the iPhone Duo's new form factor, but App Store screenshots revealed ahead of the launch how some more of Apple's stock apps have been adapted for the new device.
Early media reviews also gave us a bit better look at the situation, with many noting that third-party apps may not look great until developers get them updated, as by default they continue to show in a traditional iPhone aspect ratio and layout surrounded by black bars.
Verizon Will Charge $10 a Month for iPhone Handoff
With iOS 27, Apple introduced a new feature called iPhone Handoff that lets you quickly swap back-and-forth between two phones with one phone number. The feature seems particularly convenient for the iPhone Duo launch, with some users perhaps wanting to carry different iPhone form factors at different times depending on their needs.
iPhone Handoff does require carrier support, which is still quite limited, and carriers can charge extra for those looking to take advantage of the feature. T-Mobile was the first U.S. carrier to add support for it with pricing set at $5 per month, and Verizon has now announced that it too will be adding iPhone Handoff support but at a heftier $10-per-month price point.
Apple Releases iOS 27.2 Release Candidate
Apple this week seeded the release candidates of iOS 27.2 and related updates for testing purposes, suggesting a full public release could come next week.
The beta period was used to test a revamped Health app, but that has been removed for the public release as Apple will continue testing it before rolling it out to everyone later this year. Other feature additions include a new icon and theme for Apple Music alongside a just-announced rebrand, user profiles in the Apple TV app, and an expansion of Siri AI support to new languages.
Apple Planning 'HomeView Max' With 9-Inch, 360-Degree Screen
Apple's new HomeView smart home hub hasn't made it into customers' hands yet, but we're hearing continued rumors about a more advanced version that could arrive in the next year or two.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this "HomeView Max" will include a 9-inch display (up from 7 inches in the standard HomeView) and include a robotic arm that will allow the display to swivel a full 360º to maintain visibility of the screen and keep subjects in view during video calls as they move around a room.
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This article, "Top Stories: Apple 'Pro and Tell' Debut, iPhone Duo Launch, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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