Locator: 49418AAPL.
Apple: just released, no discount at Amazon, yet --
AI prompt:
For the price, about $1,600, is there any personal desktop computer that compares with the just released Apple MacBook Pro with M5 chip?
ChatGPT: a typically long response, but bottom line --
It should go without saying, that the M5 also gives you everything Apple gives you plus the Apple ecosystem.
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Other Apple News
China: link here.
Demand for the iPhone Air reportedly surged immediately after pre-orders opened. Apple's online store and the official Tmall flagship both listed multiple color and storage configurations as unavailable within the first two hours of availability, reflecting even higher demand than the device saw in western markets last month. Prices begin at 7,999 yuan (approximately $1,122).
The iPhone Air was introduced globally in September but delayed in mainland China pending government approval for eSIM, which replaces physical SIM cards and enables slimmer smartphone designs.
The launch coincides with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's decision to authorize eSIM trials for smartphones, marking the first time Chinese users can activate a mobile number without a physical SIM card. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom confirmed this week that they had received approval to begin commercial operations, paving the way for the iPhone Air to launch without regulatory restrictions.
Apple brand, link here. For the 13th consecutive year --
Apparently Samsung has stopped development of its new slim phone and production of its current model due to poor sales performance? Source not provided. Needs to be fact-checked.
It is common in the north Texas region -- DFW -- Dallas-Ft Worth -- that in coffee shops frequented by the under-30 crowd, the only computer one sees is the computer with an Apple logo.
By the way, back to the iPhone Air. Imagine how much better it will be when upgraded: the iPhone's only barrier to "thinness" will be the camera.
My hunch: we're going to find out that the quality of the Apple iPhone Air is just good enough. That interestingly enough is why the cellular phone cameras (Apple and Samsung) literally destroyed the 35mm single-lens reflex camera (think Nikon, Canon).
AI prompt:
Some years ago -- now decades? -- I remember reading that cameras in cell phones (Android and Apple) were just "good enough" to compete with 35mm single-lens reflex cameras, pretty much ending the dominance of those cameras. Because of size constraints we may see the same thing with regard to the iPhone Air. The camera is just "good enough" to meet the needs of those who might otherwise argue for bigger / thicker cell phones.
ChatGPT reply: link here. If I'm reading this correctly, it proves my point, and it is simply amazing: even though the iPhone Air camera is less capable than the cameras in the iPhone 4 - 6 versions, consumer satisfaction with regard to Apple iPhone Air has actually increased.
This is a very, very common comment on MacRumors regarding the iPhone Air:
