A developer and Frisbee fan turned AirPods into a flying-disc stat tracker, using motion sensors to measure throws in a clever demonstration of what Apple's earbuds can do beyond playing audio. AirPods 4 Sharhan demonstrated Kinapod Disc on Reddit on July 20. The setup requires users to make a small hole in the center of a flying disc and insert one AirPod stem-first. Once it's mounted, the AirPod sends motion data to an iPhone while Kinapod Disc detects each throw and records spin rate, total revolutions, estimated release speed, and airborne time. It's a fun albeit expensive solution to the problem of throwing a plastic disc without enough statistics. It's also a clever use of motion sensors Apple builds into AirPods. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple and Ford today announced announced that Apple Maps will power the navigation system in Ford's upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) Platform, launching in 2027 at a price point around $30,000. The integration leverages Apple's new MapKit for Automotive SDK, allowing Ford to embed ‌Apple Maps‌ directly into the vehicle's displays while maintaining the ability to customize the experience to match Ford's design language. Drivers will get turn-by-turn directions using natural language search, real-time traffic and incident information, and intelligent EV routing that includes battery preconditioning. The mapping data will also support Ford's development of an enhanced version of BlueCruise, the automaker's hands-free highway driving capability. Eddy Cue , Apple's senior vice president of Services and Health, said: Apple Maps delivers the best map experience in the world, and we're excited to bring the power of Maps' navigation technology to Ford's innovative Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. With our new MapKit for Automotive SDK, we're bringing Maps further into drivers' daily lives, giving them an incredibly accurate and easy-to-use navigation system that is seamlessly integrated into Ford vehicles. The MapKit for Automotive SDK represents one of Apple's biggest automotive pushes to date beyond CarPlay and ‌CarPlay‌ Ultra. The SDK gives automakers access to Apple's mapping data and allows them to integrate navigation as a native vehicle feature rather than simply mirroring an iPhone app. Apple maintains privacy protections in automotive use, with the company not collecting users' location data or activity tied to individual identities through the vehicle's mapping system. Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company's CEO, said: Our new midsize electric vehicle will be priced around $30,000 and redefines what advanced technology can be — simple, useful, and truly attainable for more customers. We're proud to embed Apple Maps' navigation and mapping technology directly into our Universal Electric Vehicle Platform, giving customers the ultimate navigation experience alongside our Ford app, a full suite of software, and next-generation BlueCruise, all enabled by a new zonal architecture. Apple Maps has delivered a world-class product, and we're honored to be among the first to embed it directly into a vehicle, helping define intuitive, capable driving. Ford is among the first automakers to directly embed Apple's navigation engine rather than relying on ‌CarPlay‌. ‌CarPlay‌ will still be available on Ford vehicles, Apple said, providing an additional input method for drivers who prefer iPhone integration. The UEV Platform will roll out beginning in 2027, with the $30,000 pricing targeting mainstream buyers seeking affordable electric vehicle options from a major U.S. automaker. Tags: Apple Maps , Ford This article, " Apple Maps to Help Power Autonomous Driving in Ford's 2027 EV " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
As the expected launch of Apple's first foldable iPhone nears, the shipment dates are still up in the air, with supply chain sources saying some plans need to be finalized before full mass production can begin. The iPhone Ultra's launch window could be anyone's guess at this point Apple's plans for the iPhone Ultra have been a hot-button topic in recent months. Just days ago, it was reported that Apple had increased its orders for the vapor cooling system that would be used in its debut foldable. Despite that news, rumors of a potential delay have been commonplace. More recently, a report from July 2026 sought to ease fears that Apple would miss its fall release window. Now, a DigiTimes report claims that the iPhone Ultra's launch is once more in question, with assembler Foxconn still making "adjustments" to its mass production plans. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
Apple's foldable iPhone still faces production hurdles that leave its exact launch timing undecided, according to a new report from DigiTimes , even as Foxconn carries out what supply chain sources describe as "final mass-production adjustments." The report says Apple has assigned Foxconn to lead the device from new product introduction (NPI) through to mass production, citing the assembler's experience with precision structural components and large-scale production tuning. One industry source claimed Foxconn is the only Apple partner with a realistic chance of meeting the expected production target. The framing sits somewhat against recent reporting. Foxconn began trial production in April, Apple subsequently raised its order to around 10 million units on the back of resolved hinge and circuit board problems, and just two weeks ago a China Securities Journal report aggregated by DigiTimes said the device was already in mass production with no delay envisaged . Today's report instead says the engineering validation phase may have caused a delay of one to two months, with the hinge structure and display durability testing remaining the principal bottlenecks. The foldable iPhone is still, at the very least, expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, with a book-style design, an inner display of around 7.7 to 7.8 inches, a 5.5-inch cover screen, a thickness of roughly 4.5mm, and a starting price above $2,000 . Related Roundup: iPhone Fold Tags: DigiTimes , Foldable iPhone , Foxconn This article, " Foldable iPhone Still Faces Production Hurdles, Report Says " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
