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Possible Vindication

 26th October 2023 at 9:27am

Not a topic per se, this tag is mostly for me to keep an eye on picks that could become Ahead of Its Time in the future. This is a somewhat subjective decision, but in general, this should include anything that isn't too vague or too specific to a particular event. Product or feature release picks are more likely to be vindicatable, stagecraft and buzzkill picks are less likely.

Stephen's Possible Vindication Picks

Type2017 Annual PredictionsScore
Stephen Regular "iCloud free 5 GB limit will be increased" 0
Stephen Non‑graded "Multi-user on iPad support for the masses" 0
TypeAudio PredictionsScore
Stephen Regular "At least 1 more color option comes to AirPods" 0
Type2020 Annual RickiesScore
Stephen Risky "Apple Podcast app launches on Android" -1
Type2021 Annual RickiesScore
Stephen Flexie "There will be a chip named M1 followed by a letter" 0
Stephen Flexie "Apple ships an AR, VR, and/or MR dedicated device" 0
Type2021 WWDC RickiesScore
Stephen Regular "iPadOS 15 brings organization changes to the home screen that don’t exist on the iPhone, including iOS 15" 0
  • "Widgets on home screen and App Library don't count as they are on the iPhone already"
  • This was originally a Risky Pick, but Myke couldn't get enough clarity for what it meant.
Stephen Risky "Apple unveils a new high-end audio product" -1
  • "As defined by a price of over $399, or it's a stand-alone DAC."
  • The idea of an official Apple DAC sparks a lot of discussion.
Stephen Flexie "macOS skips ahead to version 15 to match iOS and iPadOS" 0
Stephen Flexie "The next version of macOS comes with a redesigned Today view" 0
Type2021 September RickiesScore
Stephen Risky "MagSafe is updated to support 20 watt charging or higher, but a new puck is required" -1
  • This was originally just "faster charging", but the live chat pointed out a recent FCC filing by Apple which undercut the riskiness of the pick. Stephen added a specific wattage target and also had to decide whether the existing MagSafe puck will support the higher wattage.
Stephen Flexie "The Apple Watch moves to 5G networking" 0
Type2021 October RickiesScore
Stephen Risky "5G becomes an option on at least one MacBook" -1
Stephen Flexie "The new MacBook Pro power bricks have ports on them, like the iMac does for Ethernet" 0
Type2022 Annual RickiesScore
Stephen Regular "The 11" iPad Pro gets a mini LED display" 0
  • This was originally "WWDC 2022 will be virtual", but that was very close to last year's pick, which was within the 365 day limit. It was a borderline judgement, but ultimately they decided they didn't like the precedent.
Stephen Risky "Apple (of its own choice, not in direct response to a legal case) will allow developers to use payment methods outside the App Store" -1
Stephen Flexie "A new home-focused device is released" 0
Type2022 March RickiesScore
Stephen Regular "Larger, more powerful iMac is introduced" 0
  • Not only was this wrong, the larger iMac disappeared entirely from the Mac lineup.
Stephen Risky "Apple announces an update to AirPods Max, that support wireless lossless playback, to take full advantage of Apple's new classical music service" -1
  • Working with Apple Classical is part of the pick, meaning that if Classical is not introduced it will be incorrect.
  • This was edited to be any AirPods, but then Stephen went back to the more passionate original pick.
  • Not a reuse of the infamous DAC pick, but in a similar vein.
Stephen Flexie "A revised 13" MBP drops the Touch Bar but does not add MagSafe" 0
Type2022 WWDC RickiesScore
Stephen Risky "The new version of macOS brings back Dashboard as a way to place widgets outside of the current Notification Center" -1
  • It has to be called "Dashboard" to get the points.
Stephen Flexie "macOS 13 is called "Mammoth"" 0
Type2022 September RickiesScore
Stephen Risky "iOS gets split-view support for multitasking to use 2 apps at once (reuse)" -1
Stephen Flexie "The iPhone 14 Pro comes in a total of five colors" 0
Stephen Flexie "Apple shows off at least one new MagSafe accessory" 0
Stephen Flexie "The A16 is built on a 3 nanometer process" 0
  • Very very close: it was 4 nm.
Stephen Flexie "The new high-end Apple Watch is named the "Apple Watch Pro"" 0
Stephen Flexie "Center Stage comes to the iPhone" 0
  • This was tossed out as a possible replacement Risky pick for this game after Stephen's original got invalidated, but ultimately landed as a Flexie.
Type2023 WWDC RickiesScore
Stephen Flexie "The 15-inch MacBook Air will be powered by an M3" 0
Type2023 September RickiesScore
Stephen Risky "Apple announces a multi-device charger that looks a lot like AirPower, without designated charging targets" -1
  • Stephen came to the table with two picks: "Apple announces a multi-device charger that looks a lot like AirPower" and "The 15 Pro Max weighs within 10% of the 14 Pro Max's weight". Myke believed that a 10% margin on either side is too wide to be risky and also that the AirPower one is just a better risky pick with less math. Once it's settled to go with the AirPower one, Federico asks to clarify "looks like" and the pick is modified to specify a lack of charging targets.
Stephen Flexie "Some iPhones will come with color-matched cables" 0
Stephen Flexie "Apple Watch SE is not updated, but receives a price cut" 0
  • "Currently $249/$299 for GPS, $279/$329 for cellular"
Stephen Flexie "Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes in at least 1 new finish" 0
Stephen Flexie "iPhone Pro models will be equipped with Thunderbolt, but will come with a USB-C cable in the box, requiring a separate purchase of a Thunderbolt cable" 0
Stephen Flexie "iPhone 15 and 15 Plus get an always-on display" 0

Myke's Possible Vindication Picks

Type2017 Annual PredictionsScore
Myke Regular "An iPhone Pro with Apple Pencil support, 2 Apple Pencils" 0
  • "2 Apple Pencils: the standard and a short one that supports the iPhone and iPad mini"
  • During grading, Federico proposes what will become Risky Picks, including 2 points for correct picks and losing a point for being wrong, as Myke describes how he wanted to go big with this pick.
Type2018 Annual PredictionsScore
Myke Risky "iOS 12 features a large scale UI redesign across iOS, the biggest since iOS 7" -1
Myke Non‑graded "A new Apple Pencil with a button of some kind" 0
  • "(aluminum?)"
TypeThe AirPower GameScore
Myke Non‑graded "AirPower will come out after the 2018 iPhone event" 0
Type2019 Annual PredictionsScore
Myke Risky "Apple releases an iPhone subscription service that bundles a device, AppleCare, and a selection of other Apple content services into one monthly payment" -1
  • "(Not just additional iCloud space)"
  • The free AppleTV+ trial with new devices combined with an iPhone Upgrade Program purchase is deemed to not count during grading.
Type2020 September RickiesScore
Myke Risky "A non-Pro iPad gets a LIDAR sensor" -1
Type2020 October RickiesScore
Myke Risky "The new iPhone will have a Touch ID sensor" -1
Myke Flexie "Over-ear AirPods are offered with multiple material options" 0
Type2021 Annual RickiesScore
Myke Risky "A Mac gets a screen that supports touch and/or Apple Pencil input" -1
Myke Flexie "Another variant of over-ear headphones will be released" 0
  • Technically Apple wasn't specified, but of course that wasn't the intent.
Myke Flexie "A new iMac has adjustability that is reminiscent of the Pro Display XDR" 0
Type2021 April RickiesScore
Myke Flexie "New iPad Pro accessory" 0
  • "Something we haven't seen before, or is redesigned significantly, e.g. Apple Pencil 1 to 2."
Myke Flexie "You can buy AirTags in a 3-pack" 0
  • It was a 4 pack instead.
Myke Flexie "The camera on the iPad Pro moves to the long side" 0
Type2021 September RickiesScore
Myke Flexie "A new iPad mini is introduced with a refreshed design, new colours previously not a part of the product, USB-C, Smart Connector, and 5G support" 0
  • Originally a Risky Pick.
  • This was very close to coming true, but it was missing a Smart Connector.
Myke Flexie "There is a ceramic Apple Watch" 0
Type2021 October RickiesScore
Myke Regular "We get a colour option that is new to the MacBook Pro (name)" 0
  • This was originally "new in name or hue", but some questioning of what a new hue would be resulted in relying solely on a new colour name.
Myke Risky "Apple teases another Mac, that is not for sale right now, with Pro in the name, and says that it is coming next year" -1
  • It was originally "Mac product", but there was some controversy over whether that includes accessories and displays. Ultimately, Myke upped the difficulty and removed the word "product".
Type2022 Annual RickiesScore
Myke Risky "The new Mac Pro will be..." -1
  • "... smaller, not a cube shape, feature no support for the current MPX modules and/or will allow for some form of expandability outside of Thunderbolt. It will be only be available in one color."
  • Another "and/or" added to a pick, which happened a few times this episode. It applies to just the MPX modules and expandability clause.
Myke Flexie "New AirPods Max" 0
  • Was originally "AirPods Max 2"
Myke Flexie "An iMac Pro is unveiled" 0
Type2022 March RickiesScore
Myke Regular "Apple introduces a new Mac mini with an updated design" 0
  • Myke insists, and Federico seems to agree, that even a change in the ports on the back is "an updated design". Stephen seems less convinced, but that's a matter for grading. It's agreed that it has to be the Mac itself and not, say, an accessory or power cord.
Myke Risky "The new iPhone SE has a design influenced by the iPhone mini, it does not feature Face ID, it has a Touch ID power button" -1
Type2022 WWDC RickiesScore
Myke Flexie "Widgets on tvOS" 0
Myke Flexie "More apps can use a picture-in-picture-style window on iPadOS" 0
Type2022 September RickiesScore
Myke Risky "AirPods Max 2 can be folded to store more compactly" -1
  • Myke doesn't seem to have much confidence in this risky pick, but his other choices were shot down as insufficiently risky in negotiations.
Myke Flexie "Astrophotography feature" 0
  • No verb necessary, Myke decides.
Myke Flexie "Apple gives a new name to the A15 chip found in the non-Pro iPhones" 0
  • For example, instead of A15 Bionic, the A15 Trionic, just to make it sound newer.
Type2023 WWDC RickiesScore
Myke Risky "Apple introduces a Copilot-like feature for Xcode powered by AI/ML" -1
  • Not graded: "A feature in Xcode that uses AI/ML to suggest how to improve your code or solve common problems. It will most likely live in a sidebar and will probably be a Beta feature."
Type2023 September RickiesScore
Myke Flexie "New Apple Watch Ultra band style" 0
Myke Flexie "The Pro Max becomes the Ultra" 0
Myke Flexie "Apple debuts a new style of charging accessory for the iPhone" 0
Myke Flexie "Apple announces new AirPods Max, featuring USB-C and made of titanium" 0

Federico's Possible Vindication Picks

Type2019 Annual PredictionsScore
Federico Non‑graded "AirPower is released and new AirPods are released" 0
Type2019 Fall RickiesScore
Federico Risky "Apple announces Apple TV and game controller bundle" -1
  • Federico spins a vivid tale of how actually this was announced, but the other guys don’t buy it.
Type2020 Summer RickiesScore
Federico Risky "The iPad gets a new development tool to write code, on device, that is not Swift Playgrounds" -1
Federico Non‑graded "Shortcuts gets new Files integration, ability to run bookmarks in 3rd party actions" 0
Federico Non‑graded "iOS will get the ability the ability to lock the phone to portrait, but continue watching videos in landscape" 0
Federico Non‑graded "New Notes framework for developers" 0
Type2020 November RickiesScore
Federico Flexie "Apple redesigns the App Store app for Mac to include iOS, macOS, and iPadOS apps together" 0
Type2021 Annual RickiesScore
Federico Risky "Apple will release a new programming app for iPad" -1
  • Federico asks to be quoted as "very very positive" that he will win on the strength of this Ricky Pick.
  • Not Swift Playgrounds, that is not new. As it turns out, they added this functionality to Swift Playgrounds.
  • This was deemed not a reuse of a previous pick since it is even riskier and more specific.
Federico Flexie "Apple releases its own game controller" 0
Federico Flexie "iOS gets a native feature to change icons for any app you want" 0
Federico Flexie "Apple releases a bigger iPad Pro" 0
Federico Flexie "At least one new iPhone model has both Face ID and Touch ID" 0
Type2021 April RickiesScore
Federico Flexie "Shortcuts gets new actions or triggers for USB connections" 0
Federico Flexie "Hypervisor comes to iPad" 0
Federico Flexie "The new iPad Pro comes with a fancy new GaN charger" 0
Type2021 WWDC RickiesScore
Federico Risky "Legacy widgets are completely removed from the system, and there is no longer a place to put widgets to the left of the main home screen" -1
Federico Flexie "The Passwords feature of Settings becomes a standalone app" 0
Federico Flexie "The next version of iOS lets you change icons for apps natively" 0
  • "Without Shortcuts or custom profiles."
Type2021 October RickiesScore
Federico Flexie "Apple unveils a "Space Black" MacBook Pro" 0
Federico Flexie "There is going to be a funny scene involving one of the characters of Ted Lasso" 0
  • Federico originally had "Universal Control has been postponed to a future macOS Monterey update", but during the show a new macOS beta was released with the feature not available, but at least mentioned in an unselectable check box.
Type2022 Annual RickiesScore
Federico Regular "At least one AirPods model will support lossless music playback" 0
Federico Risky "iOS 16 brings major changes for systemwide design customization" -1
  • Also, "Apple will let users choose their own app icons, and they'll introduce new App Store categories for wallpaper and/or icon apps"
  • A reuse and double down of last year's Flexie.
Federico Flexie "Apple stops using the iTunes Store app, and moves store content into dedicated apps" 0
Federico Flexie "Apple brings Mail extensions to iOS and iPadOS" 0
Federico Flexie "Some Mac-only Shortcuts actions will become available on iPhone and iPad" 0
Federico Flexie "Podcasts will gain audio effects for enhanced sound and trim silence" 0
  • Originally was Federico's Risky Pick.
Type2022 March RickiesScore
Federico Flexie "The new Mac mini comes in more colors than silver and grey" 0
  • Was originally "in multiple colors".
Federico Flexie "Apple releases new AirPods colors" 0
Type2022 WWDC RickiesScore
Federico Risky "iOS gets split-view support for multitasking to use 2 apps at once" -1
  • Ungraded: works in both portrait and landscape, drag and drop between apps.
  • That's iOS, as in on the iPhone.
Federico Flexie "Shortcuts gets an API on iOS and iPadOS for apps to run Shortcuts directly, without URL schemes" 0
Federico Flexie "Shortcuts for Mac gets personal automations" 0
Federico Flexie "You will be able to set light and dark mode on a per-website basis in Safari" 0
Federico Flexie "The Music app gets an updated design in the Listen Now page" 0
Federico Flexie "iPadOS gets improved split view with at least 3 apps at once" 0
Federico Flexie "Apple releases a Safari API to deal with cookie consent forms" 0
Federico Flexie "Apple introduces a proper Reminders API for developers" 0
Federico Flexie "Shortcuts gets an XL widget on iPad" 0
Type2022 September RickiesScore
Federico Flexie "Faster MagSafe charging in at least one of the new iPhones" 0
Federico Flexie "You will be able to control which data types show on the always-on lock screen" 0
  • Similar to the privacy controls that the always-on Apple Watch has for complications
  • This could have been a feature at the time, but there was no way to know at the time of grading. With the OS now released, we know that it was not present after all.
Type2023 WWDC RickiesScore
Federico Risky "The next version of iPadOS will introduce a brand new audio routing system, with support for selecting different input sources, similar to macOS..." -1
  • "... This feature will finally allow podcasters like me to record local audio while also being on a FaceTime or Zoom call (assuming apps add support for it)."
  • And there's even more that isn't graded: "Devices that do not require drivers will work out of the box, like in macOS. I think the Sounds page of Settings will be redesigned."
  • Federico guesses that this is his longest-ever Risky Pick, and he's right, this is in fact his longest ever pick period, beating out this one from earlier the same year.
Federico Flexie "Stage Manager for iPad gets support for clamshell mode with external displays" 0
Federico Flexie "The next version of macOS is called Skyline" 0
Federico Flexie "The Wallet app gets a new design" 0
  • Apparently left unfinished in the document, this was originally just "The Wallet app."
Type2023 September RickiesScore
Federico Risky "At least one of the new iPhones will support the new Qi 2 wireless charging standard..." -1
  • "... and "reverse wireless charging" for AirPods cases. MagSafe charging speed will also be raised from 15 watts."
  • Originally didn't include the last sentence.
  • The previous rumors of reverse wireless charging didn't disqualify this pick since it's in combination with Qi 2 as well. It's pointed out that Qi 2 is basically just standardized MagSafe as well, but it's still allowed as they'll have to be specific about Qi 2 to count it. Stephen still thinks it lacks passion. Later, Federico sprinkled some passion on it after all by adding a charging wattage increase after all.