New FaceTime camera for iPhone 14
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, all models of the upcoming iPhone 14 series will contain a new front-facing camera system. And these will be updated to add autofocus technology (presumably with focus pixels) and a wider aperture of ƒ/1.9. A wider aperture tends to provide increased depth of field. As it currently stands, users can modify the depth of field by taking shots in portrait mode. But the addition of a wider aperture would create a natural bokeh without the need for software assistance.
The iPhone 13 series has an ƒ/2.2 aperture and lacks autofocus capability. These new additions would be very welcome changes.
Apple will announce the iPhone 14 series later this year. Most likely in September.
Apple releases 2022 environmental progress report
Today Apple released its 2022 environmental progress report. The firm outlined the various ways it has advanced its approach to a closed-loop supply chain and improved green initiatives across its worldwide operations.
“As people around the world join in celebrating Earth Day, we are making real progress in our work to address the climate crisis and to one day make our products without taking anything from the earth,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives. “Our rapid pace of innovation is already helping our teams use today’s products to build tomorrow’s, and as our global supply chain transitions to clean power, we are charting a path for other companies to follow.”
Lisa Jakcon, Apple VP of environment, Policy and Social Initiatives
The usage of more recycled and responsbily sourced materials
Apple is laser-focused on transitioning to renewable or recyclable materials. And sourcing these in responsible ways through carbon reduction (as opposed to simply offsetting). For example, a new machine affectionately nicknamed ‘Taz’, is able to extract more materials from electronics than traditional methods. Taz joins ‘Daisy’ in helping to disassemble devices such as iPhone to quickly recover precious resources. This forms a significant part of the company’s environmental progress efforts.
Furthermore Apple products in 2021 included:
- 59 percent recycled Aluminium, used across all Apple devices with many enclosures comprised of 100% recycled Alumnium
- 45 percent certified recycled rare earth elements, a significant increase since Apple introduced recycled rare earth elements in its devices.
- 30 percent certified recycled tin, with all new iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and Mac devices featuring 100 percent recycled tin in the solder of their main logic boards.
- 13 percent certified recycled cobalt, used in iPhone batteries that can be disassembled by Apple’s recycling robot Daisy and returned to market.
- Certified recycled gold, featured — for the first time in any Apple product — in the plating of the main logic board and wire in the front camera and the rear cameras of iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. To achieve this milestone, Apple pioneered industry-leading levels of traceability to build a gold supply chain of exclusively recycled content.
Other points of note
- Apple’s net carbon emissions remains flat and has been carbon neutral across its worldwide operations since 2020
- The company relies on 100% renewable energy to power offices, retails stores and all date centers since 2018
- The fim has doubled the use of clean energy across the supply chain the past year
- 13.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions were avoided thanks to intiatiatives to clean up the operations of suppliers