O'Grady's PowerPage

  • Rumor: After years-long negotiations, Apple Pay could launch in India around the middle of this year

    Rumor: After years-long negotiations, Apple Pay could launch in India around the middle of this year

    Apple Pay could finally be arriving in India around the middle of this year.

    Per AppleInsider and Bloomberg, a new report has backed up claims that India will finally gain access to Apple Pay after years of negotiations.

    Apple is said to be in talks with three of the largest banks operating in the country:

    • ICICI Bank
    • HDFC Bank
    • Axis Bank

    The Bloomberg report, which cited unspecified sources, says that Apple is aiming to launch Apple Pay by mid-2026.

    All of this comes on the heels of intense negotiations with both Visa and Mastercard, as well as the local government. This has caused delays in implementation nto the Indian marketplace since Apple Pay first launched in the U.S. in 2014.

    For India, the absolutely dominant payment system is the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and companies have to apply to support it. App Store and Apple Music users in India can reportedly use UPI, but so far Apple has not applied for it to support Apple Pay.

    Another part of the lengthy delay comes down to how to work with India’s Aadhaar biometric ID system, which doesn’t work on-device, as Apple’s Touch ID or Face ID do. Reportedly, this meant on-device systems could not be used, although both Google Pay and Samsung Wallet have been supported in India for several years.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Bloomberg

  • Apple begins teasing “a big week ahead” for next week’s product announcements

    Apple begins teasing “a big week ahead” for next week’s product announcements

    Apple has begun releasing teaser material citing “a big week ahead” next week, complete with CEO posting to social media with an #AppleLaunch hashtag with a colorful Apple logo, along with a short video that ultimately shows an Apple logo on the lid of a Mac.

    The company is reportedly planning a three-day stretch of product announcements beginning Monday, March 2, through Wednesday, March 4. It’s rumored that up to five new products could be unveiled, including a lower-cost MacBook, an iPhone 17e, and more.

    Other possible product introductions could include an M4-based iPad Air, an iPad 12 with an A18 chip and Apple Intelligence support, a MacBook Air with the M5 chip, and MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. There’s also some expectation of updated Apple TV and HomePod mini models, which have been some time since they were updated.

    Apple already invited selected journalists and content creators to an “Apple Experience” in New York, London, and Shanghai on Wednesday, March 4 at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. During these in-person gatherings, attendees will likely receive hands-on time with the new products that Apple unveils between Monday and Wednesday next week.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @tim_cook

  • Rumor: Apple’s foldable iPhone about to hit production, crease measurements unveiled

    Rumor: Apple’s foldable iPhone about to hit production, crease measurements unveiled

    Apple’s folding iPhone model may be beginning to take shape.

    Per Weibo, Chinese leaker “Fixed Focus Digital” has stated that Apple has submitted production line orders for its upcoming foldable iPhone.

    This rumor, if true, would effectively confirmd that the device will launch this year.

    The leaked orders indicate that Fixed Focus Digital has learned the crease measurements for the device’s 7.8-inch inner display. The current crease depth is now said to have been controlled to under 0.15mm. This measurement refers to the depth the groove or indentation at the fold is. A smaller number means the crease is shallower and less noticeable to the eye and to the touch.

    Apple’s crease angle is said to be under 2.5 degrees. This angle describes how sharp the fold line appears when the display has been unfolded. As expected, a smaller angle indicates a smoother, flatter transition across the fold, rather than a sharp ridge or valley.

    At present, competing foldable brands don’t publish their crease measurements, so it’s hard to gauge where Apple’s foldable iPhone stacks up against them. Even so, Apple’s unit is expected to feature a new type of display panel developed by Samsung that has never been used in a foldable product, and which has been described variously as being “virtually crease-free” and having “no crease at all.”

    Current rumors have the foldable iPhone featuring a 7.8-inch main display when unfolded and a 5.5-inch cover display. The unit is thought to use a book-style design similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold, as opposed to a clamshell form factor.

    Per analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s first-gen foldable iPhone will feature two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, a single selfie camera on the inner display, and Touch ID integrated into the power button. The device could measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when closed.

    It’s thought that Apple may reveal the foldable iPhone along with its iPhone 18 Pro models this September.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Weibo

  • 1Password alerts users of significant price hikes for some plans beginning March 27th

    1Password alerts users of significant price hikes for some plans beginning March 27th

    If you’re a 1Password fan, you’re not going to love this.

    1Password, the popular password management suite, has begun sending out emails notifying users about significant price increases due to arrive next month.

    As of March 27, the new price structure will be raised to the following:

    • Individual: $47.88/year, up from $35.88/year
    • Family: $71.88/year, up from $59.88/year

    As of this writing, there don’t seem to be reports of changes to the monthly price structure.

    The company has sent out the following email:

    Since 2005, 1Password has been on a mission to make security simple, reliable, and accessible for everyone. As the way people work and live online has evolved, so has 1Password.

    More recently, we’ve invested significantly in new features that make 1Password even more powerful and effortless to use, helping protect what matters most to you, including:

    • Automatic saving of logins and payment details
    • Enhanced Watchtower alerts
    • Faster, more secure device setup
    • AI-powered item naming
    • Expanded recovery options
    • Proactive phishing prevention

    While 1Password has grown substantially in value and capability, our pricing has remained largely unchanged for many years. To continue investing in innovation and the world-class security you expect, we’re updating pricing for Individual plans, starting March 27, 2026.

    Current vs New Pricing:

    • Current price: $35.88 USD / year
    • New price: $47.88 USD / year

    The new price will take effect at your next renewal, provided it’s on or after March 27, 2026. Those occurring prior to March 27, 2026, will continue at the current pricing until your next renewal.

    If you have any questions, please reach out to support by replying to this email. We’re deeply grateful for your continued trust and support.

    Thank you,
    The 1Password Team

    If you’ve seen price increases to your 1Password plan, please let us know in the comments.

    Via 9to5Mac

  • Apple quietly developing iOS 26.3.1 update ahead of March 4 media event

    Apple quietly developing iOS 26.3.1 update ahead of March 4 media event

    Because you can’t argue with a handy bug fix/maintenance update.

    Following the release of the iOS 26.3 update about two weeks ago, Apple is currently at work on its subsequent update, which seems to be making the rounds without a beta cycle.

    Per Macworld and MacRumors, Apple is working on an iOS 26.3.1 update, which has been showing up in website logs. A quick look at the traffic to these websites has indicated that devices running this version of the iOS operating system have gone outside the company’s intranet, which may be a sign that the iOS 26.3.1 update is imminent. Such point-release updates at Apple do not require developer and public beta testing, and they are completed much more quickly, probably within the next week or two.

    The timing also works out well with the recently-anounced Apple Experience media event on March 4, where Apple is expected to unveil several new products, including the rumored iPhone 17e and a low-cost MacBook. Apple is also expected to release updates to its macOS and iPadOS operating systems, and the new OS versions could be in preparation for the new devices.

    Given the smaller nature of the update, it’s not expected that Apple will release any new features, but instead use the update to fix bugs, install security patches, and, in some instances, add support for newly released devices.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld and MacRumors