Nokia has developed a potential successor to Bluetooth dubbed Wibree. Separating this technology from other potential, but more developed technologies (ZigBee) is its interoperability with existing Bluetooth radios, making cheap dual-mode devices a possibility.
While Bluetooth's power requirements are far less than other wireless protocols such as WiFi/802.11, some deem it still too high for some applications. According to MacWorld(Update: MacWorld was incorrect), the technology is capable of delivering 10 Mbps data transfers at up to 10 meters, however this may be in doubt as the technology's website cites "physical layer bit rate of 1 Mbps" (at up to 10 meters).
Apple currently uses Bluetooth for communication with its wireless keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse, as well as communication with mobile phones via iSync.
It's important to note that this isnt an alternative for the majority of Bluetooth use cases that include the voice, printing, transfer and music scenarios. As the Nokia release points out, they are focused on sensor applications like the watch. However, like most technologies there is some overlap such as the mention of HID devices in the announcement. There are talks between the Bluetooth SIG and Nokia regarding the future of Wibree but at this point there is nothing concrete to say publicly.
Ultra low power Bluetooth technology is definitely part of our roadmap and the Bluetooth SIG is evaluating Wibree for possible inclusion into the SIG. Just like we are working with the WiMedia Alliance to combine Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technologies and create a high speed Bluetooth channel, we will work to do the same at the ultra low power level.
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.
"I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by Juli Clover
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker.
Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...
