According to AppleInsider, there’s a notable exodus of senior people from Apple, though the context is crucial: most are retiring, not quitting in frustration. Despite this, the company is reportedly on track to launch new iPads early next year, with rumors solidifying around the base model getting the A19 processor—which should also bring Apple Intelligence to the entry-level tablet. This timing could align with an updated Siri launch. Separately, Pebble has beaten Apple to market with a new smart ring, though its practical use is questioned. The podcast also revisits the perennial “Snow Leopard” argument, suggesting Apple needs to slow its relentless annual update cycle to focus on refinement.
The retirement wave isn’t a crisis
Look, when you have 164,000 employees, people are going to leave. That’s just math. And if a bunch of those people are veterans who helped build the modern Apple and are now hitting retirement age, well, that’s also just… life. The idea that this threatens the iPhone’s future is, as the source notes, ridiculous. But here’s the thing: it does create a real, quiet challenge. Institutional knowledge walks out the door. The folks who lived through the “Snow Leopard” era and know why that approach worked? They’re harder to replace than any single skill set. Apple’s immense resources can hire brilliant new talent, but can it replicate decades of ingrained product philosophy? That’s the real question.
Base iPads are about to get seriously smart
So the big hardware rumor is new iPads early next year. Fine. But the interesting bit is the A19 chip supposedly coming to the *base* model. That’s not just a spec bump. If it’s true, it means Apple Intelligence—the company’s big AI push—lands on the most affordable iPad right out of the gate. That’s a strategic move. They’re not gating their flagship AI features behind the Pro models; they’re making it a baseline expectation. It basically turns the entry-level iPad from a content consumption device into a much smarter, potentially more productive one. And if it syncs with a revamped Siri? Suddenly that base model looks like a much stronger value proposition against Chromebooks and cheaper laptops.
Pebble’s ring and the ghost of Snow Leopard
Pebble has a smart ring. Okay. But what do you actually *do* with it? It feels like a solution in search of a problem, especially in a world already saturated with wrist-worn tech. It’s hard to see this as anything but a niche product, at least until Apple or Samsung decides to legitimize the category. The more compelling discussion is the return of the “Snow Leopard” argument. For those who don’t know, Snow Leopard was an OS X release famously focused on stability and performance, not flashy new features. The podcast hosts are hearing—again—that Apple should, or even *must*, take a similar breather. I think they’re probably right. The relentless annual cycle for iOS, macOS, and hardware leads to rougher launches and half-baked ideas. A consolidation year focused on polish and behind-the-scenes infrastructure might be the best thing for users, even if it gives marketing a headache.
You can listen to the full discussion, including the AppleInsider+ extended edition, by subscribing via Patreon or Apple Podcasts. The show is sponsored by services like CleanMyMac and Udacity.
