It's been a busy week in the tech world! From exciting updates for Nothing Phone users to the latest iOS 18.4 beta release and a humorous take on Apple's sales predictions, there's plenty to discuss. Let's dive in!
Nothing Phone Gets a Boost
Great news for Nothing Phone (1) owners! The latest update is rolling out, bringing the highly anticipated "Circle to Search" feature to your devices. This handy tool allows you to quickly search for anything on your screen simply by drawing a circle around it. Talk about convenience! The update also includes new wallpapers and other performance enhancements, making your Nothing Phone experience even smoother.
But that's not all! 
If you're on the lookout for a new budget-friendly phone, Nothing has you covered. The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are making waves for offering impressive features and performance without breaking the bank. These phones prove that you don't need to spend a fortune to get a powerful and feature-packed device. They offer a compelling alternative to higher-priced options, making advanced technology more accessible to everyone.
iOS 18.4 Beta 2 is Here
Apple has released the second developer beta of iOS 18.4, and it's packed with goodies! The update brings Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro, allowing for even more advanced image recognition and processing. There's also a new Apple Vision Pro app, expanding the ecosystem for Apple's latest innovation. Plus, get ready for some fresh Emoji characters to spice up your conversations!
This beta release, build 22E5216h, replaces the previous version, which unfortunately caused boot loop issues on some older devices. Thankfully, Apple has addressed this problem, and the new beta is now available for a wider range of devices, including the iPhone 12, iPad 8, and the latest iPad Air models. 
If you're a developer, be sure to check it out and explore the new features!
The Macalope on Apple Sales Predictions
Finally, let's talk about Apple sales predictions. Remember all the doom and gloom surrounding the iPhone X? The Macalope, writing for Macworld, certainly does. They humorously recount how analysts predicted disastrous sales figures, only to be proven wrong when the iPhone X topped the charts. This pattern seems to repeat itself with every new iPhone release, most recently with the iPhone 16.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, for example, predicted that the iPhone 16 Pros would underperform. John Gruber suggests that these predictions are often made "not based on an honest attempt to even guess the actual sales, but rather to create headlines and inject his name into the news." It seems that some analysts prioritize attention over accuracy. So, the next time you see a sensational headline about Apple's impending doom, remember the story of the iPhone X and take it with a grain of salt. As the Macalope concludes, "maybe we should just stop trying to estimate Apple unit sales until we can figure out what’s going on. Which will probably be never."
"I think Kuo picks these numbers not at random, and not based on an honest attempt to even guess the actual sales, but rather to create headlines and inject his name into the news." - John Gruber
That's all for this week's tech roundup! Stay tuned for more updates and insights from the ever-evolving world of technology.