Apple is testing a new over the air update system that lets retail staff update iPhone software without unboxing devices before sale. The information comes from a Power On newsletter and focuses on details shared by a well-known tech insider and Bloomberg reporter.
The system, code named Presto, relies on MagSafe and other wireless technologies and reportedly resembles a metal shoebox. Apple plans a broad rollout in the United States beginning in April 2024, with the aim of having Presto in stores nationwide in the early summer.
Earlier reports described Presto as a compact standalone device in the form of a tablet that staff could place a sealed iPhone case atop. The setup would power the iPhone wirelessly, perform the latest software update, and then shut down the device again.
The motivation behind Presto is to ensure that iPhones sold in stores run current software. For example, when the iPhone 15 line shipped with iOS 17, Apple later released iOS 17.0.1 before consumers began their purchases to address a data transfer issue during initial setup.
In related tech news, some outlets note that the newest artificial intelligence capabilities are expected to appear on older flagship Samsung smartphones, expanding the conversation around how updates and AI features reach consumers across devices. [citation: MacRumors report]