Your iPhone Is About To Get An Unexpected New Feature, Report Says

Forbes - Feb 2nd, 2025

Apple is poised to introduce a new iCloud-based service, internally dubbed 'Confetti,' which aims to transform how users invite others to parties, functions, and meetings. This development is part of a broader effort to revamp Apple's Calendar app, potentially integrating the new features into iMessage or as an enhanced part of the existing app. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the release is linked to iOS 18.3, which started rolling out last week, and employee testing could commence imminently, indicating a public release may follow shortly. The service will reportedly display a list of invited attendees and their RSVPs, possibly offering a more interactive and fun interface than the current Calendar app.

Apple's initiative aligns with a report from 9to5Mac that mentioned a feature called 'Invites,' found in the iOS 18.3 code. This suggests the feature will integrate with iCloud and have a web version on iCloud.com. It will utilize a new iOS 18 component called GroupKit, designed to manage groups of people. The introduction of 'Confetti' signifies Apple's continued push to enhance user experience and integrate its ecosystem more seamlessly. Despite the lack of prior hints from Apple, Gurman's insights suggest the feature is nearing readiness, marking a significant step in Apple's software evolution.

Apple I Cloud I Os 18.3 Mark Gurman Confetti Calendar App Event Invitations

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.6

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a largely accurate and timely overview of a potential new Apple feature, supported by credible sources such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and 9to5Mac. While the story is well-structured and clear, it includes some speculative elements that could benefit from further verification and transparency. The article engages its target audience of Apple users and tech enthusiasts, addressing a topic of public interest with potential implications for digital communication. However, it could improve by incorporating a wider range of perspectives and providing clearer distinctions between confirmed and speculative information. Overall, the article is informative and relevant, with room for enhanced balance and transparency.

Accuracy

The story is largely accurate, with its primary claims about Apple's new feature being supported by credible sources such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and 9to5Mac. The mention of a new iCloud-based service codenamed 'Confetti' aligns with information from these sources, indicating strong factual backing. However, some speculative elements, such as the potential integration with other Apple apps and the interface changes, require further confirmation from Apple. The claim that the feature is tied to iOS 18.3 is also well-supported by the sources cited. Overall, the story's factual accuracy is high, but it includes some speculative elements that could be clarified further.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view of the upcoming Apple feature by citing multiple sources and perspectives, including Bloomberg and 9to5Mac. However, it predominantly focuses on the potential benefits and features of the new service without discussing potential drawbacks or challenges Apple might face in its implementation. The lack of counterpoints or critical perspectives slightly affects the balance, but overall, the article provides a fair representation of the available information.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the main points. The language is straightforward and accessible, making the content easy to understand for a general audience. However, the inclusion of speculative elements without clear differentiation from confirmed facts could lead to some confusion. Overall, the article maintains a neutral tone and presents information in an organized manner, though clearer distinction between confirmed and speculative claims would enhance clarity.

Source quality

The article relies on high-quality sources, such as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who is known for his reliable reporting on Apple, and 9to5Mac, a well-regarded site for Apple-related news. These sources are credible and authoritative in the tech industry, lending significant weight to the claims made in the article. The use of reputable sources enhances the reliability of the information presented, although the article could benefit from a wider range of sources to provide additional context and verification.

Transparency

The article is somewhat transparent in its sourcing and attribution, clearly identifying Mark Gurman and 9to5Mac as the primary sources of information. However, it lacks detailed explanations of how the information was obtained or any potential conflicts of interest. The speculative nature of some claims, such as the integration with other Apple apps, is not fully disclosed, which could impact the reader's understanding of the certainty of these claims. Greater transparency in these areas would improve the article's credibility.