Sierra Space's Dream Chaser cargo spaceplane's debut has been delayed to no earlier than late 2026, with a shift from docking to the ISS to a free-flyer mission, as part of a contract modification with NASA to allow more flexible testing and future mission capabilities.
Apple's highly anticipated Mac Studio and Mac Pro, featuring the powerful M3 Ultra chip, are not expected to launch until the end of 2024, with a possibility of further delays. The M3 Ultra has not yet undergone broader testing, and Apple may be taking its time to recoup the investment made in the expensive 3nm process. The development cost for the M3 Ultra is expected to be lower, thanks to TSMC's improved 3nm 'N3E' process, which offers higher yields and more appropriate pricing. With impressive performance numbers, including outperforming the 24-core M2 Ultra in multi-core tests, Apple can afford to choose its own timeline for the launch.
Google has reportedly delayed the launch of its highly anticipated AI model, Gemini, to early 2024 due to issues with handling non-English prompts. Gemini is described as a next-generation AI with advanced text and image generation capabilities. The launch events, originally scheduled for next week, have been rescheduled over concerns about the AI's reliability. Gemini is expected to outperform OpenAI's GPT-4 and could change the landscape of generative AI models when it finally launches.
Samsung, Google, and Qualcomm have reportedly hit the reset button on their joint project to build a mixed reality headset, delaying its launch to the end of 2024. Samsung has commissioned higher resolution screens to match Apple's 4K-in-each-eye displays in the Vision Pro, contributing to the delay. The production target for the Samsung headset is set at a modest 30,000 units for 2024, while Apple's production targets for the Vision Pro have been scaled back from 1 million to 400,000 units. This reset is reminiscent of Google's shift in strategy with Android after the announcement of the iPhone.
Apple is no longer expected to launch a fourth-generation iPhone SE in 2024, as plans for the device featuring an Apple-designed 5G modem appear to be delayed. Qualcomm could remain Apple's modem supplier for both the iPhone SE and the iPhone 16 lineup through next year. Analysts and sources suggest that the next iPhone SE may not launch until 2025 at the earliest, making the current model a safe buy for now.