Tech Talk

Apple Watch's Track Detection feature launched in Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom last week, according to the fitness blog DC Rainmaker . The feature is available on all Apple Watch models running watchOS 9.2 and later. With Track Detection, the Apple Watch uses an Apple Maps database and GPS to automatically detect when you step on to an outdoor running track. In the Workout app, you can select which lane of the track you are running in and receive more accurate distance measurements and a more precise route map. There is also an option to receive lap alerts that show distance, time, and pace as you complete each lap. Track Detection first became available in the United States last year. watchOS 9.2 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer. Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 8 Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral) Related Forum: Apple Watch This article, " Apple Watch's Track Detection Feature Expands to Five Additional

GravaStar is known for its range of quirky speakers with video game-esque designs, but the company is branching into power adapters and today announced the launch of the Alpha65 GaN charger . Rather than looking like your standard power brick, the Alpha65 was modeled after robots from classic science fiction movies, and it has a distinctly robotic look. We were able to test out the charger ahead of its launch, and it's a fun desktop charging accessory for those who like a little whimsy. The charger is about the size of a standard GaN 65W charger, but it has a power plug on the bottom, two movable, collapsible legs, and removable antennae. There are two eyes that light up when it's plugged in, and the prongs fold down so when it's not in use for charging purposes, it looks like a desktop decoration. When plugged in, the eyes are red, so they have a double purpose as a charging indicator. A clever design keeps the legs at the bottom, so even though there are appendag

Reddit's official app now provides users with the ability to search for comments within a specific post directly from the search bar. After updating to version 2023.08.0 of the iOS app, when viewing a post, users can now search within the comments of that post, rather than all of Reddit. The developers describe it like so : We've been listening to your feedback and you can now search comments within a post on desktop, iOS, and Android apps. So what does this mean? You don't have to "cmd-f" on the post page anymore and you can search comment threads without expanding them. No more long scrolling sessions — quickly get to the parts of the conversation you're looking for and jump in where you want. Reddit says the feature is now available on desktop, iOS, and Android. The tool builds upon the ability to get search results from replies to original posts, which Reddit introduced in April last year . In addition, Reddit says it has improved its subreddit se

Apple is still on track to switch to under-display Face ID technology next year that will provide more usable display area on iPhone 16 Pro models, claims a new report out of Korea. Apple is set to transition to under-screen ‌Face ID‌ on ‌iPhone‌ 16 Pro models in 2024, followed by under-screen ‌Face ID‌ and an under-screen front camera on ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro models in 2026, according to respected display industry consultant Ross Young . In line with this roadmap, according to a new report from The Elec , Apple should not have any major difficulties securing the technology necessary for external light to be able to penetrate the display and enter the TrueDepth camera system that makes ‌Face ID‌ possible, given the current state of smartphone production processes. From the display point of view, Underpanel Face ID has the same principle as the underpanel camera (UPC) that Samsung Display is applying to Samsung Electronics' foldable phone Galaxy Z Fold series. UPC also mounts a fr

Apple is expected to expand the Dynamic Island to all four iPhone 15 models released this year, but the integrated feature is making it difficult for one of Apple's Chinese suppliers to produce the devices en masse, claims a new report. According to Korean-language website The Elec , China's BOE is having problems with light leakage around the portion of the OLED display where the pill and hole cutouts secure the space necessary for the TrueDepth camera and Face ID. The issues are said to be limited to a low-end 6.1-inch iPhone 15 model that BOE has been involved in manufacturing. The report implies that Samsung and LG Display – set to mass produce the "Pro" 6.1-inch model and the two larger "Plus" and "Pro Max" 6.7-inch models – have not experienced similar problems. Apple apparently requested that its iPhone 15 OLED suppliers use something called Edge Light Blocking (ELB), a device to prevent light leakage around the camera lens, among oth

Apple has restarted development of a fourth-generation iPhone SE with a 6.1-inch OLED display and an Apple-designed 5G chip , according to the latest information shared by reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo . This reversal comes nearly two months after Kuo said Apple had abandoned its plans to release a new iPhone SE in 2024 . In a series of tweets today, Kuo said the new iPhone SE will be similar to the standard iPhone 14, which features a 6.1-inch OLED display with thinner bezels. The current iPhone SE is equipped with a 4.7-inch LCD display with thicker bezels. The new iPhone SE will be equipped with Apple's custom-designed 5G modem, with connectivity limited to sub-6GHz bands of 5G, the analyst said. The current iPhone SE already supports 5G, but uses Qualcomm's custom Snapdragon X57 chip. Kuo did not indicate when the new iPhone SE would be released, but it likely won't be available until March 2024 or later based on when previous models of the device launche

Apple's secretive Exploratory Design Group is working on a range of next-generation technologies, Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman reports. In his most recent newsletter , Gurman revealed new information about Apple's Exploratory Design Group, known as "XDG" inside the company. The team is apparently highly secretive, even by Apple's notoriously high standards. People working on one project within the group are not permitted to communicate about their work with other members of XDG that are tasked with a different project. Individuals are also organized by skill set rather than specific projects, meaning that XDG members often work on several different projects simultaneously. The Exploratory Design Group operates as a startup within Apple and is made up of only a few hundred people, mostly engineers and academic types. That's a far cry from the many hundreds of people in the Special Projects Group, which is focused on Apple's self-driving car, or the more

Today on Amazon you can get the 41mm GPS (PRODUCT)RED Aluminum version of Apple Watch Series 8 for $329.00 , down from $399.00. As of writing, only the (PRODUCT)RED color is on sale at this all-time low price for the 41mm GPS models. In addition to this model, we're tracking numerous best-ever prices across the Apple Watch Series 8 product range on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Both the S/M and M/L band sizes are on sale at this price, and Amazon estimates free delivery as soon as March 1 - 4 for most residences in the United States. The Apple Watch Series 8 has all of the same features as the previous generation wearable, with the addition of a temperature sensor and car crash detection functionality. $70 OFF Apple Watch S8 (41mm GPS) for $329.00 Additionally, the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 8 has hit $359.00 , down from $429.

Apple's upcoming OLED iPad Pro models are likely to be significantly more expensive than existing OLED devices of a similar size due to the costly new production processes involved, claims a new report out of Korea. Apple is next year widely expected to launch new 11.1-inch and 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models featuring OLED instead of LCD displays , and its panel procurement will account for the largest proportion of material costs, according to Korean-language website The Elec . Apple is currently believed to be in discussion with Samsung and LG Display about the price of supplying the panels , the specifications for which will require the use of production processes that have not been combined before for OLED panels of the required size. One of the new production processes is the use of a two-stack tandem structure, which has two emission layers, thus doubling brightness and quadrupling OLED display lifespan. All of Apple's iPhones use a single-stack structure, and Apple

Apple's first mixed-reality headset may feature "in-air" typing capabilities and can be used independently without an accompanying iPhone , according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman . Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple's headset is unlikely to require a paired ‌iPhone‌, in contrast to the original Apple Watch. The device can purportedly be set up without an accompanying ‌iPhone‌ and download a user's content independently, including iCloud data. A data transfer from a user's ‌iPhone‌ upon setup will be an option rather than a requirement. "In-air typing," Apple's method for text input using eye movements and hand gestures with the device, is apparently enabled on the latest internal prototypes. The feature is "finicky," Gurman warned, explaining that "you still may want to pair an ‌iPhone‌ to use its touch-screen ke

We're still over six months out from the official unveiling of the iPhone 15 lineup, but rumors and leaks are already ramping up to a fever pitch with new spy photos, renderings based on CAD leaks, and fresh details surfacing in recent weeks. New Mac models are also in the works as we look toward a rumored 15-inch MacBook Air and the Apple silicon Mac Pro, as well as updates further in the future, so read on for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 15 Leak Reveals Dynamic Island, USB-C Port, and More An alleged image of the standard iPhone 15 was leaked online this week by Twitter account @URedditor. The leak reveals that the device will feature the Dynamic Island and a USB-C port, as rumored, while maintaining a similar overall design as the standard iPhone 14. 3D renders of the iPhone 15 also surfaced this week based on leaked CADs, providing an additional look at the device. A greater number of changes are expected for the iPhone 15 Pro models, which a

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will be thicker than its precedessor despite having a slightly reduced height and width, but it could offer a less protrusive camera rear array, according to newly shared CAD renders and dimensions. The leaker known as "Ice Universe," who has divulged accurate information about Apple's plans in the past, shared the latest CAD renders and specific dimensions in a series of tweets earlier today. Exclusive：iPhone 15 Pro Max（or iPhone 15 Ultra） pic.twitter.com/khFUS2jKjC — Ice universe (@UniverseIce) February 25, 2023 The renders broadly align with other reports about the design of the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ models, showing a new chassis with slightly curved edges. The rendering lines help to convey the added curvature in the new design, as well as the thickness of the bezels, which are expected to be reduced compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. According to Ice Universe's dimensions, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max's footprint is smaller both

Apple plans to release a new MacBook Air with a larger 15-inch display in April , according to display industry analyst Ross Young. The laptop is expected to be powered by the M2 chip and will likely support Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. While we wait for the new MacBook Air to be announced, we have recapped five new features that have been rumored or are likely to be included. 15-Inch Display The new MacBook Air is expected to be equipped with a larger 15.5-inch display , which would be the largest ever for the laptop. The current MacBook Air has a 13.6-inch display, and the laptop was offered in an 11-inch size many years ago. While a new 13-inch MacBook Air with an OLED display is rumored to launch in 2024, the 15-inch model is expected to have a traditional LCD. M2 Chip Like the 13-inch MacBook Air, the 15-inch model will reportedly be available with the M2 chip . Apple says the M2 chip has up to an 18% faster CPU, up to a 35% faster GPU, and up to a 40% faster Neural E

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show , we're joined by YouTuber and audio aficionado David Lewis to discuss the state of AirPods, HomePod , and Apple Music in 2023 and where they could be set to go in the next few years. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos David is a tech YouTuber and podcaster with a background in broadcast radio, jazz music, and voice-overs – giving him unique insights on Apple's audio products and services. See more of David's work over on his YouTube channel or follow him on Twitter @Dtalkingtech . Following a major update for the AirPods Pro and the reintroduction of the full-size ‌HomePod‌, as well as acquisitions of companies like Primephonic and AI Music , Apple seems to have doubled-down on its commitment to audio technology. Yet, amid the delay in launching Apple Classical , a long wait time before the second-generation AirPods Max are expected to be released in late 2025 , and fierce competition from

Apple's cheaper second-generation AR/VR headset will come in two high-end and low-end models, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo . Writing in a new Medium post summarizing his latest survey findings and predictions, Kuo says both models will likely arrive in 2025. Apple's second-generation AR/MR headset has two high-end and low-end models. The high-end and low-end will be developed and produced by Luxcaseict and Foxconn, respectively. The current launch schedule for both models will likely be in 2025. Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset has yet to be announced, but a report earlier this week claimed that the company's manufacturing partner Foxconn is already developing a cheaper second-generation version of the headset. That report said Apple's first headset will be "extremely expensive," with industry estimates ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, while Apple's second-generation headset will have a more affordable price within the terr

An all-new "compute module" device has been spotted in Apple beta code, hinting that new hardware may soon be on the way. The new "ComputeModule" device class was spotted in Apple's iOS 16.4 developer disk image from the Xcode 16.4 beta by 9to5Mac , indicating that it runs iOS or a variant of it. The code suggests that Apple has at least two different compute modules in development with the identifiers "ComputeModule13,1" and "ComputeModule13,3." The modules' purpose is unclear, but speculation argues that they are designed for the Apple silicon Mac Pro – potentially serving as a solution to enable a modular interface for swappable hardware components or add additional compute power via technologies like Swift Distributed Actors. There is also a chance that the compute modules could be designed for Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset or something else entirely. Yesterday, recent Apple Bluetooth 5.3 filings were uncovered,

WhatsApp is actively working on an ability for iPhone users to edit messages after they have been sent over the popular Meta-owned encrypted chat platform. With iOS 16 , Apple introduced the ability to edit or unsend recently sent iMessages. Telegram also offers a similar edit-after-sending feature. Now it looks like WhatsApp will be next. To edit a sent message, users will need to tap and hold on a chat bubble and select the Edit option. According to WaBetaInfo , WhatsApp users can expect to be able to edit a message for up to 15 minutes after sending it, which is the same duration that Apple gives iMessage users wanting to edit sent messages. In contrast, Telegram gives users 48 hours to do their editing. The ability to edit sent messages will be released in a future update of the app to some WhatsApp beta testers, but as the feature is under development, the public rollout schedule is unknown. In other Meta-related developments, WhatsApp is also said to be experimenting wi

Up until now, Apple was expected to release four models in its upcoming iPhone 15 series that replicate the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes of its iPhone 14 series, but a new leak suggests the base iPhone 15 model will have a slightly larger display. iPhone 15 on left, iPhone 15 Pro on right According to 3D CAD files obtained by 9to5Mac that designer Ian Zelbo turned into renders, the iPhone 15 will have a display size of 6.2 inches. Whether this size will be common to the smaller of the two "Pro" models is uncertain, although previous CAD leaks suggest the body of the latter device is a few millimeters smaller than the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, with a thinner bezel and a deeper curve around the edges. Unlike the iPhone 15 Pro CAD leak, the base iPhone 15 CAD does not suggest this model will have capacitive buttons. Otherwise, the iPhone 15 CAD renders corroborate previously established rumors, including a dual camera setup, the pill-shaped Dynamic Island being adop

Apple this week filed a new listing in the Bluetooth Launch Studio database , a move that sometimes foreshadows the launch of new products. The filing does not mention any specific products, but it lists the latest Bluetooth 5.3 standard and references a prior macOS-related listing , suggesting the filing could be related to upcoming Macs. Apple is rumored to be planning new versions of the MacBook Air and the Mac Pro for release in the first half of 2023. The new MacBook Air is expected to feature a larger 15-inch display and the M2 chip , while the new Mac Pro is expected to have the same design as the 2019 model with a new M2 Ultra chip . Both new Macs could be announced as early as March or April , potentially alongside the release of macOS 13.3 . However, there remains a possibility that the new Macs will not be announced until WWDC in June or later. Bluetooth 5.3 offers benefits such as improved reliability and power efficiency, according to the Bluetooth SIG, the organizati

Apple's previous-generation iPad is seeing a few solid discounts today on Amazon, including both Wi-Fi and cellular models. This is Apple's 10.2-inch iPad that came out in 2021 and includes the A13 Bionic chip and lacks the full-screen design of the 2022 models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Starting with the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, you can get the silver version for $269.00 on Amazon, down from $329.00. Compared to past sales, this is a good second-best price on the 2021 iPad. It's been months since we've seen any deal on this iPad, much less an all-time low price, so this is a good opportunity to save on the tablet. $60 OFF 64GB Wi-Fi iPad (2021) for $269.00 Moving to the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad, this model is on sale for $399.00 in both silver and space gray, down from $479.00. This sale is a record low price on this version of the

Twitter in February 2023 announced that text message two-factor authentication (2FA) is set to become a premium feature for Twitter Blue accounts. Here's why the company's logic behind the decision doesn't make any sense from a security perspective, and why you don't need the feature anyway. Twitter has said that it will soon be removing text message-based 2FA from non-paying accounts and turning it into a feature that will only be available to subscribers of its premium Twitter Blue offering, which costs $8 per month. This means that any users who don't pay for a Blue subscription and rely on Twitter to send them an SMS text message code to complete the login process will have the feature turned off and removed from their accounts by March 20. Their account password will become the only barrier to access. Aside from purely financial reasons (presumably it costs Twitter to send you a text), making text-based 2FA a paid-for perk is an odd decision on Twitter&#

Uber today announced it is updating its iPhone app with Live Activities support in over 1,200 cities around the world following several months of testing. The new version of the app will be available on the App Store starting this morning. Live Activities is an iOS 16 feature that allows iPhone users to stay on top of real-time events right on the Lock Screen on all iPhones and in the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The feature will make it easier for iPhone users to track the live progress of an Uber ride at a glance without opening the app, including the latest ETA, the trip status, and the vehicle's description and license plate number. Apple announced that Uber would support Live Activities back at WWDC 2022, and the feature has been in testing in select countries since late last year. With the latest update to the Uber app, the feature is available around the world. Live Activities will also be supported by the Uber Eats app for food deliver

The next-generation iPhone 15 series will feature RAM improvements, according to a new report from Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. Apple will "bump up the capacity and specifications" of RAM for iPhone 15 models, the report claims. Based on this wording, there could be improvements to both RAM amounts and speeds across the iPhone 15 series, but no specific details were provided. TrendForce previously said iPhone 15 Pro models would likely be equipped with 8GB of RAM , compared to 6GB for iPhone 14 Pro models. The standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will likely remain at 6GB of RAM, but it is possible these models could be upgraded to faster LPDDR5 RAM , as iPhone 14 Pro models were last year. Increased RAM can benefit multitasking on the iPhone by allowing more apps to be open in the background simultaneously. Together with the rumored A17 Bionic chip for iPhone 15 Pro models, the RAM improvements would boost overall performance. If the iPhone 15 Pro is bumped

Younger Americans prefer Apple over rival companies by significant margins, driving a generational shift toward Apple devices and social pressure, the Financial Times reports. According to the report, younger consumers are concerned about being socially ostracised for not having an iPhone – a phenomenon that is driving young people to buy other Apple products and services, leading to growing market share across multiple product categories. Those born after 1996, also known as Gen Z, compose 34 percent of all ‌iPhone‌ owners in the U.S., compared to just 10 percent for Samsung. For older generations, there is a relatively even split between ‌iPhone‌ and Android users. The ramifications of this shift toward Apple devices among younger people extends beyond iPhones, with these users being much more likely to purchase AirPods, Apple Watches, and Macs. For every 100 iPhones Apple sells around the world, it also sells 26 iPads, 17 Apple Watches, and 35 pairs of AirPods, according to

Popular speaker company Sonos is preparing to launch new high-end "Era" smart speakers to compete with Apple's HomePod range, and The Verge has obtained marketing images of the products as well as some rough pricing information ahead of their release next month. The Era 300, shown in the picture above, will be the new Sonos flagship speaker, designed to highlight music in spatial audio. Other features will include USB-C line-in, Wi-Fi 6 support, Bluetooth playback, and AirPlay 2 support. The Verge 's Chris Welch says the Era 300 is expected to be priced "in the ballpark of $450." The size of the Era 300 is said to fall in between the Sonos One and Sonos Five, and includes a total of six drivers that direct sound forward, left, right, and up. A stereo pair of Era 300s, when used with either the Arc or second-generation Beam, will deliver rearward surround sound including upward-firing audio. Era 300 can be stereo paired as rear surrounds with the S