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Showing posts from April, 2023

MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra: All the Rumors So Far

Apple is working on next-generation display technology called microLED, which will be coming to the Apple Watch Ultra first. We're not expecting the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ with microLED until 2025, but rumors about the device have been ramping up already. This guide highlights everything we know about Apple's work on a microLED watch and what Apple has in store for microLED in the future. MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra Introduced in 2022, the current ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ uses standard OLED technology. MicroLED is, as the name suggests, LED display technology rather than OLED display technology, but it offers many of the benefits of OLED along with some improvements. The microLED Apple Watch is expected to include a 2.1-inch diagonal display, but we aren't aware of any other features that the device might get as of yet. Apple is already testing microLED displays for the Apple Watch, and the displays are said to feature brighter, more vibrant colors and a look like conte

Top Stories: iOS 17 Rumors, Beats Studio Buds+ Leak, and More

WWDC is a little over a month away, and rumors about iOS 17 are continuing to come into focus with new reports surfacing this week about enhancements to the Lock Screen, Apple Music, and App Library, as well as new health tools and perhaps a brand-new journaling app. Apple also appears to be gearing up to release some new Macs, while the upcoming Beats Studio Buds+ earphones saw their full details prematurely posted to Amazon, so read on for all the details on these stories and more! iOS 17 to Include Mood Tracker, Health App Coming to iPad iOS 17 will include new tools for tracking emotion and managing vision conditions in the Health app , according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman. He also expects the Health app to expand to the iPad this year. In addition, Gurman said Apple is working on an artificial intelligence-powered health coaching service that it plans to launch next year. He said the feature is designed to encourage exercise, healthy eating, and quality sleep. Th

iTunes Music Store Turns 20 Today: 'Just 99 Cents Per Song'

Today marks the 20th anniversary of Apple launching the iTunes Music Store, allowing Mac users to download music for "just 99 cents per song." At launch, the iTunes Music Store offered over 200,000 songs from music labels such as Sony, Universal, and Warner, with free 30-second previews of any song. The store provided convenient access to songs on an à-la-carte basis at a time when pirating music was rampant via peer-to-peer file sharing programs such as LimeWire and KaZaA. "The iTunes Music Store offers the revolutionary rights to burn an unlimited number of CDs for personal use and to put music on an unlimited number of iPods for on-the-go listening," said Apple's former CEO Steve Jobs, in an April 28, 2003 press release . "Consumers don't want to be treated like criminals and artists don't want their valuable work stolen. The iTunes Music Store offers a groundbreaking solution for both." Apple expanded iTunes and the online music stor

What to Expect From Apple's Earnings Results Following New Macs and HomePod

Apple will report its earnings results for the second quarter of its 2023 fiscal year on Thursday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Apple's CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the results on a conference call for investors a half hour later. Keep reading for some key things to know about the quarter, including a recap of new products announced, revenue expectations, and more. New Products During Quarter The quarter ran from January 1 through April 1, according to Apple's fiscal calendar, and included the following product launches: 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro and M2 Max chips) Mac mini (M2 and M2 Pro chips) HomePod (2nd generation) iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus (Yellow) Black Unity Sport Loop Year-Over-Year Revenue Decline Expected Apple has not provided guidance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but analysts currently expect the company to report revenue of around $93 billion on average this quarter, according to Yahoo Fi

Apple Shares Mother's Day Gift Guide: Here Are 8 Ideas Under $100

Apple this week shared a Mother's Day gift guide with a variety of product and accessory recommendations. Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 14 in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries around the world. Gift ideas priced under $100 in the U.S. include the AirTag , HomePod mini , Apple Watch bands , iPhone cases , Apple Polishing Cloth , MagSafe Wallet , MagSafe Battery Pack , AirFly Pro , and various other accessories. Apple also sells an all-in-one gift card that can be used to purchase products at the Apple Store or apps on the App Store, pay for an Apple Music subscription or extra iCloud storage, and much more. The physical version of the gift card has a $25 minimum and includes a collectible Apple sticker. Apple offers free engraving for several devices and accessories, allowing you to include a personalized message or emoji on the Apple Pencil, iPads, AirPods charging cases, and more. Gift wrapping with a customized card, or a

The MacRumors Show: tvOS 17, HomePod, and HomeKit Wishlist – What Do We Want to See?

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show , we talk through all of the top features and improvements we'd like to see come to tvOS 17, the HomePod , and HomeKit at WWDC later this year. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos Apple is expected to unveil tvOS 17 and "audioOS" 17 at WWDC in June, offering a range of enhancements and new features. 2022's tvOS 16 was only a minor update to the Apple TV , so we discuss where we would like the OS to go next with features like widgets, Up Next improvements, and apps like Weather and Home. We discuss how the ‌HomePod‌ could make better use of its top display, true surround sound, and synced alarms. Last year, Apple's Home app got a significant upgrade with a full redesign and a new ‌HomeKit‌ architecture. We consider how the Home app could take another leap forward with more powerful automations and camera feed improvements. We also look at some of the latest Apple news, including iOS 1

EarPods With USB-C Said to Be in Mass Production Ahead of iPhone 15 Launch

With all four iPhone 15 models expected to feature a USB-C port instead of Lightning, several Apple accessories will switch to USB-C as well. For example, EarPods with a USB-C connector are already in mass production, according to a tweet today from leaker ShrimpApplePro . They previously said Foxconn is supplying the earbuds. The new EarPods would connect directly to the USB-C port on iPhone 15 models, without an adapter. Apple's wired earbuds are currently available with a Lightning connector or a 3.5mm headphone jack , with both versions priced at $19. EarPods have become less popular since Apple released wireless AirPods in 2016, and removed the headphone jack on iPhones, but they remain a more affordable option for customers. EarPods also provide a simple plug-and-play wired listening experience, with a built-in remote and no charging or pairing necessary. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 lineup in September, and the new EarPods would likely launch around t

Deals: Amazon Expands M1 iMac Sale to Include More Colors at $999.99 Price Tag ($499 Off)

Earlier in the week, we tracked a new all-time low price on Apple's 8-Core GPU, 256GB M1 iMac, and now today Amazon has introduced more colors of this computer on sale. You can get four colors now at $999.99 , down from $1,499.00, which is a massive $499 discount on the 24-inch iMac. 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. Colors on sale include Yellow, Purple, Orange, and Pink. Shipping estimates have slipped into the middle of May with the fastest options, and as far into early June for some. This is quite a discount, so we recommend getting your order in as soon as possible if you're interested; these have been known to disappear quickly. $499 OFF M1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $999.99 With this discount, the 8-Core/256GB model is now cheaper than the entry-level 7-Core/256GB model, which has only ever reached as low as $1,099.00 in prev

Report Details Turmoil Behind Apple's AI Efforts, 'Siri X,' and Headset Voice Controls

Siri and Apple's use of AI has been severely held back by caution and organizational dysfunction, according to over three dozen former Apple employees who spoke to The Information 's Wayne Ma. The extensive paywalled report explains why former Apple employees who worked in the company's AI and machine learning groups believe that a lack of ambition and organizational dysfunction have hindered ‌Siri‌ and the company's AI technologies. Apple's virtual assistant is apparently "widely derided" inside the company for its lack of functionality and minimal improvement over time. By 2018, the team working on ‌Siri‌ had apparently "devolved into a mess, driven by petty turf battles between senior leaders and heated arguments over the direction of the assistant." ‌Siri‌'s leadership did not want to invest in building tools to analyse ‌Siri‌'s usage and engineers lacked the ability to obtain basic details such as how many people were using th

PSA: Google Authenticator's Cloud-Synced 2FA Codes Aren't End-to-End Encrypted

Earlier this week, Google updated its Authenticator app to enable the backup and syncing of 2FA codes across devices using a Google Account. Now an examination by Mysk security researchers has found that the sensitive one-time passcodes being synced to the cloud aren't end-to-end encrypted, leaving them potentially exposed to bad actors. Prior to the integration of Google Account support, all codes in the Google Authenticator app were stored on device, which meant that if the device was lost, so too were the one-time passcodes, potentially causing loss of account access as well. But it seems that by enabling cloud-based syncing, Google has opened up users to a security risk of a different sort. "We analyzed the network traffic when the app syncs the secrets, and it turns out the traffic is not end-to-end encrypted," said Mysk via Twitter . "This means that Google can see the secrets, likely even while they're stored on their servers. There is no option to a

Future Apple Watch Update to Enable Pairing With Multiple Apple Devices Rather Than Just One iPhone, Claims Leaker

Apple is working on software updates that will make it possible for users to pair their Apple Watch with multiple Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac, according to a new rumor. Currently, an Apple Watch can be paired to one iPhone only, and though it is possible to pair multiple Apple Watch models to the same iPhone, Apple offers no facility for pairing or syncing Apple Watches to other devices in its ecosystem. Once an Apple Watch is paired to an iPhone, it can be used in conjunction with an iPad logged into the same Apple ID to follow Apple Fitness+ workout routines on the iPad's screen. Also, Mac users can use their Apple Watch to unlock their computer, authenticate apps and view passwords, and authorize online Apple Pay transactions, but that is where the exceptions end. These limitations could be set to change, however. According to the Twitter account holder @analyst941 , Apple is planning changes to the pairing/syncing process that mean an Apple Watch will

Deals: Amazon Has Nearly Every 2022 iPad Model at All-Time Low Prices, Starting at $399

Apple's 2022 iPad is seeing multiple discounts today on Amazon, with savings across nearly every model of the tablet. Below you'll find record low prices across both Wi-Fi and cellular models of the 10.9-inch iPad, some of which require you to head to the checkout screen in order to see the markdowns. 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 this tablet for $399.00 , down from $449.00. It's available in three colors at this price, which is the best price we've ever tracked on the 2022 iPad. The Silver and Blue colors require you to head to checkout in order to see the discounted price. $50 OFF iPad (64GB Wi-Fi) for $399.00 The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad is on sale for $539.99 , down from $599.00, and it's available in two colors: Blue and Silver. This is a new low price on this tablet, beating

WiZ Smart Lights Now Compatible With Apple Home via Matter Update

Smart lighting company WiZ has rolled out Matter support to its smart bulbs, lamps, and plugs, making them compatible with Apple Home for the first time (via HomeKitNews ). The new app, WiZ v2, brings support to accessories that were manufactured in early 2021 or later, and lets users migrate products to the new smart home standard, after which they can be added to any Matter-compatible platform, including Apple Home. Existing WiZ product owners need to make sure they have the latest version of the WiZ app from the App Store and that their product firmware is up to date. In the app, go to Settings -> Integrations -> Matter, and then follow the steps to get new Matter codes for individual devices. WiZ products that are updated to support Matter will also work with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings over a Wi-Fi network, rather than relying on a cloud connection, as was previously the case. Up until now, the only way to get WiZ lights to work with HomeKit

2023 Apple Watch Pride Edition Face and Band Unearthed in Code

For the last several years, Apple has debuted a new pride Apple Watch face and band during WWDC, and while the company has not yet announced a new design for this year, we already know what it's going to look like. As shown in the above image, Apple's 2023 Pride watch face and band will stick with a rainbow of colors, but dispersed in confetti-like pill shapes that are vaguely reminiscent of the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island. As with previous Pride styles, it's likely the watch face will animate when interacted with. The images were discovered on Apple's servers by @aaronp613 and @nicolas09F9 , before being swiftly pulled, suggesting Apple unintentionally made them accessible on its back end. Apple participates in the San Francisco Pride Parade every year in support of the LGBTQ community. Apple employees march in the parade, Apple creates dedicated t-shirts, and also hosts other celebrations throughout the month of June. Apple announced its last Pride ban

Deals: Apple's M1 iMac (8-Core/256GB) Gets Massive $499 Discount on Amazon, Available for $999.99

Apple's M1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) has hit an all-time low price of $999.99 today on Amazon, down from $1,499.00. This sale has been coming and going since the weekend, so act fast if you're interested. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. You can only get this sale in Pink as of writing, and delivery has been delayed into the middle of May. Still, you can lock in this massive $499 discount today ahead of those delayed delivery dates to be sure you get this all-time low price. $499 OFF M1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $999.99 With this discount, the 8-Core/256GB model is now cheaper than the entry-level 7-Core/256GB model, which has only ever reached as low as $1,099.00 in previous sales. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains o

Apple, Google Could Face Large Fines Under New UK Digital Consumer Bill

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has introduced a new bill that would allow it to impose multibillion-pound fines on major tech companies like Apple for breaching its rules. The multifaceted bill is designed to promote competition and protect consumers by giving the CMA the authority to tackle the "excessive dominance" of tech firms, according to a government press release . Tech companies that are considered to have "strategic market status" in key digital services will be required to comply with its rules or the agency's Digital Markets Unit (DMU) could slap them with significant fines. The CMA has not named which firms with "strategic market status" it will be monitoring, but a threshold will apply meaning that only firms with a global turnover above £25 billion, or U.K. turnover above £1 billion, will be in scope, so Apple, Google, and Amazon are likely to come under this definition. The government said such firms could

Apple to Rely on Korean Suppliers Amid Switch to Custom MicroLED Displays

Apple will continue to rely on Korean suppliers for device displays as it makes a big push to develop its own components for more control over product designs, claims a new report (via The Korea Herald ). According to Korea's Institute for Information & Communications Technology Promotion (IITP), Apple has emerged as a new player in the display market from a long-term perspective, even as it expands its use of in-house components and displays. For example, Apple is reportedly planning to start transitioning its devices from OLED to microLED, beginning with Apple Watch Ultra in 2024 or 2025, and followed by iPhones, iPads, and eventually MacBooks, too. However, the IITP believes that it may take some time for Apple to completely commercialize its self-made display technology. Given that microLED display production remains challenging, manufacturing costs are higher, so Apple will continue to source at least 60% of its components from Korean display manufacturers such as S

Apple Says CarPlay Now Available in Over 800 Vehicle Models as GM Plans to Phase Out Support in EVs

CarPlay is now available in more than 800 vehicle models sold in the U.S., according to a recently updated page on Apple's website . Until last week, the page said the in-car software platform was available in more than 600 vehicle models. Apple added many 2023 and 2024 vehicle models to the list as part of the update. The updated figure comes after GM announced that it plans to phase out CarPlay in future electric vehicles in favor of its own in-car software platform, developed in partnership with Google. The decision led to backlash from some customers given the immense popularity of CarPlay, but GM doubled down on the plans in an interview with The Verge last week, saying it is building a "holistically integrated" operating system with a "much-improved navigation and charging experience for future EV owners." At WWDC last year, Apple stated that 79% of U.S. buyers would only consider a vehicle that works with CarPlay, and said the platform is available

Apple Headset to Use 'New Proprietary Charging Connector' for External Battery

Apple's mixed reality headset will have two ports including a USB-C interface for data transfer and a new proprietary charging connector for the external battery, according to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman. Apple mixed reality headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane Most AR/VR headsets on the market have an integrated battery, but reports suggest that Apple's headset will connect to a separate, external battery that is worn at the waist, which allows the headset to be lighter and more comfortable. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter , Gurman revealed that the charging cable that goes from the battery pack into the headset has a round tip that inserts magnetically. According to Gurman, the round tip must be rotated clockwise to lock it in so that it doesn't fall out during use, while "the cable itself connects to the battery pack, and those two pieces aren't separable." The external battery pack is said to look like an iPhone MagSafe batt

iPadOS 17 Again Rumored to Drop Support for These iPads

Apple in iPadOS 17 will drop support for the first-generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro as well as the fifth-generation iPad, according to French tech website iPhoneSoft . This is the second time we have heard claims regarding iPad device compatibility for the next operating system Apple is developing. Early last month, a source with a proven track record for upcoming software updates said the same three models will not be supported . iPhoneSoft 's information is said to come from an internal Apple source. If accurate, that means the following devices will be compatible with iPadOS 17 when it's released in the fall. iPad Pro (2017 and later) iPad Air (third generation and later) iPad (sixth generation and later) iPad mini (fifth generation and later) It's worth noting that just because an iPad makes Apple's compatibility list doesn't necessarily mean it will fully support everything the software has to offer. For example, iOS 15 is compatible wit

Top Stories: Apple Card Savings Account Launches, 15-Inch MacBook Air Rumors, and More

With roughly six weeks to go until WWDC, rumors are continuing to fly about what we might see at the event. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman joined us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to give us his take on things, but there's still lots up in the air. This week also saw the launch of the savings account companion to Apple Card and the promised smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sound recognition feature for HomePod, while Tim Cook was surprised by one user's vintage Mac as Apple opened its first two retail stores in India, so read on for all the details on these stories and more! Apple Card Savings Account Launches With Over 4% Interest Rate Six months after being announced, the Apple Card's savings account is now available in the United States . With a competitive 4.15% APY, the account allows Apple Card users to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback and money deposited from a linked bank account. The savings account is offered by Goldman Sachs and

The MacRumors Show: Mark Gurman Talks WWDC 2023, Apple Headset, and New Macs

Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to talk through all of the latest rumors about the software updates and new hardware expected to be previewed at this year's WWDC, which starts on June 5. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos Mark is known for his accurate insider knowledge about Apple's plans and he is behind many of the major reports covered here on MacRumors . He expects watchOS 10 to be the most significant update to the operating system since its debut, so he tells us more about what to expect and Apple's tradition of offering major hardware and software updates in tandem. He also gives us a clearer picture of what to expect from iOS 17 and macOS 14. We dissect some of the major questions surrounding the two major hardware announcements anticipated for WWDC this year: the 15-inch MacBook Air and the "Reality Pro" mixed-reality headset. We also touch on the status of the App

Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirPods Max Return to $449.99 Along With All-Time Lows on iMac, MacBook Pro, and More

This week we saw a wide variety of Apple products on sale, reaching from the AirPods to the M1 iMac and brand new 14-inch MacBook Pro. Highlights of these sales include a return of the $99 discount on the AirPods Max at $449.99 and the Apple Watch SE available from $219.00. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. AirPods What's the deal? Take up to $99 off the AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 3, and AirPods 2 Where can I get it? Verizon and Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $50 OFF AirPods Pro 2 for $199.99 $20 OFF AirPods 3 (Lightning) for $149.99 $20 OFF AirPods 3 (MagSafe) for $159.00 $30 OFF AirPods 2 for $99.00 $99 OFF AirPods Max for $449.99 All of Apple's current AirPods models are available at a discount this week across Verizon and Amazon. This includes solid