Apple

News, tips, software, reviews, and more for Mac OS X, iPhone, iPad

Apple has released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 to bring Apple Intelligence features to iPhone and iPad. The initial set of Apple Intelligence AI features include writing tools, summaries for messages and emails, and other handy capabilities. Apple Intelligence has strict system requirements however and is not available on all devices. Aside from Apple Intelligence, ... Read More

Apple has released MacOS Sequoia 15.1, the first major update to MacOS Sequoia that includes Apple Intelligence features. The Sequoia 15.1 update also includes a few bug fixes, and brings drag and drop support to the popular iPhone Mirroring feature. Separately, Apple has also released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence, along with ... Read More

If you’d like to play the original Starcraft for free, you can do so easily. Technically the original Starcraft has been available to download, install, and play for free, for a while now, but the instructions on how to do it have changed. It’s not exactly advertised on the Blizzard site or BattleNet either, but ... Read More

Mac users now have another Artificial Intelligence assistant option available to them natively, thanks to the new Perplexity app for Mac. Perplexity offers a free AI-powered answer engine that uses multiple models, including GPT-4o and Claude 3, and perhaps best of all, it cites sources with its answers, so that you can independently confirm or ... Read More

Amazon is offering a rather large discount deal on the M2 MacBook Air base model, coming in at just $699.99 after you clip the on-page coupon. That’s $300 off the Apple retail price on the exact same model! It’s not clear how long this deal price will be available, but if you’ve been in the ... Read More

Apple has released the first beta versions of iOS 18.2, MacOS Sequoia 15.2, and ipadOS 18.2, each with new Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of the .2 releases arrive now despite iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and MacOS Sequoia 15.1 not debuting until next week, though they just landed as Release Candidate builds. The new ... Read More

iPhone Mirroring is a powerful feature introduced with MacOS Sequoia that allows you to control your iPhone from your Mac, using your Mac cursor and keyboard to interact with the iPhone. It’s an incredibly useful feature in MacOS, and it allows full usage of your iPhone even if it’s not next to you or in ... Read More

If you’re a long time Mac user, you might recall the Slow Motion effect that could be applied by holding the Shift key while minimizing and maximizing windows, as well as for other animations like opening Launchpad or using Mission Control. Some of the fun eye-candy effects on Mac go way the early days of ... Read More

Apple has issued release candidate builds of iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and iPadOS 18.1, making them available for users enrolled in the beta testing programs for Apple system software. These versions are the first to include Apple Intelligence support on compatible devices. Initial Apple Intelligence features include functionality for summarizing data, writing tools, and ... Read More

The Mac “Recents” folder in Finder is a useful catchall Smart Folder that, as the name implies, contains all recently opened, modified, or added files that are found within the file system. This means the “Recents” folder should contain everything from text files, documents, PDFs, images, video, basically anything in the file system that has ... Read More

While Scroll-to-Top is a very popular feature for many iPhone users, allowing them to quickly scroll back to the top of any article, feed, email, or message, not everyone is thrilled with the feature. In fact, a large number of users find Scroll-to-Top to be annoying or frustrating, as they activate it accidentally. Others may ... Read More

Apple has updated the iPad Mini line with a spec bump, and the new model is capable of supporting Apple Intelligence. The new iPad Mini 7th generation model debuted via press release, and was not accompanied by any other updated hardware. The iPad Mini continues to offer a small physical footprint with an 8″ LCD ... Read More

Apple has released the 7th beta version of MacOS Sequoia 15.1 to users in the beta testing programs. The MacOS 15.1 beta 7 comes a day after the accompanying iOS 18.1 beta 7 and iPadOS 18.1 beta 7 releases were issued. The most notable difference in MacOS Sequoia 15.1 beta is the inclusion of Apple ... Read More

Scroll-to-Top is a super useful gesture that has been around on the iPhone for a long time, basically rather than swiping to get back to the top of a long screen of text, email, webpage, or whatever, you just tap the top of the screen and it immediately scrolls to the top. This is a ... Read More

Apple has issued the seventh beta versions of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 for iPhone and iPad, respectively. Typically a MacOS Sequoia 15.1 beta soon follows as well. iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 introduce the first Apple Intelligence AI features to compatible devices, and the emphasis should be on compatible devices because ... Read More

More news and rumors, more help and how-tos, more app and accessory reviews, more iPhone and iPad and iPod touch. More of everything you love. iMore.

Time to power down for good.

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Aqara gets a lot right with their Smart Video Doorbell G4, including pricing and features. However, if your porch is tight, its aspect ratio may leave you a bit in the blind.

Smart privacy features, Wi-Fi 6, f/2.0 lens, and wallet-friendly pricing make the Aqara Camera E1 tough to beat.

This mobile Bluetooth DAC has it all! Beautiful design, highly functional features, and excellent sound quality make this my top pick right now.

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This smooth DAC from iFi is a solid performer for those wanting to level up their desktop audio experience.

Paying just $60 for this high-quality DAC means you can spend your money where it counts most, high-quality headphones.

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Today we're tracking a pair of deals, one on the Apple Pencil 2 and one on the 2020 M1 MacBook Air. These sales include the current best price online for the Apple Pencil 2, and an all-time low price on the MacBook Air.

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.

Apple Pencil 2
Firstly, Woot has the Apple Pencil 2 for $109.99, down from $129.00. This sale isn't the lowest price we've ever tracked on this accessory, as it's been down to $99.00 in previous sales earlier this year, but it's still a solid second-best deal if you're looking to purchase an Apple Pencil 2 this week.


$19 OFFApple Pencil 2 for $109.99

The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the new iPad mini 6, but not the new 10.2-inch iPad. For that tablet, only the original Apple Pencil is supported.

MacBook Air
Amazon today has the 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on this model of the 2020 MacBook Air, and it's available in Space Gray and Silver.



You'll see this sale price reflected on the checkout screen, once an automatic coupon is applied to your order. While the Gold option won't be available until around October 1, you can still purchase a Gold MacBook Air today at this discounted price ahead of the delayed shipping date.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

The 256GB model is on sale as well, available for $849.99, down from $999.00. All three colors are discounted for this model, but none are in stock today. This is still the lowest price we've ever tracked for the 256GB MacBook Air, so if you're willing to wait a few weeks, it's worth locking in this price while it's available.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Get the Apple Pencil 2 for $109.99 ($19 Off) and 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.99 ($149 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today is offering the 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a match of the all-time low price on this model of the 2020 MacBook Air, and it's available in Gold and Silver.

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'll see this sale price reflected on the checkout screen, once an automatic coupon is applied to your order. Only the Gold color is available to ship today, while the Silver option won't be available until around September 21. You can still purchase a Silver MacBook Air today at this discounted price ahead of the delayed shipping date.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

The 256GB model is on sale as well, available for $849.99, down from $999.00. All three colors are discounted for this model, but none are in stock today. This is still the lowest price we've ever tracked for the 256GB MacBook Air, so if you're willing to wait a few weeks, it's worth locking in this price while it's available.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Amazon Takes $149 Off 2020 MacBook Air Models, Starting at $849.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today introduced new low prices on the M1 MacBook Air for both 256GB and 512GB storage options. To start, you can get the 256GB model for $849.99, down from an original price of $999.00.

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.

Only Silver and Gold are available at this price on Amazon. This sale marks a new all-time low price for Apple's 2020 M1 MacBook Air, providing the cheapest entry price into the lineup since it debuted last year.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $849.99

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and it's available in all colors.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Amazon Drops Price of 256GB M1 MacBook Air to New Low of $849.99 ($149 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week has the M1 MacBook Pro on sale in both 256GB and 512GB configurations, including a return to record low prices for both models. Prices start at $1,099.99 for the 256GB MacBook Pro, down from $1,299.00. You'll see the discount after an automatic coupon worth $49.01 is applied at the checkout screen 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.

This price is a match of the previous all-time low price on the 256GB M1 MacBook Pro. This model of Apple's notebook line includes the same aluminum body with large Force Touch trackpad as previous generations, speakers at the side of the keyboard, and a 13.3-inch display with slim black bezels. Both colors are on sale and available to ship out today.

$199 OFF256GB M1 MacBook Pro for $1,099.99

Secondly, Amazon has the 512GB MacBook Pro for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This sale price is available in both Silver and Space Gray, and it's sold directly from Amazon.

$199 OFF512GB M1 MacBook Pro for $1,299.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple DealsRelated Forum: MacBook Pro
This article, "Deals: All-Time Low Prices Return to Apple's M1 MacBook Pro, Starting at $1,099.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Best Buy and Amazon are both offering great deals on numerous models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air today, including a handful of record low deals on the latest Apple notebooks.

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.

13-Inch M1 MacBook Air
Starting with the 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Air, you'll find the 256GB notebook for $899.00 at Amazon and $899.99 at Best Buy, down from $999.00. Amazon stock has dwindled and will "ship soon," but Best Buy has plenty of stock in all three colors.

Additionally, both retailers have the 512GB M1 MacBook Air at $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. While this is a record low price on the 512GB notebook, the 256GB model's discount is a second-best price.

• M1 MacBook Air, 256GB - $899.99, down from $999.00 at Best Buy / Amazon


• M1 MacBook Air, 512GB - $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00 at Best Buy / Amazon

13-Inch M1 MacBook Pro
For the newest MacBook Pro models, Best Buy and Amazon have lowest ever prices on the new 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the 256GB notebook for $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00, in both Silver and Space Gray.

For more storage, the 512GB M1 MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This model is also available in both Silver and Space Gray at this price.

• M1 MacBook Pro, 256GB - $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00 at Best Buy / Amazon


• M1 MacBook Pro, 512GB - $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00 at Best Buy / Amazon

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Take Up to $199 Off Apple's M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air at Best Buy and Amazon" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A record low discount has returned to Apple's 512GB M1 Mac mini today on Amazon. You can get this model for $799.00, down from its original price of $899.00.

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.

This sale matches the previous all-time low price on the 512GB M1 Mac mini seen on Amazon, and it's available to ship out today. You'll find a matching sale over at B&H Photo, which offers free expedited shipping for orders placed in the United States.

$100 OFFM1 Mac mini (512GB) for $799.99

At this time, the 256GB M1 Mac mini is not seeing a steep discount at any retailer, with Amazon offering the lowest price at $659.00, down from $699.00. The best price on this model has been $599.00, so we recommend waiting for a better deal.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, Mac miniBuyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Mac mini
This article, "Deals: Get Apple's 512GB M1 Mac Mini for Record Low of $799 on Amazon ($100 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineup is seeing all-time low discounts across the board today, including the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 13-inch MacBook Air, and 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro.

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.

13-Inch M1 MacBook Air
Starting with the 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Air, Amazon has the 256GB notebook for $899.00, down from $999.00. This price is available in all three colors of Gold, Silver, and Space Gray, but stock is dwindling on the latter two options.

$100 OFF13-inch MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.00

Additionally, Amazon is also selling the 512GB M1 MacBook Air at $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. Both of these discounts represent all-time low prices, and they're shipped and sold directly from Amazon.

$150 OFF13-inch MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.00

13-Inch M1 MacBook Pro
For the newest MacBook Pro models, Amazon has lowest ever prices on the new 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the 256GB notebook for $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00, in both Silver and Space Gray.

$199 OFF13-inch MacBook Pro (256GB) for $1,099.99

For more storage, the 512GB M1 MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This model is also available in both Silver and Space Gray at this price.

$199 OFF13-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99

16-Inch MacBook Pro
Moving to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we're tracking record low prices on both storage options for this 2019 notebook. You can get the 512GB model for $1,999.99, down from $2,399.00. This sale is available in both Silver and Space Gray color options.

$399 OFF16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,999.99

The 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.99, down from $2,799.00. Like the other model, this is an all-time low price, but it's only available in Silver. Both notebooks are sold by Amazon and are ready to ship today.

$499 OFF16-inch MacBook Pro (1TB) for $2,299.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook Pro, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 14" & 16" MacBook Pro (Don't Buy), 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Shop Record Low Prices Across Apple's Full MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Lineup (Up to $499 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today we're tracking a pair of deals on the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro from late 2020, with Amazon matching previous record low prices on both storage options for this model.

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.

Starting with the 256GB 13-inch MacBook Pro, you can get this model for $1,099.99 in Space Gray on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. At the time of writing, the Silver model is out of stock for this sale.

$199 OFFM1 MacBook Pro (256GB) for $1,099.99

You can also get the 512GB 13-inch MacBook Pro on sale today, priced at $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. Both Silver and Space Gray colors are available for this model, and they're shipped and sold by Amazon.

$199 OFFM1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99

Both of these discounts found today on Amazon match the previous all-time low prices on these M1 MacBook Pro models, making them the best sales online this week. You won't need any coupon code or have to wait for a discount at checkout, as both sales have been directly applied already by Amazon.

You can find the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.Related Roundup: Apple DealsRelated Forum: MacBook Pro
This article, "Deals: Find All-Time Low Prices on M1 MacBook Pro Models in Amazon's Newest Sales ($199 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon, B&H Photo, and Adorama today are discounting the M1 MacBook Air to match previous record low prices for both 256GB and 512GB storage options. To start, you can get the 256GB model for $899.00 today on Adorama, down from an original price of $999.00.

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.

Only Silver and Space Gray are available at this price on Adorama. You can also find this sale on Amazon, with a $50 automatic coupon applied at checkout on the Gold and Silver colors. Gold is available to ship in one to two business days, and Silver will be in stock soon, according to Amazon.

$100 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.00

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and it's available in all colors. For Silver and Space Gray, you'll find an automatic coupon that will be applied to your order at the checkout screen. The same sale can be found at B&H Photo on the Gold model.

$150 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.00

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Get the M1 MacBook Air for Up to $150 Off, Starting at $899 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today is offering the 512GB M1 MacBook Air for $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. This is beating the previous sale price by about $50, and represents a new low price for this model of the 2020 MacBook Air.

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 get the M1 MacBook Air at this price in both Gold and Silver. For the latter color option, you'll see the price reflected at the checkout screen once a $50 coupon is automatically applied.

$150 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.00

The 256GB model is on sale as well, available for $899.00, down from $999.00. This is a sale price that we've been tracking for most of the summer, so it remains a solid deal if you are shopping for the entry level model of the MacBook Air.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Apple's 512GB M1 MacBook Air Hits New Low Price at $1,099 ($150 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week has a sale on Apple's new 24-inch M1 iMac in two configurations. Sales start with the 7-core GPU with 256GB, priced at $1,249.99, down from $1,299.00. This sale is available in Blue and Silver.

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.

This sale is a match of the previous record low price on this version of the M1 iMac. No other retailers are matching the sale as of writing, so you'll only find this deal on Amazon.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (7-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,249.99

In another new sale, Amazon is also offering $49 off the M1 iMac with the 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage, priced at $1,449.99, down from $1,499.00. These iMacs are sold directly from Amazon and both are available to ship today.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,449.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Get $49 Off Apple's New M1 iMacs, Starting at $1,249.99 for 7-Core 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In the wake of Prime Day, Amazon is still discounting the M1 MacBook Air to record low prices in both 256GB and 512GB storage options. To start, you can get the 256GB model for $899.99 today on Amazon, down from an original price of $999.00.

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.

As of writing, all colors are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon. The sale has also been applied automatically so you won't need to wait until the checkout screen to see the discount price.

$99 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.99

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and you'll see this price at the checkout screen once a coupon worth $50 is applied.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Amazon Continuing to Discount M1 MacBook Air Models to All-Time Low Prices (Save Up to $149)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's 512GB M1 MacBook Air has returned to its all-time low price of $1,149.00, down from $1,249.00. This sale is available on Amazon, and only for the Gold color option. Stock appears to be low, although Amazon sometimes has more in stock than is reflected on the website.

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.

Apple updated the MacBook Air in November 2020 with the new Apple M1 chip, which has an 8-core CPU, a 7- or 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning. These updates brought about improved performance, better battery life, and more. There's also a 256GB model, but we aren't seeing any notable discounts this week.

$100 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,149.00

You can find the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our new "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Amazon Discounts 512GB M1 MacBook Air to Match Record Low Price of $1,149 ($100 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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At Amazon today you can get Apple's 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00 on Amazon. You'll see this price at the checkout screen after an automatic coupon worth $50 is applied.

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.

This sale is available in both Silver and Space Gray color options, and it's in stock and ready to ship. At a total of $199 off the original price, this is a match of the previous low price on this model of the MacBook Pro.

$199 OFFM1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99

If anyone's on the hunt for the entry level version of the M1 MacBook Pro, Amazon does have the 256GB model at its typical sale price of $1,149.99, down from $1,299.00. There's no checkout coupon for this one, and it's also being discounted in both colors.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundup: Apple DealsRelated Forum: MacBook Pro
This article, "Deals: Apple's 512GB M1 MacBook Pro Hits $1,299.99 on Amazon ($199 Off, Lowest Price)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today is taking $49 off Apple's new 24-inch M1 iMac in two configurations. Sales start with the 7-core GPU with 256GB, priced at $1,249.99, down from $1,299.00. This sale is available in Blue and Silver.

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.

Amazon previously was discounting this model down to around $1,258.99, making today's sale a new all-time low on this model of the M1 iMac. No other retailers are matching the sale as of writing, so you'll only find this deal on Amazon.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (7-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,249.99

In another new sale, Amazon is also offering $49 off the M1 iMac with the 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage, priced at $1,449.99, down from $1,499.00. These iMacs are sold directly from Amazon and both are available to ship today.

$49 OFFM1 iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) for $1,449.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundup: Apple Deals
This article, "Deals: Take $49 Off Apple's M1 iMac With New All-Time Low Prices" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Record low discounts have returned to Apple's 2020 M1 Mac mini on Amazon today, in both 256GB and 512GB storage options. For the 256GB model, you won't see the sale price until you reach the checkout screen and receive an automatic coupon on your order.

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 256GB M1 Mac mini, you can get this version for $599.99, down from $699.00. This is beating the previous Amazon low price of $639.00, and it's in stock and ready to ship today.

$99 OFFM1 Mac mini (256GB) for $599.99

You can also save $100 on the 512GB M1 Mac mini, available for $799.00, down from $899.00. This is another all-time low price on the M1 Mac mini, beating the previous record low of $829.00 on Amazon and other retailers.

$100 OFFM1 Mac mini (512GB) for $799.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, Mac miniBuyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Mac mini
This article, "Deals: Save $100 on Apple's 2020 M1 Mac Mini, Starting at $599.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon today has introduced another discount on Apple's 512GB 27-inch 5K iMac with 6-core CPU. We've been tracking a discount down to $1,699.99 over the past few weeks, and now you can get this 2020 model for $1,599.99, down from $1,999.00, after an automatic coupon worth $299.01 is applied at checkout.

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.

This is now the best price we've ever tracked for this model of the 27-inch iMac across all retailers. The iMac is ready to ship today with Amazon's typical free shipping for all Prime members.

$399 OFF27-inch iMac (512GB SSD) for $1,599.99

Additionally, the 256GB 27-inch 5K iMac is on sale for $1,499.99, down from $1,699.00. This model hasn't seen a discount in a few weeks, and now Amazon has introduced a sale alongside the 512GB model. You'll see the markdown at checkout after a $199.01 discount is automatically applied.

$299 OFF27-inch iMac (256GB SSD) for $1,499.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Amazon Introduces Pair of Record Low Prices on Apple's 27-Inch iMacs (Save Up to $399)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Today we're tracking an ongoing record low price on Apple's 512GB 27-inch 5K iMac with 6-core CPU from 2020. You can get this model for $1,699.99 on Amazon, down from $1,999.00, after an automatic coupon worth $199.01 is applied at checkout.

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.

This sale was introduced last month on Amazon and it remains the best discount we've ever tracked for this model of the 27-inch Intel iMac. Amazon's discount is so steep it's pricing the 512GB model down to the same level as the 256GB 27-inch iMac.

$299 OFF27-inch iMac (512GB SSD) for $1,699.99

The iMac is in stock and sold by Amazon, ready to ship today with Amazon's typical free shipping for all Prime members. You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide.

There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Amazon Discounts 512GB 27-Inch iMac to Lowest Price of $1,699.99 ($299 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Amazon this week is still hosting a record low deal on Apple's 512GB 27-inch 5K iMac with 6-core CPU. You can get this 2020 model for $1,699.99, down from $1,999.00, after an automatic coupon worth $199.01 is applied at checkout.

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.

This sale is particularly notable because it knocks down the 512GB 27-inch iMac to the same price level as the 256GB model. It's also the best price we've ever tracked across all of the major Apple resellers online. The iMac is ready to ship today with Amazon's typical free shipping for all Prime members.

$299 OFF27-inch iMac (512GB SSD) for $1,699.99

You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Deals: Get Apple's 512GB 27-Inch iMac for Lowest Price of $1,699.99 ($299 Off)" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's M1 MacBook Air with a 256GB SSD has returned to its all-time low price of $899.99 today on Amazon, down from an original price of $999.00. This sale will be seen after an automatic coupon worth $50 is applied at checkout.

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.

As of writing, only the Gold color option is in stock and ready to ship from Amazon. Silver is delayed by over a month, but Space Gray will be "in stock soon" according to Amazon's stock estimation.

$99 OFFM1 MacBook Air (256GB) for $899.99

Likewise, the 512GB version of the M1 MacBook Air is seeing a notable discount to $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This is a record low price for the notebook, and it's only available at this price in Gold.

$149 OFFM1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.Related Roundups: Apple Deals, MacBook AirBuyer's Guide: 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forum: MacBook Air
This article, "Deals: Amazon Discounting M1 MacBook Air Models By Up to $149, Starting at $899.99 for 256GB" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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AppleInsider News Feed

My Best Buy Plus members can snap up the first material discounts on Apple's brand-new M4 iMac 24-inch.


Save on Apple's new M4 iMac - Image credit: Apple
Save $50 to $100 on retail configurations of Apple's 2024 M4 iMac, which was announced on Oct. 28. Equipped with the M4 chip, you can save on both 8-core and 10-core CPU/GPU options.


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In previous versions of macOS Gatekeeper, Control-click could be used as a launch override for running downloaded apps. Apple has now changed that.


macOS Gatekeeper is used to validate macOS apps.
Under earlier versions of macOS, users could override Apple's Gatekeeper security to launch apps in the Finder by Control-clicking on them to launch them.

The override was only needed on an app's first run, but it's still annoying nonetheless to some users.


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An Amazon listing for the 24-inch iMac contained a now-removed comparison chart that included Apple's unannounced smaller Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro.


The new Mac mini will resemble a miniature Mac Studio
Apple's week of announcements does a great job keeping its new products in the news cycle for longer, but the strategy may have backfired. A comparison chart on Amazon showed the unreleased Mac mini and some of its specs, but has since been removed.

The comparison chart was discovered by MacRumors on Amazon's 24-inch iMac listing. It shows a small thumbnail of what looks like a miniature Mac Studio and can be configured with the M4 and M4 Pro.


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The 24-inch iMac has been upgraded with the M4, but more than a simple chip update was revealed on Monday. Here's what you might have missed.


The iMac has received Apple's M4 chip.
Apple revealed a straightforward spec upgrade to the 24-inch iMac, which has received the M4 chip previously used only in the iPad Pro.

While the new iMac has no visible differences compared to its M3-powered predecessor, the computer did receive meaningful hardware enhancements. Some of Apple's accessories also received a minor update.


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Apple Intelligence launched Monday with iOS 18.1, and Apple has released two new ads to showcase some features with a touch of humor.


Apple Intelligence Writing Tools
Apple's new iPhone 16 ads highlight its Apple Intelligence capabilities, including memory movie creation and writing tools. The ads showcase practical applications of these features and continue Apple's tradition of using humor to make the generative technology relatable.

The launch of iOS 18.1 introduces Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features available across select iPhones, iPads, and Macs. These enhancements aim to make everyday tasks more intuitive and efficient.


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The 24-inch iMac is now on the M4 chip. Here's how much of an upgrade you can get compared to the M1 original, released over three years prior.


M4 24-inch iMac [left], M1 24-inch iMac [right]
Apple introduced the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip back in April 2021, ushering in a new model of the all-in-one desktop Mac. Three and a half years later, the third iteration has arrived.

On Monday, as part of Apple's week of Mac updates, it upgraded the 24-inch iMac to include the M4 chip, among other small changes.


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Apple aims to make hearing health more accessible with AirPods Pro 2, introducing a tool for protecting, testing, and enhancing hearing. The company reveals the development process behind these features.


AirPods Pro Earbuds In Hand
The company is taking a significant leap in personal health tech with the launch of its comprehensive hearing health solution, now officially announced for the AirPods Pro 2. The news follows earlier coverage on October 22, which gave a sneak peek into Apple's state-of-the-art Audio Lab in Cupertino.

With the official release, Apple confirms that its new features — Hearing Protection, at-home Hearing Test, and clinical-grade Hearing Aid functionality — are now available through a software update. Apple introduces an end-to-end hearing health experience, marking the first time a consumer tech company has done so to address a growing global health concern.


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Apple Intelligence is currently available in U.S. English only but will expand to support several other languages in the early second quarter of 2025, including several not previously announced.


Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence has rolled out for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on Monday with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1, but the new feature currently only supports U.S. English. The iOS 18.2 beta shows that support will be expanded to English from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom in December.

However, non-English speaking countries needn't wait too long for their turn with Apple's newest AI-powered features, as they will drop in April 2025. A footnote in Monday's Apple Newsroom announcement reads as follows:


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A new iMac announcement video ushers in Apple's newest desktop computer— but also confirms that two more products will drop this week.


Image Credit: Apple
The video clocks in at just over 10 minutes long and features all the polish of a full-featured Apple Event. However, this time, the video is headed up by Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, rather than CEO Tim Cook.



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Apple's visionOS 2.1 update brings crucial bug fixes and stability improvements to Apple Vision Pro, laying the groundwork for even more immersive spatial computing experiences.


visionOS 2.1 brings stability & bug fixes to Apple Vision Pro
The company officially rolled out visionOS 2.1 on October 28, 2024. The update is the latest effort to refine the device's capabilities and improve user experience.

While it doesn't introduce groundbreaking new features, it delivers essential bug fixes and performance enhancements, making it a recommended update for all Vision Pro users.


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Maybe it's early in the game, maybe we just have to get used to it, but Apple Intelligence is not yet as big a part of the Mac as it is the iPhone.


Apple Intelligence is now available on the Mac
Really, it seems that Apple Intelligence is made for the iPhone and the iPad. It's there on the Mac, too, and the writing tools ought to be a perfect fit for macOS Sequoia, but in practice Apple Intelligence is making little impact on the Mac.


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Apple has updated its Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad to feature USB-C — and that includes the new color-matched accessories shipping with the M4 iMac.


Apple's updated Magic Keyboard - Image Credit: Apple
On Monday, Apple opened preorders for the brand-new M4 iMac, which is set to ship out on November 8. Like the M1 and M3 iMacs before it, it will come in an array of fun colors — seven to be exact.

And, like its predecessors, the new iMac will ship with color-matched accessories. Buyers can choose between a standard Magic Keyboard or a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and a numeric keypad for $80 more.


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Save $100 on a number of M2 iPad Air models thanks to month-end deals at Amazon, with prices dipping to $499.


Save $100 on Apple's iPad Air 6.
The $100 discount applies to multiple M2 iPad Air models, starting with the 11-inch 128GB Wi-Fi model that's now on sale for $499. Previously, the lowest price had been $529.99, so this new price drop reflects another 5% off MSRP.

Save $100 on iPad Air


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It's time to update your Apple Watch again — Apple has officially released watchOS 11.1.


watchOS 11
The beta builds of watchOS 11.1 didn't have any significant new features, suggesting that Apple is concentrating on enhancing the system's underlying stability and performance. This kind of update is crucial for maintaining the smooth operation of the devices and ensuring that new features introduced in previous versions operate at their best.

In mid-September, Apple rolled out watchOS 11, which brought a few new key features to Apple's flagship wearable. New features included customizable Activity Rings, advanced health monitoring with the Vitals app, and the new Training Load tool for athletes.


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Apple has rolled out tvOS 18.1, a relatively minor update focused on bug fixes and performance upgrades.


Apple TV 4K
Apple's release of tvOS 18.1 is now available to the public on Apple TV and Apple TV 4K. As anticipated, no public-facing notes of interest exist for this specific release.

In mid-September, Apple rolled out tvOS 18 alongside updates to its other operating systems. While Apple typically doesn't push out robust updates for the set-top box every year, 2024 marks the second year in a row with significant changes.


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Apple Intelligence arrives one month into iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, bringing a few of the anticipated Apple Intelligence features to iPhones and iPads, but there's nothing revolutionary about Apple's AI push.


iOS 18.1 & iPadOS 18.1 review: Apple Intelligence arrives
When new technologies arrive, the world races to try and adopt them to be ahead of the game. Apple is rarely ever first to something, if in the top ten, and that's been the case with so-called artificial intelligence.

There's not much new in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 beyond the Apple Intelligence updates. Apple has continued to refine the new dark and tinted icons, but beyond some new app splash screens, there's little else.


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Apple has released iOS 18.1, the first major update to iOS 18 that includes the first wave of Apple Intelligence features usable by the public.


Apple Intelligence's Siri animation on an iPhone
The initial release of iOS 18 took place on September 16, but it lacked Apple's headline feature, Apple Intelligence. With the just-released update to iOS 18.1, some of the functionality is finally becoming available to use.

Apple has been beta-testing Apple Intelligence's tools since not long after the first beta of iOS 18. Since the start of the betas, including the eventual public betas, Apple has included some of the features, and gradually added more over time.


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Apple has released macOS Sequoia 15.1 with the promised first set of Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools and an improved Siri.


Apple releases macOS Sequoia 15.1 with Siri improvements
Following its initial release in mid-September 2024, macOS Sequoia has now been updated to include Apple Intelligence. The update contains the bulk of Apple Intelligence features, but not all of them.

Specifically, macOS Sequoia 15.1 still lacks the promised integration with ChatGPT, plus Genmoji and the generative Image Playground. What it does bring are:


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Apple has updated its 24-inch iMac, with the all-in-one desktop Mac now sporting more performance thanks to the M4 chip.


M4 24-inch iMac - Image credit: Apple
Introduced as part of Apple's week of Mac announcements, the update to the 24-inch iMac is a classic spec-bump update. While the new model is pretty much identical to the previous generation, it still has upgrades where it counts.

Here, that means stepping up from the M3 chip in the last version and using the M4 chip instead. Apple says the M4 chip has the fastest CPU core in the world, and is 1.7 times faster than the M1 iMac in terms of performance.


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Critics are, as they do, having a field day preannouncing Apple's purported plans to "cancel" or "discontinue" the first iteration of its Apple Vision Pro Spatial Computing platform.




But what is Apple really doing with its immersive headset? Is Vision Pro a big tragic, befuddled mistake like the AI Pin, or is it just the first step in a meticulously planned rollout of the future?

Shock journalists love amping up ordinary things into alarming news. And since Google converted essentially the entire journalism vocation into being little more than interns click baiting for ad views, there sadly isn't much else out there anymore but shock journalism and its bombastic claims that generally end up being nothing burgers.


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On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast we go over another new smart lock from Kwikset, talk about the viral iPhone StandBy dock, and test the Govee smart ice maker.


HomeKit Insider Podcast
Kwikset has launched the new Halo Select smart lock that works over Wi-Fi or can use Matter over Thread. It's a compact retrofit lock that also has a built-in exterior keypad.

Ecobee has also announced a new smart lock endeavor, integrating with Assa Abloy brands August and Yale. You can now unlock your compatible smart lock directly from the live view.


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The iPhone 16 is not allowed to be sold in Indonesia, with the sales ban triggered by a lack of investment by Apple into the country.


Jakarta - Image credit: Tom Fisk/Pexels
On October 11, it was warned that Apple faces the prospect of a sales ban in Indonesia, if it didn't manage to renew a content requirements certification in time. A few weeks later, that ban has become a reality.

"Imported iPhone 16 hardwares cannot be marketed in the country, because Apple Indonesia has not fulfilled its investment commitment to earn a local content certification," said industry ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief on Friday to Reuters.


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Investment bank JP Morgan says that demand for the iPhone 16 range is roughly the same as for the iPhone 15 in 2023, but shipping times for the Pro models are shrinking.


iPhone 16 [left], iPhone 16 Pro
With Apple not releasing details of how many iPhones it is making, nor breaking it down by model type, JP Morgan tracks shipping times. Its analysts have previously said that iPhone 16 Pro Max has been high, but all other models resemble the shipping times for the iPhone 15 range.

In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, JP Morgan says that shipping lead times have moderately improved for all iPhone 16 models. However, the "decline is particularly notable across the Pro models."


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A new teardown of the seventh-generation iPad mini has revealed very little in the way of changes, and no apparent physical change to reduce jelly scrolling despite evidence that the effect is minimized.


The seventh-generation iPad mini sports an A17 Pro chip for Apple Intelligence. Credit: Apple
The 2024 iPad mini doesn't get rid of the problem entirely, but reduces the effect — despite no obvious change to the display driver board. The teardown by iFixit.com did, however, uncover some of Apple's changes to the new model — including an interesting change to the Apple logo seen on the back of the device.

In addition to upgrading the chip to the A17 Pro and the minimum RAM to 8GB so that the new iPad mini supports Apple Intelligence, Apple has upgraded the base storage to 128GB. Because of the new chip, the 2024 iPad mini now supports both the Apple Pencil, and the new Apple Pencil Pro.


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A former Apple employee has publicly thanked the company and CEO Tim Cook for their assistance in helping employees and their families in the city of Kharkiv to evacuate when Russia's invasion of the country encroached on the northeastern Ukrainian city.


Companies like Apple protect and sometimes rescue employees. Image credit: Max Kukurudziak
Katrin Rezykova, who was previously at Apple as an engineer and developer, noted in a tweet on X.com on October 25th that she had "never told" the story of how Apple evacuated her and her grandmother, among others, from Kharkiv. She said in her post that Apple had "hired security contractors — translators, drivers, everything" to aid in the evacuation.

Calling the story "very internal and not for the press," Rezykova also showed an undated email from Apple CEO Tim Cook, a follow-up after she had let Cook and others at Apple know the evacuation was successful. In his reply, Cook expressed thanks for the confirmation, and added "Please give your Grandmother my best."


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An SEC hack involved spoofing an iPhone, an NFL player's iPad is stolen from his car, and "porch pirates" are being caught.


A man in handcuffs (Pixabay)
The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the latest in Apple-related crime.


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A new report claims that Apple's week of announcements will start with a 24-inch M4 iMac and two versions of a redesigned Mac mini. M4-powered versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro will also be unveiled.


The next Mac mini is said to be getting the most substantial redesign of the M4 Mac lineup.
Apple has announced a week of Mac or Mac-related launches, and now Bloomberg says it will see the company standardizing its entire Mac lineup on the M4 family of chips across late 2024 and early 2025. This is the first time this has happened since the company began using its own Apple Silicon processors.

The reasoning is that Apple wants all of its latest devices to be able to run its Apple Intelligence technology. This is also the reasoning behind the bump to 16GB of RAM, which could be the new base standard across all of the forthcoming models.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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Apple's rumored smart home display could arrive in two forms, with the robot arm version joined by another with an iMac-style base.


iMac G4 - Image credit: Apple
Rumors throughout 2024 has put forward the idea that Apple is working on more smart home devices, to expand its ecosystem's footprint. While rumors have previously discussed a robot arm, it seems there may be another device in development.

In Sunday's Bloomberg newsletter, Apple is reportedly coming up with a second version. A relatively small device, it apparently has a square display the size of two iPhones side by side.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Following updates to the rest of the iPad lineup during 2024, the lowest-cost model is now expected to see a refresh in spring of 2025.


The 10th generation iPad came in multiple colors in 2022
The regular iPad was last updated in October 2022, and this 10th generation model had its price cut to $349 in May 2024. It's now the last iPad to see an update, but according to Bloomberg, the 11th generation iPad will be released in the spring.

It's claimed that the iPad will have at least approximately the same design as the 10th generation. It will, though, be faster, although it's not known what processor will be used.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


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Amazon's weekend deals see price cuts on the brand-new iPad mini 7, along with discounts on the 10th Gen, M4 iPad Pro and 2024 iPad Air.


New discounts hit Apple iPads, even the new mini 7 - Image credit: Apple
Select models from Apple's entire iPad range are marked down at Apple resellers this weekend, with the new iPad mini 7 seeing its first double-digit discount at Amazon.


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A YouTube video shows off a newly-developed technique to replace the soldered-on storage modules on most modern MacBook Pro and other MacBook models — but the upgrade is impractical and costly to do.


Video shows replacement of original soldered storage with PCB that uses the M.2 connector.
YouTuber iBoff RCC, based in Malaysia, uses the video to show off a custom-made replacement PCB miniboard with an m.2 connector, which is microsoldered in place of the removed original storage modules. A snap-in component, ordered from iBoff, offers replaceable modules featuring storage in quantities of up to 2TB.

The difficult part, which iBoff hopes you will let them do rather than trying it yourself, is to desolder the original storage modules and remove them, then microsolder the replacement PCB miniboard into those sockets. This is referenced, but not shown in detail.


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Apple says it will be allowing access to forthcoming image-creation tools like Image Wand, Genmoji, and Image Playground "over the coming weeks," making for an unusually long waitlist for testers.


Developers are waiting to test the Apple Intelligence graphics tools.
Despite having already released the first beta of iOS 18.2 to developers, access to the new graphics tools will be limited. Apple said in a note to developers that "when the features are ready for you to test, you will be notified."



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A Delaware jury has found smartwatch maker Masimo guilty of infringing Apple's Apple Watch patents on health technology, but limited it to only older smartwatch models that are no longer sold, and awarded the firm the least damages it legally could.


Apple and Masimo's legal battles have now taken a small step forward
In the suit just decided, Apple accused Masimo in 2022 of infringing two of its own design patents to "make way for its own watch." The jury has now found Masimo guilty of the charge for Masimo's former Freedom and W1 smartwatches, but said the company was not guilty of infringement on any current products.

It awarded Apple a token $250 in damages, the legal minimum for infringement. Apple's attorneys had sought a sales injunction against current Masimo products it said were infringing Apple's patents, but that charge was denied by the jury, Reuters has reported.


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Apple has added sudoku to its collection of puzzles in Apple News+, giving another way for subscribers to test their brainpower every day.


Sudoku for Apple News+
Apple News+ offers subscribers in the United States and Canada a selection of puzzles that update daily. In the first developer beta of iOS 18.2, the collection has grown with another challenge.

The new inclusion is sudoku, a regular numbers-based logic puzzle that quickly became a staple alongside crosswords in newspapers around the world. The discovery was first made by Chris Carley, spotted by 9to5Mac


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Apple has confirmed that it will announce new Macs during a week-long event starting October 28. It isn't the first time it's taken this route, and I'm absolutely here for it.


Apple could have a lot to unveil through Halloween week.
It was the worst-kept secret in tech that Apple was ramping up to announce new M4-powered Macs sooner rather than later. The company has now essentially confirmed as much after Apple SVP Greg Joswiak took to the X social network to tease "an exciting week of announcements" featuring a stylized Finder icon.

As for what we can expect from the M4 Mac event, there's a lot. M4 chips are clearly going to be the order of the day after the M4 iPad Pro's debut earlier this year.


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Safari will soon be able to show spatial photos and videos to Apple Vision Pro users, so this content captured on iPhone can now be shared beyond the Photos and third-party apps.


Apple Vision Pro will soon be able to see spatial content in Safari
Spatial photos and videos can be captured on iPhone 15 Pro and any iPhone 16 model, but viewing that media has mostly been limited to the Photos app on Apple Vision Pro. Third-party apps have tried making sharing spatial media easier, but they further complicate the process.

According to information shared with PetaPixel during a conversation with Apple's Product Manager Della Huff and design team member Billy Sorrentino, spatial media is coming to Safari. Website designers will be able to implement the ability to show spatial media to Apple Vision Pro users and 2D media to everyone else.


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Apple is still working to help fight diabetes, with a report claiming it is internally testing an app to help people manage their blood sugar levels.


Glucose monitoring on an Apple Watch using a Dexcom app
Apple has long been rumored to be working on ways to monitor a user's blood-sugar level from hardware like an Apple Watch. While the work to make a non-invasive sensor continues, it's also trying other ways to fight diabetes.

Employees who were prediabetic were involved in testing an app made by Apple, reports sources of Bloomberg. They were given a blood test to determine whether they were at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and were monitored by a variety of blood testing devices throughout the testing period.


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Amazon's latest MacBook Air discount drops the price of the current M3 model to just $849.99 with an on-page coupon.


Amazon issues new price cut on the latest MacBook Air - Image credit: Apple
The $849.99 price on the standard 13-inch model in Space Gray reflects a $250 price drop off MSRP and delivers the best M3 MacBook Air price available.

Buy M3 Air for $849.99


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Apple CEO Tim Cook was entrepreneurial from an early age, using money from a paper route to save toward his college education.


Tim Cook - Image credit: Apple
As the head of a major tech company, Tim Cook has a lot of experience dealing with business decisions and with money. In an interview discussing his upbringing, he reveals that he helped improve his education by taking jobs at a very young stage in his life.

Speaking to WSJ Magazine in a video, Cook said "Throwing papers helped start my college education." He became the first person in his family to ever attend college, thanks to that job.


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Apple isn't going to have a launch video for its forthcoming Mac announcements, so YouTuber Jon Prosser has made one anyway.


Jon Prosser as a Tim Cook-like figure in a parody Apple Event video — image source: Frontpage Tech
It's chiefly a way to predict what Apple's announcements will include, but it's also quite lovingly made with mostly very successful attempts to look as if it's been shot at Apple Park. Prosser stars as a character who is not named as Tim Cook, but unquestionably is.

Beyond the list of predictions, it's this impersonation of Cook that works the best. Cook has a particular rhythm to his speech, and also quite a finite set of hand gestures to accompany them.


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Sales of the iPhone are increasing in China, with Apple making a return to the country's top five smartphones thanks to the iPhone 16.


Apple's Head of Retail, Deirdre O'Brien, in Apple Sanlitun, Beijing - Image credit: Apple
Apple has been having a tough time in China, with rival smartphone producers putting the squeeze on iPhone in the market. Even so, it seems that iPhone is enjoying more support from consumers.

The figures released by IDC on Friday puts Apple in second place in the top five smartphone producers in China for Q3 2024, a return to the list for the company. IDC puts this down to a successful launch of the iPhone 16 in the market.


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Apple has now promised us a week of what appears to be new Mac announcements, just as analysts start saying iPhone sales are failing, and Apple Intelligence is finally upon us.


Apple's week of Mac announcements is coming
It's not as if it matters when this podcast is recorded, but this time you will hear Wesley Hilliard in mid-sentence as Apple makes its latest announcement. W practically need a Breaking News theme.

That announcement promises a week of excitement — Apple's words — so Wes and William Gallagher get to counting on their fingers just what can come out when. Plus, this is a curious week to release new Macs because it's as certain as can be that the first round of Apple Intelligence will be released on October 28.


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Constant distractions on your Mac can derail productivity, but Apple's Distraction Control tool provide an easy way to stay focused and in control. Here's where to find it.


How to use Distraction Control on Mac
From pop-up ads to cluttered sidebars, it's easy to get distracted by non-essential elements on a webpage. Fortunately, with the introduction of macOS Sequoia, iPadOS 18, and iOS 18, Safari has a new feature called Distraction Control.

Distraction Control is a Safari feature designed to hide specific parts of a webpage that may divert your attention. Unlike traditional ad blockers that try to eliminate all ads, Distraction Control gives you the freedom to manually select and hide items that you find distracting — whether they're ads, menus, or embedded videos.


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Apple has released a new firmware update for AirPods Pro 2, which ushers in support for an all-new set of Hearing Health features.


AirPods Pro 2 receive support for Hearing Health with Apple's latest firmware update.
Thursday's firmware increases the build number to 7B19, from the previous 7A305. The company's latest firmware update for AirPods 2 was deployed on October 24, following the release of firmware updates intended for developer testing.

In June, at WWDC 2024, Apple announced that the AirPods Pro 2 would receive an assortment of Hearing Health features, which includes Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection. Of these three, the clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature is intended for users with mild to moderate hearing loss.


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Apple advised at launch that Private Cloud Compute's security will be inspectable by third parties. On Thursday, it fulfilled its promise.


The virtual environment for testing Private Cloud Compute - Image credit: Apple
In July, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence and its cloud-based processing facility, Private Cloud Compute. It was pitched as being a secure and private way to handle in-cloud processing of Siri queries under Apple Intelligence.

As well as insisting that it used cryptography and didn't store user data, it also insisted that the features could be inspected by independent experts. On October 24, it offered an update on that plan.


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Apple has issued its second release candidate for macOS Sequoia 15.1, as the public release of the operating system update with Apple Intelligence grows nearer.


macOS Sequoia on a Macbook Pro
The first release candidate for macOS Sequoia 15.1 was seeded by Apple on October 21. Three days later, Apple has brought out a second RC build for testing by developers.

The second RC version is build number 24B83, replacing 24B82.


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Apple will introduce a number of new products over Halloween week, with the focus being on new Mac updates with M4.


Apple CEO Tim Cook in front of the logo for the week of launches - Image credit: Apple
Following Apple's "Glowtime" event in September, there was the expectation that another event will be on the horizon. Given the lack of discussion of Mac products, as well as iPad updates, during September's announcements, a second presentation for the remaining catalog was widely anticipated.

Mac () your calendars! We have an exciting week of announcements ahead, starting on Monday morning. Stay tuned pic.twitter.com/YnoCYkZq6c

— Greg Joswiak (@gregjoz) October 24, 2024

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A new feature rolled out as part of the iOS 18.2 beta allows children in Australia to report inappropriate content directly to Apple.


Image Credit: Apple
The feature is an extension of Apple's safety measures that are included in iOS 17. These features automatically detect images and videos that contain nudity from iMessage, AirDrop, FaceTime, and Photos.

Initially, when triggered, a pair of intervention popups would appear. These would explain how to contact authorities and instruct the child to alert a parent or guardian.


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Apple's next iPad mini update will include OLED, but given Apple's typical lag between releases, that could be years away.


iPad mini - Image credit: Apple
Apple has just released the seventh-gen iPad mini, which uses an LED-backlit LCD screen. While there's no immediate possibility of a change in display technology for the model, the next update could make the switch to OLED.

In a reply to a post on X discussing the iPad mini, Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young said late on Wednesday that the "Next iPad mini will have OLED."


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


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Apple Intelligence is the product of more than a year's worth of tireless testing. Here's what Apple engineers used to ensure the quality of their AI software.


Internally, Apple used multiple test applications ahead of the Apple Intelligence launch.
For Apple, 2024 was undoubtedly the year of artificial intelligence. The company has long been working on machine learning features, with its most recent operating systems ushering in an entirely new set of AI-powered enhancements. They are known collectively under the moniker of Apple Intelligence.

While the generative AI tools themselves were announced in June, at WWDC 2024, only a handful of them made their public debut with the first developer betas of iOS 18.1 and macOS 15.1. Since then, Apple has rolled out more and more of the AI-powered enhancements with subsequent beta releases.


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I’m Marco Arment, creator of Overcast, technology podcaster and writer, and coffee enthusiast.

Today, on the tenth anniversary of Overcast 1.0, I’m happy to launch a complete rewrite and redesign of most of the iOS app, built to carry Overcast into the next decade — and hopefully beyond.

Like podcasts better than blog posts? Listen to ATP #596 for more!

What’s new

• Much faster, more responsive, more reliable, and more accessible.
• Modern design, optimized for easily-reached controls on today’s phone sizes.
• Improvements throughout, such as undoing large seeks, new playlist-priority options, easier navigation, and more.

What’s not

• Most features. Overcast is still Overcast!
• The audio engine. It’s the best part of Overcast, and still leads the industry in sound quality, silence skipping, and volume normalization. (More soon!)
• The business. I’m still a one-person operation, with no funding or external ownership, serving only my customers.
• My principles. I always want to make the best podcast app, and I’ll never disrespect your time, attention, or privacy.

What’s gone

Streaming. Most big podcasts now use dynamic ad insertion, which causes bugs and problems for streaming playback.¹ Downloading episodes completely before they begin playback is much more reliable.

Tapping a non-downloaded episode will now open the playback screen, download it, then start playback. It works similarly to the way streaming did before, but playback begins after the download completes, not after a portion of it is buffered.

On today’s fast networks, this usually only takes a few extra seconds.

And in the near future, I’ll be adding smarter options and more control over selective downloading of episodes to further improve the experience for people who don’t automatically download every episode.

What’s next

• The last few missing features from the old app, such as Shortcuts support, storage management, and OPML. These are absent now, but will return soon.
• More options for downloading and deleting episodes.
• Upgrading the Apple Watch app to the new, faster sync engine. (The Watch app is currently unchanged from the previous one.)

And, of course, more features, including some of your most-requested features over the last decade.

Getting this rewrite out the door was a monumental task. Thank you for your patience as I work through this list!

Why?

Most of Overcast’s core code was 10 years old, which made it cumbersome or impossible to easily move with the times, adopt new iOS functionality, or add new features, especially as one person.

That’s why there haven’t been many new features or changes in years.

You saw it, and I saw it. I wasn’t able to serve my customers as well as I wanted.

For Overcast to have a future, it needed a modern foundation for its second decade. I’ve spent the past 18 months rebuilding most of the app with Swift, SwiftUI, Blackbird, and modern Swift concurrency.

Now, development is rapidly accelerating. I’m more responsive, iterating more quickly, and ultimately making the app much better.

Thank you all so much for the first decade of Overcast.

Here’s to the next one.

1. Dynamic ad insertion (DAI) splices ads into each download, and no two downloads are guaranteed to have the same number or duration of ads. So, for example, if the first half of an episode downloads, then the download fails, and it downloads the second half with another request, the combined audio may jump forward or back at the halfway mark, losing or repeating content. ↩︎

Overcast’s latest update (2022.2) brings the largest redesign in its nearly-eight-year history, plus many of the most frequently requested features and lots of under-the-hood improvements. I’m pretty proud of this one.

For this first and largest phase of the redesign, I focused on the home screen, playlist screen, typography, and spacing. (I plan to revamp the now-playing and individual-podcast screens in a later update.)

The home screen is radically different:

Home screen, before (left) and after (right).

• Playlists now have strong visual identities for nicer and easier navigation. Each playlist has a customizable color, and a custom icon can be selected from over 3,000 SF Symbols to match modern iOS design and the other icons within Overcast.

  And playlists can be manually reordered with drag-and-drop.

• Recently played and newly published episodes can now be displayed on the home screen for quick access, much like the widget and CarPlay experience.

• Podcasts can now be pinned to the top of the home-screen list.

  Pinned podcasts can also be manually reordered with drag-and-drop.

I’ve also rethought the old stacked “Podcasts” and “Played Podcasts” sections to better match people’s needs and expectations. Now, the toggle atop the podcast list switches between three modes: podcasts with current episodes, all followed podcasts, and inactive podcasts (those that you don’t follow and therefore won’t get any more episodes from, or haven’t posted a new episode in a long time).

The playlist screen’s structure remains mostly the same, while refining the design for the modern era:

Playlist screen, before (left) and after (right).

Here, it’s more apparent that I’ve replaced the system San Francisco font with an alternate variant, San Francisco Rounded, to increase legibility and better match the personality of the app.

I’ve also added highly demanded features:

• By far, Overcast’s most-requested feature is a Mark as Played feature. That’s now available as a checkmark button on episode rows, as well as a left-side swipe action.
• The second-most-requested feature is a way to view all starred episodes. Special playlists for Starred, Downloaded, and In Progress can now be created.

The light and dark themes now each have a customizable tint color from the modern iOS UI-color palette, including these favorites from beta testers:

And throughout the app, I’ve made tons of tweaks and bug fixes, including:

• Notifications and background downloads are now much more reliable.
• Episode downloads can now be individually deleted or re-downloaded.
• Links can now be opened in Safari. (under Nitpicky Details)
• Performance is now significantly better with very large playlists and collections.
• Fixed bugs with episode-duration detection, CarPlay lists, Mac-app sharing, and much more. So much is better in this update that I can’t even remember it all.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped me beta-test this massive update.

As always, Overcast is free in the App Store. Go get it!

Losing Steve affected me more than it probably should have, given that I never met him or had any correspondence with him.

But losing him was devastating — not just to my world, but the world.

He was a sort of virtual father figure: I was always hoping that maybe Steve would notice something I did.

We all wanted his attention and approval, and that drove us to do better work — even those of us who never worked at Apple.

Nobody replaced him in this role. Nobody can.

But as an outsider who had no personal relationship with him to mourn, it has been most depressing to consider how much of his work the world missed out on.

He wasn’t taken from us after a long, complete life — he was taken in his prime.

He had so much more to offer the world.

After the dust settles from the developer class-action settlement, the South Korean law, the JFTC announcement, and the Apple v. Epic decision, I think the most likely long-term outcome isn’t very different from the status quo — and that’s a good thing.

Allowing external purchases

Here’s what I think we’ll end up with:

• Apple will still require apps to use their IAP system for any qualifying purchases that occur in the apps themselves.
• All app types will be allowed to link out to a browser for other purchase methods.

• Most apps will be required to also offer IAP side-by-side with any external methods.¹

  Only “Reader apps” will be exempt from this requirement.²

• Apple will have many rules regarding the display, descriptions, and behavior of external purchases, many of which will be unpublished and ever-changing. App Review will be extremely harsh, inconsistent, capricious, petty, and punitive with their enforcement.³
• Apple won’t require price-matching between IAP and external purchases.

These few but important corrections reduce Apple’s worst behavior and should relieve most regulatory pressure.

The result won’t look much different than the status quo:

Most big media apps (qualifying as “reader” apps) won’t offer IAP, but will finally be allowed to link to their websites from their apps and offer purchases there.

Many games will offer both IAP and external purchases, with the external choice offering a discount, bonus gems, extra loot boxes, or other manipulative tricks to optimize the profitability of casino games for children (commissions from which have been the largest portion of Apple’s “services revenue” to date).

Most importantly, many products, services, and business models will become possible that previously weren’t, leading to more apps, more competition, and more money going to more places.

External purchase methods will evolve to be almost as convenient as IAP (especially if Apple Pay is permitted in this context), and payment processors will reduce the burden of manual credit-card entry with shared credentials available across multiple apps.

The payment-fraud doomsday scenarios argued by Apple and many fans mostly won’t happen, in part because App Review will prevent most obvious cases, but also because parents don’t typically offer their credit cards to untrustworthy children; and for buyers of all ages, most credit cards themselves provide stronger fraud prevention and easier recourse from unwanted charges than the App Store ever has.

No side-loading

I don’t expect side-loading or alternative app stores to become possible, and I’m relieved, because that is not a future I want for iOS.

When evaluating such ideas, I merely ask myself:

“What would Facebook do?”

Facebook owns four of the top ten apps in the world. If side-loading became possible, Facebook could remove Instagram, WhatsApp, the Facebook app, and Messenger from Apple’s App Store, requiring customers to install these extremely popular apps directly from Facebook via side-loading.

And everyone would.

Most people use a Facebook-owned app not because it’s a good app, but because it’s a means to an important end in their life. Social pressure, family pressure, and network lock-in prevent most users from seeking meaningful alternatives. People would jump through a few hoops if they had to.

Facebook would soon have apps that bypassed App Review installed on the majority of iPhones in the world.

Technical limitations of the OS would prevent the most egregious abuses, but there’s a lot they could still do. We don’t need to do much imagining — they already have attempted multiple hacks, workarounds, privacy invasions, and other unscrupulous and technically invasive behavior with their apps over time to surveil user behavior outside of their app and stay running longer in the background than users intend or expect.

The OS could evolve over time to reduce some of these vulnerabilities, but technical measures alone cannot address all of them.

Without the threat of App Review to keep them in check, Facebook’s apps would become even more monstrous than they already are.

As a user and a fan of iOS, I don’t want any part of that.

No alternative app stores

Alternative app stores would be even worse. Rather than offering individual apps via side-loading, Facebook could offer just one:

The Facebook App Store.

Instagram, WhatsApp, the Facebook app, and Messenger could all be available exclusively there.

The majority of iOS users in the world would soon install it, and Facebook would start using leverage in other areas — apps’ social accounts, stats packages, app-install ads, ad-attribution requirements — to heavily incentivize (and likely strong-arm) a huge number of developers to offer their apps in the Facebook App Store, likely in addition to Apple’s.

Maybe I’d be required to add the Facebook SDK to my app in order to be in their store, which they would then use to surveil my users.

Maybe I’d need to buy app-install ads to show up in search there at all.

Maybe I’d need to pay Facebook to “promote” each app update to reach more than a tiny percentage of my existing customers.

And Facebook wouldn’t even be the only app store likely to become a large player on iOS.

Amazon would almost certainly bring their garbage “Appstore” to iOS, but at least that one probably wouldn’t go anywhere.

Maybe Google would bring the Play Store to iOS and offer a unified SDK to develop a single codebase for iOS and Android, effectively making every app feel like an Android app and further marginalizing native apps when they’re already hurting.

Media conglomerates that own many big-name properties, like Disney, might each have their own app stores for their high-profile apps. Running your own store means you can promote all of your own apps as much as you want. What giant corporation would resist?

Don’t forget games! Epic and Steam would come to iOS with their own game stores. Maybe Microsoft and Nintendo, too.

Maybe you’d need to install seven different app stores on your iPhone just to get the apps and games you already use — and all without App Review to keep them in check.

Most developers would probably need to start submitting our apps to multiple app stores, each with its own rules, metadata, technical requirements, capabilities, approval delays, payment processing, stats, crash reports, ads, promotion methods, and user reviews.

As a user, a multiple-app-store world sounds like an annoying mess; as a developer, it terrifies me.

Apple’s App Store is the devil we know. The most viable alternatives that would crop up would be far worse.

Course correction

The way Apple runs its business isn’t perfect, but it’s also not a democracy.

I loved this part of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ decision in Apple v. Epic, as quoted by Ben Thompson’s excellent article that you should read:

Apple has not offered any justification for the actions other than to argue entitlement. Where its actions harm competition and result in supracompetitive pricing and profits, Apple is wrong.

I interpret “entitlement” without a negative connotation here — Apple is entitled to run their platform mostly as they wish, with governmental interference only warranted to fix market-scale issues that harm large segments of commerce or society.

As a developer, I’d love to see more changes to Apple’s control over iOS. But it’s hard to make larger changes without potentially harming much of what makes iOS great for both users and developers.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers got it right: we needed a minor course correction to address the most egregiously anticompetitive behavior, but most of the way Apple runs iOS is best left to Apple.

1. If the South Korean law holds, IAP may not be required — but only in South Korea. With this exception, I expect the rest of these rules to be enforced the same way globally. ↩︎

2. Apple defines “reader” apps as “[allowing] a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video).”

   This includes many apps that Apple’s services compete with, such as Netflix, Spotify, and Kindle, that raise anticompetitive concerns among regulators and legislators when forced to give Apple 30%. ↩︎

3. App Review has higher-level queues for managerial review of controversial rules or edge cases, typically identifiable from the outside by an app stuck with “In Review” status for days or weeks, and often ending in a phone call from “Bill”.

   I’d expect any app offering external purchases to have a very high chance of being escalated to a slower, more pain-in-the-ass review process, possibly causing it not to be worthwhile for most small developers to deal with.

   I have no plans to add external purchases to Overcast for multiple reasons, including this — but mostly because, for my purposes, I’m satisfied with Apple’s IAP system. ↩︎

Apple’s leaders continue to deny developers of two obvious truths:

• That our apps provide substantial value to iOS beyond the purchase commissions collected by Apple.
• That any portion of our customers came to our apps from our own marketing or reputation, rather than the App Store.

For Apple to continue to deny these is dishonest, factually wrong, and extremely insulting — not only to our efforts, but to the intelligence of all Apple developers and customers.

This isn’t about the 30%, or the 15%, or the prohibition of other payment systems, or the rules against telling our customers about our websites, or Apple’s many other restrictions. (Not today, at least.)

It’s about what Apple’s leadership thinks of us and our work.

*     *     *

It isn’t the App Store’s responsibility to the rest of Apple to “pay its way” by leveraging hefty fees on certain types of transactions. Modern society has come to rely so heavily on mobile apps that any phone manufacturer must ensure that such a healthy ecosystem exists as table stakes for anyone to buy their phones.

Without our apps, the iPhone has little value to most of its customers today.

If Apple wishes to continue advancing bizarre corporate-accounting arguments, the massive profits from the hardware business are what therefore truly “pay the way” of the App Store, public APIs, developer tools, and other app-development resources, just as the hardware profits must fund the development of Apple’s own hardware, software, and services that make the iPhone appeal to customers.

The forced App Store commissions, annual developer fees, and App Store Search Ads income are all just gravy. The “way” is already paid by the hardware — but Apple uses their position of power to double-dip.

And that’s just business. Apple’s a lot of things, and “generous” isn’t one.

But to bully and gaslight developers into thinking that we need to be kissing Apple’s feet for permitting us to add billions of dollars of value to their platform is not only greedy, stingy, and morally reprehensible, but deeply insulting.

*     *     *

Apple further extends the value argument, and defends their justification for forced commissions, by claiming responsibility for and ownership of the customer relationship between all iOS users and each app they choose to use.

This argument only makes sense — and even then, only somewhat — when apps are installed by a customer browsing the App Store, finding an app they hadn’t previously heard of, and choosing to install it based on App Store influence alone.

But in the common case — and for most app installations, the much more common case — of searching for a specific app by name or following a link or ad based on its developer’s own marketing or reputation, Apple has served no meaningful role in the customer acquisition and “deserves” nothing more from the transaction than what a CDN and commodity credit-card processor would charge.

The idea that the App Store is responsible for most customers of any reasonably well-known app is a fantasy.

It isn’t the App Store that has enabled all of the commerce on iOS — it’s the entire world of computing and modern society, created by a symbiotic ecosystem in which Apple played one part alongside many others. The world was already moving in this direction, and had Apple not played its part, someone else would’ve. The App Store is merely one platform’s forced distribution gateway, “facilitating” the commerce no more and no less than a web browser, an ISP or cellular carrier, a server-hosting company, or a credit-card processor.

For Apple to continue to claim otherwise is beyond insulting, and borders on delusion.

*     *     *

At WWDC next week, these same people are going to try to tell us a different story.

They’re going to tell us how amazing we are, how important our work is, and how much they value us. And for thousands of Apple employees who’ve made the great products and platforms that we love, including the hundreds of engineers presenting the sessions and working the labs, it’ll be genuine and true.

But the leaders have already shown us who they really are, what they really think of us, and how much they value our work.

Please forgive some sloppiness in my metaphors or phrasing — my writing skills are pretty rusty — and I’ll return the favor to anyone who responds.

A summary of today’s changes to 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods:

Your app must use Apple’s in-app-purchase (IAP) system for all purchases made in the app.

Unless they’re purchases for goods or services that are consumed outside the app, in which case you are prohibited from using IAP.

Unless those goods or services consumed outside the app are magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video, in which case, you are required to use IAP.

But if your app only “reads” previously purchased magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, or video, and doesn’t mention the possibility of purchases anywhere in the app, you don’t need to use IAP.

Unless you offer account creation, in which case, you are required to use IAP.

Unless you only offer free account creation, in which case, you don’t need to use IAP.

But if you offer paid upgrades from free accounts within the app, you are required to use IAP.

Except for accounts that were created outside the app, which can offer paid account upgrades and don’t need to use IAP.

If you’re selling “experiences” between people, you don’t need to use IAP.

Unless those “experiences” include three or more people, or aren’t consumed live, in which case, you are required to use only IAP.

If your purchase is for services, features, or game items, you are required to use only IAP.

Unless you operate on multiple platforms, in which case, you can also offer purchasing outside the app. But you can’t tell anyone about it.

Unless you get their contact info somewhere else, in which case, you can tell them about it, but not in the app.

You are required to use IAP even if you sell your app or service directly to other people.

Unless you only sell it to businesses or groups for their employees or students to use, in which case, you still must use IAP, but you can include your own payment method as well.

Unless those groups are families, or unless those employees or students are somehow “consumers”, in which case, you must only use IAP.

Do I have that right?

*     *     *

How about an alternative that’s clear, fair, reasonable, and consistently enforceable?

Apps may offer other payment mechanisms in their app, as long as terms are clear and customers aren’t misled, and may or may not choose to implement in-app purchase based on its merits.

In one stroke, antitrust and regulatory pressure disappear, developer relations are significantly repaired, and Apple can go back to spending its time, resources, PR, and political capital on making their products better and customers happier.

The latest update to Overcast includes a feature that I’m especially proud of that took over a year to build.

Voice Boost 2 is an all-new audio engine that includes professional-grade, mastering-quality loudness normalization.

When I first introduced Overcast in 2014, Voice Boost was one of its headlining features:

Voice Boost is a combination of dynamic compression and equalization that can make many shows more listenable and normalize volume across all shows. This makes amateur-produced podcasts (including many of my favorites) more listenable in loud environments, like cars, where you’d otherwise need to crank the volume so loudly to hear the quiet parts that you’d blow your ears out when the loudest person spoke.

Voice Boost 2 achieves the same goal as the original Voice Boost, but with dramatically more sophisticated methods, leading to more consistent results and much better sound quality.

Goals

When I wrote the original Voice Boost with only a rudimentary understanding of audio processing, it was a single configuration of Apple’s AudioUnits that applied a fixed set of parameters to all podcasts, regardless of their audio characteristics. It was an effective but blunt tool, relying on aggressive level compression and a strong EQ to make the compression less noticeable.

Since then, I’ve edited over 500 podcasts, learned a lot more about how to master them properly, and developed a much better understanding of audio signal processing.

I set out to develop a better, smarter, and more refined Voice Boost that took advantage of everything I’d learned, with these audio goals:

• The effect should be much more subtle: mostly just consistent volume, plus slightly smoother tone.
• It should analyze the input audio and apply just enough processing to achieve a consistent volume level, modifying already-good audio as little as possible.
• It should sound good, and consistent, regardless of the volume dynamics of its input.
• Quality should be so good that I can even play high-quality music through it¹ and not notice any artifacts.

And these technical goals:

• Like Smart Speed and the original Voice Boost, it had to work as a streaming process, easily toggled on and off at will, without needing to scan the entire file first or look very far ahead.
• The code had to be pure C, with highly optimized and vectorized code, so it wouldn’t be a major power drain on older phones and could potentially run on much lower-power devices as well.
• I had to write every component from scratch, without using AudioUnits, because I wanted to understand and control everything, ensure the highest performance and sound quality, and avoid Apple’s platform-specific API limits.²
• It had to be modular and easily customizable, like a channel strip in an audio editor, so I could adjust the processing during development and testing, offer user customization down the road, and use the same engine to build myself a modular podcast-preproduction tool to save time in my weekly workflow (which I’ve been using for over a year).³

Live LUFS normalization

Since Voice Boost is mostly about high-quality volume analysis and loudness normalization, I went straight to the top, implementing the ITU BS.1770–4 standard that gives us the LUFS measurement seen in high-end audio editors.

Overcast now measures and adjusts podcast levels using this broadcast-standard perceptual loudness algorithm, at full quality, with no preprocessing.

Voice Boost 2 normalizes all podcasts to –14 LUFS — a level I chose because it closely matches the volume of Siri and most iOS turn-by-turn navigation voices, so when you’re listening to a podcast while driving, navigation interruptions are less jarring.

Most professionally produced podcasts are already mastered to similar volume levels, so Voice Boost 2 won’t overcompress them with aggressive processing — it’ll only apply as much correction as necessary to make them all the same volume.

A brief tutorial on clipping and distortion

This is about to get nerdier, but bear with me. (Yes, nerdier than ITU broadcast-loudness standards.)

Given a loudness measurement for the incoming audio, quieter podcasts need to be amplified to reach the target. But perceived loudness isn’t the peak of the incoming audio stream — it’s more of an average. Quiet-sounding audio can still have brief moments of loud peaks.

When increasing the volume of digital audio, the biggest challenge is not “clipping” during the peaks — not having any part of the signal pass above the volume ceiling of 0 dB. (It’s a negative scale. This is also why the LUFS value above, which is closely related to the decibel scale used here, is negative.)

Here’s the highest the signal should go, showing the individual audio samples (green dots) that can be processed by a podcast app before the DAC transforms them into audio (smooth green line):

It’ll sound right as long as the audio doesn’t cross above that top line (0 dB). Increase the volume even slightly too far, and some of the samples just slam into it and stay there, losing the tops of their smooth curves:

And that sounds terrible.

But I can’t just cap all the samples right below the limit and call it a day — that’s called a brickwall limiter — because then the shape of the audio line will actually represent different frequencies, telling the DAC to add noise that wasn’t really there.

Here, the bottom of each image shows the frequency breakdown:

The unclipped signal (left) shows only its original frequency of about 2100 Hz, but a basic brickwall limiter (right) results in the unwanted introduction of a bunch of extra frequencies.

That’s distortion. (If this is interesting to you, learn more about audio sampling theory here.)

Lookahead limiter

Avoiding audible distortion requires a lookahead limiter, which looks… ahead (😎) at the audio coming down the pipeline, and smoothly ramps the volume amplification down as a loud peak is approaching, then back up again afterward, just enough to avoid clipping and audible distortion, but so quickly that you don’t notice.⁴

After Voice Boost 2’s complete 32-bit audio processing pipeline, the last stage is a lookahead limiter, configured such that it can’t clip, no matter what audio comes through.

This gives vast flexibility in volume processing without sacrificing quality.

Voice Boost 2 also incorporates a dynamics compressor, but over time, I’ve kept reducing its strength as I’ve found it less necessary. Proper LUFS processing with a great lookahead limiter provides excellent volume normalization with almost no compression needed afterward.

True-peak detection

There’s one more way to introduce clipping that needs to be guarded against.

Digital audio is represented by samples that represent a point in time (green dots, again) on a sound wave (green line). But the sampled points don’t always land at the exact peaks of those waves:

The most common way to measure the peak of a waveform is to find the greatest absolute sample value. By this method, the top waveform peaks here would measure about –6 dB and –1.5 dB, respectively.

But the actual peak amplitudes of these waves is –1 dB! A simple limiter could still output clipped audio because it’s not seeing the true peaks.

Voice Boost 2’s limiter performs true-peak detection, rather than simply measuring sample peaks, to avoid this type of clipping and further reduce distortion.

Mastering-quality processing for everyone

Voice Boost 2 is a mastering-quality audio-processing pipeline that applies broadcast-standard loudness normalization, light compression and EQ, and a true-peak lookahead limiter to your podcasts, in real time, without sacrificing quality or battery life.

And it runs at less than 1% CPU usage on an iPhone SE.⁵

I intend to expose some of its customizability to customers in future updates, but I wanted to develop and ship the best default settings first to keep the app simple and usable to everyone. Now that it’s available to everyone, I may still subtly tweak the defaults in response to feedback. But as I’ve refined the settings during the beta period to be more universal, less customization has been necessary.⁶

Having achieved its goals of being more consistent and less aggressive, Voice Boost 2 is intentionally transparent. It’s not promoted more in the app or even labeled “Voice Boost 2”. It’s still Voice Boost — just better now.

If I did my job well, you’ll hardly notice it at all. You’ll have no idea that your podcasts are being remastered in your pocket.

But I’ll know. And the handful of you who really care will know. And that’s enough for me.

Voice Boost 2 is in today’s update (2020.1), along with these new features:

• AirPlay 2: Overcast can now play to HomePods and other AirPlay 2 devices much more responsively, with full-blown Smart Speed and Voice Boost, on iOS 13.1 and above.⁷
• Skip intros/outros: There’s a new per-podcast setting to skip a given number of seconds from the start and/or end of its episodes.
• Clip-sharing from private feeds. In retrospect, this restriction was unnecessary, so I lifted it.
• Restored iOS 12 compatibility. Going 13-only so soon was a mistake. Hear why on Under The Radar 181 and 183.

As usual, all of this is free for everyone in Overcast.

1. Those awesome Trey Anastasio acoustic shows are pretty quiet. ↩︎

2. Apple doesn’t make all of their audio APIs available on all platforms: some are Mac-only and never came to iOS, and watchOS has an even smaller subset than iOS. The more I can accomplish in my own code, the less I depend on Apple’s choices for which APIs they make available to developers. ↩︎

3. It’s just a command-line tool for now. You don’t want it. (But if you do… someday, maybe.) ↩︎

4. This all happens in milliseconds. ↩︎

5. At 1X, with Smart Speed enabled.

   Smart Speed was actually entirely rewritten as part of Voice Boost 2, but it’s less interesting. It performs the same job as before, but much more efficiently, and taking advantage of the measured loudness when Voice Boost is also enabled. ↩︎

6. For instance, I also built a de-esser into Voice Boost 2, but it slowly became unnecessary as I improved the other processing, so it’s not currently enabled. ↩︎

7. Smart Speed is a big deal here, I think — I’m not aware of any other podcast apps with silence-skipping over AirPlay 2.

   (Or LUFS normalization, or true-peak lookahead limiters.) ↩︎

In light of today’s rumor that a Pro Mode may be coming that seems to offer benefits in the opposite direction,¹ I wanted to re-make the case for a Low Power Mode on macOS — and explain why now is the time.

Modern hardware constantly pushes thermal and power limits, trying to strike a balance that minimizes noise and heat while maximizing performance and battery life.

Software also plays a role, trying to keep everything background-updated, content-indexed, and photo-analyzed so it’s ready for us when we want it, but not so aggressively that we notice any cost to performance or battery life.

Apple’s customers don’t usually have control over these balances, and they’re usually fixed at design time with little opportunity to adapt to changing circumstances or customer priorities.

The sole exception, Low Power Mode on iOS, seems to be a huge hit: by offering a single toggle that chooses a different balance, people are able to greatly extend their battery life when they know they’ll need it.²

Mac laptops need Low Power Mode, too. I believe so strongly in its potential because I’ve been using it on my laptops (in a way) for years, and it’s fantastic.

I’ve been disabling Intel Turbo Boost on my laptops with Turbo Boost Switcher Pro most of the time since 2015.

In 2018, I first argued for Low Power Mode on macOS with a list of possible tweaks, concluding that disabling Turbo Boost was still the best bang-for-the-buck tweak to improve battery life without a noticeable performance cost in most tasks.³

Recently, as Intel has crammed more cores and higher clocks into smaller form factors and pushed thermal limits to new extremes, the gains have become even more significant. Here’s some thermal testing from my 8-core 16-inch MacBook Pro:

16-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2019, 2.4 GHz 8-core i9)   Power Temp. Geekbench 5 single/multi xcodebuild Normal 82W 90°C 1260/7386 39 sec. No Turbo 31W−62% 65°C 669/5206−46/29% 62 sec.+59%

With Turbo Boost disabled, peak CPU power consumption drops by 62%, with a correspondingly huge reduction in temperature. This has two massive benefits:

• The fans never audibly spin up. When Turbo Boost is enabled, the fans annoyingly spin up every time the system is under a heavy sustained load. Disable it, and it’s almost impossible to get them to be audible.
• It runs significantly cooler. Turbo Boost lets laptops get too hot to comfortably hold in your lap, and so much heat radiates out that it can make hands sweaty. Disable it, and the laptop only gets moderately warm, not hot, and hands stay comfortably dry.

I haven’t done formal battery testing on the 16-inch, since it’s so difficult and time-consuming to do in a controlled way that’s actually useful to people, but anecdotally, I’m seeing similar battery gains by disabling Turbo Boost that I’ve seen with previous laptops: significantly longer battery life that I’d estimate to be between 30–50%.

This comes at a cost to performance, but:

• It’s not noticeable on most workloads.
• Parallel workloads are affected far less than single-threaded tasks, and most modern heavy workloads are parallelized.

• This is an 8-core laptop that’s competitive with my iMac Pro! It’s much faster than most people need (myself included) most of the time, so I can spare some performance to get other benefits.

  A fast laptop isn’t very useful if your hands are too sweaty to type, the battery dies in the middle of a flight, or the loud fans ruin your audio recording.

• When I really want to maximize performance, Turbo Boost Switcher Pro lets me quickly toggle it in the menu bar, so switching between modes is easy.

The vast majority of the time I’m using it, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is a much better laptop with Turbo Boost disabled.

It’s still fast enough to do everything I need (including significant development with Xcode), while remaining silent and cool, with incredible battery life.

But soon, I bet I won’t be able to do this anymore.

Turbo Boost Switcher Pro relies on a kernel extension that’s grandfathered into Apple’s latest security requirements, but it can never be updated — and when macOS Catalina loads it for the first time, it warns that it’ll be “incompatible with a future version of macOS.” I suspect that this is the last year I’ll get to run the latest OS and be able to turn off Turbo Boost at will, making all of my future laptop usage significantly worse.

Please, Apple, make this feature official: give us a Low Power Mode for macOS that disables Turbo Boost to keep our laptops cool, quiet, and long-lasting at times when those are more important to us than speed.

1. My guess is that “Pro Mode” doesn’t raise the peak performance, but instead raises the fan speeds to allow longer sustained operation at high Turbo Boost speeds. ↩︎

2. Low Power Mode has been so successful on iOS that Apple also thought it worthwhile to add a Low Data Mode to iOS 13, offering similar control over data usage. (Mac owners can get similar functionality with the excellent TripMode.) ↩︎

3. As I wrote back then, disabling discrete GPUs and Photos analysis are other obvious contributors to a good Mac Low Power Mode. ↩︎

After my first day with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, I’m very optimistic about it.

🎧  Hear more on today’s Accidental Tech Podcast!

Two years ago, I wrote a wishlist to fix the MacBook Pro, and the 16-inch doesn’t actually deliver most of it. But time and technological progress are slowly getting Apple off the hook:

• The ports are unchanged. We’ll still need dongles. But USB-C is gradually becoming more common, and dongles are slowly — very slowly — getting less shitty.
• The Touch Bar isn’t optional. But a new hardware Esc key removes one of its biggest drawbacks, and accidental input should be reduced by the increased spacing between the Touch Bar and the top row of keys.
• The power brick still lacks its previous conveniences. There’s still no cable management, safety breakaway, or charging LED. But third parties are slowly filling some of these gaps.
• The headphone jack is still on the right (wrong) side, despite most single-sided headphone cables entering the left earcup. But the need for wired headphones is decreasing over time.

Addressing those would be nice, but as I wrote then, they paled in comparison to one huge issue: the butterfly keyboard.

The MacBook Pro must return to scissor keyswitches. If Apple only changes one thing about the next MacBook Pro, it should be this. It’s far more important than anything else on this list. […]

The Magic Keyboard’s scissor switches feel similar, but with a bit more travel, and all of the reliability and resilience of previous keyboard generations. […]

The Magic Keyboard only needs one change to be perfect for the MacBook Pro: returning to the “inverted-T” arrow-key arrangement by making the left- and right-arrow keys half-height again. This arrangement is much more natural and less error-prone because we can align our fingers by feeling the “T” shape, a crucial affordance for such frequently used keys that are so far from the home row.

That’s exactly what they’ve done, and I couldn’t be happier.

The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a great computer in most other ways, but so were the MacBook Pros from the last few years. They were fast, powerful, capable workstations… but the butterfly keyboard took away from it all.

Not anymore.

I’m on cloud nine. Look at this glorious keyboard! An Esc key! Inverted-T arrow keys! A millimeter of key travel! Enough spacing between the keys for our fingers to accurately orient themselves! And keystrokes will probably work, 100% of the time, for years!

Five years ago, nobody would’ve considered any of these noteworthy, and readers would’ve suspected you weren’t of sound mind if you included them in a review.

Five years ago, laptop keyboards were fine. Everyone was pretty much satisfied with the ones they had, they worked, and we never had to talk or think about them.

Today, finally, we begin heading back to that world.

The butterfly keyboard was an anomaly — it was a huge departure from everything else we’d ever used, mostly not in good ways.

The new keyboard is very similar to the recent desktop Magic Keyboard, and I expect it to have a wide appeal, just as the Magic Keyboard does. It has slightly less travel and spacing, but the overall feeling is very similar — and it’s nothing at all like the butterfly keyboard.

I absolutely love it — not because it’s the most amazing keyboard in the world, but because it’s completely forgettable in the best possible way. It just feels normal again.

There’s a lot more to love about the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The screen and battery are bigger, but the size and weight barely increased. It’s almost as fast as my iMac Pro, and the new thermals can sustain higher performance. The speakers and microphone got huge, unexpected improvements.

And I didn’t get everything I wanted. But many of my wishlist items fall outside of what Apple is likely to ever do, and all of them are much less important than making the computer’s primary input device functional, acceptable, and reliable. Now we have the luxury of being able to complain about less-urgent wishes.

The biggest change is that I finally don’t feel like it’s constantly fighting me. Its design doesn’t feel spiteful. It’s a computer that doesn’t seem to hate being a computer. I’m not afraid to use it in the world, and I’m not avoiding using it because it’s unpleasant. The butterfly keyboard was the opposite, it never got better, I never got used to it, and good riddance to it.

Following in the footsteps of the fantastic iMac Pro, updated Mac Mini, and upcoming Mac Pro, the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro ends a painful chapter of neglect and hubristic design of the Mac. Apple has finally turned the ship around.

We haven’t had long enough to fully test it yet. There may be flaws or shortcomings discovered over time — there usually are (and always have been). But frankly, it could catch fire twice a week and it would still be my favorite laptop Apple has made since 2015. Fortunately, upon initial usage, nothing bad really jumps out.

The new MacBook Pro has no massive asterisks or qualifications. It’s a great computer, period, and it feels so good to be able to say that again.

For the first time in years, without any major exceptions, we can see that Apple loves computers as much as we do.

🎧  Much more detail and discussion in the podcast!

Today’s Overcast update (2019.6) brings some great new features.

But first, I need to set low expectations for iOS 13, watchOS 6, and macOS Catalina updates this fall. Halfway through the summer, I’ve made much less progress than expected, having been overwhelmed by the required OS changes, my own technical and design debts, and unusually rough betas.

Rather than shipping a big iOS update, a standalone Watch app, and a Mac app on day one, these will probably come incrementally over the next year.

Fortunately, I haven’t stopped improving the app in the meantime.

Per-podcast customization, longer clips

You can now set download-vs.-stream and auto-delete behavior per podcast, one of the most frequently requested features over the last few years. (Sorry it took so long — it required a lot of server-side work for uninteresting reasons.)

I’ve also raised the clip-sharing length limit to 90 seconds. When I debuted this feature, I had to guess how it would be used and received, and 60 seconds seemed like a good limit. In practice, that’s sometimes a bit too short to capture a complete thought. 90 seconds should be better — most clips won’t need to be that long, but it’ll be nice to have the headroom when you need it.

“Suggestions for You” replacing Twitter

Overcast has had a Twitter-powered social-recommendations feature since version 1.0 in 2014, which made sense at the time: I didn’t have any popularity data to generate recommendations from, and social networks were nicer places to be than they are today.

But after five years, only 10% of active users have connected a Twitter account in Overcast, and only 0.2% of new podcast subscriptions have actually been added via Twitter recommendations.

Not only was the feature not providing much value to the 10% of people who enabled it, but the other 90% of Overcast’s customers haven’t been getting personalized recommendations at all.

In the meantime, I’ve accumulated five years of popularity data, so I tried writing my own recommendation engine. It worked — and it’s better.

Overcast now offers its own data-driven recommendation engine, and I’ve removed Twitter integration entirely.

Podcasts in the new “Suggestions for You” section of the Add Podcast screen are based on the shows you subscribe to, and what else their subscribers subscribe to, which gives much better recommendations without involving any social networks.

Most importantly, it works for all of Overcast’s customers.

*     *     *

As always, Overcast is free in the App Store. Give it a try.

Something big changed at Apple around the beginning of 2017.

They had encountered significant turbulence in the product line over the preceding years, especially Macs. It was a rough time to be a pro Mac user.

The “trash can” 2013 Mac Pro addressed only a fraction of the needs solved by the previous “cheese grater” towers, aged quickly without critical upgrade paths, and suffered from high GPU-failure rates from its cooling solution — all because its design prioritized size and appearance over performance and versatility in the one Mac model that should never make that tradeoff.

Over the next few years, it became clear that the Mac Pro was an embarrassing, outdated flop that Apple seemed to have little intention of ever updating, leaving its customers feeling unheard and abandoned. I think Apple learned a small lesson from it, but they learned a much bigger one a few years later.

The current MacBook Pro generation launched in late 2016, and I think Apple was truly caught completely by surprise when the new Touch Bar, sparse USB-C-only port offerings, high prices, and highly polarizing butterfly keyboard were met with harsh criticism, mixed reviews, and high failure rates. This one really hurt: while the Mac Pro is a niche machine for the highest-end and most-specialized needs, the popular MacBook Pro is the lifeblood of the Mac.

By the end of 2016, in addition to the generally buggy, neglected state macOS seemed to be perpetually stuck in, Apple had replaced its entire “pro” Mac lineup with controversial, limiting products that seemed optimized to flex Apple’s industrial-design muscles rather than actually addressing their customers’ needs.

The only company that can make computers for our OS seemed incapable of making good computers anymore. Each update threatened to remove or break things we needed or loved. Their newest designs felt punitive, rather than feeling like a celebration of computing.

Then, in April 2017, out of nowhere, Apple held a Mac Pro roundtable discussion with the press to announce that they were in the early stages of completely redesigning the Mac Pro.¹

The follow-up briefing a year later promised that the new Mac Pro would be released in 2019, and publicized the existence of a “Pro Workflow Team” of real pro users working inside Apple to inform the direction of their pro hardware and software.

It sounded like they’d gone from not listening to their customers at all to an institutionalized process of listening. And the newly designed Macs released since then have been great.²

The late-2017 iMac Pro, which I’m using to write this, is the best Mac I’ve ever owned by far. It’s versatile, incredibly powerful, beautiful, and silent. It’s so good that I’ll probably never really need a Mac Pro again,³ and if this was the only new “Mac Pro”, I’d be mostly fine with that.

The late-2018 Mac Mini replaced a pitiful, punitive, neglected relic with a practical, powerful mini-Mac-Pro. Apple could’ve let it die, or replaced it with a tiny, no-port marvel of uselessness, but instead, they made a computer so good that I started and ended a YouTube mini-career just to review it.

And the 2019 Mac Pro, finally unveiled last week, looks to be absolutely killer — it’s the first true successor to the tower Mac Pro, which saw its last real update almost a decade ago in 2010.⁴ It’s big, bulky, ludicrously fast, and almost obscenely upgradeable — exactly what a Mac Pro needs to be, and far better than any of us expected.

The new Mac Pro is, truly, a celebration of computing.

Even more importantly than any hardware releases, macOS itself has also seen massive engineering effort recently. For the first time in a decade, the Mac was a major focus of WWDC, with great new APIs poised to usher in a huge wave of fresh software.

To be fair, this story hasn’t ended yet. The Mac Pro isn’t actually out yet (and will be very expensive), they still need to resolve the problematic MacBook Pro with its next generation (rumors are promising), and the lack of standalone Apple displays under six thousand dollars really hurts the Mac Pro story.⁵

But I’m optimistic for the first time in years.

It’s hard to tell when Apple is listening. They speak concisely, infrequently, and only when they’re ready, saying absolutely nothing in the meantime, even when we’re all screaming about a product line as if it’s on fire. They make great progress, but often with courageous losses that never get reversed, so an extended silence because we’re stuck with a change forever is indistinguishable from an extended silence because the fix isn’t ready yet.

But there has clearly been a major shift in direction for the better since early 2017, and they couldn’t be more clear now:

Apple is listening again, they’ve still got it, and the Mac is back.

1. Based on what we’ve learned since, they had likely started the project a very short time before holding the roundtable. ↩︎

2. I’m excluding the 2018 MacBook Air because it feels like a stopgap that wasn’t originally planned to exist — the no-Touch-Bar 13” MacBook “Escape” seemed intended to replace it — that was rushed into the 2016-era generation mid-cycle, rather than being the first of a new design. Even so, with the large exception of the butterfly keyboard, it’s quite good. ↩︎

3. This doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t buy one. ↩︎

4. The 2010/“2012” Mac Pro was so good, and so upgradeable, that it’s still in surprisingly widespread use today for needs that weren’t possible or compelling on the “trashcan” successor. ↩︎

5. And the MacBook Pro. A very common setup for developers — Apple’s largest identified segment of pro users — is a 15” MacBook Pro connected to an external monitor, for which a good solution no longer exists. Developers would be much better served by a $1,500-ish standalone version of the iMac’s 5K display than a $6,000 XDR reference monitor for professional video colorists. ↩︎

Sharing podcasts has never been easy, but I’ve always tried to lead the way with Overcast, with publicly shareable episode links and optional recommendations from your Twitter friends since version 1.0 in 2014.

Podcast sharing has been limited to audio and links, but today’s social networks are more reliant on images and video, especially Instagram. Podcasts need video clips to be shared more easily today.

I’ve seen some video clips from tools specific to certain podcast networks or hosts, but they were never available to everyone, or for every show. So people mostly just haven’t shared podcast clips, understandably, because it has been too hard.

Not anymore.

▶️ ↩️

This remark on Unco by Stephen Hackett inspired me to finally solve this problem in a way that worked easily, for all podcasts, for both podcasters and listeners to use.

With today’s 2019.4 update¹, you can now share audio or video clips, up to a minute each, from any public podcast. Simply tap the share button in the upper-right corner.

You can generate an audio clip, or portrait, landscape, or square video, using your current Overcast theme setting.

In order to help spread podcasts further, I didn’t want to be heavy-handed in the Overcast branding — not everyone wants to advertise for one specific podcast app when promoting their shows. So the “Shared with Overcast” badge is optional, and if you’d like, you can also add an Apple Podcasts badge.

Finally, I wanted to extend the same app-agnosticism to Overcast’s share links. While this design still needs a lot of modernization, I’ve done a small refresh:

Now, for non-logged-in visitors, Overcast’s public sharing pages display badges for other podcast apps and the RSS feed for any podcast listed in Apple Podcasts.

It’s important for me to promote other apps like this, and to make it easy even for other people’s customers to benefit from Overcast’s sharing features, because there are much bigger threats than letting other open-ecosystem podcast apps get a few more users.

For podcasting to remain open and free, we must not leave major shortcomings for proprietary, locked-down services to exploit.² Conversely, the more we strengthen the open podcast ecosystem with content, functionality, and ease of use, the larger the barrier becomes that any walled garden must overcome to be compelling.

One of the most common shortcomings we hear is that podcasts are hard to share. Hopefully, Overcast’s new clip-sharing feature changes that, and other apps build similar features soon.

So go get Overcast and start sharing your favorite moments. It’ll help me, of course, but more importantly, it’ll help your favorite shows gain listeners, and it’ll strengthen the amazing, open, standards-based world of podcasting.

1. Like Slopes and Castro, I’ve changed to a date-based version-numbering scheme — 2019.4 is the fourth update released in 2019, the next version will be 2019.5, and so on — partly because version numbers don’t really matter anymore, but mostly because I no longer wanted to delay completed features until a major-version change or worry that I didn’t do enough to justify a certain number. ↩︎

2. YouTube was able to dominate video because it made everything easy in a medium that (at the time) was very hard to do elsewhere. If a proprietary service takes a very hard aspect of podcasting and makes it very easy, it may rapidly rise to prominence.

   Other major shortcomings I’m concerned about: the difficulty of getting sponsorships for small shows (“AdSense for podcasts”), and the complexity of creation and publishing (“Tumblr for podcasts”). This is probably why Spotify bought Anchor. ↩︎

▶️

The first thing someone does in a podcast app is add some podcasts, and most active Overcast users add at least two new podcasts each month.

Over 80% of podcasts are added to Overcast by searching, with the vast majority as searches for a specific podcast by name (rather than searching for generic keywords, such as “business”).

Good search is a critical, differentiating feature of any podcast app.

I’m not satisfied if the podcast you’re looking for is somewhere in the middle of a long list — I want it to be the first one, displayed quickly, after typing the fewest characters possible. I’ve been building toward this by analyzing years of popularity statistics and anonymous search data.

Instant Search is the next step in Overcast’s search evolution. It combines a small local cache with a highly optimized search service to give the most relevant results immediately as you type, even after only a single letter.¹

It’s a dramatic, delightful improvement to a critical, frequently used feature. This was a lot of fun to build, and I’m proud of it.

See for yourself! Overcast is free on the App Store.

1. If Instant Search isn’t instant right after you update, the cache hasn’t fully downloaded yet. It’s downloaded weekly, only on Wi-Fi, and is less than 5 MB. ↩︎

Watch my video review of the new iPad Pro in both sizes.

Rather than try to be comprehensive, I focused on what matters most to me: size choice between the 11” and 12.9”, the Smart Keyboard Folio from my perspective as a frequent 10.5” Smart Keyboard user, the new Pencil, and why “getting work done” isn’t important to me.

Watch the video review

I hardly ever think about my Mac Mini, but it serves a vital role for my family as our home-theater mixer, Plex server, ScanSnap server, Apple Photos backup, and Backblaze host for our NAS.¹ Almost every port on the back is in use, and it runs 24/7, reliably, in total silence.

Until last week, I thought it would be the last Mac Mini that Apple ever made.

And when rumors started swirling about an imminent Mac Mini update, I assumed the worst: if it came at all, it would be a tiny box with a slow, ultra-low-power processor and almost zero ports, optimizing for small size instead of versatility.

I don’t think this was an unreasonable fear after the 2014 Mac Mini update, which made many key aspects much worse without making anything much better. It seemed clear then, and for the following four years that it went without an update, that Apple held the Mac Mini and its customers in very low regard.

Not anymore.

The 2018 Mac Mini is real, and it’s spectacular.

It makes almost nothing worse and almost everything better, finally bringing the Mac Mini into the modern age.

Ports! Glorious ports!

Number one — and this is a big one these days, especially for this product — is that it’s not any less useful or versatile than the outgoing Mac Mini, including the generous assortment of ports. If the previous one served a role for you, the new one can probably do it just as well, and probably better and faster, with minimal donglage.²

It’s the same size as the old one, which is the right tradeoff. I know zero Mac Mini owners who really need it to get smaller, and many who don’t want it to get fewer ports or worse performance.

The point of the Mac Mini is to be as versatile as possible, addressing lots of diverse and edge-case needs that the other Macs can’t with their vastly different form factors and more opinionated designs. The Mac Mini needs to be a utility product, not a design statement. (Although, even as someone tired of space-gray everything, I have to admit that the Mini looks fantastic in its new color.)

The base price has increased to $800, and that’s not great. It’s partly justifiable because it’s much higher-end than before — the processors are much better, the architecture is higher-end and includes big advances like the T2, and all-SSD is standard — but it’s still an expensive product in absolute terms.

Apple lent me a high-end configuration for review — 6-core i7, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD — which would cost $2499 (much of which is the SSD). This would’ve sounded crazy to spend on a Mac Mini a few years ago, but when it’s specced up like this, it’s targeting a much higher-end market than the previous model could. Compared to similarly specced iMacs and MacBook Pros, the pricing is generally reasonable.

And this can truly be a pro desktop, with just one exception.

Benchmarks

The big story to me is how incredibly fast this thing is. Granted, I’m testing the fastest CPU offered, but damn.

Geekbench results are very strong. The i7 Mac Mini scored better on single-core performance than every other Mac today (!) at 5912, and its multi-core score of nearly 24,740 beats every Mac to date except the iMac Pro and the old 12-core 2013 Mac Pro.

“Performance-competitive with pro Macs” was not high on my prediction list for a Mac Mini update, but here we are.

As the rate of CPU advancement has slowed dramatically over the last few years, Apple has found other ways to improve performance. The T2 is great for lots of security reasons — I wouldn’t buy a new Mac these days without it — but what you’re seeing here is its strength as a ridiculously fast SSD controller.

This Mac Mini builds my app, Overcast, much faster than my maxed-out 13-inch MacBook Pro, and about as quickly as my 10-core iMac Pro! Obviously, to achieve this result with only 6 cores, it’s not maxing out the CPU 100% of the time — it hits it in bursts while juggling a lot between the SSD and memory — but the result is that it’s incredibly fast as a development machine.

The Blackmagick Disk Speed Test shows that the raw SSD performance is effectively identical to the other T2 Macs shipped to date, and a huge improvement over the four-year-old Mac Mini.

A lot of people use Mac Minis as media or Plex servers, so I ran an H.265 transcoding test with ffmpeg. This maxes out all CPU cores, so the results predictably scale with the core count: the 6-core Mac Mini was much faster than the 4-core MacBook Pro, but the 10-core iMac Pro beat them both.

But if an app supports the T2’s hardware HEVC encoder,³ it can go much faster. And since every T2 so far performs identically, all T2 machines — from the 2018 MacBook Air to the iMac Pro — encode HEVC this way at the same speed, and all in complete silence because they’re barely touching the CPU.

I wasn’t able to notice any quality differences between the videos encoded with x265 and the T2’s hardware acceleration.

The only spec that lets it down is the Intel GPU. It’s fast enough for common tasks, but if your workload benefits from a strong GPU, you’re better off going for an iMac or a 15-inch MacBook Pro, or considering an eGPU setup.

Many Mac lines rely on Intel’s integrated GPUs to fit their physical and thermal needs, and Intel has been incredibly inconsistent over the last few years in delivering updated CPU-GPU combinations that would be suitable for many Macs.

We often blame Intel’s CPU roadmap (or Apple’s seeming indifference) for the lack of updates to certain Mac lines, but Intel’s GPU offerings are often the bigger issue. This is Intel’s fault, but it’s Apple’s problem — and Apple passes that problem right along to its customers.

But that’s it — aside from price, that’s the only downside. The GPU sucks. Everything else is awesome.

If you don’t need a strong GPU — and honestly, most Mac Mini use-cases don’t — this is a solid pick for a general-purpose Mac, even at the base-level configuration. Spec it up, and it’s more like a mini-Mac Pro.

A few assorted notes, with apologies for stealing Gruber’s format:

• It’s silent at idle. The i7’s fan noise does become clearly audible when it’s under heavy load: it’s in the ballpark of a modern MacBook Pro, but quieter.

  Interestingly, I disabled Turbo Boost to simulate the base i3 model’s thermals, and couldn’t get the fan to spin up audibly, no matter what I did. Those who prioritize silence under heavy loads should probably stick with the i3.

• This is the first non-iMac desktop Mac that lets you plug in a 5K display, at full quality, without dual cables or other unreliable hacks. We finally have 5K Retina Mac options beyond the iMac! Unfortunately, we still don’t have any great standalone 5K displays. (The LG UltraFine isn’t.)

• You can upgrade the RAM again! I never would’ve guessed this was coming, and I believe it’s the first time in a long time that an Apple product’s direct successor became more upgradeable and serviceable.

  I still recommend getting it with the right amount of RAM from Apple if possible, since third-party RAM has historically been a mess of unreliability and finger-pointing, but if you need that, it’s back. (The security screws inside — TR6? — still need some iFixit tools to get past.)

I Can’t Believe The Mac Mini Is This Awesome, I Can’t Even Say “Again” Because It Never Was

A new Mac Mini could’ve been so much worse. At many times in its past, it has seemed unloved, neglected, and downright punitive — a similar pattern to Apple’s other headless desktop, the Mac Pro. It seemed for a while that Apple lacked any interest in making Macs anymore, especially desktops.

Last year, with the introduction of the absolutely stellar iMac Pro, Apple showed us a glimpse of a potential new direction. It was downright perfect — a love letter to the Mac and its pro desktop users, and a clear turnaround in the way the company views the Mac for the better.

We didn’t know until now whether the iMac Pro’s greatness was a fluke. But now we have another data point: the last two desktops out of Apple have been incredible. After this, I have faith that they’re going to do the new Mac Pro justice when it finally ships next year.

The new Mac Mini is a great update, out of nowhere, to a product we thought would never be updated again.

Of course, with Apple’s track record on the Mac Mini, it may never be updated after this. This is either the first in a series of regular updates with which Apple proves that they care about the Mac Mini again, or it’s the last Mac Mini that will ever exist and we’ll all be hoarding them in a few years. We can’t know yet.

But today, this is a great update, a wonderful all-arounder for lots of potential needs, and just a fantastic little computer.

1. I do this via iSCSI, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It breaks and requires a new $200+ iSCSI initiator with almost every macOS update — which is why my Mac Mini still runs Sierra. In the near future, I’ll just directly attach some giant external hard drives to the Mac Mini and stop using the NAS. ↩︎

2. Unless you used optical audio, audio input, or the SD-card reader. (Shit, I use optical in and out.) ↩︎

3. ffmpeg can do it by specifying -c:v hevc_videotoolbox instead of -c:v x265. I also needed -vtag hvc1 for the output MP4s with either codec to be playable on macOS.

   Compressor uses the T2’s HEVC acceleration when encoding 8-bit HEVC, but not 10-bit. ↩︎

Quick, what time is it?

If that took you a bit longer than usual to tell the time on the Apple Watch’s new default Infograph face, you’re not alone:

• John Gruber finds it “far too busy”
• Jason Snell finds it “pretty and packed with features”, but misses hour numerals
• Zac Hall removes almost everything to improve legibility
• David Smith wrote his own complications (!) to improve contrast

I’ve configured mine acceptably, but Utility is still far more legible for telling the time at a quick glance:

Infograph, Utility

Infograph suffers from two major issues:

• The center complications reduce the contrast between the dial and hands, often making the hands hard to locate. This is avoidable with customization, although the defaults should be much more conservative.
• It takes too much cognitive effort (and therefore time) to distinguish the current hour. This is simply a flawed design.

It’s faster and easier to read analog time with the 1–12 numerals displayed on a watch, but many people prefer the cleaner look of a watch that uses lines, dots, or other shapes as hour markers instead. (Watch people call these “indices”.)

And it’s absolutely possible to design a highly legible dial with hour indices in many different styles. Here are some classics and modern takes:¹

Across a wide variety of brands, styles, and price points, a few key design principles are clear:

• The hour markers for 12 (and often 3/6/9) are more prominent.
• The hour indices are much larger than the minute markings.
• The hour hands nearly touch the hour indices.

These all improve legibility by making it as fast and easy as possible to know which hour is being indicated (and minimize the chance of an off-by-one error), first by orienting your eyes to the current rotation with the 12 marker, then by minimizing the distance between the hour hand and the indices it’s between.

Apple Watch’s analog faces all fail to achieve these principles:²

Color, Simple, Explorer

Color, Simple, and Explorer have easily distinguished hour markers, but Explorer’s are a bit too far from its hour hand.

None of them have distinguished 12 markers to aid in orientation.

While Explorer omits minute markings altogether, Simple bafflingly uses 30-second markings in place of its minute track, making time-telling even harder. I’ve never seen another watch with sub-minute markings identical to its minute markings.

Activity Analog, Utility, and Infograph without most complications

Activity Analog’s hour markers are faint and far from its hour hand, and the central activity rings quickly eliminate the hands’ contrast against the dial as they progress.

Utility (when configured without numbers) improves legibility slightly with its bold hour indices, but they’re still too small and too far from its hour hand, and there’s no differentiation for the 12 index.

Infograph is similar, but even worse: its hour indices are more faint, it uses 30-second markings instead of minute markings, and its default Calendar display wipes out the top three indices. (At least you can tell which way is up.)

Even with almost no complications, the basic essence of the Infograph dial has poor time legibility.

When it’s being used as Apple seems to intend, time-telling at a glance is so difficult that many people have actually suggested setting the digital time as the center complication, at which point the hands are just a nuisance and we should stop pretending it’s an analog face.

It’s great for Apple to offer a wide variety of Apple Watch faces, but most of them are short-lived novelties at best. We’re three years and four generations into the Apple Watch, and almost every Watch owner I know still uses the same handful of “good” faces.

If you want digital time with a good deal of complications, Modular is your only good choice (or Infograph Modular on the Series 4).³ If you want analog time with numerals, Utility is the only good option. If you want indices instead of numerals — probably the most popular analog watch style in the world — I don’t think there is a good option.

By now, we’ve seen Apple’s design range that they’re willing to ship as Watch faces, and while it seems broad at first glance, it’s actually pretty narrow.

And we’re restricted to the handful of good watch faces that Apple makes, because other developers aren’t allowed to make custom Watch faces.

The Apple Watch is an amazing feat of technology. It’s a computer. It can display anything. With no mechanical or physical limitations to hold us back, any watch-face design from anyone could plausibly be built, enabling a range of creativity, style, and usefulness that no single company could ever design on its own.

But they won’t let us. In a time when personal expression and innovation in watch fashion should be booming, they’re instead being eroded, as everyone in the room is increasingly wearing the same watch with the same two faces.

Open this door, Apple.

1. You can even see which model the Apple Watch’s hand shape comes from, which is not a coincidence. ↩︎

2. For Apple Watch faces offering multiple hour/minute styles, I selected the best one that didn’t have hour numerals, and most complications were disabled. ↩︎

3. Special shout-out to my favorite digital face, Solar. ↩︎

I apologize for the low battery level. Busy day.

It all started with the watchOS volume widget.

You see, Overcast’s previous Apple Watch app really sucked. I did my best with the capabilities of watchOS 1–4, but I couldn’t give people what they really wanted:

1. Standalone podcast playback on the Apple Watch without an iPhone. I briefly offered it through some bad hacks, but had to remove it.
2. Volume control on the Watch, which is increasingly important with the popularity of AirPods.

That’s why I nearly jumped for joy during the watchOS 5 announcement in June, when Apple unveiled most of my list of watchOS changes needed to make good podcast apps.

After a very busy summer, standalone Apple Watch playback is back in Overcast, and it’s actually good this time!

It’s not perfect:

• No cellular. Apple hasn’t released a good way to do cellular audio streaming in watchOS, and the bad ways wouldn’t be very useful.
• Sending podcasts to the Watch is slow. Overcast shrinks them to reduce the transfer time, but when (and how quickly) podcasts transfer is tightly controlled by watchOS to preserve battery life. Transfers still sometimes wait forever or silently fail.

Programmers like me can’t accept that something is just slow, so I’ve decided to make transfer speed irrelevant. Nobody cares how slowly podcasts transfer if it happens while they’re asleep!

Auto-Sync to Watch automatically tries to send your most recent podcasts to your Apple Watch whenever it gets a chance.¹ You can still send episodes manually from the queue button on an episode (≡⁺), but in my testing, I never needed to. Just pick up your Watch and go, and it’ll already have plenty of podcasts for your outing, all without having to manually sync anything or wait for slow transfers.

The Overcast 5.0.1 update, due out in a few days, makes Watch transfers even more reliable. (Sorry. Found a better way after 5.0 was approved.)

And Watch-crown volume control! Finally, the best way to use Overcast from your Apple Watch isn’t to delete it, letting the Now Playing app show up instead.

That’s where the other half of my summer workload began.

The watchOS volume widget offers minimal customization: just the color of the circle. I couldn’t make the line width a little narrower to match the rest of Overcast’s thin-line aesthetic. But that iOS 7-era thin-line aesthetic looked dated, and I’d wanted a design refresh for a while.

I decided to start modernizing the app’s design, screen by screen. I couldn’t do it all in one summer, so I started with the screen that needed the most help: Now Playing.

The previous Now Playing screen in Overcast 4.

The biggest problem of the previous design was the center artwork area, a scrollable set of “pages” that had speed and effects controls offscreen to the left, and the episode notes offscreen to the right.

Nobody ever found them. I’ve been getting emails almost every day from people asking where the speed controls were because they set them once and couldn’t find them again, or saying how they’d really like my app more if it offered speed controls. The only indication in the interface was three “page dots” below the scrollable area, but that wasn’t enough.

The new design maintains the same scrollable pages, but now as obvious, tactile cards. In my testing, everyone figured these out immediately.

Put differently, it’s like you’re navigating this through a phone-shaped window in the middle:

This design is not only more discoverable, but it allows me to fit more controls on screen, and in more reachable areas. Unlike the previous design, I can also fit the same controls on all devices, from the iPhone SE to the iPad Pro.

Designing a good Now Playing screen for a music or podcast app that’s nice, clean, and highly discoverable is incredibly difficult. I think I’ve finally found a good balance.

I’ve given chapters (when present) their own card with durations and inline progress bars. I’ve also finally revamped the sleep timer to ditch the ugly alert sheet, give it a proper UI for fast input, and show the remaining time in more useful ways:

There are lots of other improvements throughout the app as well. Some of the highlights:

• Search your podcasts and current episodes from the main screen, or go into a podcast’s screen to search its entire archive.
• Refreshed the podcast screen a little. (More to come.)
• Siri Shortcuts support, of course.

Plus smaller fixes and improvements:

• CarPlay performance is much better, especially for people with large collections.
• Podcasts now display their estimated release frequency (daily, weekly, etc.) if it can be inferred.
• Tap-to-load on images now loads all images from the same domain at once.
• Tons of bug fixes and performance improvements.

Overcast 5 requires iOS 12 and watchOS 5, and as always, it’s free.

Update your devices, then go get Overcast!

1. Up to 20 episodes are auto-synced today. This number will change as I refine the balance of resource usage. Auto-Sync to Watch is on by default and can be turned off in Nitpicky Details. ↩︎

Laptop battery life is decreasingly relevant to me as more airplanes offer power outlets. But sometimes you lose that lottery, as I did on my latest 8-hour daytime flight.

Apple’s “Up to 10 hours” claim doesn’t apply to my work,¹ which is usually a mix of Xcode, web browsing, and social time-wasting, so I knew I’d have to seriously conserve power.

Sometimes, you just need Low Power Mode: the switch added to iOS a few years ago to conserve battery life when you need it, at the expense of full performance and background tasks.

There’s no such feature on Mac laptops, but there should be. It could:

• Disable the discrete GPU on 15-inch models unless required for hardware reasons²
• Pause Photos syncing and analysis
• Pause Spotlight indexing
• Reduce the frequency of Time Machine backups
• Don’t download or install software updates
• Don’t download new content in iTunes
• Auto-dim the screen after a shorter time
• Let third-party apps detect Low Power Mode and reduce their background operations to only essential work

And the big one:

• Reduce the processor’s maximum wattage or disable Turbo Boost

Back in 2015, I experimented with disabling Turbo Boost and discovered that it reduced performance by about a third, but also boosted battery life by almost as much. Since then, I’ve been running Turbo Boost Switcher Pro to automatically disable Turbo Boost when I’m running on battery power, and it has been wonderful: I made it through that 8-hour flight only because Turbo Boost was off.

Over the last few days, I’ve run battery tests on my 2018 13-inch MacBook Pro with the (awesome) 2.7 GHz i7 and my 2015 2.2 GHz 15-inch³ to see how far I could push the battery life using Volta, which can disable Turbo Boost and/or set wattage limits on the CPU.

My test was based on the “Heavy” script from last time, but using xcodebuild every few minutes with Overcast’s current codebase (which is larger and includes some Swift). Improvements are in green and performance reductions are in red:

15-inch 2015 MacBook Pro (2.2 GHz quad-core i7)   Battery life Geekbench single/multi xcodebuild Normal 3:36 3963/13864 43.9s No Turbo 5:06+42% 2796/9917−29/28% 63.4s+44% 13-inch 2018 MacBook Pro (2.7 GHz quad-core i7)   Battery life Geekbench single/multi xcodebuild Normal 3:09 5412/18983 34.3s 28W 3:28+10% 5401/16326−0/14% 37.4s+9% 18W 4:05+29% 5248/14133−3/26% 43.5s+27% 12W 4:44+50% 4818/11835−11/38% 48.2s+41% No Turbo 5:05+61% 3624/13324−33/30% 48.9s+43% 6W 6:24+103% 4065/7596−25/60% 76.1s+121%

It’s impressive how much faster this new 13-inch model is than the best laptop ever made due to significant CPU and SSD improvements.

Dropping the wattage to 6W, the thermal limit of the fanless 12-inch MacBook, interestingly (but not surprisingly) makes it perform effectively identically to the best 12-inch MacBook in Geekbench. This is an extreme option, but one I’d occasionally take if offered. It roughly doubles compilation times, but also doubles the battery life.

This ratio holds for most other configurations: the gain in battery life is about as large as the loss in heavy-workload performance. That’s a trade-off I’d gladly make when I need to maximize runtime.

The best bang-for-the-buck option is still to just disable Turbo Boost. Single-threaded performance hurts more than with wattage-limiting, but it’s able to maintain better multi-threaded performance and more consistent thermals, and gets a larger battery gain relative to its performance loss.

And Volta, which offers both wattage limits and Turbo disabling, requires disabling System Integrity Protection to install an unsigned kernel extension, which I really don’t recommend. Turbo Boost Switcher, which doesn’t offer wattage control, works with SIP using a signed extension and its Pro version has more convenient features for automatic toggling.

For now, I’m going to continue to happily run Turbo Boost Switcher Pro to selectively give myself better battery life, and I recommend it for anyone else with the same need.

But what I ultimately want is for a true Low Power Mode built into macOS that could provide this sort of CPU throttling and software changes, which would ultimately achieve even greater gains.

1. Whose work does get 10 hours out of a MacBook Pro? None of the use-cases on the marketing page — Photography, Coding, Video Editing, 3D Graphics, and Gaming — are likely to achieve even half of that in practice. ↩︎

2. I’ve heard that 15-inch models are wired such that the discrete GPU is required when external displays are connected. Otherwise, whether it’s used or not is a software decision, and gfxCardStatus can override it in certain conditions. ↩︎

3. It’s not brand new, so it’s not a perfect comparison, but the battery only had 90 cycles before this test. ↩︎

Overcast 4.2 is out now. It enhances privacy in two major areas:

Anonymous sync by default

Overcast has offered anonymous sync accounts since 2014. They’re fully functional, but they lack email addresses or passwords, so they can’t log into the website. A login token is stored in iCloud so the account can be accessed after a restore or upgrade, or from other devices you own.

Previously, the login screen pushed email logins. But with four years of perspective, feedback, and usage data, I now think that’s the wrong move. Only a single-digit percentage of customers use the website, and the iCloud token-sync method solves cross-device logins for almost everyone.

Your personal data isn’t my business — it’s a liability. I want as little as possible. I don’t even log IP addresses anymore.

If I don’t need your email address, I really don’t want it.

68% of Overcast accounts have email addresses today. To reduce that as much as possible, I’ve made major changes to account handling:

The previous login screen (left) and the new one.

In Overcast 4.2, the login screen now prominently encourages anonymous accounts by default.

If you already have an account in iCloud, it’ll pop up a dialog box over this screen asking if you want to use it.

And the first time you launch 4.2, people with email-based accounts will be encouraged to migrate them to anonymous accounts:

The migration prompt that shows on the first run.

Finally, you can now change your account between email-based and anonymous whenever you want.

Blocking ad-tracking images

In most podcast apps, podcasts are downloaded automatically in the background. The only data sent to a podcast’s publisher about you or your behavior is your IP address and the app’s name. The IP address lets them derive your approximate region, but not much else.

They don’t know exactly who you are, whether you listened, when you listened, how far you listened, or whether you skipped certain parts.

Some large podcast producers are trying very hard to change that.

I’m not.

Big data ruined the web, and I’m not going to help bring it to podcasts. Publishers already get enough from Apple to inform ad rates and make content decisions — they don’t need more data from my customers. Podcasting has thrived, grown, and made tons of money for tons of people under the current model for over a decade. We already have all the data we need.

One of the ways publishers try to get around the limitations of the current model is by embedding remote images or invisible “tracking pixels” in each episode’s HTML show notes. When displayed in most apps, the images are automatically loaded from an analytics server, which can then record and track more information about you.

In Overcast 4.2, much like Mail (and for the same reason), remote images don’t load by default. A tappable placeholder shows you where each image will load from, and you can decide whether to load it or not.

I believe I’ve done this in the most secure way possible — I’m actually displaying the show notes using a strict Content Security Policy — and I would love to hear from anyone who finds a way to inject auto-loading remote images or execute arbitrary JavaScript in show notes.

Bug fixes

Overcast 4.2 also includes a bunch of minor fixes, and two big ones:

• Fixed the major slowdowns and high battery usage that resulted from extremely large podcast artwork.
• Password-protected episodes are now supported on password-protected feeds.

Get it now in the App Store!

Overcast 4.1 is now in the App Store with some small but nice new features.

Smart Resume is actually two features:

1. It jumps back by up to a few seconds after having been paused to help remind you of the conversation.
2. It slightly adjusts resumes and seeks to fall in the silences between spoken words when reasonably possible.

Both are subtle but noticeable benefits (my favorite kind), especially when you’re being interrupted a lot, such as while following turn-by-turn navigation directions.

Smart Resume is on by default, and can be turned off in Nitpicky Details.

Delete episodes 24 hours after completion: Before, episodes could either be auto-deleted immediately upon completion, or not at all. There’s now a third option, auto-deleting 24 hours after completion, which will soon be the default for new accounts.

The 24-hour threshold is only enforced after a successful sync, so it won’t auto-delete anything in the middle of an extended offline period, such as a long flight.

Auto-deletion, either immediate or after 24 hours, also no longer applies to Premium subscribers’ Uploads.

Password-protected podcasts: Some private podcast feeds, including many paid and members-only podcasts, require a username and password via HTTP Basic Auth. You can now add these in the Add URL screen.

Password-protected podcasts, and other private feeds such as Patreon bonus feeds and anything using the <itunes:block> tag, do not show up in search or recommendations.

Noteworthy bug fixes:

• Resuming playback after quitting in the background, especially on very long podcasts and/or when using AirPods, no longer occasionally results in glitchy noises and incorrect durations.
• Playback under certain conditions no longer stalls, requiring pausing and playing again.
• Downloads now fail less often.
• Playback controls no longer disappear occasionally.
• Smart Speed total savings now appear at the bottom of the Settings screen for locales that use commas as their decimal separator.¹
• Extremely large playlists now only show the most/least-recent 500 episodes to improve app performance for users with very high subscription counts.

There’s also one removal: rotation support on iPhone. (The iPad app still rotates.) iPhone rotation has always been disabled by default, and had been buried in Nitpicky Details for a long time, so very few people have ever used it. Meanwhile, it has become increasingly difficult to support and maintain, especially with the modern complexities of rotation and the dramatically increased workload of supporting the iPhone X in landscape.

iPhone rotation has simply proven far too costly to maintain for its extremely low usage, and it had to go to free up more of my time for more highly demanded features. I apologize to the few people who did use it, and I hope this isn’t too disruptive for you.

The rest is all good news. Go get Overcast now!

In the next update, I’ll be addressing the biggest design failure of Overcast 4: the non-discoverability of the Effects and Notes pages in the Now Playing screen. Expect the return of an ancient user-interface tool known as “buttons”.

1. This was Overcast’s oldest known bug, which had been there since 1.0: some users, mostly in central Europe, wouldn’t see Smart Speed totals. It turned out to be one of the most interesting and obscure bugs I’ve seen.

   The total-time-saved value is stored on-device as it accumulates, then gets sent to the server to be combined with any listening you do on other devices. The overall total is read back from the server, and the local total is reset, on each sync.

   I was using an NSNumberFormatter to read the total value from Overcast’s server as a double. My server always sends values with U.S.-style number formatting, using a period as the decimal separator (e.g. “1234.5”). But by default, NSNumberFormatter uses the device’s locale, so in countries that use a comma as the decimal separator (e.g. “1234,5”), it was interpreting the server’s numbers with periods as invalid and returning zero. So the Settings screen thought they hadn’t saved any time, and hid the time-saved label.

   Fortunately, it was an easy fix: setting that NSNumberFormatter locale to en_US to match what the server was sending. And since the accumulated local totals were still being sent and added properly, the correct historical data is there — it just wasn’t being displayed correctly. ↩︎

Here’s a look inside the Audio Lab, the hub for Apple’s groundbreaking new hearing health features on AirPods Pro 2, available today.

Apple today announced the new iMac, featuring the powerful M4 chip and Apple Intelligence, in its stunning, ultra-thin design.

Through a free software update available today, iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can access the first set of Apple Intelligence features.

The 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs kick off this Friday on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, and viewers can watch the first match for free.

Beginning today, the ultraportable new iPad mini, powered by the A17 Pro chip and built for Apple Intelligence, is now available.

Apple’s Jennifer Bailey reflects on the ways Apple Pay enriches users’ lives, and shares new ways to pay with Apple Pay.

Apple Business Connect now allows businesses of all sizes to manage the way they appear to over 1 billion Apple users.

Apple today introduced the new iPad mini, supercharged by the A17 Pro chip and Apple Intelligence.

Apple reveals new episodes, films, series, and music performances captured in Apple Immersive Video that will debut on Apple Vision Pro for free.

Submissions for the 2025 Swift Student Challenge will open in February for three weeks.

Today, Apple Podcasts is elevating series — narrative shows with episodes intended to be listened to in order — that captivate listeners across multiple genres.

In celebration of World Teachers’ Day, Apple announced the expansion of its education grant program into 100 new schools and communities.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineups, Apple Watch Series 10, the new black titanium Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the new AirPods lineup arrived worldwide.

Apple today announced California driver’s licenses and state IDs can now be added to Apple Wallet.

iOS 18 is now available, making iPhone more personal and capable than ever.

macOS Sequoia, the latest version of the world’s most advanced desktop operating system, is available today as a free software update for Mac.

iPadOS 18 makes the iPad experience more versatile and intelligent than ever, and is available today as a free software update.

Apple today released watchOS 11, bringing powerful health and fitness insights to the world’s most popular watch.

visionOS 2 is available today, bringing new spatial computing experiences to Apple Vision Pro users around the world.

Updates across Apple’s Home products are available today, introducing new cinematic experiences and bringing even more convenience to the home.

Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos

Tired of stretching your hands and pockets with a gigantic iPhone? Try the NanoPhone, a mini smartphone that's perfect for travel.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple launched its AI-powered Apple Intelligence features in the EU on Monday, despite warning earlier that it might not.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The new Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad USB input devices mark the (near) death of Apple's Lightning connector, finally.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple's worst design crime remains unsolved! The location of the Magic Mouse 2 charging port

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple Audio Lab developed the technologies behind the new Hearing Health software features now available for AirPods Pro 2.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

This MacBook Pro user keeps an Anker Prime Charging Station front and center in his minimal but productive computer setup.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The new Edifier MR3 2.0 Monitor Speaker System gives you bookshelf boxes with Hi-Res Audio-certified sound -- for just $120!

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Sit back and relax with this pair of JBL Tune 520BT headphones because it has a comfortable build, quality sound and a long-lasting battery.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple Intelligence arrives! Find out what's in iOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1 and iPadOS 18.1: new AI-powered features plus more.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple's M4 iMac is official, packing 16GB of unified memory as standard and seven fresh color options. It will retail for the same $1,299.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On October 28, 2012, more than one year after Steve Jobs died, his luxury yacht takes to the water for the first time.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Get an AI tool that brings top AI models like ChatGPT, Mistral AI and more together in one interface. Enter 1minAI, the all-in-one AI tool.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple cannot sell the iPhone 16 in Indonesia, following a ban by the government for falling to meet the domestic content requirements.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

An iPad mini 7 teardown reveals Apple leaving the display controller's position unchanged, raising questions on how it fixed jelly scrolling.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

This USB-C travel hub has it all: 10 USB ports, high-power USB PD charging, memory card slots and even wireless MagSafe charging.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On October 27, 1999, data showed that upstart Dell Computer's cheap PCs stole Apple's lead in a key market: education.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The iPad 11 release date: what we know so far. Get the inside scoop on the launch of Apple's next entry-level tablet.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple's first smart home display could sit on an iMac G4-like base and sport a smaller display than initially rumored.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Want a large iPad Pro with a small price? Get this grade-A refurbished 12.9-inch iPad Pro (third generation) for just $399.99.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

No streaming series is more popular than Apple TV+’s thriller “Disclaimer.” It stars Cate Blanchett on a journey of sex, secrets and suspense.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On October 26, 2004, Apple debuted the iPod Photo, capable of putting not just 15,000 songs in your pocket, but also 25,000 photos.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

iOS 18.1 comes with a veritable boatload of big new features. The update, expected on Monday, will bring Apple Intelligence, phone call recording and more.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The Apple blood sugar app apparently under development could help people understand how foods affect health and contribute to diabetes.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

With AI low on smartphone upgrade wishlists, according to a new study, what do they really want? The basics we all love, of course.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The new Apple TV+ trailer for psychological thriller "Before" makes funny man Billy Crystal's new series out to be straight-up horror.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Mac OS X Panther arrives on the Mac, bringing brushed-metal Finder, Exposé and Safari as the default browser for the first time.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Here's how to see if you have the latest AirPods Pro 2 firmware with bug fixes, plus what you can do to force an update.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Today's M3 MacBook Pro and PC laptop user keeps a Mac Pro collection around mainly because he loves working on them.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

With brazen iPhone snatching rampant in London, "The Unsnatchable" iPhone cases seek to hearten Londoners while giving thieves pause.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The big CdkeySales Halloween Sale on Microsoft mainstays like Windows 10, Windows 11 and Office is underway.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

A new AirPods Pro 2 hearing aid firmware update Apple sent out will enable the earbuds to act as over-the-counter hearing aids.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Don’t wait for iOS 18.1 with Apple Intelligence — there are good reasons to install it on your iPhone today.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Snag a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard family plan. The iOS and Mac ad blocker also protects your privacy on Android and PC.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Three years after leaving Apple, Steve Jobs prepares to launch the NeXT Computer, the machine he hopes will exact his revenge on Cupertino.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

New conspiracy thriller "Prime Target" on Apple TV+ is set to stream January 25. Hopefully math + NSA + computer (in)security = good TV.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Protect your iPad Pro with the sophisticated Woolnut Leather Sleeve. Made from vegetable-tanned full-grain leather, it ages beautifully.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple’s much-anticipated October event won’t be a traditional one. Get ready for a week of announcements instead.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Right now on Amazon you can score great deals on M3 and M2 MacBook Air models, ahead of the M4 version's arrival.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Mujjo's eco-friendly iPhone case alternative delivers premium look and feel like traditional leather, our Mujjo MaizCase review finds.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

LightPDF is a great Adobe Acrobat alternative. It has countless PDF-editing features, OCR tech, and AI-powered summaries.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

iOS 18.2 beta 1 is here, packing plenty of changes and tweaks, including new Apple Intelligence features like Image Playground.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Studies show that a haptic keyboard improves touchscreen typing speed and input accuracy, but very few people know you can enable it on your iPhone.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

iOS 18.2 beta 1 offers new options to change default iPhone apps. It will soon be easy to pick the defaults for common tasks.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

With this Babbel lifetime subscription, you get unlimited access to all of Babbel's language-learning lessons in 14 different languages for one low price.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple gears up for a bigger expansion of its M4 chip rollout, including an M4 MacBook Air coming in early 2025, according to a new report.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

The first beta of iOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, and iPadOS 8.2 let devs test out new AI features like the Image Playground app and Genmoji.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Big Apple Card fines for Apple and Goldman Sachs result from investigation revealing deceptive marketing and breakdowns in dispute handling.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami is headed for the MLS playoffs, and the first game can be watched free.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

On this day in 2001, Steve Jobs introduced the iPod, a portable device capable of storing an entire music library. A look at the iPod launch.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

An M3 MacBook Air sits on a tray attached to the same arm that holds the ultra-wide external display, so they float together above the desk.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple reportedly might end production of the Vision Pro as the company looks ahead to a more affordable version of the mixed-reality headset.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

As you should absolutely expect, the "Severance" season 2 teaser trailer brings the weirdness. The season streams January 17.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Finally in iOS 18.1, you can record a phone call on your iPhone. With Apple Intelligence, you’ll get transcriptions of the calls, too. 

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Apple's newest iPad, the iPad mini 7, is now on sale in the US and several other key markets worldwide, with prices starting from $499.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

Location sharing is a highly versatile and useful feature of iOS. It proves super-handy in big public spaces like malls, amusement parks and stadiums.

(via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

An unofficial community about Apple and all of its devices and software.

Welcome to the Daily Advice Thread for /r/Apple. This thread can be used to ask for technical advice regarding Apple software and hardware, to ask questions regarding the buying or selling of Apple products or to post other short questions. Have a question you need answered? Ask away! Please remember to adhere to our rules, which can be found in the sidebar. Join our Discord and IRC chat rooms for support: Discord IRC Note: Comments are sorted by /new for your convenience. Here is an archive of all previous Daily Advice Threads. This is best viewed on a browser. If on mobile, type in the search bar [author:"AutoModerator" title:"Daily Advice Thread" or title:"Daily Tech Support Thread"] (without the brackets, and including the quotation marks around the titles and author.) The Daily Advice Thread is posted each day at 06:00 AM EST (Click HERE for other timezones) and then the old one is archived. It is advised to wait for the new thread to post your question if this time is nearing for quickest answer time. submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

Mentions “staring on Monday morning”. A multiple day event? submitted by /u/LaxMorningStar [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/hellofriend19 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/favicondotico [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/nevernotdebating [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/ControlCAD [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/ty003 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Hrhnick [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/favicondotico [link] [comments]

Point 7 in the bulletpoints at the bottom. submitted by /u/qwertyshark [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/iMacmatician [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/chrisdh79 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/VaderCraft2004 [link] [comments]

EDIT: watchOS 11.1 is also out Earlier than usual, but these updates are now rolling out! The release build differs from the RC released last week, so there should be an update available for those on the RC build submitted by /u/exjr_ [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Randomisium [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/iMacmatician [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/ty003 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/instamelih [link] [comments]

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/apple-intelligence-is-available-today-on-iphone-ipad-and-mac/ submitted by /u/No-Reach-455 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/chrisdh79 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/antdude [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/bonksmeister [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/byaruhaf [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/bsoci [link] [comments]

“The screen is positioned at an angle on a small base, making it reminiscent of the circular bottom of the iMac G3 from a couple of decades ago.” submitted by /u/peterosity [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/iMacmatician [link] [comments]

Hey all, I'm the dev of Narwhal 2 for Reddit. I've been continually trying to make my passion project better over time and I just released another large update. I still have so many things to work on, but your feedback is invaluable to me as I try to make the best possible app for Reddit. Thanks for all of your support! New Features GIFs/Videos in Big Preview Mode will only start playing when they are mostly on screen. No more scrolling and seeing GIFs that are already halfway done playing! Settings (including themes!) are now synced to your iCloud account so that if you get a new device or have to re-install, everything will still be customized to your liking. Adds setting to automatically unmute GIFs/videos in Big Preview mode as you scroll in Settings > Posts Adds favorites button as an option for the action bar Adds setting to control mute behavior on GIF posts App icons will now respond correctly to dark mode. I also added a new orangered and new blue icon. Adds setting to control the gesture for how comments are collapsed: single tap, double tap, two finger tap, or disabled altogether Improved When opening a GIF/Video from Big Preview Mode, the post will show the GIF/Video at the same place on the timeline. For those of you who may not like this behavior, there is now a setting to always start GIFs/Videos from the beginning in Settings > Posts GIFs and videos that are unmuted in Big Preview mode will stay un-muted when you open the post Fixed Fixes issue where iOS dictation would insert a weird character that is displayed on reddit.com Changed some icons for the action bar to ensure continuity in the visual style Fixes issue where placeholders would be shown with thumbnails turned off If anyone has any questions around Narwhal 2, iOS programming, what it's like to work on an app like this, etc., I am happy to answer! https://apps.apple.com/us/app/narwhal-2-for-reddit/id845422455 https://narwhal.app submitted by /u/det0ur [link] [comments]

Reddit’s little corner for iPhone lovers (and some people who just mildly enjoy it…)

Welcome to the weekly stickied WSIB thread. Have any questions about buying, selling, trading, or giveaways? Ask away! Please remember to adhere to our rules, which can be found in the sidebar. As usual, if you have a serious issue with the subreddit, please contact the moderators directly. This thread is also for questions about preorders and shipments of devices Note: Comments are sorted by /new for your convenience. Here is an archive of all previous "What Should I Buy" threads. This is best viewed on a browser. If on mobile, type on the searchbar [title:"What Should I Buy" author:"AutoModerator"] (without the brackets, and including the quotation marks around the title and author.) submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

General advice for those concerned about their battery from the Support FAQ Wiki: Battery health Battery health depends on usage and a variety of other factors. It is normal to see a decrease in battery health by 7-10% per year, resulting in a battery health of 80-85% after 2 years. This number can fluctuate, remain the same, or decrease quickly over a small period and should not cause undue concern. Apple recommend battery replacement when your device falls below 80% battery health if you notice reduced battery life. If it falls below 80% within the first year you may be eligable for a free battery replacement. It fails after your warranty, it's a $69-$89 USD replacement cost for a battery. Contact Apple Support here. You can find more information about battery health and performance from Apple here. You can check the cycles count with Coconut Battery for Mac or iCopyBot for Windows. Battery life Issues relating to battery life can be categorised in three ways: Normal battery life that is to be expected due to use Reduced battery life caused by a recent update, iOS indexing, an iOS bug, or a third-party application Reduced battery life, or other abnormalities such as overheating or sudden power-off, caused by device or battery aging If you experience issues with your battery: Check your battery health. If it is below 80% or you are experiencing issues you suspect are related to device or battery age, see Apple Support. If you have a new or recently updated/restored device, wait a number of days for background process to complete. If you continue to have issues, wait for a further iOS update. If you are on iOS Beta, you can expect to have a decreased battery life. Review the advice below on maximising battery life Consider restoring your device. If issues persist, contact Apple Support. Maximising battery life - the amount of time your device runs before it needs to be recharged. Use low power mode (This reduces mail fetch, turns off background app refresh and increases the auto lock timer) Remove apps from background app refresh Ensure auto lock is on Turn off auto brightness and manually reduce brightness Use dark mode if your device has an OLED display Clearing background apps from the app switcher does not improve battery life Maximising battery lifespan - the amount of time your battery lasts until it needs to be replaced. Avoid extreme temperatures If you notice that your iPhone gets hot when charging, remove it from its case Store your iPhone in a cool place, switched off, and half-charged if not using it for long periods - and charge it every 6 months when in storage submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

I’ve had the same email since forever, but is there a way I can just instantly view them all, and just go on from today lol? submitted by /u/JetandClay [link] [comments]

Hey everyone, I'm a (non-Apple) server engineer and wanted to shed some light on this. When you install iOS 18.1 you have to go to Apple Intelligence settings and join a waitlist. Lots of people here are assuming this is a wait to download the multi-gigabyte AI model that runs on your iPhone. But this is unlikely to be the cause as Apple rolls out multi-gigabyte OS updates all the time at much greater scale than this. The real cause is almost certainly enrolling you in Private Cloud Compute. That's the server side of Apple Intelligence. Some of your requests are handled locally, while more complex ones are sent to the cloud. This is illustrated in Apple's public documentation of PCC. It's really a very impressive system. It even uses custom server hardware built by Apple to help guarantee your privacy. So this is a real buttcheek clenching day for Apple server engineers, finally rolling out this brand new cloud system at planet scale and taking on production traffic. They are probably limiting the number of people they let in the door so they can ensure it scales healthily. Less likely, but possible, is that there is some delay related to the initial authentication process your device has to go through called the PCC Identity Service. We don't know exactly what anti-fraud measures it takes but it's possible there is some dependency on a third party like verifying your carrier details. (This is also the likely cause of any rejections from the waitlist.) Hope that helps! submitted by /u/415z [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Practical-Creme-6025 [link] [comments]

Finally they released the iOS 18.1 update with Apple Intelligence submitted by /u/PrivacyAI [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/brando224_ [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/tojejik [link] [comments]

Is there any other way than restarting my iPhone? Clicking the button will open the reddit homepage and its been there for hours submitted by /u/CatsGoodAtReddit [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/DataCrusader2024 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Herdnerfer [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Psy-Demon [link] [comments]

Every time I type “No” autocorrect forces it to Yes. “not” or any other negative words are fine. Is this just me and some setting in the language/keyboard? submitted by /u/vsgirish [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/LongLiveTurtles [link] [comments]

As someone who sorts his photos using my Mac, and uses the camera roll frequently, this update has been awful. That is all. submitted by /u/Nero29gt [link] [comments]

Title submitted by /u/Avoumen [link] [comments]

Is it me or did iOS 18.1 bring back True Tone to aftermarket screens, currently on an iPhone 12 Pro Max with an X07 mobile sentrix soft oled screen, and after updating I’ve realized that True Tone is back! submitted by /u/oosm0sis [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/OkidoShigeru [link] [comments]

When it’s not called on election night I wonder if the live activity will stay active for the several weeks it takes. submitted by /u/rcjlfk [link] [comments]

I got my Iphone13 back in Dec of 2022. Never liked it’s camera since it did the weird sharpening thing post click. Now the camera has worsened, and the photos come out either quite blurry around corners / light seems to have dimmed a lot. For reference a photo taken on my phone (1) and the second on my friends iphone13 (2). Mine looks significantly more dull I feel. I’m not sure you can see the difference is there but when we pull out the camera there’s a clear difference between my camera and theirs. The image in mine seems to be grainy and dull. Why is this happening? submitted by /u/autumnsprung [link] [comments]

I’ve been waiting for the new look in the mail app. submitted by /u/xCTG27 [link] [comments]

I was exploring the new 18.1 update on my iPhone 15 pro max and I tried creating a photo "creation" in the photos app on iphone. I keep getting a "creation unavailable, certain capabilities are unavailabe at this time. Try again later" Sometimes the whole animation process starts and pulls photos in then stops. Other times there's no animation. Anyone else having this issue? https://preview.redd.it/w06pjac2emxd1.png?width=1290&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5d8bf8d340ac571d129a3c6b36f4e1ef897621a submitted by /u/Lilodude [link] [comments]

Call me stupid or whatever but I am in the United Kingdom and yes I have updated my iPhone 16 Pro but how do you get it work? submitted by /u/DataCrusader2024 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/Lumpy_Forever1567 [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/imfrankmurphyswall [link] [comments]

This appeared in all my iMessages today. Not sure why. How do I remove this and bring back the microphone? submitted by /u/alfbak [link] [comments]

For those with motion sickness, have you tried out the vehicle motion cues? How’d it work for you? submitted by /u/tomrajlol [link] [comments]

Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16 is here, with Writing Tools to help your words sound more professional, friendly or more concise. Learn more about iPhone 16: https://www.apple.com/iphone/ Learn more about Apple Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/ “Genius” by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko Audio Description: https://youtu.be/qPgcN455PHs #AppleIntelligence #iPhone16 #iphone16pro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16 is here. Just enter a description in the Photos app, and Apple Intelligence will find the best photos and videos to create a custom memory movie, whenever you need one. Learn more about iPhone 16: https://www.apple.com/iphone/ Learn more about Apple Intelligence: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/ “Genius” by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko “Dads and Daughters“ by MaRynn Taylor: https://apple.co/Dads-and-Daughters Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/oE4_vrYj8dQ #AppleIntelligence #iPhone16 #iphone16pro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Our more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Watch the special Apple announcement to learn about the bold and colorful new iMac, now with Apple Intelligence. To watch the event interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), please click here: https://youtu.be/T8LSJeVeJGk Audio Descriptions: https://apple.co/4fEJdNp Learn more about iMac: https://apple.co/4hmCpFw 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Apple Intelligence 04:27 iMac “Meet Again (feat. Little Boots)” by LP Giobbi https://apple.co/Meet-Again-LP-Giobbi “Cinderella” by Remi Wolf https://apple.co/Cinderella-Remi-Wolf “Color My Life” by Chicano Batman https://apple.co/Color-My-Life #AppleEvent #iMac #AppleIntelligence Pricing, claims, and feature availability apply to the U.S. and may vary by region. For product details specific to your area, please refer to Apple.com. Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

A behind the scenes look at Submerged, the first scripted film in Apple Immersive Video. Join Academy Award® Winners Edward Berger and James Friend on set as they break down the entire filmmaking process for Apple Vision Pro. From writing and directing, to cinematography and production design, take a deep dive into a new format of storytelling. Watch Submerged now only on Apple Vision Pro. Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/SkNMAZLha30 Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you'll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple's more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. #Submerged #AppleImmersiveVideo #AppleVisionPro #SpatialComputing

Submerged, the first scripted film in Apple Immersive Video. Watch only on Apple Vision Pro on October 10. A WWII submarine crew combats a harrowing torpedo attack in this adrenaline-pumping thrill ride. From filmmaker Edward Berger, director of the Academy Award® winning All Quiet on the Western Front. Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/jg8LvxKptxI Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you'll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple's more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it. #Submerged #AppleImmersiveVideo #AppleVisionPro #SpatialComputing

Capture cinematic slow motion in 4K 120 fps Dolby Vision on the new iPhone 16 Pro. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/Ay-z5_HKhzA “Roll the Credits” by Danielle Ponder https://apple.co/Roll-the-Credits-DP #iPhone16Pro #iPhone16ProMax #iPhone #slowmotion Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Introducing Camera Control on iPhone 16 Pro. An easier way to access your camera, frame your shot, adjust functions like zoom, exposure, or depth of field, and toggle through each lens. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: https://www.apple.com/iphone-16-pro/ “Push (feat. OFFAIAH)” by Skrillex, Hamdi, Taichu https://apple.co/Skrillex-Push Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/2nRFR0Xjspw #iPhone16Pro #iPhone16ProMax #CameraControl Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Introducing a more personal Siri.

#AppleIntelligence #iPhone16Pro Introducing Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16 Pro with a more personal Siri. Equipped with awareness of your personal context, the ability to take action in and across apps, and richer language understanding, Siri will be able to assist you like never before. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro: https://apple.co/4e2G4Xg Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/atXr3GrVfog "Genius" by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko #AppleIntelligence #iPhone16Pro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you'll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple's more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

#AppleIntelligence #iPhone16Pro Introducing Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16 Pro. Tap to reveal a summary of a long email in the Mail app and cut to the chase. You can also view summaries of emails right from your inbox. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro: https://apple.co/3MI9aPq Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/Tw7lZBK0d-Y "Genius" by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko #AppleIntelligence #iPhone16Pro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you'll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple's more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

#AppleIntelligence #iPhone16Pro Introducing Apple Intelligence on iPhone 16 Pro. Create a custom memory movie by entering a description in Photos, and Apple Intelligence will find the best photos and videos to craft a storyline with its own narrative arc. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro: https://apple.co/47qx37y Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/666vqFtrgJg "Genius" by Krizz Kaliko: https://apple.co/Genius-KrizzKaliko "How Do You Talk to an Angel" by The Heights: https://apple.co/4d2v76z. #AppleIntelligence #iPhone16Pro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you'll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple's more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

The Weeknd's new music video "Dancing in the Flames" shot on iPhone 16 Pro in cinematic slow motion. iPhone 16 Pro available for pre-order starting 9/13. Audio Descriptions: https://youtube.com/shorts/R6bqVDd2ngY

A look at The Weeknd's new music video for "Dancing In The Flames" shot entirely on iPhone 16 Pro in cinematic slow motion 4K120. Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro: https://apple.co/3B3gDpN Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/EFX37qssZYU #ShotOniPhone by Erik Henriksson #ShotOniPhone16Pro “Dancing In The Flames” by @theweeknd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLlSSJ0z7xM Directed by Anton Tammi Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

A behind the scenes look at The Weeknd's new music video for "Dancing In The Flames" shot on the new iPhone 16 Pro. Cinematographer Erik Henriksson and photographer Eddy Chen explain how they captured iconic visuals using the new cinematic slow motion in 4K120, Camera Control, and Photographic Styles. "The new camera features on the iPhone 16 Pro make it a filmmaking powerhouse" — Erik Henriksson Learn more about iPhone 16 Pro: https://apple.co/3ZeKe9T Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/Gl8zsbvnWUw #ShotOniPhone by Erik Henriksson and Eddy Chen #ShotOniPhone16Pro “Dancing In The Flames” by @theweeknd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLlSSJ0z7xM Directed by Anton Tammi Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Find a new iPhone 16 that’s right for you alongside comedian Sheng Wang, and see some of the most exciting new features, like Apple Intelligence, in action. We’ll cover the big news about iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max — getting a closer look at the new sizes, colors, and everything that makes this the most impressive iPhone lineup ever. 00:00 - Introduction 02:10 - Design 03:03 - Apple Intelligence 04:46 - Performance 05:56 - Camera 07:29 - Pro Video 08:52 - Trade In Compare all four new iPhone models: https://apple.co/4ggc4bL Meet the new iPhone family: https://apple.co/4eiaww0 Audio Descriptions: https://youtu.be/OP5dSq0HwH8 #GuidedTour #iPhone16 #iPhone16Pro Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple’s more than 160,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Apple today announced that it has updated the 24-inch iMac with the M4 chip, which debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year. This upgrade comes around one year after the previous iMac with the M3 chip was released. 📲 Read more: Apple Announces iMac With M4 Chip, Upgraded Camera, Nano-Texture Display Option, and More https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/28/apple-announces-imac-with-m4-chip-upgraded-camera-new-colors-and-more/ 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@themacrumorsshow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Apple today released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, the first major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates that came out in September. iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 come six weeks after the release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings - General - Software Update. Apple Intelligence is the main draw in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, and some of the first Apple Intelligence features are available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPad with an M-series or A17 Pro chip. Note that Apple Intelligence is launching in a beta capacity, and there will be a short waitlist initially. To opt in to Apple Intelligence, you'll need to open up the Settings app, go to Apple Intelligence and Siri, and toggle it on. 📲 Read more: 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@themacrumorsshow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:14 - New Siri Features 01:06 - Writing Tools 01:29 - Summarized Notifications 02:04 - Smart Reply 02:25 - Mail, Safari and Recording Summaries 03:01 - Photo Cleanup, Better Search, and Memory Movie Maker 03:37 - Final Thoughts The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Apple's Greg Joswiak today made it clear that Apple plans to reveal new products next week, teasing refreshed Macs. In a social media post, Joswiak said to "Mac your calendars" because there's an exciting week of announcements that start on Monday morning. 📲 Read more: Apple Teases M4 Mac Announcements Next Week https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/24/apple-m4-announcements-next-week/ 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

With iOS 18.2, Apple has introduced some of the most exciting Apple Intelligence features, including Image Playground, Genmoji, Image Wand, ChatGPT integration with Siri, and more. For those who aren't able to install iOS 18.2 yet, we did an overview of everything new so you can get an idea of what to expect as the beta testing process continues. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro & Requesting Image Playground/Genmoji 01:02 - Image Playground 02:30 - Genmoji 03:40 - Image Wand 04:15 - ChatGPT Integration 05:02 - Visual Intelligence 05:52 - Writing Tools Prompts The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Today is the official launch date of the iPad mini 7, which is the first new iPad mini that we've had since 2021. It has a much faster chip and a few other tweaks, so we thought we'd check it out and do a quick review. Try the new CleanMyMac for free for 7 days using our link: https://clnmy.com/macrumors 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

With iOS 18.1, Apple is adding a new set of hearing health features to the AirPods Pro 2. The iOS 18.1 release candidate for developers and public beta testers includes the full hearing aid functionality, so we thought we'd give it a try to see just how it works. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

s Apple's rumored October event actually canceled? Last year, Apple announced the latest M3 MacBook Pros at its "Scary Fast" event on an unusual Monday evening with only one week's notice. It's quite possible that Apple will follow a similar formula this year, with event invites going out early next week. However, one of the devices we expected to be announced at this event—the 7th generation iPad Mini—was already unveiled earlier this week in a press release. If the event, does take place, we can expect to see some new M4 MacBook Pro models, M4 iMac and a completely redesigned M4 Mac Mini. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Apple today announced a significant upgrade to the iPad mini, now featuring an A17 Pro chip and support for the company's new Apple Intelligence system. The refreshed seventh-generation tablet maintains its compact 8.3-inch design while offering notable performance improvements and new capabilities. 📲 Read more: Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/15/apple-unveils-new-ipad-mini-apple-intelligence/ 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

iPhone 16 and 16 Pro sales are not off to a hot start, especially for the standard models. Is the iPhone 16 a flop this year? 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Both Samsung and Apple have come out with new top-of-the-line tablet options this year, with Apple introducing the M4 iPad Pro back in May and Samsung debuting the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra earlier this month. Given the similarities between the two, we thought we'd see how Apple's high-end ‌iPad Pro‌ compares to Samsung's best Galaxy Tab. 🌐 Connect with Dan: 𝕏: https://twitter.com/danbarbera Instagram: https://instagram.com/danbarbera1 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@macrumors Dan's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/danbarbera1 🎙️ Follow The MacRumors Show Podcast: https://youtube.com/@TheMacRumorsShow ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Galaxy AI vs Apple Intelligence 02:17 - Google Gemeni & Circle to Search 03:04 - Apple Intelligence Coming Soon 03:24 - Displays 04:57 - Multitasking 05:36 - Keyboard Cases 06:50 - Final Thoughts The most popular Apple News & Rumors site on the Internet. Welcome to MacRumors, your ultimate destination for in-depth and insightful Mac reviews, where we go beyond the surface to bring you a comprehensive look at everything Apple & Mac! 🍎✨ 🖥️💻Thorough Reviews: We meticulously test and evaluate each product, exploring the features, performance, and understanding its capabilities. 🔍 In-Depth Analysis: Dive deep into the intricacies of Apple's latest technologies and innovations. 🌐 Mac News & Rumors: Stay up-to-date with our coverage of the latest tech news, and be the first to know about upcoming new Apple product releases, updates, and developments. 🔧 Apple Accessories: Enhance your Mac experience with our reviews and recommendations for must-have accessories. 💡 Tips & Tricks: Unlock the full potential of your Mac with our tips and tricks that make your user experience easy. Subscribe now and join our community of Mac enthusiasts!

Apple, iPhone, iPad, Mac News and Rumors

Amazon has seemingly leaked the rumored next-generation Mac mini ahead of Apple's announcement this week, revealing several details.

Our concept of a smaller Mac mini
According to a comparison chart on Amazon's product listing for the new iMac, the new Mac mini will be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options, with up to a 14-core CPU and up to a 20-core GPU. In addition, the chart indicates the new Mac mini can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM, which is double the current 32GB limit for unified memory. Storage capacities for the Mac mini will apparently continue to max out at 8TB, like the previous model.

The chart includes a very tiny image of the new Mac mini that seemingly confirms the computer will feature two front-facing USB-C ports, as previously rumored. It is possible these could be Thunderbolt 4 ports, but the chart does not specify. And is that a headphone jack on the front right? The image is a little too small and blurry to say for sure.

When shown side-by-side with the Mac Studio in the comparison chart, the new Mac mini also appears to be much smaller than the current model, as previously rumored. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the computer would be closer in size to an Apple TV.


Here is the full comparison chart:


Unfortunately for Space Black fans, the chart shows the next Mac mini will apparently be available in Silver only, like the current model.

It is likely that the comparison chart graphic shown in Amazon's listing is provided by Apple, so the specifications are likely accurate.

Apple will likely announce the new Mac mini by Wednesday.

Update: Predictably, the comparison chart was removed from the Amazon listing minutes after we published, but it was likely authentic.Related Roundup: Mac miniBuyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forum: Mac mini
This article, "Amazon Leaks Smaller Mac Mini With M4 and M4 Pro Chips, Two Front USB-C Ports, Up to 64GB of RAM, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 18.1 is the first major update to iOS 18, and it brings a slew of new features including Apple Intelligence, phone call recording, and more, plus bug fixes.


This guide highlights everything that's new in iOS 18.1.

Apple Intelligence
iOS 18.1 includes the first ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features for the iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 lineup. It will take some time for Apple to roll out all of the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ capabilities, but a handful are available now.

• Writing Tools - Writing Tools lets you proofread, summarize, and rewrite text throughout the operating system.


• Siri - Siri has a new look, offers Apple device product knowledge, there's a Type to ‌Siri‌ feature, and ‌Siri‌ is able to maintain contexts between requests and understand when you stumble over your words.


• Smart Replies - In Mail and Messages, Apple can suggest replies to incoming messages.


• Summaries - ‌Apple Intelligence‌ can summarize email messages and notifications so you can see what's important at a glance. You can also get summaries of transcriptions in the Notes app, and websites in Safari.


• Photos - Memory Maker lets you create custom slideshows with just a description, natural language search is supported, and there's a Clean Up feature for removing unwanted objects from images.


• Focus - A Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode only shows you important notifications while filtering out everything else.

Phone App
iOS 18.1 supports recording your phone calls and getting transcriptions from the calls. Tapping on the upper left hand record button after placing a call initiates a recording, and all participants are notified that the call is being recorded.


Calls are saved to the Notes app, and the Notes app is able to generate a transcription.

Camera
Spatial photo capture has been added to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, and it joins the existing spatial video capture feature in a new Spatial camera mode. Spatial photo capture has been an ‌iPhone 16‌ feature since launch.

For ‌iPhone 16‌ models, Camera Control now has an option to swap over to the front-facing TrueDepth camera with press and swipe gestures. If you hold down the Camera Control button with a light press, you will also now see a bar underneath the adjustment options.



AirPods Pro 2
If you have AirPods Pro 2, iOS 18.1 adds a new set of Hearing Health features. You can do a built-in hearing test, identifying tones to check for hearing loss. Should hearing loss be detected, there is an option to use the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 as a hearing aid to boost conversations and other sounds around you.


Apple also has an option to tweak music, videos, and calls based on your hearing test (if loss is detected), and there is a hearing protection feature for all users that minimizes exposure to loud environmental noises across all listening modes.

Control Center
There are new connectivity controls in Control Center for Satellite and AirDrop, allowing these buttons to be added to Control Center individually. Previously, the toggles were only available in the all-in-one connectivity control.


Apple has also added new Measure and Level controls to the Control Center. Measure opens up the Measure app, while Level opens up the Measure app to the included Level feature.

Apple Music
Apple Music now has an option to share ‌Apple Music‌ songs directly on TikTok. To do so, tap on Share Song and then choose TikTok from the list of apps.


RCS Business Messaging
You can text with businesses that use Apple's Business Messaging feature over RCS.

Wallet App
In the Wallet app, if you have an Apple Card and your Daily Cash goes to a savings account, you'll no longer see the savings account balance on the main ‌Apple Card‌ screen. Instead, you can tap on the savings button to get your current account balance.



App Store
App Store search now supports natural language to make it easier to find exactly what you're looking for.

Game Center
You can send Game Center friend invites directly from the Contacts app and Friends Suggestions, with receivers able to see the invites in their inbox in Settings.

Bug Fixes
There are several bug fixes in iOS 18.1.

• Unplayed Podcasts episodes will no longer be marked as played.


• Videos recorded at 4K 60 fps and viewed in the Photos app will no longer stutter when scrubbing through the video.


• A bug that could cause digital car keys not to start or unlock a vehicle with passive unlocking after restoring from a backup or transferring from another iPhone has been fixed.


• ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ models should no longer unexpectedly restart.

Security Updates
iOS 18.1 addresses over 20 security vulnerabilities, which means it's a good idea to update as soon as you can.

A full list of the vulnerabilities fixed can be found on Apple's website, but it includes updates for image processing, Safari downloads, Safari private browsing, Shortcuts, ‌Siri‌ and Spotlight.

Read More
For more detail on the ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in iOS 18.1, we have a dedicated guide. Our ‌iOS 18‌ roundup has a list of all of the features in the iOS 18 update.Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
This article, "iOS 18.1 Features: Everything New in iOS 18.1" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 18.1 is the first iOS 18 update with Apple Intelligence capabilities, and that's what a lot of the coverage about the new software has focused on. If you don't have an iPhone that's capable of ‌Apple Intelligence‌, you're probably wondering just what's in the update for you.


While ‌Apple Intelligence‌ does make up the bulk of what's new, if you have an older device, you still get some solid improvements.

Phone Call Recording
In iOS 18.1, you can record any phone call that you're on, with the audio saved to the Notes app. The Notes app is able to automatically generate a transcript of the call, which you can search.

To use call recording, just tap on the little voice wave icon in the upper left while on a call. You cannot record a call in secret - all participants are notified that a recording is in progress through an automated message.

• How to Record and Transcribe Phone Calls

Your recorded phone calls are saved in the Notes app. You can play a call back in its entirety or get a transcript, as well as find specific spots in a call using the transcript. Transcripts are generated automatically and can be searched.

You need an ‌iPhone‌ 12 or later to use call recording, and that's also the minimum device requirement for the related feature for saving voice memos to the Notes app to get a transcript.

Transcripts are available in English (U.S., Australia), Spanish (U.S., Mexico), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland), Cantonese (Hong Kong), and Korean (South Korea) right now.

AirPods Features
If you have AirPods Pro 2, you have access to all of the new Hearing Health features that are available in iOS 18.1. That includes a hearing test to check for hearing loss, as well as the option to use the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 as a hearing aid if you do end up finding mild to moderate hearing loss.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 can also be used to protect your hearing, listening for loud sounds around you like construction noise or shouting and minimizing them. It will work for sustained sounds louder than 110 decibels, but it's not meant for burst sounds like gunfire, fireworks, or jackhammers.

As long as you have ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, the latest ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 firmware (which is out now) and a device that can run ‌iOS 18‌ (or an iPad with iPadOS 18) you can use the Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection capabilities.

App Store Search
The App Store now supports natural language search, so it's easier to find exactly what you're looking for. Some of the possible searches now:

• Fun new games to play


• Apps for learning new skills


• Apps to help with physics homework


• Games to compete with friends


• Cooking games for kids


• Best games in the world


• Apps with HealthKit integration


• Games with roguelike elements


• Games to play without Wi-Fi


• Apps to sell stuff


• Apps to watch movies for free

Smaller New Features
There are a few other minor feature tweaks that are worth knowing about.

• Control Center - You can add standalone buttons for AirDrop and Satellite, plus there are Control Center controls for Measure and Level.


• Apple Music - You can share Apple Music songs directly to TikTok.


• Wallet - The Wallet app no longer shows your Savings account balance on the main Apple Card screen, and you need to tap into it to get that info.

Bug Fixes
Along with these features, there are a couple of bug fixes.

• Podcasts - Unplayed Podcasts episodes should no longer be marked as played.


• Photos - When you're scrubbing through a 4K 60fps video in the Photos app, it will no longer stutter.


• Car keys - If you had a problem where your digital car key would not start or unlock your vehicle with passive unlocking, the update should fix it.

What to Look Forward to Next
Apple is testing iOS 18.2 right now, and it once again focuses primarily on ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features. There are some non-AI changes to look forward to, though, like a whole new look for the Mail app with built-in categorization and a new interface for setting default apps to replace Apple's own apps.Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
This article, "iOS 18.1: What You Get If You Don't Have an iPhone With Apple Intelligence" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is launching a new Apple Card promotion for ‌Apple Card‌ users, providing the option to earn up to five percent Daily Cash on purchases made from November 6, 2024 to April 30, 2025.


To unlock the Daily Cash back promotion, users will need to spend between $5,000 and $15,000. At $5,000, three percent Daily Cash is unlocked. Spending $10,000 unlocks four percent Daily Cash, and spending $15,000 unlocks five percent Daily Cash.

You will need to spend at least $5,000 to get the bonus, and it is not retroactive, so it will only apply to purchases made after you hit each spending limit.

Apple says that the offer is limited to select ‌Apple Card‌ users who receive a notification about it in the Wallet app. Those eligible who have ‌Apple Card‌ participants will see shared spending count toward the total.

For ‌Apple Card‌ partner stores that already offer three percent cash back, there will be no additional Daily Cash increase until the four percent tier is reached. The Daily Cash bonus is available on up to $50,000 in total purchases.Tag: Apple Card
This article, "Apple Card Users Can Get Up to 5% Daily Cash on All Purchases Through Holiday Season" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today updated its website to indicate that the Mac Pro now ships with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable in the box, instead of a USB-C to Lightning cable, and we have learned that the high-end desktop computer now comes with the new USB-C versions of the Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard accessories in the box as well.


There are no other changes to the Mac Pro today beyond the Magic accessories and charging cable switching from Lightning to USB-C.

Apple released the current Mac Pro with the M2 Ultra chip in June 2023, with pricing starting at $5,999 in the United States.

Apple released USB-C versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad accessories alongside the new iMac with the M4 chip earlier today. The accessories are also sold separately in white and black color options.Related Roundup: Mac ProTags: Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Magic TrackpadBuyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Neutral)Related Forum: Mac Pro
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In addition to the new iMac with the 10-core M4 chip being the first-ever Mac with support for up to an 8K external display at 120Hz, the computer also supports up to two 6K external displays at 60Hz. That's a very notable upgrade, as lower-end Apple silicon Macs like the MacBook Air, entry-level MacBook Pro, and previous iMac models have mostly been limited to a single external display, at least on an official basis.


Two exceptions are the MacBook Air and 14-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip, which support up to two external displays, but only when the laptop's lid is closed. Another exception is the Mac mini, which has an HDMI port for connecting a second display. DisplayLink adapters have also been a viable solution for multiple external displays ever since the first Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip launched in 2020.

But the 10-core M4 chip is notable in that it will bring proper support for two external displays to more lower-end Macs for the first time since Apple silicon launched, without any special tricks required. No more DisplayLink adapters, and no needing to have the MacBook's lid closed. That's a significant, long-awaited advancement for Apple silicon.

Higher-end Apple silicon Macs have supported multiple external displays since the MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips launched in 2021.

Apple is expected to announce a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the 10-core M4 chip this week, and an alleged leak already confirmed that the laptop will support two external displays with the lid open. Next year, the M4 chip should expand to the MacBook Air, and 10-core configurations should likewise support two external displays.

The new iMac is available to pre-order now, and it launches on Friday, November 8.Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook ProBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now), 15" MacBook Air (Neutral), 14" & 16" MacBook Pro (Don't Buy), 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)Related Forums: iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
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Apple Intelligence is what Apple is calling its artificial intelligence feature set, previewed at WWDC in June 2024. The first Apple Intelligence features launched with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, but this is only an initial taste of what Apple has planned.


There are a selection of Apple Intelligence features that are available now, along with additional capabilities that will be rolling out across the rest of 2024 and 2025.

Apple Intelligence Features Available Now
Writing Tools

• Proofread text checks for spelling and grammar errors, including word choice and sentence structure. You can accept all suggestions with a tap or go through them one by one with explanations.


• Rewrite cleans up what you've written and shifts the tone without impacting your content. Options include Friendly, Professional, and Concise.


• You can select text and get a summary of it with Apple Intelligence. You can choose to create a paragraph, pull out key points, make a list, or create a table. Summaries are available in Mail, Messages, and more.

You can select any text on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and use Apple Intelligence to access Writing Tools for summaries and other features.

Siri

• There's a new glow around the edges of the display when Siri is activated, applicable to ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and CarPlay. On Mac, the ‌Siri‌ window can be placed anywhere. The glow animates responsively to the sound of your voice so you can tell when ‌Siri‌ is listening without interrupting other things you're doing.


• A double tap at the bottom of the display brings up the Type to ‌Siri‌ interface so you can type requests instead of speaking them. On Mac, you need to press the Command key twice to bring up Type to ‌Siri‌. Type to ‌Siri‌ includes suggested requests so you can get your questions answered faster.


• ‌Siri‌ can maintain context between requests so you can ask a question and then reference it in a second reply. If you ask about the temperature in Raleigh, for example, and then follow up with "what's the humidity?" ‌Siri‌ should know you mean in Raleigh.


• If you stumble over your words when speaking to ‌Siri‌, or change what you're saying mid-sentence, ‌Siri‌ will follow along.


• ‌Siri‌ has Apple's product knowledge and support base for answering questions about your device's features and settings, and can even find settings when you don't know the exact name by using natural language search.

Mail

• There is a summarize button for summarizing any of your incoming emails, plus you will see a brief summary of an email in your inbox list rather than the first few lines of the email.


• Mail surfaces time sensitive messages first when applicable, putting them at the top of your inbox so you see what's important right away.


• Smart Reply provides quick-tap responses to emails that you've been sent, with contextual options based on what's in the email.


• Multiple notifications from Mail will be summarized on your Lock Screen so you can see what's in an email without opening the app.

Messages

• Messages has Smart Reply options for incoming texts, which analyze the content of messages to offer suggestions of what you might want to say.


• Multiple Messages notifications are summarized on your Lock Screen.


• You can use all of the Writing Tools features in the Messages app for proofreading and refining what you're planning to send.

Photos

• You can create a Memory Movie with just a description, such as "My cat in 2024," or "Orlando in the summer." The feature automatically picks relevant photos and chooses songs, but you can tweak through the Memory Mixes feature or choose a mood to guide the direction of the audio. You can also add in specific scenes and images you want to see throughout the memory when you're creating the prompt.


• Natural language search is available in Photos, so you can just describe what you're looking for, such as "Eric rollerskating while wearing green."


• Search can also find specific moments in video clips.


• Search offers up smart complete suggestions for narrowing down what you might want to find.

Clean Up
The ‌Photos‌ app also includes "Clean Up," a feature that lets you remove unwanted objects from your photos. The Clean Up tool in the ‌‌Photos‌‌ app is able to automatically detect objects in an image that might not be wanted, but you can also tap, circle, or brush over an unwanted object to remove it.

Zooming in on an image can help with using a finger as a brush to remove smaller blemishes and issues with an image, and it is intelligent enough not to remove part of a person even if a person or main subject is selected.


Clean Up works on all images in the ‌‌Photos‌‌ library, including older images and images captured by other devices like a point and shoot camera or a DSLR.

Transcription Summaries
In Notes and other apps, you can record audio and get a transcript along with a summary of your transcript, which is useful for recording lectures and other audio. Transcription isn't an Apple Intelligence feature, but summaries are.

Focus Modes
There is a dedicated Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode that only shows you important notifications that need attention while filtering out everything else.


When customizing an existing Focus mode or creating a new one, there is a new toggle to turn on Intelligent Breakthrough and Silencing. This option allows important notifications to interrupt you, while muting notifications that are not important, which is the same thing that the Reduce Notifications Focus does. You can override the notification settings for specific apps and people, which is how it worked prior to iOS 18.1.



Notification Summaries
Your incoming notifications are summarized so you can see what's new for each app at a glance.



Phone
Summaries of transcriptions generated from your phone calls are supported in iOS 18.1. The iOS 18.1 update adds the option to record a phone call and get a transcription, which is not an Apple Intelligence feature. What does require Apple Intelligence, though, is getting a summary from that transcription without reading through the entire thing.

Note that you can start a recording by tapping on the record button in the upper left corner of the display when on a phone call. All participants are notified that the call is being recorded before the recording starts.


Recorded phone calls are stored in the Notes app, where you can tap in to view a transcript and get a summary generated from that transcript.

Safari
When reading an article in Reader Mode, there is an option to have Apple Intelligence summarize the article for you.



Apple Intelligence Features Coming in iOS 18.2
The next set of Apple Intelligence features will come in iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2, and this is when Apple plans to release Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT ‌Siri‌ integration. These features are being beta tested right now.

Apple has a waitlist for ‌Image Playground‌, Genmoji, and Image Wand, and these features will be rolling out to developers over the coming weeks so that Apple can collect feedback and make improvements to the image generation capabilities before a public launch later this year.

Image Playground
‌Image Playground‌ can be used to generate images in cartoon-like styles using a text-based prompt. Apple has built-in suggestions and concepts that you can choose from, like costumes, locations, items, and themes.


While ‌Image Playground‌ is a standalone app, it is also integrated into the Messages and Notes app. In these apps, Apple can use context from what you've typed for image generation suggestions.

For inspiration, you can upload or take a photo, and then get a cartoon AI version of it, and you can also use images of friends and family members pulled from the People album in the ‌Photos‌ app.

You can start with a base suggestion or photo and then continue to add to it until you get what you want. You can remove suggestions at any time, and save your favorite creations for use in other apps. Anytime you create something with ‌Image Playground‌, you'll get multiple options so you can choose the best one.

There are only Animation and Illustration styles for ‌Image Playground‌, so there is no option for creating photorealistic images.

Image Wand
Image Wand is basically the same thing as ‌Image Playground‌, but in the Notes app. When you have notes that you've taken, you can circle an empty spot or some text and Image Wand will add a contextually relevant image.


So if you have notes on photosynthesis, you can add in an image of a plant under the sun. Image Wand isn't able to generate complex images, so if you want a picture of the internal structure of mitochondria, you're out of luck, but it can make a stylized image featuring the organelle.

On an ‌iPad‌, you can draw a rough sketch of what you want to add to your notes with an Apple Pencil, and then use Image Wand to generate something more polished.

Genmoji
Genmoji are custom emoji characters that you can create using a text-based description. If there's an emoji you can't find but need, like a duck eating a sandwich or an alligator skateboarding, Genmoji can make it for you.


Genmoji aren't too far off from ‌Image Playground‌ images, but the generation system tends to want to add a person for a lot of requests. You can choose yourself or a friend or family member, or just use a generic emoji character as your base.

In Messages and other apps, Genmoji behave like emoji, but they're not going to display properly for anyone running an operating system earlier than iOS 18.1, or on an Android device. In iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2, they work like emoji, but Genmoji are displayed as a blank box and an accompanying full-size image on other versions of iOS.

If you have iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 and someone sends a Genmoji, you can long press on it and tap the "Emoji Details" button to see what prompt was used to create it, plus you can add it to your own Genmoji/sticker collection to use.

To create a Genmoji character, tap into the Emoji keyboard and tap on the Emoji with a "+" button next to the search bar. From there, you can type in your idea.

Siri ChatGPT Integration
‌Siri‌ ChatGPT integration lets ‌Siri‌ hand requests over to OpenAI's ChatGPT. ChatGPT is off by default, but you can turn it on in the Apple Intelligence and ‌Siri‌ section of the Settings app.


If ChatGPT integration is enabled, ‌Siri‌ will consult ChatGPT for complex requests. Complex requests might include creating an image, generating text from scratch, making recipe ideas based on what's in your refrigerator, describing what's in a photo, and more.

‌Siri‌ will analyze each request to see if it's something that needs to be answered by ChatGPT, but you can also automatically invoke ChatGPT for a request by using a request like "Ask ChatGPT to give me a chocolate chip cookie recipe."

‌Siri‌ will ask your permission before querying ChatGPT, but there is an option to turn off that extra permission step by toggling off "Confirm ChatGPT Requests" in the ChatGPT section of Settings.

You don't need an account to use ChatGPT, and it is free, but if you have a paid account, you can sign in. If you're not signed in, OpenAI does not store any of your ChatGPT requests, nor is your information used for training ChatGPT. If you sign in, ChatGPT can save a copy of your queries. Apple does not store ChatGPT queries.

ChatGPT can be used with ‌Siri‌, but it is also integrated into Writing Tools and Visual Intelligence. With Writing Tools, ChatGPT can generate text, and with Visual Intelligence, ChatGPT can answer questions about what the Camera sees.

Visual Intelligence
Visual Intelligence is an iPhone 16 feature that uses the Camera Control button. If you long press it, you can get into Visual Intelligence mode, where the Camera app can be used to identify what's around you.


If you point the camera at a store, for example, you can see ratings, hours, and other information. If you take a photo of an object, you can get more information about the object from ChatGPT, or use it with Google Search to find similar images. The Google Search feature is a good way to search for products that you want to find.

Other Visual Intelligence features include reading text out loud, detecting phone numbers and addresses to add them to the Contacts app, copying text, and summarizing long passages of text.

Writing Tools
Writing Tools is in iOS 18.1, but in iOS 18.2, you can make more open-ended changes to what you've written. You can come up with your own tone changes, so if you want something to be more flowery or elaborate, Writing Tools can make it happen. You can also ask for your text to be converted into a different format, like a poem.

Writing Tools also has ChatGPT integration in iOS 18.2 so if you want to generate text from scratch, you can do so with ChatGPT.

Additional Languages
In iOS 18.2, Apple Intelligence supports localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the UK in addition to U.S. English.

Apple Intelligence Features Coming Later
There are additional Apple Intelligence features that will be coming in updates to iOS 18 in 2025.

Priority Notifications
Priority notifications will show up at the top of your notification stack, so you can get to what's most important first.

Siri
Some initial ‌Siri‌ updates are available in iOS 18.1, such as ‌Siri‌'s new glow that encompasses the edges of the display, and ChatGPT integration is coming in iOS 18.2, but we'll need to wait for iOS 18.3 and iOS 18.4 for additional ‌Siri‌ capabilities. Apple is working on onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to take more actions in and across apps.

Onscreen awareness will let ‌Siri‌ take actions when you ask something about what's on your display. If you're looking at a photo and want to message it to your friend Eric, you'll be able to tell ‌Siri‌ to "Send this picture to Eric," and ‌Siri‌ will understand and do it.

Personal context will let ‌Siri‌ do more with your personal data like emails and messages. This is an on-device feature, and it will let ‌Siri‌ learn more about you, who you're communicating with, and how you use your device. Personal context will let you do things like ask ‌Siri‌ to find a specific message, or remind you when you took a photo that you're looking for.

The ‌Siri‌ option to take more actions in and across apps will drastically improve what ‌Siri‌ is capable of. You'll be able to move files from one app to another and control app functions with ‌Siri‌ that you never could before. It'll work in third-party apps as well as Apple's own apps.

macOS Features
Memory Maker is in iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1, but not ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1. Genmoji is in iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, but not ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2.

Apple plans to release Memory Maker and Genmoji for ‌macOS Sequoia‌ at a later time.

When to Expect More Apple Intelligence Features
More Apple Intelligence features will come in iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3, and iOS 18.4.

We'll get iOS 18.2 in December, likely around the middle of the month. Apple is already testing iOS 18.2 with developers.

In late January or so, we'll get iOS 18.3, which could potentially have some new ‌Siri‌ features.

iOS 18.4, which isn't expected until around March 2025, will have the bulk of the ‌Siri‌ Apple Intelligence features. We're also expecting to see Apple roll out support for additional languages in 2025.

Apple Intelligence Device Requirements
Apple Intelligence requires a device with one of Apple's newest chips and 8GB RAM. Eligible models are listed below.

• All ‌iPhone 16‌ models


• iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max


• All Apple silicon iPads


• A17 Pro iPad mini


• All Apple silicon Macs

Apple Intelligence Waitlist
When you first install iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1, you have to go to the Settings app and join the Apple Intelligence waitlist. Apple uses a waitlist mechanic to ensure that behind the scenes downloads go smoothly and that the system isn't overloaded.

While on the waitlist, Apple devices download necessary files for on-device processing, and the waitlist should only take a few hours at most. The waitlist is on a per-account basis, so you only need to sign up for it on one device to have access on multiple devices.

‌Image Playground‌, Genmoji, and Image Wand in iOS 18.2 require a second waitlist, but that's only relevant if you're running the iOS 18.2 developer beta. If you are, note that Apple is rolling out access to these features over the coming weeks.

Apple Intelligence Settings
In the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app you can access an Apple Intelligence Report that lets you export your Apple Intelligence data as part of Apple's promise for transparency around Apple Intelligence. Biometric authentication is required to access and export Apple Intelligence data.



You can also disable Apple Intelligence by toggling off the setting under the Apple Intelligence and ‌Siri‌ section in the Settings app.

Apple Intelligence Availability
Apple Intelligence is only available in U.S. English at this time, and it is not available to in the European Union (‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌) or China. Device region and language need to be set to the United States.

In iOS 18.2, localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK is supported in addition to U.S. English.

Apple plans to add support for additional languages in 2025, like Chinese, English (India), English (Singapore), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Apple Intelligence will launch on the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌ in the European Union in April 2025. Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS SequoiaRelated Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia
This article, "Everything You Need to Know About Apple Intelligence" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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When configured with a 10-core M4 chip, the new iMac announced today supports up to an 8K external display at 120Hz, or up to two 6K displays at 60Hz each. The impressive feat was noted by Vadim Yuryev, co-host of the YouTube channel Max Tech.


This means the latest iMac is the first-ever Mac to support an 8K display at 120Hz, beating out higher-end models like the MacBook Pro, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips as early as tomorrow, however, so support for an 8K display at 120Hz could be expanded soon.

Apple doesn't even offer an 8K display with a 120Hz refresh rate — at least not yet. Apple's higher-end Pro Display XDR monitor has a 6K resolution at 60Hz, while its lower-end Studio Display monitor has a 5K resolution at 60Hz.

Does the iMac's external display support hint at future 120Hz versions of the Pro Display XDR or Studio Display? There are no concrete rumors yet.

The previous iMac with the M3 chip supports one external display at up to 6K/60Hz, and this remains true for the latest base model with the 8-core M4 chip.

For more details about the new iMac, read our earlier coverage of Apple's announcement.

In the U.S., pricing for the iMac with a 10-core M4 chip starts at $1,499.Related Roundup: iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
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The iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates that Apple started testing last week are set to be released to the public this December, Apple said today in a newsroom article highlighting Apple Intelligence capabilities.


"New ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features will be available in December," reads Apple's article. The update will add the first image generation features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, and Image Wand, plus it includes ChatGPT integration with Siri and new, more flexible Writing Tools options. For iPhone 16 users, the iOS 18.2 update adds visual intelligence, which uses Camera Control to identify and provide additional information about objects and places.

iOS 18.2 will also see ‌Apple Intelligence‌ gain support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the UK in addition to U.S. English.

As of right now, iOS 18.2 and its sister updates are available to developers for testing, but Apple will likely make a public beta available at some point. A December release gives Apple approximately a month and a half to test the new feature set, depending on the planned release date.

Apple's .2 updates are typically released in December during the same general timeframe, so if Apple sticks to that, we could see a launch on December 9th or 10th, well ahead of the holiday period.

• iOS 17.2: December 11


• iOS 16.2: December 13


• iOS 15.2: December 13

After iOS 18.2, Apple will start testing iOS 18.3. That update is likely to come out at some point in January or February, and it will be followed by iOS 18.4 in April.

Apple said today that it plans to bring ‌Apple Intelligence‌ to the iPhone and iPad in the European Union in April, plus we are awaiting other ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features like Priority Notifications, and ‌Siri‌ features that include onscreen awareness, personal context, and the ability to take new actions in and across apps.

Customers who install iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 on a device capable of supporting ‌Apple Intelligence‌ can try out Writing Tools, Smart Replies summaries, and other ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features as of today.Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
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Apple introduced a new iMac today with the M4 chip and more, but that's not all, as it still has two more Mac announcements planned this week.


"This is a huge week for the Mac, and this morning, we begin a series of three exciting new product announcements that will take place over the coming days," said Apple's hardware engineering chief John Ternus, in a video announcing the new iMac.

Based on rumors, those two announcements are very likely to be new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chip options, along with a redesigned, smaller Mac mini with M4 and M4 Pro chip options and two front-facing USB-C ports. Just like the new iMac today, press releases and YouTube videos for the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models are likely on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Below, we reiterate what to expect from the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models.

MacBook Pro

Apple is expected to announce new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, including an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, and higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

No major external design changes have been rumored for the laptops this year, with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest. However, the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain an additional Thunderbolt port compared to the current model, based on alleged leaks earlier this month. Those same leaks revealed that the MacBook Pro lineup might finally start with 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB, which was rumored even before the leaks happened. As another clue, the new iMac has a minimum of 16GB of RAM for all configurations.

Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with the M3 family of chips were released last October.

Mac mini
A concept of a smaller Mac mini
The next Mac mini is expected to be available with M4 and M4 Pro chip options. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next Mac mini to be smaller, making it closer in size to an Apple TV, and he said that the computer will gain two front-facing USB-C ports. All in all, the Mac mini is expected to receive its biggest redesign since 2010.

Like the new iMac, the next Mac mini could also start with 16GB of RAM, instead of 8GB.

The new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models will likely be available to pre-order starting this week, and they are expected to launch in November. The new iMac became available to pre-order today, and it launches on Friday, November 8.Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, Mac miniBuyer's Guide: 14" & 16" MacBook Pro (Don't Buy), Mac Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forums: MacBook Pro, Mac mini
This article, "Apple Promises Two More Mac Announcements This Week Following New iMac Today" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has been gradually transitioning its products from Lightning to USB-C in recent years. This trend continued today with Apple updating the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad accessories for the Mac with USB-C charging ports. The accessories have no other changes, meaning the Magic Mouse's charging port is still on the bottom.


For the time being, Apple is continuing to sell a Lightning version of the Magic Keyboard with a numeric keypad, but it lacks a Touch ID button. Apple has yet to release a USB-C version of this particular Magic Keyboard.

The list of Apple devices and accessories that are still sold with either a Lightning port or a Lightning connector is now quite small:

• iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone SE


• First-generation Apple Pencil


• Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (No Touch ID)

A new iPhone SE with a USB-C port is rumored to launch next year, while the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus should be discontinued next September.Tags: Lightning, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad
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With the launch of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, Apple is going all in on promoting Apple Intelligence. Today's iMac announcement was heavily focused on the Mac's ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, and Apple has also shared two new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ ads.


Apple's first ad shows off Writing Tools, featuring an office worker who sends an email and uses the "Professional" rewriting feature to make it sound less casual. The well-crafted email impresses his boss.


The second ad features a woman who forgot it was her husband's birthday, so she whips up a quick Memory Movie slideshow on her iPhone as a gift.

Both Writing Tools and Memory Movies in the Photos app are new features that are available on devices running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1. The updates launched to the public today.Tag: Apple Intelligence
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Apple plans to roll out Apple Intelligence features to iPhone and iPad users in the European Union starting in April 2025, according to information included in today's ‌Apple Intelligence‌ announcement in European countries.


Apple's newsroom post confirms that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features will roll out beginning in April, with users gaining access to Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned version of Siri, and more.

Mac users in the EU can access Apple Intelligence in U.S. English with macOS Sequoia 15.1. In April, Apple Intelligence features will start to roll out to iPhone and iPad users in the EU. This will include many of the core features of Apple Intelligence, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, a redesigned Siri with richer language understanding, ChatGPT integration, and more.

As of right now, EU Mac users can access ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features with macOS Sequoia 15.1, as long as the language on the device is set to U.S. English. Apple has restricted the launch of ‌Apple Intelligence‌ capabilities for the ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ in order to work out "regulatory uncertainties brought about by the Digital Markets Act."

Apple in June said that it would delay ‌Apple Intelligence‌, ‌iPhone‌ Mirroring, and SharePlay Screen Sharing until it was able to determine how to make the features compatible with the European Union's competition rules.

‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ users in the European Union who have a U.S. App Store ID are able to use Apple Intelligence with the Language and Region on the device set to U.S. English. In a December iOS 18.2 update, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ will offer localized English in Ireland, as well as in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K.

It is worth noting that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ support in European countries will likely come in an update to iOS 18, and the timing is right for iOS 18.4. Rumors suggest that iOS 18.4 will be a major update that brings improvements to ‌Siri‌, including personal context and the ability for the personal assistant to do more in and across apps. Tags: Apple Intelligence, European Union
This article, "Apple Intelligence Rolling Out in the European Union Starting in April 2025" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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To introduce the new M4 iMac models today, Apple didn't hold a standard event, but the company did record a short keynote video to go through all of the machine's new features.


The announcement is themed just like one of Apple's full pre-recorded event videos, starting with a view of Apple Park that zooms in to Apple executives highlighting the M4 ‌iMac‌'s capabilities and once again walking through Apple Intelligence. The first four minutes of the video cover ‌Apple Intelligence‌, so skip to 4:40 if you just want to watch the bit about the ‌iMac‌.

Apple has three videos to share this week, so we can expect additional M4 Mac product announcements on Tuesday and Wednesday. We are also expecting Apple to release new M4 MacBook Pro models and M4 Mac mini models with a new design.

Pricing on the new ‌iMac‌ starts at $1,299, and pre-orders began today. A launch will follow on November 8.Related Roundup: iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
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Apple's third Apple silicon iMac gains the M4 chip alongside a range of other small but notable improvements, so how does the new machine compare to its two predecessors?


The 2021 ‌iMac‌ was the first of its kind to feature an Apple silicon chip, replacing previous Intel-based models with 21.5- and 27-inch displays. It offered an all-new ultra-thin design, a 24-inch Retina display, a six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, and an array of seven two-tone color options. The 2023 model was a minor update that added the M3 chip and specification updates like Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E. One year later, the latest, M4 version of the device looks like a much more substantial upgrade, offering a dramatically more powerful Neural Engine, 16GB of memory as standard, a 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage, USB-C accessories, and a nano-texture display option.

The 2021 and 2023 iMacs have now been discontinued by Apple and prices at third-party resellers are falling. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to pick up a 2021 or 2023 ‌iMac‌ instead of the latest model, while some existing ‌iMac‌ users may be wondering if it's now time to upgrade to the M4 model.

The three Apple silicon ‌iMac‌ models share the overwhelming majority of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the first- or second-generation models to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the 2024 ‌iMac‌ brings to the table.



















































































































































‌iMac‌ (2021) ‌iMac‌ (2023) ‌iMac‌ (2024) M1 chip (made with TSMC's 5nm (N5) process) M3 chip (made with TSMC's 3nm (N3) process) M4 chip (made with TSMC's enhanced ‌3nm‌ (N3E) process) 3.20 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 4.05 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 4.30 GHz maximum CPU clock speed 16 billion transistors 25 billion transistors 28 billion transistors 8-core CPU 8- or 10-core CPU 8- or 10-core CPU 7- or 8-core GPU 8- or 10-core GPU 8- or 10-core GPU Updated GPU architecture Updated GPU architecture with improved efficiency Dynamic Caching Dynamic Caching Hardware-accelerated ray tracing Hardware-accelerated ray tracing Hardware-accelerated mesh shading Hardware-accelerated mesh shading Video decode engine Higher-bandwidth video decode engine Higher-bandwidth video decode engine Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW ProRes encode and decode engine ProRes encode and decode engine Support for AV1 decode Support for AV1 decode LPDDR4X memory LPDDR5 memory LPDDR5X memory 68.25GB/s memory bandwidth 100GB/s memory bandwidth 120GB/s memory bandwidth 8GB or 16GB unified memory 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB unified memory 16GB, 24GB, or 32GB unified memory 16-core Neural Engine, 11 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 18 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second 1080p FaceTime HD camera 1080p ‌FaceTime‌ HD camera 12-megapixel camera Center Stage with support for Desk View Image signal processor (ISP) "New" image signal processor (ISP) "New" image signal processor (ISP) Nano-texture display option Dedicated display engine 3.5mm headphone jack 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones Up to two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports Up to two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and two USB 3 ports Up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.3 Available in Silver, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Blue Available in Silver, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Blue Available in Silver, as well as new shades of Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple, and Blue Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse/Magic Trackpad with Lightning port Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse/Magic Trackpad with Lightning port Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse/Magic Trackpad with USB-C port


The 2024 ‌iMac‌ with the M4 chip marks a much more substantial upgrade compared to the 2021 and 2023 models. Key improvements such as the significantly more powerful Neural Engine for AI and machine learning tasks, increased standard memory of 16GB, 12-megapixel camera with Center Stage, and support for USB-C accessories make it an appealing choice for future-proofing. Performance-wise, it delivers a meaningful boost, especially for those upgrading from the ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌ or older Intel-based iMacs, where Apple claims up to 6x faster performance than the most popular Intel ‌iMac‌.

For ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌ users, the M4 model could be worth considering if they require enhanced performance or a richer set of features, such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing, nano-texture display option, or simply a better webcam. However, M3 ‌iMac‌ users may find fewer incentives to upgrade, as the performance gap between M3 and M4 is good but not as significant in daily use unless the system is pushed to the limit. The M3 ‌iMac‌ is built to handle demanding tasks and will remain relevant for several more years, but ‌M1‌ ‌iMac‌ users may want to begin considering an upgrade.

Starting at $1,299, the new ‌iMac‌ remains a solid investment for those looking for a device with longevity, a robust array of features, and meaningful upgrades over the original ‌M1‌ model or older Intel machines. However, if you have basic needs and find a discounted 2023 ‌iMac‌, this could still offer good value, though the M4 will better meet the needs of those seeking higher performance, better features, and a more forward-looking setup.Related Roundup: iMacTags: M1, M3, M4, M4 iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "M1 vs. M3 vs. M4 iMac Buyer's Guide: 25+ Upgrades Compared" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today updated its Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad accessories for the Mac with USB-C charging ports, but the accessories have no other external design changes. Yes, that means the Magic Mouse's charging port is still located on the bottom of the mouse, despite the switch from Lightning to USB-C.


The position of the charging port on the Magic Mouse has been the subject of a meme on social media since 2015, as it means the mouse cannot be used while it is charging in an upside-down position, but Apple is clearly unfazed.

The augmented reality view of the new iMac on Apple's website confirms the bottom position of the USB-C port on the updated Magic Mouse, as shown above.

Apple includes the updated Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard in the box with the iMac, and the Magic Trackpad is an optional upgrade. The USB-C versions of the accessories are also sold separately in white and black color options.Tag: Magic Mouse
This article, "The Meme Lives On: Magic Mouse's USB-C Charging Port Still on Bottom" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released new iMac models, and while there are few external changes with the exception of some color tweaks, Apple made several internal updates to the machine. The inclusion of the next-generation M4 chip is the biggest update, but the ports have also seen improvement.


For the M4 ‌iMac‌ models with 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, all four of the USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4 transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s. The prior-generation M3 ‌iMac‌ with four ports had two Thunderbolt 3 ports and two USB-3 ports.

The 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU models only have two ports, but both of those are Thunderbolt 4. All of the USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports also support USB 4 and USB 3.1 Gen 2.

Pricing on the ‌iMac‌ starts at $1,299 for the 8-core CPU/GPU version, while the 10-core CPU/GPU models with four ports are priced starting at $1,499. Apple is accepting pre-orders for the new M4 ‌iMac‌ models as of today.Related Roundup: iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Higher-End iMac's Ports Are All Thunderbolt 4" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's new iMac models are available with a nano-texture display option for the first time since the product line switched to Apple silicon.


First introduced with the Pro Display XDR in 2019, nano-texture glass is etched at a nanometer scale, which is meant to preserve image quality while scattering ambient light to cut down on glare. It is the most matte display type that Apple makes, and Apple claims that it is useful for high-end, color-managed workflows or demanding ambient lighting environments.

The expansive 24-inch 4.5K Retina display on iMac is its highest-rated feature, and for the first time, it's available with a nano-texture glass option that drastically reduces reflections and glare, while maintaining outstanding image quality. With nano-texture glass, users can place iMac in even more spaces, such as a sun-drenched living room or bright storefront.

The 2020 27-inch Intel-based iMac was available with a nano-texture display option prior to its discontinuation, so the new ‌iMac‌ marks the first time that the feature has been available with the Apple silicon version of the device. The new ‌iMac‌'s nano-texture glass is a build-to-order option that costs $200, configurable at the point of purchase. It is now available across the Pro Display XDR, Studio Display, and iPad Pro.





Related Roundup: iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "Nano-Texture Display Option Returns to iMac" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced the first of its M4 Mac models, but how much better really is the M4 chip over its predecessor?


The M4 chip debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year, promising around 20% faster performance than the M3 chip in both single and multi-core tasks. All of the key differences between the two chip generations are listed below:














































M3 Chip (2023–2024) M4 Chip (2024) Made using TSMC's 3nm technology (N3) Made using TSMC's enhanced ‌3nm‌ technology (N3E) Based on iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro chip (2023) Based on iPhone 16's A18 chip (2024) 25 billion transistors 28 billion transistors (+12%) 8-core CPU
(4 performance + 4 efficiency cores) Up to 10 CPU cores
(4 performance + 6 efficiency cores) 4.05 GHz CPU clock speed 4.3 GHz CPU clock speed 16-core Neural Engine, 18 trillion operations per second 16-core Neural Engine, 38 trillion operations per second (+111%) LPDDR5 memory LPDDR5X memory 100 GB/s memory bandwidth 120 GB/s memory bandwidth (+20%) Dedicated display engine GPU with standard power efficiency More power-efficient GPU: Maintains performance with significantly less power


Most of these upgrades, with the exception of core counts and memory bandwidth, apply to the entire selection M3 and M4 chips. Using Geekbench benchmarks, these are the approximate performance gains you can expect from the M4 chip:






















Benchmark Type M3 Chip Performance M4 Chip Performance (Improvement) Single-core CPU 3,088 3,864 (+25.1%) Multi-core CPU 11,711 15,288 (+30.5%) Metal GPU 47,466 57,603 (+21.4%)


While the M4 chip features notable enhancements over the M3, such as increased CPU and GPU performance and improved efficiency, the practical differences for users upgrading from an M3 system may not be as radical as the specifications suggest. The M3 chip already delivers impressive performance and efficiency, making it a formidable contender in its own right.

The 25.1% improvement in single-core performance and 30.5% in multi-core performance highlight technical advancements, but for many users, especially those already equipped with M3-based devices, the everyday experience will likely not feel dramatically different. Tasks that benefit from single-core speeds, like launching apps and light productivity work, will be snappier, but for those accustomed to the M3's capabilities, this difference may not significantly impact their workflow.

Similarly, the 21.4% increase in GPU performance means better graphics rendering and gaming capabilities, yet users who have enjoyed the M3's performance may find these enhancements less noticeable in routine tasks. The improvements in gaming and creative applications will benefit users who are heavily engaged in graphics-intensive work, but those using the M3 might not feel compelled to upgrade solely for these reasons.

The 111% boost in the Neural Engine is a standout figure, emphasizing the chip's impressive artificial intelligence and advanced machine learning capabilities. However, for many users, especially with less demanding requirements, the difference might not justify the upgrade, especially as both the M3 and M4 chip support Apple Intelligence. That being said, the M4 chip's significantly improved Neural Engine makes it more likely to support and effectively run new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ and AI features as they emerge over the years.

In terms of memory bandwidth, the 20% increase allows for faster data transfer, which is beneficial for data-heavy applications. Yet, again, for users already using the M3, this improvement may not translate into a dramatic change in performance.

Ultimately, while the M4 chip certainly pushes the boundaries of what is possible in Apple's silicon, it may not represent a radical shift for those already using the M3. Instead, the M4 is likely aimed at users looking to upgrade from M1 chips or older Intel systems, where the jump in performance is far more pronounced.

For existing M3 users, the decision to upgrade may hinge more on specific needs and applications rather than a broad expectation of enhanced performance. For example, M3 Max chip users who push their system to the limit with highly intensive tasks may have good reason to upgrade. Likewise, if your current M3 or M3 Pro system seems to be insufficient for your workflow, you could consider upgrading to an "M4 Pro" or "M4 Max" device when they're available, but these upgrade paths will be unusual.Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac miniTags: Apple Silicon, M3, M4, M4 iMac, M4 Mac mini, M4 MacsBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now), 14" & 16" MacBook Pro (Don't Buy), Mac Mini (Don't Buy)Related Forums: iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac mini
This article, "M3 vs. M4 Chip Buyer's Guide: How Much Better Really Is M4?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has equipped its just-announced M4-powered iMac with 16GB of Unified Memory as standard, up from 8GB of RAM in the previous model. The new iMac starts at $1,299.


As rumored, Apple has upped the base memory configuration of at least one of its latest Macs. It is the first time that the company has offered the ultra-thin all-in-one desktop computer with a minimum of 16GB of memory.

All of Apple's upcoming new Macs this year are likely to have at least 16GB of RAM pre-installed as standard, breaking a years-long tradition of Apple offering just 8GB of RAM in most of its base Macs and forcing customers to pay out an extra $200+ for additional memory.

The new iMac is available in a range of new colors, and the 24-inch 4.5K Retina display offers a new nano-texture glass option. The iMac also features a new 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, up to 32GB of Unified Memory, and color-matched accessories that include USB-C.

The new iMac is available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Friday, November 8. Apple is expected to announce new MacBook Pro models and a new redesigned Mac mini later this week.Related Roundup: iMacBuyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)Related Forum: iMac
This article, "New Base M4 iMac Comes With 16GB of Unified Memory" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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