OpenAI today announced the launch of ChatGPT Pro, a $200 per month subscription service that provides unlimited access to OpenAI o1, the company's newest and most advanced large language model.
The plan includes unlimited use of OpenAI o1, o1-mini, GPT-4o, and Advanced Voice, along with o1 pro mode, an o1 version that uses more compute to provide better answers to the hardest problems. In the future, ChatGPT Pro will gain "more powerful, compute-intensive productivity features."
The OpenAI o1 pro mode takes significantly more compute power to solve complex problems, which is why OpenAI is charging such a high fee. OpenAI says that o1 thinks longer for the "most reliable responses," performing better on ML benchmarks across math, science, and coding.
According to OpenAI, ChatGPT Pro is aimed at researchers, engineers, and other individuals who use research-grade intelligence on a daily basis.
Smart home company Meross today announced the launch of the Meross Matter Smart Home Thermostat, which can connect to a HomeKit setup using the Matter protocol. At $70 for a limited time, the device is an affordable HomeKit thermostat option.
The Smart Thermostat features a minimalist design with a white glass panel that has LEDs that show the temperature and other settings. It requires a C wire for power, and Meross says that it should work with 95 percent of heating and cooling systems in North America, including single and multi-stage furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, heat pumps, and fan coil units.
Because the thermostat integrates with HomeKit, temperature can be controlled through Siri voice commands, in the Apple Home app, or in the Meross app. There are also touch controls on the device itself.
Heating and cooling usage are tracked in the Meross app, and there is an option to save energy costs with a smart schedule that changes the temperature when people are away from home. It can also be used in automations with other HomeKit products.
Because the thermostat is Matter-enabled, it can also be controlled by Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings provided an appropriate Matter hub is available. Matter devices are able to be controlled by multiple ecosystems, which is useful in households where not everyone has an Apple device.
Meross plans to charge $99.99 for the Smart Thermostat, but it is currently available at a discounted $70 price.
Six former Apple employees have been charged with using a charity scheme to defraud Apple out of thousands of dollars, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney.
Apple has a program that will match or double employee donations made to charities, and the employees came up with a plan to make fake donations and collect money from Apple.
Ringleader Siu Kei Kwan had five other Apple employees make donations to the American Chinese International Cultural Exchange (ACICE) or Hop4Kids, both of which he was associated with. After Apple matched the donations, the original money was returned to the employees, and the matched money was kept. The employees also wrote off their fake charitable donations on their tax returns, earning them additional money.
Between July 1, 2018 and April 6, 2021, the employees collected approximately $152,000 from Apple's program and overreported $100,000 in charitable contributions as tax deductions. Apple detected the fraud and brought it to the attention of the district attorney's office. From Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen:
This case underscores our unwavering commitment to rigorously prosecuting individuals who defraud the tech community and misuse vital charitable programs and state resources. We commend Apple for coming forward and actively collaborating with our Office to uncover this elaborate fraud. We encourage others in the tech community to do the same. It's the holidays. Give - legally - to help the needy, not to help yourself.
The six former Apple employees who participated in the scheme have been charged with grand theft, conspiracy to commit felony grand theft, perjury, and tax fraud. Due to the amount of money involved, they face charges under California's aggravated white-collar crime enhancement.
If convicted the six are facing jail time, fines, and fees, including restitution for the money they collected.
If you're looking to get into the holiday spirit, developer Simon Støvring this week released Festivitas, a simple macOS app that lets you customize your Mac desktop with colorful string lights.
Festivitas adds lights to the Mac's dock and menu bar. Light size, distance, and cable thickness can be customized, as can the colors and the light changing sequence.
When Festivitas is first launched, it requires accessibility features to locate the dock and add the lights. Permissions can be revoked by going to System Settings > Privacy and Security > Accessibility.
Festivitas is compatible with Macs running macOS 14.6 and later, and it can be downloaded for four euros, which is equivalent to approximately $4.23.
Apple seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.2 today, which means it's going to see a public launch imminently. Release candidates represent the final version of new software that will be provided to the public should no last minute bugs be found, and Apple includes release notes with the RC launch.
The iOS 18.2 release notes provide a look at all of the new features that are coming in the update, including Apple Intelligence additions that will be limited to newer iPhones, and changes that will be available to all iPhone users. Apple's full iOS 18.2 release notes:
Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)
Image Playground - A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles - Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground - Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image - Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps - Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud
Genmoji - Genmoji allows you to create a custom emoji right from the keyboard - Genmoji are synced in your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud
ChatGPT support - ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools - Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT - Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer - A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won't be used to train OpenAI's models - Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI's data policies
- Image Wand turns sketches and handwritten or typed notes into images in Notes - Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you'd like something rewritten, for example as a poem - Camera Control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) - Visual Intelligence with Camera Control helps you instantly learn about places or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the option to tap into Google Search or ChatGPT - Camera Control two-stage shutter lets you lock focus and exposure in Camera when light pressing the Camera Control
Mail - Mail Categorization sorts your messages to help you prioritize the most important messages - Digest view groups all of the messages from one sender into a single bundle for easy browsing
Photos - Video viewing improvements, including the ability to scrub frame-by-frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback - Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view - Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared - Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections
Safari - New background images to customize your Safari Start Page - Import and Export enables you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari - HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible - File Download Live Activity shows the progress of a file download in the Dynamic Island and on your home screen
This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes: - Voice Memos supports layered recording, letting you add vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones -- then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max) - Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines - Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you're looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more - Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library - Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you - Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers - Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom - Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in United Arab Emirates - Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open - Fixes an issue where recently captured photos do not appear immediately in the All Photos grid - Fixes an issue where Night mode photos in Camera could appear degraded when capturing long exposures (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100
Apple is expected to release iOS 18.2 on Monday, December 9. It will be accompanied by iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, watchOS 11.2, HomePod Software 18.2, and visionOS 2.2.
In watchOS 11.2, Apple has added a useful new feature that's designed to allow you to pause video that you're recording on the iPhone using the Camera Remote app on the Apple Watch.
The Camera Remote app has been available since the Apple Watch initially launched, and while there was an option to start and stop video recording, there wasn't an option to pause video and restart it. When a video recording is in progress, there is now a pause button on the left side of the Camera Remote interface. Tapping it pauses a video, and then tapping the red record button restarts the video.
Apple initially added a feature for pausing video recordings with the iPhone Camera app in iOS 18, and the watchOS 11.2 update expands that same functionality to the Apple Watch's Camera Remote app.
Other new additions in watchOS 11.2 include expanded support for tidal conditions and coastal locations in the Tides app in China. watchOS 11.2 will see a release alongside iOS 18.2 next Monday.
The upcoming iOS 18.2 update expands the hearing test feature on the AirPods Pro 2 to nine additional countries, including Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, according to Apple. The feature first launched in the U.S. and select other countries in late October.
The five-minute test allows adults to identify if they have hearing loss by measuring their ability to hear different frequencies of sound. After completing the test, the results will show a hearing loss classification and recommended next steps. Apple has a support document with detailed information about the feature.
iOS 18.2 also expands the ability to use AirPods Pro 2 as a clinical-grade hearing aid to the United Arab Emirates, according to Apple.
All of the hearing health features on the AirPods Pro 2 require firmware version 7B19 or newer. Firmware updates are installed automatically on AirPods while they are charging and in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi-Fi.
Apple today released the final iOS 18.2 beta version, known as the Release Candidate, and the update should be widely released next week.
With the visionOS 2.2 update that's set to come out next week, Apple is introducing the promised Multiview feature that will let sports fans watch up to five games at once.
The Multiview feature for the Vision Pro works with MLS and MLB games, but other sports like football and hockey are not supported at this time. Apple offers MLS and MLB games through the Apple TV+ subscription service because it has partnerships with those leagues.
The update adds SharePlay integration so that Vision Pro wearers can view live sporting events together, including multiple games at the same time.
Along with the new Multiview and SharePlay features, visionOS 2.2 introduces two new Mac Virtual Display aspect ratios, including 21:9 (wide) and 32:9 (ultrawide), which Apple says is equivalent to two 5K monitors side by side.
Other new features include the option to route audio from the Mac to the Vision Pro and support for viewing spatial photos and videos that are embedded on web pages.
visionOS 2.2 is expected to launch on Monday, December 9.
With the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, tvOS 18.2, and HomePod 18.2 software updates, Apple has added a new natural language search feature for Apple Music and Apple TV.
In the Apple TV app, you can use casual language search terms to find exactly what you're looking for, typing in genres, actors, and moods. Searches like "movies about natural disasters," "movies with cats," "movies with Zendaya," and "exhilarating movies" all bring up relevant results.
The Apple Music app supports similar searches, and you can look for genres, moods, activity, decades, and more. Examples include "songs about cats," "songs with a vibe," "relaxing songs," "artists similar to Taylor Swift," "sad 80s songs," and "songs about food."
On the HomePod, Siri supports Apple Music natural language search so you can ask the personal assistant to play content based on moods and activities, just like you can on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, HomePod software 18.2, tvOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are expected to be released to the public next week.
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the fourth betas. Alongside the release candidate versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating system updates, Apple has also seeded the watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and HomePod Software 18.2 RCs. Release candidates represent the final version of beta software that's expected to see a public release should no notable bugs be found.
With iOS 18.2 and its sister updates, Apple is continuing to test the next phase of Apple Intelligence, with several new features available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Image Playground
Image Playground is Apple's image generation app, and it can create images based on prompts. You can enter a description of what you want or use the built-in suggestions and concepts that Apple provides. Apple will suggest costumes, locations, items, and more to add to an image, and these concepts are intelligent and can draw inspiration from a Messages thread or content in the Notes app.
There are options to create characters that resemble your friends and family, and you can choose a photo for Image Playground to use as inspiration to create a related image. Elements added to Image Playground creations are previewed, and there is a preview history so you can undo a change and go back to a prior version.
While Image Playground is a standalone app, it is also integrated into Messages. Image Playground does not make photorealistic images and is instead limited to animation or illustration styles.
Image Wand
Image Wand is an Image Playground-related feature that's available in the Notes app. You can draw a rough sketch with the Apple Pencil or circle a blank space or a key phrase in a note to have Image Wand generate an appropriate image.
Genmoji
Genmoji are custom emoji characters that you can create based on descriptions and phrases. Like Image Playground creations, you can base them on your friends and family, with the data pulled from the People album in Photos. You can also make characters using basic elements, and you'll get multiple Genmoji suggestions to choose from. You can create Genmoji using the emoji keyboard.
Genmoji are limited iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 right now, but will be coming to macOS Sequoia later.
Siri ChatGPT Integration
Siri can integrate with ChatGPT for certain requests, but only with user approval. If Siri is unable to provide an answer to a query, Siri will hand the request over to ChatGPT. ChatGPT's answer will then be provided by Siri.
ChatGPT can be used to create content from scratch, including text and images. No account is required to use ChatGPT integration, and Apple and OpenAI do not store requests.
Visual Intelligence
iPhone 16 users have access to Visual Intelligence, a feature that provides information about what's around you. If you open the camera and point it at a restaurant, for example, you'll see opening hours and reviews.
Some other Visual Intelligence capabilities include reading text out loud, detecting phone numbers and addresses to add them to Contacts, copying text, and summarizing text. There is an option to search Google for where to buy a specific item that you see, and you can also point the camera at something and then get more information about it from ChatGPT.
Apple plans to expand this feature to include more functionality over time.
Writing Tools
Apple is enhancing the Writing Tools feature to add an option to make more open-ended changes. In iOS 18.1 and its sister updates, Writing Tools can only be used to change the tone to friendly, professional, and a more simplified version. In iOS 18.2, you can describe the tone or content change that you want to make, such as adding more action words, or turning an email into a poem.
More Languages
Apple Intelligence has gained support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the U.K., in addition to U.S. English.
Wait List
If you've already been testing Apple Intelligence and are opted in, you will have access to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence automatically.
There is a secondary waiting list for early access to use Genmoji, Image Playground, and Image Wand. You can sign up to get access in Image Playground or in the areas where you access Genmoji or Image Wand.
When you request access, you are added to a wait list for all three capabilities and you'll get a notification when the features are available for you to use. Apple is rolling out access to the new image generation features over the coming weeks.
Availability and Compatibility
The iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are available on all devices, but the Apple Intelligence features require a device capable of Apple Intelligence. Apple is still working on refining the new Apple Intelligence tools, and the company warns that Genmoji, Image Wand, and Image Playground can sometimes give you results you weren't expecting. Apple is collecting feedback on these experiences and will refine them over time.
Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16 model, an iPad with an M-series chip or an A17 Pro chip, or a Mac with an M-series chip.
Release Date
Apple is expected to release the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and visionOS 2.2 updates next week.
iPhone users from New Mexico are now able to add their driver's licenses and IDs to the Apple Wallet app on iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a digital version of the license that can be used in lieu of a physical card in some locations.
New Mexico residents can add a license or state ID to the Wallet app by opening it up, tapping on the "+" button, and following the instructions to complete a verification process.
Digital IDs can be used at select TSA checkpoints across the United States, in some businesses and venues, and in some mobile apps for verifying age. New Mexico has developed an app called NM Verifier that is available in coordination with the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department for verifying digital IDs.
"Having a cell phone and mobile device with you at virtually all times is simply a fact of life these days. This new capability adds one more level of convenience for us all," New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Secretary Stephanie Schardin Clarke said in a statement.
As of right now, a digital license or identification card does not replace the physical version, and New Mexicans are required to have a physical license available when driving.
Apple first announced Wallet support for digital IDs in 2022, and states have been slowly adopting the feature since then. As of right now, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, California, Ohio, Iowa, and New Mexico have implemented support.
Acording to Apple, Connecticut, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah, Montana, and West Virginia are also working to implement the feature.
Today we're tracking a collection of accessory discounts across Amazon and Anker, with notable savings on portable batteries, Bluetooth trackers, USB-C cables, and more.
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.
At Amazon, you can also find a good deal on the Oura Smart Ring (Gen 3 Heritage), available for $349.00 in multiple sizes, down from $449.00. This accessory is able to track your sleep, activity, stress levels, and heart rate, and it can sync with Apple Health.
At Anker, the brand is still hosting its "Ultimate Black Friday Sale," expected to end this Sunday, December 8. That makes this week your last chance to get the year's best prices on Anker's most popular portable batteries, desktop hubs, iPhone chargers, and more.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple is reportedly planning a significant shift in its iPhone hardware design by transitioning to discrete memory packaging to enhance on-device AI performance.
Samsung, a key supplier of Apple's memory components, has begun research to accommodate the change at Apple's request, according to a new report from Korea's The Elec. The shift will mark a departure from the current package-on-package (PoP) method, where the low-power double data rate (LPDDR) DRAM is stacked directly on the System-on-Chip (SoC). Starting in 2026, the DRAM will instead be packaged separately from the SoC, which should significantly improve memory bandwidth and enhance the iPhone's AI capabilities.
The current PoP configuration was first introduced in the iPhone 4 in 2010 and favored since then for its compact design. Stacking the memory directly atop the SoC minimizes the physical footprint, which is especially important for mobile devices where space is at a premium. However, PoP packaging imposes constraints that limit its suitability for AI applications, which require faster data transfer rates and more memory bandwidth.
With PoP, the size of the memory package is constrained by the size of the SoC, capping the number of I/O pins and therefore limiting performance. Moving to discrete packaging will allow the memory to be physically separated from the SoC, enabling the addition of more I/O pins. This design change should increase the data transfer rate and the number of parallel data channels. Separating the memory from the SoC also provides better heat dissipation.
Apple has previously used discrete memory packaging across the Mac and iPad product lines but later shifted to memory-on-package (MOP) with the introduction of the M1 chip. MOP shortens the distance between the memory and the SoC, reducing latency and improving power efficiency. For the iPhone, adopting discrete packaging may necessitate other design changes, such as shrinking the SoC or battery to create additional space for the memory component. It may also use more power and increase latency.
In addition, Samsung is reportedly working on next-generation LPDDR6 memory technology for Apple, which is expected to offer two to three times the data transfer speed and bandwidth of the current LPDDR5X. One variant under development, LPDDR6-PIM (Processor-in-Memory), integrates processing capabilities directly into the memory. Samsung is said to be collaborating with SK Hynix to standardize this technology.
The changes could appear beginning with 2026's "iPhone 18" devices, providing Apple can overcome engineering challenges related to SoC miniaturization and internal layout optimization.
In the U.S., the Apple Card offers a high-yield savings account option, allowing you to earn far more interest on your money compared to the average bank's basic savings account. Following a rate cut this week, the account now has an APY of 3.9%. For example, if you deposited $1,000 into the account and maintained that balance for one year, you would earn $39 in interest over that period based on the current APY.
The chart below compares the Apple Card savings account's rate to some other popular high-yield savings accounts in the U.S., as of writing.
Provider
APY*
Ally
3.85%
Apple Card Savings
3.9%
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
3.9%
Discover
3.9%
American Express
3.9%
Capital One
3.9%
Citizens Bank
3.9%
SoFi
4%
Barclays
4.1%
Synchrony
4.1%
PNC Bank
4.15%
Betterment
4.25%
Wealthfront
4.25%
UFB Direct
4.31%
Fierce
4.5%
CIT Bank
4.55%
Openbank by Santander
5%
Pibank
5%
* Advertised APYs as of December 5, 2024, excluding promotional rates and affiliate bonuses. Minimum balance requirements and other conditions vary per account. APYs can change at any time, so we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the rates listed above.
Apple launched its savings account in April 2023, in partnership with Goldman Sachs. The account can be opened and managed in the Wallet app on the iPhone, and it has no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements. You must have an Apple Card, be a U.S. resident, and be at least 18 years old to open an account.
The account allows Apple Card holders to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance, and on funds deposited via a linked bank account or an Apple Cash balance. The maximum balance allowed is now $1 million, up from $250,000.
When the account launched, Apple and Goldman Sachs offered an APY of 4.15%, but the rate has fluctuated in line with U.S. Federal Reserve benchmark rate changes. The APY peaked at 4.5% in early 2024, and the current 3.9% is an all-time low.
To open a savings account in the Wallet app, tap on your Apple Card, tap on the circle with three dots at the top of the screen, tap Daily Cash, and select Set Up Savings.
Apple Vision Pro pre-orders have gone live in Taiwan as the launch date of its spatial computing headset nears in the country. The device will be available from Sunday, December 17.
Customers can now place their orders through Apple's regional online store, which details pricing options, storage configurations, and additional accessories including ZEISS optical inserts for vision correction. To support the launch, Apple's two retail locations in Taipei will offer 30-minute demonstration sessions, allowing potential customers to experience the device firsthand.
The Taiwan launch represents Apple's thirteenth market for Vision Pro, following its initial U.S. debut in February 2024. The company has steadily expanded the headset's availability throughout the year, with releases in major markets including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore during the summer months. More recently, Apple brought Vision Pro to South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.
French company Polysoft has successfully reverse-engineered Apple's proprietary storage modules for the Mac Studio and plans to offer more affordable upgrade options starting in January 2025, following a successful Kickstarter campaign.
The company's "Studio Drive" modules will be available in 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, with pricing starting at €399 ($420) for 2TB, €799 ($843) for 4TB, and €1,099 ($1,158) for 8TB – roughly half of what Apple charges for comparable storage upgrades at the time of purchase. Unlike traditional SSDs used in PCs, Apple's storage modules require specialized engineering because the actual storage controller is built into the M1 and M2 chips rather than being part of the removable module.
To develop compatible modules, Polysoft conducted extensive reverse engineering, sacrificing an original Apple module for detailed analysis. The company removed all its small components one by one using a laser station, inventoried them and measured their characteristics, then scanned every layer with a flatbed scanner. From this work, the company then made its own schematics and designed different boards, using the same Kioxia and Hynix TLC NAND chips as Apple's original modules to ensure compatibility and performance.
Polysoft has also added what it calls "RIROP" (Rossmann Is Right Overvoltage Protection), a safety feature designed to prevent data loss from potential voltage regulator failures – an issue the company says it has encountered when repairing certain MacBook Pro models.
As noted by The Verge, this development may have exciting implications beyond the Mac Studio. Recent teardowns have revealed that Apple's new M4 Mac mini also uses removable storage modules – potentially opening the door for similar upgrade solutions in the future. While the Mac mini's modules use a different design than the Mac Studio's, Polysoft's breakthrough in reverse-engineering Apple's storage architecture suggests that affordable storage upgrades might eventually become possible for Mac mini users too.
Just like with the Mac Studio, Apple's security system in the Mac mini encrypts storage using a unique identifier tied to each Mac's chip, meaning any storage upgrade requires a complete system reset using Apple's Configurator software to re-encrypt the drive for use with the new machine. Polysoft says it will provide detailed installation instructions for hardware enthusiasts and professionals wanting to upgrade their Mac Studio, including the necessary steps for properly initializing new storage modules with Apple's security system. For further details, see Polygon's Kickstarter campaign page.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the merger between Vodafone and Three UK, clearing the way for the creation of Britain's largest mobile operator. The approval comes with legally binding commitments requiring both companies to invest billions in rolling out their combined 5G network across the country.
The CMA's decision appears to be something of a turnaround from its initial concerns in September, when it warned the merger could lead to higher prices for customers. The regulatory body now says it's satisfied that the proposed network commitment, along with consumer protections, will address competition concerns.
Under the terms of the approval, the merged company must fulfill several key obligations over the next eight years. These include implementing a comprehensive network upgrade plan and adhering to price controls for the first three years. The agreement also requires the company to offer preset contractual terms to mobile virtual network operators that rely on their infrastructure.
The combined entity will serve approximately 27 million mobile subscriptions, surpassing current market leaders Virgin Media O2 and EE. Vodafone will initially hold a 51 percent stake in the venture, with plans to acquire the remaining 49 percent after three years.
In a press release statement, Stuart McIntosh, chair of the CMA's independent inquiry group, said: "Having carefully considered the evidence, as well as the extensive feedback we have received, we believe the merger is likely to boost competition in the UK mobile sector and should be allowed to proceed."
The merger's implementation will be jointly overseen by the CMA and Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator. The combined company will be required to publish annual reports detailing its progress on the network plan, with the CMA specifically monitoring consumer tariffs and wholesale terms.
The £16.5 billion ($20.9 billion) deal is expected to complete in the first half of 2025, pending the companies' formal acceptance of the CMA's conditions. Notably, the same competition watchdog last year initially blocked UK approval for Microsoft's proposed $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, before later clearing it under a new deal in which Microsoft would not acquire Activision's cloud streaming rights outside the EEA.
The Apple Card's high-yield savings account received an interest rate cut overnight, the fourth time it has done so this year.
The Apple Card savings account's annual percentage yield (APY) dropped from 4.1% to 3.9%. Push notifications regarding the cut were sent to Apple Card users on Tuesday evening. Savings account interest rates fluctuate with changes made by the Federal Reserve, and when rates are lowered, banks cut their APYs.
When the Apple Card's savings account first became available, it offered an APY of 4.15%. The rate then increased three times, first to 4.25%, then to 4.35%, and finally to 4.5%, before being lowered to 4.4% in April 2024. This was followed by two more cuts, one in September to 4.25%, and another in early October to 4.10%.
Apple introduced its savings account in April 2023, partnering with Goldman Sachs. Designed for Apple Card holders, the account is exclusively available to U.S. residents aged 18 and above. It can be managed through the iPhone's Wallet app, offering a user-friendly experience with no fees, minimum deposits, or balance requirements.
The account allows users to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance, as well as on funds transferred from linked bank accounts or Apple Cash balances. Initially capped at $250,000, the maximum balance has since been increased to $1,000,000, providing more flexibility for high-value savers.
Opening an account is straightforward. Users simply need to access their Apple Card in the Wallet app, tap the three-dot menu at the top of the screen, select Daily Cash, and then choose the option to set up savings. This process integrates seamlessly with the existing Apple Card interface.
It's worth noting that Goldman Sachs has reportedly indicated plans to end its consumer lending partnership with Apple. However, the potential impact of this change on Apple Card holders remains uncertain at this time. JPMorgan, owner of Chase Bank, reportedly could take over as Apple's financial partner.
