MacRumors

Amazon today has the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for the new all-time low price of $366.28, down from $399.00. This sale is only available in the Rose Gold Aluminum model, and Amazon provides an expected delivery date of October 28 for most United States residences.

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.

Apple just launched the Series 10 models in September, so we haven't tracked particularly steep discounts as of yet, making this $32 markdown notable. There are also a few solid second-best prices on other 42mm GPS colors, like the Jet Black at $370.00.

Secondly, the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 has hit $399.00 in multiple colors, down from $429.00. Specifically, you can get this record low price in Rose Gold Aluminum (both S/M and M/L sizes) and Silver Aluminum (same size options).

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.

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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!

iOS 18 allows iPhone users to change the flashlight and camera shortcuts on the Lock Screen to something else, and Snapchat is now an option.

Snapchat today announced that iPhone users can now quickly launch the app's camera view from the Lock Screen on iOS 18, even when the device is locked. To set this up, update to the latest version of the Snapchat app, released today. Then, tap and hold on the Lock Screen, tap on the Customize button, tap on the Lock Screen, tap on the minus sign next to the flashlight or camera shortcuts, tap on the plus sign that appears in its place, and tap on the Snapchat option that appears in the Control Center gallery.

Snapchat's update also includes Camera Control support on all iPhone 16 models to quickly access the app's camera view using that button.

The next iPad mini will feature an OLED display, display industry analyst Ross Young said in a social media post on Wednesday.

"Next iPad Mini will have an OLED," he said, succinctly.

Compared to the iPad mini 7 and previous models of the device, which have LCD displays, benefits of OLED technology should include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Given the iPad mini 7 just launched this week, it could take at least a few more years before the iPad mini 8 is released. While the iPad mini was updated on an annual basis between 2012 and 2015, the device has only been updated three times since then, including in March 2019, September 2021, and this month.

Apple has been gradually transitioning its products to OLED displays, including the iPad Pro earlier this year, so it would make sense for the iPad mini to eventually follow suit. Plus, an iPad mini with an OLED display has already been rumored previously, so it looks increasingly likely that such a device is on Apple's roadmap.

Other devices rumored to get an OLED display include a new iPhone SE next year, followed by the iPad Air and MacBook Pro in a few years from now.

Young is the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, and he has a mostly-accurate track record with display-related information for future Apple products. For example, he was the first source to reveal the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max would feature 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, over a year before the devices launched.

Apple will allow third-party browsers in the European Union to create web apps for the iPhone Home Screen using their own custom engines when iOS 18.2 launches later this year.

This expands on changes introduced in iOS 17.4, which first allowed third-party browsers in the EU to use non-WebKit engines for both standalone browsers and in-app browsing. Previously, Apple required all iOS browsers to use Safari's WebKit engine, including popular options like Chrome and Firefox.

According to new documentation on Apple's developer website spotted by 9to5Mac, the upcoming API will be exclusive to the EU and enable web apps to use the same custom engine as their parent browser.

The change follows Apple's reversal of an earlier decision to remove web app support entirely from EU devices – a move that prompted scrutiny from the European Commission. However, despite Apple announcing support for alternative browser engines like Chrome's Blink and Firefox's Gecko in January, these have yet to appear on iPhones.

iOS 18.2 will bring additional EU-specific changes, including the ability to completely remove core apps like the App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos. Outside the EU, the update will introduce new Apple Intelligence features such as ChatGPT integration with Siri, Image Playground, custom Genmoji, Visual Intelligence, enhanced Writing Tools, and expanded language support. For all the details, don't miss our iOS 18.2 beta 1 roundup.

Apple could use the LTP03 display technology that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 10 to improve power efficiency and display performance in future iPhone models, industry watchers believe (via The Elec).

LTPO refers to a TFT panel that adds oxide to a Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (LTPS) TFT, which reduces power consumption at low refresh rates. Apple applied the name "LTPO3" to the OLED displays used in the recently released Apple Watch 10 series to differentiate it from the LTPO2 displays currently used in Apple Watch Series 9 and iPhone 16 Pro models, as it replaces the drive TFT (thin-film transistor) with a more efficient oxide-based version.

The technology enables Apple to optimize each pixel to emit more light at wider angles. As a result, the Apple Watch Series 10 display is up to 40 percent brighter than Series 9 when viewed off-axis. LPTO3 also enables a faster refresh rate when the Apple Watch is in always-on mode, going from once a minute to once a second. This means users can now see a ticking seconds hand without raising their wrist on select watch faces.

Given that the drive TFT directly controls the current that makes the OLED pixels emit light, future iPhones with LTPO3 could see meaningful improvements in battery life and viewing angles. Industry sources indicate that Samsung Display is preparing to develop LTPO3 OLED panels that could potentially be for future iPhone models. However, next year's iPhone 17 series is expected to continue using LTPO2 technology while expanding its adoption across all models, not just the Pro devices.

• 10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

Apple has historically tested new display technologies in the Apple Watch before bringing them to the iPhone. For example, the original LTPO displays that debuted in the Apple Watch Series 4 eventually appeared in iPhone 13 Pro models three years later. If and when LPTO3 could make its way to the iPhone, however, remains unclear at this time.

Perplexity has released its first native desktop app for macOS, bringing its AI-powered search capabilities to Mac users. The app offers a streamlined way to access the company's advanced search features directly from the desktop, without requiring a web browser.

The new Mac app includes Perplexity's signature features, including Pro Search for in-depth research and voice input capabilities for hands-free queries. Users can receive instant, up-to-date answers powered by advanced AI models like GPT-4 Omni and Claude 3, and all responses are backed by cited sources.

A key feature of the desktop app is its threaded conversation capability, allowing users to ask follow-up questions while maintaining context from previous queries. The app also includes a library feature that archives past searches and discoveries, as well as a number of custom shortcuts for quickly accessing features.

Perplexity Pro costs $20/month or $200/year, and subscribers get additional benefits through the Mac app, including access to up to 600 Pro Searches daily and the ability to choose between different AI models for various search needs. Pro users can also analyze uploaded files, including PDFs, CSVs, and images, using the advanced AI models.

The free version of the app remains accessible to all users, offering up to five Pro Searches per day and access to Quick Search functionality for basic queries. The app is available now through the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Astropad, known for the Luna Display, Rock Paper Pencil, and Astropad Studio app, today launched a new accessory called Bookcase. Bookcase adds handles to the iPhone or another smartphone to make the device more comfortable to hold when reading.

With Bookcase, Astropad is aiming to turn the ‌iPhone‌ into an e-reader. The accessory provides a more ergonomic grip for long reading sessions, and holding the ‌iPhone‌ doesn't block part of the display.

The Bookcase is adjustable so it is able to work with almost all modern ‌iPhone‌ and Android smartphones, plus it comes with a companion app to create Shortcuts to launch reading apps automatically. With the Shortcut, a reading app can be set to open up whenever the ‌iPhone‌ is put into Bookcase thanks to an included NFC tag.

With the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and later, the ‌iPhone‌ secures to the Bookcase using MagSafe. For older iPhones, there's an included ‌MagSafe‌ conversion kit. Bookcase can be used with MagSafe-compatible ‌iPhone‌ cases.

According to Astropad, Bookcase is ideal for commutes, lunch breaks, bedtime, and more, and it replaces the need to purchase an e-reader when the ‌iPhone‌ already offers the same general functionality.

Bookcase can be purchased from the Astropad website for $40.

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.

‌Image Playground‌ is available as a dedicated app, but you can also use the features right in Messages. With ‌Image Playground‌, you can write a prompt and get a cartoon-like image in return. You can build on your creations by adding different categories and sections, and you can get images modeled after you and your friends.

Images that you have made to look like you or a friend look fairly spot on, and it's a fun version of things like Bitmoji from other social networks. There's also an ‌Image Wand‌ feature in the Notes app that lets you circle a word or a blank space to generate an image that goes with what you've written. On the iPad, you can draw a rough sketch and have ‌Image Wand‌ whip up something better.

‌Genmoji‌ is similar to ‌Image Playground‌, but it's for generating custom emoji characters. If you've ever wanted an emoji that's not available, ‌Genmoji‌ solves that problem. You can make up whatever you want and use it just like an emoji.

ChatGPT integration isn't on by default, but once you enable it, you can send any ‌Siri‌ request over to ChatGPT instead. ChatGPT can generate writing from scratch, create photorealistic images, and answer any of your queries that ‌Siri‌ can't. Information from ChatGPT is relayed through ‌Siri‌, and no account is required.

Visual Intelligence is for iPhone 16 users. It uses the Camera Control button to identify objects and places around you. It'll tell you what it sees, and if you point it at a place like a restaurant, you can see things like ratings and hours.

More information on the specific ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features included in the beta can be found in our launch post, and we'll have an article coming soon on all of the other changes in the iOS 18.2 update.

As of right now, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are limited to developers, and the betas are only available for ‌Apple Intelligence‌ devices. A public beta will come at some point in the future.

Note that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is still a beta, and Apple is working on improving it. There can be unexpected results with ‌Image Playground‌ and ‌Genmoji‌, but Apple is taking feedback and will be making changes over time.

iOS 18.2 includes a new "Default Apps" section that can be found in the Settings app, which can be used to manage your default apps for the iPhone. This is a feature that Apple promised would be coming to the European Union, but it is actually available worldwide in the latest beta.

There are Default App settings for Email, Messaging, Calling, Call Filtering, Browser App, Passwords and Codes, and Keyboard apps.

In the United States, you can use the Default App interface to choose your preferred Email, Call Filtering, Browser, and Passwords, and Keyboards. The sections for Messaging and Calling don't list anything other than Messages, FaceTime, and Phone, respectively, but you can set ‌FaceTime‌ or Phone as the default calling app.

EU users should have more options for choosing non-Apple apps as their default, as Apple is required to allow ‌iPhone‌ users in Europe to swap out their messaging and phone apps, in addition to the others. EU users are also able to delete core apps like Messages, App Store, Safari, Camera, and Photos.

Eventually the Default Apps section should also include contactless payments and other settings.

With iOS 18.2, iPhone users in the European Union can fully delete a number of core apps, including the App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos.

Apple said in August that it planned to make additional changes to its Digital Markets Act compliance in the European Union, and one update included the option for EU users to remove system apps. Almost all apps can now be deleted in the EU, with the exception of the Phone app and the Settings app.

Apps that are removed, such as the ‌App Store‌, can be re-downloaded using an "App Installation" section in the Settings app.

In the U.S. and other countries, core apps like ‌Photos‌ and the ‌App Store‌ can be hidden but not entirely removed from the ‌iPhone‌ and replaced with third-party apps.

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.

Apple didn't change the design of the ‌iPad mini 7‌ compared to the ‌iPad mini‌ 6, and it's tough to tell them apart from the outside. The colors are more muted this time around, with Apple eliminating pink and adding blue, and the text on the back now says "‌iPad mini‌" instead of "iPad." Other than that, the ‌iPad mini‌ 6 and ‌iPad mini 7‌ are identical.

Inside, there's a faster A17 Pro chip that's a notable improvement over the A15 Bionic, but depending on what you do with your ‌iPad mini‌, you might not notice huge gains in performance. If you play games, it's going to be a lot faster, plus there's now support for ray tracing and mesh shading, features that enable console-quality games like Death Stranding.

The major draw of the A17 Pro is support for Apple Intelligence, and the first AI features are set to come out next week in iPadOS 18.1. Right now, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is limited to Writing Tools, a new look for Siri, summaries, and smart replies, but Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, and more will be coming in iPadOS 18.2, an update Apple started testing just today.

At $499, the ‌iPad mini 7‌ is only $100 less than the more capable and larger M2 iPad Air, so it's kind of a niche product. It's not worth choosing an ‌iPad mini‌ over an ‌iPad Air‌ unless you specifically want the smaller 8.3-inch size for portability.

With all of the changes internal, the ‌iPad mini 7‌ is somewhat of a boring update and there's not a lot to say about it. Along with the A17 Pro, you get 8GB RAM (up from 4GB), Wi-Fi 6E support (for connecting to faster 6GHz networks when available), Bluetooth 5.3, faster USB-C transfer speeds, Apple Pencil Pro support, and higher 128GB base starting storage.

Did you get an ‌iPad mini 7‌ or plan to? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

With the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas that came out today, Apple introduced an updated version of the Mail app with built-in categorization.

Mail Categories organize your incoming emails into different sections. Important emails are shown in a "Primary" category, with orders, newsletters, social notifications, and deals organized into three other sections.

The "Transactions" section includes receipts, orders, and deliveries, and it makes it easy to find orders that you've placed and shipping information for those orders.

The "Updates" section includes newsletters, alerts for things like doctor's appointments and correspondence, and other subscription emails. Apple's "Promotions" category includes special offers and deal emails.

Categorization appears to be a work in progress at this time, which is not surprising as this is a beta. Emails may be mis-categorized or might show up in multiple categories, but that's likely something that Apple will address over time.

Devices that have Apple Intelligence support will show priority emails in the Primary inbox, so you can see what's most important first. If an email in the Transactions, Updates, or Promotions section includes time-sensitive information, it will also be in the Primary section of the inbox.

Categories is the default view after updating to the new software, but in the upper right corner of the Mail app, you can swap back to a list view that shows all emails in chronological order, without separation into categories.

The Mail app has an "About Categories" section where you can see how your messages have been categorized over the course of the last week, but there is no option to tell the Mail app if you believe an email has been put into the wrong category.

Amazon today has introduced a steep new discount on the previous generation 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, available for just $699.99 with the use of an on-page coupon. We're also tracking a match of the best price ever seen on the newer 13-inch M3 MacBook Air below.

13-Inch M2 MacBook Air

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 M2 MacBook Air, Amazon is offering up to $299 off both models of the 2022 notebook. Prices start at $699.99 for the 256GB M2 MacBook Air in one color, and increase to $949.99 for the 512GB MacBook Air in two colors. In regards to the former model, this is a new all-time low price on the notebook and a great entry-level price point for anyone looking for a cheap MacBook.

13-Inch M3 MacBook Air

For the newer models, you can get the 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air for $849.99 in two colors, down from $1,099.00. This is a match of the record low price on this model of the M3 MacBook Air, and for the Starlight color Amazon provides an estimated delivery date of October 28.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

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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 will soon start production on M4 versions of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models ahead of an early 2025 launch, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. There are no new design changes planned for the ‌MacBook Air‌ models, and the focus will be on the M4 chip.

Apple is working to bring the M4 chip to the entire Mac lineup, and the first Macs with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips are set to be introduced next week. Apple has plans for new Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iMac models.

The ‌MacBook Air‌ models will follow in the early months of 2025, between January and March. After that, Apple plans to refresh the Mac Studio. Gurman claims that the ‌Mac Studio‌ was on track to be updated alongside the ‌MacBook Air‌, but it is now going to see a refresh between March and June. In prior articles, he has said the ‌Mac Studio‌ would come out in mid-2025, so it is unclear what has changed.

An M4 Mac Pro is in development as well, but it is not likely to come out until later in 2025.

Around the time when the ‌MacBook Air‌ models come out in early 2025, Apple will also refresh the iPhone SE, the iPad Air, the low-cost iPad, and introduce a new keyboard designed for the ‌iPad Air‌. 2025 will also see the debut of a new home hub device that has a small, square screen.

Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates to developers for testing purposes. The betas have been released while Apple is still working on iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1, updates that are set to be released next week.

Today's updates introduce the next phase of Apple Intelligence, with Apple previewing new Siri features, image generation tools, and more. Here's what you can expect:

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 on iPad. 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 new 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 to iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 right now, and 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 supports localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK in addition to U.S. English.

Developer Tools

The new betas include developer APIs for adding Writing Tools, ‌Genmoji‌, and ‌Image Playground‌ into third-party apps.

Waiting 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.

Availability and Compatibility

As of right now, the betas are limited to developers who have a device capable of ‌Apple Intelligence‌, but there will likely be a public beta coming in the not too distant future. 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.

The feedback received will help Apple determine when the image generation features will be more widely available for beta testing and when they'll see an eventual public launch.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ in iOS 18.2 requires an iPhone 15 Pro or ‌iPhone 16‌ model, while iPadOS 18.2 and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.2 require an ‌iPad‌ or Mac with an A17 Pro or M-series chip.

Vimeo today announced it has released a native app for Apple's Vision Pro headset, allowing users to view, upload, and share spatial videos.

Spatial videos offer three-dimensional depth, making scenes look more immersive and life-like. Spatial videos can be watched on the Vision Pro, and recorded on the Vision Pro, all iPhone 16 models, and iPhone 15 Pro models. You can upload spatial videos to your Vimeo library from the Vimeo app on iOS and visionOS, and on Vimeo.com.

"This kind of spatial content is the future of storytelling, and we're proud to be at the forefront of this revolution," said Philip Moyer, CEO at Vimeo.

Vimeo's announcement also reiterates that Apple plans to update Final Cut Pro later this year to enable users to edit spatial videos on their Mac.

Vimeo embracing the Vision Pro comes after YouTube shunned the headset. Earlier this year, it was reported that YouTube had no plans to release an app for the Vision Pro, and it has not allowed its iPad app to be used on the headset. And earlier this month, developer Christian Selig removed his third-party YouTube app Juno from the visionOS App Store after YouTube's legal team told him the app violated the company's terms of service. Of course, YouTube's decisions regarding the Vision Pro could change in the future.

In other Vision Pro app news, Cisco today announced it will soon release a Spatial Meetings app for the headset that works with the Cisco Room Bar Pro. The app will enable meetings with "stunning, life-like video and incredible depth."

iPhone users in Iowa are now able to add their driver's licenses and IDs to the Apple Wallet app on ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch, allowing them to be used in lieu of a physical ID.

Iowans can add a license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app by opening it up, tapping on the "+" button, and following the onscreen instructions and verification process.

The digital ID in the Apple Wallet app can be used at select TSA checkpoints, including the Des Moines and Eastern Iowa Airports, as well as at some business venues. It can also be used within select apps when ID is required.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, businesses are able to accept an ID in Apple Wallet using iOS apps like Tap2iD mobile, VeriScan, and Mobile ID Verify for in-person age verification purposes.

As with other states that have adopted digital ID integration in Apple Wallet, Iowa's DoT warns that the digital version does not replace a physical license or identification card. Locations that accept mobile IDs will expand over time, however.

Apple announced a new Wallet app that supported digital IDs back in 2022, but states have been slow to adopt the feature. So far, only Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Hawaii, California, and Ohio have implemented support. Apple has said that Connecticut, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, and West Virginia are working on support.