Anker has further sweetened its deals on the Eufy brand of Bluetooth trackers this week, with the SmartTrack Card available for $16.99, down from $29.99. You can also get the SmartTrack Link in various packs, starting at $13.99 for a 1-pack, $26.99 for a 2-pack, and $48.99 for a 4-pack.
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These trackers work with Apple's Find My app and are perfect for keeping track of luggage and other necessities while traveling. This time around, all of the deals have been applied automatically on Amazon so you won't need any coupon codes. Compared to previous sales, these are some of the best prices we've tracked on the Bluetooth trackers, particularly for the SmartTrack Link 1-pack and SmartTrack Card.
Another highlight of the sale is Anker's Docking Station + Monitor Stand, which includes 12 ports and support for wireless charging. It's priced at $199.99, down from $249.99. You can also save on a pair of 3-in-1 MagSafe Chargers, with support for iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch charging, starting at $110.49, down from $139.99.
One final highlight is the PowerCore Reserve 60,000 mAh with Retractable Light, which is available for $119.99, down from $169.99. This is lower than the deal price we tracked during Prime Day earlier in the month, and a new best-ever price on this accessory.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be the first to feature a super telephoto periscope camera for dramatically increased optical zoom, according to a new report coming out of Asia.
The information comes from the Weibo account "Digital Chat Station," which has provided accurate information about Apple's plans in the past. The label of "super" or "ultra" telephoto is usually afforded to cameras with a focal length over 300mm, drastically magnifying and pulling in distant subjects. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models' telephoto camera has a focal length of equivalent to 77mm, so a focal length in excess of 300mm on the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be a very large increase.
Super telephoto cameras are often used for sports and wild animal photography, but the extremely soft backgrounds they create also make them useful for portrait photography, providing there is enough distance between the subject and the photographer.
The change is seemingly facilitated by Apple's upgrade to a periscope telephoto camera system, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro Max later this year. With next year's iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the telephoto camera to both of the "Pro" models, apparently enabled by increasing the smaller model's size. As such, giving the iPhone 16 Pro Max a super telephoto periscope would enable Apple to maintain differentiation between the two "Pro" devices next year.
The Weibo user also reiterated their previous claim that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a 12% larger camera sensor that is 1/1.14-inches in size. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max currently feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor and no sensor size increase is expected for this year's iPhone 15 Pro Max. A larger sensor could improve the main iPhone camera's dynamic range and background blur. It could also substantially enhance low-light photography capabilities since a bigger surface area can capture more light with the same shutter speed and aperture.
In their latest post on the matter, the Weibo user did not explicitly state which devices the rumor relates to in the iPhone 16 lineup, it is believed to relate specifically to the iPhone 16 Pro Max due to their previous remarks. The same user shared similar camera information earlier this year, claiming that they had obtained industry insider information.
Apple Pay is launching in Morocco today, based on backend code discovered by Apple researcher Aaron613 and subsequent confirmation by one of the country's banks.
CIH Bank is launching Apple Pay in the country as of Tuesday, according to the bank's Twitter account. It's not clear if other banks in Morocco will be coming on board with support for Apple's digital payment method, but it's likely.
The support means that CIH Bank's customers will be able to add their Mastercard credit cards and bank cards to the Wallet app by tapping the plus button in the top-right corner. Apple has yet to update its regional website to officially confirm the launch.
Ever since its launch in the United States in 2014, Apple Pay has slowly expanded to more countries worldwide while at the same time expanding the list of financial institutions that support the feature. Apple Pay can be used anywhere contactless payments are accepted with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch. It is also accepted by select apps and websites.
Accessory company ESR has launched a Kickstarter campaign for its upcoming 100W 6-in-1 Charging Station, which supports an array of devices across Apple's ecosystem.
Like many triple device chargers, the 6-in-1 Charging Station includes a MagSafe charging surface for an iPhone, an officially certified Apple Watch charger, and a spot for charging AirPods, but it also includes two USB-C ports and a USB-A port for charging additional devices over wired connections.
ESR's wireless phone charging surface is official MagSafe-certified, so it can charge devices at the full 15-watt speed of the specification. It also includes ESR's "CryoBoost" fan and heat dissipation technology integrated into the charging surface to help keep your device cool, protecting battery health and letting your phone charge at the fastest speeds for longer.
The integrated 5-watt Apple Watch charger supports the same speeds as Apple's official chargers, including fast charging for the Series 7, Series 8, and Ultra. The AirPods wireless charging surface also runs at 5 watts, allowing for full-speed charging.
When it comes to wired charging, you'll find the two USB-C ports and single USB-A port lined up along the right edge of the device, and the power available to each depends on how many are in use.
There are obviously a lot of possible combinations of devices, but in order to get 100-watt charging out of either of the USB-C ports, you'll need to have only a single device connected. If you're using any of the wireless charging surfaces, that drops the single USB-C maximum to 65 watts. And of course adding more devices to the mix will reduce the power available to each one.
A fully utilized charging station will be able to provide 40 watts to the first USB-C port, 20 watts to the second USB-C port, 5 watts to the USB-A port, and then 25 watts divided among the wireless chargers to maintain full charging speeds on those.
ESR is using the latest GaN technology for efficiency and to minimize the bulk of the charging station, and there is no additional power brick needed, only a removable 1.8-meter power cord specific to the socket type in your region.
The Kickstarter campaign is live now and has already met its funding goal but will run through September 1. Shipments to the U.S., Canada, and select European countries will begin in October, as will sales through Amazon. ESR is offering a couple of discounted pricing tiers for the Kickstarter campaign, including a limited Super Early Bird tier priced at ~$143 and an Early Bird tier at ~$154. The retail price once it officially launches will be $179.
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iPhone users are increasingly finding reasons to choose Apple Maps over Google Maps, with some customers commending its clear public transport directions and visually appealing design.
That's according to anecdotal reports collected by The Wall Street Journal (paywalled). While Apple Maps comes preinstalled on all iPhones, the overwhelming majority of iPhones in the U.S. have Google Maps downloaded as an alternative, according to Canalys.
But that hasn't stopped some users becoming particularly impressed by how far Apple's transit route information has come. The app is often recommended by users for its cleaner view versus the more cluttered design of Google Maps.
For example, Jane Natoli, a Google Maps "power user" told WSJ she finds herself using Apple Maps more in her everyday life after her iPhone prompted her to use it in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The app knew she was at the airport and offered recommendations for shops and restaurants in her terminal. It had clearer information that was easier to interact with than Google Maps, said the 42-year-old.
"It made me kind of revisit and rethink some of my prior assumptions about it," Natoli says. "Whatever initial reputational hurdles that Apple Maps faced, I think they've jumped over those."
Outside the airport, Natoli likes Apple's design and finds directions easier to read, especially street names. On Google Maps sometimes it's difficult to figure out the street name, no matter how closely you zoom in, she says.
"Google is showing me restaurants, bars and other things, but I'm not necessarily looking for that," she says.
A recent graduate from Georgia Tech shared a similar sentiment. At night while driving, she said she finds that the roads are easier to look at on Apple Maps, and there are fewer points of interest cluttering her view. "Apple's really good at making things look pretty," she told the outlet.
Apple Maps launched in 2012 and was quickly criticized for having incomplete and inaccurate mapping data, which led some iPhone users on dangerous routes. Apple CEO Tim Cook offered a rare public apology for the frustration it caused customers, and then iOS chief Scott Forstall was ousted just one month later.
Since then, Apple has made significant improvements to Apple Maps, building in new features and correcting lingering errors. Real-time traffic information and navigation options for pedestrians were added to Maps in 2013, which is also the same year Maps was extended to OS X. In 2015, Maps was updated with "Nearby," a feature that offers up local points of interest and transit directions in a handful of cities.
In early 2020, Apple completed a complete overhaul of its maps in the United States, featuring significantly greater detail including updated building massing, parks, sports field, pools, and more. A new Look Around feature in select cities is similar to Google's Street View, and the updated maps have been rolling out to more countries in the time since. In iOS 17, coming in the fall, users will be able to download maps for offline use in Apple Maps – something Google Maps users have been able to do now for quite some time.
Praise for Apple's offering isn't by any means universal. One user told WSJ she was frequently led astray by Apple Maps as she walks around Boston, while another user said his experience with Apple Maps via CarPlay had often added time on to his commute by taking him through neighborhoods with stop signs in an effort to avoid gridlock.
Apple Maps still gets a bad rap among some users, but Apple's continued efforts to improve the app appear to have helped reverse some of those opinions. "Maps has come a long way, and people have noticed," Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software, said during WWDC in June. Are you more or less likely to use Apple Maps these days? Let us know in the comments.
TikTok has announced it is introducing support for passkeys, providing an easier and more secure login method for users of the popular short-form video platform. Apple integrated passkeys into iOS with the launch of iOS 16, and they are also available in iPadOS 16.1 and later and macOS Ventura.
Passkeys are an industry standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium, so TikTok's passkey integration will work on Apple devices as well as on other devices that support the feature.
Passkeys are both easier to use and more secure than passwords because they let users sign in to apps and sites the same way they unlock their devices: With a fingerprint, a face scan or a screen lock PIN.
Apps using passkeys, including TikTok, cannot access or process any of the biometric data used in the authentication process on iOS devices, and all biometric authentication data remains on users' devices. Passkeys are also resistant to online attacks like phishing, making them more secure than things like SMS one-time codes.
Passkeys on iOS and Mac devices sync with iCloud Keychain for security purposes, and logins are authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID. This protects you from being locked out of your account in case you lose your devices, and makes it easier for you to upgrade from one device to another. Two-factor authentication must also be switched on for an Apple ID.
TikTok says it will begin rolling out passkeys for iOS in Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America beginning this month, and anticipates expanding in geographies and operating systems over time. TikTok users with access to the login option can enable it by going to their Profile at the bottom of the app and then accessing "Settings and privacy" in the Menu. From there, access the Account option and then tap iCloud passkey to enter the setup screen.
Apple does not yet have to implement changes to its "anti-steering" App Store rules that would allow developers to direct customers to purchase options outside the App Store.
As noted by The Verge, Apple was today granted a motion that prevents it from having to make App Store changes for 90 days, giving the company time to ask the Supreme Court to hear the case.
Apple and Epic Games have been battling in court over Apple's App Store rules since 2020, and in 2021, the judge overseeing the case largely sided with Apple. She decided that Apple was not violating antitrust law with its App Store rules requiring developers to use the in-app purchase system, but part of the ruling did require Apple to update its "anti-steering" rules.
Apple has been ordered to implement App Store changes that will allow developers to use metadata, buttons, links, and other calls to action to direct customers to purchasing mechanisms outside of the App Store, paving the way for developers to implement alternate payment methods.
While an appeal was ongoing, Apple did not have to implement those changes, but the appeal took place in April 2023. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the original ruling and again sided with Apple over Epic, but the appeals court also kept the App Store rule change mandate in place.
Apple claims that the App Store changes will "upset the careful balance between developers and customers provided by the App Store," resulting in irreparable harm to Apple and consumers. Apple has also said that it needs time to figure out the "complex and rapidly evolving legal, technological, and economic issues" that the update would cause.
In April, Apple said that while it supported the court's ruling, it disagreed with the App Store changes and was "considering further review." Apple will now request that the Supreme Court hear the case.
At the current time, Apple has 90 days to make a filing with the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court decides to hear the case, Apple will not need to make App Store changes until the court makes a final ruling. If the Supreme Court does not decide to hear the case, Apple will need to make the changes.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Some customers who had a poor experience with their Apple Savings accounts handled by Goldman Sachs are receiving one-time credits, according to an email received from MacRumors reader Michael, who made a withdrawal in May.
"The experience we provided for a withdrawal request you made for your Savings account in May did not meet our standards," reads the email. As a thank you, Apple and Goldman Sachs informed Michael that he would be receiving a one-time "goodwill credit" of $100 to his savings account.
It is not clear how many Apple Savings users have received these credits, but the bonus likely stems from issues that some customers ran into over withdrawal waits.
In June, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that multiple Apple Card customers were having trouble withdrawing money from their accounts, which are handled by Goldman Sachs. Some customers who transferred thousands of dollars were waiting for weeks for their money.
Goldman Sachs in a statement said that the issues had come up due to security processes designed to protect customer accounts. It is possible that customers triggered anti-money laundering alerts by transferring large amounts of money into a newly opened account.
"The customer response to the new savings account for Apple Card users has been excellent and beyond our expectations. While the vast majority of customers see no delays in transferring their funds, in a limited number of cases, a user may experience a delayed transfer due to processes in place designed to help protect their accounts."
Affected customers complained of Goldman Sachs' customer service, indicating that they were receiving different information each time they called in to speak with the company.
Recent reports have suggested that Goldman Sachs is looking to end its partnership with Apple as it wants to cut back on its consumer business. Goldman Sachs is reportedly in talks with American Express about a potential takeover, but no deal has been reached.
Goldman Sachs recently extended its partnership with Apple through the end of the decade, but it has run into problems with the scale of Apple's business. Last year, for example, Goldman Sachs was subjected to an investigation by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after customers experienced long wait times for disputed transactions. Goldman Sachs was reportedly not prepared for the number of chargebacks that it had to deal with.
Apple uses Goldman Sachs for the Apple Card, Apple Savings account, and Apple Pay Later features. Offered since April, the Apple Savings account is available to Apple Card holders, and it provides a 4.15 percent interest rate on Daily Cash and other deposits.
Nomad is celebrating its anniversary by offering 30 percent off sitewide this week, giving shoppers a chance to save on the brand's best wireless chargers, iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and more. This sale does not require a coupon code as all the discounts have been automatically applied, and it ends on July 18.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Nomad sells a wide variety of accessories for Apple products, including MagSafe-compatible charging stands and iPhone 14 cases. You'll also find waterproof Apple Watch bands, USB-C power adapters, AirPods cases, desk accessories, and more.
This sitewide sale applies to full-price and in-stock products only, excluding backordered and limited edition products and a few third-party items. Nomad offers free standard shipping on all orders placed in the United States that exceed $150.
Apple is actively developing a sixth-generation iPad Air, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who briefly touched on the mid-range tablet in his latest Power On newsletter. However, it's unclear exactly when the next model will be released.
Gurman said the first Macs with the M3 chip could be announced as early as October, but he does not expect any major upgrades across the iPad lineup this year. Given a spec-bumped iPad Air would likely not be considered a major upgrade, it's unclear if the device will be updated later this year or at some point in 2024.
"For those wondering about the iPad — another product that typically gets refreshed in October — I wouldn't expect any major upgrades until the M3 iPad Pros with OLED screens arrive next year," wrote Gurman. He added that "an iPad Air model that boosts its specifications is also in development," but did not provide any further details.
Apple last updated the iPad Air in March 2022 with the M1 chip, an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support, a faster USB-C port, 5G support for cellular models, and new color options. Pricing starts at $599 in the U.S. for 64GB of storage.
It's unclear what new features the next iPad Air will offer, but possibilities include the M2 chip, a Thunderbolt port like the iPad Pro, a horizontally-oriented front-facing camera like on the 10th-generation iPad, and new color options. Read our iPad Air roundup linked below for additional details about the current model.
Apple plans to release a new MacBook Pro with an upgraded chip manufactured with TSMC's advanced 3nm process in the third quarter of 2023, according to DigiTimes.
"Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro slated for launch in the third quarter will feature 3nm processors, according to industry sources," the preview says.
The report is likely referring to a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple's next-generation M3 chip, which the company has yet to announce. The M3 chip is widely expected to be fabricated with TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm-based M2 chip in the existing 13-inch MacBook Pro.
In his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the first Macs with the M3 chip could launch as early as October, so a launch in the fourth quarter seems more likely than the third quarter. In any case, it is increasingly likely that Apple will announce the M3 chip later this year, and the first models with the chip will likely be the next-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac. It's unclear when the 15-inch MacBook Air released last month will be updated with the M3 chip.
Apple last updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip in June 2022, with pricing starting at $1,299 in the United States. The laptop has a seven-year-old overall design and is the only remaining Mac with a Touch Bar instead of physical function keys. It's unclear if the next model will have any major design changes.
Apple is expected to update the iPad Pro with the M3 chip and an OLED display in the first half of 2024, bringing 3nm technology to its high-end tablet. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are also expected to launch next year, and an M3 Ultra chip for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro is likely in the future.
Amazon today has a few deals on the iPad Air, all of which represent all-time low prices for these tablets. The sales are focused on the 5th generation iPad Air, which has a delivery date as soon as July 19 for select colors.
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.
You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $499.99, down from $599.00. This one is on sale at this price in four colors, and it requires you to head to the checkout screen before you will see the final discounted price.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Secondly, the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air is available for $649.99, down from $749.00. This model is also available in four colors, and most are in stock and ready to ship today.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
You can also find a few cellular models on sale right now on Amazon. The 64GB cellular iPad Air is on sale for $629.99 ($119 off) and the 256GB cellular iPad Air is on sale for $799.99 ($99 off).
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
According to the Twitter user "RGcloudS," the iPhone 15 lineup will feature stacked battery technology. The information came as part of an alleged leak about Samsung's Galaxy S24+ and S24 Ultra models, which are also said to utilize stacked battery technology.
A stacked battery cell uses a manufacturing technique called lamination, where the elements and separators are folded into zig-zag layers instead of being rolled up. Since there is less wasted space within the packaged cell, more active material can be included, resulting in a greater overall capacity. This allows a stacked battery to achieve higher energy density compared to a wound battery. Heat is also distributed more uniformly across the cell, rather than being concentrated in a single area, prolonging the battery's lifespan.
Electric vehicles already heavily rely on stacked batteries due to their ability to deliver high power output and rapid recharging, as well as their superior energy densities. They are also found in medical devices, aerospace and aviation, and renewable energy storage.
In addition, the Twitter user claims that they have seen signs of Apple exploring 40W wired charging and 20W charging via MagSafe, but they are unsure whether it relates to the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 lineup. The iPhone 14 Pro Max can achieve peak wired charging speeds of up to 29W, while MagSafe only charges at 15W.
The "RGcloudS" account primarily focuses on Android leaks. The rumor has been picked up by a range of other prominent websites and news outlets, but the Twitter user's track record for Apple leaks is unclear, so it should be taken with a pinch of salt at the current time.
Update: "RGcloudS" now claims that Apple's stacked battery technology is instead destined for the iPhone 16 lineup, alongside 40W wired charging and 20W charging via MagSafe. Apple purportedly wishes to introduce larger image sensors and stacked battery technology simultaneously.
A factory sealed original 2007 iPhone has been sold at auction for $190,373, far exceeding the previous record for an auctioned iPhone.
Apple sold the 4GB original iPhone for a limited amount of time, making it is the rarest of the first-generation iPhone models. It was predicted to establish a record sale price of up to $100,000, but the actual sale price turned out to be far higher.
The LCG Auction began on June 30 and ran through July 16. The initial bid was $10,000, and the lot had a total of 28 bids, which led to the record-breaking $190,372.80 sale.
The iPhone was originally sold with either 4GB or 8GB of storage when it launched 16 years ago on June 29, 2007. The 8GB model turned out to be far more popular, so Apple discontinued the 4GB model after just a few months in favor of a higher 16GB capacity.
The person selling the iPhone was part of the original engineering team when the iPhone launched, according to LCG Auctions, and it comes with a letter of provenance. The 4GB model was sold for $499, while the 8GB version cost $599.
Apple's first M3-powered Macs could arrive as early as October, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said sources tell him an October event will follow Apple's iPhone 15 series announcement in September, and the state of Apple's current product lineup suggests it will focus on new Macs with M3 chips.
Given that Apple launched new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in January, and more recently new 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro models in June, Gurman believes the first beneficiaries of the new M3 chip will be the next iMac, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Looking further ahead, new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 chips are expected to arrive in early 2024, featuring M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, according to Gurman in a previous report.
The M3 chip is expected to be built on chipmaking partner TSMC's 3nm process, resulting in significant performance and power efficiency improvements over the 5nm-based M2 chip that Apple's most recent Mac models are based on. TSMC kicked off mass production of 3nm chips in late December.
Samsung today announced the upcoming U.S. launch of its ViewFinity S9 display, which is designed to compete with the Studio Display from Apple. The ViewFinity S9 previously launched in South Korea in June, but next month it will be expanding to the United States.
The 27-inch ViewFinity S9 features a 5K display with a resolution of 5120 x 2800 and 218 pixels per inch. It offers 600 nits typical brightness, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 99 percent DCI-P3 for vivid, realistic colors, and it is has a 60Hz refresh rate with a 5ms response time. According to Samsung, there is also an Intelligent Eye Care feature built into the display to cut down on eye strain.
Priced at $1,599, the ViewFinity S9 has the same price tag as the Studio Display from Apple, but Apple charges an additional $300 for Nano-texture matte glass and $400 extra for a tilt and height adjustable stand. Samsung's ViewFinity S9 has a matte display and built-in height and tilt adjustment at its base price, along with a Pivot function that allows the screen to be rotated 90 degrees to a portrait orientation. VESA mounting is also an option.
The display includes one Thunderbolt 4 port, three USB-C ports, a Mini DisplayPort, and a DC 20V port for a power supply. It can connect to both PCs and Macs, and offers 90W power transfer and data speeds of up to 40Gb/s for machines connected through the Thunderbolt 4 port.
At the top of the display, there is a 4K SlimFit camera that can tilt to fit the angle of the monitor, with an Auto Framing feature keeping the user visible and in the shot, similar to Apple's Center Stage feature. Built-in speakers are included, and an Adaptive Sound+ option allows noise levels to automatically adjust.
Samsung created a Smart Calibration feature for the ViewFinity S9, which uses an iPhone 11 or later or a modern Galaxy smartphone to quickly customize the screen. Through the SmartThings app, display users can adjust white balance and gamma settings using the Basic mode, or tweak color temperature, luminance, color space, and more with the Professional mode. Calibration works by pointing the smartphone's camera at the ViewFinity S9, and after the process is complete, the app provides a report of the adjustments made and the Delta E color accuracy.
The ViewFinity S9 includes Smart TV apps that allow the display to function as a TV independent of a connected computer. It supports popular streaming apps and the Samsung Gaming Hub for playing cloud-based games from Xbox and NVIDIA. There is a remote control for using the TV features.
Samsung's ViewFinity S9 is priced at $1,599 and it will be available for purchase from the Samsung website and from other retailers in August.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
As promised for the month of July, Apple has released the first public betas of iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and related updates, opening up testing to a wider range of users ahead of their official releases later this year.
Other big stories this week included the latest rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro coming up in just a couple of months, a massive new iMac model in Apple's product pipeline, and a significant new feature for macOS Sonoma with the ability to use iCloud Keychain on various third-party browsers. Read on for all the details on these stories and more!
iOS 17 Public Beta Now Available
Apple this week released the first public beta of iOS 17. The upcoming software update includes several new features and changes, including a StandBy mode when an iPhone is charging in a landscape position, improved autocorrect, interactive Home Screen widgets, the ability to download sections of Apple Maps for offline use, and more.
Not interested in the beta? iOS 17 should be released to the public in September, alongside the launch of iPhone 15 models. The software update is compatible with the iPhone XS and newer.
iPhone 15 Pro's Top Rumored Features: USB-C Port, Titanium, and More
Key new features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models include a USB-C port, a customizable Action button, a titanium frame, a faster A17 Bionic chip manufactured with TSMC's latest 3nm process, and thinner bezels around the display. The higher-end Pro Max model is also expected to feature an upgraded Telephoto lens with periscope technology for up to 6x optical zoom.
It was already possible to save full-page screenshots as a PDF in the Files app, but the added option of saving them to the Photos app will make it easier to share full-page screenshots in iMessage conversations and on social media.
Larger iMac With Around 32-Inch Display in Early Testing
Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro, and has yet to launch a larger-screen iMac with an Apple silicon chip as a replacement, so a 32-inch iMac would be a much-awaited addition to the Mac lineup if it ever launches.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple made a number of changes to the Messages app in iOS 17, introducing a new look, updated stickers functionality, and important new safety features that help people traveling alone feel safer.
This guide highlights all of the features that Apple is adding to Messages in iOS 17.
Design Updates
Apple updated the design of the Messages to cut down on clutter. The "+" button on the left side of the compose window houses all of the Messages apps and tools. Tapping on it brings up a dropdown list of options, that include Camera, Photos, Stickers, Cash, Audio, Location, Store, and Messages apps that have been installed.
You can tap on one of the options to open its related function. So instead of tapping on the little photos icon to add a photo as you did in iOS 16, you will tap on the "+" button and then the Photos option to get to your Camera Roll in iOS 17.
In iOS 16, Apple had a camera icon and an App Store icon that could be tapped to expand the available options. Apps expanded across the top of the keyboard horizontally, so the cleaner vertical design is a notable change. It makes for a much more simplified design, and it's easier to tell what's what with the larger icons and text descriptions.
Check In is a safety feature that you can use when you're traveling to have someone else keep an eye on your progress. You can let a friend or family member know that you're going somewhere, and they'll be automatically notified when you reach your destination.
To use Check In, you'll need to select a conversation with a trusted person, tap on the "+" button, and choose the Check In option. From there, you can input the location that you're going to and the time you're set to arrive.
The person on the other end will be notified that you're heading somewhere and when you should get there. If you stop making progress while you're on your way, Messages will check in with you to see what's going on, and if there's no response, your battery level, full location, and cellular status will be shared with the person you selected.
You can customize the amount of data that you share. Limited shares location, network signal, and battery level, while Full shares all of that plus route traveled, location of last iPhone unlock, and location of where the Apple Watch was last removed.
When you arrive at your destination, your friend or family member is notified that you got there safely and the Check In ends successfully.
Stickers
Stickers have been in the Messages app for years now, but they haven't gotten a lot of attention. Apple is changing that in iOS 17, because all emoji are now considered stickers, in addition to actual stickers.
Emoji now behave the same way as stickers, so in addition to simply inserting them into a conversation, you can also drag them anywhere on a message, and you can layer them on top of one another to create little emoji scenes. To put an emoji on a message, just open the emoji keyboard, select an emoji, and drag it up to the message you want to accent.
If you open up the Stickers section of the Messages app, you'll see stickers from apps you've downloaded, stickers you've created, emoji, and Memoji in one spot.
Creating Stickers
Apple in iOS 16 introduced a Remove Subject From Background option, and in iOS 17, you can use it to create and save your own stickers. Choose any of your photos and long press on the subject of the photo to get to the "Add Sticker" option.
Choose that and it will be added right to your sticker collection, and if it's a Live Photo, it will animate.
There are a number of effects that can be added to make your digital stickers look more like real stickers, including a white outline, comic-like shading, a puffy 3D look, and a shiny, holographic finish. The sticker effects will animate and reflect the light appropriately, making your self-created stickers look professionally done.
Sticker Reactions
With emoji able to be placed anywhere on an iMessage, you can use them in place of tapback reactions. Just drag the emoji to the message that you want to respond to rather than long pressing for a tapback. Later in the year, Apple plans to allow stickers to be used right in the tapback interface.
Sticker Expansion
Stickers can now be used anywhere that emoji can be accessed, including third-party apps, pictures, emails, and more. So once you create your stickers from photos, you can do more with them than just send them to people using Messages.
Memoji
Apple added new halo, smirk, and peekaboo Memoji stickers to go along with the existing still Memoji sticker options.
Catch-Up
If you get behind on a Messages chat with a friend or with a group of people, iOS 17 shows you a catch-up arrow. If you tap it, it will jump to the first message in a conversation that you have not seen. Catch-up is a feature that will be coming in an update to iOS 17 and it won't be in the launch version of the software.
Swipe to Reply
If you want to reply to a specific message in a conversation, just swipe from left to right to bring up the reply interface. This is a much quicker way to reply to something specific someone has said because you no longer need to long press and tap the reply button.
Search Improvements
Apple improved Messages search in iOS 17 with an option to combine multiple filters. If you're looking for images from a certain person, for example, you can type in "photos" and then the person's name, tapping to select each search filter to narrow down your search results.
Audio Message Transcriptions
If someone sends you an audio message and you're somewhere where you can't listen to it right away, iOS 17 will transcribe it for you so you can read it instead.
Auto-Delete Verification Codes
Many websites and services use texted one-time passcodes for verification purposes, and those one-time codes can clog up the Messages app. In iOS 17, there's an option to have those messages auto delete after the code is autofilled and used for a login. Apple should ask you if you want to enable this when you use the autofill feature after upgrading to iOS 17, but it can be toggled on manually under Settings > Passwords > Password Options > Clean Up Automatically.
Location Sharing
With the "Location" setting under the Messages options, you can share your location or request a friend's location directly from the Messages app. You can also set a pin at a specific location you're going to be going to without opening the Maps app.
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