MacRumors

Apple today previewed iPadOS 18, a major update to the operating system for the iPad that introduces a new Calendar app, a redesigned systemwide tab bar, and more.

‌iPadOS 18‌ brings over many of the new features and improvements introduced in iOS 18 to the ‌iPad‌ such as the redesigned Photos app and new Home Screen customization tools.

In ‌iPadOS 18‌, a new floating tab bar morphs into the navigation sidebar. The tab bar is also customizable to keep favourites within easy reach. It is available across the system. There is also a new document browser in Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

‌iPadOS 18‌ also brings the Calculator app to the ‌iPad‌ for the first time, with new features like history and unit conversions. Math notes allows users to solve expressions when writing with the Apple Pencil.

Math notes enable users to hand-write expressions and automatically calculate the answer, displaying it in handwriting that's like their own. Users can use basic or scientific math, and notes can be saved for later. Variables are supported, allowing you to solve algebraic equations. They can be edited to see results change in real time, and even generate a graph.

Notes has the same math capabilities from Calculator. Notes also gains new Smart Script capabilities that automatically improve your handwriting as you write.

SharePlay now allows users to tap and draw on the screen when sharing, and you can remotely control someone else's ‌iPad‌ or iPhone.

‌iPadOS 18‌ also includes refined animations across the UI, making them feel even more responsive. There are new APIs for developers to integrate these animations.

The first developer beta of ‌iPadOS 18‌ is available starting today, with a public beta following in July, and official release to the public in the fall.

Apple today previewed watchOS 11, the next major software update for the Apple Watch that introduces several new health and workout features.

Activity Rings can now be adjusted by day of the week and paused for a rest day, allowing users to keep their award streak going. Users can set workouts to alert a friend that they have been safely completed, such as a late-night run.

‌watchOS 11‌ includes a new "training load" feature, helping users to track intensity over time. A new algorithm uses heart rate, altitude, workout duration, and age and weight data to give a calculation of your estimated effort rating and training load.

A new Vitals app provides an overview of daily health, comparing daily health statistics to historical data and highlighting when health data is outside your typical range. If multiple metrics are out of range, you will receive a tailored message to see how they could be affecting you.

Cycle tracking now shows estimates of gestational age, showing pregnancy across charts to review metrics like high heart rate notification thresholds.

Widgets will be automatically added to the Smart Stack. For example, the Translate app will show automatically when you go to a different country and the Weather app will show up when rain is imminent. ‌watchOS 11‌ also brings Live Activities to the Apple Watch for the first time.

An improved Photos watch face gives users more control and uses machine learning to automatically crop photos. The update also brings the Translate app to the Apple Watch.

The first developer beta of ‌watchOS 11‌ is available starting today, with a public beta following in July, and official release to the public in the fall.

Apple at WWDC has announced iOS 18, which includes an overhauled Control Center interface with new customization features and the ability to add multiple control screens.

In ‌iOS 18‌, Control Center has been redesigned to provide easier access to many of the things users do every day, and it gets new levels of customization and flexibility.

The redesign delivers quick access to new groups of a user's most-utilized controls, such as media playback, Home controls, and connectivity, as well as the ability to easily swipe between each.

In ‌iOS 18‌, when you invoke Control Center with a swipe down from the top-right of your iPhone's screen, you can continuously swipe to get to more control center screens. There's a new controls gallery that lets you customize the controls you see, and you can change the size of buttons to emphasize priority. Additionally, developers can include controls from their own apps, enabling quick access to controls like remotely starting a car, for example.

The new Controls API from Apple also allows you to switch up the controls on your ‌iPhone‌'s lock screen, so you can replace the traditional flashlight and camera buttons with something more convenient to you. And if you have an iPhone 15 Pro, you can also assign Control Center buttons to the physical Action button.

Apple today announced a few new features coming to AirPods Pro later this year, centering on a new ability to use head gestures in order to control the ‌AirPods Pro‌. With this feature, you can nod your head up and down, or shake it left to right, in order to answer or decline a call.

In addition to interacting with a phone call, users will be able to use Siri Interactions to respond to messages, manage notifications, and more.

There's also a new Voice Isolation feature coming to ‌AirPods Pro‌ that removes loud background noise around you, so that the person on the other end of a call can hear you clearly. Apple also said personalized spatial audio is expanding to gaming on tvOS this year.

Finally, AirPods users will gain access to a Personalized Spatial Audio feature with dynamic head tracking that boosts gaming experiences on connected Apple devices. This will be available on AirPods 3, ‌AirPods Pro‌, and AirPods Max.

Apple said that all of these features will arrive this fall.

Apple today previewed new features coming to the Messages app with iOS 18, and this finally includes bold, italics, underline, and strikeout formatting options.

iMessage has also gained all-new text effects that can be applied to individual words in a message to give them a "dynamic, animated" appearance. These effects include Big, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, Ripple, Bloom, and Jitter.

Other new Messages app features on iOS 18 include upcoming RCS support for improved texting with Android users, an option to schedule messages to be sent later, the ability to use any emoji as a Tapback, the ability to send messages via satellite connection when Wi-Fi and cellular networks are unavailable, and more.

The first developer beta of iOS 18 is available now, and a public beta will follow in July. The update should be widely released in September.

Apple announced iOS 18 today with two notable changes for the Home Screen: the ability to place app icons anywhere, and a dark tint option for app icons.

iPhone users can now place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen, although they still must conform to an invisible grid. In other words, Apple now allows blank spaces, rows, and columns between app icons, which can reveal more of the wallpaper.

App icons can now have a dark or tinted appearance, with many color options available. Icons can be manually set to appear in dark or light mode, or they can automatically switch based on whether Dark Mode is turned on or off on the iPhone.

MacRumors was first to report about the ability to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen, and the darker tint option, prior to WWDC.

Read our iOS 18 announcement coverage for more details about the update, which is now available in beta for members of the Apple Developer Program.

Apple today previewed iOS 18, the next major update to the operating system for the iPhone, with new customization features, a redesigned Photos app, and more.

iOS 18 features new customization tools for the Home Screen. App icons now feature Dark Mode and users can tint them with a color to create a unique look. Apps can also now be placed anywhere on the ‌Home Screen‌ freely.

The Control Center is redesigned and highly customizable with a new gallery. Developers can provide tools for their apps in the Control Center. Users can continuously swipe to access other Control Center screens. Lock Screen controls are also customizable.

In Messages, tapbacks have been redesigned and users can now react with any emoji. Users can also schedule messages to send later, as well as format text with bold, italicization, underlining, and strikethrough. New text effects provide ways to emphasize words and phrases with automatic suggestions. Users can also now send and receive messages with satellite connectivity.

In Mail, emails are automatically sorted into categories to help prioritize messages. There are also new topographical maps with trail networks and hiking routes in the Maps app. In Wallet, a new Tap to Cash feature sends cash by holding iPhones together.

The ‌Photos‌ app is completely redesigned in ‌iOS 18‌. The app has been unified into a single view, with a photo grid at the top that views the entire library and collections organized by theme below. Users can use Months and Years views at the bottom, and there's a filter button that allows you to hide screenshots and sort in other ways.

The space below the grid includes Collections with the ability to browse by topics like Time, People, Memories, Trips, and more. Recent Days shows photos from the past few days, with things like photos of receipts filtered out automatically. People and Pets now gathers photos of groups of people and collections can be reordered or pinned. Swipe right from the grid and you'll see a new carousel with Featured ‌Photos‌ and other favorite collections. It automatically refreshes to surface new images.

Users can now Lock apps with authentication, simultaneously hiding information from Search and Siri. ‌iOS 18‌ also includes a new way to connect accessories more seamlessly.

‌iOS 18‌ brings RCS messaging support to the ‌iPhone‌, larger ‌Home Screen‌ icons, and Reminders integration in calendar.

Game Mode also comes to the ‌iPhone‌ for the first time, minimizing background activity to keep frame rates high, plus more responsive connections to AirPods and wireless game controllers.

The first developer beta of ‌iOS 18‌ is available starting today, with a public beta following in July, and official release to the public in the fall.

Apple today announced that the Vision Pro headset will be available in eight additional countries over the coming weeks.

The headset is launching in China, Japan, and Singapore on June 28, followed by Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the UK on July 12.

Pre-orders start June 13 in the first wave of countries, and on June 28 in the second:

Apple today announced Apple Vision Pro will expand to new countries and regions, with pre-orders for China mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore beginning this Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m. PT and availability beginning Friday, June 28. Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom can pre-order Vision Pro beginning Friday, June 28, at 5 a.m. PT, with availability beginning Friday, July 12.

visionOS 1.2 adds support for languages in these countries and regions.

Apple first launched the Vision Pro in the U.S. in early February, with the spatial computing headset starting at a costly $3,499 there.

visionOS 2 includes a range of new features and changes, such as a redesigned Photos app with SharePlay support, the ability to turn existing 2D photos into spatial photos with machine learning, new hand gestures for frequently used features like Home View and Control Center, a larger ultra-wide version of Mac Virtual Display that is equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side, support for a physical mouse, and more.

Apple today announced visionOS 2, the first major update to the Vision Pro's operating system. The first visionOS 2 beta is now available for Apple Developer Program members, and the update will be released to the public later this year.

visionOS 2 includes a range of new features and changes, such as a redesigned Photos app with SharePlay support, the ability to turn existing 2D photos into spatial photos with machine learning, new hand gestures for frequently used features like Home View and Control Center, a larger ultra-wide version of Mac Virtual Display that is equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side, and support for a physical mouse.

visionOS 2 also adds a basic feature that was missing on the Vision Pro at launch: the ability to rearrange apps and place them wherever you want.

Travel Mode gains support for trains on visionOS 2, while the Guest User option can now save a guest's eye and hand data for 30 days.

visionOS 2 includes new APIs and frameworks for developers of Vision Pro apps, such as HealthKit for health data and TabletopKit for tabletop games.

Apple's press release outlined some additional visionOS 2 features, such as AirPlay receiving mode and systemwide Live Captions:

- While in Safari, users can watch videos in an Environment, including on popular sites such as YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon. While scrolling through webpages, users can tap on panoramic photos and immerse themselves as the image wraps around them. Siri can also read and speak the content of a webpage while users multitask.
- The Apple TV app brings support for multiview to Apple Vision Pro for the ultimate sports-viewing experience. Later this year, fans will be able to watch up to five simultaneous streams so they can keep track of all their favorite sports and teams.
- To help users achieve calm and focus, the Mindfulness app includes a new capability called Follow Your Breathing that presents dynamic visual animations and sounds that respond to the user’s breathing patterns.
- Systemwide Live Captions help everyone — including users who are deaf or hard of hearing — follow along with spoken dialogue in live conversations and in audio from apps.
- Users can view content on their Vision Pro with AirPlay from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Apple also announced that the Vision Pro will be launching in eight additional countries by mid-July, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, China, Japan, and Singapore. The headset first launched in the U.S. in February.

Apple has taken down its online store ahead of its WWDC 2024 keynote at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today. This is a common marketing tactic for the company.

During the keynote, Apple is expected to unveil major software updates across its platforms, including iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, tvOS 18, visionOS 2, and more. Apple's online store going down ahead of events often means new hardware will be announced too, but we will simply have to wait and see if that is the case.

Three possibilities for the store being down could include a minor product release like AirPods Max with a USB-C port, international availability of the Apple Vision Pro headset, or preparations for Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students. Alternatively, maybe Apple just took down the store to create additional hype.

In any case, we'll find out in a matter of minutes!

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) starts today with the traditional keynote kicking things off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. MacRumors is on hand for the event and we'll be sharing details and our thoughts throughout the day.

We're expecting to see a number of software-related announcements with a focus on Apple's efforts to infuse AI throughout its operating systems and apps. We'll be seeing Apple take the wraps off iOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and more, although we're not expecting to see any hardware introduced today.

Apple is providing a live video stream on its website, on YouTube, and in the company's TV and Developer apps across its platforms. We will also be updating this article with live blog coverage and issuing Twitter updates through our @MacRumorsLive account as the keynote unfolds. Highlights from the event and separate news stories regarding today's announcements will go out through our @MacRumors account.

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Live blog transcript ahead...

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While rumors suggest that iOS 18, macOS 15, and tvOS 18 will largely be compatible with the same iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV models as the current versions of each platform are, it could be a much different story for watchOS 11.

In a post on social media platform X today, a proven leaker claimed that watchOS 11 will drop support for the Apple Watch Series 4 from 2018, Apple Watch Series 5 from 2019, and first-generation Apple Watch SE from 2020. The update would be compatible with all other models, including the Apple Watch Series 6 and beyond.

Even though the Series 5 has an S5 chip, it has the same processor as the S4 chip in the Series 4, so it would not be too surprising if Apple dropped support for these models simultaneously. Key changes with the Series 5 compared to the Series 4 included an always-on display option, increased storage, and a compass.

The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.

We'll find out official watchOS compatibility details during the WWDC keynote in just a few hours.

Just ahead of WWDC, we have another last-minute compatibility rumor to share from a proven leaker, with this one relating to the Apple TV.

In a post on social media platform X today, the leaker claimed that tvOS 18 will remain compatible with the Apple TV HD, released in 2015.

If so, tvOS 18 would be compatible with all Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K models, meaning there would be no change compared to tvOS 17:

• Apple TV HD (2015)
• Apple TV 4K (2017)
• Apple TV 4K (2nd Generation) (2021)
• Apple TV 4K (3rd Generation) (2022)

Given that HomePods run a variant of tvOS, the leaker thinks the next HomePod software update is likely to support all HomePods, including the original 2018 model.

The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.

Apple will unveil tvOS 18 and other major software updates during the WWDC keynote, which begins at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today.

Just hours before Apple announces macOS 15 during its WWDC keynote today, a proven leaker has revealed alleged compatibility details for the software update.

In a post on X, the leaker said macOS 15 will be compatible with all Apple silicon Macs with the M1 chip and newer, and all Intel-based Macs equipped with Apple's T2 security chip. If this information is accurate, macOS 15 would be compatible with all Macs that support macOS Sonoma, with one possible exception: the 2019 iMac.

macOS Sonoma is compatible with the 2019 iMac, which does not have a T2 chip, so it is unclear if that model will support macOS 15 or be dropped.

Here is the rumored compatibility list for macOS 15:

• MacBook Pro: 2018 and later
• MacBook Air: 2018 and later
• Mac mini: 2018 and later
• iMac: 2019 and later*
• iMac Pro: 2017
• Mac Studio: 2022 and later
• Mac Pro: 2019 and later

* iMac would be 2020 and later if a T2 chip is required.

Even if macOS 15 supports many Intel-based Macs, new on-device AI capabilities will likely be limited to Apple silicon Macs, which have a Neural Engine.

The leaker who revealed this information has a private account on X, so we have elected not to share its name or link to it, but they have shared accurate compatibility information and build numbers for Apple's software updates in the past.

What name will Apple use for macOS 15? That remains a mystery.

iPadOS 18 will drop support for iPad models equipped with the A10X Fusion chip, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS and iPadOS updates.

In other words, iPadOS 18 will drop support for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and the second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Support for the sixth-generation iPad, which uses the regular A10 Fusion chip, is also being dropped. However, iPadOS 18 will continue to work on the seventh-generation iPad, according to the source.

iPadOS 18 will therefore be compatible with the following iPad models:

• iPad Pro: 2018 and later
• iPad Air: 2019 and later
• iPad mini: 2019 and later
• iPad: 2019 and later

Apple is expected to announce iPadOS 18 alongside iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins June 10, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPad in September.

Apple is expected to introduce a slew of AI-related features, collectively dubbed "Apple Intelligence," but only iPads powered by an M1 chip or later will support on-device AI capabilities.

Apple also plans to introduce a built-in Calculator app for the iPad with iPadOS 18. The app will be a "universal" app able to run on the iPhone, iPad, and macOS, allowing for a similar look and function across all three devices.

To kick off WWDC 2024, Apple will hold a keynote event on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time to announce the new software. For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account, so make sure to follow.

iOS 18 will be compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17, according to a post on X today from a private account with a proven track record of sharing build numbers for upcoming iOS updates.

iOS 18 will be compatible with the iPhone XR, and hence also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip, but older iPhone models will miss out. Here is the full compatibility list for iOS 18:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XR
• iPhone SE (2nd generation)
• iPhone SE (3rd generation)

Apple is expected to announce iOS 18 at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins June 10, and the update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in September.

It's worth noting that iOS 18 will feature an AI-powered overhaul of Apple's iPhone operating system dubbed "Apple Intelligence," and at least some of these features will not be supported on older iPhone models.

The same source says iPadOS 18 will drop support for the 10.5-inch iPad Pro and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which use the A10X Fusion chip. The sixth-generation iPad is also being dropped from the compatibility list, but the seventh-generation iPad will still be supported.

To kick off WWDC 2024, Apple will hold a keynote event on the Monday at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time to announce the new software. For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive X (Twitter) account, so make sure to follow.

On Friday we tracked new all-time low prices on the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, and today Amazon has expanded this sale with record low prices on the 15-inch models as well. Thanks to these additional deals, every single model of the M3 MacBook Air is now available at an all-time low price.

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 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, you can get the 256GB model for $1,129.00, down from $1,299.00. Both 512GB models are available on sale as well, and most have delivery dates for as soon as June 11 for United States residences.

Secondly, Amazon still has $200 off the 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air, now available for $899.00 in every color, down from $1,099.00. Just like the 15-inch models, you can also find both 512GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale at best-ever prices.

If you need help deciding the right MacBook Air to purchase, be sure to read our buyer's guide comparing each generation of the computer. Additionally, we have a guide that breaks down all of the differences between the 13-inch and 15-inch sizes of the MacBook Air.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.