MacRumors

Apple today added the original 12-inch MacBook to its obsolete products list, meaning the laptop is no longer eligible for repairs or service at Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers.

Introduced in March 2015, the 12-inch MacBook featured a thin and light design that weighed just two pounds. With prices starting at $1,299, the original model's standard specs including a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor, integrated Intel HD 5300 graphics, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

"Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook," said Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller in a March 2015 press release. "Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation. From its fanless design, ultra-thin Retina display and full-size keyboard that's 34 percent thinner, to its all-new Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook."

The 12-inch MacBook was also the first MacBook model to feature Apple's infamous butterfly switch keyboard design, which was prone to failure and eventually dropped from the entire MacBook lineup after years of complaints and lawsuits. Apple last updated the 12-inch MacBook in June 2017, and it was discontinued in July 2019.

Apple classifies a product as technologically obsolete once more than seven years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale. The original 12-inch MacBook was discontinued in April 2016 upon the release of a second-generation model with improved specs, so the laptop recently crossed that seven-year mark.

In addition to the original 12-inch MacBook becoming obsolete, Apple has classified the stainless steel models of the Apple Watch Series 2 as vintage. Aluminum Series 2 models were previously classified as vintage last November.

The vintage products list features devices that Apple stopped distributing for sale more than five years ago and less than seven years ago. Apple provides service and parts for vintage devices for up to seven years, or as required by law, but repairs are subject to parts availability.

Sonnet this week announced its latest Thunderbolt 4 dock, the Echo 20, and one of its key features is an internal enclosure for an M.2 NVMe SSD. This allows the dock to double as an external storage drive for a Mac.

Accessible from the bottom of the dock, the enclosure can hold up to an 8TB SSD and supports data transfer speeds up to 800 MB/s, according to Sonnet.

The dock is also equipped with an upstream Thunderbolt 4 port that provides up to 100W of pass-through charging to a connected Mac, two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB-C ports with up to 10 Gbps speeds, four USB-A ports with up to 10 Gbps speeds, one HDMI 2.1 port, one 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, one 3.5mm combo audio jack, one 3.5mm microphone jack, left and right RCA line out jacks, and one SD card slot.

The Echo 20 is available to order on Sonnet's website for $299.99 in the United States and will be available at additional retailers soon. The dock has an external power supply and ships with a 0.7-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable in the box. Sonnet has a similar Thunderbolt dock that supports dual SSDs for up to 16TB of storage, but it has fewer ports.

A factory sealed original 2007 iPhone is going up for auction starting tomorrow, and it is expected to sell for up to $100,000. While other original iPhones have been sold off in recent months, this is the first model that has 4GB of storage rather than 8GB.

As auction site LCG Auctions explains, 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 was far more popular, leading Apple to discontinue the 4GB model after just a few months in favor of a higher 16GB capacity.

Because the 4GB original ‌iPhone‌ was only available for a limited amount of time, it is the rarest of the first-generation ‌iPhone‌ models. "Based upon our recent record-setting sales and the fact that the 4GB model is probably 20-times rarer than the 8GB version, we would not be surprised if it establishes a new record sale price," said LCG Auctions founder Mark Montero.

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.

Just this year, an 8GB original ‌iPhone‌ sold for $63,000 in February, while a second sealed original ‌iPhone‌ with 8GB of storage sold for $54,000 in March.

LCG Auctions is also selling an 8GB original ‌iPhone‌ and a 16GB original ‌iPhone‌, both of which are factory sealed. The auctions begin on June 30 and run through July 16.

Alongside iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and macOS Sonoma, Apple is also introducing watchOS 10, and it brings some of the biggest updates we've seen to watchOS in years. We've got five reasons why it's going to be worth installing watchOS 10 when it launches this fall.

1. Redesigned Apps - Apple has overhauled almost all of the stock watchOS apps with a new design language that takes up more of the screen and offers more information at a glance. The Activity app, for example, has new views that show in-depth information on calories burned, workout minutes, and more. The Heart Rate app has a pulsating heart and your current BPM, and the Weather app makes it easier to see the temperature and other conditions you care about. Photos, Podcasts, News, Music, Mail, Calendar, App Store, and tons more apps got updates.
2. Smart Stack - Widgets are a major focus in watchOS 10, with Apple offering a new "Smart Stack" of widgets that can be accessed by turning the Digital Crown. The Smart Stack displays widgets that are relevant to your day, and you can customize what's there too. The Smart Stack gives quick access to everything from Activity and Calendar to Reminders, the Music app, Shortcuts, Wallet, and Workout.
3. Control Center - In addition to Smart Stack for quick access to the functions you need most, Apple made it easier to get to the Control Center. Just press on the Side Button to open up Control Center in an app or at the Home Screen.
4. Watch Faces - There are two new watch faces, including Palette and Snoopy. Palette shifts through different colors throughout the day with a customizable color palette, and Snoopy features characters from the popular Peanuts cartoon like Snoopy and Woodstock. Snoopy is one of Apple's most sophisticated watch faces to date, with Snoopy and Woodstock interacting with the hands of the watch and animating in different positions based on the time of day, weather, and other factors.
5. Mood Tracking - Both watchOS 10 and iOS 17 support a new mood tracking feature. On the Apple Watch, you can open up the Mindfulness app and choose the "State of Mind" option to log how you're feeling either at a specific moment during the day or for the overall day. You can scroll to select a mood like Pleasant, Neutral, or Unpleasant, and then you can narrow down the emotion you're feeling with Apple providing suggestions. From there, you can select what's impacting your mood, like relationship, work, community, friends, hobbies, and more. Information is aggregated in the Health app so you can see your mood over time and what influences how you feel.

There are also new Workout app features for hikers and cyclists, along with quite a few other additions. To see a full rundown of what's available in watchOS 10, we have a dedicated watchOS 10 roundup.

Amazon has a few deals on various MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models today, starting at just $799.99 for the M1 MacBook Air. Most of these sales include all-time low prices on these notebooks, and all are in stock and ready to ship out this week.

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.

M1 MacBook Air

Starting with the 2020 M1 MacBook Air (256GB), Amazon has all three colors at $799.99, down from $999.00. This matches the previous all-time low price on this version of the MacBook Air, which is a solid option for anyone who needs a computer for basic tasks like checking e-mail and browsing online.

M2 13-Inch MacBook Pro

We're also tracking deals on the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro right now on Amazon, starting at $1,099.99 for the 256GB model, down from $1,299.00. Amazon has both the Silver and Space Gray available at this price, with delivery as soon as June 30 if you order soon.

You can also get the 512GB model of the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro on sale for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This one is a second-best price, and it's also available for delivery as soon as June 30 for Prime members.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

While the iPhone 15 Pro has yet to launch, several new features have already been rumored. Following our iPhone 12 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro comparisons, we have now put together a version for the iPhone 11 Pro.

While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always significant, new features begin to stack up over multiple generations. For this reason, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a four-year-old iPhone 11 Pro.

The list below includes major iPhone changes introduced since 2019, as well as new features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models.

iPhone 11 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro

• A17 chip vs. A13 chip: The 5nm-based A16 chip in the iPhone 14 Pro is already up to 72% faster than the A13 chip in the iPhone 11 Pro, according to the Geekbench 6 benchmark. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to be equipped with an A17 chip manufactured based on TSMC's latest 3nm process for even faster performance and improved power efficiency compared to previous chips.
• USB-C port: With the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple is finally expected to switch from Lightning to a USB-C port. This change will provide a more universal charging standard and allow for faster wired data transfer speeds.
• Titanium frame: Like the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have a titanium frame instead of stainless steel. The back glass and display bezels are also expected to have slightly curved edges.
• Action button: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with a customizable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra. The button would replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included on every iPhone model since 2007. Users would likely be able to assign the button to various system functions, such as Ring/Silent, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Low Power Mode, and more.
• Larger display: iPhone 11 Pro is equipped with a 5.8-inch display, while the 15 Pro is expected to have a 6.1-inch display.
• Brighter display: Compared to the iPhone 11 Pro, the 15 Pro's display should have at least 200 nits higher peak brightness.
• ProMotion: Introduced on the iPhone 13 Pro, ProMotion allows for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz for smoother appearing content and scrolling.
• Dynamic Island: With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple replaced the notch with the Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped area surrounding the Face ID sensors and front camera. The Dynamic Island displays system alerts and supports the Live Activities feature for live sports scores, the status of an Uber ride, and more.
• Always-on display option: With the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple introduced an always-on display option that dims the entire Lock Screen, but still shows the time and date, widgets, wallpaper, and notifications. Once you raise the iPhone, tap the screen, or press the side button, the display returns to normal brightness.
• Ceramic Shield: Introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro, Apple said the Ceramic Shield front cover increased drop performance by 4x compared to the 11 Pro.
• Thinner bezels: Similar to the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have ultra-thin bezels around the display.
• Flat edges: While the iPhone 11 Pro's stainless steel frame has round edges, Apple switched to flat edges with the 12 Pro and newer.
• Longer battery life: Already, the iPhone 14 Pro lasts up to 23 hours for offline video playback, compared to 18 hours for the iPhone 11 Pro. With components like the A17 chip and the LiDAR Scanner expected to be more power efficient this year, the iPhone 15 Pro could have even longer battery life.
• Camera improvements: iPhone 11 Pro users upgrading to the 15 Pro will gain access to a wide range of camera upgrades added over the years, including a 48-megapixel main lens, an upgraded front camera with autofocus, sensor-shift image stabilization, a 3x optical zoom option, Action mode, Macro mode, Cinematic mode, ProRAW photos, ProRes video, Night mode portraits and time lapses, and much more. Up to 5-6x optical zoom is expected for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
• eSIM only in U.S.: Apple removed the physical SIM card tray from all iPhone 14 models sold in the U.S., meaning the devices work with eSIMs only. The devices are still compatible with SIM cards in other countries, but rumors suggest that iPhone 15 models might be eSIM-only in France, and perhaps some other countries.
• Increased RAM: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with an increased 8GB of RAM, compared to 4GB for the iPhone 11 Pro. Increased RAM can benefit multitasking on the iPhone by allowing more apps to be open in the background simultaneously without reloading.
• Wi-Fi 6E: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, which supports the 6GHz band for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and less signal interference compared to standard Wi-Fi 6.
• Emergency SOS via Satellite: iPhone 14 models can connect to Globalstar satellites, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. The service is free for two years after activation, and is currently available in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K., Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and select other countries.
• Crash Detection: New for the iPhone 14 series, Crash Detection is designed to detect severe car crashes and contact emergency services via Emergency SOS if the user does not respond. The feature is enabled by default.
• 5G: While the iPhone 11 Pro is limited to LTE, the iPhone 12 and newer support 5G for faster cellular data speeds, where available.
• MagSafe: iPhone 12 and newer models feature MagSafe, a system that lets you magnetically attach accessories to the back of the iPhone, such as Apple's own MagSafe Charger, MagSafe Wallet, and MagSafe Battery Pack.
• Increased storage: iPhone 11 Pro started with 64GB of storage, but the 15 Pro should have at least 128GB of base storage.
• LiDAR Scanner: Introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro, the LiDAR Scanner is situated next to the rear camera and offers faster augmented reality experiences and improves autofocus by 6x in low-light photos and videos, according to Apple.
• Improved water resistance: Apple says the iPhone 11 Pro is water resistant up to a depth of four meters for up to 30 minutes, while the 12 Pro and newer are water resistant up to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max in September, and the devices could have additional features that have yet to be rumored.

Popular third-party Reddit app Apollo was updated today with an option for users to decline a refund for their remaining subscription time ahead of the app shutting down. Users who do not exercise this option will automatically receive a pro-rated refund.

"If you've been happy with the service I've provided over the years, please consider declining the refund as they are refunded out-of-pocket," said Apollo developer Christian Selig, who previously estimated that the refunds could cost him around $250,000. "It's been the pleasure of a lifetime building Apollo for you over the last nine years. I thank you so much for your kindness, input, and generosity over the years."

Starting on July 1, Reddit plans to begin charging for its main API, which provides third-party apps like Apollo with access to the website's data, like posts and comments. Selig said it is understandable for Reddit to begin charging for the API, but he said the pricing is prohibitively expensive and that he was given minimal time to prepare for the change. For these reasons, Apollo is shutting down and will stop working on June 30.

"Reddit recently announced some very, very expensive API prices for developers, and in combination with only providing 30 days to enact the changes, Apollo won't be able to afford continuing beyond Reddit's cutoff date," said Selig.

The latest version of Apollo also includes a new "Goodbye Apollo" wallpaper pack that can be unlocked with a donation, which Selig said will help with refund costs.

"If you want to remember Apollo for years to come after its shut down date, and support its creator one last time, consider checking out the incredible set of Apollo themed wallpapers, created by talented designers who have built Apollo icons over the years," said Selig. There are over 20 wallpapers in the set.

Reddit's decision to begin charging expensive fees for its API has been controversial. Thousands of subreddits were marked as private or restricted earlier this month in protest of the upcoming changes, and some moderators on the site continue to criticize the plans. Despite the backlash, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman has refused to reverse course, and Reddit has threatened to take action against moderators who are uncooperative.

Apollo launched in 2017 and has been downloaded over two million times, according to Selig, who previously interned at Apple. The app closely adheres to Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and is highly regarded for its polished design.

Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

‌Safari Technology Preview‌ 173 adds functionality that is included in Safari 17, coming with macOS Sonoma. There are Feature Flags that replace the Experimental Features section of the Develop menu, and the Develop menu itself has been revamped. Responsive Design Mode has been updated to focus on the responsiveness of a page's design at any height or width.

Available features on macOS Sonoma include Profiles for separating browsing data like History and Favorites, web apps, and improved private browsing mode. Features for all operating systems include Live Text support for vertical text recognition in images and videos, HEIC support, and JPEG XL, a new image format with an improved compression algorithm for better image quality at smaller file sizes than JPEG.

The browser also includes updates for Web Inspector, CSS, Media Queries, Rendering, Editing, JavaScript, Popover, Images, Media, Web API, and SVG.

The current ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ release is compatible with machines running macOS Monterey 12.3 or later, macOS Ventura, and macOS Sonoma, the latest version of macOS that Apple is beta testing right now.

The ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple's aim with ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. ‌Safari Technology Preview‌ can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

The Photos app in iOS 17 can identify a wide range of symbols, including the laundry symbols that you see on clothing tags. As noted by MacStories' Federico Vittici, if you take a photo of a tag with laundry symbols, it is highlighted through the Visual Look Up feature, and can be tapped for a symbol translation.

The iPhone will provide an explanation for each symbol that is on the tag, with a tap on the explanation able to provide more information from the website that Apple is sourcing. Apple is getting information for laundry instructions from the Online Browsing Platform that is run by the International Organization for Standardization.

Visual Look Up appears to recognize all of the laundry symbols that we tested with, including washing machine temperatures, bleaching recommendations, dryer restrictions, ironing temperatures, and more. It should recognize almost any laundry tag, but note that the image does need to be fairly zoomed in for the ‌iPhone‌ to detect the symbols.

Visual Look Up is also able to detect car symbols on vehicle dashboards, so it looks like Apple has quietly added Visual Look Up support for many of the common symbols that you might come across in your day to day life.

Other features in the iOS 17 ‌Photos‌ app include pet recognition, one-tap crop, animated stickers made from Live Photos, recipe searches based on food pictures, and more. A full list of features in iOS 17 can be found in our dedicated iOS 17 roundup.

Apple today released the fourth beta of macOS Ventura 13.5 to its public beta testing group, allowing the general public to try out the software ahead of its official launch. The macOS Ventura 13.5 public beta comes a day after Apple provided the fourth beta to developers.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13.5 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.

There is no word as of yet on what's included in macOS Ventura 13.5, and no notable new features were found in the developer betas.

macOS 13.5 will be one of the last updates to the macOS Ventura operating system as Apple prepares for the fall launch of macOS Sonoma.

Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test out the software head of its official launch. The public betas come just a day after Apple provided the fourth betas to developers.

Those who have signed up their accounts for Apple's free beta testing program can enable the beta by opening up the Settings app, going to General, selecting Software Update, tapping on Beta Updates, and selecting the iOS 16 Public Beta option.

iOS 16.6 seems to be a relatively minor update, although Apple does appear to be laying the groundwork for the launch of the previously announced iMessage Contact Key Verification feature.

Development on iOS 16 is slowing down as Apple prepares for the September launch of iOS 17. Apple has also seeded a new beta of watchOS 9.6 to public beta testers.

Apple is planning to release new Beats Studio Pro wireless over-ear headphones on July 19, according to details shared by Myke Hurley on the Apple-related podcast "Connected" last week (via Reddit). Hurley said he obtained the details from an anonymous source who previously shared accurate details about the Beats Studio Buds+ earbuds.

Hurley's source claimed that the Studio Pro will be available in four colors, including Black, Navy, Sandstone, and Deep Brown, and leaked images from @aaronp613 show the headphones will have a very similar design as the Beats Studio3. The headphones are said to feature a USB-C port for charging instead of micro-USB, upgraded microphones, optimized sound profiles, a new carrying case, and support for Android features such as Fast Pair and Find My Device. The headphones will retain a 3.5mm headphone jack, the source added.

Like the Studio Buds+, it is likely that the Studio Pro will also feature improved active noise cancellation and longer battery life.

An early reseller listing indicates that the Studio Pro will retail for around €399 in Europe, which would be the same price as the Studio3. This suggests the headphones will likely cost around $349.95 in the U.S. at launch. The Studio3 are equipped with Apple's W1 chip, but it's unclear which chip the Studio Pro will use.

Evidence of the Studio Pro already emerged in macOS 13.4 code and in an FCC filing in recent weeks, but Beats has yet to officially announce them. The headphones would serve as a long-overdue update to the Studio3, released in 2017. More information should become available closer to the rumored July 19 launch date.

We're tracking a few new deals on Anker products on Amazon today, including solid discounts on Eufy-branded Bluetooth trackers, portable power stations, MagSafe-compatible charging solutions, and more. All of these deals can be found on Amazon this week, and many of them will require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the discounts at the checkout screen.

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.

A highlight of the sale is Anker's Docking Station + Monitor Stand, which includes 12 ports and support for wireless charging. It's priced at $212.49 during this sale, 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 $116.99, down from $139.99.

Eufy's SmartTrack line of Bluetooth trackers is also still on sale this week, with 1-Pack, 2-Pack, and 4-Pack options, as well as the SmartTrack Card for $19.99. Four of these accessories have on-page coupons you will need to clip in order to see the discounts at checkout. These trackers work with Apple's Find My app and are perfect for keeping track of luggage and other necessities while traveling.

Another notable discount is on the PowerHouse 757 Portable Power Station, which is available for $899.99, down from $1,399.00. This is $50 lower than the deal price we tracked last month, and a new best-ever price on this accessory. The Power Station features a 1229Wh capacity and 1500 wattage, with six AC outlets, four USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports.

Bluetooth Trackers

• SmartTrack Link (1-Pack) - $15.99, down from $19.99
• SmartTrack Card - $19.99 with on-page coupon, down from $29.99
• SmartTrack Link (2-Pack) - $29.99 with on-page coupon, down from $35.99
• SmartTrack Link (4-Pack) - $59.99 with on-page coupon, down from $69.99

Cables and Wall Chargers

• USB-C to USB-C Cable (6ft 2-Pack) - $10.99, down from $16.99
• 100W USB-C Charger - $28.79, down from $35.99
• 100W USB-C Power Adapter (2-Port) - $34.49, down from $45.99
• Nano 65W USB-C Charger (3-Port) - $39.09 with on-page coupon, down from $55.99
• Compact Power Strip - $79.99 with on-page coupon, down from $99.99

Portable Batteries

• MagGo Battery 5,000 mAh - $25.59, down from $31.99
• PowerCore 24,000 mAh with Smart Digital Display - $119.99 with on-page coupon, down from $159.99
• Power Bank 60,000 mAh with Retractable Light - $144.49 with on-page coupon, down from $169.99
• PowerHouse 757 Portable Power Station - $899.99 with on-page coupon, down from $1,399.99
• PowerHouse 767 Portable Power Station - $1,649.00 with on-page coupon, down from $2,199.00

Hubs and Charging Stations

• 7-in-1 USB-C Power Strip - $47.99 with on-page coupon, down from $65.99
• 11-in-1 USB-C Hub - $71.00, down from $99.99
• 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe Charging - $127.46 with on-page coupon, down from $149.95
• 3-in-1 MagSafe Station - $116.99, down from $139.99
• 12-in-1 Docking Station + Monitor Stand - $212.49, down from $249.99

Bluetooth Speakers

• Soundcore Motion Boom Plus - $144.99 with on-page coupon, down from $179.99

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Apple's subscription gaming service Apple Arcade is set to gain hit title Stardew Valley in July, Apple announced today. Stardew Valley+ will feature the same open-ended farming gameplay with more than 50 hours of content to get through, along with mobile-specific features like auto-save and various control options.

Most people have heard of Stardew Valley at this point, and it is available on the iPhone and iPad for $4.99, but the ‌Apple Arcade‌ version will be available to ‌Apple Arcade‌ subscribers at no additional cost.

Stardew Valley allows players to overhaul an abandoned, overgrown plot of land, turning it into a thriving farm complete with crops, animals, and more. Players will also be able to get to know the townspeople, solving villager quests and taking part in seasonal festivals.

There are caves to explore to fight monsters and gain treasure, and goods collected from crops and animals can be turned into artisan products that sell for more money. Other features include dating events, fishing ponds, clothing and hats to unlock, pets, and more, with the ‌Apple Arcade‌ version including all content from recent updates. Stardew Valley is set to launch on July 21.

Also coming to ‌Apple Arcade‌ in July is a new Hello Kitty simulation game called Hello Kitty Island Adventure (July 28), plus classics like Slay the Spire+ (July 7), LEGO DUPLO WORLD+ (July 7), and Ridiculous Fishing EX (July 14).

‌Apple Arcade‌ is priced at $4.99 per month, with family members able to share a subscription. The service has more than 100 games, and new content is added on a regular basis.

Astropad, known for its Astropad Studio software and Luna Display dongle for connecting an iPad to a Mac, today announced the general availability of its new Darkboard drawing surface designed to be used with the ‌iPad‌.

Darkboard is aimed at offering an ergonomic way to sketch and draw no matter where you are. The Darkboard is made from a rigid foam material that weighs in at 1.4 pounds, with the foam design providing cushioning and support for the arm and wrist.

According to Astropad, the Darkboard is ideal for using on the couch, in bed, and other situations where ideal ergonomics are unavailable. When you do have a flat surface to work on, there is a foldable stand that works as an easel or in a full vertical orientation.

A polycarbonate frame holds the ‌iPad‌ in place at any angle, so the Darkboard can be used in multiple orientations. There is 1mm of space between the ‌iPad‌'s display and the edge of the foam body to keep the ‌iPad‌ safe in case the Darkboard is dropped.

Astropad included a cutout for the camera, charging port access, and a pocket to hold the Apple Pencil. The Darkboard is 18 inches long, 14 inches wide, and an inch thick, and for transportation, there are grooved handles.

There are two available sizes, one that fits the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro or newer and one that fits the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and iPad Air models.

Darkboard launched on Kickstarter in September 2022 and orders started arriving to customers in March, but it is now available for general purchase. Darkboard can be purchased from the Astropad website for $120.

Apple stopped offering interest-free financing for new iPhone, iPad, and Mac purchases in Canada as of earlier this month, as noted on Reddit. Going forward, APRs range from 4.99% to 7.99% to finance these products over 12 or 24 monthly payments.

For example, Apple says a customer who purchases an iPhone for $1,099 would have a monthly payment of $49.70 for 24 months. The customer would pay a total of $1,192.79 over this term, including $93.79 in interest charges.

The current financing offers available:

• iPhone: 7.99% for 24 months
• iPad: 4.99% for 12 months
• Mac: 4.99% for 12 months

The change comes after Apple's financing partner PayBright was acquired by Affirm in 2021. Apple's website says financing is now provided by Affirm.

Many of Apple's financing options in the U.S. are not available in Canada, including Apple Card Monthly Installments, Apple Pay Later, and the iPhone Upgrade Program, leaving customers in the country with few options beyond Affirm.

Insta360, known for its range of 360-degree cameras that connect to smartphones, today announced the launch of the Insta360 GO 3. The Insta360 GO 3 is the latest version of Insta360's small, portable action camera.

Insta360's GO 3 captures 2.7K video, which the company says is ideal for sharing on social media. The camera can be paired with an Action Pod hub that serves as a housing, remote control, and charger for the camera. The Pod offers up to 170 minutes of recording time, and there is a 2.2-inch flip touchscreen that offers real-time remote control and live preview for tough angles.

The Action Pod features an IPX4 water resistance rating, while the GO 3 has an IPX8 water resistant rating that works in water up to 16 feet deep. There are dual microphones for clearer audio than prior versions, and the camera can be controlled with voice commands.

FlowState Stabilization and 360 Horizon Lock have been built-in, and Insta360 says that these features ensure smooth footage and no unwanted tilting or distortion when action shots are being filmed.

The Insta360 GO 3 is available starting at $380 for 32GB of storage, and it can be purchased from the Insta360 website.