Apple this week updated the Apple Maps app in Paris in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics, which are set to begin on Friday, July 26. All permanent venues, such as the Parc de Princes and Centre Aquatique Olympique, are displayed as custom, hand-built 3D landmarks.
Iconic sites like Gare de l'Est, Pont d'Iéna, and Place de la Madeleine are also rendered with more detail, and for the first time, the Maps app is displaying pop up locations that include temporary venues, souvenir shops, and public gathering sites. support for pop up locations will help attendees find important places for the summer games.
All game locations and ceremony sites have special icons to help visitors find where they need to be, and Apple says that Maps displays all of the latest updates on road closures and advisories due to the games to help users navigate the city. There are curated Maps Guides for restaurants, hotels, and shopping, with dozens of new Guides from Le Bonbon, Le Fooding, Radio France, Madame Figaro, and My Little Paris.
Along with the Maps updates, Apple plans to feature stories spotlighting popular events like gymnastics and swimming in the App Store, and it recommends that people download the official Paris 2024 Olympics app to follow along. Sports-themed mobile games and health and fitness apps will be highlighted as well.
Full coverage of Olympic events will be available through the Peacock and NBC Sports apps, which can be downloaded from the App Store. A daily Olympic recap will be available on Peacock for fans in the U.S., offering customized playlists of highlights from relevant events from the prior day.
There is a dedicated NBC Olympics Hub in the Apple TV app for quick access to NBC coverage.
Apple Podcasts will feature shows and episodes celebrating sports and the power of gathering together in Paris, while Apple Newswill have curated coverage of the events and the stars of the games along with a schedule of events. Apple Music also plans to publish a Guide to French Music, which is an in-depth editorial feature of all the musical genres in France. It will go live later this week.
The Summer Olympics will begin next Friday with an Opening Ceremony that begins at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time or 7:30 p.m. Paris time. Soccer games will begin on July 24, with badminton, handball, rowing, volleyball, fencing, field hockey, shooting, diving, and gymnastics set to begin on July 27. Events will continue until August 11.
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we revisit the experience of using Apple Vision Pro and talk through our first impressions of the iOS 18 public beta.
Apple's Vision Pro headset is now available in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore, prompting renewed interest in the spatial computing device. We discuss our thoughts on the best aspects of the Vision Pro, such as immersive video, spatial photos and video, gestures, and UI design, as well as its shortcomings, such as weight and comfort, video passthrough in dark environments, limited content, and general usefulness.
Earlier this week, Apple released the first public beta of iOS 18, bringing the new software to the general public for the first time since the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Apple has seeded three developer betas so far, and the first public beta includes the same content that's in the third developer beta. We talk over our thoughts on iOS 18's new Home Screen and Control Center customization features, the redesigned Photos app, and more.
Let us know what you think about the experience of using the Vision Pro headset and the iOS 18 beta in the comments. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:
The MacRumors Show is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
Amazon Prime Day took place earlier this week, and it introduced huge discounts on a wide variety of Apple products, including AirPods Max, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro. Even though Prime Day has ended, we're still tracking quite a few of these record low prices as we head into the weekend, so if you missed out be sure to check out the deals below before they're gone for good.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
As is usual during big discount events, some of the best deals this week could be found on Apple's AirPods, and most of them are still available right now on Amazon. You'll find the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max at all-time low prices today on Amazon, and the AirPods 2 at a solid second-best price.
Amazon has the Apple Pencil Pro for $109.99, down from the regular price of $129.00. This is a new record low price for the accessory, beating the previous sale price by $10. The Apple Pencil 2 is also at an all-time low price of $79.00 right now on Amazon.
Best Buy's and Amazon's deals include all-time low prices on the 14-inch and 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro, and the best discounts will be found on the larger screen computers. The 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro is currently discounted by $500 for all customers on Best Buy, but if you have a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership, you can add up to an extra $200 off select models.
Amazon and Best Buy are taking $200 off the previous generation M2 MacBook Air this week, starting at $799.00 for 256GB and rising to $999.00 for 512GB. Both of these are all-time low prices for the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air.
M4 iPad Pro
What's the deal? Take up to $385 off the new M4 iPad Pro
Amazon this week had all-time low prices on a few models of the 11-inch and 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, and most are still available. Prices start at $919.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi model, and also include multiple cellular tablets. Our original post has the full list of tablets on sale.
Amazon is taking $50 off the Wi-Fi models of the 2022 iPad, starting at $299.00 for 64GB Wi-Fi. You'll also find both cellular devices on sale this weekend.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple will adopt the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16, claims a new rumor coming out of China.
According to the Weibo-based leaker "Fixed Focus Digital," the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is "exactly the same" as the standard model in Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to be released in September. The iPhone SE 4, meanwhile, is expected to arrive in the spring.
The latest claim casts doubt on a previous rumor suggesting Apple would use a modified iPhone 14 chassis as the basis for a fourth-generation iPhone SE. In November 2023, MacRumors learned from a source close to Apple's manufacturing process that the dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 "perfectly matched" those of the base model iPhone 14 in its current stage.
While it's still unclear what may have led to the change, it's possible that Apple chose to adopt its newer rear chassis process for the more affordable SE model to achieve economy of scale at the point of production as the manufacture of iPhone 14 models winds down towards retirement.
However, it could also indicate a change to the camera system on the fourth-generation iPhone SE. Unlike the iPhone 14, the iPhone SE 4 was previously rumored to include a single 48-megapixel rear camera with a custom backplate for the device to account for the design change.
In contrast, for the iPhone 16 models, Apple is planning a new vertical camera lens arrangement that is a departure from the diagonal lens setup found on iPhone 15 models. The new orientation will presumably allow the standard iPhone 16 models to capture Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset. Adopting the same backplate for the iPhone SE 4 would seem to suggest it will feature the same dual camera setup, although we haven't heard any rumors specifically claiming that this is in Apple's plans.
Apple is said to be targeting a sub-$500 starting price for its fourth-generation iPhone SE model, despite a raft of rumored upgrades coming to the more affordable device. Touch ID and the Home button will be replaced by Face ID and a display notch, while the display size will increase from 4.7 inches to 6.1 inches. Other features expected for the next iPhone SE include a USB-C port and an Action button.
The third-generation iPhone SE was released in March 2022, so there is likely pent-up demand for a new model that includes some of the latest features of Apple's flagship iPhone models. For everything else we know about the iPhone SE 4, be sure to check our dedicated roundup.
A widespread system failure is currently affecting numerous Windows devices globally, causing critical boot failures across various industries, including banks, rail networks, airlines, retailers, broadcasters, healthcare, and many more sectors. The issue, manifesting as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), is preventing computers from starting up properly and forcing them into continuous recovery cycles.
The cause of the failure has been identified as an update to CrowdStrike Falcon antivirus software installed on Windows 10 PCs, but Mac and Linux machines running the same cybersecurity software have been spared. CrowdStrike, which specializes in endpoint security protection for corporate networks, has just released the following statement:
"CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts.
"Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack.
"The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed.
"We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website.
"We further recommend organisations ensure they're communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels.
"Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers."
Unfortunately, the nature of the problem means that fixing it isn't as simple as installing a patch. The workaround to break the infinite boot cycle on affected Windows machines involves manually booting into safe mode, navigating to the CrowdStrike directory, and deleting the system file that caused the problem. As such, it could be a while before all services impacted by the content update are back up and running.
For those who have a Windows machine that has succumbed to the botched update (now rolled back), CrowdStrike has outlined the following steps system admins need to take to get back up and running:
Boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment.
Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory.
Locate the file matching 'C-00000291*.sys', and delete it.
Boot the host normally.
As expected, Apple's system status webpage shows no issues with its services, however there have been scattered reports of problems with contactless payments across some businesses, which could prevent Apple Pay transactions from being processed.
Smart home company Eve Systems today announced the launch of a new version of the Eve Weather that offers Matter support. With Matter, the new Eve Weather can be added to HomeKit or smart home setups from other companies.
Eve Weather is a small cube-shaped accessory that is designed to provide outdoor weather temperature, humidity, and the local 12-hour weather trend. A display at the front allows you to see temperature and humidity at a glance, but the data also syncs to the Eve app.
With HomeKit integration, Siri can be used to provide details on the outdoor weather conditions, and the data can be used to trigger HomeKit automations. Eve Weather offers IPX4 water resistance so it can be kept outdoors year-round and displayed anywhere.
Eve Weather can be purchased from the Eve website or from Amazon.com for $80. Eve is continuing to sell the HomeKit version of the device as well for those who do not have a Matter-enabled hub, which includes the HomePod and latest Apple TV.
Netflix has gained more than 8 million global paid subscribers since April, according to new subscriber information included in the company's second quarter earnings results [PDF]. With the jump in paid subscriptions, Netflix now has a total of 277.65 million paid subscribers around the world, marking 16.5 percent year-over-year growth.
Ad tier memberships increased 34 percent quarter-over-quarter, thanks to Netflix pushing its ad-supported tier. Netflix eliminated its cheapest ad-free "Basic" subscription tier last year, and earlier in July, the company began warning customers in the UK and Canada that they would need to move to a new plan.
In the United States, the Basic plan was priced at $9.99 per month, but the cheapest ad-free Netflix plan is now priced at $15.49 a month. Netflix had been allowing customers that were already on the Basic plan to continue using it, but that is being phased out. Ad tier memberships grew 34 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2024.
Netflix with ads is priced at $6.99 per month, and it includes between four and five minutes of ads per hour. Ads vary in length from 15 to 30 seconds and play before and during TV shows and movies. The company says that it will soon test an in-house ad tech platform in Canada, with plans to launch it broadly in 2025.
Netflix saw 17 percent growth in revenue year-over-year, and it is expecting overall 2024 growth to be at 14 to 15 percent. Netflix is expecting ad memberships to increase in 2025 and beyond, with ad revenue becoming a more meaningful contributor to its business.
Most iPhone-connected smart home products are more for convenience than fun, but Bird Buddy, a bird feeder that sends pictures to your iPhone, is definitely in the latter category. When I first came across the Bird Buddy, I thought it would be an interesting novelty product to give as a gift, but it turned out to be one of my all-time favorite smart devices.
Design and Components
Made from a sturdy plastic material, the Bird Buddy comes in either blue or yellow. The housing is designed around a camera, which is placed front and center to capture images of birds that come by to eat from the feeder. A tray holds the seed, and there's a small perch for birds to stand on to eat. There's a seed reservoir at the back to replenish what's in the tray as it's consumed, and a roof protects the seed from the elements.
There are two versions of the Bird Buddy, one with a solar roof for charging the camera and one with a standard plastic roof. If you have a semi-sunny spot for the Bird Buddy, I recommend the solar roof. I have my feeder in a spot that gets several hours of sun per day, and I've never had to take the camera out to charge it. A family member also has the solar model (that I gifted), and it is in a much shadier spot. With the shade cover, the Bird Buddy needs to be charged every month to every other month.
Both of these feeders see multiple visits per day, though the one located in the shade that needs charging more often has an almost constant stream of bird visitors. Without a solar roof, Bird Buddy says that the battery lasts for 5 to 15 days, so the solar roof does eliminate the hassle of frequent charging.
The Bird Buddy disassembles into its component pieces for charging and cleaning. You can remove the camera module and bring it into the house, but doing so requires taking the feeder down, opening up the back, and pulling the camera out. It charges with USB-C, and takes two to four hours to charge to full. With the solar roof, you connect the USB-C port on the Bird Buddy to the USB-C port on the solar charger, so you could do the same thing with a DIY setup, adding your own solar panel. Alternatively, you could use an extension cord and keep it plugged in all the time, though Bird Buddy only recommends this for protected areas like a balcony.
Setup wasn't difficult, but the lights on the Bird Buddy are super hard to see, so when you need a blinking red light to pair, it's hard to tell that it's blinking. I didn't have issues other than that, and with the solar version, it's a little tricky getting the camera plugged in. You need to connect the USB-C cable from the solar panel to the Bird Buddy camera, routing the cable through a small spot a the top of the feed bin. I was worried about this set up, but it's held up to heavy rain and the cabling has not gotten wet.
Along with the solar roof, camera module, and feeder housing, the Bird Buddy comes with a seed scoop for adding bird seed, a hanger, and a pole mount, so there are multiple options for mounting. I bought a pole from Wild Birds Unlimited that I read on the internet was compatible with the mount, but it was not, so I hung it up. If you want to mount the Bird Buddy on a pole, you will need a pole with a 0.97-inch inner diameter (a common size).
Size wise, the Bird Buddy is comparable to smaller bird feeders on the market, and it holds about four cups of seed in the reservoir and tray. In my experience, that's about a pound of bird seed. Adding and refilling seed can be done by opening up the back hatch and using the seed scoop to pour it in. I only need to refill around once every two weeks or so because I have other bird feeders, but that will vary based on how many visitors you're getting.
You need to make sure the Bird Buddy is in range of your Wi-Fi router because it does need a constant Wi-Fi connection and a 2.4GHz band.
Add-Ons
The size of the seed tray and the small size of the included perch will likely limit most visits to smaller birds like finches and sparrows, but Bird Buddy sells a perch extender for $24. I did go ahead and pick this up, and I like it because it gives the birds more space to perch.
There's also a 3-in-1 nutrition set for $29, but I wasn't a fan of it. It includes an add-on seed/water dish that you can use for seeds or jelly, or attach to an included water bottle. There's also a set of prongs where you can add an orange or another fruit if you want to attract orioles. You can only use one of these at a time, and while the tray itself was fine, the water bottle took up too much perch space and blocked the camera.
For $14, you can get a suet ball holder too, which can attract more types of birds. The suet ball also blocks the camera somewhat, so it's a bit of a tradeoff. If you want to mount the Bird Buddy to the wall, you'll need the $24 Wall Mount, which is not included with the base purchase.
If you have access to a 3D printer, I have seen several Bird Buddy STLs for add-on perches and seed holders, plus neat options like a fence to keep birds from perching and eating out of view.
There is no built-in protection from squirrels, raccoons, and other critters on the Bird Buddy, which is a downside. You either need to have a setup that puts the feeder out of range of these creatures or you need to accept them as visitors. The pole that I use has a baffle that blocks squirrels from climbing it, and it seems to be far enough away from nearby surfaces so the squirrels can't leap to the feeder. Bird Buddy does not sell poles or baffles at this time, though it looks like there's going to be a pole setup released later this year.
While Bird Buddy sells birdseed, any kind of bird food can go in the device. There are some limitations, like full-sized in-shell peanuts likely wouldn't fit because of the opening size, but any kind of bird seed or meal worm mix should work. I have not tried the Bird Buddy bird seed, as I've just bought seed locally from a nearby bird store.
Bird Visits
It took a good two weeks for birds to start visiting my Bird Buddy after I set it up, and there are placement considerations to take into account. Bird Buddy's website has instructions and tips on attracting birds. In addition to being positioned to keep squirrels and similar critters away, the Bird Buddy will be more successful near a water source like a bird bath and with trees and bushes that birds can hide in to escape predators.
I don't have the Bird Buddy in the most ideal location because I wanted it near a window where my cat can watch it, but it's still attracting birds, so there's some wiggle room. I have a cohort of house finches that dominate my bird feeders right now, but I have seen a goldfinch a few times and a wren. There are robins and a ton of other birds around, but the combination of nearness to my windows, a nearby resident hawk, and the finches are keeping them away.
A family member who has a Bird Buddy much further than the house near a forested area gets frequent cardinal, dove, and sparrow visits, plus we've seen bluebirds, nuthatches, chickadees, and towhees.
You could probably put it anywhere and have good luck on bird visits, though the most variety will come with offering the best conditions and food options.
Bird Buddy App
The Bird Buddy is just a bird feeder with a camera, and there are many on the market, but it's the app that elevates the experience and sets it apart. Bird Buddy is able to recognize the birds that are visiting your feeder, letting you know what kind of bird you're getting, so it becomes a fun game trying to attract new birds. I was thrilled when I recently had visits from a pair of goldfinches.
It's a lot of fun to get an alert about a new type of bird, and you can collect snapshots of your favorites so you can keep a log of the species that you've seen.
The Bird Buddy app is entirely free to download and use, and you can even use it to view Bird Buddy feeds if you don't have your own. I downloaded the app and used it to watch a family member's bird feeder well before I set up my own Bird Buddy.
Though you have the option to view a livestream of the Bird Buddy, it's mostly set up to take snapshots when birds visit and then send "postcards" to you various times throughout the day. Postcards include several photos and a video of the visit, and they are limited to the best images captured so that Bird Buddy doesn't send an excessive number of notifications. Multiple people can receive these postcards, as long as they're connected to the same bird feeder.
I get between two and four notifications a day, usually a couple visit notifications and then a wrap-up notification at the end of the day. Bird Buddy will also sometimes send notifications for a feeding frenzy so you can tune in and watch live. In the app, there are notification customization settings. Smart push notifications (the default) alert you to only the most "essential and intriguing updates" with an end-of-day recap, but there is an option to get all push notifications.
There are separate battery preserving options that change how many postcards you get, so at max, you'll see more recordings. You can also ignore mystery visitors (where a bird can't be identified), or ignore a certain type of bird if you see the same thing over and over again. Notifications can also be paused for a set period of time, so there's a lot of control over what the app is sending.
In addition to viewing your own Bird Buddy, you can be invited to receive postcards from other Bird Buddy owners, and you can invite people to see yours. You can invite three people to view your Bird Buddy feed in total. You can also choose to join popular bird feeders for a 72-hour period, where you receive postcards from that feeder. Pictures that you get from the Bird Buddy app can be saved to your smartphone, shared with other people, and shared on social media.
Bird Buddy has a "BB TV" feed where you can see videos from all around the world, swiping through them to swap to a new video, sort of like birdie TikTok. It's a fun way to see different birds, and to get a look at what kinds of birds might be in your own area that you can attract. You can save postcards, and tap into the Collection section of the app to see your images.
Viewing an image in the Collection provides information on that bird species, such as their favorite foods, where they're found, fun facts, personality traits, and lifespan. There are even recordings of their songs and calls.
The Bird Buddy app is free to download and use, and you do not need a subscription to connect a Bird Buddy, get postcards, and/or watch up to three feeds. Once you buy a Bird Buddy, there are no additional fees to pay to use it. The app does, however, include some "Pro" features that are available as an upgrade for those who are interested.
Pro lets you invite more people to your own feeder, view more remote feeders, ignore select bird species (possibly one of the most useful options), see higher-resolution video recordings, and get more postcards with frenzy mode. There are also new AI options that are still in the early stages of development. Bird Buddy can alert you to sick birds and hide their images, but since turning it on, it's been telling me every bird with a messy food beak is ill, which is inaccurate. I ultimately had to turn it off.
There's also a feature for "naming" frequent visitors, which I've been testing. I've named several of the house finches that come by, but Bird Buddy can't really tell them apart, which is not surprising because I'm not sure I can either. It will send a notification asking if a bird is a certain one that you've named, but it's up to you to confirm by comparing photographs. I have three female finches that I've named, but it only ever asks about one, so it's not a feature I've found particularly useful. You can get alerts about non-bird spottings like squirrels and lizards with Pro, and connect to Amazon Alexa devices to see images and hear bird sounds to bring the outdoors inside.
Other standard app features include notifications for cleaning and charging, assembly and maintenance documents, and Bird Buddy support.
Note that you need the Bird Buddy app to use the feeder and view the feed. It is not available for viewing on the web, and there is no Mac/PC version of the app.
Bottom Line
The Bird Buddy is a lot of fun. I initially got one as a gift for someone who is hard to shop for, and it turned out to be a hit. We have regular conversations about bird visits, bird food, and thwarting squirrels. I'd definitely recommend it for that kind of situation, and any nature lover or gardener would likely be thrilled with it.
I enjoy my daily postcard recap and checking out the birds that have visited over the course of the day, even when it's a bird I've seen dozens of times (aka house finches). There are bird squabbles, messy eating videos, acrobatics, and other activity to get into. I've found myself searching for the optimal bird food, adding additional bird feeders, and researching birds nearby, so it can get a little involved.
On the downside, the Bird Buddy is expensive (definitely wait for a sale), and there are no size options if you want to attract bigger birds or use other kinds of feeders with the camera. The subscription features are a little hit or miss, and some of the new AI additions are very much in the early stages of development.
There are a lot of bundle options, but I'd recommended the solar roof model and the add-on extended perch over the other add-ons.
How to Buy
The Bird Buddy can be purchased from the Bird Buddy website or from Amazon. It is priced at $239 for the standard model and $299 for the model with a solar roof, though there are often sales.
Note: Bird Buddy provided MacRumors with a Smart Bird Feeder with Solar Roof for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Apple today announced the upcoming debut of multiple new immersive video experiences designed for the Vision Pro headset, which are available starting this week.
"Boundless," which premieres tonight at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, features "once-in-a-lifetime trips," starting with a hot air balloon ride episode. Viewers will be able to see the landscape of Cappadocia, Türkiye. A second episode, "Arctic Surfing," will come out this fall.
In August, the Apple Vision Pro will get a new installment of "Wild Life," a nature documentary series that brings viewers up close to "some of the most charismatic creatures on the planet." The new episode will feature Kenya's Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, where keepers look after orphaned elephants. An episode later in the year will feature a group of divers in the Bahamas.
In September, Apple will debut the first episode of "Elevated," an aerial travel series that "whisks viewers around iconic vistas from staggering heights" that include volcanoes, waterfalls, and more in Hawaii. A second episode will feature an autumn scene in New England.
Later in 2024, Apple also plans to introduce a new immersive performance from The Weeknd, as well as a scripted Apple Immersive short film called "Submerged." The short film is set during World War II, featuring sailors struggling to survive a deadly torpedo attack. There will also be a behind-the-scenes view of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and a new sports series called Big-Wave Surfing.
"Apple Immersive Video is a groundbreaking leap forward for storytelling, offering Apple Vision Pro users remarkable experiences with an unparalleled sense of realism and immersion," said Tor Myhren, Apple's vice president of Marketing Communications. "From soaring over volcanoes in Hawaii and surfing huge waves in Tahiti, to enjoying performances by the world's biggest artists and athletes from all-new perspectives, Apple Immersive Video revolutionizes the way people experience places, stories, sports, and more by making viewers feel like they're truly there. It's the next generation of visual storytelling, and we're excited to bring it to more people around the world."
The new Apple Immersive video content is available from the Apple TV app in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. Users in China can watch the content through the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.
Apple does not appear to have increased iPhone 16 orders despite reports to the contrary, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo cites recent earnings reports from Apple suppliers TSMC and Largan as evidence.
TSMC recently said that it did not see an increase in unit growth, while Largan said that orders for high-end models in 2024 are similar to last year. Kuo believes that Apple's iPhone 16 orders for the second half of 2024 are around 87 million units, which is lower than the 91 million iPhone 15 units that Apple ordered in 2023.
Kuo said that certain suppliers may have been asked to increase production, but that may be related to "specific reasons within individual industries or components."
He suggests that expectations that Apple Intelligence will drive iPhone 16 sales "may be too optimistic" as the feature is available in U.S. English only.
The launch of Apple Intelligence is generally considered to be the reason for the increase in iPhone 16 orders. However, Apple Intelligence will only be available in Beta for US users in 2H24, and Apple Intelligence Siri only supports English. Regardless of whether Apple Intelligence alone can drive replacement demand (which is another big topic), the expectation that consumers will buy the new iPhone 16 for the Beta version of Apple Intelligence in 2H24 may be too optimistic.
Earlier this month, Bloomberg suggested that Apple was counting on the iOS 18 AI features to boost iPhone shipments by 10 percent in 2024. Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or later, so customers with an older iPhone will need to upgrade to the iPhone 16 to get the technology.
Apple Intelligence includes a long list of new capabilities, including Writing Tools for proofreading, polishing, and summarizing text, Image Playground for generating images, and Genmoji for creating custom emoji. Apple Intelligence will also be used to overhaul Siri, but the new Siri functionality isn't slated to launch until 2025.
So far, Apple has not established an AI deal for Chinese consumers, and Apple Intelligence will also not be coming to the European Union when iOS 18 launches.
Now that Amazon Prime Day has ended, many of the week's best deals have expired. However, today we are still tracking a few Apple products that remain at their best-ever prices even after the end of Prime Day, including iPads, MacBooks, AirTags, and a few Jackery accessories.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirTag
The year's best prices on AirTag remain available on Amazon today, starting at $23.99 for the 1 Pack and increasing to $74.98 for the 4 Pack.
Amazon still has lowest prices ever on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch SE, starting at just $169.99 for the 40mm GPS SE, down from $249.00. The cheapest Series 9 model is the 41mm GPS model at $279.99, down from $399.00.
The cheapest model is the 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad Air for $549.99, down from $599.00. You'll also find deals on the 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models below, all of which are in stock on Amazon with delivery dates as soon as this weekend for Prime members.
Apple's iPad mini 6 hit $119 off this week, a match for its all-time low price on both the 64GB Wi-Fi and 256GB Wi-Fi options, and both are still on sale today. You'll also find the cellular models at a discount right now on Amazon.
Best Buy and Amazon today have Apple's 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air for $799.00, down from $999.00. You'll find all four colors on sale at this price, including Midnight, Silver, Space Gray, and Starlight.
Amazon has $299 off the Apple Studio Display, available for $1,299.99 for the standard glass option. For this model, this is a match of the all-time low price. You'll need to clip an on-page coupon in order to see this discount.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
The Steve Jobs Archive today shared never-before-seen footage of 28-year-old Steve Jobs speaking at the 1983 International Design Conference in Aspen, Colorado. His speech was focused on the future of computers and how they would change daily life.
The Steve Jobs Archive was launched in 2022 by Laurene Powell Jobs, Tim Cook, and Jony Ive. The website features a collection of quotes, photos, videos, and emails from Jobs, and offers fellowships to young creators looking to follow in his footsteps.
The new page features an introduction from Ive, who led design at Apple for over two decades and was a close friend of Jobs:
Steve rarely attended design conferences. This was 1983, before the launch of the Mac, and still relatively early days of Apple. I find it breathtaking how profound his understanding was of the dramatic changes that were about to happen as the computer became broadly accessible. Of course, beyond just being prophetic, he was fundamental in defining products that would change our culture and our lives forever.
On the eve of launching the first truly personal computer, Steve is not solely preoccupied with the founding technology and functionality of the product’s design. This is extraordinarily unusual, as in the early stages of dramatic innovation, it is normally the primary technology that benefits from all of the attention and focus.
Steve points out that the design effort in the U.S. at the time had been focused on the automobile, with little consideration or effort given to consumer electronics. While it is not unusual to hear leaders talk about the national responsibility to manufacture, I thought it was interesting that he talked about a nation’s responsibility to design.
In the talk, Steve predicts that by 1986 sales of the PC would exceed sales of cars, and that in the following ten years, people would be spending more time with a PC than in a car. These were absurd claims for the early 1980s. Describing what he sees as the inevitability that this would be a pervasive new category, he asks the designers in the audience for help. He asks that they start to think about the design of these products, because designed well or designed poorly, they still would be made.
Steve remains one of the best educators I’ve ever met in my life. He had that ability to explain incredibly abstract, complex technologies in terms that were accessible, tangible and relevant. You hear him describe the computer as doing nothing more than completing fairly mundane tasks, but doing so very quickly. He gives the example of running out to grab a bunch of flowers and returning by the time you could snap your fingers – speed rendering the task magical.
When I look back on our work, what I remember most fondly are not the products but the process. Part of Steve’s brilliance was how he learned to support the creative process, encouraging and developing ideas even in large groups of people. He treated the process of creating with a rare and wonderful reverence.
The revolution Steve described over 40 years ago did of course happen, partly because of his profound commitment to a kind of civic responsibility. He cared, way beyond any sort of functional imperative. His was a victory for beauty, for purity and, as he would say, for giving a damn. He truly believed that by making something useful, empowering and beautiful, we express our love for humanity.
Head to "The Objects of Our Life" page to learn more about the speech that Jobs gave, and to view some related photos and exhibits from that time.
The full video of Jobs speaking can be found towards the bottom of the page.
Apple is in active talks to license more films from major Hollywood studios as it seeks to bolster Apple TV+, according to Bloomberg.
Apple has traditionally focused on original productions for its streaming platform, but it is increasingly looking to expand its offerings by acquiring programming from the extensive libraries of established studios, sources familiar with the matter claim. While Apple TV+ has seen some success with original series such as "Ted Lasso" and "The Morning Show," these hits have been relatively few and far between, and the service has struggled to match the extensive catalogs of competitors like Netflix and Disney+.
Apple TV+ launched in November 2019, positioning itself as a premium service with a slate of high-quality, original content. Despite receiving critical acclaim and numerous awards, including 72 Emmy nominations this year, Apple TV+ has not garnered the same subscriber base as its competitors. According to the research firm MoffettNathanson, only 11% of U.S. households use Apple TV+, compared to 55% for Netflix. The limited scope of content available on Apple TV+ is apparently seen as a significant factor contributing to its slower growth. Data from Antenna indicates that streaming services with larger content libraries, like Netflix, experience lower cancellation rates.
In an effort to address this, Apple has already begun experimenting with licensing. Earlier this year, the company licensed approximately 50 movies from Hollywood studios for its service in the United States, adding popular titles such as "Mean Girls" and "Titanic" to its catalog. The positive reception to this initial batch of licensed films is said to have encouraged Apple to pursue additional deals. These discussions aim to license even more titles, potentially expanding the service's offerings internationally as well as domestically. Simultaneously, major studios such as Warner Bros., Discovery, and Disney are increasingly open to selling their content to rivals to boost revenue.
Even though Prime Day has ended, there are a few AirPods models that are still seeing record low prices today on Amazon. We don't know how long these deals will last at this point, so if you're interested be sure to lock in these steep discounts on the AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Max as soon as possible.
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 AirPods 3 with the Lightning Charging Case for $119.99, down from $169.00, which is a new record low price introduced for Prime Day and beats the previous low price by about $10. The AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C is on sale for $168.99, down from $249.00, and is another new all-time low Prime Day price that has stuck around after the event ended.
Finally, Amazon has the AirPods Max for $394.99, down from $549.00. This is the overall steepest AirPods-related discount still available on Amazon, and it beats the previous low price from before Prime Day by about $55. Every color is available at this low price as well, including Green, Silver, Pink, Sky Blue, and Space Gray.
If you're on the hunt for more Prime Day discounts, be sure to visit our big Prime Day post where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the event.
Dyson today introduced its second pair of headphones, the OnTrac, focusing on customization and premium features to directly compete with the likes of Apple and Bose.
The new headphones represent a significant shift from Dyson's previous attempt, the Dyson Zone, which combined noise-canceling headphones with an air purifying mask. Priced at $499.99, the OnTrac headphones are designed with a modular approach that allows users to replace the ear cushions and outer caps, enabling over 2,000 potential color combinations.
One of the standout features of the OnTrac is its active noise cancellation (ANC). Dyson employs an eight-microphone system that samples external noise 384,000 times per second, aiming to provide what it claims is best-in-class noise cancellation. This system is comparable to Apple's AirPods Max, which also uses multiple microphones for ANC, although the exact sampling rate of the AirPods Max is not known. The OnTrac's ANC is designed to block up to 40 decibels of noise, enhancing the listening experience in noisy environments.
In terms of battery life, the OnTrac headphones offer 55 hours of continuous listening on a single charge with ANC enabled. This surpasses the AirPods Max, which provides up to 20 hours of battery life with ANC and spatial audio enabled. Dyson achieves this extended battery life by housing two high-capacity lithium-ion cells in the headband, which also helps distribute weight evenly for comfort. Charging is facilitated via a USB-C port, and a 10-minute quick charge can provide up to 2.5 hours of playback.
The OnTrac headphones are equipped with 40mm drivers that reproduce frequencies from as low as 6Hz to as high as 21kHz. This wide frequency range aims to deliver deep bass and clear highs, with the drivers angled towards the ears for more direct audio delivery. In comparison, the AirPods Max feature custom-built 40mm dynamic drivers and support a frequency range from 20Hz to 20kHz. While both sets of headphones aim to provide high-fidelity sound, the OnTrac's extended frequency range may offer more detailed audio, particularly in the low-end frequencies.
The OnTrac headphones also feature a unique control system, including a joystick for playback control and touch-sensitive ear cups for toggling ANC. The MyDyson app allows users to monitor noise exposure levels and customize the EQ settings with presets like Bass Boost, Enhanced, and Natural.
The OnTrac includes replaceable ear cushions and outer caps, available in various colors and finishes, allowing users to deeply customize the look of their headphones. The headphones come in four main colorways at launch: CNC Aluminum with bright yellow ear cushions, CNC Copper with purple headband and copper ear cups, Ceramic Cinnabar with a light red headband and matte ear cups, and CNC Black Nickel with an all-black design.
The OnTrac headphones will be available from Dyson's website starting on August 1, with additional customization options sold separately.
Apple TV+ has earned a record 72 Emmy nominations across 16 Apple Originals, including its first-ever nominations Outstanding Limited Series for "Lessons in Chemistry," Outstanding Drama Series for "The Morning Show" and "Slow Horses," and Outstanding Comedy Series for "Palm Royale."
You can read the full list of Emmy nominations on the Television Academy's website. We've gathered all of Apple's nominations in the list below.
The Morning Show (16)
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Jennifer Aniston
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Reese Witherspoon
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Nicole Beharie
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Greta Lee
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Karen Pittman
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Holland Taylor
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Billy Crudup
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jon Hamm
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Mark Duplass
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Marcia Gay Harden
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Mimi Leder
Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Contemporary Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling
Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
Palm Royale (11)
Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Kristen Wiig
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Carol Burnett
Outstanding Period Costumes for a Series
Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming
Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Period or Fantasy Program (One Hour or More)
Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling
Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Outstanding Main Title Design
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Lessons in Chemistry (10)
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Brie Larson
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Aja Naomi King
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Lewis Pullman
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: Millicent Shelton
Outstanding Period Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Outstanding Main Title Design
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Slow Horses (9)
Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Gary Oldman
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Jack Lowden
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: Jonathan Pryce
Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series: Saul Metzstein
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Loot (1)
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Maya Rudolph
Hijack (1)
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Idris Elba
The New Look (1)
Outstanding Period Costumes for a Series
Masters of the Air (3)
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie, or Special
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Physical (2)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour)
Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming
Silo (2)
Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score)
Outstanding Main Title Design
Girls State (3)
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program: Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss
Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program
Sugar (1)
Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour)
Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas (2)
Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special
Outstanding Technical Direction and Camerawork for a Special
The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy (2)
Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special
Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program
STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces (5)
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program: Morgan Neville
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Nonfiction or Reality Program
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Nonfiction Program
Carpool Karaoke: The Series (1)
Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Drama, or Variety Series
Nominees for Outstanding Commercial (2)
"Album Cover" — Apple iPhone 15
"Fuzzy Feelings" — iPhone + Mac
Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 499 wins and 2,262 award nominations so far, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy "Ted Lasso" and Oscar Best Picture winner "CODA." The final winners of the 76nd Emmy Awards will be revealed on Sunday, September 15, on ABC.
The Apple Pencil Pro has dropped to a new record low price today on Amazon, and we're also tracking a big collection of discounts on the M4 iPad Pro.
Apple Pencil Pro
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.
Amazon today has the Apple Pencil Pro for $109.99, down from the regular price of $129.00. This is a new record low price for the accessory, beating the previous sale price by $10. The Apple Pencil 2 is also at an all-time low price of $79.00 right now on Amazon.
The Apple Pencil Pro launched in May alongside the new 2024 iPad lineup, introducing new gestures and capabilities into the stylus. The Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the M4 iPad Pro and the M2 iPad Air, and marks the first update to the Apple Pencil since the Apple Pencil 2 in 2018.
M4 iPad Pro
11-Inch
Moving to the iPads, Amazon has all-time low prices on a few models of the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro. Prices start at $919.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi model, and also include multiple cellular tablets.
Prices for the larger models start at $1,199.00 for the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet. Overall, nearly every 13-inch M4 iPad Pro is on sale right now on Amazon, all at all-time low prices.
Apple today shared a humorous new video on its YouTube channel that dramatizes many of the uses of Apple devices, including its Apple Vision Pro spatial computing device.
Titled "OOO (Out of Office)," the 10-minute video follows design team "The Underdogs" as they travel to Thailand in a last-ditch attempt fulfill a client's wishes. In order to do so, they must find a new packaging factory, solve last-minute design changes, create prototypes, break down language barriers, and more.
Apple has shared longer ads in the past featuring "The Underdogs" design team racing against time to fulfill the needs of a client, but this is the first one to feature one of the characters using an Apple Vision Pro headset to multi-task across several open windows in virtual space.
The short comes after similar "Apple at Work" videos that Apple published in 2019, 2020, and 2023 using the same actors. Other highlighted products, apps, and features in the video include Live Voicemail, Translate, AirDrop, NameDrop, Apple Wallet, Standby Mode, Animoji, FaceTime, Ringtones, AR, Object Capture, Mac Virtual Display, and more.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
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.
