Eve today announced the launch of a second-generation Eve Flare light, which comes equipped with Thread support. Eve Flare is a portable, battery-powered lamp that can be used anywhere in the home or garden.
The light features an IP65 water resistance rating and it includes a carrying handle so that it can be moved indoors and outdoors, and hung up if desired. The Eve Flare supports millions of colors and can be controlled through the Eve app, the Home app, or with Siri voice commands.
Eve Flare is designed for ambiance rather than for use as a main lamp, and it comes with several pre-selected colors like scarlet and jade, or you can pick your own colors. Color and brightness can be adjusted with voice commands or the app. The next-generation Eve Flare replaces the original model.
Along with the Eve Flare, Eve is today introducing the Eve Shutter Switch, which offers an Adaptive Shading function for use with roller shutters. The Eve Shutter Switch can change the position of the shutter based on where the sun is. The Eve Shutter Switch is limited to select regions in Europe.
Both the new Eve Flare and the Eve Shutter Switch feature support for Thread, a mesh smart home network system that improves the connectivity and responsiveness of connected products. Eve Shutter Switch and Eve Flare will also receive free Matter firmware updates in the future and will eventually support the Matter smart home standard.
Eve Flare can be purchased from the Eve Home website or from Amazon for $100, while Eve Shutter Switch is available in some European countries for 100 euros.
Photomator 3.0 today got its official release on macOS, bringing Pixelmator's iPhone and iPad photo-editing app to MacBooks and Mac desktops for the first time.
With an interface that will be familiar to users of Photomator on iOS and iPadOS, the Mac app includes a fully fledged photo browser with native Photos app integration, allowing users to organize, duplicate, share, and favorite images, as well as sync edits between Photomator and the Photos Library.
The app includes nondestructive tools to crop images, adjust colors, or repair and clone objects in photos, and users can edit specific parts of photos and make automatic subject, sky, and background selections.
According to the developers, machine learning algorithms enable users to increase the resolution of photos without noticeable reductions in detail or sharpness, match the colors of two photos, and remove camera noise. Photomator for Mac also supports batch-editing workflows and includes a Workflows browser, allowing users to crop images, adjust colors, and automatically apply edits to other images.
The app includes support for over 600 RAW image formats, and features built-in integration with Pixelmator Pro, which supports many Photomator edits, including selection masks and perspective corrections.
Apple Silicon should also bring a boost to Photomator workflows. Built for macOS using SwiftUI, the app runs on Mac mini models with M2 Max and M2 Pro chips more than 20 times faster compared to the most recent Intel-powered Macs, claim the developers.
Apple today previewed a wide range of new accessibility features for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac that are set to arrive later this year.
Apple says that the "new software features for cognitive, speech, and vision accessibility are coming later this year," which strongly suggests that they will be part of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14. The new operating systems are expected to be previewed at WWDC in early June before launching in the fall.
Assistive Access
Assistive Access distills iPhone and iPad apps and experiences to their core features. The mode includes a customized experience for Phone and FaceTime, which are combined into a single Calls app, as well as Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music. The feature offers a simplified interface with high contrast buttons and large text labels, as well as tools to help tailor the experience. For example, users can choose between a more visual, grid-based layout for their Home Screen and apps, or a row-based layout for users who prefer text.
Live Speech and Personal Voice Advance Speech Accessibility
Live Speech on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac allows users to type what they want to say and have it spoken out loud during phone and FaceTime calls, as well as in-person conversations. Users can also save commonly used phrases to chime into conversations quickly.
Users at risk of losing their ability to speak, such as those with a recent diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can use Personal Voice to create a digital voice that sounds like them. Users simply need to read along with a randomized set of text prompts to record 15 minutes of audio on an iPhone or iPad. The feature uses on-device machine learning to keep users' information secure and private, and integrates with Live Speech so users can speak with their Personal Voice.
Detection Mode in Magnifier and Point and Speak
In the Magnifier app, Point and Speak helps users interact with physical objects that have several text labels. For example, while using a household appliance, Point and Speak combines input from the Camera app, the LiDAR Scanner, and on-device machine learning to announce the text on buttons as users move their finger across the keypad.
Point and Speak is built into the Magnifier app on iPhone and iPad, works with VoiceOver, and can be used with other Magnifier features such as People Detection, Door Detection, and Image Descriptions to help users navigate their physical environment more effectively.
Other Features
Deaf or hard-of-hearing users can pair Made for iPhone hearing devices directly to a Mac with specific customization options.
Voice Control gains phonetic suggestions for text editing so users who type with their voice can choose the right word out of several that might sound similar, like "do," "due," and "dew."
Voice Control Guide helps users learn tips and tricks about using voice commands as an alternative to touch and typing.
Switch Control can now be activated to turn any switch into a virtual video game controller.
Text Size is now easier to adjust across Mac apps including Finder, Messages, Mail, Calendar, and Notes.
Users who are sensitive to rapid animations can automatically pause images with moving elements, such as GIFs, in Messages and Safari.
Users can customize the speed at which Siri speaks to them, with options ranging from 0.8x to 2x.
Shortcuts gains a new "Remember This" action, helping users with cognitive disabilities create a visual diary in the Notes app.
Apple's second-generation AR/VR headset will be offered in high-end and low-end versions and shipments are expected to be around ten times those of the first generation model, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Multiple rumors have indicated that Apple's first AR/VR headset coming later this year will be priced somewhere around $3,000 and will be positioned as a device for developers, content creators, and professionals. Apple expects to sell just one headset per day per retail store, and the company has told suppliers that it expects sales of seven to 10 million units during the first year of availability.
The expensive price point is due to the high-end hardware that Apple is using, but the company reportedly wants to make a future version more affordable by using less pricey components such as lower-resolution lenses.
That could see Apple offer a two-tiered series of the second-generation device to appeal to a wider customer base, similar to the way it offers both standard and more premium Pro-branded iPhones each year.
The company's plans to release a cheaper version were first reported by The Information's Wayne Ma and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman earlier this year, but the assertion that it will be one of two second-generation models is a more specific claim attributed to Kuo.
According to one report, Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn is already developing a cheaper second-generation version of the headset, but it is still believed to be in the early stages. Gurman has said the second-generation headset could arrive in 2024 or 2025, whereas Kuo's sources suggest to him that a 2025 release is more likely.
The first generation model of Apple's mixed reality headset is expected to be announced during Apple's WWDC opening keynote on Monday, June 5.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new Chat Lock feature that allows users to secure select conversations in their inbox behind a passcode, fingerprint, or Face ID authentication, parent company Meta has announced.
In a post on its news page, Meta explained that locked conversations are removed from the regular chat list and hidden in a password-protected folder. Notification previews for any locked chats don't show sender or message content, while any media shared in locked chats won't be auto-saved to the phone's photo library, altogether keeping the conversations more private.
"We believe this feature will be great for people who share their phones from time to time with a family member, or in moments where someone else is holding your phone at the exact moment an extra-special chat arrives," said Meta.
To lock a one-to-one or group chat, tap the name at the top of the conversation to reveal the thread's settings menu, where there is a new Lock option. To later reveal locked chats, slowly pull down on WhatsApp's main conversations list, and you'll be prompted for authentication before the locked chats folder can be opened.
The feature is coming to the latest version of WhatsApp for iOS on the App Store, and is rolling out to all users on both iPhone and Android in the coming days.
Both of next year's iPhone 16 Pro models will feature a periscope lens, in contrast to this year's iPhone 15 series in which only the iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature the telephoto camera technology, according to the latest update from Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new memo posted on his Medium blog, Kuo suggested that the iPhone 16 Pro would be slightly bigger than previous Pro models, and that the "larger internal space" afforded by the new size was the reason why Apple would be able to bring the periscope lens to both premium devices for the first time.
Last week, oft-accurate display industry analyst Ross Young claimed that Apple will adopt new screen sizes for both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro is expected to have a display size of 6.3 inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a display size of 6.9 inches.
The current iPhone 14 Pro has a display size of 6.1 inches and the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a display size of 6.7 inches. This year's iPhone 15 models are all expected to retain the same dimensions as those in the iPhone 14 series, so the step change from the 2023 to 2024 Pro models would be an approximate increase of 0.2 inches for both devices.
Long before rumors appeared about the new Pro sizes coming in 2024, Kuo predicted that both iPhone 16 Pro models would get the periscope camera, based on Apple's strategy of setting apart models by reserving certain higher-end hardware features for the most premium models, and then expanding technology to additional models the next year.
Kuo believes that for both iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple partner Cowell will be the supplier of the periscope camera system, in which light entering the telephoto lens is reflected by an angled mirror towards the camera's image sensor. The change in direction in which the light travels allows for a longer "folded" telephoto setup inside phones, enabling users to zoom in further without any blurriness or other reduction in quality.
The system is expected to add a 5-6x optical zoom to the iPhone 15 Pro (the current iPhone 14 Pro supports up to 3x optical zoom). Kuo did not specify whether the zoom range would be improved for the 2024 Pro and Pro Max models or if it would remain the same as the one expected to exclusively feature in this year's iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple has registered a wordmark for "xrOS" in New Zealand, the first time the company has indirectly revealed both the name of the operating system for its upcoming headset and the official font and styling that accompanies it.
Spotted by Parker Ortolani, the xrOS wordmark registered with the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office shows that Apple will use its San Francisco typeface in xrOS marketing, just as it does for macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
"xrOS" is meant to stand for "extended reality." Extended reality represents both the augmented and virtual reality functions the headset will support. The name was already confirmed by internal Apple sources last year via Bloomberg, and Apple has also been trademarking xrOS in several countries through a hidden shell company.
Apple internally called the headset software "Reality OS" or "rOS" when it was in development, but with a launch approaching, it ultimately decided to update the public name to the less generic "xrOS" name.
xrOS will have an iOS-like interface that will feel immediately familiar to Apple users as it will resemble the look of the iPhone and iPad. There will be a Home screen with app icons that can be rearranged, as well as customizable widgets.
The headset will have new versions of existing apps like Maps and Messages, which have been redesigned for an AR/VR experience. Apple is also creating a software development kit so third-party apps can be created for the headset.
Apple is expected to unveil the headset to the public during its WWDC keynote event on Monday, June 5. For everything we know about the device, click the roundup link below.
Microsoft today announced it has completed its rollout of iPhone support for its Phone Link app on Windows 11, as spotted by The Verge.
With the Phone Link app for Windows 11 and the Link to Windows app for iOS, iPhone users can make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and view notifications directly on their PC. Notably, this means Windows 11 technically supports iMessage, although there are several limitations, including a lack of support for group chats, photos, videos, and conversation history beyond the current chat session.
All messages appear as gray bubbles in the Phone Link app, meaning iMessages and SMS text messages cannot be differentiated on a PC. In addition, messages are only delivered to a PC while the iPhone is connected via Bluetooth. Microsoft says the iPhone must be running iOS 14 or later, and this feature is not available for the iPad or Mac.
All in all, this is a rather clunky workaround to Apple's lack of true iMessage support on Windows, but it's better than nothing for iPhone users with a PC.
Apple's self-service repair program requires customers to enter a device's serial number when ordering parts for devices like iPhones and Macs, and any parts ordered need to be paired with the same device after installation. HOP said this policy gives Apple the potential to restrict repairs to approved technicians only, and limit the functionality of devices repaired with uncertified parts. The organization added that Apple's self-service repair program is bad for the environment given that Apple ships large and heavy tools to customers.
Do-it-yourself repair website iFixit also expressed disappointment about the serial number requirement when Apple's program launched last year.
"Integrating a serial number check into their checkout process is a dire omen and could allow Apple the power to block even more repairs in the future," said iFixit's Elizabeth Chamberlain. "Building the technology to provision individual repairs easily sets Apple up as the gateway to approve—or deny—any repairs in the future, with parts from any source."
The Paris Public Prosecutor's office is handling the investigation, and has yet to formally accuse Apple of any wrongdoing in relation to HOP's complaint. The organization previously filed a complaint about Apple throttling the maximum performance of some older iPhone models with aging batteries when necessary in order to prevent the devices from unexpectedly shutting down, leading to a €25 million fine in France.
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Apple today seeded a second release candidate (RC) version of iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a almost a week after Apple released the first RC. This RC likely represents the final version of iOS 16.5 that will be provided to the public, which Apple has said is coming this week.
iOS 16.5 adds a Sports tab in the Apple News app, making it easier to access sports-focused content. You can choose to follow your favorite teams to get updates on a regular basis. Apple's full release notes for the update are below.
This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
- A new Pride Celebration wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture - Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow - My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games - Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive - Addresses an issue where Podcasts in CarPlay may not load content - Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices
Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option and toggling on the iOS 16/iPadOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.
Apple has ramped up internal testing of iOS 16.6 over the past week, according to a reliable source of information. This suggests the first beta version of the update will be seeded to developers and public beta testers in the coming days.
Apple confirmed that iOS 16.5 will be released to the public this week, so the first iOS 16.6 beta will likely be made available either later this week or next week. Apple has been internally testing iOS 16.6 since at least early April, and it will likely be one of the final updates in the iOS 16 software cycle, as Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 at WWDC next month and shift its development efforts towards that update.
iOS 16.6 will likely be a smaller update given that iOS 17 is on the horizon, but it remains to be seen which new features, changes, and bug fixes will be included. Apple previously announced that iMessage Contact Key Verification would be available in 2023, but it is unclear exactly when the optional security setting will launch.
iOS 16.6 should be released to the public in the weeks after WWDC, which begins June 5. There is no sign of Apple testing iOS 16.7 yet, but it's still early.
Recent reports have converged on the belief that Apple will show off its long-rumored AR/VR headset at WWDC in June, and now Ming-Chi Kuo's latest predictions also align with the rumors, with the industry analyst claiming that the announcement is "highly likely" and the company is "well prepared" for the unveiling.
Previously, Kuo said Apple had pushed back production on the headset to the third quarter of 2023, and that as a result, the device might not be introduced at WWDC, but the analyst apparently no longer holds that view.
In a brief report posted to Medium on Monday, Kuo wrote that the headset's announcement next month "bodes well" for the supply chain share price, with the analyst touching on five of the device's components that – apart from assembly – represent its "most expensive material costs" in his view.
Those include the 4K micro-OLED displays, dual M2-based processors, the headset casing, 12 optical cameras for tracking hand movements, and the external power supply. These components are being supplied by Sony, TSMC, Everwin Precision, Cowell, and Goretek, respectively.
Pricing on the headset is expected to begin somewhere around $3,000. Perhaps with that in mind, Apple won't aim it at general consumers to start with, but will instead position it as a device for developers, content creators, and professionals. Apple expects to sell just one headset per day per retail store, and it has told suppliers that it expects sales of seven to 10 million units during the first year of availability.
Monday, June 5 is the date of Apple's WWDC keynote event, where Apple is expected to finally break its silence about the existence of the headset – although some non-Apple employees may have already been provided with a glimpse of the device.
"The Apple headset is so good," said Palmer Luckey in a tweet posted earlier on Monday, without elaborating. Luckey is the founder of Oculus, which was behind the original Oculus Rift VR hardware in 2012. Meta acquired Oculus in 2014, and Luckey is widely credited with reviving the virtual reality market.
Apple has booked nearly 90% of chip supplier TSMC's first-generation 3-nanometer process capacity this year for future iPhones, Macs, and iPads, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes, providing the Taiwanese foundry with significant growth momentum in the second half of 2023.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to feature the A17 Bionic processor, Apple's first iPhone chip based on TSMC's first-generation 3nm process, also known as N3B. The 3nm technology is said to deliver a 35% power efficiency improvement and 15% faster performance compared to 4nm, which was used to make the A16 Bionic chip for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
Apple's M3 chip for Macs and iPads is also expected to use the 3nm process. The first M3 devices are expected to include an updated 13-inch MacBook Air and 24-inch iMac, both of which could arrive later this year. New iPad Pro models coming next year are likely to be powered by M3 chips, while Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models coming in 2024 will feature M3 Pro and M3 Max chips.
According to an App Store developer log obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is currently testing a new chip with a 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 36GB of memory, which could be the base-level M3 Pro for the next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models launching next year.
According to The Information, future Apple silicon chips built on the 3nm process will feature up to four dies, which would support up to 40 compute cores. The M2 chip has a 10-core CPU and the M2 Pro and Max have 12-core CPUs, so 3nm could significantly boost multi-core performance. At minimum, 3nm should provide the biggest performance and efficiency leap to Apple's chips since 2020.
TSMC is also working on an enhanced 3nm process called N3E. Apple devices will eventually migrate to the N3E generation, which is expected to enter commercial production in the second half of 2023, but actual shipments will not ramp up until 2024, according to DigiTimes.
Apple today announced that Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Australia and New Zealand. Available on all iPhone 14 models, the feature enables users to send text messages to emergency services via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Users can also share their location via satellite in the Find My app.
Emergency SOS via satellite is enabled by default on iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later in Australia and New Zealand. An option to send a text message via satellite will appear after dialing 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. There is also a demo mode in the Settings app under Emergency SOS that allows users to familiarize themselves with the service without contacting emergency responders.
With the service, Apple says users can send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions. Users are prompted to complete a short questionnaire with vital information, and the interface then shows users where in the sky to point their iPhone to connect and send the initial message. This message includes the user's questionnaire responses, location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and Medical ID info if set.
Apple says the service is designed to work outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Apple warns that foliage or other obstructions can result in emergency messages taking longer to send or failing to send, and satellite connectivity might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska.
In Australia and New Zealand, Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years starting today or at the time of activation of any iPhone 14 model. The service is also available in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models launching later this year will be equipped with a 48-megapixel rear camera lens, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities.
In a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said the 48-megapixel lens on these models will use a new three-stacked sensor that can capture more light for improved image quality. However, based on recent supply chain checks, Pu believes the stacked sensor is likely facing yield issues that could result in iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus production delays. The devices are still expected to launch in September as of now.
Apple first introduced a 48-megapixel camera lens on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year. The lens enables users to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos, which retain more detail in the image file for more editing flexibility.
Pu was first to report that iPhone 15 Pro models would no longer feature solid-state buttons due to "design issues." He still expects iPhone 15 Pro models to feature a titanium frame, an upgraded A17 Bionic chip, an increased 8GB of RAM, and more, and he reiterated that all four iPhone 15 models will have a USB-C port.
Apple is testing an unreleased chip with a 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 36GB of memory, according to an App Store developer log obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip is being tested inside a future high-end MacBook Pro running the upcoming macOS 14 update, which is expected to be announced at WWDC next month.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said this chip could be the base-level M3 Pro for the next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models launching next year. The chip is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements.
The current base-level M2 Pro chip in the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, and starts with 16GB of memory, so the M3 Pro chip would have at least two extra cores for both the CPU and GPU. Apple last updated the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in January, so the laptops are unlikely to be updated again until at least 2024.
Apple still has to release the standard M3 chip before moving on to the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. Gurman said Apple is working on new iMac, MacBook Air, and low-end MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip, and he continues to believe the first Macs with the M3 chip will be released towards the end of this year or early next year.
In the meantime, Gurman said the long-rumored 15-inch MacBook Air will be released this summer with the M2 chip. He previously said the laptop would be announced at WWDC, which begins with Apple's keynote on June 5.
Apple's rumored Beats Studio Buds+ have already arrived to at least one Best Buy location, according to a photo shared by tech enthusiast and former leaker Ben Geskin. The box confirms the earbuds will have a transparent design option like the Nothing Ear (2) earbuds, and longer 36-hour battery life with the included USB-C charging case.
Beats has yet to officially announce the Studio Buds+, but the earbuds briefly appeared on Amazon last month with a May 18 release date and a $169.95 price. That listing revealed the earbuds will also feature 3x larger microphones and up to 1.6× as much active noise cancellation as the original Studio Buds that launched in 2021.
Beats Studio Buds+ are a sportier alternative to the AirPods Pro, and have a more compact design without "stems" that drop below the ears. The earbuds will also be available in Black and Ivory color options, according to the removed Amazon listing.
Studio Buds+ will feature IPX4-rated water resistance and will be available with XS, S, M, and L ear tip size options to fit a wider range of ears, the Amazon listing indicated. The earbuds were first discovered in iOS 16.4 code last month, and they have also surfaced in FCC filings and other regulatory databases around the world.
The Wall Street Journal on Friday outlined what to expect from Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset project, corroborating several details previously reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and The Information's Wayne Ma.
The report indicates that Apple plans to unveil the headset at WWDC in June, and says many sessions at the conference will be related to developing software for the headset. However, the news outlet claims that mass production of the headset isn't expected to begin until September due to manufacturing delays. Apple is said to be "anticipating some production issues" with the headset, but there are no specific details.
The headset is expected to have an internal screen for virtual reality, while outward-facing cameras would allow users to view the real world inside the headset with augmented reality overlays. This combination is known as "mixed reality."
Other details corroborated by the report include the headset being "experimental" and "unconventional" relative to most other Apple products, costing around $3,000, and having a waist-mounted external battery pack. FaceTime, Apple Fitness+, and gaming could be three major use cases for the headset, the report adds.
While it remains to be seen what the headset's biggest selling point will be, its capabilities "far exceed those of competitors," according to some sources cited in the report. Apple's headset is said to offer "greater levels of performance and immersion" than some competing devices, like Facebook parent company Meta's Quest Pro headset.
WWDC begins with Apple's keynote on June 5, meaning that Apple's headset is likely just weeks away from finally being unveiled to the public.
