MacRumors

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors surrounding Apple's "Home Accessory" product, which could launch as soon as next year.

Apple's work on an iPad-like smart home display product has been reported for over a year. It is expected to serve as a smart home hub with features adopted from the ‌iPad‌, HomePod, and the Apple TV, such as video playback and AirPlay. Apple's backend code suggests it will feature the A18 chip and run a variant of tvOS like the ‌HomePod‌, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says it will support Apple Intelligence and run Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, with an interface "optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information."

• Apple Smart Home Display: Everything We Know

The latest rumors suggest that it could have a "squarish display" to distinguish it from the ‌iPad‌, along with a built-in camera for FaceTime, detecting hand gestures, and determining different users for personalized requests. The new device could launch as soon as next year. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about first impressions of the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

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Apple's chip manufacturer TSMC and chip packaging company Amkor on Thursday announced that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on chip production, packaging, and testing in Arizona.

In a press release, the two companies said that the close proximity of their facilities in Arizona will speed up the overall chip manufacturing process:

Under the agreement, TSMC will contract turnkey advanced packaging and test services from Amkor in their planned facility in Peoria, Arizona. TSMC will leverage these services to support its customers, particularly those using TSMC's advanced wafer fabrication facilities in Phoenix. The close collaboration and proximity of TSMC's front-end fab and Amkor's back-end facility will accelerate overall product cycle times.

Apple last year confirmed that Amkor would package Apple silicon chips produced at a nearby TSMC facility, as part of a shared desire to expand U.S. manufacturing. Tech journalist Tim Culpan recently reported that the TSMC facility had started small-scale production of the A16 chip, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro models two years ago. The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models also use the A16 chip.

Apple said Amkor would invest approximately $2 billion in the project, and said it would employ more than 2,000 people upon completion.

"Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we'll continue to expand our investment here in the United States," said Apple's operations chief Jeff Williams, in a press release last November. "Apple silicon has unlocked new levels of performance for our users, enabling them to do things they could never do before, and we are thrilled that Apple silicon will soon be produced and packaged in Arizona."

This partnership comes a little over two years after the U.S. government passed the CHIPS and Science Act, which provides funding to corporations, including TSMC and Amkor, to increase U.S. semiconductor research and manufacturing.

In addition to several bug fixes, the iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 updates released on Thursday include a few security patches for the iPhone and iPad.

In a support document, Apple says iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 address security vulnerabilities involving the built-in Messages and Passwords apps.

Here are the full details from Apple:

Media Session
Available for: iPhone 16 (all models)

Impact: Audio messages in Messages may be able to capture a few seconds of audio before the microphone indicator is activated

Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2024-44207: Michael Jimenez and an anonymous researcher

Passwords
Available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A user's saved passwords may be read aloud by VoiceOver

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved validation.

CVE-2024-44204: Bistrit Dahal

To install the update, open the Settings app and select General → Software Update.

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to tag other people in their Status updates, further enhancing the platform's Instagram Stories-like functionality. The addition aims to make it easier for users to connect with friends and family on the popular messaging app.

The new tagging feature enables users to mention up to five other WhatsApp accounts in their Status updates. When tagged, these users will receive a private notification and have the option to reshare the Status on their own account. WhatsApp says it has built in privacy controls, allowing users to tag someone without explicitly displaying their name in the Status.

In addition to tagging, WhatsApp is also introducing a "like" feature for Status updates. Similar to Instagram Stories, users can now react to their friends' Status posts with a single tap, providing a quick way to acknowledge the content without sending a full message.

"WhatsApp Status is the best way to stay connected with friends and family and now we're making it even better," the Meta-owned company said in a blog post. "With status likes, private mentions and the ability to reshare a status you're mentioned in, we're making it easier to reach the people who matter most."

The Status updates come on the heels of new video call effects, including filters and custom backgrounds, that were announced by WhatsApp earlier this week.

The effects allow users to apply 10 different filters and choose from 10 background options during video calls. Both the Status tagging feature and the new video call effects are rolling out to all WhatsApp users globally over the coming weeks.

Spotify has announced a new feature called Offline Backup, designed to give Premium subscribers an additional way to listen to music offline without manually downloading playlists. Rolling out globally this week, the feature aims to address situations where users find themselves without an internet connection and haven't prepared their offline music library in advance.

Offline Backup works by automatically creating a personalized playlist using tracks that have been recently streamed or queued, leveraging the cached content already stored on the user's device. Spotify says this approach allows listeners to access a selection of their favorite music without consuming extra data or storage space.

The new feature promises flexibility by allowing users to filter and sort songs within the Offline Backup playlist by artist, mood, and genre. Spotify says the playlist will evolve over time based on listening habits, ensuring fresh content is always available.

The development of Offline Backup followed successful user testing conducted last year, and the feature is now being made available to Premium subscribers on both Android and iOS platforms, including compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

To access Offline Backup, users need to ensure they have listened to more than five songs recently and have enabled offline listening in their Spotify app settings. The playlist will appear automatically in the Home feed when the device is offline.

Spotify recommends that users add the Offline Backup playlist to their library for quick access. Those unable to find the feature are advised to check that their Spotify app is updated to the latest version.

Apple today announced that its next quarterly earnings conference call will be held on Thursday, October 31 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time/5 p.m. Eastern Time.

On the call, Apple's CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the company's earnings results for the fourth quarter of its 2024 fiscal year. It will likely be Maestri's final earnings call at Apple, as he will be succeeded by Kevan Parekh on January 1, 2025. Maestri will continue to lead the Corporate Services teams at Apple.

The call will be streamed live on Apple's website, and it should run approximately 60 minutes.

Apple released these products in the quarter, which ran from June 30 through September 28:

• HomePod mini (Midnight)
• iPhone 16
• iPhone 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro
• iPhone 16 Pro Max
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Black)
• AirPods 4
• AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
• AirPods Max (USB-C)
• Various accessories, including a 25W MagSafe Charger

Will Apple's earnings results be a trick or a treat? On its last earnings call in August, Apple said it expected its fourth quarter revenue to grow at a rate similar to its third quarter, which would mean around 5% growth on a year-over-year basis. Apple reported $89.5 billion revenue in the year-ago quarter, so a 5% increase to that would equal around $94 billion, which would be a fourth-quarter record for Apple. Sounds like a treat.

Apple is planning to refresh the iPad Air in early 2025, about a year after the 2024 refresh. We don't have a full picture of what to expect just yet, but rumors point toward an updated chip and new accessories.

Design

Apple refreshed the design of the ‌iPad Air‌ in 2024, introducing two size options to match the iPad Pro models. In 2025, we are again expecting 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, but so far, we haven't heard word of any design changes.

The 2025 ‌iPad Air‌ models are expected to continue to feature the same design as the 2024 ‌iPad Air‌ models, with an aluminum chassis that has flat sides and rounded edges that wrap around the LCD display. Apple is expected to continue to include a Touch ID power button for biometric authentication, and a USB-C port.

There could be additional color options even if we don't get design changes. The current ‌iPad Air‌ comes in Space Gray, Purple, Blue, and Starlight, a soft gold shade.

M-Series Chip

Even though Apple added the M4 to the ‌iPad Pro‌ and will bring the chip to the newest Mac models this year, the ‌iPad Air‌ is expected to get the M3, an upgrade to the current M2 chip.

The M3 chip is built on Apple's newer 3-nanometer process, and while it's not as fast as the M4, it's a notable upgrade over the ‌M2‌. The M3's CPU performance is up to 30 percent faster than the ‌M2‌ CPU performance, and GPU performance is 15 percent faster. The M3 is more efficient than the ‌M2‌ for better battery life, and there is an all-new GPU architecture that uses Dynamic Caching to boost graphics performance for GPU intensive apps and games. There is support for hardware-based ray tracing for an improvement in gaming on the iPad.

Rumors suggest the ‌iPad Air‌ will get the M3 instead of the newer M4 that's in the ‌iPad Pro‌ models to differentiate between the two tablets. Apple plans to keep the ‌iPad Air‌ a step behind the ‌iPad Pro‌.

Apple Intelligence

Current ‌iPad Air‌ models with an ‌M2‌ chip support Apple Intelligence in iPadOS 18, and the M3 chips will also work with Apple Intelligence.

Display

A major differentiator between the ‌iPad Pro‌ and ‌iPad Air‌ is OLED display technology and support for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates. We don't expect notable updates to the display in 2025, and so far, it doesn't sound like Apple plans to bring ProMotion to the ‌iPad Air‌.

Other Features

Apple brought Wi-Fi 7 support to its latest iPhone models, so we could start to see more products updated to the latest Wi-Fi protocol. Wi-Fi 7 brings faster speeds and lower latency, and if Wi-Fi 7 doesn't come to the new ‌iPad Air‌, it'll continue to use Wi-Fi 6E.

Magic Keyboard

Apple is working on a new version of the Magic Keyboard for the ‌iPad Air‌, and it's supposed to come out in the same time frame as the next-generation ‌iPad Air‌. It won't have an aluminum top case like the Magic Keyboard for the ‌iPad Pro‌, but it could get the same function row of keys.

Release Date

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation ‌iPad Air‌ is set to come out sometime "early next year."

Two Maryland residents who defrauded Apple out of 6,000 iPhones worth over $2.5 million were sentenced to prison today, according to the United States Department of Justice. The duo devised a repair scheme where they sent in counterfeit iPhones in order to get genuine iPhones in exchange.

Chinese nationals Haotian Sun and Pengfei Xue will each spend more than four years in prison. Sun was sentenced to 57 months in prison, while Xue was given 54 months. Both will serve three years of supervised release after their prison terms, and will need to pay restitution to Apple. Sun has been ordered to pay $1,072,000, while Xue has been ordered to pay $397,800.

Between May 2017 and September 2019, Sun and Xue received shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong, and used spoofed serial numbers and/or IMEI numbers to return them to Apple retail stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers. Over 6,000 iPhones were submitted to Apple during that two-year period, according to trial evidence. The intended loss was approximately $3.8 million, and actual loss exceeded $2.5 million.

Back in February, Sun and Xue were found guilty of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, charges that carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.0.1, the first update for the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ operating system. The 15.0.1 update comes a week after Apple first released ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.

Mac users can download the ‌‌macOS Sequoia‌‌ update by using the Software Update section of System Settings.

According to Apple's release notes, ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.0.1 fixes a bug that could cause the Messages app to crash when a message with a shared Apple Watch face was sent, and it improves third-party software compatibility. Apple's release notes for the update are below.

This update provides important bug fixes for your Mac including:
- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face
- Improves compatibility with third-party security software
Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices.

Details on the features that are included in ‌macOS Sequoia‌ can be found in our roundup.

Apple today released iPadOS 18.0.1 for the iPad, and it brings iPadOS 18 to the for M4 iPad Pro models for the first time since the ‌iPadOS 18‌ update was pulled for those devices. After ‌iPadOS 18‌ was released, it was found that a small number of M4 iPads were bricked when the software was installed. If you haven't been able to install ‌iPadOS 18‌ on your ‌iPad Pro‌, it is now available.

The iPadOS 18.0.1 update can be downloaded over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. iPadOS 18.0.1 is available for all ‌iPad‌ models able to run ‌iPadOS 18‌.

Apple first released iPadOS 18 on Monday, September 16, but the update was removed the next day. Some M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ owners found that ‌iPadOS 18‌ rendered their devices unusable.

Apple in a statement said that it temporarily removed the update to fix a problem that was affecting only a small number of users.

"We have temporarily removed the ‌iPadOS 18‌ update for M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ models as we work to resolve an issue that is impacting a small number of devices."

The updated version of ‌iPadOS 18‌ addresses the problem and it should now be safe to install on an M4 ‌iPad Pro‌. The update also includes bug fixes available on all iPads:

- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face
- Performance may be impacted due to an issue with memory allocation on some iPad models.

iPadOS 18 introduces new customization options for the Home Screen, a revamped Control Center, and new features for almost every app including Photos, Messages, Safari, Calculator, and Notes.

Full details on the what's included in ‌iPadOS 18‌ can be found in our iPadOS 18 roundup.

Apple today released iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 come two weeks after the launch of ‌iOS 18‌.

The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 18.0.1 update addresses issues with several bug fixes for the touch screen, camera, and Messages app. Apple's release notes for the update are below.

This update provides important bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone including: - Touch screen may be temporarily unresponsive in certain circumstances on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models
- Camera may freeze when recording macro mode video on the Ultra Wide camera in 4K with HDR turned off on iPhone 16 Pro models
- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face

Performance may be impacted due to an issue with memory allocation on some iPhone models. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100

There have been multiple complaints about these issues. iPhone 16 owners have been running into trouble with the touchscreen since the new models launched, with the display at times not responding to touch.

‌iPadOS 18‌ has been unavailable for the M4 iPad Pro models since shortly after the update came out because it was bricking some devices. Apple's full release notes are below.

For more on the features available in ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌, we have a dedicated roundup.

Apple today released watchOS 11.0.1, a minor update for the watchOS 11 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 11.0.1 comes three weeks after Apple released watchOS 11.

‌‌watchOS 11‌‌ can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 18 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

watchOS 11.0.1 introduces bug fixes for the Apple Watch. It fixes an issue that could cause the Music app to crash, plus it addresses a bug that could cause the battery to drain faster than expected. There's also a fix for a bug that could cause the touchscreen to be unresponsive on the latest Apple Watch models, and a bug that could cause unexpected restarts. Apple's full release notes are below.

This update includes bug fixes for your Apple Watch, including:

- Apple Watch may unexpectedly restart for some users
- Music app may unexpectedly quit when loading media
- Battery may drain more quickly than expected
- Touch screen may be temporarily unresponsive for some Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 users
- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face

watchOS 11 introduces a new Smart Stack, the Vitals app, support for Live Activities, and more, with details available in our watchOS 11 roundup.

Apple today released visionOS 2.0.1, a minor update to the visionOS 2 operating system that came out in September. visionOS 2.0.1 comes three weeks after the launch of visionOS 2.

‌‌visionOS 2‌‌ can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option. To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the front EyeSight display.

The ‌visionOS 2‌ update fixes a bug that could cause YouTube in Safari to freeze, plus it addresses an issue with Safari Web Extension data. Apple's release notes for the update are below.

This update provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users.

- YouTube video player in Safari may freeze Safari
- Web Extension data may be lost after updating to visionOS 2
- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face

visionOS 2 introduces 2D spatial photos, updates to Persona, a new version of the Guest Mode, and more, with additional information available in our visionOS 2 roundup.

The iPhone SE 4 that's set to come out next year could include a "quite ambitious" Apple-designed 5G modem that will incorporate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The next-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is also expected to get the same A18 chip as the current iPhone 16 models, which would allow it to support Apple Intelligence.

Apple has been working on its own 5G modem technology for quite some time, and multiple prior rumors have suggested that the new hardware will first come to the ‌iPhone SE‌, giving Apple a chance to test it out with a lower volume product.

The 5G chip, codenamed "Centauri," is said to be more than just a modem, alleviating the need for separate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS components. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said earlier this year that while Apple was working on a modem that was part of a new wireless chip that also included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, such a product would not be coming until a later date, so it is not clear which report is accurate.

It is Gurman's opinion that the first Apple-designed modem will not yield immediate improvements for users, and there won't be major benefits over Qualcomm modem technology. Over time, though, Apple plans to evolve its modem, more deeply integrating it into the iPhone's chipset.

Gurman has also said that the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 will get Apple Intelligence, a claim echoed in 9to5Mac's report. The next-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ will reportedly include an A18 chip, which is the chip used in the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus. It is also expected to get 8GB RAM, the minimum for Apple Intelligence.

Prior rumors have suggested the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 will have a design similar to the iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch OLED all-display design and support for Face ID. When Apple introduces the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4, it will officially be the end for the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the ‌iPhone‌ lineup.

Though the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 will have an ‌iPhone‌ 14-like design, it is expected to have a single-lens rear camera. Apple could use the same 48-megapixel Wide camera that was used in the iPhone 15.

Other features that could come to the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 include a notch for the TrueDepth camera system (instead of a Dynamic Island), an Action Button, and a USB-C port.

The ‌iPhone SE‌ is expected to be introduced in early 2025, and it will be priced between $400 and $500.

Google today shared several updates to the Google Lens search feature that's available in the Google app for iOS. Google is adding support for asking questions about videos, so that users can get information about moving objects.

For example, if you're at an aquarium and want to learn more, you can use Google Lens to capture a short video of a fish and get details about it. According to Google, Lens can interpret the video and the question, using the information to provide an AI Overview with additional web links to learn more.

The video feature can be used by opening Lens in the Google app and holding down the shutter button to record a video while also asking a question out loud.

Google has also added support for asking a voice-based question when taking an image with Lens. Users can point the camera, hold the shutter button, and ask a question.

For those who use Google Lens to find visually similar images for shopping purposes, Google says results will be "dramatically more helpful" with information about the product you want to buy, including price info across retailers and where to get it.

In addition to these Google Lens changes, Google is rolling out search results pages organized by AI in the United States. AI results will show first for recipes and meal inspiration on mobile devices, with research results showing relevant results organized by different recipe options, ingredients, and more.

A new look for AI Overviews is rolling out, with the updated design showing prominent links to supporting webpages within the text of an AI Overview. Google says that this layout better drives traffic to supporting websites. Google is also adding ads to AI Overviews, and the company says that people find ads in AI Overviews helpful because "they can quickly connect with relevant businesses, products and services."

The updated Google Lens features are rolling out to iOS devices starting today, as are the search changes.

Rumors suggest that Apple plans to introduce a redesigned Mac mini this month, alongside updated MacBook Pro and iMac models. Most notably, the portable desktop computer is expected to receive its first major redesign since 2010.

Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation Mac mini.

Rumored Features

• Smaller Design: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next Mac mini to be nearly as small as an Apple TV.
• M4 and M4 Pro Chips: The next Mac mini will be available with faster M4 and M4 Pro chip options, according to Gurman.
• Front USB-C Ports: Both an Apple software leak and Gurman have pointed to the next Mac mini being equipped with five USB-C ports. Similar to the Mac Studio, Gurman said two of the ports will be located on the front of the new Mac mini. Technically speaking, at least some of these ports will likely be Thunderbolt 4 ports, which use the USB-C connector design. Note: It is possible that only M4 Pro configurations of the Mac mini will have all five USB-C ports.

Launch Timing

The new Mac mini is currently expected to be announced at an Apple event this October, alongside new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M4 series of chips.

The current Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chip options was released in January 2023.

In celebration of Diwali, Apple is offering free limited-edition Beats Solo Buds to customers who purchase a new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus in India.

The special Beats Solo Buds and their carrying case come in an orange color that has never been available before, and the earbuds come in custom packaging designed by Indian art director Aaquib Wani. The offer runs through October 4 at Apple Store locations in India, and on Apple's online store at apple.com/in, while supplies last.

Beats Solo Buds launched in June, and the original color options include black, gray, purple, and a transparent red. The in-ear buds feature up to 18 hours of battery life, but they lack active noise cancellation, and the carrying case does not have a battery. As a result, the earbuds can only be charged when the case is connected to a power source.

The earbuds are priced at ₹6900 on Apple's online store in India.

For a limited time, Apple is also offering up to ₹10000 instant cashback on select products purchased with eligible American Express, Axis Bank, and ICICI Bank cards in India. More details about this offer are available on Apple's website.