Kuo said that the temporary power outage may affect iPad assembly facilities in Chengdu and Chongqing, operated by Foxconn and Compal. He added that it is "difficult to assess impacts on production currently," but its impact should be limited if the power outage can end on August 20. Flexible production scheduling could mitigate the effects of power outages, but it is not clear how iPad supplies may be hit if power does not return by August 20.
Steep discounts on the Apple TV 4K have been very popular this summer, and the sales are still available on Amazon right now. You can get the 32GB Apple TV 4K for $119.99, down from $179.00, and you don't need any sort of coupon code this time around as the sale has been automatically applied.
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's sale today is a second-best discount for the 32GB Apple TV 4K and just about $10 higher than the all-time low price that we previously tracked during Prime Day. Both the 32GB and 64GB models of the Apple TV 4K are in stock on Amazon today, with Prime delivery options available as soon as August 17.
Other than the 32GB Apple TV 4K, you can also get the 64GB model for $139.99, down from $199.00. The new 2021 models of the Apple TV 4K include the redesigned Siri Remote, an A12 Bionic processor, and 4K high frame rate HDR support.
Samsung last week announced its fourth-generation foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold 4, and as a result, some iPhone customers may be wondering about the future of a foldable iPhone.
Apple is indeed working on a foldable iPhone, but details about it remain scarce and somewhat vague. We've rounded up a few notable rumors below and want to hear from you; what would you like to see in a foldable iPhone? Let us know in the comments!
Hardware Features
Building on an existing relationship, Apple is likely working closely with Corning to develop a special display glass for the foldable iPhone that's both tough and durable and thin and flexible.
Rumors have fluctuated regarding the size of the foldable iPhone, with some reports saying it'll be around 9-inches and have a PPI (pixels-per-inch) between an iPhone and an iPad. Other reports say Apple has internally tested a device that opens up to 6.7-inches, similar to the size of current Pro Max iPhones.
Rather than typical foldable phones on the market, a rumor from Apple leaker Jon Prosser suggests that Apple is working on a foldable device with two separate screens connected via a hinge and not one single, continuous display.
Software and OS
It remains to be seen whether Apple will, at some point, combine the iPhone and iPad into a single product, offering an iPhone when folded and an iPad-like experience when unfolded. In that case, we may see the foldable device running a hybrid between iOS and iPadOS, but that remains purely speculative.
Price and Launch Date
Samsung's Galaxy Fold 4 starts at a steep $1,800, and while it's too early to tell what market Apple will want to target with its foldable device, Samsung's pricing does offer a little bit of context.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, we're now unlikely to see a foldable iPhone until at least 2025 or later, so there are still many years to go until we may see anything hit the market.
For more in-depth information about what we know about a foldable iPhone, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide. Plus, don't forget to let us know what you want to see in a foldable iPhone below.
Apple's new M2 MacBook Air has begun seeing some of its first notable discounts on B&H Photo today, including markdowns on both 256GB and 512GB models. Amazon did have the 256GB model on sale earlier, but it quickly expired, so B&H Photo is currently the only major retailer with the sale.
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.
You can get the 256GB M2 MacBook Air in Starlight for $1,099.00, down from $1,199.00. Only the Starlight color is on sale at this price, and it's an all-time low price on this brand new 2022 model of the MacBook Air.
Secondly, the 512GB M2 MacBook Air is on sale for $1,399.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is only available in Space Gray, and it's also another record low price on the M2 MacBook Air.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
The Apple Watch could be used to check for symptoms of a heart attack (myocardial infarction), research published in the Texas Heart Institute Journal suggests (via MyHealthyApple).
Myocardial infarction occurs when parts of the heart muscle do not receive enough oxygen because there is a block in the blood flow to the heart. Researchers from the Texas Heart Institute have been studying using the Apple Watch to help diagnose myocardial infarction symptoms using the electrocardiogram (ECG) feature on Apple Watch Series 4, 5, 6, and 7 models to record multiple ECG leads on different parts of the body.
Outcomes following a heart attack depend on how long before treatment begins. More than half of individuals with myocardial infarction die in an emergency room or before reaching a hospital within an hour of the onset of symptoms. The Apple Watch could provide a reliable analysis of heart attack risk when symptoms develop, send a clear signal to the user to seek urgent medical attention, and reduce the delay to get treatment, the research suggests.
Medical professionals usually confirm myocardial infarction using a traditional 12-lead electrocardiogram that requires specific equipment and professional training, while the Apple Watch uses a positive electrode on the back of the device and a negative electrode on the Digital Crown to record a single-lead ECG. As such, the Apple Watch could not replace hospital-grade medical equipment, but provide a new screening tool for other environments.
The researchers claim that the Apple Watch shows promise for detecting myocardial infarction as multiple studies have shown that the device can record multiple-lead ECG signals that accurately detect the ST change during a heart attack. Additional clinical data is required, but the ongoing research provides a glance at one of the new health-monitoring capabilities that could one day be an official Apple Watch feature.
Apple is aiming to triple its ad revenue from $4 billion per year to double-digit figures by expanding its advertising to more apps, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Currently, Apple ads appear in App Store app searches, where developers pay for promoted spots in results, as well as more standard ads that appear in the News and Stocks apps. Apple also generates revenue with commercials during MLB Friday Night Baseball streams, but now the company wants go bigger by expanding its ad presence across iPhone and iPad apps.
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman writes that Apple's VP of advertising platforms Todd Teresi wants to triple current ad revenue, and the first move to achieve that could be to bring ads to the Maps app. Apple has internally tested adding sponsored spots in Maps search results, reports Gurman, and if it does roll them out to Maps users, it could just be the beginning of a wider expansion.
Gurman speculates that Apple could also bring ads to the digital storefronts of its Books and Podcasts apps, while an even more lucrative revenue driver could be Apple TV+, if the company was to follow the lead of Netflix and Disney+ by providing an ad-supported tier.
Apple has already announced it will be expanding its advertising business reach in the App Store, with new placements coming to the "Today" screen as well as to individual app pages, which will allow developers to pay for slots outside of the Search tab and search results for the first time.
However, Apple will be aware that even a gentle creep into other areas of Apple's software could mar the premium experience that users expect of its devices, while also leaving it open to increased criticism over its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework which has, by some accounts, had a substantial negative impact on both large and small businesses.
Apple's ATT tracking rules are currently under investigation in Germany under competition law to ascertain whether they are self-preferencing Apple or being an impediment to third-party apps. Apple has disputed suggestions that its ATT framework has unfairly benefitted the company to the detriment of third-parties.
Earlier this year it commissioned a study into the impact of ATT that was conducted by Columbia Business School's Marketing Division. The study concluded that Apple was unlikely to have seen a significant financial benefit since the privacy feature launched, and that claims to the contrary were speculative and lacked supporting evidence.
Update: Apple engineers are already working on implementing search ads in the Apple Maps app, and the ads will be likely be visible next year, according to Gurman.
On August 15, 1998, the first iMac, introduced by Steve Jobs just a few months prior, officially went on sale, marking a turning point for Apple and the first true consumer desktop from the company.
"The excitement of the internet. The simplicity of Macintosh" is how Jobs described the first iMac during the now iconic keynote on May 6, 1998. During the presentation, Jobs compared it to other desktop computers on the market. According to Jobs, those computers were slow, featured smaller 13 to 14-inch displays, probably didn't have any networking capabilities, and were ugly. The original iMac hoped to target each weak point with faster performance, a better-looking design, and updated I/O ports.
"We decided to make this thing fast," Jobs said, touting the at the time powerful G3/233 processor. The first iMac featured a 15-inch display that was 1024x768, 32MB of standard memory, 4GB of disk storage, a 24x CD-ROM drive, a 100Mb Ethernet port, a 33.6Kb modem, and a 4MB IrDA. The original iMac had stereo SRS sound, two 12MB USB ports, and a keyboard and mouse for I/O and peripherals.
Iconically, it featured a translucent design that allowed people to see inside the machine. "The back of this thing looks better than the front of the other guys, by the way," Jobs jokingly said about its design compared to the competitors on the market. On the front of the iMac, beneath the display, it featured stereo surround speakers, infrared, a CD-ROM, and a headphone jack.
The original iMac retailed for $1,299, and since its introduction 24 years ago, the iMac has transformed and evolved a great deal. Apple's latest iMac, the 24-inch iMac with M1, is similar to the original iMac in that it's offered in many colors. The iMac's design has continued to radically change, becoming thinner, slimmer, and more powerful over the years.
Apple TV+ received multiple accolades at the annual Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards over the weekend, with "Severance" winning Best Drama and hit show "Ted Lasso" taking home the Best Comedy award.
With 12 nominations to its name, "Severance" was the most-winning drama on the night, and picked up Best Actress for Britt Lower, Best Supporting Actor for John Turturro, Best Writing for Dan Erickson, and Best Directing for Ben Stiller.
"Ted Lasso" was the most-nominated comedy series for the second year in a row with 20 nominations, and scored the only back-to-back HCA TV Award win across all platforms, with consecutive Best Supporting Actor wins for star Brett Goldstein.
In total, the two shows earned Apple TV+ seven HCA TV Awards wins, which was more than any other streaming service, coming from its record 53 nominations received across a range of genres from the Hollywood Critics Association last month.
Apple plans to announce a new low-cost iPad and an updated iPad Pro with the M2 Apple silicon chip and possible MagSafe charging capabilities during an event currently scheduled for October of this year, according to a post from the account "yeux1122" on the Korean blog Naver, citing sources.
The account has been the source of accurate information in the past, including accurately revealing details about the fifth-generation iPad Air and yet unconfirmed details on the iPhone 14. The account has also shared information that has not turned out accurate, including a rumor about an "iPad mini Pro."
Apple announced an updated iPad Pro in April 2021 with a 12.9-inch mini-LED display and the M1 Apple silicon chip. The launch of the newer and more powerful iPad Pro with M2 will likely coincide with the launch of iPadOS 16, which is expected to launch in October rather than earlier in the fall alongside iOS 16. iPadOS 16 includes more minor refinements and features for non-M1 iPads, such as improvements in Messages, Safari, and more.
For iPads with M-series chips, Apple offers Stage Manager on iPadOS 16, which lets users run multiple apps in windows, overlapping each other, with external display support. Other than the performance of the M2 chip and Stage Manager in iPadOS 16, previous rumors have suggested the 2022 iPad Pro could benefit from some form of MagSafe charging capabilities.
The Apple Watch SE was announced in September 2020 and has been a popular Apple Watch model for customers looking for their first smartwatch or an affordable Apple Watch. Apple Watch SE customers may be wondering, however, what's in store for them with the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 and what new features they can expect. Continue reading to find out.
Apple Watch SE vs. Apple Watch Series 8
Significantly larger displays: Apple increased the size of the display by shrinking the bezels and rounding the corners with the Apple Watch Series 7. The standard Apple Watch Series 8 model will continue to adopt the Series 7 display, which features a 20% larger screen than the Apple Watch SE.
Always-on Retina display: Introduced with the Apple Watch Series 5 and present on every flagship Apple Watch since, the Apple Watch Series 8 will feature an always-on display that allows the display to remain dimly lit at all times, providing easy access to quick information like the time and complications.
More durable hardware: Alongside a rumored "rugged" Apple Watch set to launch this fall, the standard Apple Watch Series 8 will feature the same durable hardware as the Series 7, such as a stronger front glass and more durable aluminum models compared to the Apple Watch SE.
Ability to measure Blood Oxygen: The Apple Watch Series 8 will feature a Blood Oxygen sensor, introduced with the Series 6 in 2020 and unavailable on the Apple Watch SE. The sensor allows wearers to measure the amount of oxygen in their blood.
ECG capabilities: The Apple Watch Series 8 will be able to take an ECG, or an electrocardiogram, right on your wrist. This high-end health and wellness feature is not available on the Apple Watch SE and has been present on Apple Watch Series models since the Series 4.
Built-in temperature sensor: One new health sensor coming to the Apple Watch Series 8 is the ability to measure body temperature. Rumors suggest the new sensor will not, at least at first, provide wearers a direct temperature reading of their body but may simply advise them if they may have a fever and seek medical attention.
Fast charging: The Apple Watch SE does not support fast charging, and with the Series 8, customers can look forward to up to 30% faster charging alongside all-day 18 hours of battery life.
Improved optical heart sensor: The Apple Watch SE features a second-generation optical heart sensor, compared to the third-generation model in the Series 7, and we expect the fourth-generation model in the upcoming Series 8. The improvements in heart sensors are likely to offer more reliable and accurate readings.
Faster performance: The Apple Watch Series 8 is likely to feature a dual-core S8 SiP (system in a package), which would be faster than the dual-core S5 chip in the Apple Watch SE. Customers can expect faster performance and more fluid animations as a result.
If the Apple Watch Series 8 is not an attractive option for current Apple Watch SE customers, it's worth noting that we are expecting an updated Apple Watch SE alongside the Series 8 that may offer more moderate upgrades, though there have been few rumors about specs for the new SE model.
Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are finally nearing launch, with a release expected later this year. If you are considering upgrading to the new AirPods Pro once they are released, keep reading for a list of five new features to expect.
In addition to all-new features, the second-generation AirPods Pro will likely adopt some features added to the standard AirPods last year.
H2 Chip
The new AirPods Pro will feature a "significantly upgraded" wireless chip compared to the H1 chip in the original AirPods Pro, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The new chip could be branded as an "H2 chip" given the improvements.
Kuo did not elaborate on what benefits the new chip would provide, but given that the H1 chip powers audio-related functions, the upgraded chip in the second-generation AirPods Pro could result in improvements to sound quality, latency, active noise cancellation, Transparency mode, features powered by Siri, and more.
While there haven't been any firm rumors about the new AirPods Pro featuring longer battery life, it's reasonable to expect improvements in this area given that nearly three years have passed since the original AirPods Pro launched.
Apple's standard third-generation AirPods released last year provide up to six hours of listening time per charge, compared to up to 4.5 hours for the current AirPods Pro. Even with active noise cancellation and Transparency mode turned off, the AirPods Pro last up to five hours per charge, which is still less than the third-generation AirPods.
Charging Case Enhancements
The charging case for the new AirPods Pro will be able to emit a sound, making it easier to locate the case when it is lost, according to Kuo. AirPods Pro can already be tracked via the Find My app on an iPhone, but the charging case cannot play a sound.
It's also likely the new AirPods Pro charging case will have IPX4-rated water and sweat resistance like the charging case for the third-generation AirPods. Currently, only the AirPods Pro earbuds have water resistance and not the case.
Yet another feature that the next AirPods Pro will likely adopt from the third-generation AirPods is a skin-detect sensor for more accurate in-ear detection compared to the dual optical sensors in the original AirPods Pro.
Apple says the skin-detect sensor "accurately discerns if AirPods are in the ear — versus in a pocket or on a table — and pauses playback when removed."
Fitness Tracking
In May 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu reported that the second-generation AirPods Pro would include "updated motion sensors with a focus on fitness tracking," but the report did not provide any further details about the feature.
AirPods Pro are already equipped with a motion-detecting accelerometer, and it's possible that improvements to this sensor would allow for some fitness tracking capabilities, but Apple's exact plans remain to be seen. On a potentially related note, iOS 16 allows the Fitness app to be used on an iPhone without an Apple Watch.
Design and Release Date
Back in 2020, Gurman and Wu reported that Apple had tested a more compact design for the new AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems below the earbuds, similar to Beats Studio Buds. However, more recent rumors suggest that the second-generation AirPods Pro will not have any significant outward-facing design changes.
AirPods Pro were introduced with an Apple Newsroom press release on October 28, 2019 and launched two days later. The new AirPods Pro are expected to launch by the end of 2022, with September or October the two most likely months for the headphones to be released. AirPods Pro are currently priced at $249 in the United States, although they are frequently discounted by resellers like Amazon and Best Buy.
Zoom has released a new version of its macOS app with a fix for a security vulnerability affecting the app's automatic updates feature.
In an August 13 security bulletin, Zoom said version 5.7.3 to version 5.11.3 of its macOS app contain a vulnerability in the auto-update process that can be exploited by a local low-privileged user to gain root privileges to the operating system. The vulnerability has been patched in version 5.11.5 of the Zoom app for macOS, available now.
The vulnerability was revealed by Mac security researcher Patrick Wardle at the hacking conference DEF CON in Las Vegas on Friday. The Verge and WIRED shared more details about Wardle's findings for those interested in learning more.
Microsoft this week released a new beta version of its Office app for iPad with support for the Apple Pencil's handwriting-to-text feature Scribble. The feature allows you to insert and edit text in a Word document, PowerPoint presentation, or Excel spreadsheet using the Apple Pencil, with handwriting automatically converted into typed text.
After enabling the Scribble feature in Settings → Apple Pencil, the feature can be used by tapping the Scribble Pen button under the Draw tab in version 2.64 of the Office app. The feature can be tested now by members of the Office Insider program via TestFlight, and the update will likely be released on the App Store for all users in the coming weeks.
Scribble was added in iPadOS 14 for any iPad that supports the original or second-generation Apple Pencil, including any iPad Pro, the third-generation iPad Air and newer, the fifth-generation iPad mini and newer, and the sixth-generation iPad and newer.
Microsoft's unified Office app with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel gained iPad compatibility in February 2021 and is also available for the iPhone.
Update: The update to Office for iPad with Scribble support is now available on the App Store.
It has now been over a year since Apple announced plans for three new child safety features, including a system to detect known Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) images stored in iCloud Photos, an option to blur sexually explicit photos in the Messages app, and child exploitation resources for Siri. The latter two features are now available, but Apple remains silent about its plans for the CSAM detection feature.
Apple initially said CSAM detection would be implemented in an update to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 by the end of 2021, but the company ultimately postponed the feature based on "feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others."
In September 2021, Apple posted the following update to its Child Safety page:
Previously we announced plans for features intended to help protect children from predators who use communication tools to recruit and exploit them and to help limit the spread of Child Sexual Abuse Material. Based on feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others, we have decided to take additional time over the coming months to collect input and make improvements before releasing these critically important child safety features.
In December 2021, Apple removed the above update and all references to its CSAM detection plans from its Child Safety page, but an Apple spokesperson informed The Verge that Apple's plans for the feature had not changed. To the best of our knowledge, however, Apple has not publicly commented on the plans since that time.
We've reached out to Apple to ask if the feature is still planned. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple did move forward with implementing its child safety features for the Messages app and Siri with the release of iOS 15.2 and other software updates in December 2021, and it expanded the Messages app feature to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK with iOS 15.5 and other software releases in May 2022.
Apple said its CSAM detection system was "designed with user privacy in mind." The system would perform "on-device matching using a database of known CSAM image hashes" from child safety organizations, which Apple would transform into an "unreadable set of hashes that is securely stored on users' devices."
Apple planned to report iCloud accounts with known CSAM image hashes to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a non-profit organization that works in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement agencies. Apple said there would be a "threshold" that would ensure "less than a one in one trillion chance per year" of an account being incorrectly flagged by the system, plus a manual review of flagged accounts by a human.
Some critics argued that Apple's child safety features could create a "backdoor" into devices, which governments or law enforcement agencies could use to surveil users. Another concern was false positives, including the possibility of someone intentionally adding CSAM imagery to another person's iCloud account to get their account flagged.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
This week brought some shocking news for iOS 16 beta testers, with Apple bringing back the iPhone battery percentage to the status bar after a number of years.
Other news and rumors this week included word that Apple has started recording portions of its media event planned for next month to introduce the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8, claims about iPhone 14 Pro pricing and Apple's plans for switching AirPods over to USB-C charging, and more, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!
iOS 16 Beta 5 Adds Battery Percentage to iPhone Status Bar
Apple Reportedly Preparing Pre-Recorded iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 Event
It appears that Apple's annual iPhone event won't be a fully in-person event again this year, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week claimed that Apple has started to produce a pre-recorded video for the event. It's possible that Apple will still invite media to the event for in-person hands-on demos with new products.
While higher prices would be disappointing for customers, research firm TrendForce predicted that iPhone 14 Pro models could start with 256GB of storage, compared to 128GB for iPhone 13 Pro models. Pricing for iPhone 13 Pro models currently starts at $999 in the United States.
Two New Connectors Rumored for Next-Generation iPad Pro
The next-generation iPad Pro will feature the same design as the current model, but with two new four-pin connectors on the top and bottom, according to a report from Japanese website Mac Otakara.
Google has been pushing Apple to switch from SMS to RCS for months now, with no response from Apple. RCS would allow for read receipts, audio messages, and more for conversations between iPhones and Android smartphones.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
There's just about a month to go until Apple holds its annual September event focusing on new iPhone and Apple Watch models. We thought we'd take a quick look at everything that's rumored for Apple's September event to give MacRumors readers a rundown on what to expect when the first fall event rolls around.
The iPhone 14 can probably be described more as an "iPhone 13S" because it's not expected to get a whole lot of changes. We're expecting the same design and the same A-series chip, but camera improvements are a possibility. Note that Apple is getting rid of the 5.4-inch iPhone mini in the 2022 iPhone lineup, with the standard iPhone 14 series to consist of a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and a larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max.
6.1-inch iPhone 14, and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max. No mini.
Though the iPhone 14 is more of an iPhone 13S, the same isn't true for the iPhone 14 Pro models. Apple has bigger changes in store for its higher-tier and more expensive iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models.
Same general flat-edged design with 6.1 and 6.7-inch size options.
ProMotion display technology, but with 1Hz to 120Hz upgrade that enables Always-On display technology.
No notch. Notch replaced with pill-shaped and hole-punch cutouts for camera and Face ID hardware.
Larger rear camera bumps and increased lens size.
Graphite, gold, silver, and purple color options.
Faster A16 chip.
Updated Snapdragon X65 10 Gigabit 5G modem and antenna system.
Vapor chamber thermal system to accommodate A16 chip and 5G modem.
48-megapixel Wide lens with 21 percent larger sensor that supports higher-resolution images and 8K video recording.
Upgraded 7-element telephoto lens.
Improved Ultra Wide lens.
Upgraded front camera with wider f/1.9 aperture and autofocus capabilities.
6GB RAM.
WiFi 6E.
Up to 2TB storage.
Possible price increase.
Full details on what to expect from the iPhone 14 Pro are available in our iPhone 14 Pro roundup.
The Series 8 is expected to get an iterative update that largely focuses on a few new features like temperature sensing, but there are some surprises to be had as Apple is also introducing a pro version of the Apple Watch.
Same general design as Series 7.
41 and 45mm sizes.
S8 chip, which basically offers the same performance as the S7.
Low power mode for improved battery life.
Temperature sensor, which can let you know if your temperature is up. May be used for fertility tracking.
The Apple Watch Series 8 isn't the only new Apple Watch that we're getting this year. Apple is refreshing the Apple Watch SE and introducing a new higher-end Apple Watch that could be called the "Apple Watch Pro."
Updated design that's an "evolution of the current rectangular shape," possibly with a flat display, but no flat edges.
Rugged, more durable build for extreme athletes.
More durable titanium alloy casing with shatter-resistant display.
Larger size with 2-inch diagonal screen that provides seven percent more display area.
410 x 502 resolution.
Larger battery and longer battery life, could be as long as multiple days with new low power mode.
An updated version of the AirPods Pro is on the horizon, but it's not entirely clear if the refreshed earbuds will come out alongside the new iPhone and Apple Watch models or if Apple will introduce them later in the year.
Same general design as current AirPods Pro with silicone ear tips and stem.
Charging case with speaker holes to play sounds when lost.
AirPods 3 acoustics for improved sound.
Updated H1 chip with self-adaptive noise cancellation capabilities.
Possible Lossless audio (ALAC) support.
Lightning port.
Our full AirPods Pro 2 guide has even more information about everything we've heard about the AirPods Pro so far.
Potential September Event Date
There's no word yet on when Apple will hold its annual September event, but given that the events almost always happen within the first two or three weeks of the month, we can make some educated guesses. September 5 is Labor Day, so that's out, and most events are on Monday or Tuesday, though Wednesday is sometimes a possibility.
Most likely target dates:
September 7
September 13
September 14
September 20
September 21
September 12 and 13 are the two most likely dates, and if Apple does indeed plan to hold the event on one of these days, we could get an announcement the week before.
Samsung this week launched its fourth-generation foldable devices, the $1,000 Galaxy Z Flip and the $1,800 Galaxy Z Fold. Though there's no sign of a comparable Apple foldable device on the horizon, rumors suggest prototypes are in the works, so we thought we'd take a look at Samsung's newest smartphones to see what Apple needs to measure up to when a foldable iPhone does come out.
Samsung's early foldable devices were riddled with durability issues and hinge-related problems, but Samsung has now had several years to work out the kinks. New hinge designs and body refinements have taken care of a lot of these issues, and the fourth-generation devices look and feel more durable.
The Z Fold 4 is the bigger of Samsung's two foldable smartphones, and it folds like a book, going from a 6.2-inch display to a 7.6-inch display. The Z Flip 4 is a smaller foldable that folds vertically, top over bottom, and it has a 6.7-inch display when opened up. When closed, there's a 1.9-inch display where you can see notifications, the time, and other at-a-glance info.
Both of Samsung's foldable devices feature 120Hz OLED displays that look fantastic, and the Z Fold 4 runs a special version of Android built for foldable devices. Android L adds a dock that makes it easy to swap between apps, and there are useful multitasking capabilities.
Beyond the novelty of the folding, these two devices have your general high-end smartphone features. Multi-lens cameras, high-capacity batteries that outlast the iPhone battery, the latest Qualcomm chips, under display cameras, fingerprint sensors, 5G connectivity, and more. Make sure to watch our video up above to see the folding mechanism in action and to get a look at the rest of the feature set.
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone since 2016 when LG Display started producing foldable displays for smartphones, but so far, there have been no tangible rumors about an iPhone that folds as such a device remains in the prototyping stage.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said back in January 2021 that Apple's work on an iPhone with a foldable display was in the early stages, and that the company had not yet committed to releasing a foldable device. Other rumors have indicated that Apple is testing 8-inch and 9-inch foldable options, but we're still years off from a release.
Both display analyst Ross Young and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believe Apple has some kind of foldable iPhone in development with a launch planned for 2025 at the earliest. Apple often holds off on implementing new technology until the available hardware can meet the quality specifications that the Cupertino company demands, so it is no surprise to see Apple waiting for several years after the launch of foldable Android smartphones to launch its own.
In addition to redesigning the System Settings app on macOS Ventura, Apple has removed the app's longstanding Network Locations feature, as noted by Jason Snell at Six Colors. The feature allowed users to quickly switch between different sets of Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and other network settings depending on their location, such as home or work.
Given that macOS Ventura is still in beta, there is always a chance that Network Locations could return at some point, but this seems unlikely given that Apple marked Tyler Loch's bug report about the feature's absence as "works as currently designed."
In a support document, Apple says the Network Locations feature could be useful in circumstances such as those listed below:
- You use the same type of network (such as Ethernet) at work and at home, but the settings you use at work don't allow your Mac to automatically connect to the same type of network at home.
- Your Mac connects to more than one type of network service (such as both Wi-Fi and Ethernet) at work and at home, but at work you want your Mac to try connecting to the Ethernet network first, and at home you want your Mac to try connecting to the Wi-Fi network first. In other words, you want to set a different service order for each location.
- Your Mac isn't connecting to your network and you want to quickly reset your network settings for testing purposes, without losing your current network settings.
Snell says Apple's command-line tool "networksetup" is still present in the latest macOS Ventura beta, so a third-party developer could step in and release an app to replace the Network Locations functionality removed in the System Settings app.
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