Apple's online store is down ahead of new MacBook Air pre-orders, which are set to begin on Friday at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States.
The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a slightly larger 13.6-inch display, a camera notch, a flat-edged chassis, and new Starlight and Midnight color options.
The notebook features MagSafe charging, an upgraded 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones, four speakers, and more.
According to Apple, the M2 chip has up to an 18% faster CPU, up to a 35% faster GPU, and up to a 40% faster Neural Engine compared to the M1 chip.
Thanks to the M2 chip, the MacBook Air can also be configured with up to 24GB of unified memory, which is 8GB more than the M1 chip supports. The notebook is available with up to a 2TB SSD.
Pricing for the new MacBook Air starts at $1,199 in the United States, and deliveries to customers and in-store availability will begin on Friday, July 15. The previous-generation MacBook Air with the M1 chip remains available for $999.
Shazam, the popular music recognition service, has updated its iPhone and iPad app so that songs identified with the Music Recognition feature in iOS now sync with the Shazam app.
For those unfamiliar with Shazam, the app is designed to listen for music that's playing, providing a song title and artist for identification purposes. Apple's iPhones and iPads feature built-in Shazam integration with or without the app installed, available through the Music Recognition button in Control Center, and by asking Siri to identify a song that's playing.
Previously it was believed that the sync feature between Music Recognition in Control Center and the Shazam app was limited to devices running the iOS 16 developer beta, but Shazam has now rolled out the feature to the current app for devices running iOS 15.
Also new in this update, Shazam history is now synced across devices. Previously, long pressing the Music Recognition button in Control Center only displayed song identification history for the current device. Going forward however it will show all songs identified from any device signed into the same Apple ID, regardless of whether it was done via the app or Control Center.
After years of Siri integration, Apple acquired Shazam in 2018, and since iOS 14.2, Apple's mobile devices have had the system-level song recognition function.
In September 2021, Apple announced that the Music Recognition feature in Control Center had surpassed one billion cumulative recognitions across the iPhone and iPad since launching.
The revamped and improved Apple Maps experience is now live for users in France, New Zealand, and Monaco, according to Apple Maps enthusiast Justin O'Beirne. The new Apple Maps experience brings with it more accurate and faster navigation, improved imagery with three-dimensional landmarks and locations, and detailed views of roads, shopping malls, and more.
On a related note, according to O'Beirne, cycling directions for Apple Maps now covers 49 states. Apple maintains a list of where Apple Maps features are available by location on its website, but the latest locations have yet to be added.
Apple is investigating user reports that the iPad mini 6 may stop charging after being updated to iPadOS 15.5, according to a memo sent to service providers and obtained by MacRumors.
In the memo sent to authorized service providers, Apple said that it's aware that some users may report the latest iPad mini as unable to charge after updating to iPadOS 15.5. Apple is advising that service providers and retail staff inform customers to restart the device as a temporary fix while the investigation is ongoing.
Crucially, Apple explicitly notes that a hardware replacement of the iPad or its battery will not solve the problem, confirming it's purely a software issue. Apple is currently beta testing iPadOS 15.6, which may solve the problem when it's released to the public.
Several iPad mini 6 owners have reported charging issues after updating to the latest iPadOS update on the MacRumors and Apple Support forums (1, 2, 3, 4).
Apple's MacBook Air with the M2 chip comes over a year and a half after its M1-based predecessor and, most recently, the company introduced a 15-inch model. The new MacBook Air features a complete redesign as well as several important under-the-hood improvements that could make it a major upgrade worth considering for many users, even though it may not be worthwhile for some.
The MacBook Air is often chosen by those who require a portable, more affordable Apple laptop, with the device offering a lightweight design at a price well below the high-end MacBook Pro models. The M2 MacBook Air sits in the Mac lineup at a $1,099 price point – with the previous M1 model remaining on sale for the same $999 price tag that it debuted with in November 2020.
Whether you are weighing up the upgrade from the M1 MacBook Air to the M2 MacBook Air, or are in the market for a new MacBook Air and are mulling whether it's worth saving $100 by buying the M1 model, our buyer's guide helps you to work out which of the MacBook Air models currently on sale is best for you.
Comparing the M1 and M2 MacBook Air Models
Despite their different designs, there are still a large number of important parallels between the two MacBook Air models:
ProRes encode and decode engine for hardware-accelerated ProRes and ProRes RAW video
100GB/s memory bandwidth
8GB, 16GB, and 24GB unified memory configurations
1080p FaceTime HD camera
Four-speaker sound system or six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers
3.5mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
52.6-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
30W USB-C Power Adapter (with 8-core GPU model) or 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter (with 10-core GPU model)
Supports fast charging with 67W USB-C Power Adapter
Available in Starlight and Midnight
Design
The most noticeable difference between two MacBook Air models is their design. While the M1 MacBook Air mirrors the design of previous models with a tapered, "wedge" design, the M2 model takes design cues from the latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with a uniform thickness and a flat top with rounded bottom edges.
The tapered design of the M1 MacBook Air
It is ultimately a matter of personal preference which design you prefer, but the M1 MacBook Air features the exact same design that the device has been sporting since 2018, which itself carried over the tapered style Apple has used since 2010. The M2 MacBook Air uses Apple's latest design language and looks like a much more modern device.
The uniform thickness of the M2 MacBook Air
Another design difference worth highlighting is that the M2 MacBook Air features a full-height function key row, rather than the M1 model's half-height row, and has a different Touch ID scanner design. The Magic Keyboards are otherwise the same. The full-height function row is unlikely to influence any purchasing decisions, but it is still worth highlighting amid bigger improvements.
Dimensions and Weight
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is 0.19 inches (4.8 mm) thinner than the thickest point of the previous model. Both designs have the exact same width, but the M2 model is slightly longer. Despite not having a tapered design, the new 13-inch MacBook Air delivers a 25 percent volume reduction over the previous generation and should feel more slight in the hand.
True to its name, the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is also 0.1 pounds (45 grams) lighter than the previous model.
M1 MacBook Air
Height (at thickest point): 0.63 inches (1.61 cm)
Height (at thinnest point): 0.16 inches (0.41 cm)
Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
Depth: 8.36 inches (21.24 cm)
Weight: 2.8 pounds (1.29 kg)
M2 MacBook Air (13-Inch)
Height: 0.44 inch (1.13 cm)
Width: 11.97 inches (30.41 cm)
Depth: 8.46 inches (21.5 cm)
Weight: 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
While the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air does not deliver a massive change in terms of portability, its reduction in weight and volume are likely to be welcomed by users who often need to carry their device around. The M1 MacBook Air is by no means a large or overly heavy device, but the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is more likely to fit easily into tight bag compartments and be very slightly less cumbersome. The new design may be more striking and visually appealing, but it is generally not worth buying the latest model purely for better portability.
For users who are less concerned about size and weight, and would prefer a larger display, Apple now offers a 15-inch variant of the M2 MacBook Air.
Color Options
Like many Apple devices, both models are available in Silver and Space Gray. The M2 MacBook Air is not available in Gold, but it offers Starlight and Midnight options.
If you have other Apple devices in Starlight and Midnight, such as an iPhone 14, iPad mini or iPad Air, or aluminum Apple Watch Series 8, you may prefer to get the M2 model to obtain a matching color. The unique champagne tone of Starlight or the navy-tinted hue of Midnight may also simply be more appealing, but Silver and Space Gray users have no reason to prefer the M2 model simply on the basis of color.
Display
Both models feature a high-resolution Retina display with P3 wide color and True Tone, but Apple boasts that the M2 MacBook Air features its latest "Liquid Retina display." This allows it to have slimmer borders, fitting a larger display in a similarly sized device, and the edges of the display curve around the top corners of the lid for a more modern appearance.
The 13-inch M2 MacBook Air's display provides an additional 0.3 inches of diagonal space, making slightly more space for on-screen content, and the display can get 25 percent brighter than the M1 model, making it better for use outdoors, in direct sunlight, or in bright environments.
The M2 MacBook Air features a "notch" to house the FaceTime HD camera that cuts into the top of the display. While the displays feature different resolutions, they have the same 16:10 aspect ratio below the notch, so it should not be an important consideration for most buyers, especially since macOS's menu bar takes advantage of this additional vertical space on the M2 model.
The M1 MacBook Air still has a more than serviceable LCD Retina display that will meet most customers' needs. There are few material differences between the displays in terms of specifications that make it worth buying one device over the other or upgrading, but the larger borders around the M1 model's smaller display certainly make it look more dated, which may sway some customers toward the newer model.
For users who require a bigger display or seek to replace a desktop setup with a MacBook Air, the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air is the perfect choice.
M1 vs. M2
One of the most important differences between the current and previous-generation MacBook Airs is their Apple silicon chip. The M1 chip, introduced in November 2020, is based on Apple's A14 Bionic chip. On the other hand, the M2 is based on the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13.
While both chips feature an eight-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, the M2's cores offer moderate performance and efficiency improvements and up to two additional GPU cores. Apple says that with the M2 chip "intensive workloads like editing complex timelines in Final Cut Pro are nearly 40 percent faster than the previous generation... Applying filters and effects in apps like Adobe Photoshop is up to 20 percent faster than before."
Like the M1 Pro, the M2 features a media engine for hardware-accelerated ProRes and ProRes RAW video encode and decode. On the other hand, the M1 chip's dedicated media engine can only accelerate H.264 and HEVC video. Apple says that this dramatically speeds up video workflows on the latest MacBook Air, allowing users to play back up more 4K and 8K streams of video and convert video projects to ProRes considerably faster than before.
For casual users, the M2 chip is unlikely to make much difference over the M1 chip in day-to-day tasks, with improvements being more noticeable in professional workflows. For more information about the specific differences between the M1 and M2 chips, see our detailed guide:
Both the M1 and M2 are configurable with 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, but the M2 offers an additional 24GB top-tier memory option. Multitasking and memory-hungry workflows, such as working with large assets, benefit from the higher memory option as a result.
In addition, the M2 has a 100GB/s memory bandwidth, compared to 68.25GB/s with the M1, meaning that the latest MacBook Air can access more memory faster.
Camera
The M2 MacBook Air includes a new 1080p FaceTime HD camera with twice the resolution and low-light performance of the previous generation, according to Apple. This is sure to substantially improve the video calling experience compared to the 720p camera of the M1 model.
Speakers
The M2 MacBook Air offers a four-speaker sound system integrated between the keyboard and the display, which Apple says "produce improved stereo separation and vocal clarity." The M1 MacBook Air retains a stereo speaker setup, which is likely to be good enough for most users. Both devices support wide stereo sound and Dolby Atmos playback.
Ports and Charging
The M2 MacBook Air ups the device's audio credentials further with support for high-impedance headphones like the high-end 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros, which could be an important upgrade for some audio professionals.
More noticeable is the presence of a MagSafe port on the M2 MacBook Air, allowing users to connect and release the charging cable from their MacBook Air more easily – especially if the charging cable is accidentally pulled, and see an LED indicator for the device's charging status.
Both models feature two Thunderbolt ports, so there is no outright difference when it comes to connecting accessories, but it is worth noting that the MagSafe port on the M2 model effectively frees up a Thunderbolt port for accessories that would otherwise need to be used for charging.
Though the M2 MacBook Air comes with a larger lithium-polymer battery, both devices have the same 18-hour battery life, regardless of whether you choose the 13- or the 15-inch M2 model. When using a 67W USB-C Power Adapter, the M2 MacBook Air supports fast charging.
M2 MacBook Air models configured with the 10-core GPU option come with a 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter, rather than the one-port 30W USB-C Power Adapter that comes with the M1 model and base M2 MacBook Air model.
Final Thoughts
In some senses, the M2 MacBook Air is similar to its predecessor, with the same Magic Keyboard and Force Touch trackpad, two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a passive cooling system, and 18-hour battery life. The devices have a similar footprint, Retina display around 13 inches in size, up to 2TB of storage, can hardware-accelerate H.264 and HEVC video, and come with a 30W charger as standard.
That being said, there is no doubt that the M2 MacBook Air delivers a major redesign. Its uniform thickness, reduced volume and weight, larger display with slimmer borders, and full-height function row are sure to make for a more modern appearance. Yet there are also practical improvements such as the MagSafe port, fast charging, brighter display, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and four-speaker sound system that meaningfully improve the user experience in many areas.
The new 15-inch model offers a new form-factor that offers the best balance of display area and portability for many users, for only $1,299 – $200 more than the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air. There is no 15-inch variant of the M1 model available.
Given that it has only been almost three years since Apple launched the M1 MacBook Air, it will be worth choosing the M2 model from the perspective of future-proofing.
For these reasons, if choosing between buying the M1 MacBook Air or the M2 MacBook Air, it is definitely worth spending the additional $100 for the M2 model's new design, better performance, and across-the-board improvements. That being said, if price is an issue, the M1 MacBook Air is still a very capable machine with plenty of similarities to the latest model. The M1 chip remains very capable and should offer sufficient performance for many users.
When considering an upgrade from the M1 MacBook Air to the M2 model, users should weigh up how much they would utilize specific improvements. The M2 chip is unlikely to eclipse the M1 for everyday users, but for some workflows, it could offer real enhancements. For example, the M2's ProRes encode and decode engine, 100GB/s memory bandwidth, and 24GB memory option may make it a much more powerful device for professionals.
M1 MacBook Air users who need more than 16GB of memory, make lots of video calls, or even those who are prone to accidentally tugging on their charging cable should consider upgrading. The combined advancements of the new design, M2 chip, four-speaker system, larger display, and faster charging make switching the M1 MacBook Air for the M2 model a more worthwhile action than many other generation-over-generation upgrades. Likewise, upgrading to the 15-inch model is a worthwhile step up simply due to its size.
The M2 MacBook Air may be best suited to those who are first-time MacBook Air buyers or are upgrading from an older machine, rather than 2020's M1 model. Nevertheless, the M2 MacBook Air is a significantly more appealing overall package with major improvements in almost all areas, making it a justifiable upgrade for almost everyone.
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs was today posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Joe Biden. When announcing recipients earlier this week, The White House said that Jobs' inventions changed the way the world communicates.
Steve Jobs (d. 2011) was the co-founder, chief executive, and chair of Apple, Inc., CEO of Pixar and held a leading role at the Walt Disney Company. His vision, imagination and creativity led to inventions that have, and continue to, change the way the world communicates, as well as transforming the computer, music, film and wireless industries.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recognized Jobs' award on Twitter, and said that he was a "visionary" who saw the world for "what it could be."
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States, and it is given to those who have "made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors."
Today, Steve was awarded the Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. He was a visionary who challenged us to see the world not for what it is, but for what it could be. We cherish his memory and we’ll continue building on his legacy. pic.twitter.com/G6cbBdGzvY
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 7, 2022
Jobs was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom alongside Simone Biles, Sister Simone Campbell, Julieta García, Gabrielle Giffords, Fred Gray, Father Alexander Karloutsos, Khizr Khan, Sandra Lindsay, John McCain (posthumous), Diane Nash, Megan Rapinoe, Alan Simpson, Richard Trumka (posthumous), Wilma Vaught, Denzel Washington, and Raúl Yzaguirre.
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.
Netflix today announced that it is partnering with Sennheiser for a new spatial audio experience that will be available for the Netflix content catalog.
Using Sennheiser AMBEO technology, stereo audio will be enhanced with an immersive surround sound experience that is compatible with all devices, all streaming plans, and that does not require surround sound speakers or home theater equipment.
This feature will enable spatial audio on devices (including Apple devices) that do not normally support it. It is separate technology from the spatial audio support that has been available on spatial audio-compatible Apple hardware since August 2021, and it is designed for those who do not have devices that already support the spatial audio feature.
Netflix says that subscribers who do not have surround sound speakers or devices that work with the traditional spatial audio feature will see spatial audio enabled automatically when watching a compatible TV show or movie.
For those unfamiliar, spatial audio is designed to provide theater-like sound from a movie, video, or TV show that you're watching, offering a sound experience that sounds like it's coming from all around you.
According to Netflix, spatial audio is in the process of rolling out across the Netflix content catalog starting today, and users can find shows and movies that support spatial audio by typing "spatial audio" into the search bar.
To be clear, for those who have spatial audio-compatible Apple devices, nothing will be changing as spatial audio support has already been available. Compatible Apple headphones include the third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats Fit Pro.
Compatible Apple devices include the iPhone 7 or later, iPad Air third-generation and later, iPad mini fifth-generation and later, iPad Pro third-generation or later, and Apple TV 4K. The iPhones and iPads must be running iOS 15.1 or above and the Apple TV 4K must be running tvOS 15 or above.
Apple today sent out emails with new Apple Pay discounts, offering a series of "Road Trip" themed summer deals from companies like HotelTonight, Wawa, Sonic, and more. The discounts are outlined below.
HotelTonight - 10% off a hotel reservation when making a purchase in the app with promo code APPLEPAYHT.
Jimmy John's - $2 off a sandwich when ordering ahead with Freaky Fast Rewards and Apple Pay.
ParkWhiz - $4 off your next four parking reservations of $4 or more using promo code APPLEPAY4.
SONIC Drive-In - 50% off a SONIC blast for your next order in app with Apple Pay.
Wawa - $5 off when you spend $20 or more using mobile order in app with promo code APPLEPAY.
The summer discounts are available from today through July 13, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Most of the deals cannot be combined with other offers, and it's worth noting that the Wawa deal excludes gasoline, tobacco, and alcohol purchases.
iOS 16 now features dedicated awards for Apple Fitness+ workouts, as of the third developer beta.
In iOS 15, activity awards are earned by completing specific challenges, such as hitting a new Move ring record, having a perfect exercise week, or reaching 100 Move goals. The awards can be achieved both with and without Fitness+ workouts, but in iOS 16, Apple is offering a new way for users to celebrate their Fitness+ achievements.
The new awards, added in the third developer beta of iOS 16, relate to specific Fitness+ workouts and categories and are identifiable by their unique shape.
It is not yet clear how many Fitness+ awards are up for grabs, but MacRumors has seen new awards for completing milestone numbers of Fitness+ workouts, both in terms of total workouts across categories and individual categories, Fitness+ workout streaks, and best workouts for individual categories, as well as awards for the first time a new Fitness+ workout category is completed.
The awards are available retrospectively for completed Fitness+ workouts that have met an award's criteria, but users may not see the new awards on their devices until they complete their next Fitness+ workout.
In addition to the new Fitness+ awards, Apple has also added new standard awards for milestone running distances, starting at five kilometers.
Beyond new activity awards, iOS 16 brings the Fitness app to all iPhone users, even if they don't use an Apple Watch, allowing them to set up a daily Move goal and see how their active calories help to close their Move ring.
We're tracking a large collection of discounts across the Apple Watch lineup today, including a few all-time low prices on both the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 7.
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.
40mm GPS SE
Starting with the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE, Amazon has this device for $229.99, down from $279.00. This deal is available in three color options and all are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon today.
Compared to past sales, this is a match of the 2022 record low price on the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE. For the 40mm Cellular Apple Watch SE, you can get an all-time low price of $279.99 with the use of an automatic on-page coupon on Amazon, down from $329.00.
44mm GPS SE
You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $259.99 on Amazon, down from $309.00. This model is also available in three colors (note that Gold and Silver Aluminum have an on-page coupon), but overall it's a second-best price on this model.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
If you're shopping for the 44mm Cellular model of the Apple Watch SE, Amazon has this model down to a new record low price of $305.91, from $359.00. This deal is only available in Gold Aluminum, while the Silver Aluminum option is just slightly higher at $309.00.
41mm GPS Series 7
The cheapest available Apple Watch Series 7 model is the 41mm GPS device, on sale for $329.00 in five colors, down from $399.00. Although we've seen one color (Green) at a cheaper price during a rare discount a few months ago, for most colors this is an all-time low price.
Again, all five colors are on sale for the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7, available for $359.00, down from $429.00. Two of the colors have seen lower prices in the past, but for the majority of the 45mm GPS models this is an all-time low price.
Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett this week launched a new Kickstarter campaign for his 2023 Apple History Calendar, which highlights notable Apple software announcements over the years and features custom photos of Apple products each month.
"These dates cover everything from Apple's earliest software to the latest and greatest versions of macOS, iOS, iPadOS and more," wrote Hackett, in a post on his Apple-focused blog 512 Pixels. "The calendar also includes a wide range of first-party software titles from iLife and iWork to things like Cyberdog and Rhapsody."
The custom wall calendar measures 20 inches by 13 inches when hanging on a wall with a thumbtack or pin. Each month features a custom photo of an Apple product or accessory shot by Hackett, such as a wheel for the Mac Pro tower shot at Apple Park.
Kickstarter backers who pledge $32 or more will receive the wall calendar and some extra perks. Hackett says the calendars will be printed in and shipped worldwide from his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, with estimated delivery in November 2022. More details are available on the Kickstarter page for the project.
Hackett is a well-known Apple podcaster and blogger and successfully launched a similar 2022 Apple Hardware Calendar on Kickstarter last year.
Stage Manager on iPadOS 16 is now optimized for iPhone apps on the iPad, letting users use apps made for the smaller iPhone screen as individual windows on M1-powered iPads while using Stage Manager.
With the release of iPadOS 16 beta 3, Apple is now allowing iPhone apps to run as individual windows in Stage Manager. This means popular iPhone apps that have no iPad app, such as Instagram, can achieve a semi-normal user experience thanks to the new multitasking interface.
Stage Manager is one of the biggest new features for iPadOS 16, letting users have overlapping app windows. Stage Manager on iPadOS 16 is only available on the latest iPad Air and the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros with M1. Apple says that only iPads with the power of M1 can run Stage Manager.
iPadOS 16, alongside iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9, will be released to the public this fall.
Following the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote in June, Apple provided developers with a beta firmware for several AirPods models, including the second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. Apple today updated that firmware, with the version number going from 5A5282d to 5A304a.
The updated AirPods firmware is limited to developers, who can download the software from the More Downloads page on the Apple developer website. Installing the beta requires an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods.
Developers are required to pair the AirPods with an iPhone, connect the iPhone to a Mac with a Lightning cable, launch Xcode 14 beta on the Mac, navigate to Settings → Developer, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware under the AirPods Testing section. Subsequent updates are delivered over the air once the pre-release testing option is enabled.
According to Apple, the beta firmware includes improvements to Automatic Switching as well as bug and stability fixes. The software will eventually come to all AirPods after testing is finished, and it could see a release this fall alongside iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9.
Apple is working on an "extreme sports" version of the Apple Watch that will feature a larger screen and a metal casing that's better able to stand up to abuse, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who experience more extreme conditions when wearing their Apple Watches, the new device will be Apple's biggest to date. The display will measure in at almost two inches diagonally, which is larger than the 1.9-inch diagonal screen size of the current Apple Watch Series 7 and the planned Apple Watch Series 8.
It will have approximately 7 percent more screen area than the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7, and a display resolution of 410 x 502 pixels. Gurman speculates that Apple may use the extra display area to provide more fitness metrics on the Apple Watch face at one time.
There is no word on what Apple will call this new watch, but it will include improved impact resistance and protection in the form of a metal material that is stronger than aluminum. It will include a more shatter-resistant screen and it's also going to have a larger battery to accommodate longer workout times.
The sport-focused version of the Apple Watch will be sold alongside the standard Apple Watch Series 8 planned for later this year and the Apple Watch SE, which is also expected to see a refresh in 2022. Aside from a larger body and more durable casing, the Apple Watch sport edition will function the same as other Apple Watches and will get the same features coming to the Series 8.
Rumors suggest the Apple Watch Series 8 will feature an S8 chip that's similar to the S7 and the S6 before that, along with an updated low power mode and new health features that would let it monitor temperature. For more on everything coming to the Apple Watch Series 8, we have a dedicated Apple Watch Series 8 guide.
Apple today seeded the third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers for testing purposes, and as expected, the betas refine some of the features that Apple has added in iOS 16, and there are also some new additions. Everything new in the third beta of iOS 16 is outlined below.
AFib History
Apple in iOS 16 and watchOS 9 is adding an AFib History feature for those who have atrial fibrillation, with the aim of tracking how long a person is in atrial fibrillation and how often. In iOS 16 beta 3, the AFib History section has been added to the Health app, and the AFib feature is activated in watchOS 9 beta 3. For now, AFib History is limited to those in the United States.
iCloud Shared Photo Library
The third beta of iOS 16 introduces support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, which is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with friends and family members. You can invite up to five people to share a photo library with you, and all participants can add, delete, and edit images.
Lockdown Mode
Added as an extreme security measure, Lockdown Mode is available in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. It is an optional security feature that is aimed at protecting a small number of high-profile users who are at risk of targeted cyberattacks from state-sponsored spyware.
Lockdown Mode is aimed at journalists, activists, government employees, and others who might be targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks. It is not for the everyday user, and it restricts many iPhone features. In Messages, for example, attachments other than images are blocked, and in FaceTime, calls from people you have not previously contacted are blocked.
Complex web technologies and browsing features are blocked in web browsers, shared albums are removed from the Photos app, wired connections are blocked, and configuration profiles cannot be installed. More on Lockdown Mode can be found in our article outlining the feature.
Lock Screen Time Font
There are now 12 fonts to choose from for the time on the customizable iOS 16 Lock Screen, including one option that is thinner than prior fonts, and another that is a thicker version of the previously available serif font.
Calendar Lock Screen Widget
For privacy purposes, the Calendar Lock Screen widget no longer provides details on the next upcoming event while the iPhone is locked. It blurs out the information until the iPhone is unlocked by its owner.
Reminders
Theres a new "Include Due Today" option in the Settings section of the Reminders app. It is designed to include both overdue and due today items in the badge count, rather than just due today items.
Earth Lock Screen Wallpaper
With the Earth Lock Screen wallpaper, widgets will no longer block the view of the earth. The earth image moves down when widgets are used, and up if there are no widgets placed. In prior versions of the beta, widgets overlapped.
iOS Version Interface Update
In the Settings app under About > iOS Version, if you tap on the version number, the interface has been updated. It's simpler and is no longer a pop-up card, plus it no longer links to Apple's security website.
Clownfish Wallpaper
Some iOS 16 users who installed the third beta are seeing a Clownfish wallpaper option. This wallpaper was on the original iPhone when it was introduced by Steve Jobs in 2007, but it has never officially launched. It is not showing up for everyone, but it could be added as a wallpaper option in a future beta.
Some users appear to be seeing a new Clownfish wallpaper in iOS 16 beta 3. This is the wallpaper Steve Jobs used when the original iPhone was announced in 2007 — but it never actually ever shipped with any iPhone. Here we are 15 years later. https://t.co/OLTvb1KVJG
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 6, 2022
Stage Manager
On the iPad, there is a new splash screen for the Stage Manager feature. There are also new tutorials for walking you through how to use it, along with an updated multitasking menu with improved labeling.
iCloud Splash Screen
When choosing an iCloud+ subscription option, there's a new splash screen that explains the features.
Virtual Card Support
iOS 16 adds support for virtual cards for shopping using Safari. Some banks and card providers allow customers to generate virtual card numbers (similar to how Apple Card works) to use online to avoid having their credit card details stolen. Safari in iOS 16 will support this feature based on code in the beta.
Other New Features
Know of a new feature in iOS 16 beta 3 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.
Today we're tracking a pair of sitewide sales that you can find on Nomad and ZAGG, offering up to 30 percent off popular accessories like wireless chargers, Siri Remote cases, MagSafe-compatible car vent mounts, and much more.
Nomad
Nomad today kicked off a sale in celebration of its ten year anniversary, offering shoppers a chance to save 30 percent sitewide through July 15. You won't need any code for this sale as all markdowns will be automatically applied at the checkout screen.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Nomad sells a wide variety of accessories for Apple products, including a new Leather Cover for the Siri Remote, which has a spot to secure an AirTag. You'll also find MagSafe-compatible wireless chargers, waterproof Apple Watch bands, USB-C power adapters, and more.
At ZAGG, you can still get 25 percent off sitewide during its Fourth of July sale event, which the company has extended until tonight at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time. During this sale, you can get 25 percent off up to three products sitewide on ZAGG's website.
This excludes any products that have already been discounted. You won't need any coupon codes for this sale as all discounts will be automatically applied at the checkout screen.
Under this sale, you can save across Mophie's brand of popular charging accessories. This includes its best wireless chargers, portable chargers, and battery cases for iPhone and other smartphones.
With the third betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura that went out to developers this morning, Apple has added support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, a new feature that was not in the initial betas.
iCloud Shared Photo Library is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with your family members, and after installing iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or macOS Ventura, it can be set up in the Settings app. Under Photos, scroll down to "Shared Library" and tap it.
From there, tap on "Start Setup" to add participants you want to share with. You can invite up to five other people, and all participants can add, edit, or delete content from the shared library. You can add any five people, including people who you do not have a Family Sharing setup with.
After selecting people to share with, you can opt to move your photos to the Shared Library. You can move all your photos and videos, photos that include select people or that are from a select date, or you can choose photos manually.
Once your photos are added, you can preview the library before it's shared, and then officially invite participants using the Messages app or a shared link. All participants will have access to all photos that are uploaded to the shared library.
To prevent accidentally shared photos, there are smart setup rules that can be implemented. You can opt to share all past photos or just photos from a specific start date. You can also choose to share photos that have only specific people, such as your family members.
Photos can be added to the Shared Library automatically, but there are also options to share based on Bluetooth proximity. Sharing suggestions will continue to pop up in For You as well.
With a new toggle in the Camera app you can upload all photos you take to the Shared Library automatically, so if you're out on vacation with your family, everyone can see vacation photos as soon as they're snapped.
Shared photos will show up in Memories, Featured Photos, and the Photos widget, similar to standard iCloud Library images.
Apple today seeded the third beta of macOS 13 Ventura, the next-generation version of the Mac operating system that's set to launch this fall. The third beta comes two weeks after Apple provided the second beta to developers.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new feature that lets Mac users focus on a task while keeping other apps at the ready for easy swapping between tasks. The update adds Continuity Camera, which is designed to let you use the iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. It supports Center Stage, Desk View (for showing off your desk), and Studio Light.
Handoff is now available for FaceTime so you can transfer calls between iPhone, iPad, and Mac at will, and Messages supports features for marking an iMessage as unread, unsending an iMessage, and marking as unread. SharePlay also now works in the Messages app.
The Mail app supports scheduling and undoing emails for up to 10 seconds after they're sent, and there are now Weather and Clock apps that are available on the Mac. System Preferences has been renamed System Settings, and it features an iOS-like design.
Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working on Passkeys, a next-generation credential that replaces the password. There are updates to Spotlight, Photo Library has new features, and Metal 3 is included in macOS Ventura for better graphics in games.
The third beta of macOS Ventura reintroduces trackpad gesture videos in the macOS settings app. You can see the videos under the "Trackpad" section, and it demos options like tap to click, secondary click, and more.
For everything new in macOS Ventura, we have a dedicated roundup that goes through all of the features. macOS Ventura is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to make a public beta available in July.
The tapered design of the M1 MacBook Air
The uniform thickness of the M2 MacBook Air
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
