MacRumors

Twitter or "X" CEO Elon Musk today said that he plans to speak with Apple CEO Tim Cook about lower App Store fees for creators who earn money through subscriptions on the Twitter/X social network.

In a post on creator support, Musk said that he plans to ask Apple to collect 30 percent of the creator fee that Twitter keeps rather than 30 percent of the total fee that a creator on Twitter earns. That would potentially give Apple a much lower cut of the money that Twitter is paying out to creators.

Musk said that Twitter does not plan to collect any fees from creators who earn under $100,000. After the $100k mark, Twitter will collect 10 percent of a creator's earnings, though the first 12 months will be free for all creators. If Apple agreed, Apple would be entitled to 30 percent of the 10 percent cut that Twitter takes from creators earning more than $100k.

Apple collects in-app purchase fees from subscription purchases that are made through the Twitter app on iOS devices. Apple earns 30 percent for the first year of a subscription, and 15 percent for each subsequent year. Apple takes the same cut of all digital purchases on the ‌App Store‌, and the Cupertino company is not known for making exceptions to its rules.

Musk's request would not work with the current in-app purchase setup as Apple is collecting its fee from each subscriber who pays a creator rather than from the creator directly.

Facebook has protested the fee that Apple collects from the Facebook subscription option for creators, but Apple has not changed its policies. Facebook instead encourages people to support creators by subscribing on the web rather than on a mobile device, which is a method that Musk could use to limit the fees that Apple takes.

Musk has in the past criticized Apple's App Store fees, calling the cut that Apple collects "definitely not ok" and likening it to a "30% tax on the internet."

With the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup fast approaching, MacRumors video editor Dan Barbera thought he'd take a look back at his last year (almost) using the iPhone 14 Pro Max before it's time to move on to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max introduced the Dynamic Island for the first time, and it's been a feature that Apple doesn't seem to have taken full advantage of yet. It also brought the higher-end 48-megapixel camera sensor and the Always-On display.

Dan goes into depth on how the iPhone 14 Pro Max (used caseless!) has held up over the course of the last 11 months, what battery life is like, and how the latest feature set has worked out for him. The video provides an thoughtful retrospective on a year with Apple's flagship iPhone as we head into iPhone launch season.

We're expecting the iPhone 15 models to come out in September as usual. The standard models won't get much in the way of an upgrade aside from a transition to the ‌Dynamic Island‌ and a USB-C port, but we can expect slimmer bezels, faster chips, and a periscope telephoto lens for the iPhone 15 Pro Max that will replace the 14 Pro Max. More details on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models can be found in our roundups.

Apple Card holders have deposited more than $10 billion in ‌Apple Card‌ Savings accounts that are provided by Goldman Sachs, Apple announced today.

The Savings accounts first launched in April, so that milestone comes at the four month mark. Apple says that 97 percent of Savings customers have opted into having their ‌Apple Card‌ Daily Cash automatically deposited into the account, which offers a 4.15 APY.

"With each of the financial products we've introduced, we've sought to reinvent the category with our users' financial health in mind. That was our goal with the launch of Apple Card four years ago, and it remained our guiding principle with the launch of Savings," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. "With no fees, no minimum deposits, and no minimum balance requirements, Savings provides an easy way for users to save money every day, and we're thrilled to see the excellent reception from customers both new and existing."

In a statement, Goldman Sachs Head of Enterprise Partnerships said that the company is "very pleased" with the Savings account success.

‌Apple Card‌ continues to be limited to iPhone users in the United States, which means the Apple Savings account is only available in the U.S. Apple's announcement comes amid reports that its relationship with Goldman Sachs is on the rocks. Goldman Sachs is allegedly looking to get out of its partnership with Apple as it aims to exit the consumer banking business.

Apple and Goldman Sachs have worked together on the ‌Apple Card‌ since 2019, but Goldman Sachs wants to abandon the deal because it is not making enough money and it has had trouble dealing with customer service issues. The Savings account in particular soured the relationship between the two companies because early customers saw long wait times when attempting to withdraw money.

Goldman Sachs is said to be aiming to have American Express or another company take over its deal with Apple, but the terms are not favorable because the ‌Apple Card‌ lacks fees, and other companies do not find the deal appealing.

Amazon and Expercom are offering steep discounts on the 2021 and 2023 MacBook Pro, with up to $450 off select models. All deals listed below have been automatically applied and do not require a coupon code.

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.

M1 Pro

Expercom has the 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,549.00, down from $1,999.00. This is one of the best prices we've ever tracked on this model of the 2021 MacBook Pro, and given that sales have shifted to focus on the 2023 models it has been some time since we saw a solid deal on these previous generation models.

Despite being a few years old now, the 2021 MacBook Pro is still a great computer with solid performance stats, especially if you're upgrading from an Intel-based device. You can find all of the similarities and differences between the two generations in our 2021 vs. 2023 MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide.

M2 Pro

If you're looking for the latest models, Amazon has a few discounts on the 16-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro. You can get the 512GB notebook for $2,249.00, down from $2,499.00.

The 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,449.00, down from $2,699.00. Both of these discounts represent all-time low prices on the 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple in July began inviting developers to Vision Pro-focused developer labs in cities that include Cupertino, London, Munich, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo, but so far, developers don't appear to be expressing a lot of interest in attending.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the developer labs have been "under-filled with small amounts of developers." One issue is that Apple is not offering U.S. developer labs outside of Cupertino, which means any developer that wants to try the Vision Pro must travel to Apple's headquarters in California.

The Vision Pro developer labs that Apple is hosting are meant to give developers hands-on time with the Vision Pro headset as well as help from Apple engineers as they begin to develop apps for the upcoming device. The labs will provide testing and optimization for visionOS apps, with Apple experts on hand.

Any developer can apply to attend a developer lab, but Apple is not reimbursing for travel, and developers located on the east coast of the United States will have to fund cross-country travel to get to the lab. Apple's choice to host only one U.S. lab location is curious as the company has said that the Vision Pro will be launching first in the United States before becoming available in other countries.

The visionOS simulator has not been available for long, so many developers may still have apps in development and might not be ready to attend a lab. Other developers may not be motivated to create apps when the Vision Pro isn't slated to launch in their countries for some time.

Apple is also planning to send Vision Pro developer kits to some developers, and applications opened two weeks ago. The developer kits are available in limited quantities, with Apple prioritizing apps that best take advantage of the Vision Pro features and capabilities. Apple has strict rules for the developer kits, such as limiting them to one development site and keeping them in a private, secure workspace, which may not be possible for some smaller developers.

Developers will have more than six months to test and develop apps for the Vision Pro as it is not expected to launch until early 2024, a timeline that could range from January 2024 to April 2024, and that's provided there are no launch delays.

Belkin today announced the launch of a new accessory in its BoostCharge Pro lineup, debuting a 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe integration.

Priced at $80, the ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Pad has a ‌MagSafe‌ puck for charging a compatible iPhone at up to 15W. iPhones have supported ‌MagSafe‌ since the iPhone 12, and all models will work with 15W charging with the exception of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini, which max out at 12W.

There is also a charging space for the AirPods that delivers up to 5W of power. There is no Apple Watch charging available with the new BoostCharge Pro, and because this is a flat charger, it is not compatible with the StandBy mode coming to the iPhone in iOS 17.

The AirPods charging station can also be used to charge other Qi-based devices such as an additional iPhone, albeit at a slower speed than ‌MagSafe‌. The 2-in-1 Charging Pad is available in either black or white, and it has a slim design that is ideal for travel.

The BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad can be purchased from the Belkin website for $80.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today predicted that demand for the iPhone 15 series will be lower than that of the iPhone 14 series this year. Kuo said the lower demand could make it challenging for Apple suppliers to grow revenue in the second half of 2023.

The upcoming iPhone lineup should consist of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. All four models are rumored to be equipped with a USB-C port and the Dynamic Island, which is currently exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models. Additional features are rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models, including a faster A17 Bionic chip, titanium frame, customizable Action button, thinner bezels around the display, Wi-Fi 6E support, up to 5-6x optical zoom for the Pro Max camera, and more.

iPhone 15 Pro models will likely cost $100 to $200 more than iPhone 14 Pro models in the U.S., according to Tim Long, an analyst at British bank Barclays. These price increases could temper demand for the devices, especially as some consumers may be reducing their discretionary spending due to above-average inflation over the past few years.

In the end, Kuo's prediction is still just a prediction, and we'll have to wait and see how well the iPhone 15 series sells. The addition of a USB-C port has been a long-awaited feature among tech enthusiasts, and the Dynamic Island expanding to the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus could help to boost sales of those lower-end models.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 series in early September. Are you planning to upgrade? Let us know in the comments section.

Google today announced a new Chrome downloads experience for its desktop browser, with the update aimed at making it easier to interact with recently downloaded files.

Chrome's updated download tray is located to the right of the address bar, and it replaces the interface at the bottom of the display. The new look is closer to the Safari download window, which is also at the top of the browser.

When a download is in progress, an animated ring will provide a quick way to monitor the download at a glance, and when the download has finished, the tray will open up briefly before dismissing itself for uninterrupted browsing. The download tray houses Chrome downloads from the past 24 hours, and it includes in-line options for opening the folder that a download went to. Downloads can be canceled, retried, paused, and resumed from the download tray.

Potentially malicious downloads will continue to trigger an alert, with the new interface providing additional context if malware or a virus is detected in a download. Google says that a more advanced deep scan function will be coming in the near future.

Google today also highlighted several new features that have been added to Chrome for iOS. When tapping on the address bar of an eligible site, Chrome will bring up relevant search suggestions. As an example, if you're reading an article about Japan, Chrome will show related searches for restaurants and tourist attractions in a new "Related to this page" interface.

Chrome is also now offering more search suggestions. When starting a search, you'll see 10 suggestions for things you might want to search for, up from six. The most relevant suggestions in the list will show up first.

Later this year, Google plans to add a trending feature to iOS. Already available on Android devices, the trending feature shows you what's popular with Google searches directly from the Chrome address bar.

More information on the new features can be found on the Chrome blog.

Samsung today kicked off a new monitor sale, providing up to $700 off select monitors. Within this sale is one of the first discounts on the latest model of the 32-inch iMac-like Smart Monitor M8, available for $599.99, down from $699.99.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Samsung launched this refreshed version of the Smart Monitor M8 back in June, including updates like HDR10+ support and a portrait orientation option. Today's sale is the lowest price we've tracked since the monitor debuted, although it's not quite as low as we've seen the previous generation monitor get in past sales.

Besides the Smart Monitor M8, there are five other Samsung monitors being discounted this week. The sale is focused on Samsung's line of curved gaming monitors, ranging in price from $1,099.99 to $2,499.99 and totaling up to $700 in savings.

• 32-inch Odyssey Neo G7 Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,099.99, down from $1,299.99
• 34-inch Odyssey OLED G8 Curved Smart Gaming Monitor - $1,299.99, down from $1,499.99
• 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,299.99, down from $1,499.99
• 49-inch Odyssey Neo Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,499.99, down from $2,199.99
• 55-inch Odyssey Ark 4K Curved Gaming Monitor - $2,499.99, down from $2,999.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple suppliers will likely begin mass production of a second-generation AirTag in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to new information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The current AirTag launched in April 2021 and is priced at $29.

Kuo believes the new AirTag will have better integration with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset, as part of a spatial computing ecosystem, but he did not provide any additional details or reveal any other potential new features for the item tracker.

The current AirTag is equipped with an Apple-designed U1 chip for Ultra Wideband, enabling a Precision Finding feature that displays the distance and direction to an AirTag. Kuo already said iPhone 15 models will likely have an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip, so perhaps Apple is planning an upgraded U2 chip for both iPhones and the AirTag.

Based on this timeframe, a new AirTag is still over a year away from launching, so additional rumors about the accessory are likely to surface over the coming months.

DJI today announced the launch of the Osmo Action 4, a new action camera that DJI describes as the ultimate companion for adventure enthusiasts and thrill seekers.

Designed for capturing action shots, the Osmo Action 4 features an improved 1/1.3" image sensor compared to the prior-generation Action 3. It continues to include an f/2.8 aperture, a 155 degree field of view, and the ability to shoot 4K video at up to 120 frames per second.

There are multiple shooting modes for high movement sports, including 360 degree HorizonSteady modes for vertical shots, horizontal shots, FPV footage, Wi-Fi livestreaming, and more. DJI says that the color temperature sensor is able to ensure vivid, true-to-life shades outdoors, indoors, and underwater.

The Osmo Action 4's battery supports up to 2.5 hours of filming, and there is a fast charge feature that provides 80 percent power in 18 minutes. The battery can withstand freezing temperatures, and the camera can film in water up to 18 meters deep without a case.

Other features include dual touchscreens, a Quick Switch button for swapping modes, built-in microphones, and voice control options.

There are a wide range of accessories that are compatible with the Osmo Action 4, such as a helmet mount, chest mount, waterproof case, bike rail mount, wrist strap, backpack strap mount, neck mount, and floating handle.

The Osmo Action 4 Standard Combo is priced at $400, and it can be purchased from the DJI website.

The progress of Apple's generative AI technology is significantly behind its competitors and there is no sign that the company plans to launch AI services next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a new post on Medium outlining how Apple's imminent earnings report will affect Apple stocks and the supply chain, Kuo explained that the company will likely not dedicate much time to discussion of AI during its earnings call due to its lack of progress in the area. There is reportedly no sign that Apple has plans to launch or integrate AI computing or hardware products in 2024, indicating that AI is unlikely to boost the company's stock price or supply chain in the immediate future.

Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on "Apple GPT" artificial intelligence projects that could rival OpenAI's ChatGPT. Apple does not yet have a "clear strategy" for creating a product for consumers, and while it could be planning to make a "significant" AI announcement in 2024, Gurman claims it has no concrete plans as of yet.

During Apple's May earnings call, Tim Cook said there are a "number of issues that need to be sorted" with AI, and that it's important to be "deliberate and thoughtful" in the development approach. Cook also said that Apple views AI as "huge," and plans to "continue weaving it in products on a very thoughtful basis."

Apple appears to be working on a deal to secure the rights to college football games, as it has proposed a deal to the Pac-12. According to ESPN, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff on Tuesday presented the conference with a potential subscription-based Apple streaming deal.

The Pac-12 television contract expires after this school year, giving Apple an in for negotiating a new deal. So far, the Apple streaming deal is the "likely leader," but no deal has been reached.

A deal with Apple would begin in the 2024-2025 season and would be short-term to begin with. The terms would be similar to Apple's partnership with MLS, with Apple offering a standalone subscription and Apple in turn getting exclusive streaming rights.

According to sources, the first year of what's expected to be a relatively short-term contract with Apple would start in 2024-25 and begin relatively low to the league's hopes. But the deal, sources said, would incrementally improve and potentially be competitive with its peers in the Big 12 and ACC down the road, provided certain subscription numbers are met.

Pac-12 includes the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, UC Berkeley, University of Oregon, Stanford University, Oregon State University, University of Utah, University of Washington, and Washington State University, though there are additional affiliate members. Pac-12 members are concerned about a drop in viewership should the traditional broadcast model be abandoned in favor of streaming.

A Pac-12 streaming deal needs to provide the money and exposure that the universities are looking for. The Big 12 Conference inked deals with ESPN and Fox, with teams set to earn an average of $31.7 million annually, so Apple would need to come close to that.

Dock and stand accessory company Svalt this month introduced three new cooling docks that are designed for Apple's line of MacBook Pro machines. The Cooling Dock DHCR, Cooling Dock DHC, and Cooling Dock DHCx are designed to be used with Macs in clamshell mode.

Priced between $220 and $280, the docks are carved from solid aluminum to transfer heat away from the MacBook's processor. Svalt says the docks have been designed with cooling fins, deep air channels, and a curving horizontal air channel, all of which pull heat away from the ‌MacBook Pro‌.

The DHC model has a built-in fan at the back of the dock, while the other two versions have optional add-on accessory fans or can be used without a fan.

The dock is designed to position the laptop at the ideal angle for heat dissipation, and a protective edge and retention pad hold the machine in place. Apple silicon Macs aren't known for their heat, but Svalt claims that the dock is able to eliminate heat throttling and ensure that the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is able to reach peak performance when in clamshell mode.

According to Svalt, the Cooling Docks are built to "seamlessly merge" with the built-in cooling systems of the 2021 to 2023 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models and "all other Apple laptops from the last decade."

More information on the docks can be found on the Svalt website.

Apple recently launched a new advertising campaign to promote its Apple Pay payment method, using the "Pay the Apple Way" slogan on billboards, social networks, and more.

The "Pay the Apple Way" messaging is meant to demonstrate the ease of using an iPhone or Apple Watch to make a purchase without the need to pull out a card from a wallet. Apple highlights the simplicity and speed of ‌Apple Pay‌, as well as the built-in security.

Apple has installed billboards in the United States and the UK, which is where it is promoting ‌Apple Pay‌. Apple plans to debut a dynamic and immersive experience using prominent street billboards and mall placements. Apple customers in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dallas, and Atlanta will see the ads.

There are four videos that go along with the campaign that show the ease of use of using ‌Apple Pay‌, and Apple plans to show these on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networks. For TikTok specifically, Apple has teamed up with TikTok creators. Each personality will answer the question "Can I [blank] with ‌Apple Pay‌?" to spark dialogue about the uses of contactless payments.

The advertising campaign is already live, with the ads appearing in cities and on social media networks. ‌Apple Pay‌ is one of the most widely used contactless payment methods, and Apple says it is accepted by more than 85 percent of retailers in the United States.

We began tracking the best back to school accessory deals yesterday, highlighting discounts from companies like ZAGG, Belkin, AT&T, Anker, Office Depot, and more. Today, we're shifting focus to track all of the best back to school sales you can shop on Apple's own products, including low prices on AirPods Pro 2, MacBook Air, iPad, AirTag, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple Accessories

There are a few of Apple's first-party accessories that could make for good back to school backpack accessories, including the AirTag 4-Pack at $84.99 on Amazon, which is $14 in savings and one of the best prices of the year so far on the accessory. For note taking or use in art courses, the Apple Pencil 2 is on sale for the all-time low price of $89.00 on Amazon, down from $129.00.

Lastly, the MagSafe Charger is down to $28.99 on Woot this week, down from $39.00. This is about $1 off from the lowest price we've ever tracked on the charger, and it's in new condition on Woot and comes with a one year Apple manufacturer limited warranty.

MacBook Air

If you're shopping for a cheap Apple notebook to bring to school this fall, the best you'll find right now is the M1 MacBook Air for just $749.99 on Amazon, down from $999.00. This has been one of the all-around best deals on any Apple notebook since Prime Day in July, and it's a record low price on this 2020 MacBook Air.

Although there are two newer models of the MacBook Air, with the 2022 13.6-inch model and 2023 15.3-inch model, the M1 notebook from 2020 should work great for common tasks like taking notes, writing papers, and using scheduling tools. You can read our guide to get a better look at all the similarities and differences between the generations.

MacBook Pro

If you're willing to spend more money on a more powerful notebook, the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro is available for $1,099.00 on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. This is Apple's entry-level MacBook Pro option, and with Amazon's $200 discount the notebook is a bit more enticing for students who might need the upgraded M2 chip.

AirPods

Amazon has a pair of AirPods discounts, both of which offer a form of noise cancelation perfect for study sessions. You can get the AirPods Pro 2 for $199.00 ($50 off) and the AirPods Max for $449.99 ($99 off). The AirPods Max requires you to add the headphones to your cart in order to see the final discount.

iPad

One of the cheapest iPads available right now is the 9th generation 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, on sale for $269.99, down from $329.00. This is a solid second-best price on the tablet, and Amazon has both Silver and Space Gray at this price.

Students should note that if you're looking to purchase this iPad to use with an Apple Pencil, it only works with the first generation Apple Pencil.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Popular accessory maker Twelve South today announced the launch of the Curve SE, an aluminum multi-piece stand that builds on the original Curve MacBook Stand.

The three pieces of the Curve SE snap together so you can position your MacBook at the ideal ergonomic height. It can be used alongside a secondary display like the Studio Display, and you can also adjust it to put your webcam at eye level for better video calls.

Twelve South's Curve SE is similar in design to the standard Curve, but it is more affordable, coming in at $20 less. It has the same benefits and a sleek, aluminum design, but it does not feature the same black or white matte finish as the original.

There are silicone-lined arms that grip your MacBook to hold it securely in place on the stand, just like the standard Curve stand. In terms of design, it is basically identical to the Curve stand, but with the three-piece assembly that keeps costs down.

The Curve SE is priced at $40 and it can be purchased from the Twelve South website.

The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will be available with a black titanium case, according to a previously-accurate leaker known as ShrimpApplePro. The new Ultra will also remain available in its existing "Natural" titanium finish, the leaker said.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently said Apple tested a darker titanium finish for the current Ultra, but decided not to release it at the time. He said it was "theoretically" possible the finish could be released for the new model this year. Previously, the high-end Edition model of the Apple Watch Series 7 was available with a Space Black titanium case.

Another new feature expected for the Ultra is a faster S9 chip, which Gurman said is based on the A15 Bionic chip first used in iPhone 13 models.

The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra is expected to be announced in September alongside the Apple Watch Series 9, which is rumored to be available in pink.

Released in September 2022, the Apple Watch Ultra is a larger and more rugged version of the Apple Watch designed for hiking, extreme water sports, diving, and other outdoor activities. It is priced at $799 in the United States.