Apple with macOS Ventura and iOS 16 introduced a new feature called Continuity Camera, which is designed to allow you to use an iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. This is enabled through special mounts, and Apple partnered with Belkin for an official Continuity Camera accessory.
The Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is available from Apple for $30, though it's backordered until December and difficult to get. It's the only official Continuity Camera mount so far, though you can find some knockoffs and other versions on Amazon.
Belkin's mount basically attaches to an iPhone using MagSafe, and then a lipped stand on the back folds out. The stand fits right over the edge of a Mac notebook like a MacBook Pro or a MacBook air, and it puts the iPhone in the ideal position to capture video.
You can use the mount in landscape or portrait orientation, with portrait showing a bit less of the background behind you. The camera activates automatically when your iPhone is mounted to your Mac and an app like FaceTime is opened up.
It's a super simple accessory that's probably overpriced, but it does work well. The iPhone camera is leagues better than what you get on a Mac, even Apple's newest Macs, so it's worth it if you do a lot of video calls.
Continuity Camera has extra features like Center Stage support to keep you in frame if you move around, Portrait Mode for blurring the background, Studio Light for focusing the light on you, and a Desk View that shows what's on your desktop by taking advantage of the Ultra Wide camera.
You can also use the Belkin mount as a kickstand for the iPhone when it's not attached to the Mac, and it also serves as a PopSocket alternative.
Have you tried the Belkin iPhone Mount and Continuity Camera? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Apple will be opening a new store at Bridgeport Village in the Portland, Oregon area this Saturday, November 12 at 10 a.m. local time, as noted by retail enthusiast and creative Michael Steeber. The store is located at 7273 SW Bridgeport Road, a short distance away from Apple's previous location in the outdoor shopping center.
The new store is larger and features Apple's latest retail design, including a dedicated pickup area for orders placed on Apple's online store. According to Steeber, the store has a quartz and glass facade, along with four stone benches on the sidewalk out front that double as seats and barriers to prevent vehicles from smashing into the glass.
Like other locations, the store will offer free Today at Apple creative sessions and Genius Bar appointments for hardware repairs.
Apple operates over 520 retail stores around the world, including three in the Portland area.
Apple is seeking to improve Spotlight search, but is still years away from launching a search engine to rival Google, according to The Information.
The paywalled report explains that Apple's search technology faces a setback amid loss of talent to Google. In 2018, Apple sought to bolster development of a web search engine by buying machine learning startup Laserlike, which was founded by three former Google search engineers. The company's technology recommended websites based on a user's interests and browsing history. Now, Laserlike's founders have reportedly returned to Google.
Apple's search team is believed to contain at least 200 employees and powers the technology behind Spotlight, Siri Suggestions, and answers provided by Siri. The company is still at least four years away from launching a replacement to Google search, according to one person involved with the team speaking to The Information. While Google pays Apple around $15 billion per year to stay as the default search engine on Apple devices, Apple developing an in-house rival to Google search could increase its leverage during its periodic negotiations with Google over the deal.
In the meanwhile, Apple has apparently discussed using the technology to power search for Apple Music and the App Store. Apple currently uses the search technology to generate data for Apple teams developing apps that use natural language processing, such as the Translate app, and to use tweets to determine newsworthy events that should show up in results and recommend Apple News articles. One of the team's immediate priorities is said to be improving Spotlight so that it can handle "100 times more" queries than it does today.
Apple is developing a new version of the iPhone SE, which is expected to feature some major changes. In addition to a new, larger size, Apple will also do away with Touch ID, and add support for Apple Intelligence.
This guide highlights the rumors that we've heard about the iPhone SE 4 so far.
Design
The current third-generation iPhone SE is Apple's smallest device, modeled after the iPhone 8. It measures in at 4.7 inches, and it is the only iPhone that includes thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button. That's rumored to be changing with the next iPhone SE update, with rumors indicating that Apple has a new design planned. The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature an all-display design like Apple's flagship iPhone lineup, with Apple eliminating the Touch ID Home button in favor of Face ID. The display is said to measure in at 6.06 inches, so it will be significantly larger than the current iPhone SE.
The next iPhone SE is expected to look similar to the iPhone 14, featuring Face ID biometric authentication instead of a Touch ID Home button. With the iPhone 15 lineup, Apple transitioned to USB-C instead of Lightning, and the iPhone SE 4 is also expected to include a USB-C port. While the iPhone 14 has a dual-lens camera, the iPhone SE 4 will include a single-lens camera to keep costs down, but it could have the 48-megapixel Main lens used in the iPhone 15.
Though rumors have suggested that the iPhone SE 4 will have a design modeled after the iPhone 14, Apple is expected to use the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the SE 4 that it used for the iPhone 16. Several rumors have also said the iPhone SE 4 will have an iPhone 14-style design with a notch.
There were initially rumors that the iPhone SE could get the multi-function Action button that the iPhone 16 models have, but it's looking like that's not the case after all. Leaked iPhone SE dummy models do not feature an Action Button or a Camera Control button, and dummy models are often an accurate representation of what we can expect from new iPhones because casemakers pay a lot of money to get the information.
Display Size
If the iPhone SE is modeled after the iPhone 14 as rumored, then it will include a 6.1-inch OLED display.
Display Material
The iPhone SE is the last remaining iPhone that has an LCD display, and other iPhones in Apple's lineup are equipped with OLED. Apple has used all OLED technology for flagship iPhones since the iPhone 12, in fact, and it looks like the next-generation iPhone SE will also use OLED technology rather than LCD. If the iPhone SE 4 does indeed include an OLED display, it will mean the end of LCD for the iPhone lineup.
With an all-display design, Apple is expected to adopt a notch for the iPhone SE, which is the design that Apple used for flagship iPhones until the Dynamic Island came out.
A notched display will give Apple a place to put the front-facing camera, but it is not yet clear if the iPhone SE will support Face ID and the TrueDepth camera system given the cost of the hardware. Apple has transitioned to the Dynamic Island for the flagship iPhone lineup, so the older notch design will set the iPhone SE apart.
One sketchy rumor has suggested the next iPhone SE will feature a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, but that is not in line with other rumors that have indicated an iPhone 14-style design. Reliable display analyst Ross Young recently said the iPhone SE 4 will have a notch, not a Dynamic Island.
The notch will include a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, which is the same camera included in the iPhone 16.
Rear Camera
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to include a single-lens rear camera, but it will reportedly be upgraded to a 48-megapixel camera. The current iPhone SE has a 12-megapixel rear camera.
A-Series Chip
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have the same A18 chip that's in the iPhone 16, which will allow it to support Apple Intelligence features.
A leaker who has provided reliable information in the past recently said that the iPhone SE 4 will be equipped with the "T8140" chip, an identifier that does indeed correspond with the A18.
RAM
The next-generation iPhone SE is expected to have 8GB RAM, the minimum requirement for Apple Intelligence.
5G and Modem
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be the first device that is equipped with an Apple-designed 5G chip. Apple has been working on its own modem chip for several years in an effort to lessen its reliance on Qualcomm.
Battery
The iPhone SE 4 will use the same 3279 mAh battery as the iPhone 14, so it should have similar battery life to that device.
iPhone 16E?
Rumors suggest that the next-generation iPhone SE could potentially be named the iPhone 16E or the iPhone 16e, but the information has not been confirmed by a reliable source at this point.
Cost
Though the iPhone SE 4 will be upgraded from Touch ID to Face ID, the new device is expected to continue to have a lower price tag than other models. It could be priced starting at $429, the same as the current iPhone SE, or it could see an increase of around 10 percent. Apple plans to keep the pricing below $500, even if the price does go up slightly.
Release Date
The next-generation iPhone SE's launch is imminent, with Apple planning to unveil a new product on Wednesday, February 19.
Eve back in May came out with the Eve Outdoor Floodlight camera, one of the only floodlight-enabled HomeKit Secure Video cameras that are on the market. I have been testing the camera for several months now to get a feel for how it works and whether it's worth investing in.
Part of the reason that this review has taken so long is because the Eve Camera has some installation caveats that potential buyers should be aware of. This is a wall-mounted floodlight camera, so it needs to replace either an outdoor light or an existing camera oriented in the same way, unless you're going to install a new electrical connection.
My house has a lot of wide-angle downward-facing lights/cameras mounted just below my gutters, with these positioned in a way to see much of the yard. The Eve Camera can't be angled downward, so it can't be installed in the downward orientation that's common for security cameras or floodlights. It needs to be a straight-on position, like where you might put a doorbell camera. There is some tilt so you can tweak the angle, but not enough that it can replace something like a downward-facing Ring floodlight camera.
I ended up removing a Ring camera that was mounted on the wall by my back door, but I found that the Eve Camera has a smaller base than the Ring, so it did not fit the space. The base is also too small to fit a typical junction box outside that you might have for another light or camera, which is is a hassle if this is the only setup you have. I ultimately needed to replace and repair some siding to get the camera set up, and I'm still not sure that it's watertight. If you're replacing an existing camera, be aware that there might be some extra work to get it to look right, and this is likely going to be an issue for a lot of people.
As for installation, this is a camera that needs to be wired directly to a junction box. You can do it yourself, but you need some electrical wiring experience. I hired an electrician to install the camera, and he said it was simple enough minus the base sizing. Note that the Eve Outdoor Camera is limited to a 2.4GHz WiFi connection, which feels outdated.
Once installed, powered on, and connected to HomeKit, the Eve Outdoor Cam works like any other HomeKit Secure Video camera. The video feed is viewed directly in the Home app, but it can also be accessed through the Eve app. You need an iCloud+ subscription to use HomeKit Secure Video. The cheapest $1 plan allows for one camera, the $2.99/month plan allows for five cameras, and the $9.99 per month plan allows for unlimited cameras, with all plans also including iCloud storage and other iCloud+ features.
The Eve Outdoor Cam offers 1080p video and it can record at night with night mode. Quality is reasonable and I can clearly see what's going on in my yard, but 1080p resolution is not enough to see details clearly from more than 8 to 10 feet away (I have this complaint about all of my cameras). During the day, it's not quite as crisp as my Ring cameras in areas with a lot of variation in light and dark, but at night, the feed is sharper with less noise than my other cameras.
HomeKit Secure Video has the benefit of being encrypted, which gives peace of mind that your video feed isn't being viewed by someone else. It can only be viewed on your own devices and footage is stored in iCloud. Security comes with some sacrifice in usability, and I don't think the Eve Outdoor Cam is as seamless to use as my Ring cameras, nor does it offer the same features and reliability.
There are times when the Eve Outdoor Cam fails to record, and it's an issue that I haven't been able to pin down. It's gotten better with iOS 16, but it still happens. It records whenever motion is detected, and another thing - it's sensitive to motion. "Motion" includes falling leaves, so it goes off constantly if I don't use Activity Zones and limit notifications.
The Home app offers a lot of customization options. You can have the Camera record video only when you're away and stream at other times, or it can record both when you're away and when you're home. It can also be turned off entirely from the Home app, and there are options to disregard audio and delete all recordings.
You can set select times to record and choose to record all motion or only when people are detected. It also uses facial recognition and can tell you when specific people show up on the camera. There is no option for continuous recording, and footage is stored when motion is detected.
Notifications are customizable, so you can opt to receive notifications during select times, when motion is detected, when people are detected, or when a clip is recorded. The Eve Cam can detect people, animals, vehicles, and package deliveries, providing tailored notifications. Rich notifications are supported, so you can see a preview of the feed, but a major annoyance I have is that tapping one of these brings me to the light toggle in the Home app rather than my camera feed.
The Eve Cam's light will come on when motion is detected at night, and it has been reliable in my testing, but there is a slight delay before it activates. It stays on for a short period of time after motion detection and then turns off automatically. There is a microphone so you can speak to someone who is near the camera with two-way audio, but it doesn't offer the same siren feature available through other cameras like Ring.
Recorded footage is stored in the app in a timeline and you can scrub through each motion event. The app stores 10 days of footage, and clips can be saved or deleted. Compared to the Ring app, I find the Home app to be buggy, slow, and hard to navigate to find what I'm looking for. It's just clunky in general, and it's one of the major downsides to HomeKit Secure Video. This is in no way Eve's fault since it's Apple that designs the Home experience.
Eve does allow the camera footage to be viewed live in the Eve app, but all of the recordings are limited to the Home app, so I rarely open up the Eve app. It does have a push to talk button, a toggle for the light, and volume controls for the microphone and speaker, but there's nothing else that can be done in the Eve app.
I know the HomeKit Secure Video cameras don't come with the privacy concerns around other cameras like Amazon's Ring devices, but the Home app just isn't as straightforward or as simple to use as the Ring app. I live in a neighborhood where my cameras are mostly used to watch the local wildlife so I have the benefit of not being too concerned about Amazon's privacy practices, which is why I prefer the Ring experience.
I have more issues with HomeKit Secure Video both in terms of recording and accessing my recorded footage, but the service still works well enough. As for the Eve Camera, I've been largely satisfied with the performance, with the exception of the installation process. I haven't had issues with motion detection or connectivity, and the recording problem I have is likely a Home app problem rather than a problem with the camera itself.
Bottom Line
The Eve Outdoor Camera is one of the only HomeKit-enabled outdoor camera options that also has a light, so there isn't a lot to choose from if you've opted for the HomeKit Secure Video ecosystem. Luckily, the Eve Outdoor Camera is all around decent.
The camera looks sleek on the wall and it doesn't take up too much space for those who are looking for something subdued, but potential buyers should be aware of the installation issues and prepared for some headache getting the camera set up. It's also limited to 1080p and it can struggle a bit with high variation in light and dark, but it comes with unparalleled privacy.
Apple today released a new firmware update designed for its AirTag item trackers, with the firmware featuring an updated build number of 2A24e, up from the 1A301 firmware that was released back in April.
Apple does not provide release notes for AirTag updates, so we do not know what's new in this update.
It is not possible to force an AirTag update, as it's something that's done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your AirTag in range of your iPhone, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current AirTag firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.
Apple will provide this firmware on a rolling basis, seeding it out to AirTag owners starting today and through December 1. This staggered release timeline allows Apple to make sure the firmware update is working as intended before it is provided to all users.
Google today announced that popular streaming music service Spotify will be able to bill Android users directly in the Google Play version of Spotify without needing to go through the Google Play billing system.
Spotify is Google's first partner for "User Choice Billing," a feature that allows Android users to make purchases using the payment option they prefer. User Choice Billing is essentially an alternative billing option for in-app purchases, and it comes with a reduced fee.
Spotify will be able to collect payments directly from users, and Google will charge Spotify four percent less than normal. Spotify and other developers who eventually adopt User Choice Billing will still need to give Google a cut of their app sales and purchases, but at the reduced rate. Google normally collects between 15 and 30 percent of in-app purchases, much like Apple.
In a blog post, Spotify said that Google has taken a "bold step to help level the playing field," and that "fair and open platforms" bring "frictionless consumer experiences."
Spotify has been publicly advocating for platform fairness and expanded payment options for years. We believe that fair and open platforms enable better, frictionless consumer experiences that also empower developers to imagine, innovate, and thrive.
Spotify is rolling out an initial test implementation of user choice billing to users in select countries starting this week. Google today also announced a partnership with Bumble, with Bumble adding support in the coming months.
User Choice Billing from Google is an option in 35 countries, including the United States, much of Europe, Australia, Japan, and more, and it is a pilot program that other developers are also able to join.
With User Choice Billing, Google has distinguished the Play Store from the App Store, as Apple does not let apps use alternative billing at this time. There are two exceptions, however, including South Korea and the Netherlands. Regulators in these countries have forced Apple to allow some apps to use third-party payment providers.
In the Netherlands, Apple collects a 27 percent commission instead of a 30 percent commission, and in South Korea, Apple collects a 26 percent commission. Both reduced commissions are similar to what Google has done for its User Choice Billing System. With Google adopting options for alternative billing and continued regulatory pressure, it is possible that Apple will also fold and expand the Dutch and South Korea processes to other countries and app types, but Apple is continuing to fight for in-app purchase to remain the only payment method in the App Store at the current time.
Apple today introduced new 5B58 firmware for the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, the original AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max, up from the 4E71 firmware that was released back in May. Apple released the 5B58 firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 earlier this week.
Apple does not offer immediately available release notes on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the AirPods, but the company does maintain a support document with release information.The 5B58 update for the AirPods Pro 2 added "bug fixes and other improvements," with no other details available.
There is no standard way to upgrade the AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the AirPods are connected to an iOS device. Putting the AirPods in the case, connecting the AirPods to a power source, and then pairing the AirPods to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.
You can check your AirPods or AirPods Pro firmware by following these steps:
Connect your AirPods or AirPods Pro to your iOS device.
Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap About.
Tap AirPods.
Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."
If we find notable changes after the firmware updates are installed, we'll update this article, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes.
As noted by 9to5Mac, iOS 16.1.1 and the iOS 16.2 beta add a new "Everyone for 10 Minutes" option for AirDrop in China, limiting the amount of time that iPhone users can wirelessly receive files from strangers. The setting was reportedly added after protesters in the country used AirDrop to spread anti-government material.
AirDrop normally has three options, including "Receiving Off," "Contacts Only," and "Everyone." When the "Everyone" option is selected, any other iPhone user within close proximity can attempt to send you a file over AirDrop, resulting in a pop-up on the screen with an option to accept or deny the file transfer, with no time limit. In China, Apple has replaced the "Everyone" option with "Everyone for 10 Minutes," which has a 10-minute limit. After this time elapses, AirDrop automatically switches to the "Contacts Only" setting.
Screenshot Credit: Mark Gurman
Apple told Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that it plans to roll out the new AirDrop setting globally in the coming year in an effort to reduce unwanted file sharing. Since the feature launched in 2011, some iPhone users have received inappropriate photos or been pranked by strangers via AirDrop, especially in crowded areas like shopping malls and airplanes.
It's unclear exactly when the setting will be made available in additional countries, or if Apple will allow users to customize the time limit in the future.
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.
We're two weeks out from Black Friday on November 25, but as is well known, Black Friday shopping is more of a month-long event rather than a singular day. Because of this, we're already tracking numerous all-time low deals that you can get on Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineup today, and that's what we're focusing on in this article.
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.
Shoppers should note that although many of the deals shared below are current record low prices, there is no guarantee we won't see steeper discounts later in the month or in December. Apple product sales fluctuate often during the holidays, the best you can do is strike while the iron is hot during these best-ever price events.
Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro family has some of the steepest markdowns this season, with the 14-inch notebooks reaching up to $499 off on Amazon right now. For the 1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro, which is on sale for $1,999.99, this is an all-time low price.
Similar to the 14-inch model, the 16-inch MacBook Pro has notable markdowns this season with savings of up to $499 available on Amazon right now. Prices start at $1,999.99 for 512GB and reach $2,199.99 for 1TB. Both of these sales are all-time low prices.
The refreshed 2022 512GB 13-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,349.99, down from $1,499.00. The 256GB is on sale for a second-best price of $1,149.00, which is $150 off.
All-time low deals are available for both models of the MacBook Air, with both the 256GB and 512GB models getting $150 discounts on Amazon and B&H Photo. You'll find prices starting at $1,049.00 for 256GB and reaching to $1,349.00 for 512GB.
We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2022.
Apple today updated its beta.music.apple.com site for Apple Music, introducing support for viewing song lyrics on the web. When listening to Apple Music content via a web browser on the beta site, there's now an option to see the lyrics by clicking on the speech bubble at the top right of the display.
The design of the lyric interface mimics the design of song lyrics available through the Apple Music app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with the lyrics scrolling in time to the music on the right side of the screen. The feature is only on the beta web player as of right now, but Apple will likely roll it out to the music.apple.com website in the future after it has been fully tested.
Apple has offered a web-based Apple Music player since 2019, with the website offering the same content available on iOS devices and Macs. The website allows Apple Music subscribers to listen to music on any device as songs play right in the browser.
Anyone can view the web player and listen to snippets of songs, but full access requires an Apple Music subscription tied to an Apple ID. It provides access to all library and playlist content, along with the same recommendations and mixes available in the Apple Music apps for iOS, Mac, and Android.
Apple today shared a YouTube video that's designed to highlight the iPhone 14 Pro's camera capabilities, focusing specifically on Action Mode.
Action Mode is designed to offer extra stabilization when capturing video while moving, making it ideal for fun shots that otherwise would not be possible without expensive equipment. Apple designed Action Mode to replicate the video quality you might get using a gimbal.
Apple's video demonstrates a number of Action Mode shots using 360 rotating, aerial tracking, rolling, and more. Each demo includes a side-by-side of the video with and without Action Mode enabled, clearly showing the difference and the benefit of the feature.
Action Mode is available on all of the iPhone 14 devices.
Apple this week lowered its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the United States, resulting in customers receiving less money for their existing devices heading into the holiday shopping season.
Macs have some of the most significant trade-in value reductions, with the iMac Pro now fetching up to $600 versus up to $1,150 previously and the MacBook Pro now worth up to $630 compared with up to $850 previously. iPhone trade-in values have decreased by up to $70, although the iPhone XS and iPhone XR have each increased by up to $10.
Trade-in values have also been slashed for Android smartphones, while Apple Watch Series 3 trade-ins are no longer accepted.
You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 today on Amazon for $399.99, down from $499.00. This remains the best deal we've ever tracked on the iPad mini 6, and it's available in three colors: Starlight, Space Gray, and Purple.
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.
The iPad mini 6 is shipped and sold directly from Amazon, with the fastest Prime delivery estimated for November 17. As of writing, only Amazon is offering these $99 discounts on the iPad mini 6.
This time around, only the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 is on sale at an all-time low price. We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2022.
Apple today confirmed in a press release that Emergency SOS via Satellite for iPhone 14 models will be launching in the U.S. and Canada later this month. Apple has still not provided a specific release date or iOS version required for the feature.
Apple also announced that it is investing $450 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund towards the development of critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via Satellite, with a majority of the funding going to Apple's satellite partner Globalstar.
Apple said its investment will provide critical enhancements to Globalstar's satellite network and ground stations in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and Texas to ensure iPhone 14 users are able to connect to emergency services when off the grid.
All four iPhone 14 models will be able to connect directly to Globalstar satellites, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage and share their location via satellite using the Find My app. The feature will help users point their iPhone towards a satellite with on-screen visuals.
Apple says a satellite message might take 15 seconds to send in ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon, but it could take over a minute for the message to send "under trees with light or medium foliage." In environments with "heavy foliage" or "other obstructions," an iPhone might fail to connect to a satellite entirely.
As a result of the investment, Globalstar's ground stations have already been upgraded to use new high-power antennas designed and manufactured specifically for Apple. Apple shared more details about how the feature works:
When an iPhone user makes an Emergency SOS via satellite request, the message is received by one of Globalstar's 24 satellites in low-earth orbit traveling at speeds of approximately 16,000 mph. The satellite then sends the message down to custom ground stations located at key points all over the world.
Once received by a ground station, the message is routed to emergency services that can dispatch help, or a relay center with Apple-trained emergency specialists if the closest emergency services location is not able to receive text messages.
In a support document, Apple says Emergency SOS via Satellite will be available with an iOS 16 software update coming in November. The service will be free for the first two years, suggesting that Apple plans to charge for it in the future.
Apple reportedly confirmed that the feature will expand to additional countries by the end of next year, but it has not elaborated on these plans.
Lighting company Signify today announced new Festavia string lights that are being added to the Philips Hue lineup ahead of the holidays.
The Philips Hue Festavia string lights include 250 mini smart LEDs on a 20-meter cord, which can be used on a Christmas tree, stairway, mantel, and more.
As with other Hue products, the Festavia lights can be set to more than 16 million colors, and a single strand supports multiple colors for a gradient effect. Festavia lights are HomeKit-compatible and pair well with other Philips Hue products.
The lights can be controlled with Siri, the Hue app, and the Home app. Lights can be turned on or off, dimmed, and the colors can be changed. With Spotify integration, the lights can be set to flash, dim, and brighten in tune with a song that's playing.
With the launch of the Festavia lights, the Hue app is gaining a sparkle effect that can make the strand twinkle, plus there is a new Scattered option that spreads five colors randomly along the light string.
The Festavia lights are priced at $160 and will launch on November 15. They will be available from the Philips Hue website.
It's been almost two weeks since Apple introduced the revamped 10th-generation iPad, and MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been using it on a daily basis for the purpose of a more in-depth review for those considering it as an upgrade or a holiday gift for a family member.
The 10th-generation iPad is priced starting at $449, which makes it $120 more expensive than the 9th-generation iPad that Apple is still selling alongside it. At $449, it is $150 less than the iPad Air, a tablet that it shares many features with.
The iPad lineup is somewhat confusing now because the 10th-generation iPad and the iPad Air are so similar, but for most people, it is a good deal because it offers a solid set of features for an affordable price. Design wise, the new iPad has the same 10.9-inch display as the iPad Air, but it's not quite as advanced in terms of color and reflectivity.
Apple's newest iPad has the same general design as the iPad Air, featuring an edge-to-edge display with a Touch ID power button rather than Face ID integration. It also uses USB-C instead of Lightning, offering a more universal charging option, but it does not have Thunderbolt or the quicker transfer speeds you'll see on other iPad models.
There is an A14 chip inside the iPad, which is a good deal faster than the A13 chip in the prior-generation version. It is not as advanced as the M1 in the iPad Air, but it will last for years to come. There's a landscape FaceTime camera for the first time, which is a nice feature for those who prefer to use the iPad as a replacement for a Mac in a landscape orientation.
As a major downside, the iPad only works with the Apple Pencil 1, an unusual choice because it charges via Lightning and there is no Lightning port. You need a confusing set of adapters if you want to charge the Apple Pencil with your iPad, and it isn't clear why Apple didn't just add Apple Pencil 2 compatibility.
On the plus side, Apple designed a new Magic Keyboard Folio for the iPad, and it goes hand in hand with the landscape camera to turn the iPad into a Mac alternative. It is a two-piece accessory that works as both a cover and a keyboard, plus there is a built-in stand. Apple also added a function row, something not even available for the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro.
If you opt for the iPad Air instead of the iPad, you're paying $150 for an M1 chip, a jump in display quality, and support for Stage Manager multitasking, and if you opt for the cheaper 9th-generation iPad, you're losing quite a bit of screen real estate and opting for a much slower chip.
The 10th-generation iPad is a solid compromise between price and feature set, and it will appeal to many people who are seeking an updated tablet. What do you think of the iPad? Let us know in the comments below.
Twitter today rolled out its updated Twitter Blue subscription offering, which is priced at $7.99 per month. The new subscription is $3 more expensive than the prior $4.99 per month price, and it was introduced at the insistence of Twitter CEO Elon Musk.
Musk initially floated a $20 price point for Twitter Blue before settling on $8. The new subscription does away with ad-free articles for Twitter Blue subscribers, but it adds the same blue and white badge that Twitter previously limited to verified accounts.
Musk has pledged to make the badge available to all Twitter users, this morning calling it "the great leveler." He has expressed distaste at the verification badge being provided only to accounts of public figures, businesses, celebrities, journalists, and other high-profile users who are in danger of being impersonated on the social network.
It continues to be unclear if Twitter will implement a method of identity verification now that the blue badge is no longer a verification symbol. Earlier today, Twitter rolled out "Official" labels some accounts that had previously been verified, but Musk said he "killed" the feature and now its status is unknown. As of now, accounts that had verification prior to the new Twitter Blue rolling out retain their verification badges, but Musk has said these will be removed for those who do not pay.
Twitter Blue will also include "half the ads," the ability to post longer videos, and access to new Twitter Blue features. At the $7.99 price point and with 50% fewer ads, some have speculated that Twitter Blue could end up costing Twitter money, especially for those who subscribe to Twitter Blue through the iOS app as Twitter will need to give Apple a cut of the subscription price.
Musk today also held a meeting with Twitter advertisers, where he spoke on his moderation plans and future features. Twitter plans to build a content moderation council to make policy decisions, and he said that Twitter should honor freedom of speech, but viewpoints "don't need to be amplified."
Musk floated the idea that users would be able to send money to others on the platform in the future, and perhaps link their Twitter accounts to bank accounts. Twitter is also working on infrastructure for longer form video, with content payment options for creators. According to Musk, Twitter will be changing rapidly in the coming months, and some mistakes might be made. Features that do not work out will be rolled back. "If we do not try bold moves how will we make great improvements?" Musk said.
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