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Apple announced many new products this year, such as the Mac Studio and the Apple Watch Ultra, but we also said goodbye to some other familiar products. Below, we've recapped five products and accessories discontinued by Apple throughout 2022.

27-inch iMac

Following the introduction of the Mac Studio and Studio Display in March, Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac, which was the final iMac model with an Intel processor. With the iMac Pro also discontinued last year, the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip is currently the only all-in-one desktop computer sold by Apple. Reputable sources like Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo have claimed that the iMac Pro could make a comeback in 2023.

iPod touch

Apple announced that it was discontinuing the iPod touch in May, and the device was removed from Apple's website in June. iOS 16 is not compatible with any iPod touch models, marking the end of software compatibility for the portable music player.

First introduced in October 2001, the iPod was one of Apple's most iconic products, but the device's discontinuation became inevitable over time given the wide array of Apple products that can now play music, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod mini, and more. The final generation of the iPod touch was introduced in May 2019.

Apple Watch Edition

Alongside the launch of the all-new Apple Watch Ultra with a titanium casing in September, the Apple Watch Edition line was discontinued.

Apple Watch Edition models had been available since the launch of the original Apple Watch in 2015. Over the years, these models set themselves apart with higher-end casing material options like gold, ceramic, and titanium. Apple Watch Ultra is now the only model to offer a titanium casing, while Hermès models remain available as a luxury option.

Apple TV HD

Following the launch of the third-generation Apple TV 4K in October, Apple discontinued the outdated Apple TV HD model first introduced in 2015.

The new Apple TV 4K starts at $129, whereas the Apple TV HD was priced at $149 prior to being discontinued. Originally launched as the fourth-generation Apple TV, and later renamed to the Apple TV HD, the streaming box is limited to 1080p video quality and was the first Apple TV to feature tvOS, an App Store, and a Siri-enabled remote.

5W Power Adapter

Apple appears to have discontinued its compact 5W charger for the iPhone in the U.S. around August, as the power adapter has been sold out since then.

Apple included the 5W charger with the iPhone 3G through the iPhone 11, although the charger received a few minor revisions over the years, in part due to two voluntary safety recalls issued by Apple in select countries. Unlike Apple's newer USB-C chargers, the 5W charger is equipped with a USB-A port and is not capable of fast charging.

iPhone 11 Pro models came with a faster 18W USB-C charger in the box, and Apple stopped including a charger at all with the iPhone 12 and newer.

Microsoft today announced that iCloud Photos integration in the Photos app on Windows 11 is beginning to roll out today with an update to the app on the Microsoft Store. Microsoft expects the update to be available to all Windows 11 customers by end of the month.

iCloud Photos integration allows iPhone users to access all of their photos in the Photos app on Windows 11 devices. In a blog post, Microsoft says users simply need to download the iCloud for Windows app from the Microsoft Store, enable iCloud Photos syncing, and the photos will appear in the updated Photos app automatically.

Microsoft previously announced that standalone Apple Music and Apple TV apps are coming to Windows next year. Currently, Windows users must access the Apple TV+ streaming service on the web at tv.apple.com, while Apple Music is available on the web or within the antiquated iTunes for Windows app. Microsoft said previews of both apps would be available on the Microsoft Store starting later this year.

Last month, the Apple Music app launched on the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One.

iPhone and Apple Watch owners in Colorado are now able to add their IDs and licenses to the Wallet app to serve as a form of identification in lieu of a physical card for TSA checkpoints at select airports.

Colorado's Department of Revenue announced the news today, and said that the Wallet-based ID or license can be presented at select TSA checkpoints at the Denver airport. Digital IDs are available to individuals with a current, valid Colorado-issued driver license or ID.

The Department of Revenue says that the Wallet ID is designed to be a companion to the physical driver's license or ID, and it is not a replacement. Coloradans must continue to carry their physical driver license or ID with them, and the Wallet ID can only be used at airports.

Apple with iOS 15 added support for allowing users from participating U.S. states to add their licenses and state IDs to the Wallet app, and so far, Arizona, Maryland, and Colorado support the feature.

Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah are also working on support.

(Thanks, Coady!)

Apple today seeded the second beta of macOS Ventura 13.1 to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to try out the new features ahead of the software's release. The public beta comes two weeks after Apple released the first public beta.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13.1 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.

macOS Ventura 13.1 introduces the Freeform app, which Apple has designed for creative collaboration. The app can be used for brainstorming, planning out ideas, jotting down notes, and more. Users can insert drawings, sticky notes, shapes, text boxes, photos, videos, PDFs, links, and other documents, with Freeform serving as a blank canvas.

Freeform "boards" can be shared with other people and discussed over FaceTime, with updates from all participants synced to everyone in real-time.

The update also introduces support for an updated Home app architecture that improves performance for smart home devices.

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates to public beta testers, providing the software to the general public. Today's beta comes two weeks after Apple released the first public betas.

Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's free beta testing program can download the ‌iOS and iPadOS 16.‌2 betas over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 introduce the Freeform app, which can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, brainstorming ideas, creating mood boards, and more. Multiple people can work on the same Freeform board, with changes synced for all participants in real time.

For the iPad, the update brings external display support to the Stage Manager multitasking feature, allowing up to eight apps to be used at once. External display support is available for the M1 and M2 ‌iPad‌ models.

There is a new Home app architecture coming in iOS and iPadOS 16.2, which Apple says is designed to bring faster, more reliable performance, especially in homes with a lot of smart home accessories. The new architecture requires the HomePod 16.2 beta software, and it causes the Home app not to work with devices updated to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1.

Unintentional Emergency SOS calls can be reported to Apple in iOS 16.2, and there are a few other minor changes that can be found in our iOS 16.2 feature guide.

Apple today released macOS Ventura 13.0.1, a minor update to the macOS Ventura operating system that was released in October. The new software comes two weeks after the official launch of Ventura.

The ‌macOS Ventura‌ update can be downloaded on eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings.

macOS Ventura 13.0.1 is a bug fix update, and it addresses two security vulnerabilities that could allow for unexpected app termination or arbitrary code execution by a remote user. Neither was known to have been exploited in the wild.

Apple today released iOS 16.1.1 and iPadOS 16.1.1, minor bug fix updates that that come two weeks after the launch of iOS 16.1, an update that added support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, Matter, Live Activities, and more.

The iOS 16.1.1 and iPadOS 16.1.1 updates can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

iOS 16.1.1 fixes a few unspecified bugs that iPhone users have been dealing with, according to Apple's release notes. Users have been afflicted with widespread Wi-Fi bug, for example. The Wi-Fi bug resulted in random disconnects, with some users unable to stay connected to their Wi-Fi networks.

It is not clear if the Wi-Fi bug is fixed as Apple did not provide a specific list of bug fixes, instead only saying that the update "includes bug fixes and security updates."

iOS 16.1.1 will be followed by iOS 16.2, an update that is being beta tested and is expected to see a launch in December. iOS 16.2 introduces the Freeform app, new Home app architecture, and other features.

Apple and Amazon worked together to raise the price of iPhones and iPads by eliminating third-party Amazon sellers who offered Apple products at a lower cost, according to a new antitrust lawsuit filed today in Washington.

The complaint, filed by Hagens Berman law firm, says that Apple and Amazon had an "unlawful horizontal agreement" that reduced the "competitive threat posed by third-party merchants," a violation of federal antitrust laws. There were around 600 third-party sellers of Apple devices on Amazon Marketplace, which was whittled down to just seven.

Amazon began eliminating third-party sellers after it signed a 2019 deal with Apple to limit the number of resellers on Amazon marketplace to 20 per country. In exchange, Apple provided Amazon with a discounted wholesale price for iPhones and iPads.

By restricting third-party sellers from offering Apple products, Amazon made itself the dominant seller of Apple products on Amazon Marketplace, which Amazon and Apple both "stood to benefit from" even though it "would harm the public."

The lawsuit claims that prior to the agreement, third-party resellers were offering "prices steeply discounted" from those Apple wanted to have for its online storefront, which resulted in lower prices for consumers. There is no word on specific devices that went up in price due to the agreement, and no explanation of whether sellers were offering older devices or current products, nor if these were refurbished devices.

"When Apple and Amazon renewed their existing reseller agreement in 2019, the only losing party to their plan was consumers, who were blindsided by the price increases," Berman said. "Where consumers used to be able to find discounted prices of upwards of 20% for iPhones and iPads for sale on Amazon Marketplace, now they get locked into Apple's premium pricing."

Hagens Berman is aiming for an injunction to prevent Amazon from blocking third-party Apple resellers and reimbursement for consumers who "overpaid for iPhones and iPads."

Twitter will not be moving forward with an "Official" label that would be used to identify companies, major media outlets, public figures, and others who are in danger of being impersonated on the social network, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said today.

Just hours after Twitter began rolling out the "Official" checkmark that was provided to some accounts alongside the standard white and blue verification badge, Musk said that he has "killed" the feature.

"Blue check will be the great leveler," Musk added in another tweet. The white checkmark on a blue background was traditionally provided to higher-profile accounts that went through a verification process, but with Musk's takeover of Twitter, the badge will be provided to all Twitter Blue subscribers who pay $7.99 per month for a Twitter Blue subscription.

When the checkmark becomes available to any Twitter subscriber who pays, there will no longer be any kind of identity verification system on Twitter, which some users have expressed concerns about.

Twitter product executive Esther Crawford explained the two-badge system just yesterday, explaining that Twitter would add an "Official" label to select accounts. Government accounts, commercial companies, business partners, major media outlets, publishers, and some public figures were going to be provided with the now-defunct "Official" label.

It is not clear if Twitter will implement some other method for differentiating between account types and providing identity verification, but it sounds like Musk will not allow such a feature. Musk has said that any Twitter handles "engaging in impersonation" without a clear parody label would be "permanently suspended," a move he enacted after verified users began changing their names to Elon Musk.

Update: Crawford now claims that the official label is still going out as part of the launch of Twitter Blue, but Twitter is focusing on "government and commercial entities to begin with. She says that what Musk meant is that Twitter is not focusing on giving the "Official" label to individuals. As of right now, though, the official labels that were provided to some accounts earlier today have been removed and have not been reinstated as of yet. There is no word on when the labels will return, nor if this is indeed what Musk meant.

Spotify today announced it is rolling out a redesigned Apple Watch app with a "new and improved listening experience" that allows users to more easily browse music and podcasts in "Your Library" and more quickly download music for offline playback.

In a blog post, Spotify said the new design includes larger artwork, new animations, the ability to swipe to like a song, a blue dot next to new podcast episodes, and more. The new design will require an updated version of the Spotify app rolling out on the App Store — it doesn't yet appear to be available for all users as of this writing.

As noted by The Verge, Spotify remains silent about its Hi-Fi audio tier that it promised to launch back in 2021. Apple Music offers lossless audio at no additional charge.

Like many retailers, Best Buy is offering hundreds of deals as part of an early Black Friday shopping event during the first few weeks of November. Unlike Walmart, which is dividing up its early Black Friday sale into three events, Best Buy's sale is one massive ongoing sale leading up to November 25.

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

Best Buy's sale covers basically everything on the retailer's website and stores, including TVs, computers, video games, cell phones, appliances, headphones, tablets, smart home, and more. You can keep track of our ongoing seasonal deal coverage in our dedicated Black Friday roundup.

TVs

• LG 50-inch LED 4K UHD Smart TV - $299.99, down from $379.99
• LG 65-inch LED 4K UHD Smart TV - $449.99, down from $519.99
• LG 48-inch OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $569.99, down from $1,299.99
• Samsung 75-inch 4K UHD Smart TV - $579.99, down from $849.99
• Samsung 85-inch LED 4K UHD Smart TV - $999.99, down from $1,399.99
• Sony 65-inch Bravia 4K HDR LED TV - $999.99, down from $1,299.99
• LG 55-inch OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $1,299.99, down from $1,599.99
• LG 65-inch OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $1,699.99, down from $2,099.99

Audio

• Samsung Galaxy Buds2 - $89.99, down from $149.99
• Beats Studio Buds - $99.99, down from $149.99
• Bose Sport Earbuds - $129.00, down from $149.00
• JBL Wireless Over-Ear Headphones - $99.99, down from $199.99
• Powerbeats Pro - $179.99, down from $199.99
• Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones - $149.99, down from $349.99

Streaming Devices

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K - $24.99, down from $49.99
• Roku 4K Streaming Stick - $24.99, down from $49.99
• Roku Ultra 4K - $69.99, down from $99.99
• Chromecast with Google TV 4K - $39.99, down from $49.99

Computers

• HP 14-inch Chromebook - $399.00, down from $699.00
• Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ - $799.99, down from $1,229.99
• M2 MacBook Air - $1,049.00, down from $1,199.00
• Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro Touch Screen Laptop - $1,149.99, down from $1,649.99

Tablets

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 - $99.99, down from $159.99
• Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 - $149.99, down from $229.99
• Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE with S-Pen - $449.99, down from $679.99

Wearables

• Fitbit Luxe - $79.95, down from $129.95
• Samsung Galaxy Watch4 - $169.99, down from $279.99
• Fitbit Sense 2 - $199.95, down from $299.95
• Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Aluminum - $229.99, down from $279.99
• Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro - $399.99, down from $449.99

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.

LG has started supplying Apple with OLED displays for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, according to Korea's ETNews. It's unclear how many orders LG will split with Samsung, which was the exclusive supplier of the displays for these devices until now.

The supplier diversification reduces risk and will likely allow Apple to negotiate lower costs in the future, as LG and Samsung compete for orders.

It's unclear when iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models with LG displays will start being shipped by Apple, but it's unlikely that customers will be able to notice a difference between models with LG and Samsung displays. Apple has routinely relied on multiple suppliers for some other iPhone components, ranging from storage to batteries.

iPhone 14 Pro displays use low-power LTPO technology for ProMotion, enabling a variable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz. The display can also ramp down to an ultra-low-power 1Hz when in an optional always-on display mode.

iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus displays are reportedly supplied by Samsung and China's BOE.

John Gruber joins us this week on The MacRumors Show podcast to discuss the key features of macOS Ventura and upcoming Mac models.

John is a technology blogger, UI designer, and the inventor of Markdown. He has written for his Apple and technology-focused blog, Daring Fireball, since 2002, and hosts The Talk Show Podcast, which has featured high-profile guests from Apple such as Phil Schiller, Eddy Cue, and Craig Federighi. See John's work on daringfireball.net and follow him on Twitter @gruber.

In this episode, we take a closer look at new features in macOS Ventura like Stage Manager, Continuity Camera, and the redesigned System Settings app. We discuss the current state of the Mac lineup and our favorite models, whether the launch of new Mac models is delayed, and upgrades from next-generation MacBook Pro models. With Apple now passing the initial timeframe it set out to transition the entire Mac lineup to Apple silicon, we also take a look at what to expect from the upcoming Mac Pro.

Listen to The MacRumors Show using apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or subscribe by copying our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. You can also watch a video version of the podcast on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

If you haven't already listened to the last episode of The MacRumors Show, be sure to catch up for a deep dive into iPadOS 16 and ‌Stage Manager‌ with Federico Viticci.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Sam Kohl, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, Rene Ritchie, Andru Edwards, Jon Prosser, and Mark Gurman. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

Apple is working on a new "Custom Accessibility Mode" for iPhone and iPad, according to evidence uncovered by 9to5Mac in the second iOS 16.2 developer beta.

Apple released the second betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 to developers on Tuesday, including camera bug fixes, support for 5G in India, a Medication widget, and references to the new Custom Accessibility Mode, which 9to5Mac found "under the hood."

Within those references, Apple describes the new mode as offering "a customizable, streamlined way to use your ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌," although how the feature works isn't completely clear, as it is not yet enabled for developers to test.

That said, screenshots suggest the new mode will allow users to replace the typical Lock Screen and "Springboard" Home Screen with more accessible UI elements, as well as remove the Dock, set much larger app icons, larger hardware interface elements, allowed contacts, and a simpler interface for Messages.

Given the dearth of references, it's not certain that the Custom Accessibility Mode will go live with the release of iOS 16.2. Apple could be just laying the groundwork, with the feature still in the early stages of development. For everything else in the second beta of iOS 16.2, be sure to check out our roundup of changes.

Twitter on Tuesday revealed details about the way its new verification scheme will work, with some originally verified accounts set to get an "Official" label, while users who pay the $7.99 monthly subscription for Twitter Blue will get a blue checkmark that isn't tied to identity verification.

"A lot of folks have asked about how you'll be able to distinguish between @TwitterBlue subscribers with blue checkmarks and accounts that are verified as official, which is why we're introducing the 'Official' label to select accounts when we launch," said Twitter product executive Esther Crawford in a tweet.

"Not all previously verified accounts will get the 'Official' label and the label is not available for purchase. Accounts that will receive it include government accounts, commercial companies, business partners, major media outlets, publishers and some public figures."

Crawford shared a screenshot of what the "Official" label would look like on the profile page for the @Twitter account, and went on to say that the new Twitter Blue is an opt-in paid subscription that does not include ID verification. "We'll continue to experiment with ways to differentiate between account types," she added.

Traditionally, the blue checkmark let other Twitter users know that an account with the badge had provided Twitter with verification details like employer information, a phone number, or a copy of their driver's license.

Under new owner Elon Musk's plan, the new Twitter Blue checkmark will simply indicate that an account is a paying subscriber. Why the company still plans to continue calling it "verification" is, however, unclear at this time. Twitter Blue is reportedly launching on Wednesday, November 9, following a delay in rollout until after the U.S. midterm elections.

The new subscription service has been widely criticized in the past few weeks, with Musk promising it will cut down on spam and impersonation on the platform. Musk himself has fallen victim to impersonation by several comedians and influencers who changed their Twitter display names on their verified profiles to "Elon Musk" without indicating that they were parodying his account. Some of the users were locked out of their own accounts until they changed their names back.

"Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying 'parody' will be permanently suspended," Musk later tweeted, adding that there would be "no warning" before suspensions are imposed and that any name change would result in people losing their original blue checkmark.

Apple chip supplier TSMC plans to build another fabrication plant in Arizona alongside the $12 billion factory it has already committed to in Phoenix, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The second plant will be located north of Phoenix and investment is expected to be roughly similar to the $12 billion the company committed to in 2020, according to people familiar with the plans who spoke to WSJ.

The original plant was originally expected to exclusively mass-produce 5nm chips, but it is now gearing up to also produce more advanced 4nm chips with larger capacity at the facility, according to WSJ's sources. The plant is expected to start mass production in 2024.

Meanwhile, the second plant is expected to manufacture cutting edge next-generation 3nm chips, a process that Apple is rumored to be moving its custom silicon to starting with the M2 Pro or M3 chip. Both Apple's M3 chip for Macs and A17 chip for iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's enhanced ‌3nm‌ process. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects the M2 Pro to be used in the 14-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, and a high-end Mac mini.

The news about TSMC's unannounced plans follows attempts by the Biden administration to attract investments in U.S. chipmaking by offering companies billions in financial support to become established in the country. The efforts aim to counter China's tech sector ambitions and secure components considered vital to national security. The efforts were accelerated after the chip shortages in late 2020 and 2021 underlined how important semiconductors have become in the world of consumer electronics.

TSMC's main factories are located in Taiwan, but it already operates a factory in Camas, Washington, as well as design centers in Austin, Texas and San Jose, California, meaning that the second Arizona facility will be its third manufacturing site in the United States.

Southern California grocery store chain Ralphs today began accepting Apple Pay at all of its 184 locations across the state, according to a company spokesperson, allowing customers to easily pay with an iPhone or Apple Watch at checkout.

Ralphs accepting Apple Pay is notable given that the chain's parent company Kroger has largely refused to accept the payment method since it launched in 2014, despite frequent customer requests. The company instead offers its own service called Kroger Pay, which allows customers to scan a QR code at checkout to pay with a card stored in the Kroger app. The only other Kroger subsidiary to accept Apple Pay is QFC in the Northwest.

In a press release earlier this year, Apple said that Apple Pay is accepted at more than 90 percent of U.S. retailers, with some major holdouts including Walmart, The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Kroger. We've reached out to Kroger to see if the company has any plans to expand Apple Pay acceptance to other grocery store banners within its portfolio and we will update this story if we receive any additional information.

Update: Kroger has also started accepting Apple Pay at its King Soopers locations in Colorado and Wyoming, according to a spokesperson.

(Thanks, Corey Kielan!)

Apple is moving forward on development of its mixed-reality headset with Pegatron set to be the exclusive partner for final assembly, according to DigiTimes. Based on the headset's current status in the manufacturing validation process, the report predicts that mass production is likely to begin in March 2023 with an unveiling possibly being held the following month.

Initial production is said to be very limited, with a high price point limiting Apple's first headset mainly to commercial markets.

Industry sources stated this XR headset mainly targets the commercial markets. The price is higher and the shipment quantity is limited. Previous estimates said that the annual shipment for this device would reach 2.5 million units. However, right now, rough estimates placed the annual shipment at around 0.7 to 0.8 million units. For supply chain manufacturers that benefit from quantity, this is not a particularly profitable order.

Despite low profitability on production of the initial headset, Apple's manufacturing partners are said to be willing to work with Apple on the project to prove their technical capabilities so they will be well positioned for future AR/VR products. Apple's brand recognition also makes it easier for the firms to raise money in capital markets to fund their activities.

Apple has been working on augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality headsets for a number of years, but has reportedly faced some development struggles that have slowed its progress. While earlier rumors had suggested Apple might show off the headset at some point during 2022, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in June that Apple would likely target a January 2023 introduction.

Today's report from DigiTimes may not necessarily significantly differ from Kuo's, as Kuo suggested that pre-orders would not begin until the second quarter of 2023 with shipments beginning by WWDC in June.

Consequently, both Kuo and ‌DigiTimes‌ appear to be citing similar time frames for mass production, with differences in expected introduction timing (January for Kuo and April for ‌DigiTimes‌) coming down to Apple's preference for how much lead time to give developers before the headset begins shipping.