Apple today released the fourth beta of macOS Ventura 13.4 to developers, and it appears that there are some issues with content filtering apps like Little Snitch, Radio Silence, and others.
After installing the beta, some users on the MacRumors forums and on Twitter had problems with network connectivity, and managed to narrow it down to interference with firewall apps. MacRumors reader Grant, for example, saw his network cycling on and off repeatedly until he uninstalled Little Snitch.
Twitter user @aaronp613 had an issue with his Mac disconnecting after updating and he was able to fix it by turning off Radio Silence.
PSA: Don’t update to macos 13.4 beta 4 - there seems to be network issues. Myself and one other person already having constant network drops every few seconds
— Aaron (@aaronp613) May 2, 2023
Mac users who are having problems with network connectivity after installing macOS Ventura 13.4 beta 4 should disable their network filtering apps. Those who are concerned about not being able to use the apps for the time being should avoid installing the latest beta for now.
Apple today introduced new 5E135 firmware for the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, the original AirPods Pro, the AirPods Pro 2, and the AirPods Max, up from the 5E133 firmware that was released in April.
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.
There is no standard way to upgrade the AirPods software, but firmware is 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.
Apple today released new firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro. The Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro now feature firmware version 5B66, up from the prior 5B55 firmware that came out in November 2022.
Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the firmware brings.
There's no standard way to upgrade the Beats software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. Putting the Beats in the case, connecting them to a power source, and then pairing them to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.
If we find notable changes after the firmware update is installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes rather than outward-facing changes.
Apple today released new firmware designed for the MagSafe Charger that is compatible with the iPhone 12 and later and the latest AirPods and Apple Watch models. The updated firmware is version 10M3761, up from the prior 10M1821 firmware. In the Settings app, you'll see a different version number than the firmware number, with the update displayed as version 258.0.0 (the prior firmware was 255.0.0).
The MagSafe Charger was initially released in the fall of 2020 alongside the iPhone 12 models, and this is the fourth firmware update that Apple has provided since the accessory launched.
Because firmware updates are released quietly over the air, Apple does not provide release notes. We do not know what new features or bug fixes might be included in the software.
There is no clear method for updating a MagSafe charger's firmware, but it needs to be plugged in and connected to an Apple device for a firmware update to initiate. You can check your MagSafe Charger's firmware by following the instructions in our MagSafe Charger how to.
OWC this week has a collection of discounts on Thunderbolt docks and particularly steep markdowns on Atlas memory cards and adapters, many of which will last throughout the month of May. If you've never shopped at OWC before, the company is known for making memory accessories, USB-C hubs, Thunderbolt docks, and more, all built with Apple computers in mind.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Memory Cards and Adapters
OWC is currently running a 25 percent discount on its Atlas memory cards and adapters this week only, and you can stack this discount with our exclusive 20 percent promo code MACRUMORS on the cart page prior to checkout. With this you can get a total 45 percent discount on these accessories through Sunday.
We've listed a few of the memory cards on sale below, but be sure to check out OWC's website to find the full sale. The higher storage memory cards will find the best discounts during this event, with as much as $225 off these cards for this week only. Remember to enter the promo code MACRUMORS on the cart page prior to checkout to get the total 45 percent off.
The new sale has eight Thunderbolt and USB drive docks on sale, most of which will require you to add the accessory to your cart in order to see the discounted price. One of the highlights of the sale is the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $229.99, which is $50 in savings.
Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the launch of the third betas.
Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option and toggling on the iOS 16/iPadOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.
iOS 16.5 adds a Sports tab in the Apple News app, making it easier to access sports-focused content. You can choose to follow your favorite teams to get updates on a regular basis. The update also includes a new Siri option for starting a screen recording with a voice command, and multi-viewing options for sports content.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of macOS Ventura 13.4 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the launch of the third beta.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, with the betas available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.
macOS 13.4 adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from System Settings on the Mac, without the need to install a profile.
An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates, which means that it is no longer possible to use a developer profile not associated with a developer account to install the developer betas.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the launch of the third tvOS 16.5 beta.
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 16.5 update by downloading a profile on the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS updates are usually minor, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the tvOS 16.5 update, but we'll update this article if we find anything new.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming one week after the launch of the third watchOS 9.5 beta.
To install the watchOS 9.5 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.5 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the iPhone it is paired with.
watchOS 9.5 adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from the Software Update section of the Watch app on iPhone.
An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates.
Apple Pay, Apple Card, and Apple Cash are currently experiencing issues for some users, according to Apple's system status page.
The page notes that some users are experiencing unspecified issues with Apple Pay, while some Apple Card and Apple Cash features may not be available to some users right now. Apple ensures that purchases made with the Apple Card and Apple Cash will continue to be unaffected as it investigates the issues and works to implement a fix.
The issues began just before 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time today, according to the page. We'll update this story when the issues are marked as resolved.
The issues come on the same day as Apple Pay launched in a few additional countries, including Guatemala and El Salvador, according to @aaronp613. First launched in the U.S. in 2014, Apple Pay is now available in around 70 countries and regions.
Two other related features that recently launched are Apple Pay Later for financing purchases and Apple Card Savings for earning interest on Daily Cash.
Amazon today has Apple's M2 MacBook Air on sale at up to $150 off select notebooks. The M2 MacBook Air debuted in June 2022 with a complete redesign compared to the previous generation.
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.
Starting with the 256GB M2 MacBook Air, this model has hit $1,049.00, down from the original price of $1,199.00. You'll find Space Gray, Starlight, and Silver available at this price on Amazon, and there's an estimated delivery date of May 4-8 for all colors.
You can also get the 512GB M2 MacBook Air on sale this week, priced at $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. Amazon only has Midnight on sale at this price, and you'll again find an estimated delivery date around May 8 for this computer.
Compared to past sales, today's deals are second-best prices on these MacBook Air models. We haven't tracked record low prices on the M2 MacBook Air since February, and those sales have been some of the only times we've seen all-time lows on these notebooks in 2023. If you're shopping for a MacBook Air this week, Amazon's markdowns are definitely solid options.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Uber Eats has started rolling out Live Activities support around the world, allowing iPhone users to easily track their order on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. The feature is available to a small percentage of users in the latest version of the Uber Eats app, and it will be available more widely within the next week or so.
Live Activities is an iOS 16 feature that allows iPhone users to stay on top of real-time events with a live-updating notification on the Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models. For Uber Eats, the feature makes it easier to track the live progress of a delivery at a glance without opening the app. Information shown includes the order status, ETA, driver's name and photo, and store's image.
Uber added Live Activities support to its main app for rides earlier this year. Uber Eats is a standalone app for delivery of food, groceries, and select other items, and its adoption of the feature will be very useful for tracking an order.
Other popular apps that support Live Activities include the NBA and MLB apps for basketball and baseball games, Flighty for flight tracking, Citymapper for public transit, ParkMobile for parking, and CARROT Weather for weather forecasts. Google Maps is also planning to support the feature for turn-by-turn directions in the coming months.
Microsoft is planning to launch a privacy-focused version of ChatGPT amid Apple's apparent lack of grip on emerging AI technologies, The Information reports.
Microsoft's Azure cloud server unit plans to offer a version of ChatGPT that runs on dedicated cloud servers where the data is kept separate from that of other customers later this quarter. Data on this isolated server will not communicate with the main ChatGPT system to preserve privacy. The service could cost as much as 10 times more than what customers currently pay to use ChatGPT.
The move seeks to appeal to businesses, such as banks, financial services, and healthcare institutions, who have avoided adopting ChatGPT out of fear that their employees could inadvertently give the chatbot sensitive proprietary information. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Samsung has banned employee use of generative AI utilities like ChatGPT after the discovery that staff had uploaded sensitive source code to the platform. The company is said to be concerned that data transmitted to artificial intelligence platforms including Bing and Google Bard could end up being disclosed to other users.
OpenAI has already sold Morgan Stanley a private ChatGPT service that does not involve Microsoft. The bank's wealth management division is already using the service to allow employees to ask questions and analyze content in thousands of the bank's market research documents.
Microsoft salespeople are said to already be fielding inquiries from organizations about the forthcoming product. Many large customers, including banks, have existing contracts with Azure, which could prove advantageous in persuading them Microsoft will manage their data securely.
Last week, it emerged that Siri and Apple's AI efforts have been severely hamstrung by organizational dysfunction and a lack of ambition. Many Apple employees purportedly left the company because it was too slow to make decisions or too conservative in its approach to new AI technologies, including the large-language models that underpin chatbots like ChatGPT.
Microsoft's latest move seemingly leapfrogs Apple to offer a privacy-focused AI chatbot in a ringfenced environment. Apple's uncompromising stance on privacy and insistence on a high level of control over its products and services has reportedly created considerable challenges for enhancing Siri and the company's investment in AI technologies.
Apple has pushed for an increasing number of Siri's functions to be performed on-device and the company apparently prefers its responses to be pre-written by a team of around 20 writers, rather than AI-generated, to maximize privacy and control. This has seemingly left the company out of the AI chatbot race, allowing Microsoft to flaunt Apple's preferred privacy credentials in the AI arena.
Apple and Google today jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth item trackers for unwanted tracking of individuals. As part of this initiative, the companies plan to expand AirTag-like unwanted tracking alerts to third-party item trackers in future versions of iOS and Android.
Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, according to Apple's announcement.
The specification has been submitted via the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards organization and will be subject to a comment period over the next three months. Following the comment period, Apple and Google will partner to address feedback, and plan to release a "production implementation" of the specification by the end of 2023 that will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android.
Since launching in April 2021, there have been several news stories about the AirTag being used for unwanted tracking. Currently, if iOS detects an unknown AirTag moving with someone over time, they are alerted with a push notification. Users can then take steps to find and disable the AirTag if necessary, as outlined in an Apple support document.
Marketing renders of Google's long-rumored Pixel Fold have emerged online, including detailed hardware specifications, leaving seemingly little still to be revealed ahead of the device's expected official unveiling later this month.
Coming courtesy of the ever-reliable leaker Evan Blass, the genuine renders essentially corroborate design details that have been floating around for some time: The Pixel Fold adopts a form factor similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, featuring a 5.8-inch OLED display on the outer cover, and a main 7.6-inch OLED display (the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4) that unfolds like a book. Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate.
Based on details from Blass, the device is 5.5" tall by 3.1" wide by 0.5" thin when folded (139.7mm x 79.5mm x 12.1mm) and 5.5" x 6.2" x 0.2" (139.7mm x 158.7mm x 5.2mm) when unfolded. That should make the device able to fit easily in a pocket when folded. The Fold is powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip and a dedicated Titan M2 security co-processor, and comes with 12GB of RAM as well as 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
The Fold's outer cameras are comprised of 48MP main, 10.8MP ultra-wide, and 10.8MP Dual Pixel telephoto lenses, while the inner camera is an 8MP lens. The Fold also weighs 283 grams, is IPX8 water resistant, and will have a 4,821mAh battery that is able to last for up to 24 hours. Color options are listed as Obsidian and Porcelain.
The Pixel Fold will be introduced at Google I/O on May 10, and Google plans to market it as a device with the "most durable hinge" on a foldable smartphone, a claim that should prove particularly apropos given recent reports emerging of hinge problems across Samsung's foldable Z phone line. The device is expected to be priced from around $1,700, which is in line with Samsung's pricing.
With the Pixel Fold becoming available in June, Google will beat Apple to the foldable smartphone market. There are rumors that Apple has been experimenting with foldable iPhones, but the company could actually introduce the technology in the iPad first.
At the current time, there is no solid word on just when Apple might introduce its first foldable iPhone, but analysts have suggested it won't come until 2025 at the earliest.
Apple's Safari has retaken the lead over Microsoft Edge to become the world's second most popular desktop browser, based on data provided by web analytics service StatCounter.
According to the data, Safari is now used on 11.87 percent of desktop computers worldwide, 0.87 percent ahead of Edge, which stands at 11 percent. Google Chrome remains in first place with a dominant 66.13 percent share, and Mozilla's Firefox stands in fourth with 5.65 percent. Here's how the latest full rankings look:
Chrome 66.13%
Safari 11.87%
Edge 11%
Firefox 5.65%
Opera 3.09%
IE 0.55%
The stats look favorable for Apple compared to the same time last year, when Edge trumped Safari for second place by a small sub one-percent margin, owing to broadly positive reception of Microsoft's reimagined default browser for Windows 11.
Apple's resurgence in the browser wars corresponds to a marked increase in global Mac sales in 2022, despite supply constraints throughout the course of the year. Interest in the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and M2 chips saw Apple's Mac revenue hit $11.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, up $2.5 billion year over year.
In fiscal 2022, Macs earned a total of $40.1 billion, up $5 billion from the $35 billion that Macs earned in fiscal 2021. In Q4 2022, half of Mac buyers were new to the product line, giving macOS and Apple's default Safari browser significantly more exposure.
Despite Safari's surge, it has made virtually no progress in catching up to first-placed Google Chrome, which retains an iron-clad grip on the market, with its share down just 0.51 percent compared to the previous year. Chrome's popularity on both macOS and Windows platforms continues largely unabated.
The latest legal dispute between Apple and pulse oximetry company Masimo today ended in a mistrial, reports Bloomberg. The jury overseeing the case was not able to come to a final decision in its deliberations, causing U.S. district judge James Selna to declare a mistrial.
Six jurors wanted to decide in favor of Apple, but one juror held strong for Masimo, leading to an impasse. Earlier this afternoon, the jurors sent the judge a note asking what to do because the juror voting in favor of Masimo would not change her position.
The judge initially planned to send the jurors home for the night with deliberations to continue on Tuesday, but after they insisted they would not be able to come to a consensus, he opted to call it.
Apple and Masimo have been in court over the last few weeks to determine whether Apple illegally poached Masimo employees and stole trade secrets when developing the Apple Watch. Masimo was seeking over $1.8 billion in damages and co-ownership of five Apple pulse oximetry patents that Masimo said used its technology.
Apple in July 2013 hired Chief Medical Officer Michael O'Reilly and then in 2014, it hired Cercacor Chief Technical Officer Marcelo Lamego (Cercacor is a Masimo spinoff company). Masimo claims that the two former employees inappropriately shared Masimo's intellectual property when they developed the Apple Watch, which Apple denies.
During the trial, Masimo attempted to demonstrate that Apple Watch development was floundering prior to the hiring of the two Masimo employees, pointing to a 2013 email where now-retired Apple executive Bob Mansfield called the Apple Watch "a mess" and said the sensor would "fail" on its "current path."
Apple maintained that no Masimo IP was used in its work on the Apple Watch, and further, that what Masimo claims are "trade secrets" are ideas "long known and used by multiple companies." Apple said that Masimo targeted it because Masimo saw the success of Apple Watch and wanted to make its own smart watch. Masimo did indeed come out with an Apple Watch-like wearable in late 2022 after decades of focus on large medical devices for healthcare.
In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it plans to ask the court to dismiss the trade secret allegations. For context, five of Masimo's claims against Apple were thrown out during the trial, reducing Masimo's self-calculated award.
"We thank the jury for their careful consideration in this case. We deeply respect intellectual property and innovation and do not take or use confidential information from other companies. We are pleased that the court correctly rejected half of the plaintiffs’ trade secret allegations, and will now ask the court to dismiss the remaining claims."
Masimo said that it plans to continue pursuing the trade theft case.
"While we are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach a verdict, we intend to retry the case and continue to pursue legal redress against Apple. As we begin that process, the United States Trade Commission is scheduled in the coming months to decide whether to ban the importation of certain models of the Apple Watch, following a ruling last year by an Administrative Law Judge that Apple infringed one of Masimo’s patents for pulse oximetry."
Masimo previously sued Apple for patent infringement, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ended up invalidating all but two of the patents. The United States International Trade Commission in January said that Apple had infringed on a Masimo patent, a case that is still ongoing.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is encouraging New York car owners to install Apple AirTags in cars in order to cut down on car theft in the city.
In a tweet shared over the weekend, the NYPD said that "the 21st century calls for 21st century policing," and that an AirTag in a car will help officers recover a car if it is stolen. An accompanying video instructs car owners to get an AirTag and install it in a location in the vehicle where it can't easily be found.
The video then demonstrates a car theft where the owner uses the Find My app to track the car, with the tracking information relayed to the police. Officers find the car thanks to the AirTag and are able to recover the vehicle and arrest the thief.
The 21st century calls for 21st century policing. AirTags in your car will help us recover your vehicle if it’s stolen. We’ll use our drones, our StarChase technology & good old fashion police work to safely recover your stolen car. Help us help you, get an AirTag. #GSDpic.twitter.com/fTfk8p4lye
— NYPD Chief of Department (@NYPDChiefOfDept) April 30, 2023
"Safe guard your car by simply putting an Apple AirTag inside of it," the NYPD writes at the end of the video. The AirTag initiative comes after a viral TikTok car theft video that caused an uptick in thefts across the United States. In the TikTok, thieves demonstrate how to get into Hyundai and Kia vehicles through an easily accessible exploit.
In an accompanying press conference on Sunday, New York City mayor Eric Adams said that the city will provide 500 free AirTags to car owners. According to CBS News, the AirTags are available to residents in Castle Hill, Soundview, and Parkchester, as these areas have seen a 548 percent increase in stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with 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.
