Apple at WWDC this week announced a new TipKit framework that will allow developers to offer tips in their apps on iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17. These tips can help to surface hidden features, highlight brand new features, show a faster method of accomplishing a task, and more.
Tips may appear next to a button or other user interface element in an app at timely moments, providing contextual information about features. Of course, apps can already offer their own tips and helpful information, but Apple is now providing a native solution with a consistent design. Apple has a WWDC session with more details for developers interested in TipKit, but there is no documentation available yet.
iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 will be released to the public later this year, and more apps should start to incorporate TipKit over the coming months. All of the updates are available in beta now for anyone with a free Apple developer account, and public betas will be available in July.
All of Apple's software announcements have been somewhat overshadowed by the Apple Vision Pro, but there are a number of useful changes that are coming in iOS 17. We've pulled out five features that we think are the most interesting and that iPhone users will be most excited about when iOS 17 launches this fall.
Live Voicemail - If you're like us, you sometimes forget that voicemail even exists. With iOS 17, when someone calls and leaves a voicemail, you can see the transcription live on your Lock Screen. If they have something notable to say, you can pick up the call right then and there.
StandBy - StandBy is similar to Nightstand mode for the Apple Watch. When you put your phone in landscape orientation on a charger, it activates a full-screen display with at-a-glance information like your calendar, clock, weather details, and even Live Activities. It's truly best with the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display, but it works on older iPhones if you tap on the screen.
Interactive widgets - Widgets on the Home Screen and the Lock Screen are now interactive, which makes them much more useful. You can check off Reminders, control music playback, activate HomeKit devices, and more, without having to open up an app.
Keyboard updates - Autocorrect is using a new machine learning model that can better predict what you want to say. You can more quickly complete words just by tapping the space bar, and in some cases, fill entire sentences. When a word is corrected, it's now underlined, and you can tap it to revert back to the original word you typed if autocorrect makes a mistake.
FaceTime on Apple TV - If you've ever wanted a larger display for FaceTime, you're in luck, because with iOS 17 and tvOS 17, you can use FaceTime on the Apple TV. With Continuity Camera, you can connect your iPhone to your Apple TV, using the iPhone's camera for FaceTime while the picture is displayed on the larger screen of the television set. All the usual FaceTime features work like Center Stage, and it's the perfect setup for calls with multiple people. FaceTime on Apple TV works with the new FaceTime effects that let you activate hearts, balloons, laser beams, and rain through gestures.
An honorable mention should go to the Journal app that's coming in iOS 17; it's just not on the list because it's not part of the initial iOS 17 release. The Journal app will let you record your thoughts and activities each day, with Apple-provided prompts to help inspire you.
There are a number of other features in iOS 17 that are worth knowing about, including a fun option to customize what people see when you call them, a quicker way to share contact information with people, improvements to Messages, mood tracking, shared passwords, an option to lock the Safari private browsing window, AirTag sharing, and more. Full details can be found in our iOS 17 roundup, which is still undergoing updates.
Do you agree with our top picks? Let us know in the comments below. Stay tuned to MacRumors, because we're going to have coverage of iOS 17 and Apple's other software updates all summer long as the beta testing period progresses.
To celebrate the upcoming release of watchOS 10, we've teamed up with iMazing to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple Watch Ultra, Apple's top-of-the-line Apple Watch option, and a copy of the iMazing iPhone backup software.
For those unfamiliar with iMazing, it's an iPhone management app for Mac that's an alternative to Apple's Finder-based iPhone management system. You can get it on Windows machines too, where it can be used instead of iTunes. iMazing offers far more versatility than Apple's built-in iPhone management options, and it will be ready to go for iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma when the updates launch.
With iMazing, you can create hassle-free wireless backups of your iPhone, with multiple versions available. With iCloud backup, new backups overwrite your old backups, so you can get in a sticky situation if you need access to something that was overwritten. You won't lose older files that you might be looking for with iMazing, and there are even options to schedule your backups regularly. Backups can be saved to any local storage device, including a NAS, keeping your data out of the cloud.
For transferring photos from an iOS device to a Mac or vice versa, there is a drag and drop option for moving images around. You can keep the images that you want and get rid of the clutter, with iMazing offering support for HEIF, RAW, PNG, and JPG files. A built-in EXIF viewer shows data on file type, size, and location, plus there are tools for creating and editing albums for easy organization.
Backups of iMessages and WhatsApp can be created with iMazing, and not only can you save all of the text, it also keeps a copy of photos, videos, contacts, and links. iMazing is also useful for music management because you can transfer songs from an iOS device to a computer or from a computer to an iOS device. It's particularly useful if you have an old iPhone or iPod and no other way to get the music off of it, or if you simply want a way to manage physical media without relying on cloud music services. All media types are supported, and iMazing has an included media player so you don't even need to swap apps to hear your songs.
iMazing makes upgrading to a new device easy with device-to-device transfers. You can pick and choose what you want to move from your old device to your new device, and there is a drag-and-drop Quick Transfer feature if you just want to move a few files.
For apps, iMazing keeps backups and can be used to restore app data of deleted apps, plus you can do quick mass cleanups with just a few clicks if your iPhone tends to get cluttered with apps.
If you want to get a copy of iMazing, you can do so from the iMazing website. iMazing is priced at $39.99 for a single device, with multi-device licenses also available.
We have an Apple Watch Ultra and a free copy of iMazing for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (June 9) at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 23. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 23 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
We're tracking a few solid deals in the wake of WWDC this week, including the first-ever discount on the 15-inch MacBook Air, which Apple just announced on Monday. You'll also find record low prices on all other current models of the MacBook Air, along with solid deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, and MacBook Pro.
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.
MacBook Air
With the announcement of the all-new 15-inch MacBook Air this week at WWDC, both the 13.3-inch and 13.6-inch models have seen notable markdowns this week at Amazon and B&H Photo. Additionally, the new 15-inch MacBook Air itself has received its first-ever sale at Amazon with $49 off select models.
AirPods deals that remain in stock on Amazon heading into the weekend include the AirPods 3 for $149.00 ($20 off) and AirPods Pro 2 for $199.99 ($49 off).
Apple Watches have hit all-time low prices for select configurations on Amazon this week, including the 41mm GPS Series 8 device at $329.00 and 45mm GPS at $359.00. If you want an even cheaper starting price, Apple Watch SE starts at $219.00 right now.
Lastly, we're tracking a collection of all-time low prices on the new 14-inch MacBook Pro. Prices start at $1,749.00 for the 512GB model and reach up to $300 off these notebooks. All deals are available on Amazon and you'll find some matching sales at B&H Photo.
At various points in Apple's Platforms State of the Unions video for developers, a Vision Pro headset with a USB-C adapter attached to the right side of the headset can be seen, leading to some speculation on social media as to what the adapter is for.
It appears that the adapter has a USB-C cable leading to a Mac Studio in one shot, although there is no definitive view to confirm this. In this scenario, it is possible the adapter could provide a direct connection to a Mac for visionOS app development in Xcode, but the adapter's purpose ultimately remains a mystery for now.
The Vision Pro's external battery pack attaches to the left side of the headset, so the USB-C adapter is connected on the other side.
Vision Pro isn't launching until early 2024, so we'll learn more details about the headset over the coming months. Apple will also be making Vision Pro developer kits available in July, which could help to paint a better picture.
Apple's previous-generation 16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Max, 1TB) has hit a new all-time low price today on Amazon. You can get the notebook for $2,649.00 in Silver, down from $3,499.00.
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.
We've been tracking steeper and steeper discounts on the 2021 MacBook Pro models in the wake of the 2023 notebooks that launched back in January. At $850 off, Amazon's discount today on the 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of the biggest markdowns we've seen to date on these computers.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 1TB) is also still on sale on Amazon for $1,899.00, down from $2,499.00. This has been one of the most consistent discounts on the 2021 MacBook Pro line, and it's still an all-time low price on the notebook.
Since the release of iOS 15 in 2021, Apple Maps has been rolling out a more detailed map with custom-designed 3D landmarks in major cities around the world. This week, both the more detailed map and cycling directions went live in Paris.
Landmarks app showing Apple's 3D models in Paris via André Baev
Apple says the updated experience provides richer detail for road markings, buildings, commercial districts, land cover, trees, elevation, public transit routes, and more. Turn-by-turn navigation is also improved with augmented reality walking directions in Paris, as well as the addition of cycling directions along bike lanes and bike-friendly roads.
Notably, this means the world-famous Eiffel Tower can now be viewed in 3D in Apple Maps, along with the Louvre museum and other landmarks.
More detailed mapping is also available in Atlanta, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Miami, Montréal, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Sydney, Toronto, Washington D.C., and a few other cities.
Earlier this year, we highlighted an iPhone app called Landmarks that allows you to easily view hundreds of 3D models from Apple Maps.
Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 18 this year, and with just over a week to go before the holiday we're tracking notable discounts from a few Apple-related accessory companies. These sales include Sonos speakers, iPhone cases, Samsung monitors, and other products that could make good gifts for Father's Day.
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.
All of the deals listed in this article have already begun, and most of them will last until Sunday, June 18, unless otherwise stated. You'll find discounts from Belkin, ZAGG, Samsung, Sonos, Satechi, and more. With nine days to go until Father's Day, most orders placed today should make it in time for the 18th.
Samsung
Samsung's event for Father's Day is focusing on savings on monitors and TVs, including a great deal on the popular Smart Monitor M8. You can get this monitor for $449.99 during the sale, down from $699.99.
The M8 houses a 4K UHD flat LCD panel providing 400 nits of brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and adaptive picture technology that automatically adjusts display brightness and color temperature for viewing comfort. The M8 chassis is 11.4mm thin, which is 0.1mm thinner than Apple's iMac, and it includes a flat back, thin bezels, and a height adjustable stand with tilt functionality.
Otherwise, in this sale you'll find various savings on monitors, memory, storage, speakers, and TVs. We've collected a few of these deals below, and be sure to browse Samsung's event before the deals expire on June 11.
Sonos recently kicked off a big sale that has up to 25 percent off select products through Father's Day on June 18. Sonos sales are very rare, so now is a great time to pick up one of their popular speakers, particularly if you're looking to make it a gift for Father's Day.
All discounts in the new sale have been applied automatically, so you won't need any coupon codes in order to see the sale prices. The sale includes savings on speakers, portable Bluetooth speakers, sound bars, subwoofers, and more. We've collected a few of the best deals below, but be sure to visit the Sonos website to see the full sale.
ZAGG is offering 20 percent off select wireless chargers, travel chargers, portable batteries, and more for Father's Day this year. You can choose up to three products to get 20 percent off your order on ZAGG's website, and this excludes already-discounted items.
Satechi is well known for its Apple-compatible products and is a perfect place to shop for anyone in the Apple ecosystem. With these codes, you can get solid discounts on USB-C hubs for MacBook users, cables and MagSafe-compatible products for iPhone users, and more.
B&H Photo
B&H Photo is hosting a big sale for Father's Day this year, with discounts on cameras, lenses, drones, lighting equipment, computers, storage, TVs, smart home products, and more. The retailer says that these sales will run through Father's Day on June 18, or while supplies last, so be sure to shop soon if you spot anything you may want to buy.
Belkin
Belkin is always good at hosting notable discounts for holidays throughout the year, and Father's Day is no different. You can get up to 40 percent off and free two-day shipping on select items with the code DNG23.
Apple announced tvOS 17 earlier this week with a handful of new features for the Apple TV, including FaceTime and a redesigned Control Center. Another new feature is support for VPN apps, although it remains to be seen if there will be any limitations.
VPN apps could allow for Apple TV users to watch geo-restricted content from any location, such as the U.S. version of Netflix in another country. In its tvOS 17 press release, however, Apple focused on how the VPN apps can benefit enterprise and education users, so it is possible that Apple could restrict usage of the apps.
Apple:
Third-party VPN support, which enables developers to create VPN apps for Apple TV. This can benefit enterprise and education users wanting to access content on their private networks, allowing Apple TV to be a great office and conference room solution in even more places.
tvOS 17 will be released later this year, and is available in beta now for anyone with an Apple developer account. The software update is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released in 2015 and later. The first VPN apps should begin to appear on the Apple TV's App Store over the coming months.
Coming away from all the press coverage and the demonstration videos that Apple released for its Vision Pro headset, most people would be forgiven for not realizing that there is an optional additional strap for the device that goes over the head.
Still from Apple's WWDC keynote video showing over-the-head strap in use
The additional strap is presumably used to better disperse weight and/or keep the headset from being easily dislodged when the wearer is moving around. It only appeared once in Apple's WWDC keynote, in a brief scene where a man stands and records a video of children playing with bubbles using the headset's outward facing cameras.
Otherwise, it is conspicuous only by its absence in Apple's marketing materials. Indeed, Apple has not even mentioned the optional head strap, but some of those who got to try the headset in person in Cupertino this week, such as MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera, did get to use it.
"A lot of people probably didn't know this just by looking at some press images, but there is another band that goes over the top of your head," said Dan in his initial impressions video.
In his opinion, with the additional strap attached, the Vision Pro is "not that far off from other headsets in terms of weight," but it does "a really good job of dispersing that weight" and making it not so front-heavy. "I do think most people will want to use it," he added.
Apple has not revealed the weight of the Vision Pro, but Apple's decision to offload the battery to an external pack speaks volumes about the need to keep the headset as light as possible. The braided headband that goes around the back of the head has a fit adjustment dial, but by offering an additional strap, Apple implicitly seems to be acknowledging that the one headband may not be comfortable or secure enough for some users, especially if the device is going to be worn for extended periods of time.
It's worth remembering that members of the press who got to try the headset did so only for around 30 minutes, which is some way off Apple's stated two-hour battery life (Apple even says it is designed for all-day use when plugged in to a power outlet). For example, in his own first impressions write-up, Daring Fireball's John Gruber did not mention any use of the additional over-the-head strap, but he did have this to say about the weight:
The single biggest downside from my demo experience is that Vision Pro feels heavier on your face than I had hoped it would. It's not uncomfortable — at least not for 30 minutes — but I never forgot it was there, and it just makes your head feel a bit front-heavy.
Since Apple hasn't discussed the existence of the additional strap, we don't yet know if it will be included in the box with the headset when it goes on sale next year. But given its relative absence in marketing materials, the likelihood is that it will be offered as a separate paid-for accessory for those who feel they need it.
Whether that will go down well with consumers considering buying a first-generation product with a $3,499 starting price remains to be seen.
Zuckerberg added that Apple's announcement "really showcases the difference in the values and the vision that our companies bring to this," noting that Meta's goal is to offer products that are "accessible and affordable to everyone." Vision Pro will be priced at $3,499, while the Quest 3 will be priced at $499 and the Quest Pro costs $999.
Meta's goal with the metaverse is "fundamentally social," whereas the Vision Pro appears to be more isolating, according to Zuckerberg. He admitted that Apple's approach "could be the vision of the future of computing," but is "not the one that I want."
Zuckerberg's full comments, as reported by The Verge:
Apple finally announced their headset, so I want to talk about that for a second. I was really curious to see what they were gonna ship. And obviously I haven't seen it yet, so I'll learn more as we get to play with it and see what happens and how people use it.
From what I've seen initially, I'd say the good news is that there's no kind of magical solutions that they have to any of the constraints on laws and physics that our teams haven't already explored and thought of. They went with a higher resolution display, and between that and all the technology they put in there to power it, it costs seven times more and now requires so much energy that now you need a battery and a wire attached to it to use it. They made that design trade-off and it might make sense for the cases that they're going for.
But look, I think that their announcement really showcases the difference in the values and the vision that our companies bring to this in a way that I think is really important. We innovate to make sure that our products are as accessible and affordable to everyone as possible, and that is a core part of what we do. And we have sold tens of millions of Quests.
More importantly, our vision for the metaverse and presence is fundamentally social. It's about people interacting in new ways and feeling closer in new ways. Our device is also about being active and doing things. By contrast, every demo that they showed was a person sitting on a couch by themself. I mean, that could be the vision of the future of computing, but like, it's not the one that I want. There's a real philosophical difference in terms of how we're approaching this. And seeing what they put out there and how they're going to compete just made me even more excited and in a lot of ways optimistic that what we're doing matters and is going to succeed. But it's going to be a fun journey.
Just days before WWDC, Meta previewed the Quest 3, its next-generation mixed reality headset. Launching later this year, the headset features a 40% slimmer and more comfortable design, a higher-resolution display, and up to twice the graphics performance as the Quest 2. The headset will start at $499 with 128GB of storage, and the company plans to share more details about it at an event on September 27.
Apple said the Vision Pro will be available in the U.S. in early 2024.
Popular third-party Reddit app Apollo will be shutting down as of June 30, Apollo developer Christian Selig announced today. The news comes after Reddit decided to start requiring developers to pay an unreasonable amount to access its API.
Selig said in late May that Reddit is charging $12,000 for 50 million requests, and given the number of people that use Apollo, that would result in a $20 million per year charge that is unfeasible for Selig to pay.
Apollo will close down on June 30th. Reddit’s recent decisions and actions have unfortunately made it impossible for Apollo to continue. Thank you so, so much for all the support over the years. ❤️ https://t.co/HOJaLMW8fx
— Christian Selig (@ChristianSelig) June 8, 2023
Reddit has not budged on its pricing plans despite protests from users and Reddit moderators who rely on third-party apps, and the change will make it impossible for Apollo to continue to operate. "Going from a free API for 8 years to suddenly incurring massive costs is not something I can feasibly make work with only 30 days," Selig wrote.
Apollo is the most popular third-party Reddit app, primarily because of the work that Selig has put into it. He regularly adds new features and updates, and interfaces with users to get feedback on new functionality. Reddit maintains its own app, but it does not have the same feature options as Apollo, and users who rely on the Apollo app will be undoubtedly disappointed by this turn of events.
Over the last several days, Selig has attempted to work out a deal with Reddit, but it has been clear that Reddit has no plan to offer more reasonable API pricing. Reddit has in fact claimed that Selig tried to extort money from the company and is operating Apollo inefficiently, but has been unable to provide Selig with more information on how the app can be improved to further cut down on API usage. Selig does believe he could rewrite code to make Apollo more efficient in the long run, but Reddit has provided just 30 days for him to implement code changes, switch to a subscription model, migrate users, and make other updates. In addition to the cost and the negative interaction that he's had with Reddit leadership, Selig says that the timing is another reason that he's not able to make Apollo work with Reddit's new API pricing.
Selig has provided full details on why he has made the decision to shut down Apollo, plus he has transcripts and audio of his discussions with Reddit and what led to this decision.
Apple Vision Pro, Apple's new "spatial computing" device, does not have a hardware-based control mechanism. It relies on eye tracking and hand gestures to allow users to manipulate objects in the virtual space in front of them. In a recent developer session, Apple designers outlined the specific gestures that can be used with Vision Pro, and how some of the interactions will work.
Tap - Tapping the thumb and the index finger together signals to the headset that you want to tap on a virtual element on the display that you're looking at. Users have also described this as a pinch, and it is the equivalent to tapping on the screen of an iPhone.
Double Tap - Tapping twice initiates a double tap gesture.
Pinch and Hold - A pinch and a hold is similar to a tap and hold gesture, and it does things like highlighting text.
Pinch and Drag - Pinching and dragging can be used to scroll and to move windows around. You can scroll horizontally or vertically, and if you move your hand faster, you'll be able to scroll faster.
Zoom - Zoom is one of two main two-handed gestures. You can pinch your fingers together and pull your hands apart to zoom in, and presumably zooming out will have a pushing sort of motion. Window sizes can also be adjusted by dragging at the corners.
Rotate - Rotate is the other two-handed gesture and based on Apple's chart, it will involve pinching the fingers together and rotating the hands to manipulate virtual objects.
Gestures will work in tandem with eye movements, and the many cameras in the Vision Pro will track where you are looking with great accuracy. Eye position will be a key factor in targeting what you want to interact with using hand gestures. As an example, looking at an app icon or on-screen element targets it and highlights it, and then you can follow up with a gesture.
Hand gestures do not need to be grand, and you can keep your hands in your lap. Apple is encouraging that, in fact, because it will keep your hands and arms from getting tired from being held in the air. You only need a tiny pinch gesture for the equivalent of a tap, because the cameras can track precise movements.
What you're looking at will let you select and manipulate objects that are both close to you and far from you, and Apple does anticipate scenarios where you might want to use larger gestures to control objects that are right in front of you. You can reach out and use your fingertips to interact with an object. For example, if you have a Safari window right in front of you, you can reach your hand out and scroll from there rather than using your fingers in your lap.
In addition to gestures, the headset will support hand movements such as air typing, though it doesn't seem like those who have received a demo have been able to try this feature as of yet. Gestures will work together, of course, and to do something like create a drawing, you'll look at a spot on the canvas, select a brush with your hand, and use a gesture in the air to draw. If you look elsewhere, you'll be able to move the cursor immediately to where you're looking.
While these are the six main system gestures that Apple has described, developers can create custom gestures for their apps that will perform other actions. Developers will need to make sure custom gestures are distinct from the system gestures or common hand movements that people might use, and that the gestures can be repeated frequently without hand strain.
To supplement hand and eye gestures, Bluetooth keyboards, trackpads, mice, and game controllers can be connected to the headset, and there are also voice-based search and dictation tools.
Multiple people who have been able to try the Vision Pro have had the same word to describe the control system - intuitive. Apple's designers seem to have created it to work similarly to multitouch gestures on the iPhone and the iPad, and so far, reactions have been positive.
In a video released today, Apple has outlined several improvements coming to the Wallet app and Apple Pay with iOS 17. The software update is currently in beta and will be released to the public later this year for the iPhone XS and newer.
A major redesign for the Wallet app that was rumored ahead of WWDC never materialized, with only modest changes made in iOS 17.
Apple Pay order tracking is getting several enhancements, including Apple Maps support, receipts for transactions, the ability to add an order to the Wallet app from an email attachment, and a new "Track with Apple Wallet" button for apps and websites.
If a user is tracking an Apple Pay order with a specified pickup time and location, the Maps app will now proactively suggest it through Siri Suggestions.
Merchants can now attach a receipt to Apple Pay orders as a PDF or image file, so the customer has a record of payment in the Wallet app. Merchants can also now attach Apple Pay orders to emails, such as the order confirmation email. The customer can then tap on the email attachment in the Mail app and add the order to the Wallet app.
Apple has also introduced a new "Track with Apple Wallet" button that merchants can add within their iPhone apps and websites.
As previously announced by Apple, iPhone users will be able to present a driver's license or ID stored in the Wallet app at participating businesses and venues starting later this year. Users will simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near the business's iPhone to verify their age and identity for things like alcohol, rental cars, and more.
Apple calls this feature Tap to Present ID on iPhone and provides more details in its video.
The first macOS Sonoma beta was released to developers and early adopters this week, and changes in the newest version of Apple's macOS operating system are still being unearthed. Below are just a handful of notable differences that may have passed you by.
System Settings
In macOS Ventura, Apple replaced System Preferences with System Settings to align it with iOS and iPadOS, but the way controls were organized left many users wanting.
The same System Settings interface remains in macOS Sonoma, but it is now easier to navigate through different menu screens you have visited without continually scrolling through the side bar, thanks to the addition of backward and forward buttons.
FaceTime UI and Reactions
Apple has changed the way FaceTime integrates with the menu bar. The video effects options no longer appear in the Control Center, and instead have a new home in a dedicated green FaceTime menu bar item, which also includes a mini webcam view and buttons to trigger Reactions.
Reactions include Love, Like, Dislike, Balloons, Rain, Confetti, Lasers, and Fireworks. Some reactions are even triggered automatically by the user's physical actions: One thumb up triggers a Like, and two thumbs up are attended by Fireworks. Similarly, one thumb down counts as a dislike, and two thumbs down initiates a rain shower.
Safari Profiles
Safari has gained a new feature called Profiles, which is designed to help keep your browsing separate for topics like Work, School, or Personal.
Each profile gets its own icon and silos your history, Tab Groups, favorites, and cookies. You can even assign specific extensions to different profiles to optimize your browsing experience based on the task at hand.
Seamless Keyboard Input and Dictation
macOS Sonoma supports simultaneous use of keyboard input and Dictation, without any disruption in your flow of thought.
In other words, you can keep typing after hitting the Dictation shortcut. So whenever your fingers need a rest, you can complete the sentence you were just typing by saying it out loud.
Screen Sharing Improvements
When you're in a FaceTime or Zoom call, click-hold the green traffic light in the corner of an open app window and you'll see a screen sharing option, and a new Presenter Overlay feature can be used to keep you on screen and better able to point to details.
When on a video call, you can either place yourself inside a movable bubble in the corner of the window or desktop that you're sharing, or you can bring on-screen content into the background of your own environment so that it looks as if you're standing just in front of it.
Docked Web Apps
Thanks to a new option in Safari, you can now create independent web apps that can be added to your Dock.
All you have to do is visit a website and select File -> Add to Dock.... You can then give the web app a name and even change its icon. When you open a docked web app, it will open in its own separate window that includes back and forward buttons for simple navigation.
Other Notable Tidbits
New visual Caps Lock indicator
Mail search prioritizes upcoming travel-related emails
Use the Share button to send a note in Notes into Pages.
New Zoom and Pan controls for Continuity Camera
Developers are still learning what else has changed in macOS Sonoma, so be sure to check back for more coverage here on MacRumors.
Samsung is hosting a new sale for Father's Day, offering savings on monitors and TVs for a limited time. As is typical for these Samsung events, the popular Smart Monitor M8 is being discounted, now available for $449.99, down from $699.99.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This sale on the Smart Monitor M8 beats last month's deal by $50, and is overall a solid second-best price on the monitor. The M8 houses a 4K UHD flat LCD panel providing 400 nits of brightness, a 60Hz refresh rate, HDR support, and adaptive picture technology that automatically adjusts display brightness and color temperature for viewing comfort.
There are a few other monitors, memory, and storage accessories on sale during the Samsung Father's Day sale. This includes $400 off the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 Curved Smart Gaming Monitor, priced at $1,099.99 during this event.
In terms of TV sales, Samsung has a few options during this event, including up to $300 off select models. You can also get Samsung's Sound Tower portable speaker at 50 percent off during this sale, priced at $249.99.
Upon the launch of the latest Mac Pro, Apple's transition to Apple silicon across its entire Mac lineup is complete. The new Mac Pro features the M2 Ultra chip – the same chip offered in the refreshed Mac Studio – so why should some prospective customers buy the Mac Pro, despite its $6,999 starting price, and which performance-focused desktop Mac is best for you?
The Mac Studio starts at $1,999, substantially less than the $6,999 starting price of the Mac Pro. When configured with the same M2 Ultra chip as the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio starts at $3,999. There are several crucial differences between the Mac Studio and Mac Pro that justify their different price points and designs:
Mac Studio
Mac Pro
Integrated, non-upgradeable design with sealed casing
Modular design with openable casing and potential for SSD upgrades
–
Seven PCI Express expansion slots (six available slots; one slot comes with Apple I/O card installed)
Two impeller fans
Three impeller fans
Apple M2 Max or M2 Ultra chip
Apple M2 Ultra chip
Up to 24-core CPU
24-core CPU
10Gb Ethernet
Dual 10Gb Ethernet
Up to six Thunderbolt 4 ports
Eight Thunderbolt 4 ports
Two USB-A ports
Three USB-A ports
HDMI port
Two HDMI ports
SDXC card slot (UHS-II)
–
–
Rack-mounted version available
Starts at $1,999
Starts at $6,999
The main reason to buy the Mac Pro is to be able to use its seven PCIe expansion slots add the likes of digital signal processing (DSP) cards, serial digital interface (SDI) I/O cards, additional networking, and built-in storage. This also allows a user to change some of their Mac Pro's hardware over time, and Apple is offering additional do-it-yourself SSD upgrade kits and wheels for the device.
If you require multiple Ethernet ports, more than six Thunderbolt ports, or more than two USB-A ports to connect a large number of peripherals, only the Mac Pro can facilitate this. Otherwise, since the Mac Studio can be configured with the same M2 Ultra chip as the Mac Pro, there is no reason to buy the more expensive desktop machine, and most users will be better off buying the Mac Studio and saving $3,000.
Buy a Mac Studio if...
You prefer a smaller desktop machine that takes up significantly less space
The M2 Max chip offers sufficient performance for your needs and you do not need the M2 Ultra chip
You need a versatile, high-performance machine below the Mac Pro's $6,999 starting price
Buy a Mac Pro if...
You need the ability to upgrade the internal SSD
You need more than six Thunderbolt ports, more than two USB-A ports, more than one HDMI port, or more than one ethernet port
You need PCIe expansion slots
If you don't need the performance and number of ports that the Mac Studio offers, it is worth noting that Apple offers the Mac mini with the M2 Pro chip for $1,299. This high-end Mac mini offers a good balance of price and performance that should be more than sufficient for many users looking for a desktop Mac.
The Mac Pro is targeted at professionals with distinct hardware requirements and complicated workflows, often in production environments. These customers will know they need a Mac Pro to meet their needs. Considering the fact that the base model is $5,000 cheaper than the Mac Pro, the Mac Studio is now the best "Pro" desktop Mac for the overwhelming majority of prospective customers, with more than enough performance and versatility for most users.
WhatsApp today introduced Channels, a feed-style one-way broadcast service coming to the popular chat platform where admins can send text, photos, videos, stickers, and polls to followers.
WhatsApp calls Channels "a simple, reliable, and private way to receive important updates from people and organizations," and cites hobbies, sports teams, and updates from local authorities as examples.
The personal information of admins is kept hidden from followers, so things like phone number and photo profile aren't shown. Likewise, following a channel won't reveal your phone number to the admin or other followers. Admins will also have the option to block screenshots and forwards from their channel.
WhatsApp says it is building a directory where channels can be discovered, and you can also get to a channel from an invite link. Admins can decide who can follow their channel and whether they want it to be listed in the directory or not.
Channels can be found in a new tab called Updates, where your Status and any channels you follow will live, separate from your chats inbox.
Notably, channels aren't end-to-end encrypted by default, but WhatsApp is exploring it as a future option. Channel history stays on WhatsApp's servers for up to 30 days, and the Meta-owned company says it will add ways to make updates disappear even faster from followers' devices.
To begin with, WhatsApp is bringing Channels to Colombia and Singapore in association with "leading global organizations and select organizations," with more countries to gain channel creation "in the coming months."
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.
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.
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
