Starting with macOS Ventura, released this week, the built-in Preview app on Mac no longer supports PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files, according to a new Apple support document. Preview can still be used to open these files on macOS Monterey and earlier. Apple did not provide a reason for the change.
Apple recommends using other third-party Mac apps that can view or convert PostScript files. It also remains possible to print .ps and .eps files by dragging them into a Mac's printer queue with these steps on macOS Ventura, according to Apple:
1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar. 2. Click the the name of your printer on the right. 3. Click the Printer Queue button to open the printer queue window. 4. Drag the .ps or .eps file into the printer queue window.
Developed by Adobe in the 1980s, the .ps and .eps file formats were once widely used for desktop publishing/printing purposes. PostScript was the basis of rendering on the NeXT operating system, and was mostly replaced by the PDF format in Mac OS X.
Apple today updated its Apple Support app with new functionality that makes it easier to make a reservation for service in an Apple retail location or from an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
The update revamps the look of the reservation system, giving it improved organization for quicker access to devices, support tools, and more. The app now opens with a "Tell us what's happening" interface, so you can type in what you need to get to it quickly, and it has a tiled interface for your various devices rather than a list.
Recommended articles are provided that might be useful to you based on the products you own, and there are quick access tools for resetting a password and checking AppleCare coverage.
When booking a repair, there are new sorting and filtering capabilities for finding suitable repairs, with options that include Same-Day Repair, Appointments, and Distance. Apple's full notes for the update are below:
- It's easier than ever to access support tools and get help with all of your Apple products - Booking a reservation has a fresh look and feel, including enhanced sorting and filtering capabilities - Performance enhancements and bug fixes (edited)
The Apple Support app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Apple and Spotify are once again feuding as Spotify attempts to break into the audiobook market, reports The New York Times. Apple has reportedly rejected Spotify's latest app update three times in the last month.
Over the years, Apple and Spotify have had a long running dispute over Apple's App Store policies, with multiple public conflicts over app and subscription fees and app rejections due to Spotify's attempts to skirt the up to 30 percent cut that Apple takes from purchases.
Apple says that Spotify is again trying to get around its App Store rules, and the Cupertino company claims that Spotify's audiobooks update is not in line with guidelines that cover how apps can communicate with users about purchasing options outside of the App Store.
Apple last year agreed to an App Store rule change that allows developers to use communications like email to share information methods about payment options that are available outside of an iOS app, but Spotify is running into issues attempting to implement this feature. With the rule change, Spotify wanted to direct customers to buy books online to listen to in the app, rather than giving Apple a cut of its audiobook sales.
Apple apparently told Spotify that it can send customers emails about online purchases, but Spotify is not able to offer a button inside of the app to request emails. The feature was designed with Spotify's legal team involved, and Apple initially approved the update in September, but later reversed course, rejecting subsequent updates.
Spotify designed a nine-step process for purchasing an audiobook, which involved a customer tapping on an audiobook and seeing a screen with a lock over the play button. Pressing on the play button provided customers with a page where they could request information on how to buy a book through an email, and the email offered up a link to purchase the book.
An Apple spokesperson told MacRumors that Apple "has no issues" with reader apps like Spotify adding audiobook content, but Spotify did not follow Apple's guidelines around in-app communications directing users outside the app.
The App Store was designed to be a great business opportunity for developers, and we fully support initiatives to introduce new features in apps that provide lasting value for users. We have no issue with reader apps adding audiobook content to their apps, linking users out to websites to sign up for services, or communicating with customers externally about alternative purchase options. The Spotify app was rejected for not following the guidelines regarding including explicit in-app communications to direct users outside the app to make digital purchases. We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance.
After the multiple rejections from Apple, Spotify released a version of the app that removes information about how to purchase an audiobook from the Spotify website, which Apple did approve. Spotify now informs users that there is no option to buy an audiobook in the app. "We know it's not ideal," says Spotify in the app text.
Spotify in 2019 filed a regulatory complaint with the European Union over Apple's App Store practices, and it maintains an anti-Apple "Time to Play Fair" website. Spotify has continued to meet with European regulators, but the case has not concluded as of yet. Spotify has also sided with Epic Games in the Epic Games v. Apple legal battle, and it participates in the "Coalition for App Fairness" alongside Epic Games, Tile, and others who are unhappy with Apple's "anti-competitive" policies.
The iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 betas introduce a new Home app architecture upgrade, which can be installed to upgrade performance. The architecture overhaul follows the addition of the Matter smart home standard in iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1.
Apple ahead of the launch of iOS 16 promised a new architecture for the Home app, and said that it would be a separate update. Apple says that it brings faster, more reliable performance, especially for smart homes with a lot of smart accessories installed. Users will be able to communicate with and control connected accessories more efficiently from multiple devices at the same time with the Home app.
Updating the Home app architecture will require all Apple devices that access the home to be using the latest software, and those that aren't updated will not be able to access the HomeKit setup through the Home app. To install the architecture update, users will need to have a device running iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1, as well as the HomePod 16.2 software, which is available in a beta capacity to a limited number of testers.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one day after the launch of tvOS 16.1, an update that added support for Matter, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and more.
Developers can download the tvOS 16.2 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS updates are often minor in scale, 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 16.2 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.
As expected, Apple today announced that new ad placements are now available in the App Store, allowing developers to advertise their apps in more spots.
Starting today, developers can now advertise their apps in the App Store's main Today tab and in a "You Might Also Like" section at the bottom of individual app listings in all countries except China. Ads are already beginning to appear in these places, and as usual, the ads have a blue background and an "Ad" icon so they can be identified.
"With new Today tab and product page ad placements, you can drive discovery of your app in more moments across the App Store — when customers first arrive, search for something specific, and browse apps to download," says Apple's announcement.
This marks the first time that developers are able to run ads in the Today tab, which until now has only displayed content handpicked from the App Store's editorial staff, without any paid placement. And with the "You Might Also Like" section, developers are now able to promote their apps at the bottom of other apps' pages.
In a tweet, legal expert Florian Mueller argued the "You Might Also Like" ads are "another means of increasing the effective app tax rate, forcing developers to buy ads on their own app pages in order to avoid that others steer customers away from there."
App Store ads were previously limited to search results based on keywords and the "Suggested" section of the Search tab. With ads in the Today tab and the "You Might Also Like" section, the App Store now offers four advertising options in total. Apple first announced plans to expand its App Store ad placement offerings in July.
In August, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple wanted to nearly triple its current advertising revenue to at least $10 billion per year in the future. Gurman said keyword-based search result ads are coming to the Apple Maps app starting next year.
With the macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2 betas provided to developers today, Apple has introduced the first version of the Freeform app that was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
Freeform is a digital canvas app that is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users work together collaboratively in realtime. Multiple people can contribute images, notes, scribbles, documents, web links, PDFs, and more, with content added visible to everyone.
Apple's Freeform app is designed to work with the Apple Pencil on iPad, and it can be used with FaceTime for visual feedback between Freeform participants.
Prior to the release of iPadOS 16, Apple tweaked Stage Manager to remove a feature that allowed it to work with external displays, a move made to expand Stage Manager support to A12Z and A12X iPad Pro models.
With the new beta of iPadOS 16.2 provided to developers today, Apple has re-enabled external display support on iPads that have an M1 or M2 chip. While Stage Manager is functional on older iPad Pro models without Apple silicon chips, these iPads will not be able to use Stage Manager with an external display.
External display support allows for up to eight apps to be used with Stage Manager, rather than the four available on the iPad alone.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Ventura 13.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one day after the official launch of macOS Ventura.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
We don't yet know what new features or changes are included in macOS Ventura 13.1, but should we find anything in the beta, we'll update this article.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one day after the launch of iOS 16.1.
Registered developers can download the iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta will be available over the air.
We don't yet know what's included in the betas, but there are a few features that have not yet been implemented. Apple is working on Game Center improvements, including SharePlay integration, and there is an upcoming Freeform app that Apple plans to debut later in the year.
When we learn what's new in the iOS 16.2 beta, we'll update this article.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming just one day after the launch of watchOS 9.1.
To install the new watchOS 9.2 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.2 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.
We don't yet know what's included in the watchOS 9.2 update, but watchOS 9.1 brought battery life improvements, Matter support, and various bug fixes.
We'll update this article if anything notable is found in the watchOS 9.2 update.
Though iOS 16 has been available since September, Apple delayed iPadOS 16 in order to add improvements to the Stage Manager feature. iPadOS 16 is finally available, so many iPad owners will be installing it for the first time today.
For those who are new to iPadOS 16, we've rounded up the five best features worth checking out, plus a quick look at some upcoming additions that Apple plans to introduce in the future. Make sure to watch our video up above to see these features in action.
Stage Manager - Stage Manager, a new Mac-like multitasking experience, is the reason iPadOS 16 was delayed. Stage Manager allows you to have four app windows open at once, swapping between them using a sidebar. Stage Manager has been criticized for a subpar, buggy experience, so it remains to be seen how it will be received by the general public. It is available on M1, M2, A12Z, and A12X iPads, though the External Display beta feature has been temporarily removed. Apple plans to re-add it later, but External Display support will be limited to M1 and M2 iPads.
Display Modes - Apple added new reference modes for those who have iPad Pro models and need to use their devices in a professional capacity. Reference mode is designed to allow 12.9-inch iPad Pro users to display reference color in addition to SDR and HDR, while Display Zoom lets you choose options like more space or larger text, in addition to the default view. The options are available under the Display and Brightness section of the Settings app.
Mail Updates - Apple overhauled the Mail app, adding useful features like Undo Send, which gives you up to 30 seconds to change your mind on an email you've sent out. You can also schedule messages and get reminders to follow up on an email you haven't heard back on.
Messages Updates - In the Messages app, you can unsend a message or edit a message, so long as the person you're messaging is also using iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, or macOS Ventura. You can also retrieve deleted messages and mark a conversation as unread, plus the FaceTime SharePlay feature now works in the Messages app so you can watch movies, TV shows, and more while chatting with friends.
Weather App - The iPad has a long-awaited Weather app for the first time. It's identical to the iPhone Weather app, providing 10-day forecasts as well as information on precipitation, air quality, UV index, wind speed, and more.
Freeform (Coming Soon) - Freeform is an app that Apple plans to introduce later this year. It's a collaborative brainstorming app that you can use for jotting down notes, sketching, adding links, inserting documents, adding videos, and more. Multiple people can work on a document together using FaceTime or Messages to communicate.
For more information on everything that's new in iPadOS 16, we have a dedicated iPadOS 16 roundup that outlines every feature.
The iMessage and FaceTime services available across Apple's platforms appear to be experiencing problems at the current time, with some users unable to send messages and make FaceTime calls.
There are a number of tweets about the issue on Twitter, and Apple's System Status page is listing an ongoing outage. The feature is not down for all users as of now, but Apple says that the service is unavailable for some and has been down since 11:48 a.m. Eastern Time.
Update 12:55 p.m Eastern Time: According to Apple's System Status page, the outage has been resolved.
Apple today updated its suite of iWork apps, including Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, with support for new features.
In the latest version of Pages, Keynotes, and Numbers Apple has added support for easily sharing documents with co-workers through Messages and support for new collaboration features in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura, including integration with FaceTime.
The latest updates also add support for getting notified when changes are made in a shared document and improved support for Stage Manager on iPadOS 16. All of the new versions are available for customers on the App Store.
Alongside the release of iPadOS 16 on Monday, MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci shared some candid feedback about Stage Manager, a new feature that allows for multiple overlapping windowed apps on the iPad. Viticci expressed his continued disappointment with Stage Manager, criticizing it as an "over-designed" and "poorly tested" feature with a "muddled constellation of missing features, bugs, and confusing interactions."
"Right now, Stage Manager is just another mode that was tacked onto existing iPad apps, disabled by default, slimmed down in scope, and shipped with a plethora of bugs," wrote Viticci. "It's disheartening to see Apple fumble this opportunity so badly."
Viticci shared a long list of bugs, technical issues, and challenges that he experienced while using Stage Manager and that he says are still present in the iPadOS 16 version released to the public this week. For example, he said there are keyboard-related bugs when QuickType predictions are enabled, layout bugs when switching the iPad from portrait to landscape orientation, full-screen app windows resizing incorrectly, and much more.
"There's the seed of a valid idea behind Stage Manager: create a continuum between the Mac and iPad that allows power users to go beyond what iPadOS has offered thus far," he wrote. "But that idea has been paired with the worst technical implementation of multitasking I've seen from Apple in the several years I've been using and writing about the iPad."
Viticci is hopeful that Apple will be open to feedback and continue to iterate on Stage Manager in future iPadOS 16 versions. He also hopes that Apple will release an API for developers next year that will allow apps to better support the multitasking feature.
Stage Manager supports up to four apps on an iPad's built-in screen, while another four apps will be supported on an external display on iPad models with the M1 chip and newer. However, Apple delayed external display support for Stage Manager and said the functionality will return in a software update later this year.
Today we're tracking a set of big sales across various Apple-related accessory brands on Amazon, including Eufy, Nanoleaf, and Beats.
Eufy
Starting with the Anker brand Eufy, you can save big on Eufy Security products this week thanks to a series of deals on Eufy indoor cameras (compatible with HomeKit), outdoor cameras, Wi-Fi doorbells, and smart vacuum cleaners. Some of these deals require you to clip on-page coupons, but otherwise they have all been applied automatically.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can also save on many Nanoleaf products on Amazon today, ranging from a set of starter kits at up to $50 off to the company's HomeKit-compatible Smart LED Light Bulb and Lightstrip. All of these deals have been automatically applied on Amazon and don't require a coupon code.
Lastly, Amazon is marking down a wide array of Beats headphones today, with the centerpiece deal on the Beats Studio Buds. You can get these accessories for $89.95 in five colors, down from $149.95, which is a new all-time low price on the earbuds.
Otherwise, there are deals on the Beats Fit Pro, Powerbeats Pro, and a few over-ear headphones, all of which you can find in the list below. These deals do not require any coupon codes.
Apple's $550 over-ear AirPods Max headphones are less effective at blocking out outside noise when using Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) following their latest firmware update, according to results from a detailed audio test.
A recent update to testing by RTings.com reveals that the AirPods Max ANC "blocks out a bit less noise between the mid-bass to high-bass range" after the 4E71 firmware update, which was released in May. "When it comes to the mid and treble ranges, this firmware update has slightly changed the level of isolation, but it's a relatively minor difference," RTings.com said following its test.
The decrease in ANC effectiveness was highlighted in an article by The Verge last month following months of discussion and complaints from AirPods Max users on Reddit and other discussion forums.
It's unclear why Apple adjusted the ANC performance in the latest update or if it plans to restore ANC effectiveness in a future update. Apple occasionally updates the firmware on AirPods Max and other AirPods models to deploy new features, fix bugs, and tweak performance.
Apple has been providing developers with beta versions of AirPods firmware since WWDC earlier this year, with the most recent beta version having been released earlier this month, but there's no word on whether there are any changes to ANC performance in the update.
The Apple TV may not be the most obvious Apple device to consider upgrading – but with a series of minor upgrades in recent years, when should you consider buying a new one?
In terms of its set-top box offerings, Apple now only sells the Apple TV 4K (third-generation). The company launched its first modern Apple TV that runs tvOS, the Apple TV HD, in 2015. Since then, it has launched three new versions, each adding several new features and improvements over its predecessor, with some models offering more significant upgrades than others.
With a lower, $129 starting price and only one model year to choose from, new Apple TV buyers no longer face the same conundrum as in recent years when Apple offered multiple Apple TVs from different generations. Even so, first-time Apple TV customers may be able to obtain an older model second-hand or from a third-party retailer, so it will be important to weigh up exactly what was added with each new model.
See the detailed breakdown below for each new feature, change, and improvement that was added with each Apple TV model compared to its direct predecessor:
Apple TV 4K (Third-Generation, 2022)
A15 Bionic chip (3.23 GHz, 6-core), 50 percent faster CPU performance and 30 percent faster GPU performance
4GB memory, 33 percent more
Passive cooling with fanless design
"" logo replaces "tv" logo
Height of 1.2 inches
Weight of 208/214 grams, 50 percent reduction
Support for HDR10+
Gigabit Ethernet port available with 128GB model only
Thread support available with 128GB model only
64GB or 128GB storage
Second-generation Siri Remote (USB-C charging port) included
Apple TV 4K (Second-Generation, 2021)
A12 Bionic chip (2.49 GHz, 6-core)
Support for high-framerate HDR content up to 60 fps
Support for audio output with 7.1.4 surround sound channels with Dolby Atmos
HDMI 2.0a port
Gigabit Ethernet port
First-generation Siri Remote (white ring around Menu button) included
Apple TV HD (2015)
Apple A8 chip (1.5 GHz, 2-core)
2GB memory
"tv" logo
Height of 1.4 inches
Weight of 425 grams
Support for up to 1080p resolution
Support for SDR
Support for audio output with 7.1 surround sound channels
HDMI 1.4 port
10/100 Ethernet port
Wi-Fi 5
Bluetooth 4.0
32GB or 64GB of storage
First-generation Siri Remote included
Unlike many other Apple devices, the Apple TV offers a lot of specific technical features that not all users can take advantage of due to reliance on the specifications of other connected hardware like TVs and speakers. As such, this should be the main criteria you use to determine if you need to upgrade to a new Apple TV.
In other words, if you do not see features like high-framerate content, improved HDMI port specifications, more advanced HDR formats, and Thread support as worthwhile upgrades, it is unlikely that it will be worth buying a new model. Keen home cinema enthusiasts, audiophiles, and gamers that can use features like Dolby Atmos support, Gigabit Ethernet, and ARC and eARC support stand to benefit more from upgrading.
If you do not have a 4K HDR TV, it is probably that not much will be gained by upgrading to the latest model, but it may still be worth it if you can take advantage of better performance and more storage. If you have the first-generation Apple TV 4K, it will only be worth upgrading if you want features like high framerate HDR, Thread support, and more power for gaming.
Unless you specifically want HDR10+ support or 128GB of storage, there is little reason to upgrade from the second-generation Apple TV 4K to the third-generation Apple TV 4K.
It is important to note that the latest version of the Siri Remote, the second-generation model with a USB-C charging port, is available from Apple separately for $59. It works with all of the above Apple TV models, so the Siri Remote should not be a major factor in deciding to upgrade.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
