The founder of Hello Games, the makers of popular action-adventure survival game "No Man's Sky," yesterday tweeted two apple emojis, sparking speculation that the studio is teasing an announcement for Apple platforms at WWDC.
Hello Games founder Sean Murray has been known to tease upcoming announcements via cryptic emojis in the past. At WWDC last year, Apple announced that No Man's Sky would be available for the iPad and Mac would by the end of 2022. Hello Games missed that deadline and the game has yet to release for Apple devices, meaning that the two emoji teasers could indicate that the launch of No Man's Sky for the iPad and Mac is now imminent.
Given widespread anticipation about Apple's expected announcement of a mixed-reality headset at WWDC in less than a week, there is now speculation that Hello Games could be working on a game for the new device. No Man's Sky is already available on multiple VR platforms, including on PC and PlayStation VR. When the game was demoed at WWDC last year, it was played on a Mac with the M1 chip. Since Apple's headset is rumored to feature at least one chip that is based on the M2 chip in addition to a dedicated image signal processor, it should be more than capable of running the game.
Hello Games has also worked with Apple to publish games on Apple Arcade. Given Apple's discussions with Hello Games in recent years, No Man's Sky being among the initial wave of games available on Apple's mixed-reality headset is not out of the question.
While some rumors have suggested Apple's headset is not particularly focused on gaming, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has repeatedly referred to gaming, media, and communication as the three main priorities of the device. Apple has reportedly been working with a number of gaming developers to help them update their existing content for mixed reality and the company is expected to provide a robust set of developer tools for creating experiences for the headset.
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented conference, is now just a few days away. As with previous years, Apple is expected to introduce major updates to all of its operating systems, but unique to WWDC 2023, Apple is also very likely to unveil xrOS, the software that will run its much-rumored AR/VR mixed-reality headset. Here's everything we're expecting from it.
Apple has not publicly acknowledged the existence of its headset, but internal Apple sources have confirmed that the operating system will be called xrOS, and Apple has used hidden shell companies to trademark the name in various countries.
xrOS is meant to stand for "extended reality," hinting at the augmented and virtual reality functions at the heart of the head-mounted device. The backend capitalization also conforms to the naming conventions Apple has adopted for all of the operating systems in its ecosystem.
According to reporting by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple sees the headset as a device for gaming, watching streaming video, video conferencing, health and fitness, and interfacing with other people. Therefore xrOS will be focused on providing the best possible environment for delivering that content.
Apple-registered wordmark for "xrOS" in New Zealand
xrOS User Interface
xrOS is believed to have an iOS-like interface that will be familiar to iPhone and iPad users, but presented to them and interacted with in an entirely new way.
We are expecting a dedicated Home Screen containing apps and customizable widgets, all of which can be rearranged, and all viewed on dual high-resolution 4K micro OLED displays with up to 3,000 pixels per inch for a rich, realistic, and immersive viewing experience.
Both of the user's hands and eyes will be tracked by more than a dozen optical cameras, and the wearer is expected to be able to look at an on-screen item to select it, and use a hand gesture like a pinch to activate the item on the screen.
The now defunct-Google Glass: An early example of an AR interface
The xrOS software could even potentially project AR app interface elements onto actual objects in the real world for a mixed-reality overlay kind of effect.
Apple is also said to be working on an in-air typing feature that is expected to be a bit rudimentary at launch, with Apple to make notable improvements over time.
Apps
At the core of xrOS will be re-imagined versions of stock Apple apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, Maps, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Podcasts, Reminders, and Calendar, as well as a FaceTime app customized for the headset. The Maps app will also feature, and could incorporate some of Apple's Look Around and landmark functionality, allowing users to explore cities around the world.
Users will be able to work on several apps at the same time, while an xrOS App Store will host made-for-headset apps, as well as existing App Store content. Apple is also said to be adapting iPad apps for the headset's 3D interface.
In addition, Apple is set on transforming several existing services and apps into immersive viewing experiences. For example, users will be able to watch videos in virtual reality environments as if they were looking at a giant screen, or participate in guided meditations accompanied by immersive visuals, audio, and voiceovers.
Some of the apps and services said to offer radically different experiences in xrOS include Apple Fitness+, Apple TV+ (with a focus on viewing sports content like MLB and MLS), and a 3D version of Apple's collaborative Freeform tool. As for FaceTime, with all of the cameras that the headset is expected to have, one-on-one chats are said to feature realistic avatars which mimic the user's actual facial expressions and body movements.
Apple is also said to have created a Books app for reading in virtual reality, a Health app focusing on psychological wellness, and a Camera app that can take images from the headset's cameras.
Gaming and App Creation
To get people to purchase the mixed-reality headset, Apple will need to convince users that the software experiences are worth it. That will require not only compelling first-party experiences, but also innovative third-party apps from developers.
Iron Man VR on the Meta Quest headset
With gaming reportedly a focus, Apple is said to have been working with a select number of game developers to help them update their existing content for mixed reality, but Apple reportedly also has a robust set of tools available that will allow non-developers to create their own AR/VR experiences. According to one report, customers will be able to create and release AR apps for the headset using Siri as an assistant, even if they do not have the ability to code.
The report likens Apple's tool to Minecraft and Roblox, which allow anyone to easily create 3D tools and worlds. Apple is said to be utilizing technology that it acquired from Montreal-based startup Fabric Software in 2017, and customers would be able to distribute the AR apps they create on the App Store alongside developers.
It's worth noting that the report cites sources who last saw demonstrations of the tool in 2021, so the report is based on older information and it's possible that Apple's plans have changed at least slightly in the time that has passed since. Whether this latter report is still accurate is something we should learn soon.
When is xrOS Coming?
Apple's software tools for the headset are likely to be revealed at WWDC 2023, giving developers time to create AR and VR apps and experiences for the headset before it launches. In that sense, we won't see the full version of xrOS until the headset is officially released to the public, and that isn't expected to happen until later in the year.
For everything else we know about the headset, including all the hardware details, be sure to check our dedicated AR/VR headset roundup.
Apple has prototyped at least one colored version of its MagSafe Charger for iPhone, suggesting the company could potentially one day release a new version of the device in additional color options beyond the standard silver model.
That's the claim made by Twitter account @KosutamiSan. According to the collector of rare Apple products, prototype information they obtained indicates that Apple intended to release its current MagSafe charger in a "colored version," similar to the MagSafe Charging 3 Charging cables it makes for the MacBook Air.
Apple includes a color-matched MagSafe 3 charging cable in the box with the MacBook Air, but also makes them available to purchase separately in the four MacBook Air colors: Space Gray, Silver, Midnight, and Starlight.
According to @KosutamiSan, Apple's prototyped colored MagSafe Charger for iPhone has more color saturation than the MagSafe power cables. The collector shared the above picture of a Starlight-colored MagSafe puck as an example, while also claiming that Apple has prototyped similar colored versions for the unreleased horizontal stand-based model called "Magic Charger."
It's not clear whether the prototyped colored chargers were designed to match with unreleased iPhone colors but were never mass produced. It's likewise unknown if Apple intends to launch colored versions in the future, but the prototyping tidbit is interesting nonetheless, and there is a chance that Apple could release more varieties of its MagSafe charger to compete with rivals in the new Qi2 market that is set to coalesce later this year.
Apple is contributing to the new version of the Qi open standard and it will work much like MagSafe. As a result, Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 models are expected to support 15W wireless fast charging even when using third-party chargers that are not Apple-certified, removing a key hurdle for third-party wireless chargers to compete with the company's MagSafe accessory.
Article updated to include additional Magic Charger details.
The increased size of next year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max allows for upgrades including a periscope telephoto camera and a 12% larger main camera sensor, according to a new report.
The rumor was first shared on Chinese social media site Weibo by a user who says that they have obtained industry insider information. Corroborating several other reports that next year's iPhone 16 Pro models will feature larger displays, the individual claims that the increased size of the devices will provide more internal space for components including a periscope telephoto camera system. Earlier today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the larger size of the iPhone 16 Pro models could help facilitate improved camera hardware or bigger internal batteries.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to introduce the iPhone's first periscope telephoto camera, the feature is expected to be exclusive to Apple's largest iPhone at first. With next year's iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the telephoto camera to both of the "Pro" models. The increased size of the iPhone 16 Pro, is, therefore, at least partially explained by the need for more internal space to implement the periscope camera on the smaller Pro model.
For the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 16 "Ultra," the additional internal space will apparently allow for a larger main camera sensor that is 1/1.14-inches in size. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max currently feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor. No sensor size increase is expected for this year's iPhone 15 Pro Max. This claim has since been supported by the Twitter leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro."
A larger sensor could improve the main iPhone camera's dynamic range and background blur. It could also substantially enhance low-light photography capabilities since a bigger surface area can capture more light with the same shutter speed and aperture.
Apple will begin accepting trade-ins of three new Mac models on June 5, the day of Apple's WWDC 2023 keynote event, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In a tweet shared earlier today, Gurman said that the Mac Studio, 13-inch M2MacBook Air, and 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, will become eligible for trade-in with Apple on Monday, June 5. Gurman is expecting new Mac hardware to be unveiled during Apple's keynote on June 5, including an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air model. "Read into that as you will," he added.
Apple introduced the Mac Studio in May 2022, offering M1 Max and M1 Ultra chip configurations. Despite the launch of a range of Macs with the M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Max chips, Apple has not yet refreshed the Mac Studio. Gurman believes that two new Mac Studio models are in the works, but is unsure of when they will launch.
He has previously cast doubt over the possibility of update being announced at WWDC, suggesting that Apple is more likely to wait until the M3 generation to update the Mac Studio as to avoid cannibalizing the Apple silicon Mac Pro. Even so, updated Mac Studio models with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chip options are not out of the question for WWDC.
13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip are also rumored to be in development, but the first M3 Macs are not expected to launch until toward the end of the year. As such, Gurman's latest information about new Mac trade-ins does not necessarily that indicate direct successors for all of the aforementioned devices are on the immediate horizon.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today threw his weight behind rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature larger display sizes.
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman corroborated other reports about Apple's plan to increase the size of its two "Pro" iPhone models from 6.1- and 6.7-inches by "a couple tenths of an inch diagonally." The new display sizes would be the largest ever for the iPhone.
Gurman noted that the change will make Apple's high-end smartphones more competitive with the equivalent devices offered by Samsung. The increase could also create more internal space for improved hardware, such as camera technology and larger batteries.
In May, display analyst Ross Young said that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature displays 6.3- and 6.9-inches in size, respectively, representing an increase of around 0.2-inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Twitter leaker "Unknownz21" then corroborated this rumor, with the latter providing alleged internal model numbers for the devices.
We're just over a week away from the WWDC keynote where Apple will reportedly finally reveal its long-rumored mixed-reality headset, and there are undoubtedly a number of other announcements planned for the event.
Ahead of WWDC, Apple this week released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, bringing versions of the company's professional video and audio apps to the tablet for the first time. This week also saw various rumors about the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups, plus some fresh news about the upcoming iOS 17 update, so read on for details on these stories and more!
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad
Apple this week released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for select iPad models. Apple says both apps have been designed to take advantage of the iPad’s touch-first interface, providing the "ultimate mobile studio for video and music creators." Both apps have subscription-based pricing set at $4.99 per month or $49 per year in the U.S. after a one-month free trial.
iOS 17 to Turn iPhone's Lock Screen Into Smart Home Display
iOS 17 will include a new interface that shows information such as calendar appointments, the weather, and notifications in the style of a smart home display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. His report said the new view will appear when an iPhone is locked and positioned horizontally.
Ahead of WWDC, the Apple Developer app has been updated with new stickers and other preparations. 175 coding session videos will be available in the app for anyone to watch, free of charge, starting June 6.
iPhone 15 to Support 15W Wireless Fast Charging Using Non-MagSafe Chargers
iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to be released in September 2024, so they are still far away from launching, and Apple's plans could change before then.
2023 Pride Band for Apple Watch Now Available to Order
Inspired by the LGBTQ+ community, the new Pride band features a sprinkles-like design showcasing the original Pride flag colors and five others. Apple continues to support LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations around the world.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Ahead of new iPhone launches, case makers invest significant money into sourcing leaked details on updated designs to be the first to come out with appropriate cases. That often results in dummy models that are accurate replicas of future iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 dummy models that we're sharing today.
We were able to get our hands on a set of dummy models that represent the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, aka the four new iPhones that we're expecting Apple to launch in September 2023. We've already heard endless rumors about the iPhone 15 models, but it helps to be able to see all the changes and design updates in person.
At first glance, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models look similar to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, but there are notable differences when you look a bit closer. There are no more Lightning ports, for example, as Apple is adopting USB-C this year. There are USB-C ports at the bottom of each device, which will allow for charging with the same USB-C cable that can be used to charge a modern Mac or iPad.
On the surface, the USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro look identical, but we are expecting the iPhone 15 Pro models to support faster data transfer speeds with possible Thunderbolt support. There have also been hints that Apple will restrict some functionality to Made for iPhone cables, but we can't tell if that's the case with dummy models.
There have been multiple rumors of a minor design change to the corners of the iPhone 15 models, which you can indeed see. It's a subtle shift, but the corners are rounder than before, making for a more comfortable feel in the hand.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro models will use titanium instead of stainless steel, but that's a feature we can't see in the dummy models. Rather than the shiny finish of the dummy models, we'll likely see a more high-end matte finish. All of the dummy models feature a frosted glass back, something that has in the past been limited to the Pro models. We have heard rumors that frosted glass will be used across the board, but it is a curious choice.
All four iPhones in 2023 are also expected to have the Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and that will effectively mark the end of the notch in Apple's flagship iPhone lineup. Right now, the Dynamic Island is limited to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, but even the lower-priced iPhone 15 will have the updated design in 2023.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max dummy models feature a unified volume button, but that design tweak may have been changed last minute. Apple was rumored to be implementing solid-state technology into the volume buttons, but there were too many bugs to be worked out, so the function has been held until the iPhone 16. Because of that, we may see the traditional two-button design rather than the unified button.
What's more certain is Apple's elimination of the mute switch, which is turning into a button. We'll have a button above the volume buttons, and it may be an Action button instead of a dedicated mute button, similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra. The Action button would be programmable and able to do more than just mute the iPhone.
Cameras look about the same and you won't notice major external changes, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to get a new periscope lens with up to 6x optical zoom. It takes a lot of space inside the phone to implement this technology, so it's going to be limited to the Pro Max.
We're about four months away from the debut of the iPhone 15 models, which means the design has been finalized and Apple will soon start mass production. We'll be hearing more about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models as a launch approaches, with everything we know aggregated in our dedicated roundups.
Apple's "My Photo Stream" service is set to shut down on July 26, 2023, which means customers who are still using that feature will need to transition to using iCloud Photos prior to that date.
My Photo Stream is a free service that uploads the last 30 days of images (up to 1,000) to iCloud, making them accessible on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC. It predates iCloud Photos and has largely been replaced by the iCloud Photos service at this point.
Going forward, Apple plans to have all customers use iCloud Photos instead of My Photo Stream. New photo uploads to My Photo Stream will stop on June 26, 2023, and images will remain in iCloud as usual for 30 days until the shutdown point.
Because all of the images in My Photo Stream are stored in their original format on at least one Apple device, there isn't a danger of photos being lost as part of the shutdown process. Apple recommends that users who want to have their images on a particular device save them to the Photo Library on that device prior to July 26.
Images in My Photo Stream can be saved to the Photos app on the iPhone by opening up Photos, going to the My Photo Stream album, selecting individual photos, and using the Share button to save them to the Library. The process is the same on the Mac, but you will need to drag images from My Photo Stream to the Library.
Apple suggests that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users turn on iCloud Photos to view their photos and videos across their devices. iCloud Photos is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8.3 or later and Macs running OS X Yosemite or later.
Earlier today we shared the best Apple-related tech accessory deals happening this Memorial Day weekend, and now we're focusing on the best deals you can find today for Apple products. This includes all-time low prices on AirPods, iPads, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models, and much more.
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.
Most of the sales in this article will be found on Amazon, although there are a few deals at other retailers like Verizon and B&H Photo as well. Like with the accessory sales, we don't know how long these holiday discounts will last for, so if you're interested be sure to place your orders before the long weekend ends.
AirPods
AirPods 2
The AirPods 2 sit at $99.00 on Amazon this weekend, which has been one of the most consistent deals on any AirPods model for all of 2023, and is an overall second-best price.
Amazon has the AirPods Max at $99 off in multiple colors this weekend, available for $449.99. Keep an eye on delivery dates, some colors are seeing delayed arrival windows into late June.
Apple Watch Series 8 models have dropped by $70 on Amazon this weekend, starting at $329.00 for the 41mm GPS model. Both GPS models are all-time low prices.
It's been a few weeks since we tracked record low prices on the 2022 Apple Watch SE, but these have returned on Amazon. Prices start at $219.00 for the 40mm GPS model, and also include cellular devices.
The Apple Watch Ultra is on sale for $701.99 for the Yellow Ocean Band, which is an all-time low price. However, delivery is delayed into July, so it may be worth looking into the second-best price options also available on Amazon this weekend, priced at $729.99.
The best entry-level price in the current MacBook lineup can be found on the 2020 MacBook Air for $799.99 on Amazon, down from $999.00. This is an all-time low price.
MacRumors founder Arnold Kim joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss some of the history of the website and the world of Apple news and rumors.
Arnold started MacRumors as a hobby while studying for his final year of medical school in 2000. It has since grown to become the most popular Apple news and rumor site on the internet, sporting round-the-clock news coverage, helpful tutorials and a buyer's guide, a discussion forum with over 1.1 million members, and much more.
Arnold tells us about the website's beginning, his feelings about giving up his medical career to focus on Apple news, and growing MacRumors over the years. He weighs up some of the biggest challenges and satisfying wins in the site's history.
We talk through some of the other interesting domains and websites Arnold has owned, the future of Apple news, introductions to the website, and the MacRumors forums. We also discuss some of the original iPhone and iPhone 4 leaks and rumors, and whether Apple's headset will succeed in replicating an "iPhone moment" when it debuts at WWDC as rumors suggest.
If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion with Ben Sullins about all of the latest rumors and expectations around the Apple Car.
We're now just a few days away from Memorial Day on Monday, May 29, and numerous retailers have opened up major discounts on Apple-related products as we head into the long weekend. This includes sales from popular accessory companies like Twelve South, Mophie, Satechi, Belkin, and much more.
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.
Anker
Anker's Memorial Day deal event is focusing on its portable power station accessories, with as much as $400 off these devices. You'll only find these deals on Anker's website, and each one has a unique coupon code that you can clip on their product pages to get the deals.
ZAGG has one of the biggest sitewide discounts this Memorial Day, offering 40 percent off sitewide. This covers ZAGG's family of brands, including Mophie, Invisible Shield, and Gear4.
On eBay, you can get an extra 15 percent off select brands for Memorial Day weekend. You can find the specific list of compatible sellers on eBay's landing page for the sale, which includes a variety of tech accessories including Anker products, Apple devices, gaming accessories, and more.
To see the discount, add an eligible product to your cart and enter the code MEMORIALDAY23 at checkout to get 15 percent off your order. The code only allows for one redemption per user and it's capped at a maximum value of $500.
Belkin
Belkin is hosting a Memorial Day sale with up to 30 percent off chargers, audio accessories, portable batteries, and more. You'll need to enter the code MD23 at checkout to get these discounts, and this is not a sitewide sale, so be sure to shop directly on the Memorial Day sale event page to shop compatible products.
Like it does for most major holidays, Best Buy is hosting a big Memorial Day sale this year, with discounts on TVs, laptops, video games, headphones, smartphones, streaming devices, and more.
Pad & Quill is hosting a 30 percent off sitewide discount this weekend in celebration of Memorial Day. With this event, you can save on Pad & Quill's iPhone cases, iPad folios, Apple Watch bands, wallets, and other leather goods.
All of these deals have been applied automatically and do not require any coupon codes.
Satechi
Satechi has 20 percent off sitewide with the code MEMORIAL20, and if you spend $150 or more you can enter the code MEMORIAL25 to get 25 percent off your order.
Satechi sells a huge variety of Apple-compatible products, from USB-C hubs for MacBook Pro to wireless chargers that support iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch simultaneously.
Following the launch of iOS 16.5 on May 18, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.4.1, the previously available version of iOS. Now that iOS 16.4.1 is no longer being signed, iPhone users are prevented from downgrading to that software version.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of iOS after new releases come out to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date, so the fact that iOS 16.4 is no longer being signed is not unusual.
Released on April 7, iOS 16.4.1 was a minor bug fix update that came just under two weeks after the launch of iOS 16.4, an update that introduced new Emoji, Safari Web Push notifications, Voice Isolation for phone calls, and more.
iOS 16.5, the current publicly available version of iOS, brought some important bug fixes and a couple of feature additions, including a dedicated Sports tab in Apple News and a Pride Collection wallpaper for Lock Screens. Apple is also testing iOS 16.6 with developers and public beta testers.
OpenAI this week announced that its official ChatGPT app for the iPhone and the iPad is now available in more than 40 countries in addition to the United States. The app first launched in the United States last week, and OpenAI promised that it would expand to more countries in the coming weeks.
As of today, the app can be used in Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Slovenia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, and the United States.
OpenAI's ChatGPT has long been accessible on the web and has previously been made available on iOS through multiple third-party apps, many of which are little better than scam apps, but the legitimate app gives users a safe way to use ChatGPT on the go.
For those unfamiliar with ChatGPT, it is an AI-based chatbot that uses generative artificial intelligence to answer questions and provide advice on all manner of subjects. OpenAI says that ChatGPT can help with all of the following:
Instant answers: Get precise information without sifting through ads or multiple results.
Tailored advice: Seek guidance on cooking, travel plans, or crafting thoughtful messages.
Creative inspiration: Generate gift ideas, outline presentations, or write the perfect poem.
Professional input: Boost productivity with idea feedback, note summarization, and technical topic assistance.
Learning opportunities: Explore new languages, modern history, and more at your own pace.
History is synced across devices, so you can see your ChatGPT interactions both on the web and on iOS devices, and it integrates the Whisper speech recognition system.
The ChatGPT app is free to use, but it does cost $19.99 per month for the ChatGPT Plus service. That is the same price available through the web, with Plus providing availability even when demand is high, faster response times, and priority access to new features such as GPT-4, the more advanced version of ChatGPT.
An OpenAI account is required to use the ChatGPT app, and it can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]
United this week announced that it has updated its iPhone app to add support for Live Activities and the Dynamic Island, allowing United passengers quicker access to flight tracking information.
With Live Activities integration, customers have access to their boarding passes, gate, and seat number, as well as a countdown clock to their departure time. The information is visible on the Lock Screen even when the iPhone is locked and the United app is closed, and on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, it can also be viewed in the Dynamic Island.
According to United, it is the first U.S. airline to implement support for Live Activities, and the feature was added as United customers check their mobile boarding pass and flight status nearly 800,000 times each day.
When it's time to board the plane, the Live Activities widget can be tapped to open up the boarding pass, and during the flight, there's an in-flight countdown. The United Live Activities integration also offers access to flight number, flight status, inbound aircraft status, estimated departure and arrival times, departure and arrival gates, and baggage carousel information.
United said that Live Activities would be widely available to all United customers by the end of May, but there are already many users who have reported being able to access the feature. Requirements include an up-to-date United app and an iPhone running iOS 16.1 or later.
Google today announced that it is opening up access to Search Labs, allowing testers to try out its new Search Generative Experience. The AI-powered Search option is limited to those who have signed up to be a part of Google Labs, with Google letting in a small number of people who have joined the Google Labs Waitlist.
Google says that AI Search is designed to "take some of the work out of searching," which can make it easier for users to understand new topics, uncover different viewpoints, and "get things done more easily."
Google suggests that AI search can break down complicated searches into smaller parts, offer quick tips for specific questions, and provide background on what should be considered when searching for items to buy.
The addition of generative AI to search is a new concept for Google, and the company says that it will be making "many updates and improvements over time" based on user feedback. Access is limited to those in the U.S. right now, with the Google app or Chrome desktop browser required. Google customers eligible to use Google Labs will receive an email.
We kicked off the month of May with an exclusive partnership with OWC, which nets our readers an extra 20 percent off their purchase of select memory cards with the code MACRUMORS. This code lasts through the end of May, and right now OWC has another flash sale on memory cards going on that stacks with our promo code.
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.
OWC's flash sale is offering up to an additional 40 percent off already-discounted memory cards, and the company says this sale will end later today. This discount stacks with our existing 20 percent off promo code (MACRUMORS), delivering major savings on these memory cards.
We've listed all of the memory cards on sale below. The higher storage memory cards will have the best discounts during this event, with as much as $175 off these cards. Remember to enter the promo code MACRUMORS on the cart page prior to checkout to get the total savings of each card.
Apple has started preparations for the Worldwide Developers Conference that's coming in under two weeks, and today, the Apple Developer app was updated for those who are attending or planning to join sessions and labs.
The Apple Developer app outlines the 2023 session videos, 1-on-1 labs, Slack activities, and more, plus it introduces new WWDC 2023 stickers. When iOS 17 and the other new software updates are introduced, the Developer app will include videos and sessions organized into specific topics, as well as scheduling for sessions and activities.
Thank you for your feedback! New in this release: - Explore all WWDC23 has to offer, including session videos, activities in Slack, 1-on-1 labs, and more. - We've also fixed bugs and added various other enhancements.
Apple's 2023 WWDC event is set to begin on June 5 with a 10:00 a.m. keynote that will see the company unveil iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, and more, including the long awaited AR/VR headset.
Developers will be able to watch the WWDC keynote using the app, and can also access all of the new development content. The Apple Developer app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. It is available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. [Direct Link]
Apple-registered wordmark for "xrOS" in New Zealand
The now defunct-Google Glass: An early example of an AR interface
Iron Man VR on the Meta Quest headset
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 OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
