MacRumors

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming two weeks after Apple unveiled the update at WWDC and provided the second beta to developers.

To install ‌watchOS 9, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌watchOS 8‌ 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 must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌iPhone‌‌.

watchOS 9 introduces four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, plus it includes updates to some existing watch faces and complications. The ECG app now supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.

The sleep tracking feature now includes sleep stages, letting the Apple Watch track when users are in REM, Core, or Deep sleep, and Apple has added a Medications app. The Medications app lets users manage and track their medications, vitamins, and supplements, with reminders when it's time to take them.

Updates to the Workout app add custom workouts and improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Fitness+ workouts now support streaming to certain third-party TVs for those who don't have an Apple TV, and notifications have been redesigned to be less obtrusive when the watch's screen is active.

Other new features include a CallKit API that allows VOIP calls to be answered on Apple Watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the Apple Watch with an ‌iPhone‌, Quick Actions for doing more with a double pinch gesture, and updates to the Reminders and Calendar apps.

‌watchOS 9 is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to provide a public beta later this summer ahead of the software's fall launch alongside new Apple Watch models.

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 16 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after Apple seeded the second beta of tvOS 16 to developers.

Developers can download the new tvOS 16 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.

tvOS 16 enables cross-device connectivity, a feature that allows developers to integrate ‌Apple TV‌ apps with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps to unlock new experiences on the TV. Apple has also improved how multiple user profiles work in tvOS 16 by adding a shared keychain, so users won't need to sign in and choose their profile when launching an ‌Apple TV‌ app.

Game controller support has been expanded to the Nintendo Joy-Cons and Pro Controller, and HDR10+ support is available in the tvOS 16 ‌Apple TV‌ app. With tvOS 16, the ‌Apple TV‌ will support Matter, an upcoming standard that will improve interoperability between smart home accessories from different companies.

tvOS 16 is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers in July.

Apple today announced a new Lockdown Mode coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. Apple says the optional security feature is designed to protect the "very small number" of users who may be at risk of "highly targeted cyberattacks" from private companies developing state-sponsored spyware, such as journalists, activists, and government employees.

Apple says Lockdown Mode is enabled in the third beta versions of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura released today, and the feature will be available to all users when the software updates are released later this year. While the feature is aimed at users who are targets of cyberattacks, it appears that it can be enabled by any user.

Lockdown Mode is turned off by default and can be enabled in the Privacy & Security section of the Settings or System Settings app. After being turned on, Lockdown Mode can be turned off at any time in the same section of the Settings app. Enabling or disabling Lockdown Mode requires restarting the device and entering the device's passcode.

When enabled, Apple says Lockdown Mode provides an "extreme" level of security by strictly limiting or disabling the functionality of features, apps, and websites. At launch, Lockdown Mode will include the following protections:

• In the Messages app, most message attachment types other than images are blocked, and some features like link previews are unavailable.
• Incoming FaceTime calls from people you have not previously called are blocked. Incoming invitations for other Apple services from people you have not previously invited are also blocked.
• Some complex web technologies and browsing features, including just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode. This protection applies to Safari and all other web browsers using WebKit across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
• Shared albums will be removed from the Photos app, and new shared album invitations will be blocked.
• When a device is locked, wired connections with other devices/accessories are blocked.
• Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll into mobile device management (MDM), while Lockdown Mode is turned on.

Apple said it will continue to add new protections to Lockdown Mode over time. Apple has added a new category to its Security Bounty program to reward researchers who find Lockdown Mode bypasses and help improve its protections, with bounties to be doubled for qualifying findings in Lockdown Mode, up to a maximum of $2 million.

"Lockdown Mode is a groundbreaking capability that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks," said Ivan Krstić, Apple's head of security engineering, in a press release shared today. "While the vast majority of users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are."

Apple also announced it is making a $10 million grant to the Ford Foundation's Dignity and Justice Fund to support organizations that investigate, expose, and prevent highly targeted cyberattacks. Apple said it will also be donating any damages awarded from its lawsuit filed against NSO Group, creator of the spyware Pegasus.

Last year, Apple began notifying users who may have been targeted by state-sponsored attackers via email and iMessage notifications.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple began selling refurbished Mac Studio models last week, but inventory quickly sold out in the United States. For customers who missed out, refurbished Mac Studio models have now been restocked on Apple's online store while supplies last.

A wide range of refurbished Mac Studio models with the M1 Max or M1 Ultra chips are available, including custom configurations with upgraded specs. Pricing starts at $1,799 for the base model with an M1 Max chip (10-core CPU and 24-core GPU), 32GB of unified memory, and a 512GB SSD, compared to $1,999 for the equivalent brand new model.

In our view, refurbished Macs sold by Apple are virtually indistinguishable from brand new models, so this is a decent opportunity to secure a Mac Studio with a discount and faster delivery. Apple says every certified refurbished Mac is thoroughly cleaned, tested, and repackaged in a new box with a power cord and manuals.

Apple's refurbished products are covered by Apple's standard one-year warranty and 14-day return policy, and are eligible for AppleCare+ coverage. AppleCare+ for the Mac Studio is priced at $169 or $59.99 per year on a rolling basis.

Apple first released the Mac Studio in March 2022. On the back of the computer, connectivity options include four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, one 10-Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones. On the front, there is an SD card slot, along with two USB-C ports for M1 Max models or two Thunderbolt 4 ports for M1 Ultra models.

This post has been updated to reflect availability of additional refurbished Mac Studio configurations.

Amazon has introduced a few markdowns on Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro family this week, including an all-time low price on the 1TB 16-inch 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.

14-inch MacBook Pro

Starting with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can get the 8-Core M1 Pro/512GB model for $1,799.00 in Silver, down from $1,999.00. This is a solid second-best price on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and there's a slight shipping delay with estimated delivery of around July 22.

For a higher-end model, the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. This is another second-best price on the MacBook Pro, and stock is available in both colors at this price.

16-inch MacBook Pro

For the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro, we're tracking an all-time low price on the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB model, priced at $2,449.00, down from $2,699.00. At $250 off, this is the best price you'll find online for this version of the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro.

On the lower end, the 10-Core M1 Pro/512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. This one is available in both colors, with Silver running low on stock as of writing.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.

Apple today announced that the new MacBook Air equipped with the M2 chip will be available to order starting Friday, July 8 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple said deliveries to customers and in-store availability will begin Friday, July 15.

MacRumors exclusively reported that Apple planned to launch the new MacBook Air on July 15, and the date has now been confirmed by Apple. Customers will be able to order the MacBook Air via Apple.com or the Apple Store app.

The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a slightly larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, flatter edges, and new Starlight and Midnight color options. The notebook features MagSafe charging, an upgraded 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones, four speakers, and more.

Apple says the M2 chip has up to an 18% faster CPU, up to a 35% faster GPU, and up to a 40% faster Neural Engine compared to the M1 chip. With the M2 chip, the MacBook Air can be configured with up to 24GB of unified memory, whereas the M1 chip supports a maximum 16GB of memory. The notebook is available with up to a 2TB SSD.

Pricing for the new MacBook Air starts at $1,199 in the United States. The previous-generation MacBook Air with the M1 chip remains available for $999.

Apple is expected to make its latest A16 processor exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 14 lineup, and that diversification strategy is set to become an annual trend in future ‌iPhone‌ series, according to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Earlier this year, Kuo said only the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models will feature an A16 chip, with the standard ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Max models to remain equipped with an A15 chip.

The prediction was intriguing for two reasons. First, Apple has always used the same chip across ‌iPhone‌ models in the same series. Second, the last time Apple re-used a previous-generation processor in a new ‌iPhone‌ was the original ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ 3G, both of which used identical 412MHz ARM 11 chips.

Despite the recent lack of precedent, well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman later agreed with Kuo's expectation, suggesting that "beyond trying to make the Pro stand out," ongoing chip shortages may have contributed to Apple's decision to limit its upcoming chip to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models.

However, Kuo now claims chip shortages are less of a factor guiding Apple's thinking, and that the plan to make newer, faster chips exclusive to Pro ‌iPhone‌ models is part of a longer-term diversification strategy that will apply to next year's iPhone 15 series and future iPhones beyond 2023.

Writing in his Medium blog, Kuo again claims that the latest A16 chip will be exclusive to ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models, "significantly boosting the shipment proportion of new ‌iPhone‌ high-end models in 2H22 to 55-60% (vs. 40–50% in the past)," with high-end component suppliers of the rear camera also standing to benefit. In line with this strategy:

The latest processor chip will be exclusive to iPhone high-end models in the future, so a high shipment proportion of iPhone high-end models will be the norm, favoring high-end camera component suppliers.

As explained, this would differ from Apple's longstanding strategy of equipping all flagship iPhones with the same chip. For example, the ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 13, ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max are all equipped with the same A15 chip. But it would provide Apple with another key unique selling point for its higher-end ‌iPhone‌ models and could drive sales by as much as 20%, according to Kuo.

As for next year's ‌iPhone 15‌ series, the strategy also adds some more clarity to how the various models will differentiate. Apple is expected to continue to offer four models – the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone 15‌, the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 15‌ Max, and the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max – while the pill-and-hole cutout for the front-facing cameras, expected to debut only in ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models this year, will expand to the entire ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup.

In addition, the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models would exclusively feature an "A17" chip, possibly built on TSMC's next-generation 3-nanometer node. This 3nm chip technology is expected to increase processing performance by 10 to 15 percent, while also reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent. Standard ‌iPhone 15‌ models therefore will presumably retain the A16 chip that is expected to feature exclusively in this year's ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models.

If Kuo's analysis is correct, expect Apple's nascent chip strategy to be mirrored in many more annual ‌iPhone‌ cycles to come.

Apple today released new firmware for the Siri Remote designed for the Apple TV, updating the software from version 9M6772 to 10M1103. The software is for the redesigned Siri Remote that was released in May 2021, aka the gray remote with the updated interface. In the ‌Apple TV‌ settings, the new firmware will display as 0x0070, up from 0x0061.

There is no word on what's new with the ‌Apple TV‌ ‌Siri‌ Remote, but it likely includes minor bug fixes and performance improvements. Apple regularly provides firmware updates for its hardware products, though the company does not typically provide details on what's been refreshed.

Apple also does not provide details on how to update the ‌Siri‌ Remote, but the software will be installed over the air automatically through the ‌Apple TV‌. The updated ‌Siri‌ Remote is available with the latest-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K and ‌Apple TV‌ HD models, plus it is sold on a standalone basis.

Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new update coming over a week after the release of the fourth macOS Monterey 12.5 beta.

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.

There's no word yet on what new features or changes might be included in macOS Monterey 12.5, and nothing new was found in the first four betas. It's likely this update focuses on bug fixes and other minor improvements to the operating system.

macOS Monterey 12.5 could be one of the final updates to the macOS Monterey website as Apple is now shifting its focus to macOS Ventura, the next-generation Mac operating system coming this fall.

Apple today seeded the fifth betas of upcoming iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming one week weeks after the release of the fourth betas.

Developers can download iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.

We don't yet know what might be introduced in iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6, as Apple has now implemented all of the features that were announced as coming in the iOS and iPadOS 15 updates, and work on iOS 15 is likely winding down with iOS 16 approaching.

There were no new features discovered in the first three betas of iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6, suggesting these are updates focusing on bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements.

iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 could be some of the last updates to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as Apple is now working on iOS 16, which is set to be released this fall.

Apple has also seeded the fifth developer betas of tvOS 15.6 and watchOS 8.7.

The upcoming launch of Apple's redesigned MacBook Air with the M2 chip has some Windows laptop manufacturers "worried" that sales of Intel-based laptops will be negatively affected, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes.

"A Wintel brand vendor pointed out that at a price point of US$1,000-$1,500, the MacBook Air will crowd out other high-end notebooks," the report claims, with "Wintel" referring to Windows laptops powered by Intel processors. The report added that "upgrades to the M2 processor, camera lens, and casing put the slight price increase of the new MacBook Air within an acceptable range for consumers."

Windows laptop makers are also concerned about weakening consumer sentiment driven by inflation and economic downturn, the report claims.

Pricing for the new MacBook Air starts at $1,199 in the United States, with the M2 chip offering up to 18% faster CPU performance and up to 35% faster graphics performance compared to the already impressive M1 chip in the previous model. Apple says the new MacBook Air will be available in July, with an order date expected to be announced soon.

In 2020, Apple announced that the Mac lineup would be transitioning from Intel processors to its own custom-designed silicon chips, with Apple promising industry-leading performance per watt. The transition is now nearly complete, with the only remaining Intel-based Macs sold being a higher-end Mac mini configuration and the Mac Pro tower, both of which are expected to be updated with Apple silicon chips later this year.

Apple silicon has been game changing for the Mac lineup. In 2020, benchmarks revealed that the $999 MacBook Air with an M1 chip outperformed a $2,999 maxed-out Intel-based 16-inch MacBook Pro. Likewise, the M2 chip is faster than the 8‑core Intel Xeon W processor in the base model Mac Pro tower, which starts at $5,999.

Last year, Intel ran ads promoting Windows PCs over Macs, and it even recruited former "I'm a Mac" actor Justin Long for the campaign. Meanwhile, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said his company would "fight hard" to "win back" Apple's business.

Apple is likely to face further increased chip prices as supplier TSMC contends with additional increased costs, Bloomberg reports.

Japanese chemicals firm Showa Denko K.K. supplies vital chip fabrication materials to TSMC and is now being forced to drastically increase prices on the back of the global chip shortage. Other component makers and material suppliers are making similar moves in the semiconductor industry amid a wider price squeeze.

Showa Denko Chief Financial Officer Hideki Somemiya said "A big theme this year common to all the players in the materials industry is how much cost burden we'd be able to convince customers to share with us. The current market moves require us to ask twice the amount we had previously calculated."

As a key supplier early in the production chain, Showa Denko's price hikes are expected to tighten margins and pressure clients like TSMC to pass on increased costs to their own customers, including Apple. The situation is unlikely to significantly improve until at least 2023, Somemiya told Bloomberg.

In May, Bloomberg reported that TSMC was in the process of warning its customers of a considerable price increase. This came after a hefty 20 percent price hike in 2021, which was said to be the most substantial chip price rise in a decade.

Last year, Nikkei Asia warned that Apple could be forced to pass the increased price of chips onto customers. Apple's flagship iPhone models with 64GB of storage have been priced at $999 since the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ X in 2017 and further price rises have yet to hit the ‌iPhone‌ lineup. This year's ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Max devices are widely expected to retain the same A15 Bionic chip from the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup, which may be explained by the ongoing supply chain pressures behind Apple's chips.

European Union lawmakers have approved landmark legislation to heavily regulate Apple, Google, Meta, and other big tech firms.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) were proposed by the European Commission in December 2020. Now, collected in a "Digital Services Package," the legislation has been formally adopted by the European Parliament and seeks to address "gatekeeper" big tech companies.

Apple is almost certain to be classified as a "gatekeeper" due to the size of its annual turnover in the EU, its ownership and operation of platforms with a large number of active users, and its "entrenched and durable position" due to how long it has met these criteria, and will therefore be subject to the rules set out in the DMA. Under the DMA, gatekeepers may have to:

• Allow users to install apps from third-party app stores and sideload directly from the internet.
• Allow developers to offer third-party payment systems in apps and promote offers outside the gatekeeper's platforms.
• Allow developers to integrate their apps and digital services directly with those belonging to a gatekeeper. This includes making messaging, voice-calling, and video-calling services interoperable with third-party services upon request.
• Give developers access to any hardware feature, such as "near-field communication technology, secure elements and processors, authentication mechanisms, and the software used to control those technologies."
• Ensure that all apps are uninstallable and give users the ability to unsubscribe from core platform services under similar conditions to subscription.
• Give users the option to change the default voice assistant to a third-party option.
• Share data and metrics with developers and competitors, including marketing and advertising performance data.
• Set up an independent "compliance function" group to monitor its compliance with EU legislation with an independent senior manager and sufficient authority, resources, and access to management.
• Inform the European Commission of their mergers and acquisitions.

The DMA also seeks to ensure that gatekeepers can no longer:

• Pre-install certain software applications and require users to use any important default software services such as web browsers.
• Require app developers to use certain services or frameworks, including browser engines, payment systems, and identity providers, to be listed in app stores.
• Give their own products, apps, or services preferential treatment or rank them higher than those of others.
• Reuse private data collected during a service for the purposes of another service.
• Establish unfair conditions for business users.

The Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires platforms to do more to police the internet for illegal content, has also been approved by the European Parliament.

The DMA says that gatekeepers who ignore the rules will face fines of up to 10 percent of the company's total worldwide annual turnover, or 20 percent in the event of repeated infringements, as well as periodic penalties of up to 5 percent of the company's total worldwide annual turnover. Where gatekeepers perpetrate "systematic infringements," the European Commission will be able to impose additional sanctions, such as obliging a gatekeeper to sell a business or parts of it, including units, assets, intellectual property rights, or brands, or banning a gatekeeper from acquiring any company that provides services in the digital sector.

So far, Apple has heavily resisted attempts by governments to enforce changes to its operating systems and services. For example, Apple simply chose to pay a $5.5 million fine every week for months in the Netherlands instead of obey orders from the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) to allow third-party payment systems in Dutch dating apps.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager has set up a DMA taskforce, with about 80 officials expected to join, but some lawmakers have called for an even bigger taskforce to counter the power of big tech companies. The Digital Services Package now simply needs to be adopted by the European Council before coming into force in the fall.

Beyond the European Union, Apple's ecosystem is increasingly coming under intense scrutiny by governments around the world, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, and more, with a clear appetite from global regulators to explore requirements around app sideloading and interoperability. Further cooperation is expected between governments around the world on the issue and experts are anticipating a "brutal battle" between Apple and global regulators.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple has once again adjusted the maximum trade-in values of iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac models, lowering the amount customers can receive when trading in their existing devices for one of the company's newer products.

The old and updated iPhone trade-in values can be found below.

• iPhone 12 Pro Max: Up to $600, down from $650
• iPhone 12 Pro: Up to $500, down from $550
• iPhone 12: Up to $400, down from $420
• iPhone 12 miin: Up to $300, down from $320
• 2nd generation iPhone SE: Up to $140, down from $150
• iPhone 11 Pro Max: Up to $400, down from $420
• iPhone 11 Pro: Up to $300, down from $350
• iPhone 11: Up to $230, down from $300
• iPhone XS Max: Up to $220, down from $250
• iPhone XS: Up to $170, down from $200
• iPhone XR: Up to $160, down from $200
• iPhone X: Up to $150, down from $170
• iPhone 8 Plus: Up to $140, down from $160
• iPhone 8: Up to $90, down from $100
• iPhone 6s Plus: Up to $40, down from $50
• iPhone 6s: Up to $25, down from $30

Apple also updated trade-in values for the Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch, which can be seen below.

• iMac Pro: Up to $1350, down from $1500
• iMac: Up to $830, down from $850
• Mac Pro: Up to $1800, down from $2000
• Mac mini: Up to $400, down from $450
• iPad Pro: Up to $555, down from $655
• iPad Air: Up to $275, down from $290
• iPad: Up to $180, down from $190
• iPad mini: Up to $185, down from $200
• Apple Watch SE: Up to $105, down from $120
• Apple Watch Series 5: Up to $115, down from $120
• Apple Watch Series 4: Up to $75, down from $85
• Apple Watch Series 3: Up to $40, down from $50

As a reminder, the prices listed on Apple's trade-in websites are only estimates. The actual trade-in value will vary depending on device condition. Apple periodically changes trade-in values and more information can be seen on Apple's website.

Apple has been granted a patent that could well hint at a new design direction for the controversial Smart Case that comes with Apple's AirPods Max (via Patently Apple).

When Apple unveiled its $549 high-end ‌AirPods Max‌ headphones last year, the included Smart Case stirred up plenty of online chatter for its odd appearance and poor overall protection when compared to the traditional hard cases that come with other premium headphones.

Apple's much-lampooned case birthed an avalanche of memes, which have irreverently compared it to all sorts of things, from handbags to lingerie, and even body parts. The mixed reception has led many to wonder if Apple will rethink its design in future models, and a newly approved patent may offer a possible idea of where Apple could take things next.

Filed by Apple in June 2017 and approved today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent summarizes various implementations of "Enclosures with flexible magnetic closures and clasps," but the accompanying "merely illustrative" images leave the reader in little doubt about the specific use case Apple has in mind.

In its example for a headphones case, the patent describes a full-coverage two-part housing that opens and closes via a pair of magnetic "mating strips" that run along the seam, and a magnetic clasp at the top. Meanwhile inside, a separator divides a pair of headphone earcups, while a headband can be seen arching over the separator.

The images offer a top and side view of the headphone case, along with a perspective view, and they all look like a much more traditional design compared to the current one-piece folded-over design, which left some reviewers feeling that Apple de-prioritised function in its pursuit of iconic fashion.

As with all patents, this one could well come to nothing, but Apple may well be planning a new version of ‌AirPods Max‌ for the company to include features that it reportedly had to leave out because of development challenges and production issues.

Early rumors indicated the headphones would feature interchangeable headbands, touch pads for controls, and no specific left and right orientation, but these features did not make it into the final product.

It's possible that a future version of the ‌AirPods Max‌ will include the functionality that was left out of the first launch version, but all we know so far is that additional color options are in the works for a future launch.

Apple is working on an Apple Watch Series 8 model with a larger display, according to DSCC's Ross Young and Haitong International Securities's Jeff Pu.

In October last year, Young suggested that the Apple Watch Series 8 could come in three display sizes. Now, responding to a query about the rumor on Twitter, Young claims that the additional display size joining the Apple Watch lineup will be 1.99-inches in size diagonally.

Likewise, in a note to investors seen by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu mentioned that Apple supplier Luxshare will be the "sole supplier" for a "high-end" 2-inch Apple Watch model this year. It seems likely that the 1.99-inch display size presented by Young has simply been rounded up by Pu.

A 1.99-inch Apple Watch display size compares to 1.691-inches on the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 and 1.901-inches on the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7. The new display size would offer an additional 0.089-inches of space diagonally over the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7, which is almost a five percent increase.

It is possible that the slightly larger display size relates to the rumored redesign for the Apple Watch Series 8 with flat edges. Earlier this year, the leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro," who correctly said that the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature a rounded design like the Apple Watch Series 6, claimed that Apple was working on a "flat front glass display" for the Apple Watch Series 8. It seems plausible that an Apple Watch design with flat edges, first raised by leaker Jon Prosser in 2021, would feature a slightly larger flat top surface area, which could explain a five percent display size increase, although this remains speculation.

It is also of note that Young and Pu's claims could also line up with rumors about this year's "rugged" Apple Watch model, which is expected to join the Apple Watch lineup alongside the other Series 8 models. Flagship Apple Watches have historically only ever been offered in two size options, so a third, larger display size could correlate with a new, additional Apple Watch "Explorer Edition" variant, especially if this is also the model to offer a new design with flat edges.

Apple is still working on an iMac with a larger display and a more powerful chip aimed at the professional market, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman suggested that Apple is working on at least two ‌iMac‌ models, likely using the "M3" series of chips. Gurman says that Apple will likely launch an updated 24-inch ‌iMac‌ featuring the standard M3 chip in 2023 and is continuing work on a high-end ‌iMac‌ model:

I also still believe that Apple is working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market. I'd imagine this will use a variation of the M3 chip, likely an M3 Pro and M3 Max. That would match the chips inside of the MacBook Pro. I don't think the combination of a Mac Studio or Mac mini plus an Apple Studio Display cuts it for many pro users who want more screen real estate.

In March 2021, Apple discontinued the iMac Pro, and in March 2022, it discontinued the 27-inch Intel-based version of the ‌iMac‌, leaving the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ with the M1 chip as the only remaining ‌iMac‌ model. For now, Apple has effectively replaced the 27-inch ‌iMac‌ with the Mac Studio and its matching Studio Display and some sources claim that there is no high-end iMac in development, but Gurman is among the pundits claiming that a more powerful, larger ‌iMac‌ is still on the way.

A 24-inch ‌iMac‌ with the M2 chip has been missing from Gurman's forecast of upcoming M2 Macs on Apple's product road map, which includes new Mac mini models with ‌M2‌ and ‌M2‌ Pro chips, new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips, and a new Mac Pro tower with ‌M2‌ Ultra and "‌M2‌ Extreme" chips. Gurman expects an updated 24-inch ‌iMac‌ to be among the first M3 series of Macs, which will include an updated 13-inch MacBook Air, an all-new 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌, and potentially a new 12-inch notebook that is "still in early development."

Gurman previously said that the launch of the new high-end ‌iMac‌ "won't be anytime soon," and use of M3 series chips would indicate that may not emerge until 2023 at the earliest. The M3 family of chips are expected to be built on TSMC's 3nm technology, unlike the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌, which are built using a 5nm process. The more advanced manufacturing process is expected to bring significant performance and efficiency improvements.

New Apple Music Student Plan subscribers can now receive a free pair of Beats Flex earphones worth $69.99.

The offer, first spotted by Michael Burkhardt on Twitter, has been available since June 22 and allows first-time ‌Apple Music‌ Student Plan subscribers to order a pair of Beats Flex earphones for free after paying for the first month's subscription.

After 30 days of the subscription, eligible students will receive an email from Apple with instructions to order the Beats Flex earphones for free. Subscribers may be given the option to redeem earphones in a color of their choice, but Apple may also send whatever is available depending on stock levels.

The Beats Flex offer is only available in the United States and the United Kingdom, cannot be combined with other ‌Apple Music‌ offers, and cannot be used by anyone who has previously subscribed to ‌Apple Music‌. The offer is available for a "limited time" with no further details on when it may end. See Apple's terms and conditions for more information.