Samsung is prioritizing the development of OLED displays that Apple plans to use in upcoming iPad models, according to a report today by The Elec.
According to the report, Samsung has prioritized the development of a particular display type that uses two-stack tandem OLED panels, which is what Apple plans to use in future iPad and Mac models. Prioritization of this display type means the South Korean tech giant will focus less on developing full-cut OLED displays, which use just a single OLED layer, according to The Elec.
Samsung is Apple's main display supplier and has been supplying the company with OLED displays for high-end iPhone models since 2017. Other products, like the iPhone SE, Mac, and iPad, still use LCD displays and mini-LED technology on select products.
The iPhone 15 series will continue to feature Qualcomm 5G modems, according to a report today by DigiTimes, as development at Apple on a custom-made chip continues.
Apple is currently developing an in-house 5G modem that aims to replace Qualcomm's Snapdragon 5G chips within the coming years. The report today says that TSMC will be the main supplier of the Qualcomm 5G chip for use in the iPhone 15 series, using the 5nm and 4nm process.
The iPhone 14 series includes the Snapdragon X65 modem, which helps improve 5G speeds and battery life. The iPhone 15 is rumored to include the more advanced X70 chip, which features artificial intelligence capabilities for faster average speeds, improved coverage, better signal quality, lower latency, and up to 60% improved power efficiency.
Reports initially suggested Apple would make its switch to in-house 5G modems as soon as 2023, but follow-up reports suggested Apple had "failed" on the chip's development and will continue to use Qualcomm modems for the foreseeable future.
Apple will cancel or postpone mass production for the planned 2024 iPhone SE 4, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a series of tweets. Kuo said that he believes Apple will delay or scrap the device due to consistent lower than expected shipments of middle tier and lower-end smartphones like the iPhone SE 3, the iPhone 13 mini, and the iPhone 14 Plus.
Kuo also said that the full screen design that Apple has in mind for the iPhone SE 4 will require higher costs and selling prices, so Apple may need to "reconsider the product positioning and return on investment" for the iPhone SE 4. Reducing unnecessary product development costs will also help Apple navigate the "challenges of the global economic recession in 2023," according to Kuo.
(2/5) as well as concerns that the full-screen design of the SE 4 will lead to an increase in higher costs/selling prices. As a result, Apple may need to reconsider the product positioning and return on investment for the SE 4.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) December 21, 2022
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a new version of the iPhone SE, with the device set to launch in 2024. Apple is developing a device that could look similar to the iPhone XR, with an all-display design that does away with the Touch ID Home button and instead adopts either Face ID or a Touch ID power button.
Rumors indicated that the iPhone SE 4 could have a 6.1-inch LCD or OLED display, along with a notch at the top much like the current iPhone 14 models. Apple's plans for the iPhone SE 4 have not been finalized, and earlier this year, Apple analyst Ross Young said Apple had not decided between an OLED or LCD display for the device.
Apple opted not to offer a 5.4-inch option with the iPhone 14 lineup after poor sales of mini-sized iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, and rumors have also indicated that the more affordable iPhone 14 Plus has seenlower than expected sales. For that reason, Apple could instead focus on its flagship iPhones in 2023 and 2024, pushing development on the iPhone SE line back or going with cheaper components that will allow for a lower price point than the planned design changes.
After the launch of iOS 16.2 on December 13, Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.1.2, the previously available version of iOS. With iOS 16.1.2 no longer being signed, it is no longer possible to downgrade to an earlier version of iOS after installing the iOS 16.2 update.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date, which means it is not unusual that the updates are no longer being signed.
iOS 16.1.2 was a minor update that added improved compatibility with wireless carriers and crash detection optimizations on iPhone 14 models.
The iOS 16.2 update that replaces it is the biggest update to iOS 16 we've seen yet, with Apple adding the Freeform app, support for Apple Music Sing, expanded iCloud encryption with Advanced Data Protection, and much more, with all of the changes outlined in our dedicated iOS 16.2 guide.
Car manufacturer Tesla last week rolled out a holiday software update that added Apple Music support to Tesla vehicles, so we thought we'd check it out for those who are interested in a hands-on demo of how Apple's streaming music service works on the Tesla platform.
Apple Music support for Tesla cars is something that Tesla owners have long been waiting for, as the electric car company has previously only worked with streaming services like Spotify.
The experience works as you might expect, and the full Apple Music service is available. The navigation experience is superior compared to Spotify, such as options for tapping into songs from a playlist to get to the entire album along with better interface interactions.
Navigation is also straightforward, though it's worth noting that it does not appear that iTunes Match content is available for access. Lossless and Dolby Atmos also do not appear to be available at this time in Teslas, and it is not clear if that functionality is going to be enabled at a later date.
If you're a Tesla owner, you will need the 2022.44.25 Tesla Holiday Update to access Apple Music, which has been rolling out over the last seven days.
Major League Soccer today announced its 2023 regular season schedule, with every match to air live in the Apple TV app in over 100 countries, as part of a new 10-year partnership between the league and Apple. A subscription to MLS Season Pass is required for most matches, but Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to watch some matches for free.
MLS Season Pass will be available starting February 1 for $14.99 per month or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to subscribe at a discounted price of $12.99 per month and $79 per season, according to Apple. MLS season ticket holders will receive a complimentary subscription to MLS Season Pass as a perk.
Apple says the majority of matches in the 2023 season will be played on Saturdays and select Wednesdays, with 7:30 p.m. local start times. Select matches will also be available on Fox networks in the United States, and on TSN and RDS in Canada.
The Apple TV app is available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV box, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks, Roku TVs, and select smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio. Earlier today, it was rumored that the app will also be launching on Android smartphones soon.
Dark Sky, the weather app that Apple purchased in March 2020, is set to shut down on January 1, 2023. Ahead of the planned sunsetting of the app, Apple is reminding users of the closure and has also published a support document highlighting the Dark Sky features that have been integrated into the Weather app to encourage Dark Sky users to transition to the built-in options.
The Dark Sky app functionality was added to the Weather app in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. Apple has introduced down-to-the minute precipitation forecasts for snow and rain, an hourly forecast for the next 10 days, and weather modules that provide expanded information on humidity, precipitation levels, visibility, wind speed, and more.
There are high-resolution weather maps available, according to Apple, as well as hyperlocal weather forecasts. Apple has been warning of the upcoming Dark Sky shutdown for several months, but information is ramping up now that there are less than two weeks to go before app support ends.
Apple today expanded its self-service repair program to include Mac desktops with Apple silicon, as noted by Jason Snell at Six Colors. Parts, tools, and repair manuals are now available for the iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio with the M1 series of chips, and the Studio Display, allowing customers to complete do-it-yourself repairs.
Availability of parts for Mac desktops and the Studio Display is limited to the U.S. for now, despite the program expanding to Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK earlier this month. Repair manuals for Mac desktops with Apple silicon and the Studio Display can be found on Apple's website.
Tool kits for Mac desktops and the Studio Display can be rented from Apple's self-service repair store for $49 each and must be returned after seven days.
The program first launched in the U.S. in April, providing customers with access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and manuals to complete do-it-yourself repairs of iPhone 12, iPhone 13, and third-generation iPhone SE models. The program was expanded in August to include MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with the M1 series of chips.
Apple says the program is intended for individuals who are "experienced with the complexities of repairing electronic devices." For the "vast majority" of customers, Apple says visiting a "professional repair provider" like an Apple Store is a better choice.
With the Apple TV app, Android smartphone users would have a more convenient way to access the Apple TV+ streaming service, instead of having to rely on tv.apple.com on the web. The app would also provide Android users with access to MLS Season Pass next year. In the Android ecosystem, the Apple TV app is currently limited to streaming devices powered by the Android TV operating system, including the Chromecast with Google TV.
Other non-Apple devices with the Apple TV app include the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks, Roku TVs, and select smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio. The app can be used to stream Apple TV+, buy or rent TV shows and movies from the iTunes Store, and more.
Availability of the Apple TV app on Android smartphones could help to increase Apple TV+ viewership and boost Apple's services revenue.
If you've been on the hunt for one of Apple's iPad or Mac keyboards, Amazon still has numerous models on sale and in stock with Christmas delivery.
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.
iPad Keyboards
Starting with the iPad keyboards, you can get the 11-inch iPad Pro Magic Keyboard for $209.99 in Black, down from $299.00. This remains the best price we've ever tracked on the accessory, which also supports the fourth- and fifth-generation iPad Air.
Secondly, Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro has hit the low price of $139.99, down from $199.00 on Amazon. Similar to the 11-inch Magic Keyboard, you can get this the Smart Keyboard Folio delivered by December 24 with the fastest delivery option.
For Mac keyboards, Amazon has the Apple Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad at $99.98, down from $129.00. This is a wireless keyboard and it does not have Touch ID support. Besides Mac, it can be used with iPhone and iPad as well.
If you're looking for a Touch ID model (and don't need a numeric keypad), Amazon has the Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID at $137.97, down from $149.00. It can be delivered by December 24 with the fastest shipping option.
Apple has released two firmware updates for its AirTag item trackers since November, but at the time the company didn't provide any information on what was changed. Earlier this week, Apple finally updated a support document explaining what's new.
According to Apple, firmware update 2.0.24 allows AirTag owners to use Precision Finding to help locate an unknown AirTag with their iPhone.
Also introduced in update 2.0.24, if a user's iPhone is awake, a new notification alerts them when an AirTag that's been separated from its owner is nearby and emitting a sound to indicate it has been moved. It can then be tracked down by sound or Precision Finding if the feature is available. Apple says that this change will also help if the AirTag sound is hard to hear or if the speaker has been tampered with.
In addition, Apple says the latest firmware update, 2.0.36, resolves an issue with the AirTag accelerometer not activating in certain scenarios. All the features outlined above require iOS 16.2 or later, while the features that use Precision Finding require an iPhone 11 or later models with the U1 Ultra Wideband chip.
It is not possible to force an AirTag update, as it's something that's done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your AirTag in range of your iPhone, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current AirTag firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.
WhatsApp has rolled out a new group chat feature that lets you undo the "Delete for Me" action, to avoid potentially embarrassing scenarios where you accidentally delete a message only for yourself instead of removing it from the conversation for everyone.
Called "Accidental Delete," the new feature adds a five-second window to let users reverse an unintentional Delete for Me action and completely delete it from the group chat.
Previously, if you accidentally tapped Delete for Me, there was no way to undo it, leaving the message inaccessible to you but freely viewable to everyone else. By introducing a small time window to roll back the action, Accidental Delete aims to help users avoid such situations.
WhatsApp says the new feature is available to all users on Android and iOS.
WhatsApp introduced the ability to delete and revoke messages up to seven minutes after they've been sent in October 2017. WhatsApp later extended the time window in which users can delete a message they already sent to a person or group to over an hour.
Apple plans to begin producing MacBook models in Vietnam for the first time next year, according to a new report from Nikkei Asia.
Citing sources briefed on the matter, the report says that Apple has tapped Foxconn to start making MacBooks in the country as early as around May.
Taiwan's Foxconn was granted a license in January 2021 to construct a $270 million plant in Vietnam for the express purpose of manufacturing MacBooks and iPads.
The new plant, developed by Fukang Technology, will be located in the northern Vietnamese province of Bac Giang. Upon completion, the location is projected to be able to produce eight million laptops and tablets annually.
Apple has been working to add production sites outside of China for all of its major product lines to diversify its supply chain, with Vietnam becoming a major benefactor.
MacBook production has taken longer to transfer due to the complex supply chain involved. Alongside Apple Watch and MacBook production moving to Vietnam, Apple is also said to be potentially moving HomePod production to the country.
The French Commercial Court in Paris today fined Apple $1 million for abusive App Store practices, reports Reuters. Apple imposed unfair commercial clauses on French app developers for access to the App Store, according to the ruling.
The decision is the result of a multi-year investigation by France's consumer affairs and fraud watchdog (DGCCRF), overseen by the French ministry of finance. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire has been championing the rights of developers, and he believes that Apple and Google's app stores take advantage of software developers. His investigation found that there are "significant imbalances" in the relationships between Apple and Google and the developers that sell apps on those stores.
In a statement, Apple said that it will look into the court's decision and will continue to work with French developers. The company also said that it believes in "vibrant and competitive markets" that allow innovation to flourish.
We will review this French court decision closely and will continue working hard to deliver support for developers and a safe experience for users.
Through the App Store, we've helped French developers of all sizes share their passion and creativity with users around the world while creating a secure and trusted place for customers.
The fine that Apple has been hit with is minuscule in terms of the company's income, but it could potentially lead to orders for App Store rule changes.
Apple is dealing with several other inquiries into its App Store and business practices in France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the United States, to name a few.
We're now under one week away from Christmas, making it harder to find holiday gifts online with guaranteed delivery dates before December 25. With that in mind, in this article we've collected a list of Apple-related accessory companies that are still guaranteeing Christmas delivery on their websites.
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.
This list is largely focused on charging and protection accessories for Apple products like iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook Pro. There are still one or two Apple products with Christmas delivery on sites like Amazon, so we've listed those below as well.
Shoppers should note that not all of the shipping methods shared below will be free; some retailers are only providing their fastest shipping tiers at higher prices.
AirPods Pro 2
One of the last remaining Apple products that you can get delivered before the end of the week is the AirPods Pro 2 on Verizon, and they're on sale at nearly their all-time low price of $199.99, down from $249.00.
Verizon offers free two-day shipping, or you can opt for same-day pick-up at your local Verizon store (depending on stock in your location).
Apple Pencil 2
Amazon has the Apple Pencil 2 for $89.00, down from $129.00, which remains the best price we've ever tracked on the stylus. It can be delivered by December 23 with the fastest delivery options.
For MagSafe accessories, Verizon this week returned with all-time low prices on all three chargers. Verizon offers free two-day shipping and you can also choose to pick up your order in store to get your holiday gifts even faster.
Specifically, you can get the MagSafe Charger for $29.99, down from $39.00. The MagSafe Battery Pack is down to $74.24, from $99.00, and the MagSafe Duo Charger is down to $96.74, from $129.00.
iPhone 14 Cases
Similar to the MagSafe chargers, Verizon is the best place to shop for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro cases this week. Many are seeing all-time low prices and there are numerous colors available for each model of the iPhone 14, all with Verizon's free two-day shipping option.
Anker has some of the best charging accessories on the market, and they make for great last-minute holiday gifts. Amazon is holding a sale on a variety of Anker accessories this week, with notable discounts on USB-C cables, wall chargers, portable batteries, wireless chargers, and more.
Shoppers should note that many of these sales require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the discount at the checkout screen, so be sure to watch out for those when browsing on Amazon. You can find all of the Anker accessories on sale below, all of which have guaranteed delivery dates before December 25.
Samsung's 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 is on sale for $399.99 in Spring Green, down from $729.99. Samsung promises that this monitor can arrive by December 22 if ordered soon, and only Spring Green is still available at this all-time low price.
Nomad's cutoff for Christmas Eve delivery is quickly nearing: you'll need to order by 12 p.m. PST today, December 19, using FedEx Expedited Shipping in order to get your items by December 24.
Nomad isn't running much of a sale this week, but as always there are deep discounts in its Outlet Sale section. These products are final sale, and include Lightning cables, wireless chargers, AirTag loops, and more.
Pad & Quill
Pad & Quill has free two-day FedEx shipping across its website, guaranteeing arrival for the holidays.
Not all of Pad & Quill's accessories are on sale, but you can get 35 percent off with our exclusive code MR15 on the checkout screen. This code works sitewide and can be used on iPhone cases, iPad folios, Apple Watch bands, and more.
Adorama
If you're shopping for a photography enthusiast, Adorama is offering free overnight shipping on a wide selection of cameras, drones, lenses, bags, and much more.
B&H Photo
B&H Photo is promising delivery by December 24 on most in-stock items that are delivered within the contiguous United States. Additionally, a large assortment of products on B&H Photo can be delivered with free next day shipping.
B&H Photo offers a very wide range of products, making it a great place to do some last-minute holiday shopping. You'll find headphones, smart speakers, monitors, charging accessories, and much more.
Twelve South
Twelve South is giving its shoppers free two-day shipping for the next few days in order to help everyone get their presents in time for the holidays.
Similar to retailers like Pad & Quill, there isn't a particularly massive sale happening on Twelve South this week, but if you look you can find a few discounts. We've listed some of these below, and you can save even more by using our exclusive code MacRumors20 at checkout to get an extra 20 percent off.
At ZAGG you can get free one-day shipping when entering the code FREERUSH in your cart and selecting Next Day Shipping at checkout. This offer will only last for two days and expires on December 20 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and is valid for online purchases in the United States only.
Similar to other large retailers, Best Buy has a wide selection of electronics and Apple-related products on sale this week, with multiple ways to deliver before Christmas.
You can choose in-store pick-up to guarantee you get your gifts as soon as possible. For shipping, Best Buy provides free shipping on numerous products and same- and next-day delivery options as well.
JBL
JBL is guaranteeing Christmas delivery if you order by December 20 at 12 p.m. PST, and you'll get free two-day shipping. The items that fall under this promotion are smaller devices like portable speakers and wireless headphones, which make perfect stocking stuffers.
Moment also caters to photographers and videographers, and it's promising Christmas Eve delivery if you order by December 20 and choose two-day shipping.
There's a sale going on right now with up to 60 percent off holiday gift picks. This mainly focuses on cameras, lenses, camera bags, gimbals, and more.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.
Today marks the sixth anniversary of Apple releasing the original AirPods. The wireless headphones were first introduced alongside the iPhone 7 in September 2016, and they became available to customers on December 19, 2016 after being delayed.
While there were already some wireless headphones on the market, AirPods helped to popularize the category thanks to deep integration with Apple devices.
"AirPods are simple and magical to use, with no switches or buttons, automatically connecting to all your Apple devices simply and seamlessly, and letting you access Siri with just a double tap," touted Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller. "We can't wait for users to try them with iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2."
Priced at $159, the first-generation AirPods introduced many core features, including one-tap pairing with Apple devices and in-ear detection for automatic playing and pausing of music. The headphones were powered by Apple's custom W1 chip, offering improved audio quality compared to Apple's wired EarPods headphones.
"This revolutionary experience is enabled by the new ultra-low power Apple W1 chip, which enables AirPods to deliver high-quality audio and industry-leading battery life in a completely wireless design," said Apple's press release for AirPods.
Apple went on to release second-generation and third-generation AirPods in March 2019 and October 2021 respectively, with better audio quality, longer battery life, hands-free "Hey Siri" support, an optional wireless charging case, and other improvements added over those years. Apple also launched the higher-end AirPods Pro in October 2019 with active noise cancellation, followed by the over-ear AirPods Max in December 2020. The latest AirPods are the second-generation AirPods Pro, released in September.
Apple has quit negotiations for the NFL Sunday Ticket package after having once been regarded as the frontrunner for the streaming rights, claims a new report.
According to Dylan Byers at Puck News, Apple has backed out of negotiations because it no longer sees the deal as worthwhile given the limitations that would be placed on it.
Rumors have suggested for months that Apple would be the "likely winner" of the NFL Sunday Ticket package, but signs of negotiation issues emerged earlier this year when CNBC reported that Apple wanted more contractual flexibility than the NFL was interested in providing.
Apple was said to have had no interest in simply acting as a conduit for broadcasting games, and instead was seeking more comprehensive partnerships with sports leagues.
In June, for example, Apple announced that its TV app will exclusively stream every live MLS match beginning in 2023, without any local blackouts or restrictions. MLS highlights, analysis, and other content will also be available across the TV app and Apple News.
In contrast, restrictions on the NFL Sunday Ticket package deal would have included local blackouts and no global rights. Pricing is also said to have been a sticking point, with Apple wanting to fold Sunday Ticket access into the $6.99 cost of an Apple TV+ subscription.
However, NFL reportedly considered that price point too low, given it needs to "protect the interests" of CBS and Fox, its Sunday afternoon broadcast partners.
Apple has been ramping up its sports offerings in recent months in an effort to draw more subscribers to Apple TV+. The company partnered with the MLB for "Friday Night Baseball," and it has inked a 10-year deal with Major League Soccer that is set to kick off next year. As things stand, it appears NFL Sunday Ticket streaming won't be added to the list.
Apple launched the controversial "trashcan" Mac Pro nine years ago today, introducing one of its most criticized designs that persisted through a period of widespread discontentment with the Mac lineup.
The redesign took the Mac Pro in an entirely new direction, spearheaded by a polished aluminum cylinder that became unofficially dubbed the "trashcan." All of the Mac Pro's components were mounted around a central thermal dissipation core, cooled by a single fan that pulled air from under the case, through the core, and out the top. The fan could spin more slowly than smaller fans and keep the Mac extremely quiet, even during intense operations.
Apple announced the radically redesigned Mac Pro at WWDC in 2013. During the announcement, Apple's Phil Schiller infamously remarked "Can't innovate anymore, my ass." The comment was directed at armchair critics who pointed at the previous Mac Pro's lack of updates and claimed Apple had largely abandoned its pro user base and was out of ideas.
Phil Schiller unveiling the redesigned Mac Pro in 2013
Apple said that the new Mac Pro offered twice the overall performance of the previous generation while taking up less than one-eighth of the volume, thanks to its unified thermal core. The Mac Pro twinned Intel Xeon processors with dual AMD FirePro workstation GPUs, enabling it to deliver seven teraflops of computing power.
While the striking design was undoubtedly ambitious, users were unhappy with the way that almost all expansion had to be served externally by Thunderbolt 2 ports. Professional users who were reliant on powerful hardware could not get past the Mac Pro's lack of internal slots to add graphics cards and memory.
The result was a device that was unable to adapt to changing hardware trends. Even Apple seemed unsure how to offer a meaningful hardware update for the Mac Pro – as recently as 2019, it was possible to buy a trashcan Mac Pro from Apple, with no upgrades coming to the device during the six years since its release.
Days since Phil Schiller said “Can’t innovate anymore, my ass” and revealed a new Mac Pro: 1,351
Days since the last Mac Pro update: 1,351
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) February 20, 2017
This led Apple to make a rare admission of the product's failure during a meeting with reporters in April 2017, explaining in detail why the device didn't succeed in the way it had hoped. In 2019, Apple's full mea culpa came in the form of yet another Mac Pro redesign, which took the machine back to a highly modular tower form factor with eight PCIe slots and three impeller fans.
Yet in many respects, what the 2013 Mac Pro set out to achieve – a small, powerful computer for professionals, with external expansion only – lives on and has been executed more effectively by 2022's Mac Studio.
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.
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.
Phil Schiller unveiling the redesigned Mac Pro in 2013
