MacRumors

Apple's worldwide Mac shipments were up in the second quarter of 2022, according to new PC shipping estimates shared today by Gartner. Apple shipped an estimated 6.4 million Macs during the quarter, up from 5.8 million in the year-ago quarter, marking 9.3 percent year-over-year growth.

Apple continued to be the number four vendor during the quarter with 8.8 percent market share. Apple continued to trail behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell, with 17.9 million, 13.5 million, and 13.3 million shipments, respectively. Acer and ASUS trailed behind Apple with 5.1 million and 4.7 million PCs shipped, respectively.

Mac shipments were up despite severe supply constraints that saw some MacBook Pro models delayed for multiple weeks or even months, and Apple was the only vendor to see positive growth. All other PC vendors saw a decline in shipments during the quarter due to supply chain issues.

Overall, there were an estimated 72 million PCs shipped during the quarter, down from 82.4 million in the year-ago quarter, a decline of 12.6 percent. Gartner says that this is the sharpest decline the global PC market has seen in nine years.

In the United States, Apple shipped an estimated 3.1 million Macs in Q2 2022, up 19.5 percent from the 2.6 million it shipped in the first quarter of 2021. Dell, HP, and Lenovo beat out Apple in terms of shipments, selling 5.6, 4.6, and 3.4 million PCs, respectively.

IDC released its own shipping estimates this morning, painting a more grim picture of Apple's Mac sales during the quarter. According to IDC, Apple shipped just 4.8 million Macs in Q2 2022, marking a year-over-year decline of 22.5 percent. IDC believes that overall PC shipments were down a total of 15.3 percent during the quarter.

Data shared by Gartner and IDC is estimated and not necessarily reflective of Apple's actual sales, and the numbers tend to fluctuate quite a bit over time, which is why the estimates are so different. Estimated data used to be able to be confirmed when Apple provided quarterly earnings results with actual Mac sales information, but Apple no longer breaks out unit sales for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it impossible to determine exact sales numbers.

YouTube today announced that it has begun rolling out picture-in-picture support for all iOS users in the United States, allowing iPhone and iPad owners to close the YouTube app when watching a video and continue to view the content in a small pop-up window while doing other things on their devices.

Picture-in-picture support has previously available to YouTube premium subscribers in the United States, but now it is available to all U.S. YouTube users. For other countries, a premium subscription is required to access the picture-in-picture feature. Picture-in-picture is available to U.S. non-subscribers for non-music videos, and it will not be available for music unless you have a premium subscription.

Google confirmed last year that picture-in-picture support would be rolling out to both premium and non-paying YouTube users and it has been in testing, but it took some time for the feature to be implemented for all. "We recognize this has been a slow roll out for a highly requested feature," reads the support article on picture-in-picture. YouTube said it wants to "want to thank everyone who shared feedback during experiments and waited patiently for this moment."

To use picture-in-picture in the YouTube app, just select a video to watch and then exit out of YouTube by swiping upwards from the bottom of the screen. The video will transfer to a mini player that can be moved around the display.

The picture-in-picture feature is available to ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ devices running iOS and iPadOS 15 and higher, and it will be rolling out over the next several days.

Apple today seeded new iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 beta updates to its public beta testing group, giving non-developers an opportunity to try out the new software ahead of its fall launch.

Signing up to get the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 beta is simple, and can be done by enrolling an iPhone or iPad in Apple's free Apple Beta Software Program. Instructions are below.

1. On your iOS device, open up Safari and navigate to the Apple Beta Software Program website.
2. Tap the Sign up button and enter your Apple ID credentials, or sign in with your ‌Apple ID‌ if you've signed up to beta test a previous update.
3. Agree to the Apple Beta Software Program terms and conditions if required.
4. After signing in, you'll see a main screen that's a Guide for Public Betas. Click on iOS (or iPadOS if you're installing on an ‌iPad‌).
5. Read through Apple's instructions carefully, and then using the link in the "Get Started" section, select "enroll your iOS device."
6. Make sure to make an archived backup of your current version of iOS using Finder by following Apple's instructions or using our tutorial below. This will allow you to downgrade back to iOS 15 if necessary and is crucial if you don't enjoy the iOS 16 testing experience.
7. Scroll down and tap on the "Download profile" button.
8. When you see a popup that says the website is trying to download a configuration profile, tap on "Allow."
9. Open up the Settings app on your iOS device and then tap on the "Profile Downloaded" section that's located right below your ‌Apple ID‌ information.
10. In the upper right corner of the screen, tap on "Install."
11. Enter your passcode and then tap "Install" again. If you have a prior beta profile installed, you may need to remove it at this point under General > Profile and redo the above steps. Otherwise, agree to the consent text and tap "Install" a third time.
12. Tap Done.
13. Your phone will prompt you to restart. From there, go back to the main Settings screen.
14. Under "General," choose "Software Update" and then "Download and Install."
15. Once the beta update has been downloaded you can tap on "Install Now" to get it set up, and from there, the ‌iPhone‌ will install the software, restart, and you'll be up and running with the iOS 16 software.

Compatibility

iOS 16 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 8 and later, and it unfortunately drops support for the ‌iPhone‌ 6s and ‌iPhone‌ 7 models. iPhones able to run iOS 16 are listed below.

• ‌iPhone‌ 13
• ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini
• ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro
• ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 11
• ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ XS
• ‌iPhone‌ XS Max
• ‌iPhone‌ XR
• ‌iPhone‌ X
• ‌iPhone‌ 8
• ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ SE (2nd generation or later)

iPadOS 16 is compatible with the following iPads:

• iPad Pro (all models)
• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• ‌iPad‌ (5th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

How to Make an Archived Backup

As mentioned in our tutorial for installing the public beta, it's essential to make an archived backup of your device if you want to be able to downgrade to a version of iOS 15. Once you upgrade to iOS 16, an iOS 16 backup cannot be restored to the iOS 15 software, which is why you need to make a backup beforehand. Here's how:

1. Plug your ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or iPod touch into your Mac using the supplied cable.
2. Open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
3. Click your iOS device's name in the sidebar.
   
4. If this is the first time connecting your device to your Mac, click Trust in the Finder window.
   
5. Tap Trust on your device when prompted, then enter your passcode to confirm.
6. In the General tab, click the circle next to where it says Back up all of the data on your [iPhone/iPad/iPod touch] to this Mac.
7. If you don't want to create an encrypted backup, or you've already set up encrypted backups, click Back Up Now at the bottom of the General tab.
   

When the backup is finished, you can find the date and time of the last backup in the General tab, just above the Manage Backups button.

iOS 16 Features

iOS 16 is a significant update that brings an entirely overhauled Lock Screen experience on the ‌iPhone‌, letting you customize the look of your device in new ways. Lock Screens can now have widgets, and can be linked to Focus modes.

FaceTime supports Handoff, there are new health and fitness features, Apple added better photo sharing with iCloud Shared Photo Library, and tons more. A full list of iOS 16 features can be found in our dedicated iOS 16 roundup.

Some of the iOS 16 features are not yet functional and won't be implemented until later in the beta testing period, which is something to be aware of. iOS and iPadOS 16 will be in beta testing for several months as Apple refines and updates the software ahead of its fall release.

Twitter today announced that it is rolling out a new feature called Unmentioning, which is designed to allow Twitter users to remove themselves from conversations they do not want to participate in or be notified about.

Twitter users who have been @mentioned in a conversation can now go to their Mentions tab and select the "Leave this conversation" option from any conversation they've been mentioned in, or select the three dots in the top corner of any tweet with a mention. Leaving a conversation will untag their username, stop all future mentions, and put a stop to notifications.

Those who use the unmention feature will have their username untagged from the original tweet and replies, and people will not be able to mention their username again in the conversation.

Twitter says that no one will receive notifications when someone leaves a conversation, but usernames will be displayed differently. Once a conversation is left, there is no way to rejoin or undo the unmention action.

Unmentioning is available in the latest version of the Twitter app for iOS devices, and it is rolling out to all Twitter users starting today.

Apple has released the first public beta of iOS 16, allowing anyone with an iPhone 8 or newer to test out the software update for free. iOS 16 includes plenty of new features, ranging from a customizable Lock Screen to the ability to edit or unsend iMessages.

To get the iOS 16 public beta, sign up for the free Apple Beta Software Program directly on your iPhone. Given that iOS 16 is still in beta, keep in mind that you may encounter bugs, incompatible apps, reduced battery life, or other issues. Think carefully before deciding to install the public beta on an iPhone that you rely on for daily use.

If you are installing the iOS 16 public beta on your iPhone, we've put together a list of seven new features worth checking out below.

Customize the Lock Screen

The headline new feature of iOS 16 is the ability to personalize the Lock Screen with multilayered wallpapers, custom fonts for the date and time, and widgets for upcoming calendar events, the weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, Activity rings, and more.

The new Lock Screen gallery showcases a range of Lock Screen options, including a new Weather wallpaper with live weather conditions and an Astronomy wallpaper that provides views of the Earth, moon, and solar system. iOS 16 includes support for multiple Lock Screen designs, allowing you to switch between your favorites with a swipe.

Edit or Unsend an iMessage

iOS 16 introduces the ability to edit or unsend recently sent iMessages, as well as mark iMessage conversations as unread after opening them. Apple allows you to edit or unsend an iMessage for up to 15 minutes after sending it.

To edit or unsend a message, you simply need to tap and hold on a bubble and select the appropriate option in the menu that appears. iMessages that have been edited are marked as "edited" below the message bubble. On devices running iOS 15 or earlier, edited messages are received as a new message that says "Edited to [X]."

Use the Full-Screen Music Player

The first public beta of iOS 16 enables a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen with album art and a color-matched wallpaper.

Apple last offered a full-screen music player on the Lock Screen on iOS 10 in 2016. If you don't like the feature, you can tap on the bottom of the display to minimize the music player and revert to your standard Lock Screen wallpaper.

Create an iCloud Shared Photo Library

One of the most useful new features in the iOS 16 public beta is the ability to create an iCloud Shared Photo Library in the Photos app.

iCloud‌ Shared Photo Library is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with your family members or friends. The feature allows you and up to five other people to add, edit, or remove photos in a shared library accessible via iCloud.

Game With Nintendo Joy-Cons

Apple says the iPhone supports many other additional Bluetooth game controllers on iOS 16, including Nintendo's Joy-Cons and Pro Controller. iPhones running iOS 16 can be used with either single left or right Joy-Cons, or both at once as a singular controller.

This is on top of the iPhone's existing compatibility with PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers since the release of iOS 14.5 last year.

Track an Apple Pay Order

Apple Pay on iOS 16 features new built-in order tracking information in the Wallet app for online orders completed via Apple Pay. The tracker provides an order's estimated delivery date and indicates when a package is out for delivery.

Close Your Rings Without an Apple Watch

Starting with iOS 16, the Fitness app is now available on the iPhone for all users, even if they don't own an Apple Watch. The app features a daily Activity ring that relies on the iPhone's motion sensors to estimate a person's calories burned and steps per day.

iOS 16 should be released to all users in September. For a closer look at the update, watch our video walkthrough of some of the biggest new features.

Apple today seeded revised third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers, along with the first iOS and iPadOS 16 public betas. Both of these updates add a new Lock Screen feature - a full-screen music player.

Since iOS 10, the music player on the Lock Screen has been available as a smaller card-style player that only takes up a small portion of the screen with a miniature version of the album art.

With the latest iOS 16 beta, album art is shown front and center, and a separate smaller music player is available below it for controlling playback. The album art dictates the color of the background of the Lock Screen, but if you tap at the bottom of the display, you can go back to your standard wallpaper and minimize the player.

To get back to the album art interface, just tap on the album icon on the minimized player.

The larger music player on the Lock Screen is part of the iOS 16 Lock Screen overhaul that allows users to customize their Lock Screens with unique colors, fonts, and looks. Apple demonstrated the new full-screen music player at WWDC, but it was not available in the iOS 16 beta until today.

In another early Prime Day discount, we're tracking the return of an all-time low price on Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, available for $299.00, down from $329.00. This sale is only on the Space Gray color option.

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 is the best deal we've ever tracked on the 10.2-inch 2021 iPad, and it's been months since we saw this price. As with all Prime Day deals, this sale isn't expected to last long, so head to Amazon soon if you're interested.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Alongside the first iOS 16 public beta, Apple today also released a HomePod Software 16 update that is available to public beta testers. This marks the first time that Apple has provided a ‌HomePod‌ beta to its public beta testing group.

The ‌HomePod‌ Software 16 update can be downloaded from Apple's beta site after installing the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 software updates. From there, users will need to go to the Home app, select the Settings option, and choose Software Update.

‌HomePod‌ users with the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 update can then enroll their HomePod mini in the beta program. According to the public beta website, the ‌HomePod‌ Software 16 beta is only available for the ‌HomePod mini‌ and it cannot be downloaded on the larger ‌HomePod‌.

Apple today seeded the first beta of macOS Ventura to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to test the new macOS Ventura operating system ahead of its release.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.

macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new multi-tasking option for focusing on a task while having other apps waiting in the wings. ‌Stage Manager‌ puts your main app front and center, tucking your other apps to the side for quick access.

Continuity Camera allows you to use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, offering much better camera quality than the built-in Mac camera. Apple is building special stands to hold the ‌iPhone‌ with a Mac, and there are neat features like Desk View, which uses the Ultra Wide lens.

Handoff now works with FaceTime so you can answer calls on the Mac and then transfer them over to another device, and Messages is gaining undo, edit, and mark as unread features. SharePlay now works in Messages in addition to ‌FaceTime‌, and the Mail app has been overhauled. Search is more relevant, emails can be scheduled, and there's even an option to undo an email for up to 10 seconds after it's sent.

Apple brought the Weather and Clock apps to the Mac, redesigned System Preferences and renamed it System Settings, and added support for Shared Tab Groups. Passwords are being replaced with more secure Passkeys in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, and there are updates to Spotlight, Visual Lookup, Live Text, and more.

There are a ton of other features in macOS Ventura, and we have a full rundown available in our dedicated macOS Ventura roundup.

Apple today seeded the first betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to public beta testers, opening up the iOS 16 beta testing process to the general public for the first time since the Worldwide Developers Conference. Developers have already had three betas, and the first public beta coincides with the third developer beta.

Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS 15 updates over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

iOS 16 brings an overhauled Lock Screen with customizable wallpapers, time, and widgets, plus notifications have been updated to roll in from the bottom of the display. Multiple Lock Screens are supported and can be linked with Focus modes.

The Messages app supports editing and deleting messages as well as marking messages unread. SharePlay is no longer limited to FaceTime, so Messages can be used for communication between people sharing content with one another. ‌FaceTime‌ calls can be handed off from one device to another, and the Health app gains a new Medications feature for tracking the vitamins and medicine that you take.

Apple is replacing passwords with Passkeys, and Safari now supports Shared Tab Groups for collaborating. In the Mail app, you can schedule emails, cancel sending, and receive follow-up reminders, and the Maps app supports multi-stop routing.

iCloud Shared Photo Library offers a convenient way to share a photos with family members, and Apple Pay Later will let users pay for ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases in fee-free installments. For the iPad, iPadOS 16 brings a Weather app and a new multi-tasking system called Stage Manager, but it's only for iPads with Apple silicon chips.

There are tons more features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, with a full rundown available in our dedicated roundups.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to experience the new watch software ahead of its fall release.

The watchOS 9 update can be downloaded after upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 16. After installing iOS 16, the proper watchOS 8 profile from Apple's beta software website must also be installed.

The software can be accessed by going to General > Software Update in the Apple Watch app on ‌iPhone‌. To update, ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌.

watchOS 9 expands the sleep tracking feature to add sleep stages, allowing the watch to track when users are in REM Core, or Deep sleep, plus it supports a Medications app for managing and getting reminders for medications, vitamins, and supplements.

There are four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, and the ECG app supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.

Custom workouts have been added to the Workout app, and there are fitness improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. 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.

More on everything that's new in the watchOS 9 update can be found in our dedicated watchOS 9 roundup.

Apple today seeded the first beta of tvOS 16 to its public beta testing group, allowing members of the public to download and test the new update on Apple TV HD and ‌Apple TV‌ 4K models.

Public beta testers can download the tvOS 16 beta update by opening up the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌, navigating to the Software Updates section under "System," and then toggling on "Get public Beta Updates" after signing up to beta test on Apple's public beta website.

tvOS 16 adds cross-device connectivity, which will let developers integrate ‌Apple TV‌ apps with iPhone and iPad apps to unlock new experiences on the ‌Apple TV‌. Multiple user profiles have also been improved through a shared keychain feature that cuts down on logins.

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

tvOS 16 is set to come out this fall, and it will go through several rounds of beta testing before launch.

Apple today seeded revised versions of the third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers for testing purposes, with the updates coming a week Apple released the third developer betas. The beta revision comes alongside the first public betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, and it features a version number of 20A5312j.

Registered developers can download the iOS and iPadOS 16 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the betas will be available over the air.

iOS 16 introduces a revamped Lock Screen that offers a new level of personalization and customization through widgets, a notification redesign, and adjustable fonts and colors for the time. Multiple Lock Screens are supported, similar to watch faces, and can be associated with Focus modes.

Focus is easier to set up than before and more customizable, with Focus filters available to cut out distracting content within apps. The Messages app now features tools for editing a iMessage, unsending an iMessage, and marking messages as unread, plus it supports SharePlay, much like FaceTime.

The Mail app has improved search and tools that include undo send, schedule send, and follow up so you can get a reminder to check up on an email if you haven't gotten a response. Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working to replace passwords with Passkeys, a more biometrically secure way to log in to accounts.

iCloud Photo Library allows users to more easily share photos with family members, and Live Text is supported in video. There's a neat new feature for lifting the subject from a background with a tap, which is part of Visual Lookup.

Dictation has improved, Maps now supports multi-stop routing, Apple Pay Later lets you split up purchase payments, and the Home app has been entirely overhauled with a new look. On the iPad, the update adds a new Stage Manager feature for more Mac-like multitasking, but it's limited to M1 iPads.

There are tons of other new features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, with a full rundown on everything available in our dedicated roundup.

Early Prime Day deals continue today, and now Amazon has Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe for $169.99, down from $249.00. The last time we saw the AirPods Pro at this low of a price was in December 2021, so this makes Amazon's deal today the best price of the year so far on the AirPods Pro.

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.

This model of the AirPods Pro includes the MagSafe Charging Case. The AirPods Pro are in stock today, with delivery as soon as July 13 for most places in the United States with Prime shipping.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Apple is expected to release the first public beta of iOS 16 for the iPhone this week, allowing anyone to test the software update for free.

In a tweet last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iOS 16 public beta should be released during the week of July 11. Gurman said the public beta is expected to correspond with the third developer beta of iOS 16 released last week.

It's unclear which day of the week the iOS 16 public beta will be released. Given that embargoed reviews of the new MacBook Air are expected to be published on Thursday, it is possible that Apple will opt to release the iOS 16 public beta by Wednesday at the latest to spread out the news. Last year, the iOS 15 public beta was released on a Wednesday.

Apple typically releases new betas shortly after 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time or 6:00 p.m. in the U.K.

At WWDC last month, Apple announced that public betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 would be released in July. Apple will also be releasing a public beta of HomePod software version 16, which is based on tvOS.

To get ready for the iOS 16 public beta, sign up for the free Apple Beta Software Program directly on an iPhone. The program lets you install a custom profile on your device that will enable you to install the beta over the air via Settings > Software Update when released. Public beta testers can provide feedback to Apple using the Feedback Assistant app.

While the iOS 16 beta has been relatively stable, it is still a beta, so you may encounter bugs, incompatible apps, reduced battery life, and other issues. Think carefully before deciding to install the public beta on an iPhone that you rely on for daily use.

iOS 16 is compatible with the iPhone 8 and newer. The software update, which should be released to all users in September, introduces a customizable Lock screen, the ability to edit or unsend iMessages, and many other new features.

Update: Apple has released the iOS 16 public beta.

Update July 12: Amazon has discounted the Apple TV even further for Prime members, dropping the 32GB model to $109.00 and the 64GB model to $129.00, savings of $70 off the regular retail price. Original article is below.

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Joining the early influx of deals on Apple products during Amazon Prime Day is now the Apple TV 4K, which has hit the best-ever price of $119.99, down from $179.00. This is the 32GB 2021 model with the new Siri Remote.

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.

Compared to previous sales, this is about $30 cheaper and overall it's the lowest price we've ever tracked on the 2021 Apple TV 4K. As with all Prime Day deals, this one won't last long, so be sure to head to Amazon soon if you're interested.

Additionally, the 64GB Apple TV 4K is on sale for $139.99, down from $199.00, which is another best-ever price. Both models are currently in stock, but that might not last long.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

The Information's Wayne Ma today published an in-depth report reflecting on Apple's struggles to build a self-driving electric vehicle, including technical challenges and several leadership changes since the project began around eight years ago.

Notably, the report reveals some interesting details about the physical appearance of the so-called "Apple Car." The latest design of the vehicle is said to feature four seats that face inward, allowing passengers to have face-to-face conversations with one another, along with a curved ceiling that resembles the roof on a Volkswagen Beetle.

The report claims that Apple's designers are also experimenting with a trunk compartment that rises for easy access, and then automatically lowers when not in use. Likewise, the designers are said to have discussed large seat-back screens that rise and lower.

Apple's former design chief Jony Ive has remained involved with the project as a consultant, according to the report. Ive, who left Apple in 2019 to start independent design firm LoveFrom, apparently advised the Apple Car team that they "should lean into the weirdness of the vehicle's design and not try to hide its sensors."

As previously reported, The Information says Apple is aiming to gain exemptions from the U.S.'s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to release a vehicle without a steering wheel and brake pedal. Interestingly, the report claims that Apple has even discussed allowing passengers to lie flat and sleep in the vehicle.

As the Apple Car slowly inches towards launching, Apple is now discussing how to disguise the latest prototype of the vehicle during testing in the public, according to the report. However, the vehicle is likely years away from release.

Amazon Prime Day doesn't officially kick off until tomorrow, July 12, but that hasn't stopped early deals from appearing today. For starters, we're tracking a new all-time low price on the Apple Watch Series 7.

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.

You can get the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 in all colors for $279.00, down from $399.00. At $120 off this is a new all-time low price, and now the lowest entry-level deal price we've ever seen on the Series 7.

If you're looking for the bigger model, there's another record low price on the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7, available for $314.00 in two colors, down from $429.00.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.