MacRumors

This week on The MacRumors Show podcast we discuss Apple's long-awaited mixed-reality headset, as well as Emergency SOS via satellite and the unreleased "Magic Charger" accessory.

Following the release of the Emergency SOS via satellite feature for the iPhone 14 lineup earlier this week, we talk through demoing the feature and our expectations for where it will truly be useful in the future. We also look at Apple's ecosystem of MagSafe accessories after it emerged that the company abanoned plans to release a "Magic Charger" for the iPhone.

Last week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that work on realityOS, the operating system designed for Apple's mixed-reality headset, is "wrapping up internally" as the company's focus turns to apps on the new platform. Meanwhile, DigiTimes reports that Apple is targeting March 2023 to begin mass production of the headset – a time frame that fits in with other key reports. As signs of the headset's introduction in the first half of the next year appear to solidify, we discuss how the device's announcement and launch is likely to take place, as well as Apple's AR/VR roadmap for the future.

Listen to The MacRumors Show using apps like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or subscribe by copying our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. You can also watch a video version of the podcast on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

If you haven't already listened to the last episode of The MacRumors Show, be sure to catch up for a deep dive into the key features of macOS Ventura and expectations about upcoming Mac models with John Gruber.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Sam Kohl, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, Rene Ritchie, Andru Edwards, Jon Prosser, and Mark Gurman. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

We're just one week away from Black Friday, and today Target has decided to share a sneak peek of what shoppers can expect online and in stores next week. This includes the typical range of Black Friday sales, like TVs and streaming devices, as well as a few Apple products.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Target. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Target's Black Friday Schedule

Target's circular this week confirms that most deals will be valid from this Sunday, November 20 through Saturday, November 26 (there are some exceptions with a few deals already going live today). All Target stores will be closed on Thanksgiving day, and will open at varying local times on the morning of Black Friday.

• Sunday, November 20 - Online sales begin
• Thursday, November 24 - Stores closed, online sales continue
• Friday, November 25 - Specific opening hours vary by location
• Saturday, November 26 - Target's Black Friday sales end

Target Black Friday - Deals Start 11/20

Target is offering a wide variety of discounts this season, ranging from video game consoles to kitchen appliances, TVs, Apple products, and more. We've divided up some of the major discount categories in the sections below, and remember that you won't see many of these sale prices until Sunday, November 20.

TVs

• Samsung 43-inch UHD 4K Smart TV - $249.99, down from $289.99
• Samsung 50-inch UHD 4K Smart TV - $299.99, down from $349.99
• Samsung 55-inch 4K Crystal HDR UHD TV - $349.99, down from $499.99
• LG 55-inch 4K UHD Smart LED TV - $349.99, down from $429.99
• LG 65-inch 4K UHD Smart LED TV - $449.99, down from $579.99 ($25 Target Gift Card with purchase)
• Samsung 65-inch 4K Crystal HDR UHD Smart TV - $449.99, down from $649.99
• Vizio 65-inch QLED HDR Smart TV - $459.99, down from $719.99 ($25 Target Gift Card with purchase)
• Samsung 70-inch 4K Crystal HDR UHD Smart TV - $549.99, down from $749.99
• TCL 75-inch 4K UHD HDR Roku TV - $629.99, down from $1,299.99

Streaming Devices

• Amazon Fire TV Stick with 4K - $24.99 (Save $25)
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max - $34.99 (Save $20)
• Roku Express HD - $17.99 (Save $12)
• Google Chromecast - $19.99 (Save $10) and get $10 Target Gift Card when you buy 2
• Roku Ultra - $69.99 (Save $30)

Video Games

Video games are always a popular category for Black Friday sales, and this year is no different at Target. Nintendo's annual Switch and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle has returned in 2022, priced at $299.99 and including a three month Nintendo Online membership. Otherwise you'll find the usual collection of discounted games and accessories.

• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope - Get $10 Target Gift Card with purchase
• Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit - $59.99 (Save $40)
• Mario Party Superstars - $29.99 (Save $30)
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - $29.99 (Save $30)
• Sonic Frontiers - $39.99 (Save $20)
• Elden Ring - $39.99 (Save $30)
• Horizon: Forbidden West - $39.99 (Save $30)
• PlayStation DualSense - $49.99 (Save $20)
• Xbox Controllers - $44.99 (Save $20)
• Gaming gift cards - BOGO 15 percent off

Audio

• Beats Studio Buds - $99.99 (Save $50)
• Beats Solo3 Wireless Headphones - $99.99 (Save $100)
• Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones - $149.99 (Save $200)
• Powerbeats Pro - $149.99 (Save $100)
• Beats Fit Pro - $179.99 (Save $20)
• Sony Noise Canceling Earbuds - $179.99 (Save $100)
• Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro 2 - $199.99 (Save $30)

Smart Home

• Amazon Blink Mini Security Camera - $29.99 (Save $5) and BOGO Free
• Amazon Blink Wi-Fi Video Doorbell - $34.99 (Save $15)
• Amazon Echo Show 5 - $34.99 (Save $50)
• Amazon Echo Dot 3 - $14.99 (Save $25)
• Ring Video Doorbell - $59.99 (Save $40)
• Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen - $49.99 (Save $50)

Apple

In regards to Apple products, you can get up to $300 off an iPhone when you activate a new line, or up to $200 off when you upgrade an existing line. To go with the iPhone deals, Target is offering 25 percent off MagSafe cases and accessories. You can find the rest of the deals listed below.

• Apple Watch Series 7 - $349.99 (save up to $150)
• 9th Gen iPad - $279.99 (Save $50)
• iPad mini - $399.99 (Save $100)
• AirPods Pro 2 - $199.99 (Save $50)
• AirPods 2 - $89.99 (Save $40)
• Apple Gift Card - Spend $100, get $15 Target Gift Card

We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2022.

Users still want a "mini" form factor iPhone, but a complete redesign is the most-desired feature from the iPhone 15 lineup, according to a survey conducted by SellCell.

SellCell asked over 2,500 iPhone users in the United States to gather its data. The most popular Apple device to buy over the holiday period this year is the iPhone, with 37.4 percent of survey respondents planning to buy one for Christmas. AirPods take second place with 18.7 percent of respondents, followed by the Apple Watch with 16.3 percent. The HomePod mini is the least popular Apple device to buy for Christmas, with just 2.9 percent of respondents planning to purchase one. It is also worth noting that 40.6 percent of respondents had no plans to by an Apple device for the holidays.

When asked if they had plans to upgrade to an iPhone 14 model, 13.6 percent of respondents said they had already done so – but a further 29.7 percent still have plans to do so in the immediate future. Of the 56.7 percent who have no plans to upgrade, 45.3 percent said they plan to hold onto their current device for longer, and 5.1 percent said that they are waiting for the launch of the iPhone 15 lineup next year. 2.4 percent of respondents are apparently waiting for the launch of the fourth-generation iPhone SE. 59.4 percent of respondents who plan to buy an iPhone 14 model say they are happy to wait five weeks to get hold of a new device.

When asked specifically if they liked the iPhone 14 Plus, 20.4 percent of respondents said that they already had one or planned to buy one soon. 22.5 percent said that it is too expensive, 12.1 percent said it is too big, 7.8 percent said that it had a poor mix of features compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, 6.6 percent said that the price is too near that of the iPhone 14 Pro, and 6.6 percent said that they would have preferred a smaller, "iPhone mini" form factor device.

Looking to the iPhone 15 models, aesthetics were at the forefront of the survey responses when asked what they most want from next year's new iPhone lineup. 35.2 percent of respondents said that they are most eager to see a design overhaul for the device, while 30.3 percent most want to see new color options.

28.8 percent want to see the return of accessories like EarPods and a power adapter, 23.9 want the iPhone 15 to have a periscope zoom camera, 23.6 percent would like to see the return of Touch ID, 20.3 percent want the iPhone to switch to USB-C, and 11.7 percent want the Dynamic Island to expand across the entire range of iPhone 15 models. 8.5 percent want to see the "mini" form factor make a return in the iPhone 15 lineup, which makes sense given that 6.6 percent of people who will not buy the iPhone 14 Plus refuse to because they prefer smaller devices.

Hundreds of Twitter employees today resigned from the company rather than opting in to be part of "Twitter 2.0" under Elon Musk, according to The Verge. Musk earlier this week told workers that Twitter will be "extremely hardcore" going forward, with employees expected to put in long hours at high intensity. "Only exceptional performance will constitute a passing grade," he said.

Musk on Wednesday sent out a Google form and asked employees to respond "Yes" by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday if they wanted to stay at the company. Hundreds decided not to, and have said their goodbyes in Slack and on Twitter. Departing employees will receive a severance package.

When he took over Twitter, Musk laid off approximately half of the 7,500 employees that were at the company at the time, and since then, he has continued firing employees who have been critical of him, including longtime engineers.

Twitter employees that spoke to The Verge said that given the number of people that have left, Twitter could "start breaking soon" and that it will be "extremely hard for Twitter to recover."

With the exodus of employees, Twitter temporarily closed all office buildings and suspended badge access. According to Zoë Schiffer, Musk and his team are "terrified employees are going to sabotage the company."

In the final hours ahead of the deadline, Musk reportedly attempted to convince employees to stay. Bloomberg says that key staff were brought into meetings and Musk also walked back his in-office work demands. He had said that all employees needed to work from the office 40 hours a week, but today he said that working from home was allowed with monthly in-person meetings and managerial approval.

At the current time, Musk's first initiative is on pause as Twitter makes changes. Last week, Twitter introduced a more expensive $8 version of Twitter Blue that included a verification badge, and it turned out that debuting widespread verification led to account impersonation that impacted numerous companies.

GRID Studio is known for creating unique wall art showcasing the history of iconic devices, ranging from the original iPhone to the original Game Boy. Each device is disassembled and the components are artistically displayed and labeled in a frame.

The company recently sent me their iPod touch frame for review. The original iPod touch was the first Apple product that I ever owned, and led me down the path of becoming an Apple reporter, so the device is very meaningful to me. However, note that the frame contains the second-generation iPod touch, released in September 2008.

Priced at $139 in the United States, the iPod touch frame is one of GRID Studio's more affordable options and would make a great gift for an Apple fan this holiday season, especially after the final iPod touch was discontinued earlier this year. It also offers frames for several iPhones, the iPad mini, the iPod classic, and the Apple Watch.

The frame is nicely packaged in thick black paper with a ribbon and a wax seal. Inside, my frame was in good condition with the exception of two small scuffs on the rear side of the black border near the clips that keep the backboard secured. While unideal, this damage is very minor and is out of sight when the frame is hanging on the wall.

The front plastic cover is covered in protective film that needs to be removed. I immediately started tearing off the plastic film, but this resulted in pieces getting stuck under the black border, at which point I realized that it would have been a better idea to take off the back cover and remove the plastic film in one piece, so keep that in mind.

Components in the frame include the iPod touch's front panel with a printed screenshot, Home button, 3.5-inch multi-touch display, logic board, rear shell with a headphone jack and 30-pin dock connector, various flex cables and buttons, and more. The frame also includes the original iPod touch's wordmark and September 5, 2007 introduction date, along with a quote from Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

There are some scratches and a tiny dent on the rear shell of the iPod touch, as the device is used, but this isn't an issue to me and the frame would be much more expensive if it contained a brand new device. I do wish it were the original iPod touch, but the second-generation model is still old enough to capture the nostalgia of the device.

There are two small hooks on the back of the frame for hanging the artwork on a wall, and an additional pair of hooks in the box.

All in all, the frame is high quality and is a very cool piece of wall art. Beyond two tiny scuffs on the back of the frame, which may have arisen during shipping, I have no complaints. There is certainly cheaper wall art out there, but GRID Studio frames are worth considering if you are a devoted Apple fan or know someone who is.

GRID Studio's frames can be purchased on its website, with many options still available for delivery before December 25.

Note: GRID Studio provided MacRumors with a framed ‌iPod touch for the purpose of this review, but no other compensation was received. This is not a paid advertisement.

Apple with iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 is introducing the Freeform app, which is designed for brainstorming ideas, creating sketches, and collaborating with others on projects. Freeform is basically a blank canvas that you can use for anything.

In this guide, we've highlighted the various tools that you can use with the Freeform app on the iPhone and the iPad.

Shapes

There are hundreds of pre-designed "clip art" shapes that are available in Freeform, across the following categories: Basic, Geometry, Objects, Animals, Food, Nature, Symbols, Education, Arts, Science, People, Places, Activities, Transportation, Work, and Ornaments.

You can stack multiple shapes on top of one another with layering, change the color, draw over them, resize them with drag and drop gestures, break the component pieces apart and manipulate the design, add various borders, group them together, adjust opacity, and more. There are a huge number of tools for working with shapes for your projects.

Images, Scans, and Documents

The Freeform app supports all kinds of documents. You can add photos and videos directly from your Camera Roll in the Photos app, or take a photo with your iPhone or your ‌iPad‌.

‌Photos‌ and videos that you add to your project can be resized with drag and drop gestures, cropped, viewed in full, and layered with other images and shapes.

You can scan documents using the iPhone or ‌iPad‌'s camera in either color or black and white, add various documents from iCloud Drive, or add any link from Safari. Links and files are shown in little card-like tiles and can also be rearranged on the canvas with drag and drop gestures and layered over shapes, images, and other files for a visual look at your documents you've added.

Stickies

With the Freeform app you can add digital post-it notes, or Stickies as Apple calls them. The Stickies are basically the same as the Stickies app that is available for Mac. You can change the color of Stickies, choosing from one of seven, and add text.

On an ‌iPad‌, you can use an Apple Pencil to write directly on one of the Stickies, but if you use typed text, you also have various formatting options available like bold, bullet lists, different font sizes, and more.

Text Insertion

Using the text box, any typed text can be inserted anywhere on the Freeform canvas. Text can be as long or as short as you want, and all of the standard formatting options are available for changing font, color, size, and alignment, as well as adding styles like bolding and underlining.

Drawing Tools

Freeform has the same set of drawing tools that you might be familiar with from Markup. You can draw with a finger on the iPhone, or on the ‌iPad‌, with an ‌Apple Pencil‌. There are pens, markers, and crayons to choose from, all with adjustable opacity, color, and line thickness.

You can also access an eraser, a select tool for targeted selections of items on your canvas, and a lasso fill tool that fills lines that you draw.

Colors

Freeform has support for a huge range of colors. You can pick a simple color from a grid, choose a color from a spectrum interface, use sliders, or manually type in color hex codes for a specific shade. Favorite colors can be saved to the bottom of the interface, and opacity can be adjusted for any color as well.

An eyedropper tool is available to match any color that's already on the canvas.

Object Movement

Any object in a Freeform document can be quickly rearranged and resized with drag and drop gestures. Tapping provides an interface where you can send an object to the "Back" or the "Front" for layering purposes, but there are no true layers to work with.

Objects can be locked in place, duplicated, and constrained or unconstrained in proportion, useful if you want to change one dimension and not another.

File Management

Freeform boards can be saved as a PDF document or printed out, and they can also be saved to apps like Files and Dropbox. You can also email, text, and otherwise share links to boards with others.

Multiple Boards

You can have multiple Freeform boards, which can be viewed as icons or a list, and sorted in various ways such as by name or date. Groups are available to organize a large number of boards, and there are also separate sections for Recents, Shared, and Favorites.

Collaboration

Freeform has been designed as a collaboration tool, and you can share Freeform boards with other iPhone and ‌iPad‌ users. All Freeform board participants can work on the same board, adding images, texts, links, and more for group brainstorming sessions.

Changes made to Freeform boards are synced for all users in real time, though it is worth noting that collaboration has not yet been fully fleshed out during the beta testing process.

Availability and Device Compatibility

Apple's Freeform app is available on the iPhone, ‌iPad‌, and Mac. It requires iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1 to work, and it is a standalone app that will not be available on devices not able to run these updates.

Google is bringing a new augmented reality Live View feature to its Maps app, allowing smartphone users to visually search for restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses that are located nearby.

Using Live View, you can open up Maps and tap the camera icon in the search bar to see what's around you, from shops and banks to ATMs and bars. Google Maps will provide AR-powered directions and arrows, giving you an idea of how far a location is from you and how you can get there. In addition, you can also see key information about each place overlaid right on the screen, such as whether it's open, what the price range is, and how it's rated.

Google says that users can tap on place categories to see what restaurants, bars, dessert shops, parks, and transit stations are within walking distance.

Google previewed search with Live View back in September, but now the feature is ready to launch. It will be rolling out in London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, San Francisco, and Tokyo starting next week.

Google is also rolling out new features that will make it easier for electric vehicle owners to find the best charging station for their vehicles with a "fast charge" filter, plus Google is expanding information about wheelchair accessible, stair-free places around the world.

The price on Apple's 11-inch M2 iPad Pro (128GB Wi-Fi) has continued to slip throughout the month, and it's now down to a new all-time low price of $729.00 on Amazon, from $799.00. This time it's only available in Silver at this price, and besides Amazon you can find the sale at B&H Photo.

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 version of the M2 iPad Pro remains one of the only models that we've seen get a notable discount. These tablets were just updated last month and come with the M2 chip, Apple Pencil's hover feature, Wi-Fi 6E, and more features.

We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2022.

Apple's next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a USB-C port with support for at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, which would give the devices a significant speed advantage over existing models.

Thunderbolt 3 theoretically offers bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps, while the Lightning connector has USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps on all existing iPhones. Even with real-world performance limitations, an iPhone 15 Pro with a Thunderbolt-enabled USB-C port would offer significantly faster data transfer speeds with a Thunderbolt cable, making it much quicker to get large files on and off of the iPhone, such as 48-megapixel ProRAW photos.

Even if the iPhone 15 Pro models only get USB 3.2 support, that would mean theoretical transfer speeds of between 5 Gbps and 20 Gbps depending on the exact specification, which would still be significantly faster than Lightning.

Most iPads with USB-C ports already offer faster transfer speeds. iPad Pro models with the M1 chip and newer support Thunderbolt 3 for bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps, the fifth-generation iPad Air is capable of 10 Gbps, and the fourth-generation iPad Air and latest iPad mini are capable of up to 5 Gbps. The sole exception is the new 10th-generation standard iPad with a USB-C port, which remains limited to USB 2.0 speeds.

Like the 10th-generation iPad, Kuo said the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds, despite switching to a USB-C port. AirDrop would remain an option for faster wireless data transfers on these devices.

Popular password management service 1Password today confirmed that it will begin supporting passkeys in early 2023, allowing users to sign in to supported websites and apps without a password. Instead, biometric authentication on trusted devices is used to confirm your identity, and removing passwords from the equation means they can not be compromised or phished.

Apple rolled out support for passkeys in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, tvOS 16, and macOS Ventura, using iCloud Keychain to sync across devices for ease of use and redundancy. Apple has been working with members of the FIDO Alliance, including Google and Microsoft, to ensure interoperability of passkeys, and Apple's implementation of passkeys will be able to work with non-Apple devices by using your iPhone to scan a QR code and authenticate.

1Password contends that its implementation of passkeys is superior to single-ecosystem ones like Apple's, as 1Password's passkeys can work anywhere 1Password does rather than having to rely on workarounds like QR-code scanning.

For 1Password users interested in seeing how passkeys work, the company has set up a demo on its website that requires a 1Password account and the latest version of the 1Password extension for Chrome or Edge. Support for Safari and Firefox has yet to be rolled out. 1Password also maintains a directory of websites and apps that have already started supporting passkeys, including Google, Microsoft, Twitter, eBay, Best Buy, GitHub, and more.

1Password says full support for passkeys will be coming to its browser extensions and desktop apps in early 2023, with mobile support to follow later.

Alongside its Black Friday promotion announcement, Apple today also released its holiday shipping guide in the United States and other countries that outlines deadlines for customers looking to order gifts for arrival by December 24.

As we noted yesterday, shipping estimates for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have already slipped past Christmas in the U.S. after Apple issued a shipment warning about those models. Production of iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max has been hampered due to to COVID-19 restrictions at the Foxconn factory where the devices are primarily assembled.

All of Apple's other main products remain available for Christmas delivery at this time, with the earliest other deadlines in the U.S. being November 30 for iPad mini and third-generation AirPods.

Customers looking to order AirTags will need to do so by December 9 if they wish to have them engraved or December 14 without engraving, while most other products are expected to be readily available with orders through December 21 arriving in time for Christmas. Customers in areas with Apple Stores may even be able to order for in-store pickup or two-hour delivery as late as Christmas Eve.

Apple may update the deadlines on this page in the coming weeks as it assesses product availability, so it pays to keep an eye on it and ensure you order in plenty of time to receive your items in time for the holidays.

Apple's extended return policy is also now in effect, allowing items purchased in most countries between November 4 and December 25 to be returned through January 8, 2023. Select countries have a longer window with items purchased between November 4 and January 6 able to be returned through January 20, 2023.

Amazon has Apple's AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case for $139.99 today, down from $169.00. This is an all-time low price on this model of the AirPods 3, and as of writing only Amazon is offering the deal.

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.

Shipping for the AirPods 3 is delayed by a few weeks right now, with delivery windows around mid-December. You can still lock in this all-time low price today and guarantee Christmas delivery, with the likelihood that Amazon will ship out sooner once more stock arrives.

Readers should note that the model of the AirPods 3 on sale comes with the wired Lightning Charging Case, which was introduced this past September. As of now, we're not tracking any sales on the AirPods 3 with MagSafe Charging Case.

There are numerous early Black Friday sales happening this week, including $20 off the HomePod mini from Verizon. Otherwise, you can find the Best Early Black Friday Deals on Apple TV 4K, AirPods, iPad, and more in our dedicated article.

We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2022.

Update: this deal has now expired.

Apple today released a new "Share the Joy" holiday ad highlighting the ability to share audio with AirPods Pro. The ad revolves around two people listening to the song "PUFF" by Bhavi and Bizarrap as they run around a city wearing AirPods Pro.

Throughout the 90-second video, various objects and eventually the couple themselves vanish into a cloud of snow, as part of the holiday theme. Should this be Apple's annual holiday ad, it represents a change of pace from more heartfelt editions in the past and is instead more upbeat with hip-hop music and fast transitions.

"Share the joy of the holidays with Audio Sharing on AirPods Pro," says Apple, in the video description. Audio sharing is compatible with all AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max models, as well as select Beats headphones. To share audio, connect AirPods to an iPhone or iPad, tap the AirPlay icon in Control Center, and tap on Share Audio.

As the holiday shopping season gets underway, Apple has announced its annual Black Friday through Cyber Monday shopping event, offering customers a free Apple gift card with the purchase of select products. Apple's extended holiday return policy is also in effect, with most items purchased since November 4 eligible for return until early January.

The latest beta of iOS 16.2, released to developers and public beta testers earlier this week, has addressed long-standing issues faced by iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro customers that cause system animations to lag and stutter when closing and switching between apps, unlocking the phone, and across other instances on iOS 16.

Seemingly originating from the initial release of iOS 16, some iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro users have experienced animations stuttering on iOS and not running at 120Hz. None of the subsequent iOS 16 updates have yet addressed the issue, including iOS 16.1 released last month. But, the latest beta of iOS 16.2 has improved the performance of animations and the stuttering, according to user reports on the MacRumors Forums and Reddit.

The issue seems to impact iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models the most as they have ProMotion displays, allowing them to run up to 120Hz. However, some users of other iPhone models have also reported similar experiences, so it appears to impact several different iPhone models.

Apple is expected to release iOS 16.2 to the general public in mid-December with several new features, including new customization options for the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display, new Lock Screen widgets, and more. Check out our recent coverage of at least eight new features coming to the iPhone with iOS 16.2 later next month.

Verizon today introduced one of the first big Black Friday discounts of the season, offering a rare low price on Apple's HomePod mini. You can get the smart speaker for $79.99 in all colors, down from $99.99, and you don't need to be a Verizon customer to get this deal.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Although we have seen the HomePod mini drop to lower prices in the past, any discounts on the accessory have been supremely rare in the last year; in 2022 alone, we only tracked prices below $89.99 once or twice. This makes Verizon's offer quite valuable for anyone who's been waiting for any sale on the HomePod mini this holiday season.

We're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2022.

Apple today announced it will hold a special "Apple Shopping Event" between Black Friday on November 25 and Cyber Monday on November 28 where customers will be eligible to get a gift card when they purchase select products.

The eligible products are as follows:

• iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone SE: Up to a $50 gift card
• Second-generation AirPods Pro, second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods with Lightning Charging Case, AirPods Max: Up to a $75 gift card
• Apple Watch SE: Up to a $50 gift card
• Entry-level iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air: Up to a $50 gift card
• MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac: Up to a $250 gift card
• Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, second-generation Apple Pencil, MagSafe Duo Charger: Up to a $50 gift card
• Studio3 Wireless, Solo3 Wireless, Powerbeats Pro, Beats Fit Pro, Beats Studio Buds, Beats Flex: Up to a $50 gift card

Customers trading in their current device for a new product may still be eligible for a gift card. The event will run for four days and will be available through Apple's online store in the United States, the United Kingdom, and select other countries.

The HomePod mini was released to customers two years ago this week, marking the first addition to the HomePod family since the original speaker launched in 2018. Two years after its release, the ‌HomePod‌ lineup has remained relatively stagnant, but that's set to change in 2023.

When Apple announced the ‌HomePod mini‌ in October 2020, the original full-sized ‌HomePod‌ remained in the lineup. In March 2021, however, Apple discontinued the full-sized HomePod, saying it wanted to dedicate more time to the ‌HomePod mini‌. The ‌HomePod mini‌ addressed several of the biggest concerns from customers about the original ‌HomePod‌, including size and price. Unlike the original ‌HomePod‌, the ‌HomePod mini‌ costs $99 and comes in a wider variety of color options.

Now, as the ‌HomePod mini‌ turns two, we look to the future and what Apple has in store.

Resurrection of Full-Sized HomePod

The biggest ‌HomePod‌ news we're expecting in the near future is a resurrection of the original full-sized ‌HomePod‌. When Apple discontinued the original ‌HomePod‌, many speculated the reason for the decision came down to the ‌HomePod‌'s $299 price tag and its lack of features, which led to lackluster sales.

For 2023, Apple is expected to launch an updated version of the full-sized ‌HomePod‌ it discontinued to fill the current gap in the ‌HomePod‌ lineup. The newer ‌HomePod‌ is rumored to feature the S8 chip from the Apple Watch Series 8, providing faster performance for Siri requests and different features.

Other features could include a larger multi-touch display at the top, but the overall form factor and design are expected to stay the same. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the new ‌HomePod‌ to launch in the first quarter of next year.

An Updated HomePod mini

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple could update the ‌HomePod mini‌ in the near future, but specific details are unknown. The current ‌HomePod mini‌ is powered by the S5 chip, the same chip found in the Apple Watch Series 5 and the first-generation Apple Watch SE. In a hypothetical update, Apple could include a newer and faster chip, allowing for faster processing of ‌Siri‌ requests and features like Handoff.

Apple TV and HomePod Combo

A ‌HomePod‌ product that's still under early development is an Apple TV and ‌HomePod‌ combo, according to Bloomberg's ‌Mark Gurman‌. Gurman reports that Apple is developing a ‌HomePod‌ speaker that includes the functionality of the ‌Apple TV‌, offering an all-in-one TV entertainment system with a display. The product is also reported to have a camera, possibly allowing for FaceTime and video calls. No other details are known at this time as the product launch is likely a while away, assuming it launches at all.

What would you like to see in a future ‌HomePod‌ product? Let us know in the comments below.

Microsoft is offering members of its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate program a three-month free trial of Apple TV+ and Apple Music before the holiday season.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate typically costs $14.99 and comes with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks, which offers subscribers discounts, and special offers for a wide range of services, apps, and games. In its latest bonus, Microsoft, in partnership with Apple, is giving Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers three months free of ‌Apple TV‌+ and ‌Apple Music‌. The promotion is valid until March 31, 2023. More information on the promotion can be found on Xbox's website.