Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Ventura 13.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta launching two weeks after Apple seeded the first macOS Ventura 13.1 beta.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, the beta will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.
With macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple has debuted the Freeform app, which is aimed at creative collaboration. It can be used for brainstorming, planning out ideas, jotting down thoughts, sketching, and other creative purposes.
Users can insert drawings, sticky notes, shapes, text boxes, photos, videos, PDFs, links, and other documents, with Freeform serving as a blank canvas. Freeform "boards" can be shared with other people and discussed over FaceTime, with updates from all participants synced to everyone in real-time.
macOS Ventura 13.1 also introduces support for an updated Home app architecture that improves performance for smart home devices, with these features also available in iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2.
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the betas coming two weeks after Apple seeded the first betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2.
Registered developers are able to download the iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta is available over the air.
iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 include the Freeform app, which can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, brainstorming ideas, creating mood boards, and more. Multiple people can work on the same Freeform board, with changes synced for all participants in real time.
For the iPad, iPadOS 16.2 brings external display support to the Stage Manager multitasking feature, allowing up to eight apps to be used at once. External display support is available for the M1 and M2 iPad models.
Apple has added a new Home app architecture coming in iOS and iPadOS 16.2, which Apple says is designed to bring faster, more reliable performance, especially in homes with a lot of smart home accessories. The new architecture requires the HomePod 16.2 beta software, and it causes the Home app not to work with devices updated to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1.
Unintentional Emergency SOS calls can be reported to Apple in iOS 16.2, there's a new Sleep widget, live sports scores are back for the TV app, and more, with full details available in our iOS 16.2 feature guide. iOS 16.2 is expected to see a release in mid-December.
Apple appears to have instructed Chinese supplier Goertek to suspend assembly of the second-generation AirPods Pro due to production issues, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a series of tweets shared today, Kuo said that Chinese supplier Luxshare has expanded production of the second-generation AirPods Pro to fill the gap and is now the exclusive supplier of the wireless earbuds for the time being.
"Goertek's suspension of production is more likely due to production issues rather than demand issues," said Kuo, without elaborating on what the specific issues may have been. Kuo said it's unclear when Goertek will resume production of the AirPods Pro. It's also unclear if the issues affect any second-generation AirPods Pro already sold.
The new AirPods Pro were released in late September and are currently in stock on Apple's online store in the U.S. — it remains to be seen if the loss of one supplier will have any impact on availability heading into the holiday shopping season.
The new AirPods Pro feature up to twice as much active noise cancellation as the original, charging case improvements, and more.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week after the launch of the first watchOS 9.2 beta.
To install the new watchOS 9.2 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.2 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the iPhone it is paired with.
watchOS 9.2 introduces support for a new Home app architecture that has also been added to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura. No other features that are Apple Watch specific have been found as of yet.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one day after the second tvOS 16.2 beta.
Developers can download the tvOS 16.2 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS updates are often minor in scale, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes, but there are some noteworthy features in the tvOS 16.2 update. It adds support for the new Home app architecture, which is designed to make Home setups faster and more reliable.
tvOS 16.2 also adds a new Siri voice recognition feature, allowing the Apple TV to recognize each person in the household by voice, swapping over to the appropriate profile. This makes it easier to switch between Apple TV users, getting to the correct music, TV shows, recommendations, and more. Voice recognition supports up to six family members.
Apple's Beats by Dre brand today announced the upcoming launch of a new set of limited edition Powerbeats Pro earbuds that have been designed in collaboration with fashion designer Melody Ehsani.
Available in two split colorways that include pink/red and blue/yellow, the earbuds both have a little eye logo and a saying: "If you can read this you're too close."
The Powerbeats Pro are set to launch on Friday, November 11, and they will be available on Apple's website. Apple has not shared pricing, but standard Powerbeats Pro are priced at $250.
Powerbeats Pro are fitness-focused earbuds for athletes, featuring silicone ear tips and earhooks to hold the earbuds securely in the ears.
An H1 chip is included for features like spatial audio, fast device switching, automatic connection, and more, and they feature IPX4 sweat and water resistance.
The earbuds offer nine hours of listening time, which can be extended to 24 hours with the included charging case. There are on-device volume and track controls, along with "Hey Siri" support, a fast charge feature, and Find My integration.
Anker brand Eufy recently introduced a new SmartTrack Link item tracker with support for the Find My app, providing iPhone users with a cheaper alternative to the AirTag. The item tracker also works with the Eufy Security app, available on the App Store.
The SmartTrack Link can be added to the Items tab of the Find My app, allowing its location to be tracked in the app just like the AirTag. And if another iPhone user around the world comes close to your lost item with a SmartTrack Link affixed to it, the Find My network securely relays an approximate location of the item back to you.
The SmartTrack Link has many similarities to the AirTag, including a built-in speaker that can play a sound if lost, water resistance, and a CR2032 battery that lasts up to a year. The main advantage is cost, with an individual SmartTrack Link priced at $19.99 and currently on sale for $16 at checkout on Eufy's website with discount code WS24SM. By comparison, an individual AirTag costs $29 and a four pack costs $99.
Eufy's item tracker is also cheaper than the Chipolo ONE Spot, which was released last year for $28 and also supports the Find My app.
Other benefits of the SmartTrack Link vs. the AirTag include full compatibility with Android smartphones, a QR code on the back side that provides the owner's contact information, and a hole for attaching a keyring without an additional accessory.
You can get multiple all-time low prices on on Apple's 2022 M2 MacBook Air today on Amazon, starting at $1,049.00 for the 256GB model. This sale is only available in Space Gray, and it's a match of the lowest price we've ever seen on the new MacBook Air.
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.
Apple launched the redesigned MacBook Air this past July, and it comes with the new M2 chip, a 13.6-inch LCD display, MagSafe, and an entirely new design. For the 256GB model, Midnight, Silver, and Starlight colors are available at $1,099.00, which is a decent second-best option as well.
Additionally, you can get the 512GB M2 MacBook Air for $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in Silver and Starlight, and it's another record low price on the 2022 MacBook Air.
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 efforts to replace its former design chief Jony Ive have been hindered by increased turnover within the company's product design team over the past few years, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The report claims that Apple has lost the majority of senior designers who worked under Ive, with many of them jumping ship to his new design firm LoveFrom, which he started after leaving Apple in 2019.
At least 15 senior Apple designers have left the company since Ive moved to a part-time role in 2015, whereas turnover was rare between 2000 and 2015, according to the report. Only a "small handful" of senior designers from the Ive era are said to remain.
Last month, Apple confirmed that its vice president of industrial design Evans Hankey plans to leave the company next year, although the report claims that she currently has no plans to join LoveFrom. Hankey has served as Apple's de-facto design chief since Ive's departure, reporting to Apple's operations chief Jeff Williams.
Even before Ive left, the report claims that Apple's operations department had started to gain more influence over the design team, resulting in an increased "focus on costs" rather than "purely on look and features."
"The strength of the team was that we were a nucleus bound together by the incredible environment that there was and the things we could do in a fairly unconventional way for a large company," a longtime Apple designer told Bloomberg, on condition of anonymity. "It was a special team. It wasn't easy after Steve passed — things started to become a lot more complicated. There were more pressures and outside distractions."
The report goes on to examine potential successors to lead Apple's design team, ranging from veteran industrial designer Richard Howarth to software design chief Alan Dye to an outside hire. Apple said Hankey plans to stay on during the transition.
"Apple's design team brings together expert creatives from around the world and across many disciplines to imagine products that are undeniably Apple," an Apple spokesperson said last month, in response to Hankey's planned departure. "The senior design team has strong leaders with decades of experience. Evans plans to stay on as we work through the transition, and we'd like to thank her for her leadership and contributions."
Telegram Messenger this week released a new update for iPhone and iPad that adds video transcription, separate topics in large groups, and other new features to the popular chat platform.
The new voice-to-text transcription tool can be activated using a new "→A" button in the bottom-right corner of a video, and is designed to let users read video messages from friends when they don't have time to watch the video.
Like the existing voice message transcription, video messaging transcription is a feature exclusive to subscribers of Telegram Premium, which costs $4.99 a month and includes other perks like faster downloads, no ads, and a larger 4GB maximum file upload limit.
Meanwhile, for all users, Topics in Groups is a new feature that allows groups with over 200 members to create separate areas for more specific chats. Users can opt to get notifications from Topics and shared media settings that are independent of the wider group. Later this year, Telegram plans to introduce a different set of tools tailored to small groups.
Also new in this update are Collectible Usernames, a digital asset whose ownership is secured by the TON blockchain network. In addition to one basic username, Telegram users can now assign multiple Collectible Usernames, which work just like basic usernames except that they can be less than five characters long.
The Collectable Usernames are bought and sold through a new platform called the Fragment network which offers a "simple and secure way to acquire and exchange valuable Telegram domains."
Elsewhere, Telegram's Night Mode has been redesigned for the iOS app, making colors more balanced with better blurring effects as users scroll in chats and the chat list, and Telegram Premium users gain access to 12 new emoji packs that can be used in messages and captions or set as statuses.
Users will notice that this v9.1.0 update has a distinctly Halloween theme, but it was held up in Apple's App Store review process, according to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.
In a dedicated post, Durov says "Apple claims they review apps within 24 hours, but, in our experience, it takes at least 7-10 days for any meaningful product update to reach the App Store." Durov has previously criticized Apple for its "obscure" App Store review process and delays in approving Telegram updates.
There's almost a year to go until we get new iPhone 15 models in September 2023, but we've been hearing rumors for months now. It's looking like the iPhone 15 models could get more notable updates than we saw for the iPhone 14, including features many iPhone users have wanted for years.
We've rounded up some of the best features coming to the iPhone 15 that we've heard so far so MacRumors readers know what to look forward to.
USB-C Port
2023 is expected to mark the end of the Lightning port for the iPhone, with Apple transitioning to USB-C. That means you'll be able to charge your modern Mac, iPad, and iPhone all with the same connector.
Apple isn't exactly swapping to USB-C in order to make your life more convenient, it's making the change because the European Union is demanding it. iPhones sold in Europe need to have USB-C ports by 2024, so Apple either needs to make a worldwide design change or create special iPhones for Europe.
Apple has confirmed it will comply with local regulations, and rumors indicate that Apple will make the change in 2023.
Solid State Volume and Power Buttons
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple might add solid state volume and power buttons to the iPhone 15 rather than physical buttons, which would be similar to the trackpad on Macs and the iPhone 7's Home button. The haptic feedback would mimic the feel of a button press on the solid button, replacing the mechanical button press.
Using solid state buttons would likely protect against water ingress and could allow Apple to provide better water resistance. Using haptic feedback for buttons would require Apple to add new Taptic Engines.
Dynamic Island for All Models
Apple introduced the Dynamic Island for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, while the cheaper iPhone 14 models continue to use a notch. With the iPhone 15, the entire lineup is expected to get the Dynamic Island, so if you want access to the Dynamic Island but don't want to shell out for a Pro iPhone, wait for the iPhone 15.
Same Sizes
We haven't heard rumors about notable design changes for the iPhone 15 lineup as of yet, so it's looking like we're going to get the same sizes. The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro will measure in at 6.1 inches, and the iPhone 15 Plus and Pro Max will be 6.7 inches.
Periscope Lens Technology
We've been hearing about Apple's work on periscope lens technology for years now, and 2023 might be the year that it's introduced. Periscope lenses, which are already used by some Android smartphone manufacturers, have optical zoom capabilities that exceed the zoom range available with a standard telephoto lens.
With a periscope lens, Apple could offer 5x or even 10x optical zoom, up from 3x in the current iPhone 14 Pro models.
A Name Change?
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that Apple might replace the "Pro Max" version of the iPhone 15 with a new high-end "Ultra" model. That would be in line with the Apple Watch Ultra, and it could give Apple an excuse to limit certain features to the highest-end iPhone, like periscope lens technology.
The iPhone 15 Pro models might be the first to feature a 3-nanometer chip from Apple supplier TSMC. 3nm chip technology is expected to increase processing performance by 10 to 15 percent, while also reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent.
If Apple does use a 3nm A17 chip, it would be a notable improvement over the A16. Only the Pro models got the A16, which is built on a 4nm process, and the A17 is similarly expected to be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro. Standard iPhone 15 models may see an upgrade to the prior-generation A16.
More RAM
The iPhone 15 Pro models could get 8GB RAM, up from 6GB, perhaps to support new capabilities like periscope lens technology.
Read More
For more on the iPhone 15, make sure to bookmark and follow our iPhone 15 roundup, which is updated on a regular basis with all of the rumors that we hear.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 157 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web Inspector, CSS, Rendering, JavaScript, WebCodecs, Web API, Media, Web Animations, HTML, Accessibility, Security, Privacy, and Safari Web Extensions.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is built on the Safari 16 update and it includes support for macOS Ventura features like Live Text, Passkeys, Web Extension improvements, and more.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
All four iPhone 14 models support a new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature that will allow the devices to connect directly to a satellite, enabling users to send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Apple says the feature will launch in November, and while the company has yet to provide a more specific release date, we have outlined the most likely timing below.
In a support document, Apple says Emergency SOS via Satellite "will be available with an iOS 16 software update coming in November 2022." Given that iOS 16.1 was released in late October, and that iOS 16.2 is expected to be released in December, Emergency SOS via Satellite will likely be enabled with iOS 16.1.1, which is already in testing and should also address issues related to Wi-Fi connectivity and the SKAdNetwork framework.
There's a lesser chance that Emergency SOS via Satellite will be enabled with iOS 16.1.2, but there is no evidence of such an update yet and Apple would likely want to get Emergency SOS via Satellite launched before the week of U.S. Thanksgiving.
When it launches in the United States and Canada, Apple says Emergency SOS via Satellite will be free for the first two years, which suggests that Apple might be planning to charge for the service at some point in the future. Apple reportedly confirmed that the feature will be expanded to additional countries by the end of next year.
In "ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon," Apple says a text message might take 15 seconds to send via satellite, but notes it can take over a minute for a message to send "under trees with light or medium foliage." Read our in-depth guide to Emergency SOS via Satellite for additional information about the feature.
Nanoleaf today updated its Lines LED Light Bars to add a new configuration that allows the lights to be arranged at 90 degree angles using new square Mounting Connectors. The Lines Squared can be set up around door frames and corners, and new geometric shapes are possible.
The new 90 degree connectors can be paired with the existing 60 degree connectors, allowing for many new design options. For those unfamiliar with Nanoleaf lights, the Lines can be connected together to form wall art in any shape you desire. The LED lights are capable of displaying more than 16 million colors, with different color-shifting patterns also available.
The Lines are HomeKit-enabled and can be controlled with Siri and through the Home app, plus there is a dedicated Nanoleaf app where you can set up lighting scenes and sync the lights to music.
Like the original Lines lights, the Lines Squared serve as a Thread Border Router, allowing for improved connections and reliability for other Thread-compatible smart home devices.
Lines Squared can be pre-ordered from the Nanoleaf website for $100 for a four pack. Expansion packs with three Lines are also available for $70.
We're still a few weeks away from Black Friday, but of course that isn't stopping numerous retailers from holding early Black Friday sales ahead of the shopping holiday. Walmart is one of the first major ones to introduce such a sale this week, with the first leg of its "Deals For Days" event kicking off today.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Deals For Days Schedule
This event kicks off November 7 online at 12 p.m. ET for Walmart+ users only, and then at 7 p.m. ET for everyone else. It will end on November 13, after which the next part of the event will begin. You can sign up for Walmart+ and get a 30-day trial on the retailer's website.
After the first part of Deals For Days concludes, there will be two more weeks of the event. The second starts on November 14 (with the same online schedule as today's event), and the last starts the week of Black Friday on November 21. You can expect coverage of these events on our front page and in our dedicated Black Friday Roundup.
Deals For Days Sale
The first thing to note is that this sale isn't particularly focused on Apple products, and mainly includes discounts on TVs, notebooks, smart home products, and more. We've broken down the major categories of the sale into the lists below, including major discounts on TVs, laptops and tablets, audio accessories, home accessories, and streaming devices.
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 is working on an iOS 16 update with a fix for an issue related to its advertising framework SKAdNetwork, according to the company's system status page. Apple says the issue began on November 3, but it did not provide any additional details.
"There is an issue impacting SKAdNetwork for users on iOS 16.1," says Apple. "We are working to quickly resolve this issue in a software update."
SKAdNetwork enables advertisers to measure the success of ads by attributing app installations to specific ad campaigns — in other words, it allows advertisers to know how successful an ad is at getting users to download an app from the App Store. iOS 16.1 was released two weeks ago with SKAdNetwork 4.0, which provides more performance insights for advertisers, adds support for web ads, and includes other improvements.
Earlier today, we reported that Apple is preparing an iOS 16.1.1 update, which will hopefully address this bug and an issue with Wi-Fi randomly disconnecting on some iPhones. iOS 16.2 is also in beta testing and is expected to be released in December.
We've reached out to Apple for comment on the matter and will update this story if we receive any additional information.
Amazon is ramping up deals ahead of the holiday shopping season, and today we're tracking a few solid markdowns on AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch Series 8. This includes a rare discount on the AirPods Pro 2 and in the case of the Apple Watch, we're seeing all-time low prices on cellular models.
AirPods Pro 2
Amazon today has the AirPods Pro 2 for $234.00, down from $249.00. This is one of the first times we've seen a discount on the second-generation AirPods Pro since Prime Early Access in October.
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.
Compared to the Prime Early Access deal, today's sale is a second-best price on the AirPods Pro 2. They're in stock today with an estimated delivery window given between November 9 and 12.
Apple Watch Series 8
Additionally, Amazon has the cellular models of the Apple Watch Series 8 for all-time low prices this week. You can get the 41mm cellular Apple Watch Series 8 for $389.00, down from $499.00. This one is available in three colors: (PRODUCT)RED, Midnight, and Starlight aluminum, and each color has both S/M and M/L band sizes available at this price.
The 45mm cellular Apple Watch Series 8 is available for $489.99, down from $529.00. This one is on sale in the same three colors as the 41mm model, including Starlight, Midnight, and (PRODUCT)RED aluminum options.
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 is preparing an iOS 16.1.1 update for the iPhone to address bugs and issues experienced by users following the first major update to the iOS 16 operating system two weeks ago, including a persistent Wi-Fi bug that's been annoying iPhone customers.
MacRumors in the past week has seen signs of devices running iOS 16.1.1 in our website analytics, indicating the update is under testing within Apple and could see a launch in the near future. While it's unclear what the update will include, it's possible it could fix a widespread and persistent Wi-Fi bug that has impacted users. The bug causes a user's iPhone to randomly disconnect from Wi-Fi when left on standby, such as overnight or in other situations.
Alongside the fix for the Wi-Fi bug, Apple could address long-standing complaints from users since iOS 16's launch in September, including reports of battery drain, slow Spotlight search, and laggy animations on iPhone 14 Pro models when swiping out of apps. For new features, iOS 16.1.1 could include Emergency SOS via Satellite for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently said in his Power On newsletter that Apple is likely to release Emergency SOS via Satellite via a dot-update to iOS 16 in November, which could turn out to be iOS 16.1.1. MacRumors has seen no sign of any other iOS 16.1.X update in our analytics at the time of writing. Apple has not yet provided specific information on when Emergency SOS via Satellite will be available to users beyond saying in November.
Apple is currently publicly testing iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 with developers and members of the public beta program. iOS 16.2 is slated to be launched in mid-December.
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 Walmart. 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.
