Apple today seeded the fourth 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 new beta comes a week after the third beta, and it corresponds to the sixth developer beta that was released yesterday.
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 9 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.
This month marks three years since the Apple Card launched in the United States. Apple's credit card first rolled out to a limited number of customers on August 6, 2019 before expanding to all eligible U.S. residents two weeks later.
Unfortunately for iPhone users living in other countries, however, the Apple Card has still yet to launch outside of the United States.
One country where the Apple Card would especially make sense is Canada, where the iPhone has over 50% market share and 76.2 million Visa and Mastercard cards were in circulation as of January 2021, according to the Canadian Bankers Association. Apple Card's standard 2% cashback on purchases made via Apple Pay and 3% cashback at participating merchants would be competitive with other Canadian credit cards, but it's likely that the Apple Card's rewards would vary on a country-by-country basis.
Launched in partnership with investment bank Goldman Sachs and Mastercard, the Apple Card can be managed completely through the Wallet app on an iPhone or Apple Watch, with key features including color-coded spending summaries, cashback paid out on a daily basis, an interest-free financing option for purchasing new Apple products, and no fees of any kind beyond interest charges on overdue balances. There is also a physical Apple Card available for use at stores that do not accept contactless payments.
The new colors will also be available at select Apple Store locations starting Wednesday, including The Grove, Tower Theatre, and Third Street Promenade in the Los Angeles area, Fifth Avenue and SoHo in New York City, Aventura in Miami, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Regent Street in London, Champs-Élysées in Paris, and Kurfürstendamm in Berlin.
There are no changes to the "Kim K" edition Beats Fit Pro beyond the new color options, and they remain priced at $199.99 in the United States. The standard color options remain available, including Beats Black, Beats White, Stone Purple, and Sage Gray.
The new color options appear to be inspired by Kardashian's shapewear brand SKIMS.
"I wanted to break away from the idea that headphones have to be colorful to make a statement," said Kardashian. "This collaboration is special because it allows you to blend in or stand out, and Beats is known for creating products that showcase individuality."
Launched in November 2021, the Beats Fit Pro are ideal for athletes, with flexible wingtips providing a more secure fit in the ear. The wireless earbuds have similar features as AirPods Pro, including silicone ear tips, active noise cancellation with "Transparency" mode, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, an H1 chip for one-tap pairing and automatic switching between Apple devices, and hands-free "Hey Siri" support.
Update: The new Beats Fit Pro colors are listed as "Sold Out" on Apple's online store as of Tuesday afternoon. Amazon still has stock at the time of writing.
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It's crazy to think about, but next month will mark five years since Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 3. Despite being a severely antiquated smartwatch, the Series 3 has remained at the bottom of Apple's lineup for $199.
Suppose you're still holding on to your Apple Watch Series 3. In that case, this article will list all the major new features and changes you'll get if you decide to upgrade to the newer Apple Watch Series 8 next month or even the current latest-generation Apple Watch Series 7.
We've broken up the changes into categories: hardware, health and fitness, performance, battery life and power, software updates, and features.
Hardware
A completely redesigned display: The Apple Watch Series 3 features an outdated, squared-off display with considerable borders. The upcoming Series 8 is not expected to gain a redesign compared to the Series 7. Either way, Series 3 customers will enjoy a 50% larger display with rounded corners and massively smaller bezels.
More durable and stylish case options: The Series 3 is currently only offered in the aluminum case options, which have an Ion-X front glass. Newer flagship Apple Watches come in aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium. Stainless steel and titanium models are protected with sapphire front crystals, which is more durable than Ion-X glass.
Larger options to choose from: The Series 3 comes in only 38mm and 42mm case options, with much of the space being taken up by larger bezels around the display. The Series 8 is rumored to come in larger case options than the Series 7, which is already offered in 41mm and 45mm sizes. Either way, Series 3 customers will benefit from a larger watch with a larger display.
New Digital Crown with haptic feedback: The Series 3, like all Apple Watch models, features a Digital Crown which serves as a primary way of interacting with the device. Newer Apple Watch models, however, have an updated Digital Crown that features haptic feedback. Haptic feedback with the Digital Crown offers subtle vibrations as users scroll a list and make nimble adjustments.
Redesigned speaker layout with louder speakers: The Series 3 has very small speakers on the right side that are stacked on top of each other. Since the Series 7, Apple has redesigned the speaker system to run almost across the entirety of the right side, making the speaker both physically larger and, as a result, up to 50% louder.
An always-on display that's now brighter: A massively larger display is not the only benefit Series 3 customers have to look forward to when upgrading to a newer model. Since the Series 5, Apple Watches have featured an always-on display, which always displays information such as the time and complications, even when a wearer's wrist is down. On newer models, the always-on display is now 70% brighter outdoors.
Health and Fitness Features
How much oxygen is in my blood?: If you've ever wanted to know without taking a trip down to your local clinic, newer Apple Watch models are for you. With the Series 6 in 2020, Apple introduced a blood oxygen sensor into the watch, which reads the amount of oxygen in a wearer's blood by having them stay still for 15 seconds.
Ouch. You've taken a nasty fall: In the unfortunate event you take an unexpected and hard fall to the ground, newer Apple Watch models will be able to notify local authorities and your close friend and family unless you tell the watch you're fine and do not require any assistance. Fall Detection is only available for users 18 years old and above.
Improved heart rate sensor: Newer Apple Watch models have a new and improved heart rate sensor and an electrical heart sensor. Compared to the optical heart sensor in Series 3, newer models, such as the Series 7 and Series 8, can provide more accurate heart rate readings to a wearer.
Hey Siri, do I have a fever?: It may seem like a sci-fi scenario, but it could be a reality. Rumors suggest that the upcoming Series 8 will feature a body temperature sensor, able to measure the temperature of a wearer's body. It's unclear if the watch will provide users a direct temperature reading, like normal thermometers. Still, it may offer insight into whether it believes the wearer could potentially have a fever and if they may need to seek medical attention.
Take an ECG on your wrist: Taking an ECG (electrocardiogram) usually requires a trip to a hospital, paperwork, and a plethora of sensors. Thanks to the Series 4 and newer, users can take an ECG using just their Apple Watch on their wrist by placing their finger on the Digital Crown. The results can be found within the Health app on the paired iPhone and can then be shared with your doctor.
Performance and Battery Life
New processor and faster performance: The dual-core S3 SiP (system in package) of the Series 3 has reached its limit with performance, as customers often complain of laggy performance and jittery animations. The dual-core processor in the Series 7, and expected for Series 8, offers more than double the performance in day-to-day use.
Faster and more reliable Bluetooth connections: The Series 3 is so old it even relies on outdated Bluetooth technology. The Series 3 uses Bluetooth 4.2, while newer Apple Watch models and iPhones use Bluetooth 5.0. The newer Bluetooth standard is more reliable and supports a higher bandwidth for wireless transmission.
U1 chip: The Series 3 does not feature the U1 Ultra Wideband chip, which helps enable close proximity features to the iPhone and other products. The Series 6 was the first Apple Watch to feature the chip.
The same all-day battery life, now with fast charging: On its website, Apple promises the same 18-hour all-day battery life for the Series 3 compared to the latest Series 7, and we presume the Series 8. In practice, however, due to more advanced software and outdated hardware, Series 3 customers may be looking for better battery life. On newer Apple Watch models, Apple supports fast charging, so you can recharge your watch faster even if it doesn't last as long as you'd like.
Software Updates
It's the end of the road for Series 3: With watchOS 9 later this fall, the Series 3 will no longer be supported by the latest watchOS version, which means it will not receive new features and capabilities. Series 3 will still continue to receive security updates, however, for some time to come.
Some additional, smaller features Series 3 customers will enjoy if they upgrade:
Higher 32GB of storage compared to the 8GB in the Series 3
An always-on altimeter, useful for hikers and athletes
Amazon and B&H Photo are offering all-time low prices on Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro lineup today, with discounts available on both the 14-inch and 16-inch models.
14-inch MacBook Pro
Starting with the 14-inch MacBook Pro (10-Core M1 Pro/1TB), this model has dropped to $2,199.00, down from $2,499.00. This is a record low price on this version of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and it's available in Silver and Space Gray on Amazon. B&H Photo is matching in Space Gray.
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.
We haven't seen record low prices on the lower-end 512GB model of the 14-inch MacBook Pro in a few weeks, so as of now the only 14-inch model on sale remains the 1TB model.
16-inch MacBook Pro
For the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we're tracking an all-time low price on the 10-Core M1 Pro/512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro, priced at $2,199.00, down from $2,499.00. This one is available in both colors on Amazon, and B&H Photo is matching in both colors as well.
On the higher end, the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,399.00, down from $2,699.00. At $300 off, this is another record low price on the 2021 MacBook Pro. B&H Photo is again matching in both colors.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Twelve South today announced the launch of the Curve Flex, a new stand that's designed for Apple's MacBooks. The Curve Flex can be used as a desktop wedge or it can be adjusted to meet your viewing needs, as it can be elevated from 2 to 22 inches.
Designed to be versatile, the Curve Flex can be collapsed down so it can be used at home or on the go, with Twelve South including a travel sleeve.
The Curve Flex comes in matte black or matte white, and is ideal for increasing the height of your laptop for video calls or to match the height of an external display. It also adjusts the angle of the keyboard up to 45 degrees.
Das Keyboard today launched the MacTigr, a mechanical keyboard that's designed specifically for Mac users. The full-sized keyboard is made from a high-quality black metal that has a clean, modern look, and it features Cherry MX Low Profile linear switches.
Design wise, the MacTigr is slim, more so than the average mechanical keyboard. It measures in at just over an inch tall (27mm), so it is classed as low profile for those who prefer that feel, though it is not the slimmest mechanical keyboard on the market.
For Mac users who are coming from a Magic Keyboard or the built-in keyboard of a Mac, even the 27mm height is a significant adjustment from what you might be used to if you're not familiar with mechanical keyboards. With a taller keyboard, your wrists need to be held in a different position, and it's definitely the kind of keyboard that benefits from a wrist rest.
As someone used to the key travel of a MacBook Pro, it took me a few hours to adjust to the MacTigr in my limited time testing it out. Comparatively, the keys have a somewhat mushy feel rather than a clicky feel, with 3.2mm of total travel (1.2mm pre-travel). Mechanical keyboards are designed to have high travel, and the key feel here will likely be satisfying to those who prefer full travel and more cushion when typing.
The MacTigr has a short bounce time so combined with the 3.2mm travel, I can type as fast as I can on any Mac keyboard. The keys will take a light touch, and as far as noise, this is a mechanical keyboard that's on the quieter side. There's definitely still a noticeable typing sound and this is far from a silent keyboard, but it's unlikely to annoy someone sitting nearby. Das Keyboard says it's meant to mimic "typing on a cloud," which is an apt description for the key feel.
As with any mechanical keyboard, keycaps can be swapped, but by default it's using low-profile PBT keycaps. There are 105 total keys, including a full row of function keys, a number pad, arrows, and more, so it's ideal for those who are looking for a full keyboard.
There's a dedicated sleep key that I appreciated, along with media control buttons, dedicated keys for adjusting screen brightness, and a useful volume adjustment knob. The volume knob is a particularly nice touch because it has a soft feel to it, and it's in an easy-access spot on the right side of the keyboard. There are no other bells and whistles, such as backlighting, so that's something to be aware of. If you want RGB lighting and other fun features, this isn't the keyboard to get.
The MacTigr connects to a Mac via USB-C, and there are also two USB-C ports built in so you can attach accessories. NKRO or N-key rollover is available on the MacTigr and can be enabled with a keypress. With NKRO, all of the keys can be pressed at one time for faster typing, gaming, and other purposes.
Bottom Line
For Mac users looking for a slim, practical mechanical keyboard designed for the Mac, the MacTigr is worth checking out. It has Mac-specific keys for adjusting volume and activating the sleep feature, it's of a quality that aligns well with Apple products, and it provides a satisfying typing experience that allows for speed and accuracy.
Note: Das Keyboard provided MacRumors with a MacTigr keyboard purpose of this review. No other compensation was received, and the keyboard was returned at the end of the testing period.
It seems Apple's redesigned macOS Ventura System Settings app, which replaces the System Preferences found in macOS Monterey and earlier versions, is still not without its problems five betas in, as catalogued by developer Niki Tonsky on Twitter.
For those unfamiliar with it, the new System Settings app looks more akin to the Settings app on the iPhone and iPad than it does to the earlier macOS preferences panels, with settings placed in a sidebar for supposedly easier access.
However, Tonsky's thread highlights several bugs and issues with the interface layout in developer betas 4 and 5 of macOS Ventura, including inconsistent use and erratic behavior of basic UI elements like dropdowns and buttons, misaligned text and poorly sized windows, menu titles that are cut off by menu windows, misplaced content, and more.
The System Settings app is built using SwiftUI, Apple's cross-platform user interface layer that works across iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Another complex app written in SwiftUI, Shortcuts, has also drawn criticism for similar UI and performance bugs on both macOS and iOS.
Ok thread of weird stuff found in redesigned macOS Ventura System Settings app.
First one: what happens if you simply hold “Up” button pic.twitter.com/Xuez5U5ufe
— Niki Tonsky (@nikitonsky) August 10, 2022
Linking to and commenting on Tonsky's tweet thread on his own website, Daring Fireball's John Gruber said there is "something deeply wrong with SwiftUI that, even while in-progress, so many little layout details are apparently hard to get right."
There are buttons that are halfway cut off by their parent view. When has Apple ever shipped beta software with problems like that? Putting aside the philosophical issue of whether the Mac's system prefs/settings app should follow the basic model of Settings on iOS/iPadOS, no matter what style MacOS's System Settings is supposed to look like, there should be no question that it should look pixel-perfect.
In an interview with Gruber on The Talk Show Live at WWDC 2022, Craig Federighi said that despite what some may think, macOS Ventura's System Settings redesign was not largely inspired by iOS. Federighi insisted that the development team's main goal was consistency for users, and said System Settings on macOS Ventura is a "great interface."
Despite the lingering issues, there's still time for Apple to correct them, as macOS Ventura isn't likely to be scheduled for release until October, or perhaps even early November. Have you had similar experiences interacting with System Settings in the latest beta? What do you think of the new look? Let us know in the comments.
An Apple employee says that Apple, a company she has worked at for over six years, is threatening to fire her over a viral TikTok video she made where she provides basic, commonsense, and publicly available tips on what to do if your iPhone is stolen.
The employee, Paris Campbell, has nearly half a million followers on TikTok, with over 17.7 million likes at the time of writing. Until a video last week, Campbell had never publicly identified herself as an Apple employee; instead, she often shared her work as a stand-up comedian and reaction videos to funny and quirky content posted on the app.
A week ago, Campbell responded to another person's TikTok in which they explained they had their iPhone stolen and then received messages from the thieves threatening to sell their private information on the black market. The victim had tracked their iPhone with Find My and found out it was in China.
Specifically, in their messages to the victim, the thieves tried to convince them to remove the stolen iPhone from their Apple ID account to bypass Activation Lock. Doing so is strongly recommended against as that would render the device usable and benefit no one but the criminals.
In her video responding to the distressed victim, Campbell began by saying, "I can't tell you how exactly I know this information, but I can tell you for the last six years I've been a certified hardware engineer for a certain company that likes to talk a lot about fruit." Campbell goes on to strongly advise against removing the iPhone from the Apple ID and goes on to explain Activation Lock.
As a reminder, Activation Lock automatically requires users to unlock their iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch after it's been erased with their Apple ID password if it's still connected to an account. Without the Apple ID's password or the password used to unlock the device previously, the iPhone, in this case, is rendered entirely useless.
Campbell, in her video, provides only handy tips for the victim and reassurance that despite the thieves' claim they have access to private information, they don't. Campbell concludes the video by advising the victim to ignore the messages. The video has over 7.4 million views at the time of writing.
Just a few days after posting that video, Campbell posted another video explaining what had happened. She said she received a call from her manager telling her that she had breached Apple policy by publicly identifying herself as an Apple employee. Apple's policy, however, does not limit employees from publicly identifying themselves as Apple employees but only requires them to maintain Apple's image and reputation in their online presence.
Dozens of Apple engineers publicly identify themselves as Apple employees on Twitter, often interacting with the community and sharing their excitement about what they have been working on post-announcement.
"If you ask me, reinforcing the public's confidence in Apple's security is not something that makes the company look bad, especially when it reaches 5 million people," Campbell said in her follow-up video. "If we want to get technical, I've never actually identified myself as an Apple employee until this video," she continued.
Her manager told her that Apple does not pay for her to "make TikTok videos," and Campbell agrees, saying it's just something she enjoys doing in her spare time."Apple, you didn't hire me to make TikTok videos, but apparently, I'm really good at it. Talking about your products and tech in general and how people can deal with it in their everyday life is kind of the thing that I'm best at," Campbell said.
"Maybe instead of reprimanding me, you should be looking through the comments and seeing the amount of people that are thanking me." "I work for Apple and would very much like to stay working for Apple. For the last almost six years, I have been a stellar employee, and that's evident by getting exceeded expectations on almost every single one of my reviews."
"There was a time when Apple used to respect when people did things that are really wacky and out of the box. This is definitely wacky and out of the box," Campbell concludes her video by saying. Since posting the follow-up video, Campbell's employment status remains unknown, and she has not addressed the controversy since. We've reached out to Apple for comment.
Spotify is extending its free trial period for Spotify Premium to three months, up from the previous one month that new users usually have to try out the paid service.
In a blog post announcing the offer, Spotify said the free three-month trial of its Individual Premium plan is available to eligible Free and first-time users.
In addition, Spotify said those who canceled their Premium plan before July 15 for whatever reason can get it back with the first three months charged at just $9.99, which is less than $4 a month.
Both offers are now live and will run through September 11. After the three-month trial ends, subscriptions renew automatically at the regular monthly cost of $9.99. Both offers are open to eligible users in 135 Spotify markets around the world.
Apple Music is still currently running its typical one-month free trial for new users, but if the service responds with a like-for-like extension of its trial to counter Spotify's offer, you can be sure we'll cover it here.
Apple is laying off as many as 100 of its recruiters responsible for finding and reviewing potential new applicants and full-time employees for the company as part of a broader crackdown on hiring and spending, Bloomberg has reported.
The 100 recruiters, spread out across Apple's offices in California, Texas, and Singapore, were told they were being let go due to a shift in Apple's approach to spending and a slowdown in hiring. Those workers were told they would receive pay and their benefits for an additional two weeks and would have a chance to have their personal belongings returned from their offices, Bloomberg reports.
The 100 recruiters laid off are not full-time Apple employees but only contractors that typically receive less pay and less attractive benefits compared to full-time staff. Last month, Bloomberg reported that Apple would be slowing down its hiring pace, which was confirmed by the company's CEO, Tim Cook, when he said Apple would be "deliberate" in its hiring and investment due to the current economic climate.
Apple's rumored 10th-generation iPad is currently in production and will feature "major" design changes, according to a report from Taiwanese website DigiTimes.
A mockup of the potential 10th-generation iPad design by Renders By Shailesh
The report did not provide any specific details about the 10th-generation iPad's new design, but rumors suggest the device will feature a larger 10.5-inch display with slightly thinner bezels, a USB-C port, and a flat-edged enclosure with a protruding rear camera. The lower-cost iPad is still expected to have a Touch ID home button, but recently leaked renders showed the device without a headphone jack like other iPad models.
In addition to the redesign, the lower-cost iPad is rumored to gain a faster A14 Bionic chip and 5G support for cellular models. Other devices with the A14 chip include the fourth-generation iPad Air and all four iPhone 12 models.
Apple plans to launch the 10th-generation iPad in September, according to DigiTimes, but sources cited in the report said they are concerned about temporary power restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on factories in China's southwestern Sichuan province. Amid an intense heat wave, power has been cut to industrial users in 19 cities throughout the province until August 20 in order to prioritize residential power supply, and all industrial power users have been ordered to suspend all production during this period, the report claims.
iPads are mainly produced in Sichuan by manufacturers Foxconn and Compal, according to the report, which adds that a six-day shutdown due to the power cuts would likely not impact overall production efficiency in August. If the power restrictions are extended, however, the report says mass production of products could be affected.
Apple unveiled the ninth-generation iPad at its September 2021 event alongside the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, and sixth-generation iPad mini. It was rumored earlier today that the 10th-generation iPad is set to be announced at an October event, so we'll have to see if the device ends up being unveiled in September or October this year.
The ninth-generation iPad features a 10.2-inch display, an A13 Bionic chip, a 12-megapixel front camera with support for the Center Stage feature, and support for the first-generation Apple Pencil. The device starts at $329 in the United States and is available in Space Gray or Silver color options with 64GB or 256GB of storage.
Apple will pay $30.5 million to settle a long-running lawsuit over employee bag checks, reports Bloomberg Law. Apple initially agreed to the sum in November 2021, and now a judge has given final approval to the settlement amount.
The class action lawsuit involves 14,683 California employees who were subjected to off-the-clock bag searches between July 25, 2009 and August 10, 2015. Apple was subjecting employees to mandatory bag checks that were described as "embarrassing and demeaning" in the class-action lawsuit, and because those checks were conducted after a shift, employees were at work for an extra 10 to 15 minutes without being paid.
Apple claimed that its bag searches ensured employees were not hiding stolen electronics in their personal belongings, and that employees who did not want to be subject to searches could leave their bags at home, but that argument did not work for Apple.
After several appeals, the court ruled that Apple had to pay California employees for the time they had spent in bag searches, and Apple in January created a website where both current and former employees could learn about the settlement and submit claims.
Apple today informed corporate employees that they must return to the office for three days starting the week of Monday, September 5, reports Bloomberg. Apple will require employees work in-person on Tuesday, Thursday, and a third day that will vary by team as part of a hybrid return-to-work plan.
Apple initially planned to require employees to return to the office three days a week in May, but that timeline was delayed due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. For the last several months, Apple employees have been working in the office for two days per week, but the company is now implementing its full return schedule.
Employees were initially going to be required to work on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, but Bloomberg says Apple has changed the plan. All employees will need to be in-office on Tuesday and Thursday, but the third day will be set by team leaders and will vary from team to team. On other days, most employees will be able to work from home. It's worth noting that Monday, September 5 is a holiday, so employees will need to work Tuesday, Thursday, and one other day that week.
Many tech companies implemented permanent work from home policies for employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Apple did not. Throughout the global crisis, Apple has made it clear that employees would need to return to in-person work and collaboration.
"For all that we've been able to achieve while many of us have been separated, the truth is that there has been something essential missing from this past year: each other," Apple CEO Tim Cooktold employees in June 2021. "Video conference calling has narrowed the distance between us, to be sure, but there are things it simply cannot replicate."
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
The sixth beta of iOS 16 that was provided to developers and public beta testers today focuses mainly on bug fixes and other under-the-hood improvements, but it does make one small change to the battery percentage status bar feature that was introduced in the prior beta.
When using Low Power mode, it is now possible to turn off the percentage indicator that is shown in the status bar, something that was not able to be done in the prior beta. The change was first noted by 9to5Mac, and it is useful for those who do not like the battery icon in the status bar to show the percent.
iOS 16 beta 5:
iOS 16 beta 6:
In iOS 16 beta 5, activating Low Power mode automatically turned on the battery percent feature even if it was not toggled on, with no option to have Low Power mode on without showing battery percent information. That's no longer the case with iOS 16 beta 6, and the two toggles are no longer linked.
It is now possible to turn on Low Power mode while also turning off the battery percent reading for the battery icon.
Battery percent was a standard iPhone status bar feature until the launch of the iPhone X in 2017, which saw it removed due to space constraints caused by the notch needed for the TrueDepth camera system hardware. Until the fifth iOS 16 beta, the status bar showed a visual representation of battery level, and viewing the specific battery percentage required swiping into the Control Center or checking the battery widget.
With the fifth beta, Apple added the option to turn on battery percent, with the number overlaying the battery icon. The number replaces the typical battery icon that shifts over time as the battery drains, and because of that, it has not been popular with some users.
Battery percent is available on the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. It is not available on the iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone 12 mini, or iPhone 13 mini.
The new battery percentage icon that Apple introduced in the fifth developer beta of iOS 16 is still not available on the standard iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone 12 mini, and iPhone 13 mini in the sixth beta of iOS 16 seeded to developers today.
Since the release of the iPhone X in 2017, and on every iPhone with a notch since, battery percentage has only been visible in Control Center by swiping down on the top-right corner of the display. Apple made headlines last week when it finally made battery percentage visible in the status bar again on iPhones with a notch, eliminating the need to swipe down, but the feature is not supported on all iPhones in the latest iOS 16 betas.
The new icon includes the battery percentage within the icon rather than to the left of it. The white battery icon remains completely filled in until the battery reaches 20% or lower, at which point a fifth of the icon turns red and the rest of the icon becomes translucent. The icon's current implementation has proven to be controversial, but it's important to remember that iOS 16 is still in beta and subject to additional changes.
It's unclear why the new battery percentage icon is not available on some iPhone models with a notch, but the excluded models are either "mini" iPhones or have an LCD display instead of an OLED display. As mentioned, iOS 16 is still in beta testing, so it's possible that Apple could expand the feature in a future beta release.
Apple is expected to release iOS 16 to all users with an iPhone 8 or newer in September.
Apple today seeded the sixth betas of upcoming iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the updates coming a week after Apple released the fifth developer betas.
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 iMessages, unsending iMessages, 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.
The fifth beta of iOS 16 added the battery percentage back to the status bar on iPhones that have a notch, plus it introduced new sounds for locating an iPhone via Find My or the Apple Watch.
Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming one week after Apple released the fifth beta to developers.
To install watchOS 9, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, watchOS 9 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 9 introduces four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, plus it includes updates to some existing watch faces and complications. The ECG app now supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.
The sleep tracking feature now includes sleep stages, letting the Apple Watch track when users are in REM, Core, or Deep sleep, and Apple has added a Medications app. The Medications app lets users manage and track their medications, vitamins, and supplements, with reminders when it's time to take them.
Updates to the Workout app add custom workouts and improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Fitness+ workouts now support streaming to certain third-party TVs for those who don't have an Apple TV, and notifications have been redesigned to be less obtrusive when the watch's screen is active.
Other new features include a CallKit API that allows VOIP calls to be answered on Apple Watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the Apple Watch with an iPhone, Quick Actions for doing more with a double pinch gesture, and updates to the Reminders and Calendar apps.
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