MacRumors

Thanks to various reports and the launch of the Mac Studio earlier this year, there is an increasingly clear picture of what to expect from Apple silicon Mac Pro configurations later this year.

The Mac Pro is one of the last Intel-based Mac models still on sale and the only remaining Mac product line with no Apple silicon chip options. An all-new model that finally brings Apple silicon to Apple's top-tier Mac for professionals has now been anticipated for over two years. At its "Peek Performance" event earlier this year, Apple even teased the launch of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, saying "that's for another day."

Previously, reports about a smaller Mac Pro model placed somewhere between the Mac mini and the Mac Pro made it difficult to know what to expect from the future of the high-end Mac Pro line, but it is now clear many of these rumors related to the ‌Mac Studio‌, clarifying what is expected from the next-generation Mac Pro.

Multiple reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman about the Apple silicon Mac Pro's chip options and specifications provide a fairly straightforward picture of what to expect from the new flagship Mac. According to Gurman, users will reportedly be able to configure the new Mac Pro with "M2 Ultra" and "M2 Extreme" chip options. The device's configurations are likely to look as follows:

At present, the M1 Ultra is Apple's most powerful custom silicon chip available, featuring a 20-core CPU and up to a 64-core GPU, along with a 32-core Neural Engine. Sitting above the Ultra in the chip lineup, the ‌M2‌ Extreme would presumably surpass these specs to become the top-tier Apple silicon chip for maximum performance.

According to these rumors, the ‌M2‌ Extreme would surpass the top-tier Intel Xeon W CPU option with 28-cores offered in the current Intel-based Mac Pro. The ‌M2‌ Extreme's known specifications effectively double the capabilities of the ‌M1 Ultra‌ in the ‌Mac Studio‌, but if it is based on the more advanced 5nm fabrication process behind the current ‌M2‌ chip, it is likely that there will be a range of other improvements in terms of core technologies, efficiency, and clock speed.

The ‌M2‌ chip delivers an 18 percent faster CPU, a 35 percent more powerful GPU, a 40 percent faster Neural Engine, and 50 percent more memory bandwidth compared to the M1 chip. A similar performance delta between the ‌M1 Ultra‌ and ‌M2‌ Ultra seems likely.

The current Mac Pro is available with up to 1.5TB of memory, a $25,000 configuration option available to $11,999 and $12,999 Mac Pro models with 24- and 28-core CPUs. Since Apple silicon Macs use a shared pool of unified memory rather than the conventional DDR4 ECC memory sticks used in the current Mac Pro, it seems probable that it will be available with considerably less memory.

The ‌M1‌ family of chips follows a clear system for increasing unified memory options, with the ‌M1‌ offering 8GB or 16GB, the M1 Pro offering 16GB or 32GB, the M1 Max offering 32GB or 64GB, and the ‌M1 Ultra‌ offering 64GB or 128GB. As such, it seems plausible that any new "Extreme" chip above the Ultra will offer 128GB and 256GB unified memory options. The ‌M2‌ chip added a 24GB memory option so it is possible that Apple could offer even larger 192GB and 384GB amounts of unified memory with the new Mac Pro.

The Mac Pro currently starts at $5,999, with the potential to price it up to over $52,000 in custom configurations. The base model Apple silicon Mac Pro with the ‌M2‌ Ultra is almost certain to cost more than the high-end ‌Mac Studio‌ with the ‌M1 Ultra‌, which starts at $3,999. It seems likely that the new base model Mac Pro will continue to start at a price point similar to the current model, but there is no further information about pricing at this time.

Beyond its basic specifications, little is currently known about the device's design, ports, and modularity. Apple is expected to introduce the Apple silicon Mac Pro later this year, and it could be followed by a "Pro" version of the Studio Display with a mini-LED panel and support for ProMotion in early 2023. For more information about the new Mac Pro, see our detailed guide.

Adobe has launched its back to school promotion this week, offering the Creative Cloud All Apps subscription for 63 percent off for the first year, plus your first month free for students and teachers who prepay for the full year. With this sale, you'll pay $19.99/month for the first year, down from $54.99/month for the full-priced plan.

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

You can also choose to pay for the entire year upfront at the price of $219.00/year. After your first year ends, your subscription will automatically renew at the standard rate of $359.88/year unless you change or cancel the subscription. This sale ends September 5 and is only available to first time subscribers and eligible education customers.

When signing up for Creative Cloud All Apps, you gain access to more than 20 creative apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, InDesign, and Acrobat. You also get templates, cloud storage, and thousands of Adobe Fonts.

These programs can be subscribed to individually as well for a monthly fee, but the new offer is only for Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps. Adobe is not discounting individual services. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple today announced new in-app Remix Sessions for GarageBand featuring Katy Perry and K-pop group SEVENTEEN, alongside an accompanying Today at Apple Session.

The two new Remix Sessions, available as free downloads in the GarageBand app for iOS and iPadOS, include a range of loops, sounds, and instruments that allow users to put their own spin on the songs "Harleys in Hawaii" by Katy Perry and "Darl+ing" by SEVENTEEN using the Live Loops interface, Remix FX with filters and repeaters, and more.

In addition, Apple is today launching an accompanying Today at Apple session called "Music Skills: Remix Katy Perry" at Apple Stores worldwide, where Retail Creative Pros will teach customers how to remix "Harleys in Hawaii" using GarageBand. Customers can sign up to take part in a session on the Today at Apple website.

iPhone 14 Pro models will "likely" see a $100 price increase compared to iPhone 13 Pro models, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.

"While the base iPhone will stay at the same price we believe a $100 price increase on the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max is likely in store given component price increases as well as added functionality on this new release," said Ives, in a research note obtained by MacRumors today.

Last week, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPhone 14 Pro models would have "price hikes," suggesting they will be more expensive than iPhone 13 Pro models. Kuo did not reveal exact pricing, but he said that the average selling price of the entire iPhone 14 lineup, including the lower-end models, would increase by about 15% overall.

In the U.S., the iPhone 13 Pro starts at $999 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max starts at $1,099. If a $100 price increase proves to be accurate, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max would start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively. Ives said the price increase would be due in part to increased component prices and new features/functionality.

iPhone 14 Pro models are rumored to feature a new pill-shaped cutout and hole replacing the notch, a faster A16 chip, faster RAM, an upgraded 48-megapixel rear camera with support for 8K video recording, and an always-on display that shows the time, date, and iOS 16's new Lock Screen widgets and battery percentage icon.

It's possible the iPhone 14 Pro will start with 256GB of storage, helping to soften the blow of the price increase, but one analyst believes 128GB is still likely.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 series in September as usual.

Today on Amazon you can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for the record low price of $299.00, down from $329.00. Both the Silver and Space Gray colors are in stock at this price, with delivery estimates set for as soon as August 19.

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

This is a match of the record low price we previously tracked on the 10.2-inch iPad, and right now only Amazon has the sale. Only the 64GB iPad is on sale this time around, and the Space Gray model is starting to see slight shipping delays, so be sure to visit Amazon soon if you're interested.

For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Apple's special-edition Beats Fit Pro colors, designed in collaboration with Kim Kardashian, have sold out on Apple's online stores in the U.S. and Canada within hours after launching.

All three colors – Moon, Dune, and Earth – have shown as no longer available for online orders since Tuesday afternoon, with no date given for when they will be available again for purchase. Amazon US though does seem to have stock remaining. Over in the U.K., only the Earth color is available to order from Apple online, while all color options remain available in Germany, France, and Japan.

For those eager to get hold of the "Kim K" special edition Beats in person, the new colors will become 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 $199.99 "Kim K" edition Beats Fit Pro beyond the new color options. The standard color options remain available, including Beats Black, Beats White, Stone Purple, and Sage Gray.

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.

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 is in the process of relocating Apple Watch and Mac production to the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam as part of a broader push to diversify its supply chain, Nikkei Asia reports.

The report says that Apple's supplier Luxshare has begun trial production of Apple Watch and MacBook models in Vietnam. Vietnam is already the home for production of several Apple productions, including certain iPad and AirPods models.

Alongside Apple Watch and MacBook production possibly moving to Vietnam, the report says that Apple is also mulling potentially moving HomePod production to the country. The report noted that Apple's trial production of MacBooks in Vietnam is progressing slowly due to pandemic-related disruptions.

Apple is working on an updated version of its low-cost iPad, with the new tablet set to come out later in 2022. The entry-level ‌iPad‌ has always been something of an afterthought as it isn't often updated with new features, but rumors suggest there's a big redesign in the works.

This guide highlights everything that we know about the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌.

Design Changes

Multiple rumors have indicated that the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ is going to get some notable design changes. Without going into specifics, DigiTimes said that there are "major" design updates in the works, and leaked renders from MySmartPrice said to be of the next-generation ‌iPad‌ have given us some insight on what might be coming.

The upcoming tablet may feature a design that's similar to the iPad mini with flat edges and rounded corners. There could be a power button at the top, but the bezels are not expected to be eliminated. The tablet is expected to measure in at 248.62mm (height) x 179.50mm (width) x 6.98mm (depth), which would make it wider and thinner than the current model. Rumors indicate the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ will continue to feature a Touch ID Home button rather than Face ID.

A single-lens rear camera is expected, as is a front-facing camera, and Apple may include an LED flash. There is no word as of yet on whether the lens will be improved or if it will use the same 12-megapixel rear camera that's in the existing model.

The 9th-generation ‌iPad‌ continues to feature a headphone jack, but it appears that Apple will remove the headphone jack from the 10th-generation model, bringing it in line with other iPads.

A sketchy rumor from Japanese site Mac Otakara suggests that the low-cost ‌iPad‌ could feature a Touch ID power button and a repositioned FaceTime camera. A ‌Touch ID‌ power button would be in line with the iPad Air and the ‌iPad mini‌, and a repositioned ‌FaceTime‌ camera would be better for Center Stage, but it is now clear if the site's sources are reliable so the information should be viewed with some skepticism.

Display Size

According to respected display analyst Ross Young, the next-generation ‌iPad‌ is going to feature a larger 10.5-inch display, which would be an increase over the existing 10.2-inch display the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ sports.

USB-C

Apple has been shifting the ‌iPad‌ line from Lightning to USB-C, and it's the ‌iPad‌'s turn for an update. The 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ is expected to feature a USB-C port for charging instead of a Lightning port, similar to the iPad Pro, ‌iPad Air‌, and ‌iPad mini‌.

Apple is planning to update its entire iPhone, ‌iPad‌, and AirPod product lineup to USB-C starting next year in order to comply with new rules in Europe that require products to have a common charging port for device interoperability.

A14 Chip

The current ‌iPad‌ has an A13 Bionic chip, but Apple is rumored to be planning to upgrade the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ to an A14 chip, which was first used in the iPhone 12 and the fourth-generation ‌iPad Air‌. It will bring a moderate increase in performance and efficiency compared to the existing model.

5G?

Apple has added 5G connectivity across its iPhone product lineup and to iPads that include the current ‌iPad Pro‌, ‌iPad Air‌, and ‌iPad mini‌ models, so it stands to reason that the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ could also get faster 5G connectivity.

Launch Date

The 10th-generation ‌iPad‌ is expected to launch later in the year, in either September or October. DigiTimes has suggested Apple is aiming for a September launch, but in years past, Apple has held a second Mac and iPad-centric event in October, leaving the September event for iPhones and Apple Watches. That said, the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ did come out at Apple's September 2021 event, so September 2022 is a strong possibility.

Apple's annual National Parks activity challenge is set to take place on Saturday, August 27th, in celebration of national parks worldwide.

Apple will ask Apple Watch owners to complete a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile to earn a special National Parks award.

Let's celebrate the beauty of national parks everywhere. On August 27, earn this award by recording a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile (1.6K) or more with any app that adds workouts to Health.

Like all Activity Challenges, the award will be accompanied by animated stickers that can be used in the Messages app.

Apple always celebrates national parks in August, typically introducing an Apple Pay donation program, Apple TV+ content, Apple Music songs, books, podcasts, and more focused on national parks.

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.

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

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.

During a trip to Germany in 2019, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple was open to offering its credit card in additional countries, but he noted that banks and regulations vary around the world. Last year, the Apple Card trademark was approved in Canada, but Apple has yet to announce any plans to expand the card internationally.

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.

Beats Fit Pro are now available to order in new Moon, Dune, and Earth colors designed in collaboration with Kim Kardashian. The special-edition Beats can be purchased from Apple's online store in the United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and Japan.

‌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.

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.

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
• Support for Family Setup
• Ability to choose between GPS only and GPS + Cellular models

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.

The Curve Flex is priced at $80, and it can be purchased from the Twelve South website today.

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.

How to Buy

The MacTigr can be purchased from the Das Keyboard website for $219.

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.

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.