Apple's online store is currently down in some countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and more. The downtime is not worldwide, with the store still operational in some other countries.
"We're making updates to the Apple Store," the store page says, as usual when there is downtime. Apple advises customers to "check back soon."
It's unclear if the downtime is related to scheduled maintenance, the launch of a new product, the rollout of a new promotional offer, changes being made to the design or functionality of Apple's online store, or another reason.
Apple's online store went down briefly on the final day of June, and when it came back online, there was a new promotion in the U.S. that offered a $50 Apple gift card with the purchase of any new Apple TV through July 14. Given the store is down again on the final day of July, it is possible that another promotion is incoming in some countries, but this is only one of many possibilities for the downtime and we'll have to wait and see.
We're probably about six weeks away from the unveiling of the iPhone 14 lineup and Apple is continuing to polish the iOS 16 update that will be released alongside the new hardware, so we're seeing a number of tweaks as it moves through the beta testing period.
This week also saw some rumors about the rugged "Apple Watch Pro" planned for launch later this year, as well as some of the prototypes Apple has been testing out for a redesigned larger iMac, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!
Everything New in iOS 16 Beta 4 For Lock Screen, iMessage, and More
Apple this week released the fourth developer beta of iOS 16 with a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Apple also released a corresponding second public beta of iOS 16.
Teardowns of the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip earlier this month revealed that Apple has replaced the last Intel-supplied component in that Mac — Thunderbolt port controllers — with its own custom solution.
Titanium 'Apple Watch Pro' Could Signal the End of Apple Watch Edition
Given that the Apple Watch Edition already has a titanium casing, it is possible that the Edition model will be discontinued, or that the new rugged Apple Watch will become the new Edition model for the Series 8 lineup.
Hands-On Comparison: Pixel 6a vs. iPhone SE
Google last week launched the Pixel 6a, a $449 budget smartphone that's designed to compete with more affordable smartphones like Apple's latest iPhone SE, which starts at $429.
While the iPhone still uses the Lightning connector for now, Apple has been transitioning many of its devices to USB-C in recent years.
Apple now offers USB-C ports on every new Mac that it sells, along with all iPad models except the entry-level model, the Studio Display and Pro Display XDR, and a handful of other products.
Rumors suggest that Apple still plans to release a new larger iMac or iMac Pro, but not until 2023 or 2024, so it seems like the prototype models with M1 series of chips from last year are unlikely to be released to the public.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Google this week launched its latest earbuds, the $200 Pixel Buds Pro, which are designed to compete with the AirPods Pro. In our latest YouTube video, we tested out the Pixel Buds Pro to check them out and to test whether they're on par with the $250 AirPods Pro.
The Pixel Buds Pro are more affordable than the AirPods Pro and offer a similar feature set with Active Noise Cancellation, a Transparency mode, "Hey Google" voice control, automatic switching between paired Bluetooth devices, and Find My Device app tracking in case they're misplaced.
Like the AirPods Pro, the Pixel Buds Pro have silicone tips that fit into the ears for a tight seal to cut down on exterior noise. Google advertises a Silent Seal feature that improves noise cancellation, and we were impressed with the noise cancellation capabilities. Later this year, Google plans to add spatial audio functionality, but it's not available at this time.
Google does include a Transparency mode, but it's not up to par with the Transparency mode on the AirPods Pro and it's hard to tell that it's even on. There is an app that comes with the Pixel Buds Pro so you can tailor the sound to fit your needs, but the app is only available on Android devices and EQ adjustments aren't set to be available until later in the year.
As for the fit, the Pixel Buds Pro do not have long stems and instead have a shorter body that makes them less obtrusive in the ears. We found the Pixel Buds Pro to fit well in the ear and to be comfortable for long periods of listening, and Google does include built-in sensors that measure the pressure in the ear canal for more comfort.
With their smaller body, the Pixel Buds Pro fit in a little case that adds additional battery life, similar to the AirPods Pro charging case. The Pixel Buds Pro offer up to 31 hours of battery life, while the AirPods Pro are limited to about 24 hours of battery.
The Pixel Buds Pro are solid earbuds that have a lot to offer, but they may not be appealing to Apple users just because of the convenience of fast switching with AirPods and because you can't adjust the sound without an Android device. It will also be interesting to see how the Pixel Buds Pro measure up to the next-generation AirPods Pro, which are rumored to be coming out later this year.
Rumors suggest the AirPods Pro 2 will feature an updated H1 chip with self-adaptive noise cancellation capabilities, and they might include Lossless audio support. We're also expecting sound improvements and improved Find My functionality, with a full rundown of what's coming available in our AirPods Pro 2 guide.
Apple appears to be working on new Beats Fit Pro colors, according to images discovered by @Aaronp613 on Twitter. The yet-to-be released shades include Mica, Ochre, and Umbra, and they may be modeled after skin tones.
Introduced in November, the Beats Fit Pro are fitness-focused earbuds with flexible wingtips that help secure them in the ear. At the current time, Beats Fit Pro come in Black, White, Stone Purple, and Sage Gray, and it is not clear when Apple might introduce the new colors.
Apple might be releasing 3 new colors for the Beats Fit Pro.
These colors are called:
Mica Ochre Umber
See the thread below for videos of these
— Aaron (@aaronp613) July 29, 2022
Beats Fit Pro are priced at $200 and offer Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes, along with Adaptive EQ, spatial audio support, and an H1 chip for fast pairing, automatic device switching with Apple products, and Find My integration.
VMware this week announced that its latest VMware Fusion update brings Windows 11 support to both Intel and Apple silicon Macs. Available as a free tech preview, the 2H22 version of Fusion will finally allow Apple silicon Mac users to download and use Windows on their machines through virtualization.
Features include Windows 11 support with 2D GFX and networking, VMtools installation for Windows on Apple silicon machines, improved Linux support on Apple silicon machines, and more.
Windows 11 on Intel and Apple Silicon with 2D GFX and Networking
3D Graphics HW Acceleration and OpenGL 4.3 in Linux VMs* (Requires Linux 5.19+ & Mesa 22.1.3+)
Virtual TPM Device
Fast Encryption
Universal Binary
While the new functionality was designed with Windows 11 in mind, VMware says the tools can be used with other VMs too. At the current time, Fusion on Apple silicon devices is "still a work in progress" and there are some limitations to be aware of.
Fusion will not support running VMs across different architectures. (I.e. no x86_64 VMs on M1 Macs).
macOS virtual machines are out of scope for this release, but it's something we're looking into.
Ubuntu 20.04.4 and 22.04 for arm64 are not currently booting (Ubuntu 20.04.4 builds from July 5 and onward) We are working to resolve this.
VMware says that it is looking for feedback from users in order to iron out kinks and add new capabilities in preparation for more formal support later this year. While in the testing period, VMware Fusion will be free to use. The VMware Fusion Tech Preview can be downloaded from the VMware website.
Apple with iOS 16 has added a new medication management feature to the Health app, which is designed to allow users to keep track of their medications to make sure a dose isn't missed. The feature works alongside a new Medications app on the Apple Watch, and it's useful for everything from prescriptions to vitamins.
This guide covers everything that you need to know about the medication tracking feature along with other new Health app features in iOS 16, which is available now for all eligible devices.
Medication Tracking
"Medications" is a new section available in the Health app, accessible by going to the Browse section and scrolling down to Medications, or typing it into the Health app search bar.
In the Medications app, you can enter in all of the prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and vitamins that you take so you can get reminders to take medicine, check for interactions, and more.
Adding a medication is as simple as tapping on the Add Medication button in the Health app. From there, you can type in the name of a medicine or vitamin, or use your iPhone's camera to scan the label of your pill bottle. Adding via scan is simple, but it doesn't always pick up all the information, so you may need to manually select dose and form (pill, spray, etc).
From there, you can choose the frequency of when you take the medication. You can choose a specific day or interval of days, specific days of the week, or opt for as needed, and then you can set the time that you want to take the medication.
Medications can be customized with a shape and a color to match the pill that you take in real life for quick and easy recognition.
You can add all of your medications and vitamins into the Health app, with everything viewable in a list.
Once you've added your medication to the Health app and set a time and day to take it, the iPhone will send you a notification when it's time to take it. You can get notifications for all of the medications in the Health app that have been assigned a schedule.
Medication notifications are classed as time sensitive notifications and will be delivered at your specified time unless you override the setting.
Notifications are automatic for all medications that have a set time and and/or set day for when you take them.
Medication Logging
When a reminder notification pops up, you can tap it to be taken to a popup where you can mark a medication as "Taken" or Skipped." You can also use the "Mark All as Taken" option if you have multiple medications scheduled for the same time. Medications can also be marked as logged from the medication list in the Health app.
The Health app can track your medications over time, so you can check in on whether you're taking your medication regularly. You can see data organized by day, week, month, six months, and year.
Apple will also provide a Medications "Highlight" in your Health summary that will let you know how often you've taken a medication over the past 28 days.
Apple Watch Medication App
In watchOS 9, there is a dedicated Medications app that you can tap into for quicker logging. You can log each medication individually in the app or use the "Log All as Taken" to get to them all at once. If you skipped a dose, you can choose the "Skipped" option.
The Apple Watch app is just for marking medications as taken and all other medication management needs to be done in the Health app.
Medication Interactions
The Health app regularly checks to make sure that the medications that you are taking do not have interactions with one another, keeping you from taking a combination of medications that could be dangerous.
Medication Side Effects and Other Info
If you tap into any medication from your Health app list, you can then choose the "Side Effects" button to see the listed side effects for that medicine, if it's available.
Not all medications have side effects listed, and the information is provided by Elsevier, a Netherlands-based company that specializes in medical content, including the Annual ScienceDirect book series on drug side effects.
Export Medications
In the Medications section of the Health app, there's an option to "Export Medications List PDF," which as the name suggests, creates a simple PDF of the medications that you take. You can share this list with a doctor.
For those who wear the Apple Watch to bed for sleep tracking purposes, watchOS 9 and iOS 16 bring new functionality. Sleep recorded by the Apple Watch is broken down into Awake, REM, Core (light), and Deep sleep categories, so you can get an idea of how well you slept during the night.
The Apple Watch will track when you get in bed, how long it takes you to fall asleep, how often you wake up, and how much time you spend in REM, Core, and Deep sleep.
Apple defines the different sleep categories as follows:
Awake - You may find yourself awake during parts of a sleep session. It's normal for people to wake up on occasion. It's possible that you will fall right back to sleep and not remember waking up during the night.
REM - This stage of sleep may play a role in learning and memory. During this stage, your muscles are the most relaxed and your eyes move rapidly from side to side. This is also when most of your dreams occur.
Core - Sometimes referred to as light sleep, this stage is considered just as important as the others. This stage often represents most of your time asleep each night. Brain waves that may be important for cognition occur during this stage.
Deep - Also known as slow wave sleep because of the brain wave patterns, this is the stage where body tissues are repaired and essential hormones are released. This stage typically happens in longer periods during the first half of your sleep session.
The sleep data collected by the Apple Watch can be viewed in the "Sleep" section of the Health app. Sleep data can now be viewed by day rather than just by week so you can drill down into your sleep quality on a day-by-day basis.
Other than the new sleep categories, the Sleep functionality is the same. You still use the same Bedtime and Wake Up features, which tie into the Wind Down and Sleep Focus options.
Health Sharing Invitations
You can invite family members to share their data with you in iOS 16, making it easy to keep track of the health information of elderly family members or children. Once an invitation is received, the person can opt to select which data to share with you.
Fitness Activity Tracking
In iOS 15 and earlier, you needed an Apple Watch to take advantage of the Fitness app, but that's changed in iOS 16.
You can use the Fitness app with the iPhone's motion sensors to track your activity level. The iPhone can estimate steps, and distance walked, and track third-party workouts to provide details on how many calories you've burned in a day.
Without an Apple Watch, you're limited to a daily Move goal, without the Exercise and Stand goals available.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the new Health and Fitness features in iOS 16, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple today announced it is expanding its offering of how developers can promote their apps on the App Store, helping developers expand their reach and making it easier to discover more of what the App Store has to offer.
Until now, Apple has offered developers two ad opportunities on the App Store: in the Search tab and within the Search results page. Both ad placements have been a tremendous success for developers, helping them find users who may be interested in their apps, according to Apple. The expansion of ad opportunities in the App Store is part of the company's efforts to maintain the App Store as the best place for developers to grow their businesses.
Apple Search Ads provides opportunities for developers of all sizes to grow their business. Like our other advertising offerings, these new ad placements are built upon the same foundation—they will only contain content from apps’ approved App Store product pages, and will adhere to the same rigorous privacy standards.
As part of those efforts, the first new ad opportunity will be within the Today tab - the front page of the App Store. With Today App Store ads, developers will be able to promote their apps right alongside the daily editorial content by the App Store team. Ads are clearly marked as ads and are distinguishable from the normal editorial App Store stories. The Today tab is the first tab that's pre-loaded when the App Store app is opened and was introduced as part of the App Store redesign in 2017.
The second new ad placement for developers in the App Store will be directly within app product pages. Ads will appear under the "You Might Also Like" section towards the bottom of the page and will also be clearly marked as ads.
At the cornerstone of Apple's App Store ads is the company's focus on user privacy. The new ads will follow the same strict guidelines and policies applied across all of Apple's platforms and services. When users first open Apple's apps, such as the App Store, Apple News, and Apple Stocks, they're given the freedom to choose whether they want to enable personalized ads.
In a presentation to advertisers obtained by MacRumors in May, it was revealed that in the first quarter of 2022, 78% of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 search volume on the App Store was from devices with Personalized Ads turned off across all countries and regions where Apple's Search Ads are available.
Whether or not users have Personalized Ads enabled, Apple does not show personalized ads to users under the age of 18, to users with an Apple ID associated with a minor under 13, or to managed accounts. Furthermore, unlike some social media giants who allow advertisers to target extremely specific user demographics, Apple limits developers from targeting ads to segments and demographics with less than 5,000 other similar users, helping prevent hyper-targeting.
Apple also never uses factors such as religion, political affiliation, or health to target its customers, claiming it's able to deliver highly effective ads without the need to track individual users. Additionally, Apple's ads are never tied to an individual Apple ID, and a "user profile" is never created to target a specific user across all of the company's services.
Ron Schneidermann, CEO of AllTrails, a popular app for hikers and campers, said that Apple's App Store ads have helped "attract new, more engaged customers across markets" and that they've become a crucial aspect of its growth strategy.
Apple Search Ads helped us attract new, more engaged customers across markets. We rely on Apple Search Ads for cost-effective customer acquisition – it’s a critical component of our growth strategy. As they become available, we plan to invest in new placements to reach even more customers on the App Store and continue to drive our business growth.
Apple will be testing the new ad placements with limited developers soon.
This week's best deals include markdowns on the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, Apple TV 4K, and Magic Trackpad 2, all of which are still available to purchase at notable discounts from Amazon and other retailers.
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.
Apple's AirPods 2 returned to $99.99 this week on Amazon, down from $129.00. Prime Day had a sale that was around $10 cheaper, but with that event over and the holiday deal season still months away, this is a solid off-season deal on the AirPods 2.
The Apple TV 4K is another product that hasn't quite returned to its all-time low Prime Day price (and at this point, we don't expect it to in the near future). The good news is that you can still get the 32GB model at a solid price of $129.99 on Amazon this week, down from $179.00.
In the middle of the week we shared a deal on the Magic Trackpad 2, and since then that sale price has increased slightly. Instead of $89.99, you can get the Magic Trackpad 2 on Adorama for $99.99, down from $129.00, which is still a good deal and the best around online for a new version of the accessory.
Apple today seeded the second 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 two weeks after the first beta, and it corresponds to the fourth developer beta.
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.
Spotify has unceremoniously stopped making the dash-mounted "Car Thing," its first hardware device, the company announced this week.
The change was announced as part of Spotify's latest earnings release for shareholders, which said that developing the Car Thing cost €31 million (approximately $32 million USD) and that its overall gross margin was "negatively impacted by our decision to stop manufacturing Car Thing." Spotify told TechCrunch:
Based on several factors, including product demand and supply chain issues, we have decided to stop further production of Car Thing units. Existing devices will perform as intended. This initiative has unlocked helpful learnings, and we remain focused on the car as an important place for audio.
Announced in April last year, the short-lived device first went on sale in the United States in February for $89.99. It was designed to be an in-car dash-mounted music and podcast player to provide a more seamless and personalized listening experience, especially in the large number of cars that do not support modern in-car infotainment systems or Apple CarPlay.
Paired with an iOS or Android device for data and connection to the Spotify app, the Car Thing was aimed at Spotify Premium subscribers with these needs and offered a touchscreen, a knob for navigation, voice control features, and four user-configurable buttons for fast access to areas such as favorite music, podcasts, or playlists.
AFib History, one of watchOS 9's new health features, this week received regulatory approval in Canada, seemingly making it the first country to do so outside the United States ahead of the release of watchOS 9 later this year.
AFib History allows individuals diagnosed with atrial fibrillation to view an estimate of how frequently their heart is in this type of arrhythmia, according to Apple. The feature is intended for individuals aged 22 years or older who have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Health Canada yesterday approved the AFib History for both the Apple Watch and the iPhone, regulatory filings show. Canada appears to be the second country to approve the new feature after the United States, where it received FDA clearance after being validated in a clinical study. Last month, Apple said the average difference in weekly measurements between the Apple Watch and an FDA-cleared reference device was less than one percent.
The AFib History feature could prove useful when a patient receives an ablation treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation, but the treatment is unsuccessful at first attempt and the patient continues to experience atrial fibrillation.
Upon previewing watchOS 9, Apple said that AFib History is not currently approved in all countries or regions, so availability of the feature will likely be limited at launch. That being said, there is still time for other regulatory authorities to approve AFib History before the official release of watchOS 9 later this year.
Kevin Nether, also known as "Kevin the Tech Ninja," joins us on The MacRumors Show podcast this week to talk through all of the latest rumors about the high-end Apple Watch model expected to arrive later this year.
Kevin is a tech YouTuber and content creator. As an Apple Watch Series 7 user with enthusiasm about fitness and traditional watches, as well as the leading Apple Watch competitors, we explore what he's looking for from the upcoming high-end Apple Watch. We talk through the growing number of rumors about the device's design, larger display, unique features, name, and price point. See more of Kevin's work on his YouTube channel.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like iJustine, Ross Young, Sam Kohl, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, Rene Ritchie, Andru Edwards, Jon Prosser, and Mark Gurman. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover going forward.
No, Apple is not giving away free AirPods, despite what you may be seeing on your TikTok "For You" page.
In the last several weeks, hundreds of videos have spawned on TikTok claiming that Apple is giving away free AirPods replacement as long as you simply walk into an Apple Store and ask for a new free pair. The trend implies that "AirPods" users can walk into an Apple Store, claim their earbuds are not working in some shape or form, and proceed to receive a replacement pair of AirPods - with no questions asked. A popular video from the trend can be found below:
The trend is an obvious mischaracterization of Apple's AirPods Pro replacement program, which is offered to customers with AirPods Pro manufactured before October 2020 who may be experiencing static or issues with Active Noise Cancellation. That program, unlike what the trend suggests, requires employees to actually confirm the left, right, or both AirPods Pro earbuds are defective in some way.
While it may seem like a harmless TikTok trend by ill-informed content creators, the trend is causing a headache for Apple Stores. The videos have caused an uptick in appointments to Apple Stores by customers who believe they're eligible for a free pair of replacement AirPods when in reality, they aren't.
Two sources who spoke to MacRumors on the condition of anonymity said appointments for AirPods-related issues have nearly doubled in the last several weeks alone as the trend has gained momentum on TikTok. To make it abundantly clear, here are the requirements for only the AirPods Pro replacement program:
Apple has determined that a small percentage of AirPods Pro may experience sound issues. Affected units were manufactured before October 2020.
An affected AirPods Pro may exhibit one or more of the following behaviors:
Crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phone Active Noise Cancellation not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will service the affected AirPods Pro (left, right, or both) free of charge.
Customers who are eligible for this program can make an appointment at their nearest Apple Store or authorized service provider. More details on the program can be found on Apple's support website.
B&H Photo is discounting Apple's blue HomePod mini to $89.95 this week, down from $99.00. Only the blue color option is on sale at this price, and it's in stock with free expedited shipping and delivery estimates beginning around August 3 for most locations in the United States.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This isn't quite an all-time low price on the HomePod mini, but it is among the only deals we tracked on the speaker throughout all of 2022. The last major discount was during the 2021 holiday season, and since then deals have been nearly nonexistent. If you're interested in the blue version of the HomePod mini, be sure to visit B&H Photo before the sale ends.
Apple's App Store is now coming under the spotlight for how it handles fake crypto apps that scam investors who think they're investing in real, legitimate cryptocurrencies.
In a letter addressed to Apple CEO Tim Cook, the chairman of the U.S. Senate on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Sherrod Brown, inquires about the steps Apple takes in vetting, reviewing, and removing crypto apps before and after they become available for download on the App Store.
Apple already employs a strict set of rules for apps on the App Store, but Brown wants to know the exact steps Apple takes to prevent fake crypto apps from making their way onto the platform.
While firms that offer crypto investment and other related services should take the necessary steps to prevent fraudulent activity, including warning investors about the uptick in scams, it is likewise imperative that app stores have the proper safeguards in place to prevent against fraudulent mobile application activity.
In its App Store guidelines, Apple does lay out several policies for crypto apps on the App Store. Those policies state that crypto apps can not mine for cryptocurrencies using on-device processing, apps must not require users to complete tasks such as posting to social media in order to obtain currency and more.
Brown's letter, however, asks Apple to share details it takes specifically regarding how it responds to fake crypto apps. Apple is requested in the letter to describe the review process for crypto apps, the steps Apple takes to remove crypto apps that circumvent App Store policies, how often it reviews existing crypto apps against fraudulent activity, the steps users can take to report fraudulent crypto apps, and whether or not Apple has been part of any coordinated effort to remove fraudulent crypto apps from the App Store since January 2020.
Apple has until August 10 to provide all of this information to the committee. The same letter was also sent to Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
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.
A new detail found in the iOS 16 beta could be the latest indication that Apple is indeed planning to bring always-on display functionality to the upcoming high-end iPhones.
As discovered by 9to5Mac, the latest iOS 16 beta adds a new "Sleep" state to the default wallpapers found in iOS 16. The new "Sleep" mode is a version of the wallpaper that is darker and more tinted, better suited to be shown on an always-on display. In simpler terms, the new "Sleep" state could be described as a photo filter that could be applied to any image the user chooses to use for their always-on display.
iOS 16 clownfish wallpaper in the "Sleep" state (left) next to the normal state (right)
As 9to5Mac notes, it seems Apple will replicate the behavior found on the Apple Watch on the iPhone 14 Pro. The Apple Watch Series 5 and later with an always-on display shows a darker and more faint version of the watch face until the wrist is raised, so similarly, the iPhone 14 Pro could show a darker version of the wallpaper until turned on by the user.
With the new "Sleep" state, users will see remnants of their wallpaper and information, such as the time and their lock screen widgets, even when their display is not in active use. Bloomberg'sMark Gurman has already reported that an always-on display tied into the iOS 16 Lock Screen will be coming only to the higher-end iPhone 14 models.
An always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro will be possible thanks to more advanced displays that feature a refresh rate as low as 1Hz. The iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max feature ProMotion technology and can go as high as 120Hz and as low as 10Hz. Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, the lower 1Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 14 Pro series will improve energy efficiency with an always-on display.
An always-on display is one of several big changes rumored to be coming to the iPhone 14 Pro lineup, including a replacement of the notch with a pill-shaped and hole-punch cutout, a 48MP rear camera, faster performance, new colors, and more. A complete rundown of everything we know about the iPhone 14 Pro lineup can be found in our roundup.
Apple chip supplier TSMC recently hosted a topping-out ceremony for its new fabrication plant in Phoenix, Arizona, DigiTimes reports.
TSMC's topping-out ceremony in Arizona
The $12 billion factory will be the first of its kind to mass-produce 5nm chips in the United States. All of Apple's latest chips, dating back to the A14 Bionic and M1 chip, are fabricated with a 5nm process. In a post on LinkedIn, TSMC said:
Great progress continues on our 5-nanometer semiconductor fab – "FAB 21" – in #Phoenix, #Arizona. We recently celebrated placing the last beam – also known in the construction industry as a "topping" milestone - in FAB 21's fab building with our local partners. Over 4,000 attendees were on hand to enjoy this important moment including our own employees and partners. #TSMCArizona is on time and on track to bring the most advanced leading-edge semiconductor technology to the U.S.. We are deeply grateful to our partners and look forward to more successful milestones in Arizona.
Last year, TSMC Chairman Mark Liu announced that the company's Arizona plant will begin mass production in the first quarter of 2024. Likely clients for the chips made in the Arizona factory include Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Apple. The new Arizona plant will make it theoretically possible for Apple's 5nm custom silicon chips, to be manufactured within the United States for the first time.
Apple is rumored to move its custom silicon to a 3nm process starting with the M2 Pro or M3 chip. The iPhone 14 Pro's A16 chip is expected to continue being made with a 5nm process, so it is highly likely that Apple will still need a supply of 5nm chips from TSMC by early 2024 when the Arizona plant opens for mass-production.
TSMC's main factories are located in Taiwan, but it already operates a factory in Camas, Washington, as well as design centers in Austin, Texas and San Jose, California, meaning that the Arizona facility will be its second manufacturing site in the United States. Yesterday, it was reported that Apple is opening a new development site in Israel to develop future custom silicon chips for the Mac.
Apple now has over 860 million paid subscriptions across all of its services, including Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News, iCloud, and more, the company's chief financial officer Luca Maestri said today.
Speaking during Apple's third-quarter earnings call, Maestri said Apple has over 860 million subscriptions, which is an increase of 160 million over just the last 12 months. Apple does not provide a breakdown of subscriber counts per service, but Maestri said growth was strong in offerings like Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade.
Apple beat analyst expectations for the third quarter, posting $82.96 billion in revenue. While iPhone sales rose 2.5%, Mac, iPad, Wearables, Home, and Accessories sales dropped year-over-year due to supply constraints and macroeconomic factors.
Update: This article has been updated to clarify that the 860 million figure refers to subscriptions, not subscribers. A single user may have multiple subscriptions through Apple.
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TSMC's topping-out ceremony in Arizona
