MacRumors

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday ended, all of the best AirPods deals quietly disappeared. But Amazon has now brought back the solid $29 markdown on the new AirPods 3 that we saw last week, offering the earbuds for $149.99, down from $179.00.

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 sale is an all-time low price on the AirPods 3, and as of writing it is the only AirPods deal to return after the closure of Black Friday shopping.

We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.

For World AIDS Day today, Apple highlighted its long-standing partnership with (RED), which has raised $270 million to combat AIDS since 2006, launched its annual Apple Pay donation program and informative in-app collections, and is offering six downloadable (RED) Apple Watch faces.

The six downloadable (RED) Apple Watch faces feature (RED)'s distinctive shade of crimson. Apple says that the faces allow users to show their support for (RED) and complement the PRODUCT(RED) Braided Solo Loop, Sport Band, and Sport Loop Apple Watch bands.

Since 2006, Apple's donations to the Global Fund to fight AIDS have helped to deliver prevention, testing, support, and access to healthcare for communities affected by AIDS. Apple-supported grants have provided care and support services for more than 11 million people, over 192 million HIV tests, and access to antiretroviral treatments for over 13.8 million people.

A portion of the proceeds from Apple's current range of (PRODUCT)RED devices and accessories goes directly to the Global Fund, and through December 6, Apple is donating $1 to the Global Fund for every purchase made with ‌Apple Pay‌ on apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an ‌Apple Store‌.

To raise visibility for World AIDS Day and the ongoing effort to eradicate HIV and AIDS, hundreds of ‌Apple Store‌ retail locations are displaying red Apple logos and window displays. The company is also spotlighting ways for customers to learn about AIDS in the App Store, Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, and Apple TV app.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has encouraged customers to buy the "Cyberwhistle" for $50 instead of Apple's much-discussed Polishing Cloth.

The product page, which Musk shared on Twitter on Tuesday evening, offers a limited edition stainless steel whistle with the same distinctive design of the Tesla Cybertruck:

Inspired by Cybertruck, the limited-edition Cyberwhistle is a premium collectible made from medical-grade stainless steel with a polished finish. The whistle includes an integrated attachment feature for added versatility.

In October, Apple released a Polishing Cloth for $19 which quickly became the subject of ridicule due to its presentation and pricing. Musk had already expressed amusement at the Apple Cloth after its release, and in a follow up tweet, he drew a comparison between Tesla's spoof product and Apple's Polishing Cloth.

The Tesla Cyberwhistle was available for $50 and is already sold out. Meanwhile, Apple's Polishing Cloth is heavily backordered, with new orders due to arrive as late as February 2022.

The Dropbox app has a troubled reputation among Mac users. The client is often called out for using significant system resources, even when it's not doing anything in the background. And when it does lurch into action, syncing with Dropbox's servers can sometimes be painfully slow, for no obvious reason.

Added to this is the fact that almost a year after the first Macs with the M1 chip became available, Dropbox still doesn't natively support Apple silicon, and won't until sometime in 2022. That means ‌M1‌ Mac owners must use Dropbox with Rosetta, and reports suggest the client hemorrhages MacBook battery life and uses a disproportionate amount of memory on Apple silicon Macs.

If you've had your share of frustrations with the Dropbox app, you can always switch to another rival cloud storage service like iCloud, or you can try one of the following alternative Mac clients to sync with your existing Dropbox account.

1. Maestral (Free)

Maestral is a popular open-source Dropbox client for Mac that's free to use and has a significantly smaller resource footprint than the Dropbox app (40MB versus 420MB). The lightweight client happily syncs files and folders in the background, and won't bring your Mac to a standstill in the process. It also natively supports Apple silicon. The caveats are that it doesn't support Dropbox Paper, shared folder settings, or the transfer of only those parts of a file which have changed ("binary diff").

2. CloudMounter ($29.99 a year)

CloudMounter connects cloud storage accounts like Dropbox and Google Drive to your Mac's Finder, allowing you to treat them like regular, local drives. You can search, drag, drop, and access your files, and it doesn't automatically synchronize them to your local drive, which is great if you need access to files on Dropbox's servers but are low on storage space. It encrypts your files to ensure their safety, and you can also share any file or folder by copying its Dropbox link to the clipboard via a contextual menu option.

3. Mountain Duck 3 ($39)

Like CloudMounter, Mountain Duck integrates with Finder to turn it into a fully-functional SFTP client, allowing you to access your Dropbox (or other cloud storage service) account as if it was a local drive. You can choose to keep individual files offline on your local disk, and it displays which files are in sync with little icons. Client-side encryption is included, and it also has a contextual menu to keep sync and URL copying options at your fingertips.

4. Transmit 5 ($45)

Long-running file transfer app Transmit used to be referred to as an FTP client, but these days it can also connect to 11 different cloud services, Dropbox being one of them, which is why we've included it here. While it's not a straight up Dropbox client replacement (it doesn't sync files in the background) its dual-pane interface is faster than Finder, which makes it good if you upload and download files regularly. It also has useful features like File Sync, which can mirror remote and local files in one click.

5. Strongsync ($49.95)

Strongsync is another client that lets you mount cloud storage accounts on your Mac as if they were local disks. Files get downloaded transparently when another app requests them or when you request them in Finder. Amongst other clouds, it supports Dropbox and Dropbox for Business. There's no kernel extension or reboots needed, it offers full library search, and its SwiftUI 2 interface natively supports both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.

Know of any other Mac clients that support Dropbox integration and have proved useful to you? Let us know in the comments.

In 2022, Apple is going to release an updated version of the MacBook Air with some of the biggest design changes that we've seen since 2010, when Apple introduced the 11 and 13-inch size options. In the video below, we highlight five features that you need to know about the new machine.

• No More Wedge Design - Current ‌MacBook Air‌ models have a wedge design that tapers toward the front, but the new ‌MacBook Air‌ will look much more like the MacBook Pro with a uniform body design. It's going to deviate from the ‌MacBook Pro‌ in terms of ports, though, with Apple only expected to include USB-C ports.
• White Bezels - The ‌MacBook Air‌ is rumored to be modeled after the 24-inch iMac, with off-white bezels around the display and a matching off-white keyboard with a full row of function keys. The ‌MacBook Pro‌ surprised us all with a notch for the camera, and rumors suggest the ‌MacBook Air‌ will have the same notch, but in white.
• Multiple Colors - Continuing on with the ‌iMac‌ theme, the new ‌MacBook Air‌ is expected to be made available in several color options. The colors could be similar to the 24-inch ‌iMac‌, which comes in blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange, and purple. Apple has a history of using bright colors for its non Pro machines, and different color options would clearly distinguish the ‌MacBook Air‌ from its Pro sibling.
• Mini-LED Display - Apple introduced a mini-LED display with ProMotion technology in the 2021 ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, and the 2022 ‌MacBook Air‌ could adopt the same display, though without the ProMotion. The ‌MacBook Air‌ display is expected to continue to measure in at around 13 inches.
• M2 Chip - Rumors suggest the ‌MacBook Air‌ will be equipped with an "M2" chip, which would be an upgraded version of the M1. It won't be as powerful as the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips used in the ‌MacBook Pro‌, but it will offer an improvement over the ‌M1‌. It's expected to continue to feature an 8-core CPU, but with faster performance and nine or 10 GPU cores, up from seven or eight in the ‌M1‌.

There's one other notable rumor - the upcoming ‌MacBook Air‌ might not be an "Air" at all. Apple could be planning to revert to the standard "MacBook" name, which hasn't been in use since the 12-inch MacBook was continued. It's not yet clear if this is accurate, so the "Air" moniker might not stick around, but there's a chance Apple is once again going to streamline its Mac naming.

We'll know more as the ‌MacBook Air‌'s launch date approaches, and while a release timeline isn't nailed down as of yet, we're expecting to see it sometime in the second half of the year.

For a more in-depth overview of what's expected for the 2022 ‌MacBook Air‌, we have a dedicated rumor guide. It's a good idea to keep it bookmarked if you're planning on buying one of the new machines, because we update it each time there's a new rumor.

Streaming gaming platform Twitch today added support for the SharePlay iOS 15 FaceTime feature, allowing iPhone and iPad users to watch Twitch streams with their friends and family members over ‌FaceTime‌.

As noticed by Engadget, Twitch has added a dedicated SharePlay FAQ to its site explaining the feature.

To use SharePlay with Twitch, participants must start up a ‌FaceTime‌ call with one another and then open up the Twitch app to a stream to watch together. ‌FaceTime‌ will ask if the lead person would like to play the stream for everyone in the call, and then Twitch will open the stream on everyone's device and playback will be synced between the iPhone or ‌iPad‌ of everyone on the call.

All participants must have the Twitch app installed and must be logged in with a Twitch account. Participants will be kept in sync at the same point in the stream, and all users can play or pause content for everyone in the call. Anyone can change the channel by navigating to another channel.

During a SharePlay Twitch stream, all users can chat, follow, subscribe, and cheer with Bits from their separate accounts.

SharePlay for Twitch is limited to iOS devices running iOS 15.1 or iPadOS 15.1 at this time, and there is no integration for the Twitch Apple TV app.

Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus are starting to roll out an all-new infotainment system with large touchscreens, wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, and more, and I recently had a chance to go hands-on with one of the first vehicles to get the new system, the 2022 Lexus NX.

My test vehicle was an NX 450h+ AWD plug-in hybrid priced at nearly $60,000 that comes with a spacious 14-inch main infotainment display. Lower trims of the NX come with a standard 9.8-inch display that can be upgraded to the 14-inch one.

Lexus Interface

The infotainment system is similar on Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and it's known as Lexus Interface on the luxury brand. The system delivers a modern, clean look that's heavy on light gray backgrounds during the day and dark gray at night.

For the NX, Lexus has opted to go for a very streamlined look for the dashboard that incorporates most of the climate controls into the main infotainment screen. On some other vehicles such as the 2022 Toyota Tundra with essentially the same system, climate controls remain primarily hard buttons below the infotainment screen, so Toyota is being somewhat flexible depending on what it believes the target market for each vehicle will prefer.

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Apple today released a new 4B65 firmware update for the Beats Fit Pro headphones that came out in November, updating the earbuds from the prior 4B58 firmware that was available at launch.

Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the new firmware brings.

There's no standard way to upgrade the ‌Beats‌‌ software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. Putting the Beats Fit Pro‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting them to a power source, and then pairing them‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

Beats Fit Pro are Apple's newest Beats earbuds, featuring flexible wingtips to keep them in the ear, a charging case, silicone tips, Active Noise Cancellation, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and an H1 chip for "Hey Siri" support.

If we find notable changes after the firmware updates are installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes.

With 2021 wrapping up in another month, Apple today shared a number of Apple Music top charts, highlighting the top songs of 2021, the most-read lyrics, the most streamed workout songs, the most Shazamed songs, and more.

Dynamite by BTS was the top streamed song of 2021, followed by drivers license by Olivia Rodrigo, positions by Ariana Grande, For the Night by Pop Smoke, and Blinding Lights from The Weeknd.

The most read lyrics included drivers license and good 4 u from Olivia Rodrigo, Dried Flower by Yuuri, Dynamite by BTS, and Kiss Me More by Doja Cat.

Apple's most streamed workout songs included Head & Heart by Joel Corry, Post Malone by Sam Feldt, and Levitating by Dua Lipa, while the most Shazamed songs included Astronaut in the Ocean by Masked Wolf, Save Your Tears by The Weeknd, and Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran.

All of the Top 100 playlists can be accessed though the ‌Apple Music‌ streaming service, priced starting at $9.99 for a standard membership. Apple also offers a student plan for $4.99 per month, and soon there will also be a $4.99 per month Voice plan that allows users to ask Siri to play content, but it will not feature lyrics, song downloads, and other features.

Earlier today, Apple also announced the winners of the third annual ‌Apple Music‌ Awards, with The Weeknd being named the Global Artist of the Year and Olivia Rodrigo named as Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Apple today announced new limited-edition Beats Studio Buds in collaboration with clothing store Union, in celebration of the retailer's 30th anniversary.

The limited-edition Beats Studio Buds feature a red, black, and green design, which draws inspiration from the Pan-African flag and pays tribute to Union's roots as a Black-owned business, according to Apple. The charging case also features Union's logo.

The new Beats Studio Buds will be available exclusively at Union's Los Angeles and Tokyo stores and on its website starting December 1, with pricing set at $149.99 in the United States. This is the same price as the standard Beats Studio Buds, which launched in June and are available in red, black, and white through Apple's online store.

Key features of the Beats Studio Buds include a compact round design without any "stems" dropping below the ears, active noise cancellation with up to five hours of listening time per charge, hands-free "Hey Siri" support, IPX4-rated sweat and water resistance, Find My support, and a USB-C wired charging case.

Apple plans to release a third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of 2022, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. If this timeframe proves to be accurate, we can expect the device to be released by the end of March.

As previously rumored, TrendForce said the new iPhone SE will remain a mid-range smartphone with added support for 5G:

In terms of product development, Apple is staying with the plan to release its third-generation iPhone SE in 1Q22 and four models under a new series in 2H22. The third-generation iPhone SE is expected to be a major instrument in helping Apple establish a presence in the market segment for mid-range 5G smartphones. Its production volume for 2022 is forecasted to reach 25-30 million units.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously claimed that the new iPhone SE will feature a similar design as the current model, which is based on the iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID home button, and thicker bezels. Kuo said key upgrades to the device would include 5G support and a faster processor — reportedly an A15 chip.

There have also been some rumors that Apple is working on a larger version of the iPhone SE, but that device is not expected to be released until 2023 or later.

The original iPhone SE was released in March 2016 and discontinued in September 2018. The second-generation iPhone SE launched in April 2020 and continues to be sold, with pricing set at $399 for 64GB of storage and $449 for 128GB of storage.

Images of transparent prototype AirPods and a 29W Apple power adapter have been shared on Twitter by Apple device collector Giulio Zompetti.

The prototypes, which appear to be either first-generation or second-generation AirPods, feature clear plastic along the stem and around the outer side of the earbud, with the normal white plastic on the inner side of the earbud. Transparent casings are sometimes used for prototypes to allow engineers to see directly into the device.

Apple has been known to use transparent casings for prototypes dating back to the Macintosh Classic. Other Apple device prototypes, such as for the Macintosh Portable and Newton have emerged over the years, but this is the first time that the striking transparent casing has been seen on an Apple device as recent and as compact as AirPods.

Observers may perceive some coincidental similarities between these prototype AirPods and the design of Nothing's "Ear (1)" true wireless earbuds, which are positioned as a low-cost AirPods Pro competitor.

Last week, Zompetti shared images of a prototype Apple 29W charger with a transparent casing. The 29W power adapter came with the 12-inch MacBook, but was discontinued with that machine in 2018 and replaced with a 30W adapter.

Zompetti is an avid collector of Apple prototype devices and has previously shared images of an Apple Watch Series 3 prototype with additional connectors, an original iPad with two 30-pin ports, an iPhone 12 Pro prototype, a third-generation iPod touch with a rear camera, rare original Apple Watch prototypes, and most notably, a working AirPower prototype.

In what has become an annual tradition, select Apple Store locations are now displaying a red Apple logo in support of World AIDS Day on December 1, such as Apple Nanjing East in Shanghai and Apple Ginza in Tokyo, with other locations likely to follow.

Apple has also announced that, now through December 6, it will donate $1 for every purchase made with Apple Pay on Apple.com, through the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store in the U.S. to The Global Fund to support the fight against AIDS and COVID‑19. Apple said it will donate a maximum of $1 million through this initiative.

Proceeds from (PRODUCT)RED products will be split between The Global Fund's battle against AIDS and COVID-19. Apple had previously committed to donating all proceeds to the Fund's COVID-19 response.

Apple also continues to sell a variety of (PRODUCT)RED products, ranging from iPhones to Apple Watch bands, with a portion of proceeds from every purchase benefitting The Global Fund. Over a 15-year partnership with (RED), Apple said it has raised nearly $270 million in the fight against global pandemics like HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.

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.

Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2021 have now passed, we're still expecting to see a few solid leftover deals as this "Cyber Week" continues. To start, we're tracking deals on Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

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.

You can get the Smart Keyboard Folio for 11-inch iPad Pro for $99.00 on Amazon, down from $179.00. This is the model that launched last year, and it includes a full keyboard and provides front and back protection to an 11-inch iPad Pro or 4th generation iPad Air.

Secondly, Amazon is offering the Magic Keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $299.99, down from $349.00. This sale price is only available in White, and this is the newest 2021 model of the Magic Keyboard that features a trackpad and floating cantilever design.

We did track a deal that knocked this accessory down by another $58 last month, but that all-time low discount has not returned. If you're looking to purchase the Magic Keyboard for the holidays, today's sale is a solid second-best price and Amazon's shipping estimate currently puts it at within seven days.

Another great holiday gift for an iPad Pro user is the Apple Pencil 2, and Amazon's $99.00 sale price on this accessory is one of the best leftover Black Friday deals this week. The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the following iPads: iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd, 4th, and 5th generations), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations).

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Apple has today shared a press release celebrating the best and most popular podcasts of 2021, as curated by the Apple Podcasts editorial team.

Apple named "A Slight Change of Plans" with Maya Shankar as "Best Show of the Year." The show combines storytelling with cognitive and behavioral science to help listeners navigate change in their lives, including real-world stories about change when navigating the foster care system and undergoing medical treatments. A Slight Change of Plans features conversations with Riz Ahmed, Kacey Musgraves, Tommy Caldwell, and more.

"Anything for Selena" with Maria Garcia has been awarded "Newcomer of the Year." The show explores Latino fatherhood, belonging, identity, and language through storytelling and cultural analysis.

In addition to Best Show of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, Apple recognized a large number of shows and episodes that have "defined and reflected" 2021:

Shows

• "A Kids Book About: The Podcast" with Matthew Winner
• "Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain"
• "Good Inside with Dr. Becky"
• "Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang"
• "Pantsuit Politics" with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers
• "Teenager Therapy" with Gael Aitor, Kayla Suarez, Mark Hugo, and Thomas Pham
• "The Experiment" with Julia Longoria
• "The Midnight Miracle" with Talib Kweli, yasiin bey, and Dave Chappelle
• "This Land" with Rebecca Nagle
• "U Up?" with Jordana Abraham and Jared Fried

Episodes

• "A Friendly Ghost Story" from "Invisibilia" with Yowei Shaw and Kia Miakka Natisse
• "Bubba Wallace" from "Club Shay Shay" with Shannon Sharpe and Bubba Wallace
• "Glorious Basterds" from "Storytime with Seth Rogen"
• "How Do I Love Someone?" from "WILD" with Megan Tan
• "My Parents, Ellen and Tom" from "Forever is a Long Time" with Ian Coss
• "The Body Mass Index" from "Maintenance Phase" with Michael Hobbes
• "The People in the Neighborhood" from "Still Processing" with Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris
• "The Symphony" from "The Midnight Miracle" with Talib Kweli, yasiin bey, and Dave Chappelle
• "The Unwritten Rules of Black TV" from "The Experiment" with Hannah Giorgis
• "This Strange Story" from "9/12" with Dan Taberski

For more information about Apple's nominations and the top new shows, free channels, and subscriptions in ‌Apple Podcasts‌, see the full press release.

Some 16-inch MacBook Pro owners appear to have identified a shared issue suggesting the MagSafe 3 connector sometimes fails to deliver the expected charge when their Mac is turned off and the lid is closed.

As outlined on Reddit, some 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ Models, when powered off, are failing to charge if the ‌MagSafe‌ connector is plugged in. Instead of turning green, the ‌MagSafe‌ light flashes amber and fails to deliver power to the Mac battery. Some customers have contacted Apple Support to find a solution, with varying degrees of success. One user, in particular, said that after a lengthy back and forth, Apple Support decided to send them a replacement laptop.

So it's not just me then! I have the EXACT same issue. Went to the genius bar and they tested with a cable and charger that they have and it still had the same problem. They said they would order a new 140 watt charger for me to see it would fix it but said most likely it's a firmware issue but didn't really provide any evidence for such a thing. I went home and the next day I get a call from Apple. Someone was calling me to follow up and they asked me a bunch of questions and provided instructions to run a special diagnostics program. After I did all that they said they want to take my MacBook and its charger back and that they would give me a completely brand new MacBook as soon as they get one. I'm still waiting for that but that's where I'm currently at.

A video shared on Reddit shows that when the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is closed, the light on the ‌MagSafe‌ charger repeatedly flashes amber and is accompanied by the typical macOS charging sound effect. A consistent orange light means the MacBook is being charged, while green shows it's fully charged.

If a ‌MacBook Pro‌ is connected to ‌MagSafe‌ while turned on and it is then turned off, ‌MagSafe‌ 3 continues to charge the Mac as expected. The issue only occurs for some users when attempting to plug in the ‌MagSafe‌ connector when the Mac is already turned off. The flashing amber ‌MagSafe‌ light is an indication that something is not functioning as normal, and an Apple Support page includes steps for users to take to return ‌MagSafe‌ to normal operation. However, the steps don't seem to work in the reported cases where the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is turned off with the lid closed.

Not all 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ owners face the problem, and MacRumors has been unable to reproduce the bug. Regardless, there are enough users facing the problem that Apple may address it in the near future.

Apple has announced the winners of the third annual Apple Music Awards, which recognize "the best artists of 2021 and their influence on global culture."

The awards honor achievements in music across five categories, with winners chosen through a process that reflects both ‌‌Apple Music‌‌'s editorial perspective and what customers around the world have been listening to most.

Apple has named The Weeknd as Global Artist of the Year, while Olivia Rodrigo is Breakthrough Artist of the Year. Rodrigo also bagged the Album of the Year award for her debut album, "SOUR," and Single of the Year for "drivers license." The Songwriter of the Year award went to multi-instrumentalist H.E.R. especially in recognition of her 21-track R&B album "Back of My Mind."

This year, the ‌Apple Music‌ Awards also introduces a new category of awards for Regional Artist of the Year, recognizing artists from five countries and regions: Africa, France, Germany, Japan, and Russia. The Regional Artist of the Year awards recognize artists who made the greatest impact culturally and on the charts in their respective countries and regions, according to Apple.

"The past 12 months have proved to be a remarkable year for music, and we're thrilled to honor the artists who are shaping culture and connecting with fans around the world on Apple Music," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. "This year we're also recognizing more regional artists, showing the world the impact of extraordinary talented musicians who are making waves globally."

The ‌Apple Music‌ Awards celebration kicks off Tuesday, December 7, 2021, with interviews, original content, and more all streaming worldwide on ‌Apple Music‌ and the Apple TV app. Apple's full article has a more complete list of details on all of the artists that are to be honored with a special Apple-designed award.

Apple is working on an updated version of its Swift Playgrounds app, which is an educational tool designed to teach children and adults alike how to use the Swift programming language that first launched in 2016.

The new version of Swift Playgrounds was first announced at the June Worldwide Developers Conference, and now Apple is allowing some developers to test it out in a beta capacity ahead of launch.

Developers who have been invited have been required to sign a non-disclosure agreement to get access, but one developer shared screenshots and details with 9to5Mac, giving us a quick inside look at the app.

With Swift Playgrounds 4, developers will be able to submit their projects designed with the software directly to the App Store, allowing for app creation on the iPad. There will be a simple, easy to use interface for submitting an app to ‌App Store‌ Connect without the need for Xcode on Mac.

The app will allow those learning code to preview and see changes in real time as they type, as described by 9to5Mac:

Swift Playgrounds 4 also lets users preview and see changes in real time as they type. Live editing also works when the developer shares the project with someone else via iCloud Drive, so multiple people can work on the same project at the same time. Users can even test the app in full screen, explore SwiftUI controls, search across all files in a project, use quick inline code suggestions, and easily switch between Swift Playgrounds and Xcode (or vice versa).

There are also quick access options for setting app parameters and getting an app up on the store with little hassle. App creators can, for example, use a ready-made icon by choosing a color and an icon, or uploading a custom icon that gets automatically sized.

Right now, some of the Swift Playgrounds 4 features require iPadOS 15.2, so there's a possibility that we could see Swift Playgrounds 4 released as soon as iPadOS 15.2 launches. There's no word yet on when we can expect iPadOS 15.2, but Apple will likely debut it prior to the end of the year.