MacRumors

Apple today released watchOS 7, the newest version of the watchOS operating system designed to run on modern Apple Watch models. The watchOS 7 update comes after several months of beta testing.

watchOS 7 Feature
‌watchOS 7‌ can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌iPhone‌‌.

The watchOS 7 update is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5 models. It cannot be installed on the first-generation Apple Watch, the Series 1, or the Series 2 Apple Watch models.

With watchOS 7, Apple is introducing a number of new health, fitness, and style features for the Apple Watch. There's a new Face Sharing feature that's designed to let you share your watch faces and install watch faces shared by other people, though you still can't create your own watch faces.

applewatchfacesharing
Apple introduced several new watch faces, including GMT that shows multiple time zones, Count Up for tracking elapsed time, Chronograph Pro with a tachymeter, Typograph for displaying numerals in custom styles, Artist with art by Jeff McFetridge, Memoji for putting a Memoji on Apple Watch, and Stripes in customizable patterns.

apple watch series 6 faces
Apple has also added support for multiple complications for a single app so you can better customize your watch faces to suit your needs.

A new Sleep app lets you track your sleep by wearing your watch at night, providing sleep analysis in a simple, easy-to-interpret format. The watch uses the accelerometer to detect subtle movements associated with breathing, so it knows when you're sleeping or awake.

watchos7sleepmode
A Wind Down feature helps you establish a healthy bedtime routine, while Sleep Mode automatically turns off your screen and enables Do Not Disturb. When you wake up, the Apple Watch plays soft sounds or uses a haptic alarm, and it offers up a weather report and battery information so you can get your day started.

watchossleeptimewakeup
As announced yesterday, watchOS 7 brings a Family Setup option that lets ‌iPhone‌ owners manage and set up Apple Watches for children or older family members who don't own iPhones. Parents control contacts and downloaded apps, there's a Schooltime mode to limit Apple Watch features when necessary, and location tracking with Find My is available.

With ‌Family Setup‌, kids can call and text their parents, talk to Siri, stream music, download apps, use the new Memoji app to create Memoji, and use Apple Pay with funds provided by parents. Family Sharing also includes Activity tracking options that provide Move minutes instead of active calories burned, and activity tracking has been optimized for children.

f1600190460
There's a new handwashing detection feature that's useful because we're all washing our hands more often than usual. It lets the Apple Watch listen for sounds of water and then starts a 20-second timer to remind you to wash your hands for the appropriate amount of time.

applewatchhandwashing
The Activity app has been renamed Fitness and there's a refined interface, and later this year, the Fitness app will work with the new Fitness+ service that lets Apple Watch owners access guided workouts on Apple TV, ‌iPhone‌, and iPad. The new Fitness app also allows users to customize Activity goals, including Stand hours and Exercise minutes, and the Apple Watch is able to measure low-range VO2 max, stair ascent speed, stair descent speed, and six-minute walk estimate, all of which can be found in the Health app.

The Maps app features cycling directions in line with the new cycling feature on the ‌iPhone‌, and ‌Siri‌ now provides spoken translations. Apple also introduced a new ‌Siri‌ Shortcuts app for the Apple Watch so you can access all your Shortcuts right on your wrist.

applewatchcyclingdirections
watchOS 7 does more to protect hearing health with a weekly listening notification and an option to automatically reduce loud sounds when you're wearing headphones. A max volume setting also helps to prevent hearing damage.

applewatchvolumeadjustment
When paired with an Apple Watch Series 6, the Apple Watch offers a Blood Oxygen app that lets users take a blood oxygen reading. The Blood Oxygen app is limited to certain countries or regions and it requires an ‌iPhone‌ 6s or later to be paired with an Apple Watch Series 6.

Taking a Blood Oxygen reading can be done by opening up the app, staying still, tapping start, and keeping the arm steady for 15 seconds. Blood Oxygen monitoring uses red and green LEDs and infrared light, with photodiodes measuring the amount of light reflected back to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood.

apple watch series 6 blood oxygen monitoring 1
There are many other new changes and tweaks in watchOS 7, and Apple's complete release notes for the update are below:

watchOS 7 makes Apple Watch more powerful and more personal than ever before—with new ways to discover and share watch faces, sleep tracking, automatic handwashing detection, and new workout types. Stay connected to your loved ones by pairing an Apple Watch for a family member to your iPhone with Family Setup. And watchOS 7 includes the Memoji app, cycling directions in Maps, and Siri language translation.

Watch Faces
- New Stripes face that lets you select the number of stripes you want, choose colors, and rotate the angle to create a watch face that reflects your style (Series 4 and later)
- New Typograph face with numerals in classic, modern, and rounded type styles and displayed in Arabic, Arabic Indic, Devanagari, or Roman (Series 4 and later)
- New Artist face created in collaboration with Geoff McFetridge that animates and morphs into a new creation with the time or when you tap the display
- New Memoji watch face features all the Memoji you have created and all of the Memoji characters (Series 4 and later)
- New GMT face that tracks a second time zone displaying a 12-hour inner dial with local time, and a 24-hour outer dial (Series 4 and later)
- New Chronograph Pro face that records time on scales of 60, 30, 6, or 3 seconds, or measures speed based on time traveled over a fixed distance with the new tachymeter (Series 4 and later)
- New Count Up face lets you easily track elapsed time by tapping the bezel (Series 4 and later)
- Share watch faces with Messages and Mail, or post a link online
- Discover and download curated watch faces from your favorite apps in the App Store or from websites and social media
- Support for rich complications on the X-Large face
- New color filters available to customize the Photos face
- New World Clock, Moon Phase, Altimeter, Camera Remote and Sleep complications

Sleep
- New Sleep app to help you meet your sleep duration goal with sleep tracking, custom sleep schedules, and a view of sleep trends over time
- Uses data from the accelerometer to detect when you are awake and when you are asleep
- Sleep mode minimizes distractions by turning on Do Not Disturb and turning off Raise to Wake and the display
- Wake up with alarm sounds and haptics on your watch
- Option to receive reminders to charge your watch before your scheduled bedtime and reminders when your watch is fully charged

Handwashing
- Automatic handwashing detection using motion sensors and microphone
- Once hand washing is detected, 20 second countdown starts
- Receive encouragement to keep washing for the recommended 20 seconds when watch detects you’ve stopped early
- Option to be reminded to wash your hands when arriving home
- Review how many times and how long you washed your hands in the Health app on iPhone
- Available on Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Family Setup
- Use your iPhone to pair and manage a watch for your family members, with their own phone number and Apple ID
- Screen Time and Downtime support for managing contacts, setting communication limits, and scheduling time away from the screen
- Schooltime mode turns on Do Not Disturb, limits interaction, and replaces watch face with distinctive yellow clock
- Set a custom Schooltime schedule and view times when watch exits mode
- Users 13 and under can track Move minutes instead of active calories, and can track walking, running, and cycling workouts with more accurate metrics
- Set up one-time, recurring, or time-based location notifications for family members
- Send money to family members and review transactions of users under 18 with Apple Cash Family (US only)
- Family members have the option to share their activity and health data, and will be notified when you create automatic location notifications
- Requires Family Sharing and can be used with up to five family members
- Available on cellular models of Apple Watch Series 4 and later

Memoji
- New Memoji app to create new Memoji or customize existing Memoji
- New hairstyles, more age options, and three new Memoji stickers
- Use your Memoji creations in the Memoji watch face
- Send Memoji stickers in Messages

Maps
- Turn by turn directions with larger font sizes that are easier to read
- Cycling directions provide routes along bike lanes, bike paths, and bike-friendly roads, taking into consideration elevation or how busy a street is
- Search for and add places optimized for cyclists to your route, like a bike shop
- Support for cycling directions is available in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Shanghai, and Beijing

Siri
- On-device dictation for faster and more reliable request handling and further protecting privacy (Series 4 and later, US English only)
- Translate phrases right on your wrist, with support for over 50 language pairs
- Adds support for Announce Messages

Other features and improvements:
- Change goals for exercise minutes and stand or roll hours in the Activity app
- New custom algorithms in the Workout app for Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cooldowns for accurate tracking of relevant metrics
- Redesigned and renamed Fitness app on iPhone with streamlined summary and sharing tabs
- Manage health and safety features of Apple Watch in the Health app on iPhone with new Health Checklist
- New Mobility metrics measured by Apple Watch available in the Health app, including low-range VO2 max, stair ascent speed, stair descent speed, and six-minute walk estimate
- ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 or later now available in Colombia, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
- Irregular heart rhythm notifications now available in Colombia, Israel, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates
- Support for additional interactions on Apple Watch Series 5 without having to wake the display including access to Control Center and Notification Center, the ability to change watch faces, and more
- Create group threads in Messages
- Inline replies let you reply to a specific message and see all related messages in their own view
- New Shortcuts app to access and run shortcuts you have previously created
- Add shortcuts to your watch face as a complication
- Share your audiobooks with Family Sharing
- Search now available in the Music app
- Redesigned Wallet app
- Digital car key support in Wallet (Series 5)
- View downloaded media in Music, Audiobooks, and Podcasts apps
- Current location available for World Clock and Weather apps

For more on all of the new features available in the watchOS 7 update, make sure to check out our watchOS 7 roundup.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Apple today released tvOS 14, the newest version of the tvOS operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 14 comes after several months of beta testing.

tvOS 14 Feature
The tvOS 14 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ by going to System -> Software Update. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to ‌tvOS 14 automatically.

tvOS 14 brings systemwide Picture in Picture, a feature designed to let you watch movies or TV shows in a small window in the corner of the TV screen while you do something else on the ‌Apple TV‌.

tvos14pip
A new Home section in the Control Center on the ‌Apple TV‌ allows HomeKit-connected devices to be controlled from the television set, plus there's an option to view HomeKit camera feeds on the larger screen of the TV or in Picture in Picture mode so you can keep an eye on your house while you watch TV.

tvos14
Apple Arcade on ‌Apple TV‌ supports multiple users, letting each tvOS user keep track of their individual game levels, leaderboards, and invitations. Additional gaming controllers are supported, including the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controllers. ‌Apple TV‌ games are also now able to take advantage of haptic feedback and other features built into controllers.

applearcadeprofileswapping
There's an option to manually choose a screensaver category in ‌tvOS 14‌, and for those who watch YouTube, ‌tvOS 14‌ supports watching YouTube videos in 4K for the first time. The ‌Apple TV‌ now supports Audio Sharing with the AirPods so two people can connect their AirPods to the ‌Apple TV‌ at the same time.

Later this year, the ‌Apple TV‌ will gain a new Fitness app that will be compatible with Apple's new Fitness+ service, priced at $9.99 per month. Fitness+ offers access to workout videos with Apple-picked trainers across a variety of categories like yoga, dance, cycling, core, HIIT, and more.

applefitness
For more on all of the new features in tvOS 14, make sure to check out our roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

With iOS and iPadOS 14 available as of today, Microsoft has updated its Outlook app for iOS devices to enable support for the new iOS 14 feature that lets third-party mail and browser apps be set as default apps (via The Verge).

ios14 and default outlook feature 1
After installing the new version of the app, Outlook can be set to be the default mail app on your iPhone or iPad, so when you click a mail link to compose an email, it will be opened up in Outlook rather than the standard Mail app.

To set Outlook as the default, download Microsoft Outlook, open up the Settings app, scroll down and select Outlook, tap on Default Mail App, and then choose Outlook.

Expect to see other mail and browser apps implementing support for third-party details in the near future. Chrome has already updated its iOS app with support and it can now be set to replace Safari as the default browser.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Rumors suggest that the high-end over-ear Apple-branded headphones that Apple has had in the works for some time are set to launch before the end of 2020, and today, an image of the "AirPods Studio" as they might be called surfaced on Twitter.

allegedairpodsstudio
Shared by Fudge, a leaker that has provided accurate details on Apple's plans in the past, the image features black headphones with large oblong ear cups and gray fabric padding at the top of the headband, which Fudge says is HomePod mesh. There's also a separate video of a white version.


Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously said that Apple is working on two versions of the AirPods Studio, one that's a higher-end premium version and one that's fitness-focused and made from lighter weight materials, and Fudge suggests this is the lighter "sport" variant.

Gurman at the time described headphones with a retro-like look with ear cups that swivel along with a headband connected with thin metal arms, which does appear to describe the headphones in the image.

The AirPods Studio are expected to have swappable ear pads and headband padding that will attach to the frame magnetically, allowing users to swap in different colors and variants for customization purposes.

Along with these design features, the AirPods Studio are expected to feature Active Noise Cancellation, head and neck detection, orientation detection, and more, with details available in our roundup.

There's no word yet on when the AirPods Studio might launch, but with iPhones set to come out in October, Apple could unveil the AirPods Studio alongside new iPhone models.

Related Roundup: AirPods Max
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

During its "Time Flies" event yesterday, Apple announced that iOS 14, iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 will be widely released today, providing developers with just one day's notice to submit their optimized apps for review.

ios 14 submit apps banner
While developers have had access to beta versions of the software updates since June, many were caught off guard by Apple's much shorter notice of the final releases. By comparison, Apple started accepting apps built for iOS 13 on September 10 last year, over one week before the software update was released on September 19.

iOS 14, iPadOS 14, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14 should be released to the public around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time today. We've shared a list of compatible devices for each software update here. Note that Apple has yet to announce a release date for macOS Big Sur.

In an email to developers, Apple said that all iOS and iPadOS apps submitted to the App Store will need to be built with Xcode 12 and the iOS 14 SDK starting in April 2021. Likewise, Apple said all watchOS apps submitted to the App Store will need to be built with Xcode 12 and the watchOS 7 SDK starting in April 2021.

Related Forum: iOS 14

During Apple's "Time Flies" event on Tuesday, Apple played a heartwarming video depicting stories of how Apple Watch has changed, and in some cases saved, the lives of some people who wear the device.

The short video has since been shared on Apple's official YouTube channel, and we've embedded it here below.


The video includes an athlete with Type-1 diabetes who uses Apple Watch to check insulin readings, which has given them a newfound sense of liberation from their condition.

Another person in the video was able to come off expensive medication for high blood pressure and hypertension by getting into shape with the help of Apple Watch, while a 26-year-old was alerted by Apple Watch to a high heart rate which led them to seek medical help before they went into cardiac arrest, potentially saving their life.

Apple is pitching the Apple Watch Series 6 as a health, fitness, and safety device like never before, and with the introduction of blood oxygen measuring, it is joining forces with researchers to conduct health studies in the hope that signals from apps on Apple Watch could serve as early signs of respiratory conditions like influenza and COVID-19.

Blood oxygen level is a key indicator of overall wellness and can help you understand how well your body is absorbing oxygen, as well as the amount of oxygen delivered to your body. The new sensor and app in the Apple Watch Series 6 enables users to take on-demand readings of their blood oxygen as well as background readings, both during the day and at night.

Apple says the Blood Oxygen app is only available in certain countries and regions, but we're still waiting to learn where the Blood Oxygen app is available.

Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS) starts at $399 and Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS + Cellular) starts at $499. Preorders are currently being taken with availability starting Friday.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple's official public release of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 dropped on Wednesday, September 16, just a day after the company released the Golden Master to third-party developers. Also set to be made available to the general public for the first time are watchOS 7 and tvOS 14.

Getting Started With iOS 14 Video

Click image to watch iOS 14 Getting Started

While that's left a lot of developers scrambling to test and submit their apps to Apple for review – a process that can sometimes take days if not weeks – that doesn't change the fact that plenty of Apple device users will be eager to download and install the new software as soon as it comes out.

There are tons of native features in ‌iOS 14‌ and ‌iPadOS 14‌, all the details of which you can find in our iOS 14 roundup and iPadOS 14 roundup.

Release Date and Time

Apple's iOS 14 was released on September 16th right before 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific time. The update should be available worldwide by the time you read this.

How to Install

The update is available on all eligible devices (see below) over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

  1. Ideally, plug your iPhone or iPad into a power outlet
  2. Go to Settings > General > Software Update
    software update
  3. Tap Download and Install

For full details on all the new features, visit our release article which lists all the many new features found in iOS 14.

Device Compatibility

iOS 14 is compatible with the same iPhones as iOS 13, including older devices like the original ‌iPhone‌ SE and ‌iPhone‌ 6s. iOS 14 compatible devices are listed below.

  • ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro
  • ‌iPhone‌ SE (2020)

  • iPhone 11 Pro Max

  • ‌iPhone‌ 11

  • ‌iPhone‌ XS

  • ‌iPhone‌ XS Max

  • ‌iPhone‌ XR

  • ‌iPhone‌ X

  • ‌iPhone‌ 8

  • ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus

  • ‌iPhone‌ 7

  • ‌iPhone‌ 7 Plus

  • ‌iPhone‌ 6s

  • ‌iPhone‌ 6s Plus

  • ‌iPhone‌ SE (2016)

  • iPod touch (7th generation)

iPadOS 14 is compatible with all of the same devices that were able to run iPadOS 13, which include:

  • All iPad Pro models
  • ‌iPad‌ (7th generation)
  • ‌iPad‌ (6th generation)
  • ‌iPad‌ (5th generation)
  • iPad mini 4 and 5
  • iPad Air (3rd generation)
  • ‌iPad Air‌ 2

watchOS 7 can be installed on Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5 models. It is not compatible with the original first-generation Apple Watch, Apple Watch Series 1, or Apple Watch Series 2.

tvOS 14 is designed to run on the fourth- and fifth-generation Apple TV models. It is not compatible with earlier versions of the ‌Apple TV‌, as those models do not support tvOS.

Related Forum: iOS 14

The new watchOS 7 update includes a new Apple Watch feature that's designed to let users customize all of their Activity goals, setting not only calorie targets, but also Stand hours and Exercise minutes.

applewatchactivitycustomization
In watchOS 6, there is no option to customize Stand hours or Exercise minutes, with Apple requiring at least 12 stand hours and at least 30 minutes of exercise to complete an Activity goal. Goals will be much more customizable with watchOS 7.

The Exercise goal can be set for as low as 10 minutes or as high as 60 minutes, while the Stand goal can be dropped to six hours. Twelve hours continues to be the maximum.

Activity goals can be changed by opening up the Activity app on the Apple Watch and scrolling down to get to the "Change Goals" option. Under Change Goals, you can set new Move, Exercise, and Stand goals.

Apple released the watchOS 7 GM earlier today, and plans to release the new update to the public tomorrow.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

At today's media event, Apple announced Family Setup, a new feature coming tomorrow as part of watchOS 7 that will allow kids, elderly relatives, and others take advantage of many of the capabilities of the Apple Watch without the need for their own paired iPhone.

apple cash family
Compatible with Apple Watch Series 4 and later and the Apple Watch SE, Family Setup requires a cellular Apple Watch model and an active carrier plan for the watch. The primary user can then use the Watch app on their ‌iPhone‌ to set up an Apple Watch for another family member, managing access to various features and capabilities and receiving reports on activity.

One interesting feature of ‌Family Setup‌ is "Apple Cash Family," which lets a parent securely load money onto their child's Apple Watch and allows the child to then purchase items wherever Apple Pay is accepted.

With the new Apple Cash Family, parents can securely send their kids money to spend on their watch using Apple Pay. Parents can choose to receive notifications when their kids pay, and view their child’s purchases right in Wallet on their own iPhone.

Apple Cash Family helps parents give kids a limited amount of funds to spend at their discretion without needing to worry about cash that can be easily lost or stolen.

Apple Cash Family can be enabled for up to five family members, and oversight can be shared with another adult in your Family Sharing group. Parents can not only view activity and receive notifications of purchases and person-to-person payments, but also restrict access to Apple Cash balances if needed and limit who money can be sent to.

‌Family Setup‌ offers other helpful tools for parents and kids, with Schooltime and Downtime features that offer controls over when and what kids can do with their Apple Watch, kid-focused Activity rings, and more. And for older adults, ‌Family Setup‌ helps deliver key tools like fall detection, automatic emergency calling, and health features without the need for them to have an ‌iPhone‌.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple today made its Apple Card interest-free monthly installment payment plan option available for the Apple Watch for the first time, allowing U.S. ‌Apple Card‌ holders to pay for the Apple Watch over time with interest-free payments.

applewatchpaymentapplecard
When purchasing an Apple Watch using ‌Apple Card‌ Monthly Installments, users will make one installment payment each month for twenty four months, which is the same purchase plan available for iPhone. ‌Apple Card‌ users also earn the three percent standard Daily Cash back for purchases through Apple.

Apple in June made interest-free monthly installment plans available for Macs, iPads, and other Apple products, but the Apple Watch was not included as an eligible purchase option until today, as noted in a new support document.

The new ‌Apple Card‌ Monthly Installment option for Apple Watch is prominently displayed when making an Apple Watch purchase from the online Apple Store or the ‌Apple Store‌ app.

A standard $399 Apple Watch Series 6, which is the entry-level pricing, costs $16.62 per month when using the ‌Apple Card‌ payment option.

Following the debut of the new Apple Watch Series 6, the refreshed iPad Air, and the low-cost eighth-generation iPad, Apple has extended its Back to School sale in the United States, with the promotion now ending on October 12 instead of September 29.

apple back to school 2020
In addition to extending the dates of the sale, Apple has also updated its Terms and Conditions [PDF] to exclude the new ‌iPad Air‌ from the promotion. Customers who purchase one of the new $599 ‌iPad Air‌ models (which are not available for sale yet) will not be eligible to get free AirPods.

Prior to today's update, both the iPad Pro and the ‌iPad Air‌ were eligible products that customers could purchase to take advantage of the free AirPods promotion.

The Back to School Sale in the United States initially launched on June 15, and it provides a $159 credit toward the purchase of AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods with Wireless Charging case for those who purchase a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, ‌iMac‌ Pro, or ‌iPad Pro‌.

Apple launched Back to School promotions in Europe, Asia, Mexico, and the Middle East in July and the new ‌iPad Air‌ exclusion may also apply in other countries that previously allowed free AirPods with the purchase of an ‌iPad Air‌.

Apple has not provided an exact date for when the new ‌iPad Air‌ models will become available for purchase, but they're expected to be available next month. Given that Apple specifically excluded the ‌iPad Air‌ from the Back to School sale but also extended it for two weeks, we could see the ‌iPad Air‌ become available before October 12.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Apple today updated its AppleCare+ protection plan for Apple devices to cover two incidents of accidental damage protection every 12 months. Prior to now, AppleCare+ covered two incidents of accidental damage every 24 months.

applecaredamageprotection12months
The ‌AppleCare‌+ changes apply to the new Apple Watch models as well as the iPhone, a change made ahead of the launch of the new iPhone 12 models. Macs and iPads also offer the same updated coverage.

Accidental damage is subject to service fees that vary based on the damage and the device. For the ‌iPhone‌, for example, screen damage requires customers to pay a $29 deductible, while other accidental damage requires a $99 fee.

Apple's separate Theft or Loss plan for the ‌iPhone‌ also has a lowered deductible that's now $149 for all iPhones. Previously, replacing a stolen or lost ‌iPhone‌ cost $149 to $269 depending on the device, so it's much more affordable to get a lost ‌iPhone‌ replaced under the new terms.

Apple also recently changed its AppleCare+ policies to make it possible for customers in the United States and Canada to purchase Apple Care for up to a year after buying a new device. The year-long purchase window is available for all devices eligible for ‌AppleCare‌+ (iPhones, iPads, Macs, iPods, HomePods), AirPods, Apple Watch, and Pro Display XDR) and for ‌AppleCare‌+ subscriptions.

Following Apple's event that saw the introduction of a new iPad Air, Logitech today announced the launch of the Logitech Folio Touch that's designed for the device.

foliotouchipadair1
Like the Folio Touch for the iPad Pro, the ‌iPad Air‌ version includes a full-size keyboard with backlit keys and, most notably, a trackpad that works with the trackpad gestures included in iPadOS.

foliotouchipadair2
The Folio Touch, which is priced at $160, is available as an alternative to the Magic Keyboard, which Apple is also offering for the ‌iPad Air‌. The Folio Touch is made from a soft gray fabric with a shell to fit the iPad into. It connects to the Smart Connector on the ‌iPad Air‌ so there's no need to charge it.

foliotouchipadair3
The Folio Touch for ‌iPad Air‌ appears to be identical to the Folio Touch for iPad Pro, with the exception of a smaller camera cutout, a power button cutout to allow for Touch ID, and being fitted to the ‌iPad Air‌, which measures in at 10.9 inches. We reviewed the Folio Touch for iPad Pro earlier this year and found it to be a great alternative to the more expensive Magic Keyboard.

Logitech plans to begin selling the Folio Touch for ‌iPad Air‌ in October 2020. It will be available from the Logitech website and the Apple online store.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad

Apple today announced the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE, both of which will be compatible with new watch faces that are being introduced in the watchOS 7 update set to be released tomorrow.

Apple has provided a video highlighting all of the new Apple Watch faces, with details on each one.

  • GMT - The GMT face shows multiple time zones at once, while also taking into account your physical location. 12-hour time is displayed on the inner dial with local time, while the outer dial displays 24-hour time.
  • Count Up - The Count Up face lets you start tracking elapsed time by tapping the bezel.
  • Chronograph Pro - This face was previously available in the watchOS 7 betas and features multiple time scales (60, 30, 6, or 3 seconds) along with a tachymeter to measure speed based on time travel over a set distance.
  • Typograph - The typograph face displays numerals in three custom type styles (custom, modern, and rounded) and four different scripts ( Arabic, Arabic Indic, Devanagari, and Roman) with each combo tailored to fit the face perfectly.
  • Artist - For the Art watch face, Apple collaborated with artist Geoff McFetridge to create an Apple Watch face that features artistic animated faces with the time overlaid.
  • Memoji - The Memoji face brings animated Memoji to the Apple Watch that react to touch.
  • Stripes face - Features different striped patterns in a variety of colors for supporting sports teams, matching what you're wearing, and more. You can choose the number of stripes, the number of colors, and rotate the stripes in any angle.

According to Apple, the Stripes, Typograph, Memoji, GMT, Chronograph Pro, and Count Up watch faces are limited to the Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6 Apple Watch models, along with the Apple Watch SE.

The new watch face options are available in the watchOS 7 golden master that was released earlier today, and will be available through the public release of watchOS 7 tomorrow.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple today held its annual September event, but this year was a bit different because no new iPhones were announced. The "Time Flies" event focused on the Apple Watch Series 6 and the iPad Air, and saw the debut of a new Apple One services bundle.


It took Apple an hour to introduce the new devices, but we've recapped the event in just seven minutes for our readers who would like a no-frills but thorough overview of all of the announcements.

The new $399 Apple Watch Series 6 offers a faster S6 chip for better performance and battery efficiency, a next-generation always-on altimeter, and, most notably, a new blood oxygen monitoring feature. Apple is also selling it in two new aluminum colors: blue and (PRODUCT)RED.

Apple also announced a lower-cost $279 Apple Watch SE without blood oxygen monitoring, or ECG, and there's a new ‌iPad Air‌ with an all-screen display, new colors, and a Touch ID power button. A new Fitness+ service offers Apple Watch-guided fitness videos for $9.99 per month, and the ‌Apple One‌ bundle lets you purchase several services for one monthly price to save some cash.

All of our event coverage is available below, so make sure to check out our articles so you don't miss any of the updates.

Apple Watch Series 6 and SE

iPad Air

Eighth-Generation iPad

Apple One

Fitness+

Other Announcements

Apple Videos

Apple shared several videos during its keynote event highlighting new products. We've embedded them below for those who missed seeing the event live.





Apple's full event livestream can be rewatched on YouTube or on the Apple Event website, and there's even an ASL version.


The new Apple Watch models and iPad can be purchased as of today, with the ‌iPad Air‌ set to become available in October.

Apple today announced a new Fitness+ service which is set to launch later this year. Fitness+ is a fitness experience that was designed with the Apple Watch in mind, and it pairs fitness videos watched on the iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV with Apple Watch fitness measuring metrics.

applefitness
Fitness+, accessible in the Fitness app on ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and ‌Apple TV‌, provides studio-style workouts across several workout categories including Cycling, Treadmill, Rowing, HIIT, Strength, Yoga, Dance, Core, and Mindful Cooldown. Users will be able to choose workout type, trainer, duration, and music, plus Apple will offer up custom recommendations.

All Apple Customers are eligible for a free one-month trial of Fitness+ when it launches, but those who purchase an Apple Watch Series 3 or later from Apple will get a free three-month trial.

Apple has an even sweeter deal in collaboration with Best Buy. Anyone who purchases an Apple Watch Series 3 or later from Best Buy will get six months of Fitness+ for free. My Best Buy members who already own an Apple Watch Series 3 or later can get two months of Fitness+ for free, with details available on Best Buy's website.

CVS Health is also offering access to Fitness+ for Aetna commercial and Caremark members, CVS Pharmacy ExtraCare retail customers, and CVS Health employees. Fitness+ is also included in Apple's Premier Apple One bundle plan, priced at $29.95 per month.

After the free trial, Fitness+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Purchasing the yearly plan offers savings of $40, dropping the price to $6.67 per month. Fitness+ is eligible for family sharing, so for the monthly price, up to six family members can access the guided workout options.

When it launches later this year, Fitness+ will be available in the United States, UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. Fitness+ requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later paired with an ‌iPhone‌ 6s/‌iPhone‌ SE or later.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple Watch Series 6 models are equipped with a U1 chip for Ultra Wideband support, according to tech specs on Apple's website.

f1600190370
Introduced in iPhone 11 models last year, the U1 chip enables improved spatial awareness. The distance between two devices that support Ultra Wideband can be measured precisely by calculating the time that it takes for a radio wave to pass between the two devices, with much more accuracy than Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi.

Apple has so far only used the technology to power a directional AirDrop feature in iOS 13, but it has promised more exciting use cases in the future. One of those will likely be its rumored AirTags items trackers, which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said will support Ultra Wideband, allowing users to locate lost items with greater accuracy.

Earlier this year, MacRumors teamed up with repair site iFixit to confirm that the 2020 iPad Pro lacks the U1 chip, so the fact that it is included in the Apple Watch Series 6 provides reassurance that Apple is still committed to Ultra Wideband.

The lower-cost Apple Watch SE is not equipped with a U1 chip, according to Apple's tech specs.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Apple today unveiled several long-awaited "Apple One" service bundles that allow you to subscribe to multiple Apple services for a single monthly fee, saving you some money compared to purchasing each service individually.

appleonebundle
There are three ‌Apple One‌ tiers, which include the following services:

  • Individual ($14.95 per month) - Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50GB iCloud storage.
  • Family ($19.95 per month, shared with six family members) - ‌Apple Music‌, ‌Apple TV‌+, ‌Apple Arcade‌, and 200GB ‌iCloud‌ storage.
  • Premier ($29.95 per month, shared with six family members) - ‌Apple Music‌, ‌Apple TV‌+, ‌Apple Arcade‌, 2TB ‌iCloud‌ storage, Apple News+, and Apple Fitness+.

The Individual plan saves customers $6 compared to purchasing each service separately, while the Family plan offers $8 per month savings. The highest-tier Premier plan saves customers $25 per month and includes the greatest number of services.

The Premier plan is the only plan that offers access to Apple Fitness+, Apple's new fitness-based video lesson service that is set to launch in late 2020.

Fitness+ offers workouts that can be watched on an iPhone, iPad, or ‌Apple TV‌, with fitness-related data collected by the Apple Watch.

Customers who purchase one of Apple's subscription bundles are able to add additional ‌iCloud‌ storage if necessary according to the fine print on the Apple One website.

‌Apple One‌ bundles will be available later this fall, and one-month free trials will be available for services that you haven't already tried. Fitness+ will be launching later this year.