Apple today provided developers with the first beta of tvOS 18.2, and the update adds support for the 21:9 aspect ratio that projectors use.
As noted by Sigmund Judge, the update includes a new option that lets the Apple TV automatically detect the best aspect ratio for a television or projector. Options include 16:9, 21:9, 2.37:1, 2.39:1, 2.40:1, DCI 4K, and 32:9.
tvOS 18.2 Developer Beta 1 introduces the ability for Apple TV to automatically detect the best aspect ratio for your television or projector.
If you have an anamorphic lens or your television's aspect ratio is not detected, users will have the ability to manually choose from… pic.twitter.com/QjAFvKME7d
— Sigmund Judge (@sigjudge) November 4, 2024
Support for the 21:9 aspect ratio was announced as a tvOS 18 feature, but it was not in the initial tvOS 18 release. tvOS 18.2 includes an option to show or hide volume feedback from external devices like sound bars in addition to the aspect ratio change.
We are also waiting on new Snoopy screen savers, but those do not appear to be included in tvOS 18.2.
Apple is surveying its employees about smart glasses as it continues to consider releasing its own version of Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple has launched an internal study of products that are on the market, and is currently gathering feedback from Apple employees.
In an email sent out to employees, Apple's Product Systems Quality team called for participants for "an upcoming user study with current market smart glasses." According to Gurman, it is common for Apple to use focus groups when it is deciding on whether to enter a new market. Using employees for the focus groups allows Apple to keep its plans secret, something that wouldn't be possible with recruiting the public.
While a product is several years away, Apple is mulling making smart glasses that are similar to the Meta Ray-Bans. Meta's glasses have a camera and integrated AI so that users can ask questions about what's around them.
Apple could potentially design a simple set of glasses with a camera, Siri integration, and built-in speakers for listening to music, plus there could be included health capabilities. The glasses would essentially be an upgraded version of the AirPods with additional capabilities.
Smart glasses that integrate just a camera, speakers, and AI would be easy for Apple to produce, and it could be a way to boost wearable profits while work continues on augmented reality glasses. Apple has not been able to make AR glasses due to high costs and technical limitations that the company has not yet been able to overcome.
Gathering feedback from employees about Meta's glasses and other similar devices could provide Apple with valuable information on what features customers prefer.
Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.0.1, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.1 from downgrading to iOS 18. Apple released iOS 18.1 a week ago on October 28.
It is not unusual for Apple to stop signing older versions of iOS shortly after a new version of iOS is released. When Apple stops signing an update, it can no longer be installed on an iPhone due to a server-side software verification check that happens before new software is installed, so those who have upgraded to the latest version of iOS 18 cannot downgrade to iOS 18.0.1.
Apple prevents downgrading to older versions of iOS to encourage iPhone users to keep their operating systems up to date with the latest security fixes.
The iOS 18.1 update added the first Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, a new look for Siri, summaries and smart replies, and more. Apple CEO Tim Cookrecently said that iPhone users are upgrading to iOS 18.1 twice as fast as iOS 17.1 during the same timeframe last year.
In the latest macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta, there is a new option to add the weather in your current location to the menu bar of the Mac. The menu bar weather feature shows the temperature along with an icon for the weather conditions, like a cloud if it's cloudy and a sun if it's sunny.
Clicking into the icon shows an hourly view of the upcoming conditions and temperature, along with the weather in other locations that you have saved. You can also open the Weather app from the menu bar interface.
The Weather icon can be enabled by opening up the Mac's Settings app, going to Control Center, and scrolling down to the "Menu Bar Only" section. Weather joins other options that include Clock, Spotlight, Siri, and Time Machine.
The macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple may release a public beta in the not too distant future. macOS Sequoia 15.2 will be released in early December.
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 updates to developers, and Apple is continuing to refine the Apple Intelligence capabilities. There are also a handful of smaller features that are worth knowing about.
Find My
Find My has a new option to Share Item Location with an "airline or trusted person" that can help you locate something that you've misplaced. Choosing the Share Item Location option creates a link that lets someone view the location of a lost item when they open the link.
The link can be opened on a non-Apple device, so an iPhone or Mac is not required to provide someone with your item's location. Links expire after a week or when you're reunited with your lost item.
There's also an option to Show Contact Info, which lets any phone or tablet connect to an item to view a website with more information about it, including the phone number and email address of the owner.
Siri ChatGPT Limit
The ChatGPT section of Apple Intelligence for Sirinow shows the ChatGPT limits that are in place for free users, while also offering an option to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus plan. With ChatGPT integration, users have free access to ChatGPT, but only a small number of requests that use the latest ChatGPT-4o engine and a small number of DALL-E 3 images that can be created.
After that, access reverts to a more basic version of ChatGPT that's less expensive for OpenAI to run. Unfettered access requires ChatGPT Plus, priced at $19.99 per month.
Battery Life and Device Temperature
In the iOS 18.2 beta 2 release notes, Apple says that it has improved battery life and device temperature.
Settings App Icons
In Dark Mode, the icons in the Settings app have a new, darker look that shows color on a black background rather than icons that are a solid color with white accents.
Camera Control
For iPhone 16 users, there's now an option lock your auto exposure and auto focus settings with a light press. The AE/AF Lock toggle can be turned on by going to Settings > Camera > Camera Control.
There is also an option to adjust the double click speed of Camera Control. Options include Default, Slow, and Slower. The adjustment options join prior options to tweak the double light press speed and the light press force.
Adjusting Camera Control can be done by opening Settings and going to Accessibility > Camera Button.
iPhone Mirroring With Hotspot
iOS 18.2 allows you to use iPhone Mirroring while your iPhone's hotspot connection is being shared with your Mac. Having your Mac connected through Personal Hotspot previously did not allow you to use iPhone Mirroring.
Fitness Shortcut Actions
There are new Fitness app Shortcut actions that you can use when creating a Shortcut, including Open Fitness Settings, Open Award, Open Session History, and Open Trophy Case.
Safari Downloads
The progress of Safari downloads can now be tracked on the iPhone's Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
Vehicle Motion Cues
There's an option see Vehicle Motion Cues in the Dynamic Island when the feature is activated. Vehicle Motion Cues are designed to cut down on motion sickness while riding in a vehicle.
Mac Connection
When connecting to a Mac, you can use Face ID to trust a device.
Apple Music
Apple Music now displays the disc number in some albums.
Web Restrictions in Utah
Utah residents under the age of 17 will be opted in to web content restrictions that block adult content in iOS 18.2. This is required by Utah law.
EU Default Browser Changes
In the European Union, iPadOS 18.2 requires selecting a Default Browser when opening Safari. This is a Digital Markets Act requirement, with Apple adding an updated interface that will let users select a default web browser of their choice from a list of options.
Apple has already implemented this change in iOS 18.
More Features
Know of a new feature in iOS 18.2 beta 2 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple in iOS 18.2 beta 2 added a new feature to the Find My app, which is designed to allow you to share a lost item's location with a trusted person. Apple says that the feature is meant to help you locate an item through a third-party, like an airline employee.
In the Find My app, there's now an option to "Share Item Location" and "Show Contact Info." Choosing the Share Item Location option creates a link that allows someone to see the location of a lost item when they open the link. The link can be opened on a non-Apple device, so people without an iPhone or Mac can help you find something that's lost. Find My links that you share expire after a week and you can see how many people visited the link. Shared links stop working when an item is returned to you or when the link sharing date expires.
Choosing Show Contact Info lets any phone or tablet connect to a lost item to open a website with more information about it, including the phone number and email address of the person who owns it.
Find My already allowed you to share an item with a person in your Contacts list, but now it also lets you temporarily provide an item's location to someone else who might be able to help you find it. The new feature for sharing a lost item works with AirTags and other devices that connect to Apple's Find My network.
Apple today seeded the first beta of visionOS 2.2 to developers, and it adds the promised "Wide" and "Ultrawide" modes to the Mac Virtual Display feature.
Mac Virtual Display allows Apple's Vision Pro headset to be used as an external display for a Mac. The feature has been available since visionOS was first released earlier this year, but the wider options are new in the latest beta.
Apple has previously said the ultra-wide version of Mac Virtual Display is equivalent to having two physical 4K displays sitting side by side on a desk.
Mac Virtual Display is now available in three sizes: Normal, Wide, and Ultrawide.
visionOS 2.2 will likely be released to the public in December alongside iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and other updates.
With the second beta of iOS 18.2 that's available for developers today, Apple has further fleshed out the ChatGPT integration that's available with Siri. In the Settings app, there's now a section that shows the ChatGPT daily limit, and offers an option to upgrade to the paid ChatGPT Plus plan.
The beta includes an Advanced Capabilities section with a "Daily Limit" reading that shows up as "Under Limit" without a paid ChatGPT plan. Users have access to a small number of requests that use the most advanced ChatGPT capabilities, and requests are downgraded to a basic version of ChatGPT after that.
OpenAI has long restricted access to ChatGPT's most advanced feature set to a paid Plus plan, so accessing ChatGPT through Siri is subject to the same limitations.
There is an option to upgrade to ChatGPT Plus, which is priced at $19.99 per month. ChatGPT Plus provides 5x more messages on the newest version of ChatGPT, GPT-4o. It also allows for higher limits on photo and file uploads, image generation, and web browsing, as well as an option to converse with ChatGPT using advanced voice mode.
Customers who already have a ChatGPT Plus plan can sign into their account, and those that do not can sign up through the Settings app. The Settings app opens to an in-app browser where users can sign up directly with OpenAI.
Free access to ChatGPT-4o requests resets every 24 hours, and when the limited number of requests are used up, Siri will switch to a more cost effective version of ChatGPT. The free plan limits creation with DALL-E 3 to two images per day.
Amazon today introduced a price drop on the upgraded M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM, specifically for the 13-inch model with 256GB of storage. You can get this computer for $799.00 in two colors, down from $999.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This price is available in Silver and Starlight, but shoppers should note that the Silver delivery estimate has already slipped into December. The Starlight option can be delivered as soon as this Saturday, November 9.
Apple updated the MacBook Air lineup last week to start with 16GB of RAM, up from 8GB, and otherwise there have been no changes to the computer.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates to developers for testing purposes. The betas come two weeks after Apple released the first 18.2 and 15.2 betas. Alongside the second betas of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating system updates, Apple has also seeded the first betas of watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and visionOS 2.2.
With today's updates, Apple is continuing to test the next phase of Apple Intelligence, with these features available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS:
Image Playground
Image Playground is Apple's image generation app, and it can create images based on prompts. You can enter a description of what you want or use the built-in suggestions and concepts that Apple provides. Apple will suggest costumes, locations, items, and more to add to an image, and these concepts are intelligent and can draw inspiration from a Messages thread or content in the Notes app.
There are options to create characters that resemble your friends and family, and you can choose a photo for Image Playground to use as inspiration to create a related image. Elements added to Image Playground creations are previewed, and there is a preview history so you can undo a change and go back to a prior version.
While Image Playground is a standalone app, it is also integrated into Messages. Image Playground does not make photorealistic images and is instead limited to animation or illustration styles.
Image Wand
Image Wand is an Image Playground-related feature that's available in the Notes app on iPad. You can draw a rough sketch with the Apple Pencil or circle a blank space or a key phrase in a note to have Image Wand generate an appropriate image.
Genmoji
Genmoji are custom emoji characters that you can create based on descriptions and phrases. Like Image Playground creations, you can base them on your friends and family, with the data pulled from the People album in Photos. You can also make characters using basic elements, and you'll get multiple Genmoji suggestions to choose from. You can create Genmoji using the emoji keyboard.
Genmoji are limited to iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 right now, and will be coming to macOS Sequoia later.
Siri ChatGPT Integration
Siri can integrate with ChatGPT for certain requests, but only with user approval. If Siri is unable to provide an answer to a query, Siri will hand the request over to ChatGPT. ChatGPT's answer will then be provided by Siri.
ChatGPT can be used to create content from scratch, including text and images. No account is required to use ChatGPT integration, and Apple and OpenAI do not store requests.
Visual Intelligence
iPhone 16 users have access to Visual Intelligence, a feature that provides information about what's around you. If you open the camera and point it at a restaurant, for example, you'll see opening hours and reviews.
Some other Visual Intelligence capabilities include reading text out loud, detecting phone numbers and addresses to add them to Contacts, copying text, and summarizing text. There is an option to search Google for where to buy a specific item that you see, and you can also point the camera at something and then get more information about it from ChatGPT.
Apple plans to expand this feature to include more functionality over time.
Writing Tools
Apple is enhancing the Writing Tools feature to add an option to make more open-ended changes. In iOS 18.1 and its sister updates, Writing Tools can only be used to change the tone to friendly, professional, and a more simplified version. In iOS 18.2, you can describe the tone or content change that you want to make, such as adding more action words, or turning an email into a poem.
More Languages
Apple Intelligence supports localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the UK in addition to U.S. English.
Wait List
If you've already been testing Apple Intelligence and are opted in, you will have access to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence automatically.
There is a secondary waiting list for early access to use Genmoji, Image Playground, and Image Wand. You can sign up to get access in Image Playground or in the areas where you access Genmoji or Image Wand.
When you request access, you are added to a wait list for all three capabilities and you'll get a notification when the features are available for you to use. Apple is rolling out access to the new image generation features over the coming weeks.
Availability and Compatibility
The second betas are available on all devices, but the Apple Intelligence features require a device capable of Apple Intelligence. As of right now, the betas are limited to developers, but there will likely be a public beta coming in the not too distant future. Apple is still working on refining the new Apple Intelligence tools, and the company warns that Genmoji, Image Wand, and Image Playground can sometimes give you results you weren't expecting. Apple is collecting feedback on these experiences and will refine them over time.
The feedback received will help Apple determine when the image generation features will be more widely available for beta testing and when they'll see an eventual public launch.
Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.2 requires an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 model. iPadOS 18.2 requires an iPad with an M-series chip or an A17 Pro chip, while macOS Sequoia 15.2 requires a Mac with an M-series chip.
Release Date
Apple is expected to release the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and visionOS 2.2 updates in early December.
Apple has accidentally allowed an iPhone and iPad app that allows you to stream pirated movies and TV shows for free into the App Store, according to a post from Kevin Aubin on Threads. The post was earlier reported by The Verge.
While the so-called "Univer Note" app's description says that it "can easily help you record every day's events and plan your time," it actually lets you stream movies that are still playing in theaters, like Smile 2 and Venom: The Last Dance. You can also watch shows from streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and even Apple TV+. Oops!
It appears that the French-language app has been available in the App Store since September, but it is unclear how long the app has offered pirated movies and TV shows instead of calendar functionality. This app clearly went undetected by Apple's App Review team, and it should be removed from the App Store promptly after receiving news coverage.
Update: It appears the pirated movies and TV shows are only visible in the app in certain countries, such as Canada and France. In the U.S., the app actually appears to be a basic calendar app, which may have helped it to stay under the radar until now.
Update 2: The app has been removed from the App Store.
In a recent document outlining the steps it has taken to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple revealed that it will allow iPhone and iPad users in the EU to set default navigation and translation apps starting in "spring 2025." That timeframe suggests these options will be added in iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, which should be released in April.
Apple had already announced that iPhone and iPad users in the EU would be able to set default navigation and translation apps in "future software updates," but it did not share a more specific timeframe for these options until now.
Once the iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates are released, iPhone and iPad users in the EU should be able to set default navigation and translation apps through the new "Default Apps" section in the Settings app on the devices. For example, users should be able to choose Google Maps, Waze, or other options as their default navigation app, instead of Apple Maps. Likewise, they should be able to choose Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, or other options as their default translation app, instead of Apple's Translate app.
As of the iOS 18.2 beta, iPhone users in the EU can already set a default browser app, mail app, app marketplace, phone calls app, messaging app, password manager app, and set default options for call filtering and software keyboards.
Satechi and MacRumors have partnered up this week to help kickstart your holiday shopping, with an exclusive 30 percent sitewide discount for our readers. This sale is available only on Satechi's website and has no exclusions, and it will run through this Friday, November 8.
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.
To get the discount, add anything on Satechi's website to your cart and head to checkout. Once at checkout, you can enter the code MR30 to get 30 percent off your order for this week only. This discount code takes 30 percent off whatever is in your cart, so you can purchase multiple accessories at once.
Note: Use code MR30 at checkout to see the discount.
Below we've rounded up some of Satechi's best wireless chargers and other accessories, including a few that are compatible with MagSafe. Some highlights of the sale are the Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand and Trio Wireless Charger with Magnetic Pad. Of course, the MR30 code works sitewide at Satechi through Friday, so be sure to browse throughout the company's products to take advantage of the sale.
Remember that our promo code MR30 works sitewide and will end on November 8, so be sure to shop on Satechi's website sometime this week before the sale closes.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
iPadOS is now under formal scrutiny by the European Commission to determine whether it complies with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The announcement by the European Commission marks the next step in its regulatory oversight of Apple, following the iPadOS designation as a "gatekeeper" platform in April 2024. The classification was part of a broader effort to apply the newly enforced DMA, aimed at limiting the dominance of major tech firms and promoting fair competition across the European Union.
The regulations outline obligations for "gatekeepers," mandating these companies to open up their software ecosystems to ensure a level playing field. In a press release (via Reuters), the European Commission explained:
Apple must, among others, allow users to set the default web browser of their choice on iPadOS, allow alternative app stores on its operating system, and allow accessory devices, like headphones and smart pens, to effectively access iPadOS features.
Apple has already made a series of changes to iPadOS in the European Union to comply with regulations, and the Commission is now assessing the sufficiency of these changes. For example, iPadOS 18 will allow users in the European Union to install third-party app stores—referred to as "app marketplaces" by Apple—and set an alternative web browser as the default.
However, questions remain about Apple's compliance with the DMA's stipulations for accessory interoperability. The DMA states that platforms must support "accessory ecosystems like headphones and smart pens," allowing these third-party devices to work effectively with core operating system functions.
While the iPad supports a wide range of headphones and styluses, the integration for accessories like the AirPods and Apple Pencil remains considerably more seamless and feature-rich compared to third-party alternatives, offering capabilities such as automatic device switching and pressure sensitivity.
Apple may try to argue that its current level of support for third-party accessories already meets the requirements of the DMA. Under the provisions of the DMA, violations could lead to significant penalties, potentially amounting to 10% of the company’s global annual turnover. The final judgement is expected to be published next year.
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.
Today we're tracking notable discounts on the previous generation M3 MacBook Pro at Amazon and Best Buy, with as much as $700 off select computers. Regarding the Best Buy discounts, you won't need to have a My Best Buy membership in order to see the discounts for these sales.
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.
The highlight of the sale is on the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/1TB) for $1,399.00, down from $1,999.00. This one is available at both Amazon and Best Buy, and it's a new all-time low price on the computer.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Apple last week released iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 with the first set of Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including Writing Tools. Within the Writing Tools suite, there is an option to change the tone of text you write to be friendly, professional, or concise, along with the ability to have text summarized into key points. Apple highlighted these capabilities today in two humorous Mac ads.
In the first ad, a furious employee types out an angry, unprofessional email to a coworker who is apparently stealing their pudding. Before sending the email, they use Writing Tools to change the tone of the email to be friendlier.
In the second ad, an employee uses Apple Intelligence to quickly catch up on the key points in documents being discussed during a meeting.
Apple Intelligence is available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, any Mac with an M-series chip, and any iPad with an M-series or A17 Pro chip.
Apple's fall 2024 Mac announcements have included new iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro models, all of which debuted with variants of Apple's M4 chip. Apple intends to update the rest of its Mac lineup with M4 series processors over the next 12 months, which will make it the first time that Apple has used the same chip generation across all of its Macs.
This means we can expect new M4 versions of MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro models next year. Here's what the latest rumors tell us about when each machine will launch, and what kinds of upgrades we can expect for them.
M4 MacBook Air
Apple in March 2024 launched updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models equipped with Apple's M3 chip, and the company will soon start production of M4 versions ahead of an early 2025 launch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. There are no new design changes planned for the MacBook Air models, and the focus will be on the M4 chip, but the base model will come with at least 16GB of RAM, after Apple updated the base M3 model to 16GB, up from 8GB. An M4 MacBook Air could also feature a new 12MP Centre Stage camera with Desk View support, an improvement over the current 1080p FaceTime HD camera, given that both the new M4 iMac and M4 MacBook Pro models also debuted with the upgraded camera. The machines will arrive next year between January and March.
M4 Mac Studio
Apple plans to refresh the Mac Studio after the M4 MacBook Air has been released in early 2025. It will be equipped with a variation of the M4 processor – likely an M4 Ultra or Max chip. The current model comes in both M2 Max and M2 Ultra variants. Mark Gurman claims that the Mac Studio was on track to be updated alongside the MacBook Air, but it is now going to see a refresh between March and June. In previous reports, he said the Mac Studio would come out in mid-2025, so it is unclear what has changed.
M4 Mac Pro
Apple last updated the Mac Pro in June 2023, adding an M2 Ultra chip and officially completing the transition away from Intel chips. Apple will refresh the Mac Pro in the summer of 2025, according to Mark Gurman. Like the Mac Studio, the next Mac Pro will skip the M3 series. Instead it will be equipped with the highest-end version of the M4 chip, codenamed "Hidra." Based on the description of the chip, it could be positioned as an "Ultra" or "Extreme" chip. Gurman has said the M4 Ultra chip in the next Mac Pro will "probably" have up to a 32-core CPU and up to an 80-core GPU, which would be double the M4 Max's up to 16-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU. It could also support up to 512GB of memory, a notable increase over the current 192GB limit.
M4 Series Performance
Like the M3, the M4 is built on a 3nm process, but with enhancements from Apple supplier TSMC for improved performance and power efficiency. The M4 also includes an improved Neural Engine that fuels accelerated AI workloads. Apple says it is the company's most powerful Neural Engine ever, capable of 38 trillion operations per second.
Geekbench 6 benchmark results have surfaced for Apple's new M4 Pro and M4 Max chips in the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro models, so we have some indications of performance. In the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro models, the highest-end variants of the M4 Pro and M4 Max both outperform the highest-end M2 Ultra chip in the Mac Studio and Mac Pro: The M4 Max is up to 25% faster than the M2 Ultra in terms of peak multi-core CPU performance. Meanwhile, the M4 Max is up to 20% faster than the M4 Pro when it comes to peak multi-core CPU performance.
In terms of graphics performance, Geekbench 6 results indicate that the M4 Pro and M4 Max are up to around 40% and 25% faster for graphics than the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, respectively. Notably, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the highest-end M4 Max with a 40-core GPU has up to 85% as fast graphics as the Mac Studio with the highest-end M2 Ultra chip with a 76-core GPU, even though it has 36 fewer GPU cores.
Canon's new stereoscopic RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL camera lens for spatial video recording recently became available for pre-order. In the U.S., pricing is set at $449.99, and orders are estimated to be delivered in mid-November.
Apple and Canon announced the lens at WWDC in June. The lens attaches to Canon's EOS R7, enabling the mirrorless camera to record 3D videos for playback on AR/VR headsets like Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quest 3. More details about the lens are available on Canon's website, and in our coverage of the WWDC announcement.
After recording spatial videos with the Canon EOS R7 and this lens, Apple said users would be able to edit the videos in Final Cut Pro on the Mac, and upload them to Vimeo. Final Cut Pro will likely be updated with spatial video editing capabilities in mid-November, and Vimeo released a Vision Pro app with spatial video support last month.
Spatial video can also be recorded on both iPhone 15 Pro models and all iPhone 16 models, with no additional hardware required.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
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.
