MacRumors

Apple's supply chain is beginning mass production of next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips in August, according to Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes. With only a few days remaining in the month, that means that assembly of the laptops has more likely than not already begun.

This information aligns with display industry analyst Ross Young claiming that display shipments for the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are underway.

In a May edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said "you should expect M4 Pro and M4 Max chips later this year as part of the high-end MacBook Pro." He also expects Apple to release three new Macs with the standard M4 chip later this year, including a lower-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini.

October is a common month for Apple to announce new Macs, including the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips last October. If that pattern repeats itself, the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips are likely around two months away from launching.

The standard M4 chip already debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year, and Geekbench results showed it provided up to 25% faster multi-core CPU performance compared to the M3 chip. Likewise, moderate year-over-year performance and power efficiency improvements can be expected from the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

No major design changes are expected for the next MacBook Pro models, with an OLED display in particular likely still a few years away for the laptops. Gurman said Apple is also planning to make the MacBook Pro thinner at some point "over the next couple of years."

Apple's last Mac-focused event was held on October 30, 2023, and there is certainly potential for another October event this year.

As part of a "shift in priorities," Apple has made cuts to its workforce across senior VP Eddy Cue's Services division, Bloomberg reports. About 100 employees impacted by the cuts were reportedly given a 60-day window to secure another position within Apple before their termination becomes effective.

The scope of the layoffs extended beyond a single team, with some employees working across multiple departments feeling the ripple effects of Apple's apparent cost-optimization effort. The layoffs primarily affected the Apple Books app and Apple Bookstore teams, but also impacted the Apple News team, marking the fourth round of staff reductions for the company in 2024.

According to the report, the layoffs signal that Apple Books has become less of a priority for the company, which doesn't see it as a major part of its services lineup. However, the Books app is still expected to get new features over time. As for Apple News, the layoffs were said to be an indication that it is less of a focus for Apple.

The Services division has been a key growth driver for the company in recent years. Services now account for over 22% of Apple's sales, a significant increase from less than 10% a decade ago.

The importance of the Services segment has been particularly evident during periods of slower device sales, helping to bolster Apple's financial performance. However, this latest move suggests that even high-performing divisions are not immune to restructuring efforts.

These layoffs follow earlier staff reductions at Apple this year, including the closure of its ambitious self-driving car project and the shutdown of a microLED display initiative. The company also dismantled a team based in San Diego.

Apple's approach to layoffs has been more measured compared to some of its Silicon Valley counterparts. Cisco Systems has announced plans to reduce its headcount by approximately 7%, while Intel is set to eliminate over 15% of its workforce. These more extensive cuts at other tech firms are largely attributed to slowing growth and a shift in focus towards AI.

Next year's iPhone 17 models will come with 12GB of RAM, up from the 8GB of RAM expected across Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 models, a reputable source of accurate predictions about Apple's plans has claimed.

Onboard memory in the existing iPhone 15 lineup is different between non-Pro and Pro models: The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus feature 6GB of RAM, while the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max come with 8GB of RAM. This difference is said to be the reason why Apple Intelligence – Apple's AI suite of on-device features – is only currently supported by the iPhone 15 Pro models.

• Apple Explains iPhone 15 Pro Requirement for Apple Intelligence

Since it is a requirement for Apple Intelligence, all four of Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 models are expected to feature 8GB of RAM, as is the rumored iPhone SE 4, which is likely to launch in the spring. However, in a Weibo post on Wednesday, Chinese-language user "Phone Chip Expert" said next year's iPhone 17 models will have 12GB of RAM for more advanced on-device AI applications.

"If you're planning to switch to an AI-powered iPhone, the iPhone 17 in 2025 might be a better choice," said the leaker. "This year's iPhone 16 only has 8GB of RAM, with most of the AI processing done in the cloud. Next year's iPhone 17 will have 12GB of RAM and more edge AI applications. This is something to consider for those with a limited budget who want to upgrade their iPhone."

• iPhone 16 Likely to Launch on September 20 With These New Features

Edge AI applications refer to AI processing that occurs directly on the local device, rather than relying on cloud servers. "Edge" refers to the edge of the network, meaning the data processing happens close to the data source (the device itself), rather than in a centralized location like a cloud data center.

This isn't the first time we have heard rumors of additional RAM coming to Apple's 2025 iPhones. In a May 2024 research note with investment firm Haitong, analyst Jeff Pu claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will be equipped with 12GB of RAM, while the iPhone 17 and even the rumored iPhone 17 "Slim" or "Air" with an all-new design would stick with 8GB of RAM. However, today's leaker appears to be suggesting that all iPhone 17 models will be equipped with the additional RAM, bringing AI-capable continuity to the lineup.

• iPhone 17 'Air': Everything We Know About Apple's Slim iPhone

The leaker "Phone Chip Expert" has a track record of accurate predictions. Phone Chip Expert was the first to reveal that the iPhone 7 would be water-resistant and that the standard iPhone 14 models would continue to use the A15 Bionic chip, while the more advanced A16 chip would be exclusive to the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro models. These forecasts were later confirmed by multiple credible sources and were proven correct when the products were released.

• 10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17

More recently, "Phone Chip Expert" was the first source of information about Apple developing its own AI server processor using TSMC's 3nm process, targeting mass production by the second half of 2025.

YouTube videos that play a low sound to vibrate water out of the speakers do, in fact, work, according to a deep dive done by The Verge's David Pierce and iFixit.

There are a number of YouTube videos that promise to be able to remove water from an iPhone using sound, and Pierce wanted to find out if they do what they claimed, so he asked iFixit for some help. iFixit dunked an ‌iPhone‌ 13 into water with UV dye, played the video, and then left it overnight to dry out.

Playing one of the YouTube videos during this process clearly expelled water from the ‌iPhone‌'s speaker, and the speakers of other smartphones that were tested from Google and Nokia. The water came out in an initial burst from the sound, but it is worth noting that the video was only able to remove water from the speaker area.

UV dye stained other areas of the ‌iPhone‌ when it was opened up, so the water wasn't draining from the entire phone. The oscillating tone in the YouTube videos is able to push water out of the speaker grille, but it is not a complete fix for a water-saturated device.

On the Apple Watch, Apple has a built-in feature that uses sound to expel water from the device, but that is more effective because it is a smaller object with fewer nooks and crannies than an ‌iPhone‌.

Apple's modern iPhones have IP68 water and dust resistance, with the 8 representing water resistance. IPx8 means that the iPhone 15 can withstand splashes, rain, and accidental dunks up to six meters in depth for 30 minutes. ‌iPhone‌ waterproofing does deteriorate over time with wear and tear, and Apple does not cover water damage, so it is best to avoid water exposure when possible.

The Verge's full look at how these YouTube videos work is well worth checking out.

Zagg's Mophie brand today announced new versions of its popular Powerstation Plus Mini, Powerstation Plus, and Powerstation Plus Ultra, all of which have been updated with new designs and battery capacity.

The $50 Powerstation Plus Mini features a 5,000mAh battery that will provide a partial charge for most iPhones. It supports 18W charging over USB-C with the built-in cable, and 20W through an extra USB-C port.

Mophie's $80 Powerstation Plus has a 10,000mAh battery that should provide a full charge and then some for all of Apple's iPhones, plus it is powerful enough to be used with iPads and smaller Macs. It includes an integrated 30W USB-C cable and a Lightning cable, plus there's an extra USB-C port for charging multiple devices.

The $100 Powerstation Plus Ultra has the same capabilities as the Powerstation Plus with 30W charging and integrated cables, but it also has folding wall prongs so that it can be plugged directly into a power outlet for charging purposes.

All three of Mophie's new power banks support passthrough charging for connected devices and will charge an iPhone before transferring power to the power station. They also support two-way charging with the built-in cables, and can charge multiple devices at once. Fast charging is also supported, and an iPhone 15 can be charged to 50 percent in 25 to 30 minutes.

The Powerstation Plus and Powerstation Mini can be purchased from the Zagg website. The Powerstation Ultra will launch in September.

Apple's latest immersive video series for the Vision Pro is set to launch in early September. "Elevated," a new 3D experience, will be available starting on September 6. A teaser for the show with an upcoming date is listed in the Apple Immersive Video section of the Vision Pro.

Apple first announced Elevated in July, but did not provide launch timing for the show. According to Apple, the aerial travel series "whisks viewers around iconic vistas from staggering heights" that include volcanoes, waterfalls, and more in Hawaii.

Gain an all-new perspective as you take aerial tours of the world's most remarkable landscapes, led by well-known guides with a special connection to each place.

While the first episode is set in Hawaii, the second episode, coming at a later date, will feature an autumn scene in New England. Apple is working on multiple new immersive video experiences that are rolling out this year.

Boundless, a series that launched in July, features a first episode with a hot air balloon ride. A second upcoming episode will focus on Arctic Surfing. Apple is planning to release a new immersive performance from The Weeknd, a big wave surfing sports series, a behind-the-scenes view of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and its first immersive short film called "Submerged."

Vision Pro users can watch the Apple Immersive video content from the Apple TV app in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. Users in China can watch the content through the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.

Apple Music subscribers who want to transfer their playlists over to YouTube Music can now use Apple's Data and Privacy page to do so, Apple says in a new support document. Those who subscribe to YouTube Music are also able to transfer their playlists to ‌Apple Music‌.

After logging in on the Data and Privacy page, ‌Apple Music‌ users can select the "Transfer a copy of your data" option to move playlists from ‌Apple Music‌ to YouTube Music. YouTube Music is the only supported music service for playlist transfers, and Apple does not offer options to transfer to services like Spotify at this time.

To make a transfer, an active ‌Apple Music‌ subscription or iTunes Match subscription and an active YouTube Music account are required. Playlists that are transferred are not deleted from ‌Apple Music‌, and the transfer process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on how many playlists are being transferred.

Apple has details on what can be transferred and what can't:

• Only the playlists that you've created (including collaborative playlists that you own) are transferred
• Music files aren't transferred
• Non-collaborative shared playlists and curated playlists aren't transferred
• Folders in which you've organized your ‌Apple Music‌ playlists aren't transferred
• Playlists can include only songs available on YouTube Music. If your playlists contains other audio files -- such as podcasts, audio books, or user-uploaded audio files -- they won't be transferred.

After the transfer process has been completed, playlists from ‌Apple Music‌ will appear in the Library tab in YouTube Music. If a song is missing, it might not be available on YouTube Music.

Transferring a playlist from YouTube Music to ‌Apple Music‌ can be initiated through the Google Account interface.

AT&T will pay a $950,000 fine for failing to notify 911 call centers about a service outage that occurred in 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said this week. There was an AT&T outage in Illinois, Kansas, Texas, and Wisconsin in August 2023, and AT&T was penalized both for failing to deliver 911 calls and for not notifying call centers in a timely manner.

The outage happened when AT&T was testing its 911 network. A technician accidentally disabled a portion of the network, and AT&T's system did not adjust to accommodate the disabled part of the network. It was not part of planned maintenance, and there was no stringent technical review. During the outage period, which lasted for a little over an hour, there were more than 400 failed 911 calls.

In addition to paying a $950,000 fine, AT&T has implemented a three-year compliance plan to make sure that it does not violate the FCC's 911 and outage notification rules going forward.

Service providers like AT&T are required to let call centers know about an outage right away so that the public can be notified about alternative ways to get emergency assistance.

It's been a bad year for AT&T. In March, AT&T confirmed that a 2021 data leak included the passcodes and sensitive info from 7.6 million AT&T customers and 65.4 million former AT&T customers. AT&T claimed that the data was obtained without unauthorized access to its systems, but hackers were able to get their hands on names, addresses, birth dates, phone numbers, social security numbers, and more from customers.

In April, the company was fined over $57 million for illegally sharing customer data with third-party data aggregators, an issue that Verizon and T-Mobile also had to shell out money for.

In July, AT&T announced a second major data breach. Hackers were able to get into a cloud platform used by AT&T, and stole the records of "nearly all" of its cellular customers. The stolen data included the phone numbers of cellular and landline customers, as well as records of calls and text messages between May and October 2022.

This week, AT&T is also in mediation with the hope of solving an ongoing Communication Workers strike in the southeast, which has impacted service in some areas and involves 17,000 employees.

Nomad today announced the launch of its latest Apple Watch accessory, the Rocky Point Band. The Rocky Point Band was created with the Apple Watch Ultra in mind, and it has a rugged look that matches well with Apple's watch for outdoor enthusiasts.

According to Nomad, the Rocky Point Band is made from "ultra-touch, compression-molded FKM" fluoroelastomer rubber, and it is equipped with grade 2 lightweight titanium hardware to match the Apple Watch Ultra. The company used metal injection molding titanium to create the components for the band.

The design includes ventilation grooves for breathability, and it is entirely waterproof. While designed for the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2, it is also compatible with all Apple Watch models.

Nomad is offering the Rocky Point Band in Storm, Sol, and Atlantic shades, and it can be purchased from the Nomad website for $80.

Apple's iCloud Mail service and its ‌iCloud‌ Web Apps are currently experiencing an outage, according to Apple's System Status page.

Impacted users are unable to use ‌iCloud‌ Mail or ‌iCloud‌ Web Apps, and the services have been down since 4:29 p.m. Eastern Time.

Apple says that only some users are affected, so not everyone will experience issues. We'll update this article when ‌iCloud‌ Mail and Apple's ‌iCloud‌ Web Apps are up and running.

Update 5:50 p.m. ET: Stocks, Game Center, and Apple News are also down.

Update 2, 5:52 p.m. ET: Apple has also added TestFlight, and iWork for ‌iCloud‌ to the list of services experiencing issues.

Update 3, 6:15 p.m. ET: The outages with ‌iCloud‌ Mail, ‌iCloud‌ Web Apps, TestFlight, and Game Center have been resolved. ‌Apple News‌ and Stocks are still experiencing issues.

Update 4, 6:30 p.m. ET: Photos and Game Center are again listed as having issues. ‌Apple News‌ and Stocks are also still down.

Update 5, 7:30 p.m. ET: Everything is operational except for Game Center.

Update 6, 8:15 p.m. ET: All of Apple's services are back up and running.

Instagram today announced support for adding text and additional images to photo and carousel posts, a new feature that will let Instagram users do more with still photos.

There is a new text button that can be used after selecting a photo to upload, and additional images can be added in sticker form by tapping on the gallery button at the top right of the screen. Stickers can be added in several shapes, including rectangle, square, circle, heart, or star.

There are new fonts, animations, and effects that can be used for reels and stories, plus a simplified text tool. Users can open the text tool and tap on the text button to see the new font options. Once a font is chosen, separate animations and effects can be added. The new font options that Instagram is adopting can also be used with photos and carousels.

Earlier this month, Instagram added support for putting up to 20 photos and videos in a carousel post, plus it introduced a feature for adding a song to an Instagram profile.

It has been nearly four years since Apple released the AirPods Max, so an update to the over-ear headphones is highly anticipated.

Below, we recap the latest rumors about the AirPods Max.

As a refresher, Apple released the AirPods Max in December 2020, after announcing them in a press release shared on the Apple Newsroom website. The headphones have not received any hardware upgrades since, leading some customers to hold off on their purchase and hope that Apple will eventually release AirPods Max 2.

Unfortunately, rumors suggest that AirPods Max 2 are not coming any time soon, with only minor revisions expected for the headphones later this year.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple is planning to update the AirPods Max in late 2024 with a USB-C charging port, instead of the current Lightning port, and he said new color options are also a possibility for the headphones. Beyond that, Gurman said Apple is planning no other changes for the revised AirPods Max, to the point that he expects the updated headphones to still be considered first-generation AirPods Max.

If the information shared by Gurman is accurate, that means the AirPods Max would not be updated with the H2 chip that debuted in the second-generation AirPods Pro a few years ago. As a result, the AirPods Max would miss out on Adaptive Audio features, along with longer battery life afforded by the H2 chip's increased power efficiency.

In the event Apple ever does release AirPods Max 2, plausible upgrades include the H2 chip, longer battery life, improved active noise cancellation, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip with support for Precision Finding in the Find My app, Bluetooth 5.3, and a redesigned carrying case.

Gurman said the AirPods Max would be updated in late 2024, but it is unclear exactly when. Apple recently announced that it will be holding a media event on September 9, where it is expected to unveil fourth-generation AirPods alongside new iPhones and Apple Watches, but it is unclear if the revised AirPods Max will also be introduced then.

AirPods Max are regularly $549 in the U.S., but Amazon has the headphones on sale for $399 in all color options, including Green, Pink, Silver, Sky Blue, and Space Gray.

Samsung's 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor has hit a new record low price on Amazon this week, available for $830.10, down from $1,599.99. You can have the monitor delivered by August 29 if you're a Prime member, or by September 2 for everyone else.

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.

We typically track deals for the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor at around $899.99, so today's deal beats the previous all-time low by about $70. Right now only Amazon has this deal, so if you're interested be sure to lock it in before it expires.

This monitor has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4 and AirPlay. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

The Mac App Store and the Apple Books are both having issues at this time, according to Apple's System Status page. There are no specific details on what the outage entails, as Apple only says that some users are experiencing a problem with the services.

Apple says that the outages started at 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Only some users are affected, so not all users will see problems with the ‌Mac App Store‌ or Apple Books.

Update: Apple says that the outage was fixed as of 2:40 p.m. Eastern Time.

Amazon today has a big sale on the 24-inch M3 iMac, including both 256GB and 512GB models. All of these deals beat the Prime Day prices we tracked last month by about $50, and you won't need any coupon codes to see them this time around.

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.

Starting with the 8-core GPU/256GB M3 iMac, this model is available for $1,099.99 in two colors, down from $1,299.00. Amazon also has the 10-core GPU/256GB M3 iMac on sale for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is also available in two colors.

Lastly, the 10-core GPU/512GB M3 iMac has hit $1,499.99 in two colors, down from $1,699.00. All of Amazon's deals today are all new record low prices on the M3 iMac, and right now only Amazon is offering these steep discounts.

Apple launched the M3 iMac back in October 2023, bringing significant speed and efficiency improvements with the upgrade from the M1 to the M3 chip. Otherwise, there are no major design changes to the newest iMac model. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

After 13 years, Snapchat has finally rolled out an update that brings native app support to the iPad.

Snapchat's latest update allows the app to run natively on ‌iPad‌, utilizing the device's full screen for the first time. Until now, ‌iPad‌ users who wanted to use Snapchat had to run the iPhone version of the app, which was not optimized for the larger display, leaving it to run at a lower resolution with large surrounding black borders like other unoptimized apps. Snapchat for ‌iPad‌ app currently only supports portrait mode, meaning users cannot rotate the device to use the app in landscape mode. The update comes more than a decade after Snapchat's initial release on iOS back in 2011.

Snapchat now offers native support for iPad! This means that Snapchat will fill an iPad's full screen, providing you with a larger canvas when capturing Snaps and allowing you to see more friends on the 2nd and 4th tabs.

Earlier this year, Snapchat introduced several AI-powered features, including one called "My AI" that allows users to engage with an AI assistant to create reminders or start countdowns, either in a direct chat or within conversations with friends.

Snapchat continues to be available for free on the App Store and requires iOS 13 or iPadOS 13, or later.

We're just a few weeks away from the debut of the newest iPhone models in September, but you can still get great deals on iPhone 15 models at AT&T this week. The carrier is offering as much as $1,000 off select models of the iPhone 15, and great discounts on previous generation devices as well.

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 headliner is $1,000 off the iPhone 15 Pro Max when you trade in your current smartphone and purchase the new iPhone on an eligible unlimited plan. This offer will be applied in bill credits over 36 months, and it knocks the monthly price of the 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max down to around $5.56/month (from $33.34/month).

For the iPhone 15 Pro, AT&T is offering the 128GB model at no cost when you trade in your current smartphone and purchase the new iPhone on an eligible unlimited plan. This offer is the same as the previous one, so you'll see up to $1,000 applied in bill credits over 36 months, knocking the price of the 128GB iPhone 15 Pro down to $0/month (from $27.78/month).

iPhone 15 models are seeing up to $700 in discounts right now at AT&T, making the iPhone 15 as low as $3.62/month and the iPhone 15 Plus as low as $6.39/month. For even steeper savings, AT&T has the iPhone SE from 2022 for $1.99/month when purchased on a qualifying unlimited plan, but you don't need to have a trade-in for this offer.

If you're shopping for an Apple Watch, AT&T is offering $300 off in bill credits over 36 months when you purchase two Apple Watches on an installment plan. This covers Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple Watch SE.

Of course, there are also numerous deals on non-Apple smartphones, like the Google Pixel 9 Pro for free when you trade in any Pixel phone and purchase the new device on a qualifying installment plan. Additionally, AT&T has a big collection of Galaxy devices on sale, including the Galaxy Z Flip6, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and more.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

While there have been many rumors about the upcoming AirPods 4, a leaker has now shared an alleged upgrade planned for the AirPods Pro 3.

In a post today on social media platform X, the previously-accurate leaker known as Kosutami claimed that the AirPods Pro 3 will feature "much better" active noise cancellation compared to the AirPods Pro 2, which launched nearly two years ago. However, the leaker did not provide any specific details about this alleged upgrade.

Apple already advertises the AirPods Pro 2 as featuring "up to twice as much" active noise cancellation compared to the original AirPods Pro, so the AirPods Pro 3 would be even more improved in this regard.

Apple is expected to announce both low-end and mid-tier AirPods 4 models during its September 9 special event. Kosutami claimed that the AirPods Pro 3 are also coming "soon," but it is unclear if this information is accurate, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple planned to release redesigned AirPods Pro in 2025.

Both the low-end and mid-tier AirPods 4 are rumored to feature a revised design with better fit in the ear, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. The mid-tier AirPods 4 are also said to feature active noise cancellation, and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking.

AirPods Max are also rumored to be updated later this year, but the only change expected is a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning.

Kosutami is known as a prototype Apple product collector, but he has occasionally shared accurate information about Apple's future plans, including details about FineWoven accessories before they launched last year. Kosutami also said that iPhone 16 Pro batteries will have a metal enclosure, and this change was later corroborated by other sources.