The iPhone SE 4 that's set to come out early next year is expected to debut Apple's first in-house 5G modem, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain.
In a research note this week with Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities, Pu said Apple is expected to roll out its custom-made 5G modem starting with the next-generation iPhone SE 4. Apple's in-house modem will then be joined by a secondary Apple-made Wi-Fi 7 chip in the iPhone 17 Pro in the second half of 2025.
Pu has previously said that iPhone 17 Pro models in 2025 will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, which matches his latest expectations for adoption. Pu believes that both custom modem and Wi-Fi 7 chips will achieve majority adoption in iPhones by 2027.
Pu's forecast also tallies with predictions recently made by Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. On Thursday, Kuo said that at least one iPhone 17 model launching next year will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip. Kuo also expects Apple's 5G modem to be used in the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 model.
Kuo believes that Apple's 5G and Wi-Fi chips are currently two different chips that will gradually be used in new products simultaneously starting in the second half of 2025. The early switch-over timelines will differ due to separate production schedules, according to Kuo. As Pu also suggests, the iPhone SE 4 will move to an Apple 5G modem but still use a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip.
Apple's shift to develop its own modem and Wi-Fi chip technology would be a significant strategic move. Currently, Apple relies on Qualcomm to supply its modems, and Broadcom for its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth components. For example, all four iPhone 16 models already support Wi-Fi 7 with Broadcom's chip, but with some limited specifications. By creating its own equivalents, Apple aims to reduce dependency on third-parties, gain more control over the technology, and potentially lower costs in the long run.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM to enable Apple Intelligence support, and of course the first-ever Apple-designed 5G modem. The new iPhone SE is expected to be released in the first half of 2025, with a launch in March or April most likely.
The first Geekbench 6 benchmark results for the M4 Pro chip surfaced today. Impressively, the results that are available so far show that the highest-end M4 Pro chip is faster than the highest-end M2 Ultra chip in terms of peak multi-core CPU performance.
Here is a comparison of the results:
Mac mini with M4 Pro (14-core CPU): 22,094 multi-core score (average of 11 results)
Based on these results, the M4 Pro now holds the record of being the fastest Apple silicon chip ever in the Geekbench 6 database. Of course, it will soon be surpassed by the M4 Max chip with a 16-core CPU, but no results are available for that chip as of writing. We will publish a follow-up report with the M4 Max results once they are available.
What this means is that you can now purchase a Mac mini with a 14-core M4 Pro for $1,599 in the U.S. and get similar to faster peak performance than a Mac Studio with the 24-core M2 Ultra, a configuration that starts at $3,999.
As for year-over-year performance improvements, the M4 Pro is up to 45% faster than the highest-end M3 Pro chip in terms of multi-core CPU performance, based on the Geekbench 6 results that are available so far.
Here is a comparison of the results:
Mac mini with M4 Pro (14-core CPU): 22,094 multi-core score (average of 11 results)
Apple held its earnings call for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024 today (third calendar quarter), announcing quarterly revenue of $94.9 billion, up six percent year over year. During the call, Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri provided a look into Apple's performance, sales of the iPhone 16 models, Apple's services growth, and more.
We've rounded up the most interesting tidbits from the Q4 2024 earnings call below.
Apple's Profit
Revenue was up, but profit was down during the quarter because Apple had to make a one-time payment of $10.2 billion to settle tax issues in the European Union.
Apple Intelligence
In an interview with CNBC, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that iPhone 18.1 is encouraging customers to upgrade, and adoption rates are exceeding iOS 17.1 during the same time period last year.
"We're getting great feedback from customers and developers already and a really early stat, which is only three days worth of data: Users are adopting iOS 18.1 at twice the rate that they adopted 17.1 in the year ago quarter," Cook told CNBC.
Cook also said that Apple believes Apple Intelligence is a "compelling upgrade reason," but since it just launched three days ago, there's little data. "I could not be more excited about Apple Intelligence and the rollout in front of us," Cook said. He is using "future releases" and said it is "changing [his] daily life."
Apple is "moving as fast as possible" to bring Apple Intelligence to more countries "while ensuring quality." As for R&D, the level of intensity that Apple is putting into AI has "increased a lot," with some existing resources allocated to the new technology as well.
iPhone Sales
It's no surprise that iPhone sales were up during the quarter, as the iPhone 16 models launched in September. iPhone revenue was $46.2 billion, up from $43.8 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Cook said that iPhone 16 sales in September 2024 were stronger than iPhone 15 sales in September 2023.
Mac and iPad Sales
Mac and iPad Sales were up, with the Mac coming in at $7.7 billion, up from $7.6 billion in Q4 2023, and iPad revenue at $7 billion, up eight percent from $6.4 billion last year.
Wearables
Apple's wearables revenue fell this quarter, coming in at $9 billion, down three percent from $9.3 billion last year. Wearables revenue for fiscal 2024 was $37 billion, down from $39.9 billion in fiscal 2023.
Though wearables revenue was down, the Apple Watch install base reached a new all-time high, and more than half of customers who purchased an Apple Watch during the quarter were new to the product.
Services
Services revenue was almost $25 billion during the quarter, up from $22.3 billion in Q4 2023, and a new all-time record. Fiscal 2024 services revenue was $95 billion, up from $90 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Paid and transacting accounts reached a new all-time high, and paid accounts and paid subscriptions grew double digits year over year. Apple has more than 1 billion paid subscriptions across the services on its platform, which is double what it had four years ago.
Next Quarter
For the December quarter, Apple expects revenue to grow low to mid single digits year over year, with services revenue to grow double digits.
Farewell to Luca Maestri
This is Apple's final earnings call with Maestri, who is stepping down from his role on January 1, 2025 to lead the Corporate Services teams. Kevan Parekh will take over as Chief Financial Officer, joining Apple's executive team.
During the earnings call, Cook thanked Maestri for his "extraordinary service as Apple CFO," and said that during his 10 years in the role, Luca had done "truly exceptional work in shaping Apple as we know it today." Maestri said that serving as Apple CFO has "been a real privilege and an amazing journey."
The new Apple Intelligence features that Apple released in iOS 18.1 are spurring people to update to the new software, Apple CEO Tim Cook said today in an interview with CNBC.
Customers are downloading and installing iOS 18.1 at twice the rate that they adopted iOS 17.1 during the same timeframe last year, according to Cook.
Apple has not yet provided installation numbers for the iOS 18 update, so this is the first insight we've had into how iOS 18 adoption compares to iOS 17.
iOS 18.1 was released on Monday, and it brings Apple Intelligence capabilities to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 models. It includes Writing Tools for proofreading text, a new Siri look and Type to Siri functionality, summaries and smart replies, a "Clean Up" tool for Photos, and more.
iOS 18.2, which is set to be released in December, is likely to encourage even more people to update, because it has the first Apple Intelligence image generation features like Image Playground and Genmoji.
Apple today announced financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024, which corresponds to the third calendar quarter of the year.
For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $94.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $14.7 billion, or $0.97 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $89.5 billion and net quarterly profit of $23.0 billion, or $1.46 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.
While revenue was up 6 percent year-over-year, Apple's profits were hit hard by a one-time charge of $10.2 billion over tax issues in the European Union. Without that one-time charge, Apple's profits would have been $1.64 per share, up 12 percent year-over-year.
Gross margin for the quarter was 46.2 percent, compared to 45.2 percent in the year-ago quarter. Apple also declared a quarterly dividend payment of $0.25 per share, payable on November 14 to shareholders of record as of November 11.
For the full fiscal year, Apple recorded $391.0 billion in sales and $93.7 billion in net income, compared to $383.3 billion in sales and $97.0 billion in net income for fiscal 2023.
"Today Apple is reporting a new September quarter revenue record of $94.9 billion, up 6 percent from a year ago," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "During the quarter, we were excited to announce our best products yet, with the all-new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and remarkable features for hearing health and sleep apnea detection. And this week, we released our first set of features for Apple Intelligence, which sets a new standard for privacy in AI and supercharges our lineup heading into the holiday season."
As has been the case for over four years now, Apple is once again not issuing guidance for the current quarter ending in December.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q4 2024 financial results conference call at 2:00 pm Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
With the launch of new M4 Macs this week, Apple introduced USB-C versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard to continue on with phasing out the Lightning port. Apple users who plan to buy these new accessories should be aware that there are some software limitations currently.
The new USB-C accessories require macOS Sequoia 15.1 to work properly, and as noted on the MacRumors forums, earlier versions of macOS do not work. There are reports from users running macOS Sonoma and Ventura who are having issues with the new devices. With the keyboard, Touch ID and function keys don't work, and with the Magic Mouse, the scrolling doesn't function. In some cases, the accessories are recognized as older devices, inhibiting proper functionality.
This isn't a problem limited to just people running older versions of macOS, because there are also reports from developers who have installed the first macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta. It appears that the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta was released before Apple could add in support for the new Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad.
macOS Sequoia 15.1 seems to be required to use the accessories as intended at the current time. For those who had an older version of macOS, updating to macOS Sequoia 15.1 did solve the functionality issues, and Apple should be adding support to the macOS Sequoia 15.2 beta in the near future.
For Snoopy fans who use the Snoopy watch face on the Apple Watch, Apple has a selection of Halloween-themed animations that are available today.
The Snoopy watch face cycles through different animated scenes featuring Snoopy and Woodstock, so the Halloween options will come up randomly if you're using the Snoopy watch face.
There are at least three Halloween faces, including a mummy version Snoopy that walks across the watch display before disappearing, Snoopy in a pumpkin jumping out to say Boo to Woodstock, and Snoopy with a treat bag that Woodstock drops a treat into. Apple added these last year, but they are available for a limited time again.
Apple has quite a few different Snoopy watch faces available, but the Halloween options will likely come up at least a few times during the day with the Snoopy watch face set.
OpenAI today announced the addition of ChatGPT Search to ChatGPT, allowing for improved AI-based internet searches. OpenAI says that ChatGPT is able to search the web "in a much better way than before," with the chatbot able to provide links to relevant web sources like a traditional search engine.
ChatGPT Search uses ChatGPT-4o, and it is available now on the ChatGPT website and in the desktop and mobile apps for those who have ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Teams. ChatGPT users who have been on the SearchGPT waitlist will also have access today, with OpenAI planning to bring the feature to enterprise and education users in the next few weeks. ChatGPT Search will roll out to all free users over the coming months.
Searches can be initiated based on what you ask or by clicking on the web search icon in the ChatGPT interface. With ChatGPT Search, you can ask a question using conversational language and get web info, along with more information through follow-up questions. ChatGPT maintains context, so the entire conversation can be used to get a tailored answer to a query.
OpenAI says that it has partnered with news and data providers to offer up-to-date information for categories like weather, stocks, sports, news, and maps. Searches with ChatGPT will include links to sources like news articles and blog posts for learning more about an answer. The sources button below the response will provide a sidebar with all of the references used.
OpenAI has partnered with multiple media companies, including Axel Springer, Condé Nast, Dotdash Meredith, Financial Times, GEDI, Hearst, Le Monde, News Corp, Prisa (El País), Reuters, The Atlantic, Time, and Vox Media. Websites and publishers can opt-in to appearing in ChatGPT searches.
SearchGPT, a prototype AI search engine, was introduced earlier this year, and OpenAI tested it with a select group of users before rolling out ChatGPT search integration.
Apple's 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air is back down to its all-time low price of $699.99 with the use of an on-page coupon. This is $299 off the original price of the 2022 computer.
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.
Shoppers should note that this is the older version of the 13-inch M2 MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM. This week, Apple updated the entire MacBook Air lineup and it now starts with 16GB of RAM. We haven't yet tracked discounts on the 16GB models, but today's discount is still a great deal if you think 8GB of RAM is enough for your needs.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
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Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 in December, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls incoming as well.
While not all advertised Apple Intelligence features will be available immediately, iOS 18.2 introduces several capabilities that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 10 new things your iPhone will be able to do when the update rolls out in December.
Adjust Media Volume on Lock Screen
Prior to 2022, the volume slider was a familiar presence on the Lock Screen whenever media was playing. When Apple released iOS 16, however, it removed the control without explaining the reason, much to the dismay of many users.
Thankfully, Apple is bringing the control back as an option in iOS 18.2. If you're already on the iOS 18.2 beta, you'll find a toggle in Settings ➝ Accessibility ➝ Audio & Visual, labeled "Always Show Volume Control". Enable the switch, and you'll be able to adjust volume from the Lock Screen without having to unlock your iPhone or use the physical volume buttons.
Play Daily Sudoku Puzzles
With iOS 18.2, Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S. will gain access to daily sudoku puzzles, offering easy, moderate, and challenging difficulty levels. A scoreboard will keep track of your sudoku statistics, including the total number of puzzles solved and your fastest completion times for each difficulty level.
This addition will be the fourth puzzle game available with an Apple News+ subscription, joining Crossword, Crossword Mini, and Quartiles.
Easily Manage Default Apps
iOS 18.2 includes a new "Default Apps" section that can be found in the Settings app, which can be used to manage your default apps for the iPhone. This is a feature that Apple promised would be coming to the European Union, but it looks as if it may become available worldwide, based on the beta.
In the latest beta, US users can access the Default App interface to choose their preferred Email, Call Filtering, Browser, and Passwords, and Keyboards. EU users should have more options for choosing non-Apple apps as their default, as they are able to delete core apps like Messages, App Store, Safari, Camera, and Photos.
Categorize Emails in Mail
In iOS 18.2, Apple is introducing an updated version of the Mail app for built-in categorization. Mail Categories effectively organize your incoming emails into distinct sections for easier navigation.
Important emails are grouped in a "Primary" category, while other types are categorized into three additional sections. The "Transactions" section streamlines access to receipts, orders, and shipping information, allowing you to quickly locate your purchases. Meanwhile, the "Updates" section gathers newsletters, appointment reminders, and various subscription emails, keeping you informed. Lastly, the "Promotions" category highlights special offers and promotional messages, to make sure you don’t miss out on any deals.
Generate Images Using Prompts
Image Playground is a totally new app designed to help you create images based on your ideas. Similar to ChatGPT, you can generate images by providing a prompt, and Apple offers suggested categories like themes, locations, and costumes to inspire your creativity. The app specializes in stylized content, meaning the generated images won't be realistic, but can choose from Animation and Illustration styles.
Additionally, you can include likenesses of friends and family by pulling images directly from your Photos app. While Image Playground functions as a standalone app, it can also be integrated into apps like Notes and Messages and added to third-party applications.
Generate Images With Sketches
In the Notes app, Image Wand can be used to generate an image that fits into the content of your note. You can use it by circling an empty space – Image Wand will create a new image that's inspired by your text. Alternatively, you can draw something with your finger and circle it with the tool to get a new related image. And on iPad, you can draw a sketch with the Apple Pencil to have Image Wand generate an appropriate image.
Create Custom Emoji Characters
Genmoji are akin to traditional emojis but offer enhanced functionality. With Genmoji, you can create virtually any emoji you desire, freeing you from the limitations of the standard emoji set.
While they function like emojis on Apple devices, they are not encoded characters from the Unicode Consortium. Instead, Apple developed a unique API for Genmoji, ensuring they display correctly in any application that supports rich text. You can generate a Genmoji by providing a description of your desired design, and you even have the option to create Genmoji that resemble individuals from your Photos library.
Query ChatGPT via Siri
Apple is collaborating with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This partnership allows Siri to handle complex requests by referring them to ChatGPT, such as generating images or creating text from scratch. With the Writing Tools feature, ChatGPT can produce and illustrate original content, expanding its capabilities beyond what Siri can currently offer.
For instance, you can open a lengthy PDF and ask Siri to summarize information on a specific topic; Siri can then pass this request to ChatGPT to generate a comprehensive summary. Apple envisions Siri as a facilitator for AI models and tools, optimizing available resources to provide you with answers without the need to switch between multiple apps.
Visual Intelligence
If you have an iPhone 16, you can make use of Visual Intelligence, a feature that offers insights about your surroundings. For instance, when you open the camera and aim it at a restaurant, you'll receive details such as opening hours and reviews.
Additional capabilities of Visual Intelligence include reading text aloud, identifying phone numbers and addresses for adding to Contacts, copying text, and summarizing information. Users can also search Google to find where to purchase a specific item they see, and by pointing the camera at an object, they can access further information through ChatGPT. Apple intends to enhance this feature by introducing more functionalities in the future.
More Options in Writing Tools
Apple is upgrading the Writing Tools feature to include options for more open-ended modifications. In iOS 18.1, Writing Tools can only adjust the tone to friendly, professional, or a simplified version. However, with the release of iOS 18.2, users will be able to specify the desired tone or content changes, such as incorporating more action words or transforming an email into a poem.
Apple is opening a temporary store at Roosevelt Field, the largest shopping mall on Long Island, so it can renovate its existing store in the mall. The temporary store will be located in the west side of the mall, on the main level, but we have not confirmed if it is open yet. It is unclear when the renovated store will be completed, or what it will look like. Apple's retail design varies from store to store, but one modern element often included in newer spaces is an Apple Pickup station for in-store pickup of online orders.
Apple opened its Roosevelt Field location in 2002, months after the original iPod launched, and the company now operates 23 stores across New York state.
Over in Virginia, Apple is leaving the Fair Oaks shopping mall in Fairfax County, but is not moving very far away. Apple's website invites customers in the area to visit its new location "soon" at 4221 Fairfax Corner East Avenue, in the Fairfax Corner shopping plaza that is just across the Interstate 66 from the Fair Oaks mall. Apple has not shared an exact date and time for the relocated store's grand opening.
Apple opened its Fair Oaks store in 2008, less than a year after the original iPhone launched. It is in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and not too far from Apple's first-ever store at Tysons Corner Center, which also moved as part of a revamp last year.
Update: The temporary Roosevelt Field store and the new Fairfax store both open Saturday, November 9, according to Apple.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said that at least one iPhone 17 model launching next year will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip. For years, Apple has also been rumored to be developing its own in-house 5G chip for iPhones, and Kuo has since provided some clarification about Apple's plans.
Earlier this month, 9to5Mac reported that Apple's in-house 5G chip would "also handle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS," but Kuo disagrees. He told us that Apple's 5G and Wi-Fi chips are currently "two different chips" that will roll out in the iPhone 17 and other devices starting in the second half of 2025. Kuo said the chips will be used in devices "simultaneously." If this information is accurate, that rules out the rumored all-in-one Apple chip for 5G, Wi-Fi, and other connectivity, but that could remain a future possibility.
"Starting from 2H25, both Apple's 5G and Wi-Fi chips will gradually be used in new products simultaneously," said Kuo, in a follow-up social media post today. "However, since these are two different chips (using different TSMC processes), the early switch-over timelines will differ due to separate production schedules. For example, the iPhone SE4 will move to an Apple 5G modem but still use a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip."
Kuo also expects Apple's 5G modem to be used in the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 model.
Read our earlier story for more details about Apple's rumored Wi-Fi 7 chip for the iPhone 17.
Apple this week debuted its M4 Mac models, unveiling the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. So how do the three latest-generation Apple silicon chips compare and which should you choose?
The MacBook Pro is the only product line currently available with a choice of all three M4 chips, but you will also have to choose between the M4 and M4 Pro chip when buying a Mac mini. All of the differences between the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips are listed below:
M4
M4 Pro
M4 Max
Up to 10 CPU cores (4 performance + 6 efficiency cores)
Up to 14 CPU cores (10 performance + 4 efficiency cores)
Up to 16 CPU cores (12 performance + 4 efficiency cores)
Up to 10 GPU cores
Up to 20 GPU cores
Up to 40 GPU cores
120GB/s memory bandwidth
273GB/s memory bandwidth
546GB/s memory bandwidth
Up to 32GB memory
Up to 64GB memory
Up to 128GB memory
Media Engine with one video encode engine and one ProRes accelerator
Media Engine with one video encode engine and one ProRes accelerator
Media Engine with two video encode engines and two ProRes accelerators
Thunderbolt 4 support (up to 40Gb/s)
Thunderbolt 5 support (up to 120Gb/s)
Thunderbolt 5 support (up to 120Gb/s)
11- and 13-inch iPad Pro (2024) 14-inch MacBook Pro (2024) Mac mini (2024) iMac (2024)
Benchmarks for the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips are yet to be seen, but performance is likely to scale similarly to the M3 series of chips.
The M4 chip is an ideal choice for everyday users who need dependable performance for typical productivity tasks, web browsing, and media consumption. With up to 10 CPU and GPU cores and support for up to 32GB of memory, it easily handles lightweight workflows without draining battery life excessively. Devices like the iPad Pro, 14-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac offer this chip, providing great value for those prioritizing efficiency over intensive workflows.
For users who frequently handle intensive applications and multitasking but don't have extreme performance demands, the M4 Pro strikes an excellent balance. With its added CPU and GPU cores, faster memory bandwidth, and support for Thunderbolt 5, the M4 Pro is a smart choice for video editing, graphic design, and advanced multitasking. It's available in both the Mac mini and the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
Finally, the M4 Max is engineered for power users with high-performance needs, such as 3D rendering, complex data processing, or heavy-duty video production. With up to 16 CPU cores, 40 GPU cores, and 128GB of unified memory, the M4 Max is equipped to handle the most intensive workflows. It's a good fit for those who require top-tier performance across the CPU and GPU. It is currently exclusively available in Apple's 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
All current iPhone models are equipped with a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip supplied by Broadcom, but Kuo expects Apple to equip "nearly all" of its products with its own in-house Wi-Fi chip "within about three years." The analyst said this move would reduce Apple's component costs and further bolster Apple's hardware and software integration.
All four iPhone 16 models already support Wi-Fi 7 with Broadcom's chip, but with some limited specifications. Kuo said Apple's in-house Wi-Fi chip will support "the latest Wi-Fi 7 spec," but he did not provide any further details. The chip will be manufactured with TSMC's 7nm manufacturing process known as N7, he added.
Kuo has aligned with information shared last year by Jeff Pu, another analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain. Pu said the iPhone 17 Pro models would be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, and he said the in-house chip would expand to the entire iPhone 18 lineup the following year.
Wi-Fi 7 allows for data transmission over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously with a supported router, resulting in faster Wi-Fi speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 can provide peak speeds of over 40 Gbps, a 4× increase over Wi-Fi 6E, if a device supports the maximum specifications.
Nintendo has released Nintendo Music, a new music streaming app that gives Nintendo Switch Online subscribers access to soundtracks from the company's extensive game library.
The app features music from popular Nintendo franchises including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon. Songs are organized by game, character, and themed playlists like "boss battles" and "victory themes." Nintendo has also included mood-based playlists featuring relaxing or upbeat tracks.
There's a spoiler prevention feature that allows users to hide soundtracks from games they haven't completed, thereby avoiding potential story reveals through music. The app also includes an extended play function that can loop selected tracks for up to 60 minutes of continuous playback.
Nintendo Music supports both streaming and offline listening through downloads, and users can create custom playlists in addition to accessing Nintendo's curated collections. Character-specific playlists are available as well, such as a collection of K.K. Slider's performances from Animal Crossing.
Access to Nintendo Music requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, but it can be used by members on a free trial. The service is additionally available to all users included in a Switch Online Family membership plan.
The app's release comes as Nintendo has taken a stricter stance on unofficial uploads of its music to platforms like YouTube, indicating this may be part of a strategy to provide official access to its game soundtracks. Nintendo Music is available now as a free download on the App Store in supported regions. [Direct Link]
Apple CEO Tim Cook today said his company will be making a donation of an unspecified amount towards relief efforts on the ground in Valencia, Spain, following deadly flash floods in the region caused by torrential rainfall on Tuesday.
"We're thinking of all those impacted by the devastating flash floods in the region of Valencia, Spain," said Cook, in a social media post. "Apple will be making a donation to help with relief efforts on the ground."
Apple has donated to the Red Cross for relief efforts on many occasions.
Over the past five weeks, Apple similarly pledged to donate towards relief efforts in the U.S. following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak today said the Vision Pro will be launching in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates on Friday, November 15.
In a press release for South Korea, Apple said the Vision Pro will be available to pre-order there starting Monday, November 4 at 10 a.m. local time. In another press release, Apple said pre-orders in the United Arab Emirates begin on the same day at 5 a.m. local time.
Apple now has localized Vision Pro and visionOS 2 pages in South Korea and the United Arab Emirates with more details. In South Korea, Apple said customers will be able to schedule a 30-minute Vision Pro demo at an Apple Store in the country. Apple said it plans to share more details about this experience after pre-orders begin.
Apple first released the Vision Pro in the U.S. in February, with pricing starting at $3,499. In June and July, the headset launched in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the U.K., China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. With the additions of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, the headset will be available in 12 countries and regions.
In July, research firm IDC estimated that Vision Pro sales would total less than 500,000 units this year. In a recent interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that the Vision Pro is not a mass-market product due to its high price.
"At $3,500, it's not a mass-market product," said Cook. "Right now, it's an early-adopter product. People who want to have tomorrow's technology today—that's who it's for. Fortunately, there's enough people who are in that camp that it's exciting."
Apple introduced new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models this week, adding faster and more efficient M4 chips, along with some other updates like Thunderbolt 5 and nano-texture display options for some models. One upgrade we thought we might see was support for the latest Wi-Fi specification, but the new machines did not get a Wi-Fi 7 upgrade.
All of the new M4 Macs continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E, and while it does allow for access to the 6GHz band on supported Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers, it's not the latest and greatest technology.
It is surprising that Apple opted out of updating the new machines with Wi-Fi 7 because all of the iPhone 16 models that came out in September feature Wi-Fi 7 chips from Broadcom. The iPhones support the 802.11be Wi-Fi 7 standard with 2x2 MIMO, but there is a caveat with the iPhone 16 models that takes a little bit of the sting away from not getting Wi-Fi 7 in Macs.
Apple's Wi-Fi specifications page confirms that the Wi-Fi 7 chips in the iPhone 16 models have a maximum physical layer data rate of 2400Mb/s and a maximum channel bandwidth of 160MHz, which is the same performance as the Wi-Fi 6E chips in the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 Mac models with Wi-Fi 6E on 6GHz networks (Apple's chart hasn't been updated for M4, but presumably the Wi-Fi 6E chips have not changed).
Wi-Fi 7 in the iPhone 16 models does up the maximum data rate when connected to 5GHz bands compared to the Wi-Fi 6E chips used in Macs and iPads, but Apple does not support the full 320MHz bandwidth with its Wi-Fi 7 implementation. Wi-Fi 7 offers up to 320MHz bandwidth to accommodate more devices, but Apple has limited bandwidth to 160MHz, so iPhone 16 models don't take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7 despite having a Wi-Fi 7 chip. That limitation has been a disappointment, but the iPhone 16 models do support Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for connecting to multiple bands at the same time for faster data transmission and lower latency on supported networks.
Apple certainly could have opted for a Wi-Fi 7 chip without limitations in the M4 Mac models, especially for the more expensive M4 Pro and M4 Max machines, but that didn't happen. Given that people often keep Macs for several years, it is curious that Apple opted not to offer this bit of future proofing in the Mac line. MLO would have been nice to have for gaming applications, streaming, and video conferencing, especially as people upgrade their networks in the coming years.
Customers who plan on purchasing one of the new M4 Macs should know that these machines continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E features and lack the faster speeds and the latency benefits that come with Wi-Fi 7.
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A store with Apple Pickup
