The first iOS 17.3 beta rolling out to developers today includes a new "Stolen Device Protection" feature that is designed to add an additional layer of security in the event someone has stolen your iPhone and also obtained the device's passcode.
Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and Nicole Nguyen reported about instances of thieves spying on a victim's iPhone passcode before stealing the device, often in public places like bars. The thief can then reset the victim's Apple ID password, turn off Find My, view passwords stored in iCloud Keychain for banking and email accounts, and more. All in all, the report said thieves can essentially "steal your entire digital life."
When Stolen Device Protection is turned on, Face ID or Touch ID authentication is required for additional actions, including viewing passwords or passkeys stored in iCloud Keychain, applying for a new Apple Card, turning off Lost Mode, erasing all content and settings, using payment methods saved in Safari, and more. No passcode fallback is available in the event that the user is unable to complete Face ID or Touch ID authentication.
For especially sensitive actions, including changing the password of the Apple ID account associated with the iPhone, the feature adds a security delay on top of biometric authentication. In these cases, the user must authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, wait one hour, and authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID again. However, Apple said there will be no delay when the iPhone is in familiar locations, such as at home or work.
The opt-in feature can be found in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode → Stolen Device Protection. iPhone users who update to the iOS 17.3 beta will be prompted with the option to test a preview of the feature following installation, but Apple said this screen will not be shown to users who install the public version of iOS 17.3 coming later.
Actions that will require Face ID or Touch ID authentication when the feature is turned on:
Viewing/using passwords or passkeys saved in iCloud Keychain
Applying for a new Apple Card
Viewing an Apple Card virtual card
Turning off Lost Mode
Erasing all content and settings
Taking certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet
Using payment methods saved in Safari
Using your iPhone to set up a new device
Actions that will require Face ID or Touch ID authentication and have a one-hour security delay when the feature is turned on:
Changing your Apple ID password
Updating select Apple ID account security settings, including adding or removing a trusted device, trusted phone number, Recovery Key, or Recovery Contact
Changing your iPhone passcode
Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID
Turning off Find My
Turning off Stolen Device Protection
Apple said it plans to share additional documentation about Stolen Device Protection over time to clarify how the feature works. The option will be available on all iPhone models that are compatible with iOS 17, including the iPhone XS and newer. iOS 17.3 will likely be released to the public in January or February.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a day after the release of macOS Sonoma 14.2.
Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Under Beta updates, toggle on the macOS Sonoma Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.
We don't yet know what features might be included in macOS Sonoma 14.3, but we'll update this article if anything interesting is found.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 17.3 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a day after the release of tvOS 17.2.
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 17.3 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.
tvOS updates are often minor in scale compared to other operating system updates, focusing primarily on bug fixes and smaller improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. We don't yet know what's included in tvOS 17.3.
Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch, but Apple does not provide notes during beta testing.
Though we don't always know what's new in tvOS betas, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download new software upon release.
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 10.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a day after the launch of watchOS 10.2.
To install the watchOS 10.3 update, developers will need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under "General" in Settings, and toggle on the watchOS 10 Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.
Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10.3 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.
There's no word yet on the new features that might be included in watchOS 10.3, but we'll update this article if anything new is found in the first beta.
Apple today seeded the seventh beta of visionOS, the software that runs on the Vision Pro headset. The sixth beta came out in November, so it has been a month since Apple last released a visionOS update.
Only a limited number of developers have access to Vision Pro at this time, with the headsets used for app testing purposes. Most people do not have access to the visionOS beta, and it is not entirely clear what Apple is adding in each visionOS update.
Apple is letting developers attend Vision Pro labs around the world, and developers who visit these locations are able to test the Vision Pro in person and get help from Apple engineers on their visionOS apps.
The Vision Pro headset is not expected until early 2024, so Apple still has time to refine the hardware and software.
Geekbench developer Primate Labs has announced a new 0.6 preview version of Geekbench ML that expands beyond iOS and Android to offer benchmarking capabilities for AI and other machine learning workflows on desktop platforms, including macOS, Windows, and Linux.
AI and ML-related workflows aren’t just confined to mobile, and hardware architecture on desktop and laptop devices is changing to accommodate this shift in computing. With this latest 0.6 preview, Geekbench ML now supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. This means you’ll be able to see how machine learning-powered tasks run on your desktop, laptop, or even a server — whether it has new AI-specific hardware or not. And, as always, our models and data sets are identical across all supported platforms, making scores comparable.
With new and improved frameworks, Geekbench ML supports faster performance on the latest hardware using more up-to-date models including for Core ML on iOS and macOS.
New workloads for Geekbench ML include Depth Estimation to reflect capabilities related to software-assisted portrait mode photo effects, Style Transfer to measure the ability to transform one image into the style of another one, and Image Super-Resolution to assess AI-driven image upscaling.
Geekbench ML 0.6 is still a preview release that Primate Labs will continue to tweak based on results and feedback, so scores from version 0.6 can't be directly compared to those from the previous 0.5 release. Primate Labs is looking toward a polished 1.0 release at some point in 2024.
Apple's description of Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom:
Embark on a heartwarming experience in Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom, joining adorable hero Mametchi in restoring harmony to the Tamagotchi planet after a mysterious impact shakes the kingdom.
Cornsweeper:
A meditative mind-sweep-em-up, players pop delicious popcorn and avoid explosions, all set to a relaxing and original lo-fi inspired soundtrack with some reggae infusions.
Blackjack by MobilityWare+:
Players can immerse themselves in the classic game of Blackjack, mastering its intricacies in Blackjack by MobilityWare+.
Apple Arcade received its first price increase in October. In the U.S., the subscription-based gaming service went from $4.99 per month to $6.99 per month.
Launched in November 2019, Apple Arcade is accessible through the App Store. The service provides subscribers with unlimited access to around 300 games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, with new titles added periodically.
1. MONOPOLY GO! 2. Roblox 3. Royal Match 4. Subway Surfers 5. Gardenscapes 6. Call of Duty: Mobile 7. Block Blast! 8. Makeover Studio: Makeup Games 9. Parking Jam 3D 10. Survivor!.io
Top Paid iPhone Games
1. Minecraft 2. Heads Up! 3. Geometry Dash 4. Bloons TD 6 5. MONOPOLY 6. Papa's Freezeria To Go! 7. Plague Inc. 8. Red's First Flight 9. Five Nights at Freddy's 10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Top Free iPad Apps
1. Max: Stream HBO, TV, & Movies 2. YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream 3. Netflix 4. Google Chrome 5. Disney+ 6. Goodnotes 6 7. TikTok 8. Amazon Prime Video 9. Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire 10. Peacock TV: Stream TV & Movies
Top Paid iPad Apps
1. Procreate 2. Shadowrocket 3. Nomad Sculpt 4. forScore 5. Toca Life: Hospital 6. Bluebeam Revu for iPad 7. Teach Your Monster to Read 8. AnkiMobile Flashcards 9. Endless Paper 10. ToonSquid
Top Free iPad Games
1. Roblox 2. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game 3. Subway Surfers 4. Royal Match 5. Among Us! 6. Duet Cats: Cute Cat Games 7. Stumble Guys 8. MONOPOLY GO! 9. Bridge Race 10. Gardenscapes
Top Paid iPad Games
1. Minecraft 2. Geometry Dash 3. Bloons TD 6 4. Stardew Valley 5. MONOPOLY 6. Five Nights at Freddy's 7. Red's First Flight 8. Poppy Playtime Chapter 1 9. Plague Inc. 10. Garten of Banban 2
Top Apple Arcade Games
1. NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition 2. Cooking Mama: Cuisine! 3. Bloons TD 6+ 4. Angry Birds Reloaded 5. Sneaky Sasquatch 6. Warped Kart Racers 7. Hello Kitty Island Adventure 8. Snake.io+ 9. Fruit Ninja Classic+ 10. Solitaire by MobilityWare+
TSMC has already demonstrated prototype 2nm chips to Apple ahead of their expected introduction in 2025, the Financial Times reports.
Apple is said to be closely aligned with TSMC in the race to develop and implement 2nm chip technology, which will surpass their current 3nm chips and associated nodes in terms of transistor density, performance, and efficiency. 2nm chips are expected to be integral in underpinning future Apple silicon chips, as well as next-generation data center and artificial intelligence technology. Test results for TSMC's "N2" 2nm prototype chips have already been showcased to Apple and several other key TSMC clients as plans for upcoming chips begin to solidify.
In a separate report, DigiTimes points out that Apple is a key player in TSMC's battle against Samsung and Intel to bring 2nm chips to market, with no sign of the close relationship between the two companies waning. Apple reportedly has no plans to reduce its 3nm or 2nm chip orders from TSMC before 2027 at the earliest.
Apple was the first company to utilize TSMC's 3nm technology with the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the company is likely to follow suit with the chipmaker's N2 chips. TSMC's production of 2nm chips is slated to begin in 2025, with their first appearance in Apple devices likely to follow soon after.
We're less than two weeks away from the Christmas holiday, so in an effort to aid in any last-minute holiday shopping we've accumulated a list of exclusive sales from popular Apple accessory companies. These sales offer the perfect chance to do some online Christmas shopping before it's too late for items to arrive before the 25th.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In total, you'll find exclusive offers from Satechi, Twelve South, Hyper, and ZAGG. These exclusive deals run the gamut of Apple accessories, and you can shop for iPhone cases, MacBook sleeves, Apple Watch bands, screen protectors, leather bags, and much more.
Each sale has a different end date, and shipping will vary from site-to-site, so be sure to read on for more information. Most brands are still offering delivery for Christmas, as long as you place orders soon. Every sale below is exclusive to our readers, and will require a coupon code, which you can find listed below as well.
ZAGG
What's the deal? Get 35 percent off sitewide with MACRUMORS35
On ZAGG's website, you can get 35 percent off your entire order sitewide (limit five items), which includes Mophie's entire lineup of popular accessories. Our sale beats ZAGG's current 25 percent off sitewide event, so be sure to use the code MACRUMORS35 at checkout to get the best savings. You can find discounts on screen protectors, portable batteries, battery cases, charging cables, and more.
To get the discount, head to ZAGG's website, browse for a few items, add them to your bag, and when you do you'll notice a pop-up on the right where you can view your bag. Here you can enter the promo code MACRUMORS35 and click apply to see the 35 percent discount taken off your cart.
Hyper
What's the deal? Get extra 10% off current sitewide sale with MREXTRA10
Hyper is giving MacRumors readers an extra 10 percent off sitewide this week, which stacks on top of the retailer's current sitewide event that's taking up to 50 percent off sitewide. This is a great opportunity to save on Hyper's popular Thunderbolt docks, USB-C chargers, portable batteries, and more.
Twelve South
What's the deal? Save 20% off your order with MacRumors2023
At Twelve South, you can get 20 percent off your entire order with the promo code MacRumors2023. This promo code will last through December 17 for users in the United States.
Twelve South has numerous accessories that are specifically made for Apple products, like AirSnap for AirPods, HiRise Wireless for iPhone, and BookBook for iPad Pro. You can browse for some holiday shopping ideas of your own on Twelve South's website, and shoppers should note that the code will not work on any items that are available for pre-order.
Satechi
What's the deal? Get 30% off sitewide with MACRUMORS
Satechi is well known for its large collection of charging products, and with our exclusive code you can take 30 percent off sitewide. The company sells portable batteries, USB-C hubs, wireless chargers that are compatible with MagSafe, and more. The exclusive code has a few exclusions on select new and upcoming products, but otherwise will work on any product sitewide.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple-owned Beats has unveiled new limited-edition Beats Studio Pro in collaboration with streetwear brand Stüssy. In the U.S., the headphones will be available on stussy.com for $349.99 starting this Friday, December 15 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
The headphones feature beige ear cups and a black headband with Stüssy branding. Hypebeast says the design was inspired by 1990s personal electronics.
Beats Studio Pro launched in July, with regular color options including Black, Deep Brown, Navy, and Sandstone. The over-ear headphones offer active noise cancellation, spatial audio support, quick pairing with Apple and Android devices, USB-C charging with up to 40 hours of battery life, and more. Audio can be played wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3, or over a wired connection via the USB-C port or the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Beats has routinely collaborated with music artists, athletes, streetwear brands, and other partners to create limited-edition headphones.
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.
Apple introduced its long-awaited Journal app for iPhone in iOS 17.2. Here is everything you need to know about using Journal.
Apple in June 2023 announced it was bringing its own journaling app to iOS 17, and it is finally here as part of Apple's December software update, iOS 17.2.
Apple's Journal app lets you record your daily thoughts and activities, incorporating data like photos, music listened to, workouts, and more, plus it suggests topics to write about.
Creating Your First Journal Entry
The Journal app has a simple, straightforward interface. When you open it up, you're presented with a "+" button, and tapping on it lets you start a new entry. When you have added a few entries, the button at the top-right lets you filter them based on photos and activities.
The writing interface includes several buttons along the top of the keyboard that you can use to access the aforementioned "moments," as well as add photos, take pictures, add voice recordings, and add location tags, respectively. Before you can use them, you will be prompted to allow the app to access your pictures, camera, microphone, and location. Journal entries are automatically dated, and you can bookmark your favorite ones.
By default, the Journal app will suggest recent and recommended "moments" from your week that include photos, workouts, or places you visited, and you can use these as writing prompts or you can tap New Entry and start writing. (To write new entries without viewing suggestions first toggle on the switch in Settings ➝ Journal ➝ Skip Journaling Suggestions.)
Using Journaling Reflections
If you have a serious case of writer's block, the Journal app can offer you entry prompts in the form of "reflections." When starting a new entry, these reflections appear in between your recommended and recent "moments," are designed to inspire and guide you, providing ideas and topics to explore in each entry.
The reflections can vary from thought-provoking questions to creative writing cues, and if the one you're offered doesn't get your gears turning, you can generate a new one by tapping the two arrows that form a circle.
Setting a Journaling Schedule
Staying consistent with journaling can be difficult, but your iPhone can make it a lot easier with the new Journal app's scheduling feature. Here's how to set it up.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Journal.
Tap Journaling Schedule, then toggle on the switch next to Schedule.
Choose the days of the week that you want to be reminded to write, and select a time of day to receive the prompt.
The scheduling option isn't just a reminder – it's about building a habit. So whether it's a gentle reminder notification that you need in the morning or a prompt before bed, you can adapt the feature to your personal routine.
Lock Your Journal
Privacy and security are paramount when it comes to personal journaling. That's why Apple's Journal app introduces enhanced security features, including encryption and password protection, to safeguard your journal from unauthorized access.
To lock your journal using your device's passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID, follow these steps.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Journal.
Tap Lock Journal and enter your passcode when prompted.
Toggle on the switch next to Lock.
Tap Require Passcode, then select from the options: Immediately, After 1 minute, After 5 minutes, After 15 minutes.
That's all there is to it. Your journal is now inaccessible without entering your device passcode, or using Face ID or Touch ID, providing you with peace of mind every time you record sensitive or personal information.
Apple has reportedly offered to open up the iPhone near-field communication (NFC) system that Apple Pay uses to other payment services, in a possible effort to forestall impending EU regulatory action.
In a brief report Tuesday, Reuters said that Apple has offered to let rivals access the NFC system in iPhones, but it is not yet clear what Apple's proposal involves. Banks have complained that Apple's exclusive access to the NFC contactless chip in its devices privileges Apple Pay over other payment systems.
In May 2022, the EU antitrust watchdog officially objected to Apple restricting rivals' access to its mobile tap-and-go technology, making it difficult for competitors to develop alternative mobile wallet services on Apple devices.
Apple Pay competitor PayPal and other rivals reportedly played a role in the EU's decision to target Apple with antitrust complaints about its mobile wallet. The company was said to have filed informal complaints about the way Apple restricts third-party apps from accessing the NFC capabilities of the iPhone, which led to the EC's Statement of Objections against Apple.
The European Commission will now likely seek feedback next month from rivals and customers before deciding whether to accept Apple's offer, according to people familiar with the matter who are cited in the report.
This is not the first time that Apple has faced criticism for restricting access to NFC on the iPhone. Australian banks back in 2017 wanted access to NFC in order to launch an alternative to Apple Pay, but they were not successful.
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.
Epic Games has won its antitrust lawsuit against Google, after the nine-member jury in the case unanimously agreed that the tech giant abused its power by operating an app store monopoly and charging developers unduly high fees.
The unanimous verdict came after three hours of deliberation following a four-week trial looking into Google's Play store. Among Epic's allegations were that Google illegally tied together its Play store and Play Billing payment services, leaving developers having to use both for their apps to be included in the store.
Google collects a commission ranging from 15% to 30% on transactions completed within apps, similar to how Apple takes its App Store fees.
The jury also agreed that Google's distribution agreement with developers was anticompetitive, and that Epic had been unfairly stifled by the company's behavior by forcing its own billing system on developers. The trial was brought by Epic against Google in 2020 for removing Fortnite from the Google Play Store, after Epic allowed players to bypass Google's in-app purchase system.
The reasoning in the jury case was not revealed, but in a statement on its website, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said the verdict "proves that Google's app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation."
Sweeney added that the jury had seen "evidence that Google was willing to pay billions of dollars to stifle alternative app stores by paying developers to abandon their own store efforts and direct distribution plans, and offering highly lucrative agreements with device manufacturers in exchange for excluding competing app stores."
Google said it would appeal. "We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners and the broader Android ecosystem," said Wilson White, vice-president of government affairs and public policy at Google.
The ruling could have profound implications for digital app store regulation, particularly within Apple's App Store. Apple won a similar case against Epic in 2021. Rather than a jury made up of consumers though, that ruling was made by a single judge.
Epic has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to revive key claims in the Apple case, and Apple is fighting part of a ruling for Epic regarding Apple's "anti-steering" rule that bars developers of many iOS apps from directing users to methods of purchase available outside of the App Store, circumventing Apple's revenue cut.
The Supreme Court will decide in the coming months whether it will hear either or both of Epic's and Apple's appeals, but if it does not take up either petition, the previous rulings will stand.
Apple today released iOS 17.2, a major update that adds the new Journal app, a Translate option for the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button, a Favorites playlist for Apple Music, and much more.
In this guide, we've rounded up all of the new features in the iOS 17.2 update.
Journal App
iOS 17.2 introduces the Journal app that Apple announced as part of iOS 17. With the Journal app, users can record their daily activities and thoughts, with Apple providing optional prompts that can be used as inspiration.
Journal entries can be added by tapping on the "+" button in the Journal app, and from there, users can choose a suggestion as the basis for their writing or just opt for "New Entry" to write anything at all.
Entries are automatically tagged with a date for organizational purposes, but there are options for bookmarking, too. Journal entries can include images, voice recordings, and location tags.
Messages App Sticker Reactions
You can long press on any chat bubble in the Messages app to add a sticker response that serves as an alternative to a tapback reaction. Tapping on "Add Sticker" lets you choose either a sticker or an emoji to apply to the corner of an iMessage.
There was already an option to drag a sticker or an emoji onto any message bubble, but this is a much quicker method of quickly responding to an incoming message with a quick graphic that is more expressive than a tapback reaction.
Spatial Video Recording
With iOS 17.2, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are able to record spatial video that will be viewable in the Photos app on the Vision Pro headset that's coming out next year.
Spatial video recording can be enabled by going to the Settings app, tapping into the Camera section, selecting Formats, and toggling on "Spatial Video for Apple Vision Pro." Apple says that for best results when recording spatial video, the iPhone should be held stable in landscape orientation while capturing video. Video is recorded at 30 frames per second at 1080p, and one minute of video takes up 130MB of storage space.
When spatial videos captured with an iPhone are viewed on the iPhone, they appear as normal videos. Viewing the video in 3D requires the Vision Pro headset.
Improved Telephoto Focusing Speed
On the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the Telephoto camera now focuses faster when capturing small, faraway objects.
Favorites Apple Music Playlist
Songs that you have favorited in the Apple Music app are now automatically aggregated into a Favorites playlist.
Apple Music Favorite Songs
In the Music section of the Settings app, there is an option to add songs to your Music Library when they are favorited. The feature is toggled on by default, but it can be turned off if desired.
The option to "Favorite" songs was first added in iOS 17.1.
Apple Music Listening History Focus Filter
Apple added a Focus Filter for the Apple Music Listening History feature, so if you want to let someone else use your device to listen to music, you can activate this to turn off the Listening History so their song choices won't affect your recommendations.
When the Action button is set as Translate, pressing to hold causes the iPhone to pop up a Translate window that listens for spoken text. It is able to translate from one set language to another, using the languages that you have previously set up in the Translate app.
Keyboard
Apple added an option to disable inline predictions when typing. It can be accessed by opening up the Settings app, choosing General, going to Keyboard, and scrolling down to the "Show Predictions Inline" option.
There are also new keyboard layouts for eight Sámi languages.
iMessage Contact Key Verification
First previewed in December 2022, iMessage Contact Key Verification is a feature designed for those who face "extraordinary digital threats," such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials.
Users can ensure that there is no "man in the middle" snooping on iMessage conversations, and there is an option to display a Contact Verification Code so that iMessage users can verify that they're speaking to the correct individual during in-person meetings or on FaceTime calls.
Messages in iCloud Syncing
The "Messages" section in iCloud in the Settings app has been renamed to "Messages in iCloud." It shows the total amount of storage that messages are taking up, the number of messages synced to iCloud, and the time of the last sync. There's also a "Sync Now" option to force an update.
Apple previously said that additional settings would be synced through Messages in iCloud in iOS 17, like Text Message Forwarding, Send & Receive accounts, and SMS filters across devices, so this may see those additional settings syncing.
Messages Catch-Up
If you have a Messages thread that has a lot of activity, you can use the new catch-up arrow to jump to the first unread message in a conversation. It shows up as an arrow in the top right corner of the display.
Apple eliminated the option to purchase and access TV shows and movies through the iTunes Store app, and is directing users to the Apple TV app instead.
Phone and FaceTime
In the Phone and FaceTime settings, there's a Share Name and Photo option that uses the Contact Poster. Name and Photo Sharing can be toggled off, set to Contacts Only, or set to Always Ask, which prompts you before sharing that information with others.
This setting was previously available for the Messages app.
FaceTime
If you join a FaceTime call that includes a contact you have blocked, you will now get a warning. Apple provides warnings when joining a call with a blocked contact, or when a blocked contact is joining a call you're already on.
Emergency Alerts Local Awareness
Under Notifications & Emergency Alerts in the Settings app, there is a new "Local Awareness" option that can be turned on. Apple says that Local Awareness uses your approximate location to improve the timeliness, accuracy, and reliability of emergency alerts.
New Weather App Features
Precipitation amounts are shown for the next 10 days to provide more insight into upcoming rain and snow conditions, and there is a wind map snapshot that shows wind patterns and animations for the next 24 hours.
An interactive moon calendar provides a visualization of the phase of the moon on any day for the next month.
Weather Widgets
There are new Details, Daily Forecast, and Sunrise/Sunset widgets for the Weather app. Details shows information like precipitation chance, UV index, wind speed, and air quality, while Daily Forecast offers the weather for the next few days in a small widget size. Sunrise/Sunset shows the sunrise and sunset times for each day.
Digital Clock Widget
There is a new Digital Clock widget that can be added to the Home Screen or Lock Screen.
Contact Posters
You can now select rainbow-colored text for your name when setting up a Contact Poster in the Contacts app.
Books Page-Turning Animation
There's a "Fast Fade" option for the page-turning animation in the Books app. Apple has also removed the icon that you could turn on to scroll through content quickly.
AirPlay
There's now an "AirPlay Receiver" setting that will allow the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset to stream or share content to an iPhone.
Memoji
Apple added a "Body" section for Memoji where users can customize waist, bust, shoulders, and arms.
News App
The News app supports Live Activities for following news-related events such as elections.
Expanded Sensitive Content Warnings
Apple's opt-in Sensitive Content Warning feature is expanding to Contact Posters in the Contacts and Phone apps, as well as in stickers in the Messages app. Sensitive Content Warnings use on-device machine learning to blur out photos or videos with any nudity detected before users view them.
App Store Categories
The "Apps" and "Games" sections of the App Store have new top bar navigation that allows users to scroll through various app categories, exploring apps in that category with a tap.
The categories mirror the categories that can be found at the bottom of each App Store section, and it is a layout that Apple has previously used for Apple Arcade.
Siri
Siri in iOS 17.2 can access data from the Health app, so the personal assistant can provide details on Health information. You can, for example, ask Siri questions like "What's my heart rate?" or "How many steps have I taken today?" if that data is logged in the Health app via an accompanying Apple Watch.
Siri also provides details on an estimated time of arrival when there are active turn-by-turn directions in the Maps app, and the personal assistant can provide altitude data.
AirDrop
AirDrop now supports the sharing of boarding passes, movie tickets, and other eligible Wallet app passes by bringing two iPhones next to one another and following the "Share" prompts.
Recording to an External Device
With the iPhone 15 Pro models, ProRes video can be recorded directly to an external device. iOS 17.2 appears to include a new pop up message that lets users know that external recording is not working because of a USB-C cable that is too slow.
There was previously a warning about an external storage device not having a fast enough write speed to support external recording, but now there is an added message about the write speed of the USB-C cable.
AppleCare Settings
The "Coverage" section under Settings > General has been renamed AppleCare & Warranty. It still includes AppleCare info for your iPhone and connected devices such as the Apple Watch and AirPods.
The AppleCare+ "Coverage" menu is now in Settings > General rather than Settings > General > About, making it more visible than before. The Coverage interface lists AppleCare+ on your device and any paired AirPods.
Default Notification Sound
Under Sounds & Haptics, there's a "Default Alerts" section that allows you to choose the sound used for all incoming notifications aside from texts, mail alerts, and calendar alerts, which already had customization options.
All of the text tones can be used for the default notification sound, plus there is an option to also change the haptic vibration of default notifications.
AutoFill for PDFs
Enhanced AutoFill for PDFs identifies fields in PDFs and other documents, and allows them to be filled in with information stored in the contacts app. As with websites, fields like names, addresses, and phone numbers can be autofilled.
Qi2 Support
The update adds Qi2 support to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models, allowing them to work with wireless chargers that use the Qi2 standard. iPhone 15 models already included Qi2 support.
Wireless Car Charging Bug Fix
There is a fix for a bug that was preventing some iPhones from wirelessly charging on the wireless charging pads included in a select number of vehicles.
Read More
For details on all of the features that are included in the iOS 17 update, we have a dedicated roundup.
Collaborative Apple Music playlists, a feature that Apple has promised for iOS 17, won't be coming in 2023. With today's iOS 17.2 release, Apple updated its iOS 17 features list [PDF] to note that the option to collaborate on playlists has been delayed.
Apple tested collaborative playlists in the early iOS 17.2 betas, but ended up removing the feature in the fourth iOS 17.2 beta. There were likely bugs in the option that Apple was not able to remedy in time to bring the feature to iOS 17.2, and as iOS 17.2 will be the last publicly available update to iOS 17 in 2023, we won't be getting collaborative playlists until 2024.
In the iOS 17.2 beta, playlists gained a "Collaborate" option that created a link to a playlist, and anyone with access to that link was able to add to the playlist. Users had control over who was able to contribute, with an option to approve each person that asked to join and tools for removing users.
It is not clear when collaborative playlists in Apple Music might launch, but we will likely get an iOS 17.3 update in January, with testing to begin in December.
While collaborative playlists did not come in the iOS 17.2 update, Apple did add a Favorites Apple Music playlist that aggregates songs that are favorited.
Apple today updated the iOS 17 page on its website to indicate that its AirPlay feature for hotel room TVs has been delayed until next year.
Apple originally said the feature was "coming later this year," but it now says it will be "coming in an update in 2024." Apple did not provide a more specific timeframe, but the feature should be added in an iOS 17 update in the first half of next year.
The feature will allow iPhone users to scan a QR code on their hotel room TV to establish an AirPlay connection, allowing them to wirelessly stream videos, photos, and music from their iPhone to the TV. Google already offers a similar feature on some hotel TVs, allowing guests to stream content from their smartphone via Chromecast.
Apple in June said Holiday Inn owner IHG Hotels & Resorts would be one of the first hotel companies to adopt the feature, while LG announced that it would be one of the first hotel room TV manufacturers to support the feature.
After Apple shut down the mechanism that Android app Beeper Mini was using to bring iMessage to Android users, Beeper Mini's developers today said that they have found a way to bring the app back, albeit with some major changes.
The new version of the app requires users to sign in with an Apple ID, which was not needed with the prior version. All iMessages are also now sent and received through an email address rather than a phone number, though a fix is in development.
The prior version of Beeper Mini did not require an Apple ID, and it registered each Android user's phone number with Apple's iMessage servers without Apple's permission. The app's developers used reverse engineered iMessage protocols for the initial Beeper Mini release, taking advantage of Apple's iMessage servers.
Registering Android phone numbers with iMessage servers allowed Android users to send blue bubble messages to iPhone users, and the app supported all iMessage functionality, including read receipts, typing indicators, reactions, and more.
Apple was not keen on a third-party app registering non-iPhone numbers with its iMessage servers, and Apple ended up blocking Beeper Mini on Friday. Beeper Mini users were unable to send and receive messages when Apple made a change to its iMessage servers, and Beeper Mini founder Eric Migicovsky said at the time that Apple had found a way to stop Beeper Mini from working.
Apple on Saturday released a statement confirming that it took steps to shut down Beeper Mini. Apple said that the techniques that the app used posed risks to the security and privacy of iMessage users.
At Apple, we build our products and services with industry-leading privacy and security technologies designed to give users control of their data and keep personal information safe. We took steps to protect our users by blocking techniques that exploit fake credentials in order to gain access to iMessage. These techniques posed significant risks to user security and privacy, including the potential for metadata exposure and enabling unwanted messages, spam, and phishing attacks. We will continue to make updates in the future to protect our users.
In a blog post, the Beeper Mini team said that Beeper Mini had the "fastest growing paid Android application in history," with more than 100,000 downloads. This is evidence that Android and iPhone customers "desperately want to be able to chat together" with all of the features available on iMessage.
The reason for its success is clear: Android and iPhone customers desperately want to be able to chat together with high quality images/video, encryption, emojis, typing status, read receipts, and all modern chat features. We all want a fun, easy and secure way to chat. For a glorious 3 days last week, Beeper Mini made this possible.
Beeper Mini's developers say that despite reaching out to Apple, they have not heard back. It is unlikely that Apple will give in and allow Beeper Mini to function as it did, and Apple may shut down further functionality as well if it can.
There were questions about whether Apple would be able to put a stop to Beeper Mini because of the way that it mimicked an Apple device and registered phone numbers as Apple users, but Apple found a way. Apple does have plans to bring all iMessage like features to chats between iMessage users and Android users through RCS, a protocol that Apple will add to iPhones next year.
RCS will bring support for high quality video and images, emoji reactions, typing indicators, read receipts, and more, all features that Beeper Mini says that Android and iPhone users are desperate to have in cross-platform chats.
While Beeper Mini was a paid app with a 7-day free trial, Beeper Mini's developers plan to make it free because of the instability of the app. "Things have been a bit chaotic and we're not comfortable subjecting paying users to this," reads the blog post. Beeper Mini will be a subscription app again "as soon as things stabilize."
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