The second beta of iOS 18.4 expands RCS messaging support to more carriers in the United States and other countries, according to multiple reports on Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and other social media sites.
After installing iOS 18.4, iPhone users with Mint Mobile, Google Fi, Ultra Mobile, Tello, and US Mobile are able to toggle on RCS messaging, and the functionality appears to be rolling out for all T-Mobile Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
iPhone users with a T-Mobile MVNO can be enabled through the Messages section of the Settings app. It appears that RCS access is only available for those running the second iOS 18.4 developer beta, not the public beta.
In France, Orange and Sosh also have RCS available with iOS 18.4 beta 2, according to iPhoneSoft, so RCS may also be rolling out worldwide for other carriers.
RCS was enabled for major carriers with the launch of iOS 18, and it stands for Rich Communication Services. RCS is a communication protocol that improves messaging between iPhone and Android users, offering support for higher resolution photos and videos, larger file sizes, audio messages, Wi-Fi messaging, real-time typing indicators, read receipts, and more.
In the latest beta of tvOS 18.4, there are new hints of Apple's work on a smart home hub accessory that's rumored to be coming as soon as this year. MacRumors found that Apple has added ChatKit framework to the tvOS code, which is curious as there is no Messages app available on the Apple TV or the HomePod.
The ChatKit framework added to tvOS 18.4 includes reactions and notifications for tapback reactions added to iMessages, like "[person] disliked this" or [person] reacted with [emoji]," which would not be applicable to Apple's current devices that run tvOS.
Both the Apple TV and the HomePod are built on tvOS, and the upcoming smart home hub will be as well. While the Apple TV and HomePod would not work with the ChatKit code features added to tvOS 18.4, Apple's home accessory likely will.
The smart home "command center" that Apple is developing is expected to have built-in Apple apps, and it's possible that one of those apps will include Messages.
It is worth noting that there is a shared codebase for tvOS and iOS, so this addition could mean nothing, but these ChatKit features were already included in iOS and have just been added to tvOS with the tvOS 18.4 beta.
Apple's upcoming device will serve as a central hub for smart home management, but it will also support video calls, viewing photos, browsing the web, listening to music, getting news, and more. It is said to look something like an iPad with an all-display design, but it will be smaller, coming in at only six inches square.
Users will likely be able to set it on a table or mount it on a wall, and the expectation is that there would be multiples throughout the house. It will include some sensors for features like sensing the temperature or detecting nearby people.
There is no concrete word on when Apple's smart home hub will launch, but it could come in the second or third quarter of 2025.
The seventh-generation iPad Air arrives just ten months after the previous model. Last year, the biggest change was the introduction of an all-new 13-inch model. With the latest refresh, the most significant upgrade is the move to the M3 chip.
The 2024 iPad Air models have now been discontinued by Apple, but they may still be found refurbished and with third-party resellers for lower prices. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to buy the 2024 iPad Air or the new 2025 models. The iPad Airs from 2024 and 2025 share most of their key features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the older model to save money?
All-new GPU architecture with dynamic caching, mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Support for AV1 video decode
Every other aspect of the device is the same between the two models. The upgrade from the 2022 to 2024 iPad Air was more significant, headlining with a larger size option for the first time, bringing it in line with devices like the iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, which are available in two sizes. For a deeper dive on the specific differences between the M2 and M3 chips, see our other guide.
Given the iterative nature of a single, generation-to-generation chip upgrade, with no enhancements to design, cameras, or display technology, it is almost certainly not worth upgrading from the M2 to the M3 iPad Air. Likewise, if the M2 iPad Air can be found at significantly lower price than the M3 model, this device is still a worthwhile buy. The M3 iPad Air is primarily aimed at those with an A14-based fourth-generation iPad Air or older.
All of the iPhone and iPad models that are currently part of Apple's lineup now start with at least 128GB of storage, marking the end of the 64GB era.
Aside from refurbished devices, the final iPhone and iPad models that Apple offered with 64GB of base storage were the third-generation iPhone SE and the iPad 10. Both of those devices are now discontinued, having been replaced by the iPhone 16e and the new iPad with the A16 chip, which are each available with a minimum of 128GB of storage.
This is not the first end of an era for Apple's tech specs in recent months. Since October, all Macs sold by Apple have been configured with at least 16GB of RAM, again with the exception of refurbished models. Previously, the minimum was 8GB.
The first iPhone models with 64GB of base storage were the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in 2017, while the first iPad Pro models to be configured with at least 64GB of storage were released in that same year.
Assassins's Creed Shadows is set to be released for the Mac on Thursday, March 20, Apple announced today. The game will launch on Mac at the same time as it is released for PlayStation 5, Windows machines, and the Xbox.
Ubisoft first announced plans to bring the game to the Mac in May 2024, and at that time, it was supposed to be released in November. The game has been delayed multiple times since then, but it seems it will finally be ready to go later this year.
Set in 16th century Japan, the action roleplaying game is part of the main Assassin's Creed gaming lineup, and it is the successor to Assassin's Creed Mirage. The game focuses on the dispute between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order, and players can take on the role of Fujibayashi Naoe, a shinobi assassin, or Yasuke, a samurai.
Each character offers different controls and gameplay styles, with separate progression paths, skills, weapon options, and stats. While Naoe uses stealth skills, Yasuke excels at combat.
The game has a vast open world to explore, and players will experience a variety of landscapes with evolving weather and seasons. There are castle towns, bustling ports, pastoral landscapes, and peaceful shrines.
Ubisoft executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté said that Assassin's Creed Shadows is his team's "most ambitious" game to date.
Playing Assassin's Creed Shadows on an Apple device requires a Mac with an Apple silicon chip, with real-time ray tracing available on M3 and M4 Macs. Ubisoft also plans to bring it to iPads with M-series chips.
While the headline feature of Apple's new lowest-cost iPad is an A16 chip, the device has some other new features and changes.
Apple's official name for the new entry-level iPad is iPad (A16), but we are referring to the device as the iPad 11 in this article.
Below, we recap eight smaller iPad 11 details you might have missed.
In the iPad 11, the A16 chip has a 5-core CPU and a 4-core GPU, whereas the A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus has a 6-core CPU and a 5-core GPU.
The iPad 11 does not support Apple Intelligence.
The iPad 11 is the first entry-level iPad with a 512GB storage option.
The iPad 11 supports Smart HDR 4, up from Smart HDR 3 on the previous model. Smart HDR 4 makes photos look "even more detailed and vivid."
The iPad 11 supports Bluetooth 5.3, up from Bluetooth 5.2 for the previous model.
While cellular iPad 10 models have a SIM card slot in all countries, the iPad 11 relies entirely on eSIM technology worldwide.
The iPad 11 is still compatible with the first-generation Apple Pencil.
Apple says the iPad 11 has an 11-inch display, while the iPad 10 is listed as having a 10.9-inch display. However, Apple is simply rounding up more with the iPad 11, as both devices actually have a 10.86-inch display.
Apple makes no mention of the iPad 11 having its custom C1 modem, so cellular models might still have a Qualcomm modem. We await teardowns.
It is also unclear how much RAM is in the iPad 11, but we are working to confirm this detail as soon as possible. iPhones with the A16 Bionic chip have 6GB of RAM, but the iPad 11 has a regular A16 chip with reduced CPU and GPU specifications, so it is unclear if the iPad 11 has 6GB of RAM. The iPad 10 has 4GB of RAM.
The new iPad can be pre-ordered now, and it will launch on Wednesday, March 12. In the U.S., the Wi-Fi model starts at $349.
Apple today seeded the second public betas of upcoming iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 updates, allowing public beta testers to try out the new features in the software ahead of its public launch. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the beta updates to developers.
Public beta testers can download the updates from the Settings app on each device after opting into the beta through Apple's public beta testing website.
The new software for iPhone and iPad includes Priority Notifications, an Apple Intelligence feature designed to show you your most important notifications first, plus it adds a new Sketch style for Image Playground on all Apple Intelligence devices.
There is a new Apple News+ Food section for Apple News+ subscribers that aggregates recipes, food stories, and tips for healthy eating, plus an Ambient Music feature for playing chill music from Control Center. On the iPad and Mac, the new updates introduce Mail Categorization, a feature that was previously limited to the iPhone.
In beta 2, Apple added new emoji characters and debuted the Vision Pro app for iPhone. The update also brings Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Apple today filed a legal complaint with the UK's Investigatory Powers Tribunal in an attempt to quash the UK government's demand for backdoor access to encrypted data, reports Financial Times.
Earlier this year, the UK government ordered Apple to give it secret access to encrypted user data uploaded to iCloud worldwide, through the creation of a backdoor. The UK used its Investigatory Powers Act to justify the demand, but Apple has not complied.
Instead, Apple removed Advanced Data Protection from the UK so that it would not have to provide the government with access to encrypted data. Advanced Data Protection is designed to provide end-to-end encryption to iPhone, iPad, and Mac users for data stored in iCloud.
Apple will undoubtedly fight the UK every step of the way in order to protect user privacy, and the legal challenge that the company filed today could be heard as soon as this month. Apple is not able to discuss the order made by the UK in public due to the terms of the law, so the court case could be heard without public notice.
Apple previously made it clear that it would pull iCloud features from the UK rather than compromise its user security, and while that only extends to Advanced Data Protection right now, it could lead to key features like FaceTime and iMessage being removed in the country. The UK wants backdoor access to iCloud data to fight terrorism and investigate child sex abuse.
Apple fights vehemently against calls for backdoor access to user data, which we saw in 2016 when the U.S. government demanded that Apple unlock the iPhone of a shooter in San Bernardino, California. That led to a long legal battle that did not see Apple compromise its security. The U.S. has lately reversed course on encryption, and has been promoting end-to-end encryption for mobile devices to protect against foreign cyber campaigns.
The U.S. government is now looking into whether the UK's demand has violated the CLOUD act, which keeps the UK from asking for data from U.S. citizens, and vice versa.
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.
Apple's new iPad Air contains the M3 chip, upgraded from the M2 chip in the previous generation, so how much better really is M3?
With the introduction of the M3 series in 2023, encompassing the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, Apple once again set new benchmarks in performance, efficiency, and hardware-accelerated capabilities. The transition from M2 to M3 is marked by Apple's move to a 3nm process, among other key architectural improvements such as a completely redesigned GPU.
When unveiling the M3 chips, Apple mainly focused on how they compare to the M1 series of chips, rather than their direct predecessors from the M2 series. Even so, the M3 chip represents an advancement over its predecessor, with the headline upgrade being the transition to a more advanced fabrication process that is just 3nm in size, down from 5nm on the M2 series of chips. This is evident in the M3's increased transistor count, jumping from 20 billion in the M2 to 25 billion, a 25% increase that contributes to its enhanced capabilities.
Benchmark tests underscore this progression, with the M3 outperforming the M2 by about 17% in single-core tasks and approximately 21% in multi-core tasks. In GPU performance measured by Metal benchmarks, the M3 exhibits a notable improvement of around 15% over the M2.
The M3 chip introduces an all-new GPU architecture. This architecture includes Dynamic Caching, a breakthrough feature that optimizes GPU memory allocation and utilization, adapting in real-time to varying task demands. This enhancement not only boosts graphics performance for intensive applications but also bolsters the chip's overall energy efficiency. This is particularly beneficial for graphics-heavy tasks like advanced video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. It also features support for AV1 video decode to provide more efficient and higher-quality video from streaming services.
Both chips support Apple Intelligence. Despite similarities in the 16-core Neural Engine between the M2 and M3, the M3's adoption of a 3nm process leads to more efficient execution of machine learning and AI tasks. Additionally, the M3 maintains up to 24GB of unified memory (in Macs only), just like the M2, but leverages the new process for more efficient memory bandwidth utilization.
One other notable difference between the M2 and M3 chips is their energy efficiency. The 3nm fabrication process enables the M3 to achieve higher performance without a proportional increase in power consumption, making the chip particularly appealing for iPad users who value a balance between power and battery life.
Overall, the M3 chip is a notable upgrade from the M2, distinguished by its higher transistor count, improved performance in CPU and GPU tasks, and superior energy efficiency. While the M3 offers clear advancements, the extent of its superiority does not necessitate an immediate upgrade for M2 users, especially if their existing workflows are still completed comfortably. For new buyers or those upgrading from older models, the M3's improvements in performance and efficiency will be much more pronounced.
An updated version of the Mac Studio could launch as soon as this week, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The new machine is expected to be equipped with the M4 Max chip that we first saw in the 2024 MacBook Pro models, but Apple apparently does not have an M4 Ultra chip ready to go.
Instead, there could be a version of the Mac Studio that uses an M3 Ultra chip. Apple didn't release an M3 Ultra chip alongside the M3 chip lineup, so it would be a new chip even though it's not part of the current M4 family. The current Mac Studio has an M2 Ultra chip, as does the Mac Pro.
Apple's "Ultra" chips have historically been two of the "Max" chips linked together, but the M3 Max does not have the UltraFusion interconnect feature that allows the Max chips to be doubled up. The M3 Ultra would likely be a standalone chip that is a departure from the prior Ultra chips that Apple has come out with.
As the M3 Ultra is not likely to be a doubled up M3 Max chip, it's not entirely clear what we can expect in terms of performance, but Apple has more flexibility to tweak processor cores and add additional GPU power. Gurman suggests that Apple might opt to go with an M3 Ultra in the Mac Studio in order to distinguish it from a Mac Pro with a future M4 Ultra chip.
Gurman has faced some difficulty predicting the Mac Studio's launch timeline, perhaps due to Apple's shifting plans. Last year, he said the Mac Studio would come out in mid-2025 around WWDC. He later said that the timing would place it after the MacBook Air, a machine that he suggested would launch before the iPhone 16e and the new iPad Air.
Earlier this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased new product launches with a "There's something in the air" graphic on social media, and Apple has so far updated the iPad Air and the low-cost iPad. The MacBook Air is also rumored to be getting a refresh this week, and now we may also get the Mac Studio even though it doesn't have "Air" in the name.
As was the case with the new iPad Air, and the iPhone 16e last month, the new MacBook Air should be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website.
Beyond the M4 chip, the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models are expected to have Thunderbolt 4 ports, a Center Stage camera, longer battery life, and a few other minor upgrades. No design changes are expected.
Apple's Beats brand is announcing another headphone collaboration today, this time with designer Sandy Liang for limited-edition Solo 4 headphones.
Beats highlights Liang's "playful, nostalgic aesthetic" and her "signature, whimsical style" that sees Liang's hand-drawn pink ribbon on the headband of metallic silver Solo 4 headphones, as well as matching pink Beats "b" logo buttons on the ear cups.
"I've always been drawn to the way nostalgia and modernity can coexist, and working with Beats felt like the perfect way to bring that to life. They're such a cultural icon, I wanted this collaboration to feel personal—something that blends function with a sense of playfulness and personality. I wanted it to feel like more than just headphones, but an accessory that brings joy,” shared Sandy Liang.
A similar pink ribbon is embossed on the wrapper of the custom packaging.
The Beats Solo 4 on-ear headphones debuted in April 2024 with a number of audio-focused improvements, 50-hour battery life, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, three connectivity modes (Bluetooth, USB-C, and 3.5mm), and more.
Beats and Liang partnered with photographer Pia Riverola and model Amelia Gray for a promotional campaign around the launch, and Liang will be sitting down with filmmaker Jeannie Sui Wonders at Apple SoHo this Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 pm for A Conversation on Music + Fashion, part of the Today at Apple programming series in Apple's retail stores.
The Beats Solo 4 — Limited Edition Sandy Liang headphones are available starting today at apple.com in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan, with limited quantities also available at Apple SoHo and the Sandy Liang flagship store in New York City. They are priced at $199.99 in the U.S.
Apple today announced the newest additions to its tablet family, the 11th generation iPad and M3 iPad Air. Alongside these refreshes, the company has introduced a Springtime refresh of iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands, introducing bright new colorways for the new season.
iPhone 16 Silicone Cases
The new colors of the iPhone 16 Silicone Case ($49.00) include Tangerine, Aquamarine, Peony, and Periwinkle. These are available in iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Solo Loop
The new colors of the Solo Loop ($49.00) include Peony, Periwinkle, and Northern Lights. Solo Loop bands come in several sizes, so Apple recommends using its fit guide to find the precise size for your wrist.
Braided Solo Loop
The new colors of the Braided Solo Loop ($99.00) include Tangerine, Aquamarine, and Peony. Braided Solo Loop bands come in several sizes, so Apple recommends using its fit guide to find the precise size for your wrist.
Sport Loop
The new colors of the Sport Loop ($49.00) include Periwinkle and Sage. These are available for Apple Watch cases sized 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm.
Sport Band
The new colors for the Sport Band ($49.00) include Aquamarine, Tangerine, and Periwinkle. These come in both S/M and M/L sizes and are available for Apple Watch cases sized 40mm, 42mm, and 46mm.
The new entry-level iPads — J481 and J482 — will get faster processors and Apple Intelligence. The current models have the A14 chip and 4 gigabytes of memory. Look for the new versions to have the A17 Pro chip, matching the iPad mini, and a bump to 8 gigabytes of memory. That’s the minimum needed to support the new AI platform.
The entry-level iPad remains the only iPad model in Apple's current lineup that lacks support for Apple Intelligence. The features are available on any iPad Pro or iPad Air model with the M1 chip or newer, as well as the latest iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip.
Amazon today has a few models of Apple's M4 Mac mini at all-time low prices, starting at $529.00 for the model with 16GB RAM/256GB SSD, down from $599.00. Discounts reach up to $100 off in these sales, and include both M4 and M4 Pro models.
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You can also get the M4 Mac mini with 16GB RAM/512GB SSD for $699.00 on Amazon, down from $799.00, and the model with 24GB RAM/512GB SSD for $899.00, down from $999.00. Most models can be delivered by the middle of March, but we are seeing estimates slip into April in some cases.
Apple updated the Mac mini back in October 2024, introducing a redesigned computer that's smaller than the previous generation and featuring the M4 and M4 Pro chips. Regarding the M4 Pro model, Amazon also has that device on sale for $1,294.00, down from $1,399.00, which is just a few dollars away from the previous all-time low price.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
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Apple today announced a completely redesigned Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad Air.
The new keyboard features a larger built-in trackpad, a 14-key function row, and a new aluminum hinge. From Apple's press release:
The all-new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air expands what users can do at an even lower price. The larger built-in trackpad brings greater precision for detail-oriented tasks, and a new 14-key function row allows easy access to features like screen brightness and volume controls. The new Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically, and the Smart Connector immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth; a machined aluminum hinge also includes a USB-C connector for charging. Now starting at just $269 for the 11-inch model and $319 for the 13-inch model, the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Air features the magical floating design customers love and comes in white.
It is compatible with all iPad Air models from the fourth-generation onwards. The new keyboard is more in-line with the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro that was introduced alongside the M4 models last year, although it still lacks an aluminum top case, backlighting, and haptic feedback.
The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air is only available in white. The 11-inch version is priced at $269 and the 13-inch version costs $319.
Apple today announced the 11th-generation iPad, now featuring the A16 chip and more storage.
The announcement came alongside the debut of the new iPad Air, which now features the M3 chip. From Apple's press release:
The A16 chip provides a jump in performance for everyday tasks and experiences in iPadOS, while still providing all-day battery life. Compared to the previous generation, the updated iPad with A16 is nearly 30 percent faster. In fact, compared to iPad with A13 Bionic, users will see up to a 50 percent improvement in overall performance, and A16 makes the updated iPad up to 6x faster than the best-selling Android tablet.
The new iPad starts with 128GB of storage, and is also available in 256GB and a new 512GB configuration. The previous model was only available in 64GB and 256GB configurations.
It is available in blue, pink, yellow, and silver, and continues to start at $349. Customers can pre-order the new iPad starting today, with launch scheduled for March 12.
Apple today introduced new 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with the M3 chip, along with an updated Magic Keyboard for the device.
With the M3 chip, the new iPad Air should offer up to 20% faster performance compared to the previous-generation model with the M2 chip, which was released in May 2024. In addition, the M3 chip brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing to the iPad Air for the first time, providing improved graphics rendering in games.
The new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air features a larger trackpad, and function keys for easy access to features like display brightness and volume controls. The new Magic Keyboard attaches to the iPad Air magnetically, and the Smart Connector immediately connects power and data without the need for Bluetooth. The keyboard is also equipped with a USB-C port in its hinge for pass-through charging of other accessories.
We have yet to discover any other changes for the new iPad Air beyond the M3 chip and the updated Magic Keyboard. The new 11-inch and 13-inch models continue to have a 12-megapixel Center Stage front camera, 12-megapixel Wide rear camera, Touch ID power button, USB-C port with up to 10 Gbps data transfer speeds, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3.
Storage capacities continue to range between 128GB and 1TB, and battery life is unchanged compared to the previous model.
Apple Intelligence is available on any iPad Air model with the M1 chip or newer.
The new iPad Air can be pre-ordered starting today, and it will launch on March 12. In the U.S., the 11-inch model continues to start at $599, and the 13-inch model continues to start at $799. The device remains available in the same Space Gray, Starlight, Blue, and Purple color options that were offered for the previous model.
The new Magic Keyboard comes in white. In the U.S., it is priced at $269 for the 11-inch iPad Air, and at $319 for the 13-inch iPad Air.
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