A Chinese court has agreed to hear a lawsuit against Apple from Beijing Bodyreader, a developer seeking around $420,000 in damages after their children's posture correction app was removed from the App Store in 2020.
Bloomberg reports that the case – the first of its kind to be heard in Beijing's intellectual property court – bears similarities to Epic Games' 2021 lawsuit against Apple. Bodyreader claims Apple unfairly removed their app citing "dishonest" behavior, while also challenging the company's 30% commission on app purchases and its control over the iOS ecosystem.
According to court documents reviewed by Bloomberg, Bodyreader argues that Apple's enforcement of App Store policies is inconsistent. The developer notes that after their original app was removed, they successfully published an identical app under a different name, "Qilin Century," which remains available on the App Store. Closed-door hearings began Thursday and could conclude this week.
The hearing represents the first time Apple has been forced to defend its standard mobile platform practices against a Chinese developer. Earlier this year, Apple successfully fought off antitrust accusations from a Chinese consumer, but the company still went so far as to appeal to remove references to its market dominance from the ruling.
Bodyreader is seeking monetary damages, an apology, and a court declaration that Apple engages in unfair monopolistic behavior. The developer has also requested that Apple be required to allow third-party app stores and external payment links.
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.
In a blog post today, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed two new products that Apple apparently plans to release in a few years from now, including a smart home camera and updated AirPods with more health management features.
Kuo said mass production of Apple's smart home camera is scheduled to begin in 2026, and the company apparently aims to sell tens of millions of them over the long term. He said the camera will have wireless connectivity, and deep integration with Apple Intelligence and Siri, but he did not mention any other specific features.
Previous rumors have indicated that Apple is planning to release a smart home display, but that device is expected to launch as early as 2025, so it seems like the 2026 camera that Kuo has mentioned here is a different product.
As for the AirPods, Kuo simply said that future models of the earbuds will have "more health management features" like the Apple Watch, and that Chinese manufacturer Goertek will serve as the primary supplier of a 2026 AirPods model. The new smart home camera will also be assembled by Goertek, according to the analyst.
We previously reported that Apple's upcoming Powerbeats Pro 2 will offer heart rate monitoring during workouts, and perhaps that feature will extend to AirPods in the future. In addition, health-focused sensors that could allow for features like body temperature measuring have been rumored for AirPods in the past.
Apple TV+ today shared a recap video for the first season of "Silo. The hit series returns for a second season starting later this week.
Warning: The video contains major spoilers, obviously.
"Silo" follows the last 10,000 people on Earth, all of whom live in a massive underground bunker to escape the seemingly toxic and deadly world outside. The people are unaware of why the silo was built, and those who seek the truth face deadly consequences. Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette Nichols, an engineer who attempts to unravel the mysteries surrounding the silo following a loved one's murder. The sci-fi series is based on Hugh Howey's best-selling book trilogy "Wool." Ferguson and Howey both serve as executive producers.
The 10-episode second season of "Silo" begins this Friday, November 15, and one new episode will follow every Friday through January 17.
Apple TV+ costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year in the U.S., and the streaming service is also included in all Apple One subscription bundles.
The expensive price tag is partly due to the fact that luxury company Assouline is only selling 1,500 copies of the book, each with a hand-printed number. The hardcover book also features a "sleek translucent slipcase" and "gold-edged pages." As an act of generosity, Assouline even includes complimentary shipping on orders above $200!
Seriously, though, this book is fancy:
Every book comes in a custom-designed translucent acrylic slipcase etched with the Apple Music logo, while the linen hardcover is debossed with the same logo to perfectly line up behind the etching. The back of the case is engraved with the edition number, and inside the book there is a hand-numbered ex libris to further highlight the limited nature of this release. The edges of the book's pages are gilded with a sparkling gold that mirrors the title on the spine.
Inside the 208-page book, you will find a foreword from Apple Music 1 radio host Zane Lowe, followed by album art and details about each of the albums in Apple Music's list of the 100 greatest records ever made, shared earlier this year.
More details about the book can be found on Assouline's website. Pre-orders are currently estimated to ship on November 25.
Who knows, maybe this book will become the next Designed by Apple in California, which started at $199 when it launched in 2016 and became a far more expensive collector's item on eBay after being discontinued in 2019. We make no promises.
Apple seeded the third betas of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 to developers for testing today. While the third betas of each update are minor relative to the first two betas, there are still a handful of changes across the Photos app, TV app, and more.
A corresponding iOS 18.2 public beta with these changes will likely be released later this week, and Apple previously confirmed that the software update will be released to the public in December. iOS 18.2 is compatible with the iPhone XS series and newer, but Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro model or any iPhone 16.
Below, we recap everything new that we have found in the third betas so far. Many of the changes were discovered by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.
iOS 18 introduced a completely redesigned Photos app on the iPhone, but not all of the changes were well received. Apple has continued to tweak the Photos app ever since it announced iOS 18, and that trend has continued with the latest beta.
iOS 18.2 beta 3 introduces a tweaked video player that takes up more of the screen. This change eliminates the thick borders around videos that appear on earlier iOS 18 versions, meaning you no longer have to tap on a video for full-screen playback.
Customizable Navigation Bar in TV App
Starting with iPadOS 18.2 beta 3, the navigation bar in the TV app can be customized, according to the screenshot above from 9to5Mac.
New Camera Control Setting
On all iPhone 16 models, iOS 18.2 beta 3 adds a new setting for the Camera Control button. In the Settings app under Display & Brightness, there is now a toggle for "Require Screen On." When this setting is turned on, you can only launch the Camera app or a supported third-party camera app with the Camera Control button when the iPhone's screen is turned on. Of course, when the setting is turned off, that restriction no longer applies.
Redesigned Next-Generation CarPlay Icons
As we previously reported, Apple continues to prepare for the launch of next-generation CarPlay. iOS 18.2 beta 3 includes redesigned icons for the new "Climate" and "Media" apps that will be available on next-generation CarPlay.
Apple's website continues to say that the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support will "arrive in 2024," but there are still no vehicles that support the system, and Apple has yet to provide a more specific timeframe.
Safari Wallpapers
In iPadOS 18.3 beta 2, Safari has new background wallpapers to choose from.
Other Changes
Starting with iOS 18.2 beta 3, the AirDrop icon in the share sheet now appears dark in Dark Mode, rather than staying white.
In the developer notes for iOS 18.2 beta 3, Apple said issues with the Precision Finding and "Play Sound" features of AirTags, AirPods, and third-party Find My-enabled accessories on earlier betas have been resolved.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year leaked Apple's internal roadmap for more than 50 new and relocated retail stores through 2027, and so far the list has proven to be accurate, beyond Apple missing some of its estimated timeframes.
Some of the new and relocated stores in the list that have since opened in the U.S. include Apple Del Amo in California, Apple Birkdale Village in North Carolina, Apple South Shore in Massachusetts, Apple Tice's Corner in New Jersey, Apple Mall of Georgia in Georgia, Apple Bridge Street in Alabama, and Apple Fairfax Corner in Virginia. The list also mentioned that Apple Roosevelt Field in New York and Apple La Encantada in Arizona would be relocating, and both of those stores recently moved to temporary locations.
Several other projects on the list are moving forward, based on reports and other information that has surfaced online in recent months.
Apple will likely be moving into multiple street-facing retail units between 1426 and 1434 Woodward Avenue in Downtown Detroit, Michigan, sources told Crain's Detroit Business last month. The publication shared a photo showing that construction is already underway on the project, but it is unclear when the store will open, as Apple's leaked roadmap did not list an estimated timeframe for this proposed location. Apple currently has three stores in Metro Detroit, but this would be the first location serving the city's downtown. The store could also attract cross-border shoppers from nearby Windsor in Canada.
In September, Crain's Detroit Businessalso reported that Simon Property Group is redeveloping a portion of the surface parking lot at Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, Michigan into a mixed-use area with both retail and residential buildings. An executive at brokerage firm Colliers told the publication that Apple will be relocating its current store inside the Briarwood Mall to at least a portion of an upcoming 16,000-square-foot retail building in the parking lot. Apple's leaked roadmap estimated the new Ann Arbor store would open in September, but it has missed that target, and a timeframe for the store's completion has not been publicly shared. Apple's current store in Briarwood Mall opened in 2007, and it is quite small.
Meanwhile, content creator Joel Franco recently shared a photo of what very much looks like an Apple store under construction at Miami Worldcenter, a mixed-use area being developed just north of the city's downtown in South Florida. Apple's roadmap estimated the store would open in August, but construction is evidently taking months longer, and there is currently no timeframe for when the location will be completed.
Elsewhere, building permits and photos have revealed that Apple is planning to relocate its store at University Park Village in Fort Worth, Texas. Demolition of the retail units that Apple will be taking over there only recently began, so do not expect the store to open soon. Apple estimated that the store would open in February 2025 in its roadmap, but that timeframe seems quite ambitious at this point and likely won't be met. Apple's current store at University Park Village opened in 2008, so it now looks dated.
Outside of the U.S., Apple is planning to relocate its store in Perth, Western Australia to a 1930s-era building originally built for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, as confirmed by an article on the Perth government's website this month. The building is located at the corner of Murray Street and Forrest Place, and Apple is expected to take over units previously occupied by Australian swimwear retailer City Beach, next to Sephora. Apple's current store in Perth, located on nearby Hay Street, opened in 2010. Apple's roadmap estimated that this store would also open in February 2025, but timing could shift as always.
As we reported earlier this year, Apple is also relocating its Sainte-Catherine store in Montréal, Canada to a nearby 125-year-old heritage building. That is yet another store that Apple aimed to open in February 2025, barring delays.
It has been nearly two and a half years since Apple first previewed next-generation CarPlay at WWDC 2022, and it has still yet to become available in any vehicles. Fortunately, though, Apple continues to work on the software system.
Within the code for the third beta of iOS 18.2 seeded to developers today, there are redesigned "Climate" and "Media" app icons for next-generation CarPlay, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The fact that Apple has redesigned the icons, first added in iOS 17.4, indicates the company is still preparing to launch the new CarPlay.
The redesigned next-generation CarPlay icons
Apple's website continues to say that the first vehicles with next-generation CarPlay support will "arrive in 2024," but it has yet to provide a more specific timeframe. Aston Martin and Porsche previewed next-generation CarPlay vehicle designs in December 2023, but neither automaker has released any vehicles with support yet.
Below, we have recapped what to expect from next-generation CarPlay.
New Features
Next-generation CarPlay will have deeper integration with a vehicle's instrument cluster, climate controls, FM radio, and more. It will also support multiple displays across the dashboard, and offer widgets for apps like Calendar and Weather.
In addition, next-generation CarPlay will be highly customizable, allowing automakers to tailor the design of the system to uniquely match their vehicles.
Instrument Cluster Integration
Next-generation CarPlay will integrate with a vehicle's instrument cluster, including the speedometer, tachometer, odometer, fuel gauge, engine temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, and more. Apple says drivers will be able to choose from several gauge cluster designs and layouts, including brand‑specific options.
Climate Controls
You'll be able to access your vehicle's climate controls directly within the new CarPlay interface, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heat, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and other options.
Multi-Display Support
Next-generation CarPlay will be able to appear across all of the displays in a vehicle, providing a consistent experience across the infotainment system, instrument cluster, and any additional screens on the dashboard. Apple says the new CarPlay will be tailored to each vehicle model to accommodate unique screen shapes and layouts.
Widgets
Widgets will be a key part of the new CarPlay experience, offering at-a-glance information such as trip duration, fuel economy, distance traveled, calendar events, weather, phone calls, the status of a HomeKit-enabled garage door, and more. It will also be possible to view and scroll through the widgets within the instrument cluster.
FM Radio App
Next-generation CarPlay will include an all-new Media app that allows you to easily control the FM radio in your vehicle, such as to change the station.
Auto Settings: This app will let you manage paired iPhones and adjust vehicle settings.
Car Camera: This app will display the vehicle's rear-view camera feed.
Charge: For electric vehicles, this app will display battery level, charging status, time remaining until the battery is fully charged, and more.
Climate: This app will provide access to a vehicle's climate controls within CarPlay, allowing you to adjust the temperature of the A/C or heating system, fan speed, heated seats, heated steering wheel, and more.
Closures: This app will display if any of the vehicle's doors are opened, and it might also display vehicle warning symbols.
Media: This app will provide access to FM and AM radio station controls within CarPlay, along with other media options like SiriusXM. It is unclear if SiriusXM will offer satellite connectivity, or remain limited to internet streaming. Users will be able to select from a list of music genres, such as Top 40 and Rock.
Tire Pressure: This app will display air pressure for each of the vehicle's tires, and provide low pressure, high pressure, and flat tire warnings.
Trips: This app will provide a variety of driving-related data, including the vehicle's average speed, fuel efficiency or energy efficiency, the total time elapsed and distance traveled on a trip, and more.
Committed Automakers
Aston Martin's next-generation CarPlay preview from December 2023
When it first announced next-generation CarPlay, Apple said the following automakers were committed to offering it in new vehicles:
Acura
Audi
Ford
Honda
Infiniti
Jaguar
Land Rover
Lincoln
Mercedes-Benz
Nissan
Polestar
Porsche
Renault
Volvo
Beyond the addition of Aston Martin, it is unclear if this list has changed since that initial announcement at WWDC 2022.
Apple has not indicated if any next-generation CarPlay apps or features will be available in existing vehicles with standard CarPlay support.
Apple today seeded the second beta of watchOS 11.2 to developers for testing, but some users are unable to install the beta at this time, according to posts from affected users across the MacRumors Forums and social media.
The issue appears to be limited to the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, at least based on the reports we have seen so far. Affected users are receiving a "Software Update Failed" message after attempting to install the latest beta. Users with other Apple Watch models have been able to install the beta without any problems.
Apple might have to re-release the second watchOS 11.2 beta to fix this issue. We will update this story as more details become available.
Other developer betas released today include the third betas of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, and the second betas of tvOS 18.2 and HomePod Software 18.2. All of the updates should be released in December.
Update: The issue has been resolved, according to Nicolás Alvarez.
Black Friday deals are in abundance today, and now AirPods are joining the list. Amazon has knocked the price of the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case to just $94.00, down from the original price of $169.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirPods 3 are a few years old at this point, and they lack a few features of the fourth generation models that just launched this year. However, for anyone who doesn't care about features like Active Noise Cancellation, Conversation Awareness, and others, this is a fantastic deal.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Update: This deal has temporarily expired, but it has been fluctuating all afternoon, so there is a chance it will return.
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Apple today released firmware updates for both AirPods 4 models (version number 7B20) and the AirPods Pro 2 with both Lightning and USB-C charging cases (version number 7B21). All of these AirPods models were previously on firmware version 7B19.
It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in firmware versions 7B20 and 7B21, but we will update this story if we find out.
Last month's firmware version 7B19 enabled new hearing aid, hearing test, and hearing protection features on AirPods Pro 2 when paired with an iPhone or iPad running iOS 18.1 or iPadOS 18.1 or later. Availability of these features varies by country. Apple's release notes never indicated what that firmware version added to the AirPods 4.
There is no way to manually force the installation of a firmware update on AirPods. Firmware updates are generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or a Mac.
Update: Apple says firmware versions 7B20 and 7B21 include "bug fixes and other improvements." No further details were provided.
The first major Black Friday discounts have arrived for Apple Watch Series 10 on Amazon, with $50 off both 42mm GPS and 46mm GPS models. All of these deals have been applied automatically and do not require any coupon codes.
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.
You can get the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 for $349.00, down from $399.00. This one is available in multiple case colors and band styles, and it's a new record low price for the 2024 wearable.
Similarly, the 46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 is available for $379.00 on Amazon, down from $429.00. This one is also available in multiple case colors, band styles, and sizes at this all-time low price.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
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Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, a week after releasing the second betas. Alongside the third betas of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating system updates, Apple has also seeded the second betas of watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and HomePod Software 18.2.
With today's updates, Apple is continuing to test the next phase of Apple Intelligence, with these features available for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS:
Image Playground
Image Playground is Apple's image generation app, and it can create images based on prompts. You can enter a description of what you want or use the built-in suggestions and concepts that Apple provides. Apple will suggest costumes, locations, items, and more to add to an image, and these concepts are intelligent and can draw inspiration from a Messages thread or content in the Notes app.
There are options to create characters that resemble your friends and family, and you can choose a photo for Image Playground to use as inspiration to create a related image. Elements added to Image Playground creations are previewed, and there is a preview history so you can undo a change and go back to a prior version.
While Image Playground is a standalone app, it is also integrated into Messages. Image Playground does not make photorealistic images and is instead limited to animation or illustration styles.
Image Wand
Image Wand is an Image Playground-related feature that's available in the Notes app on iPad. You can draw a rough sketch with the Apple Pencil or circle a blank space or a key phrase in a note to have Image Wand generate an appropriate image.
Genmoji
Genmoji are custom emoji characters that you can create based on descriptions and phrases. Like Image Playground creations, you can base them on your friends and family, with the data pulled from the People album in Photos. You can also make characters using basic elements, and you'll get multiple Genmoji suggestions to choose from. You can create Genmoji using the emoji keyboard.
Genmoji were limited to iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 as of the second betas, but will be coming to macOS Sequoia.
Siri ChatGPT Integration
Siri can integrate with ChatGPT for certain requests, but only with user approval. If Siri is unable to provide an answer to a query, Siri will hand the request over to ChatGPT. ChatGPT's answer will then be provided by Siri.
ChatGPT can be used to create content from scratch, including text and images. No account is required to use ChatGPT integration, and Apple and OpenAI do not store requests.
Visual Intelligence
iPhone 16 users have access to Visual Intelligence, a feature that provides information about what's around you. If you open the camera and point it at a restaurant, for example, you'll see opening hours and reviews.
Some other Visual Intelligence capabilities include reading text out loud, detecting phone numbers and addresses to add them to Contacts, copying text, and summarizing text. There is an option to search Google for where to buy a specific item that you see, and you can also point the camera at something and then get more information about it from ChatGPT.
Apple plans to expand this feature to include more functionality over time.
Writing Tools
Apple is enhancing the Writing Tools feature to add an option to make more open-ended changes. In iOS 18.1 and its sister updates, Writing Tools can only be used to change the tone to friendly, professional, and a more simplified version. In iOS 18.2, you can describe the tone or content change that you want to make, such as adding more action words, or turning an email into a poem.
More Languages
Apple Intelligence has gained support for localized English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the U.K., in addition to U.S. English.
Wait List
If you've already been testing Apple Intelligence and are opted in, you will have access to Writing Tools, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence automatically.
There is a secondary waiting list for early access to use Genmoji, Image Playground, and Image Wand. You can sign up to get access in Image Playground or in the areas where you access Genmoji or Image Wand.
When you request access, you are added to a wait list for all three capabilities and you'll get a notification when the features are available for you to use. Apple is rolling out access to the new image generation features over the coming weeks.
Availability and Compatibility
The second and third betas of iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 are available on all devices, but the Apple Intelligence features require a device capable of Apple Intelligence. Apple is still working on refining the new Apple Intelligence tools, and the company warns that Genmoji, Image Wand, and Image Playground can sometimes give you results you weren't expecting. Apple is collecting feedback on these experiences and will refine them over time.
Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro or any iPhone 16 model, an iPad with an M-series chip or an A17 Pro chip, or a Mac with an M-series chip.
tvOS 18.2
tvOS 18.2 includes support for projectors, adding a 21:9 aspect ratio and several other aspect ratios. The Apple TV can automatically detect the aspect ratio of your device and choose the right setting. Apple is also preparing to add new screen savers for Snoopy and more.
Release Date
Apple is expected to release the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2, watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and visionOS 2.2 updates in early December.
Apple today said an "immersive music experience" from singer The Weeknd will be available to watch on the Vision Pro headset this Thursday, November 15.
Based on Apple's trailer, it appears that the experience will feature The Weeknd's unreleased song "Open Hearts," which he previewed during a concert in Australia last month. The singer is preparing to release a new album called "Hurry Up Tomorrow."
If you do not own a Vision Pro, you will still be able to watch the experience by requesting a free demo of the headset at Apple Stores where it is available.
Today we're tracking a new all-time low price on Apple's AirTag 4-Pack, which has hit $69.99 on Amazon, down from $99.00. This sale beats the previous record low price by a few dollars, and it's one of the best overall early Black Friday deals that we've seen so far this season.
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.
If you're shopping for a single AirTag, Amazon also has the AirTag 1-Pack for just $19.00, down from $29.00.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
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Walmart's Black Friday sale has officially kicked off today, with an online shopping event that will expand to retail locations on Friday, November 15. There are quite a few major discounts in this sale, including all-time low prices on AirTag and Apple Watch Series 10.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Walmart. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Walmart's Black Friday Schedule
Walmart's Black Friday sale has begun online for Walmart+ members, and this exclusivity window will last until 5 p.m. ET. After this time, anyone will be able to shop the sale on Walmart's website for the next three days, and then in stores on Friday.
This same pattern will repeat during Black Friday week as well. New deals will appear online at 12 p.m. ET Monday, November 25, only for Walmart+ members. Then the sale will open up to everyone that afternoon, followed by in stores on Friday, November 29 - Black Friday.
Monday 11/11: First event begins online (12 p.m. ET for Walmart+ members/5 p.m. ET for all customers)
Monday 11/25: Second event begins online (12 p.m. ET for Walmart+ members/5 p.m. ET for all customers)
Friday 11/29: Black Friday begins in stores at 6 a.m. local time
Sunday 12/1: Cyber Monday begins (5 p.m. ET for Walmart+ members/8 p.m. ET for all customers)
Walmart+ Membership
If you aren't a Walmart+ member, you can get 50 percent off a membership for a limited time during this event. You'll pay $49 for one year of Walmart+, and this offer will run through December 2 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Like many retailers, Walmart's Black Friday offerings are wide and varied. You'll find major markdowns on video games, appliances, TVs, smart home products, speakers, headphones, and more. We've divided up some of the major discount categories in the sections below, and remember that while many of these sales are live now, some won't appear until later in the day if you aren't a Walmart+ member.
Walmart is coming out of the gate with some heavy-hitter Apple deals, including a new record low price on the Apple Watch Series 10. You can get the 42mm GPS device for $349.00 and the 46mm GPS device for $379.00, both $50 discounts and best-ever prices.
Next, Walmart has the AirTag 1-Pack for just $19.00 during its early Black Friday event, down from $29.00. This is another new all-time low price, and it beats the previous deal tracked at Amazon by about $4.
Finally, Walmart has the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case for $94.00, down from $169.00. Although these are now an older model of AirPods, this is a great low price and should work perfectly for anyone who doesn't care about owning the newest AirPods 4.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
Deals Newsletter
Interested in hearing more about top deals as we head into the holidays? Sign up for our Deals Newsletter and we'll keep you updated so you don't miss the biggest deals of the season!
Last week, we reported on a new feature in the Find My app on the iOS 18.2 beta that allows you to temporarily share an AirTag's location with a trusted person, and soon with airlines. Apple today announced the feature, providing more details.
Apple said more than 15 airlines will offer the feature "in the coming months," including Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, Aer Lingus, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Iberia, SWISS, Turkish Airlines, and Vueling. More airlines will follow "over time."
United is aiming to implement the feature systemwide in "early 2025," according to a quote the airline provided in Apple's press release.
The feature will be integrated into each airline's customer service process for locating mishandled or delayed baggage, according to Apple. This will make it easier for the airline to help find lost bags with an AirTag attached to them.
iPhone, iPad, and Mac users running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 can generate a "Share Item Location" link in the Find My app. Anyone they share the link with can then view a website with a location of the item on a map. The website will automatically update with the item's latest known location.
Apple said it worked directly with airlines to put systems in place to "privately and securely" accept the "Share Item Location" links. Access to each link will be "limited to a small number of people," and recipients will be required to "authenticate" to view the link through either their Apple Account or partner email address. The item's location will stop being shared "as soon as a user is reunited with their item," or at any time that the item's owner decides. An item's shared location will automatically expire after seven days.
"The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing invaluable location information when bags have been misplaced or mishandled," said Apple's services chief Eddy Cue. "With Share Item Location, we're excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines, all while protecting their privacy."
In addition to items equipped with an AirTag, the feature also works with third-party accessories and item trackers that support the Find My network.
Black Friday is getting closer, and prices on MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac mini computers have started to drop as the shopping holiday nears. These deals include the latest models of the M4 MacBook Pro and iMac.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Of course, there is a chance that we could see better deals on these Macs arrive as Black Friday gets closer. This is a risk anyone has to take while shopping during the holidays, so with that in mind, many of the deals shared below are currently the best prices we've ever seen. More information on these sales can be found in our Black Friday Roundup.
Best Buy and Amazon have huge discounts on Apple's 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air this November, with a consistent $200 off nearly every 2024 M3 model of the computer.
For MacBook Pro Black Friday deals, you'll again find all of the best discounts mixed between Best Buy and Amazon. This includes both the previous generation M3 models at up to $500 off, as well as the new M4 MacBook Pro.
Amazon has the best all-around deals on the new M4 iMacs, with as much as $200 off select models of the computer. This includes the 10-core/16GB RAM/256GB M4 iMac with the Nano-texture display at $1,499.00, down from $1,699.00.
You can find all the Apple Black Friday Deals currently available in our dedicated post. For everything else, we're keeping track of all of the season's best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you'll find for Black Friday 2024.
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Next year's iPhone 17 "Air" model may not be as thin as Apple planned, according to a rumor originating in Korea.
According to the news aggregator account "yeux1122" on Naver, citing industry sources, Apple has run into problems making the new iPhone 17 model sufficiently thin. The device's reduced thickness is apparently dependent on manufacturing a battery with a thinner substrate, but Apple is now facing technical compromises. One of the main problems is cost and Apple is now reportedly falling back on its existing battery technology.
As a result, the iPhone 17 Air's battery will not be able to be as thin as Apple first intended for the device's new design. Now, the iPhone 17 Air battery will purportedly be around 6mm thick, suggesting that the device itself will be thicker than this. Apple's thinnest ever iPhone was the iPhone 6 at 6.9mm, meaning that the iPhone 17 "Slim" is unlikely to be much thinner than the 2014 flagship.
Likewise, the 13-inch iPad Pro and seventh-generation iPod nano could continue to lead as Apple's thinnest ever devices at 5.1mm and 5.4mm thick, respectively. The iPhone 16 Plus, the device that the iPhone 17 Air will apparently replace in the lineup, is 7.8mm thick.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch in the fall of 2025 with the "A19" chip, a single rear camera, a ProMotion display for refresh rates up to 120Hz.