Some customers who had a poor experience with their Apple Savings accounts handled by Goldman Sachs are receiving one-time credits, according to an email received from MacRumors reader Michael, who made a withdrawal in May.
"The experience we provided for a withdrawal request you made for your Savings account in May did not meet our standards," reads the email. As a thank you, Apple and Goldman Sachs informed Michael that he would be receiving a one-time "goodwill credit" of $100 to his savings account.
It is not clear how many Apple Savings users have received these credits, but the bonus likely stems from issues that some customers ran into over withdrawal waits.
In June, a report from The Wall Street Journal suggested that multiple Apple Card customers were having trouble withdrawing money from their accounts, which are handled by Goldman Sachs. Some customers who transferred thousands of dollars were waiting for weeks for their money.
Goldman Sachs in a statement said that the issues had come up due to security processes designed to protect customer accounts. It is possible that customers triggered anti-money laundering alerts by transferring large amounts of money into a newly opened account.
"The customer response to the new savings account for Apple Card users has been excellent and beyond our expectations. While the vast majority of customers see no delays in transferring their funds, in a limited number of cases, a user may experience a delayed transfer due to processes in place designed to help protect their accounts."
Affected customers complained of Goldman Sachs' customer service, indicating that they were receiving different information each time they called in to speak with the company.
Recent reports have suggested that Goldman Sachs is looking to end its partnership with Apple as it wants to cut back on its consumer business. Goldman Sachs is reportedly in talks with American Express about a potential takeover, but no deal has been reached.
Goldman Sachs recently extended its partnership with Apple through the end of the decade, but it has run into problems with the scale of Apple's business. Last year, for example, Goldman Sachs was subjected to an investigation by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau after customers experienced long wait times for disputed transactions. Goldman Sachs was reportedly not prepared for the number of chargebacks that it had to deal with.
Apple uses Goldman Sachs for the Apple Card, Apple Savings account, and Apple Pay Later features. Offered since April, the Apple Savings account is available to Apple Card holders, and it provides a 4.15 percent interest rate on Daily Cash and other deposits.
Nomad is celebrating its anniversary by offering 30 percent off sitewide this week, giving shoppers a chance to save on the brand's best wireless chargers, iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, and more. This sale does not require a coupon code as all the discounts have been automatically applied, and it ends on July 18.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Nomad sells a wide variety of accessories for Apple products, including MagSafe-compatible charging stands and iPhone 14 cases. You'll also find waterproof Apple Watch bands, USB-C power adapters, AirPods cases, desk accessories, and more.
This sitewide sale applies to full-price and in-stock products only, excluding backordered and limited edition products and a few third-party items. Nomad offers free standard shipping on all orders placed in the United States that exceed $150.
Apple is actively developing a sixth-generation iPad Air, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who briefly touched on the mid-range tablet in his latest Power On newsletter. However, it's unclear exactly when the next model will be released.
Gurman said the first Macs with the M3 chip could be announced as early as October, but he does not expect any major upgrades across the iPad lineup this year. Given a spec-bumped iPad Air would likely not be considered a major upgrade, it's unclear if the device will be updated later this year or at some point in 2024.
"For those wondering about the iPad — another product that typically gets refreshed in October — I wouldn't expect any major upgrades until the M3 iPad Pros with OLED screens arrive next year," wrote Gurman. He added that "an iPad Air model that boosts its specifications is also in development," but did not provide any further details.
Apple last updated the iPad Air in March 2022 with the M1 chip, an upgraded 12-megapixel front camera with Center Stage support, a faster USB-C port, 5G support for cellular models, and new color options. Pricing starts at $599 in the U.S. for 64GB of storage.
It's unclear what new features the next iPad Air will offer, but possibilities include the M2 chip, a Thunderbolt port like the iPad Pro, a horizontally-oriented front-facing camera like on the 10th-generation iPad, and new color options. Read our iPad Air roundup linked below for additional details about the current model.
Apple plans to release a new MacBook Pro with an upgraded chip manufactured with TSMC's advanced 3nm process in the third quarter of 2023, according to DigiTimes.
"Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro slated for launch in the third quarter will feature 3nm processors, according to industry sources," the preview says.
The report is likely referring to a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple's next-generation M3 chip, which the company has yet to announce. The M3 chip is widely expected to be fabricated with TSMC's 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm-based M2 chip in the existing 13-inch MacBook Pro.
In his Power On newsletter over the weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the first Macs with the M3 chip could launch as early as October, so a launch in the fourth quarter seems more likely than the third quarter. In any case, it is increasingly likely that Apple will announce the M3 chip later this year, and the first models with the chip will likely be the next-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 24-inch iMac. It's unclear when the 15-inch MacBook Air released last month will be updated with the M3 chip.
Apple last updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip in June 2022, with pricing starting at $1,299 in the United States. The laptop has a seven-year-old overall design and is the only remaining Mac with a Touch Bar instead of physical function keys. It's unclear if the next model will have any major design changes.
Apple is expected to update the iPad Pro with the M3 chip and an OLED display in the first half of 2024, bringing 3nm technology to its high-end tablet. 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are also expected to launch next year, and an M3 Ultra chip for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro is likely in the future.
Amazon today has a few deals on the iPad Air, all of which represent all-time low prices for these tablets. The sales are focused on the 5th generation iPad Air, which has a delivery date as soon as July 19 for select colors.
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 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air for $499.99, down from $599.00. This one is on sale at this price in four colors, and it requires you to head to the checkout screen before you will see the final discounted price.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Secondly, the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad Air is available for $649.99, down from $749.00. This model is also available in four colors, and most are in stock and ready to ship today.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
You can also find a few cellular models on sale right now on Amazon. The 64GB cellular iPad Air is on sale for $629.99 ($119 off) and the 256GB cellular iPad Air is on sale for $799.99 ($99 off).
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
According to the Twitter user "RGcloudS," the iPhone 15 lineup will feature stacked battery technology. The information came as part of an alleged leak about Samsung's Galaxy S24+ and S24 Ultra models, which are also said to utilize stacked battery technology.
A stacked battery cell uses a manufacturing technique called lamination, where the elements and separators are folded into zig-zag layers instead of being rolled up. Since there is less wasted space within the packaged cell, more active material can be included, resulting in a greater overall capacity. This allows a stacked battery to achieve higher energy density compared to a wound battery. Heat is also distributed more uniformly across the cell, rather than being concentrated in a single area, prolonging the battery's lifespan.
Electric vehicles already heavily rely on stacked batteries due to their ability to deliver high power output and rapid recharging, as well as their superior energy densities. They are also found in medical devices, aerospace and aviation, and renewable energy storage.
In addition, the Twitter user claims that they have seen signs of Apple exploring 40W wired charging and 20W charging via MagSafe, but they are unsure whether it relates to the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 lineup. The iPhone 14 Pro Max can achieve peak wired charging speeds of up to 29W, while MagSafe only charges at 15W.
The "RGcloudS" account primarily focuses on Android leaks. The rumor has been picked up by a range of other prominent websites and news outlets, but the Twitter user's track record for Apple leaks is unclear, so it should be taken with a pinch of salt at the current time.
Update: "RGcloudS" now claims that Apple's stacked battery technology is instead destined for the iPhone 16 lineup, alongside 40W wired charging and 20W charging via MagSafe. Apple purportedly wishes to introduce larger image sensors and stacked battery technology simultaneously.
A factory sealed original 2007 iPhone has been sold at auction for $190,373, far exceeding the previous record for an auctioned iPhone.
Apple sold the 4GB original iPhone for a limited amount of time, making it is the rarest of the first-generation iPhone models. It was predicted to establish a record sale price of up to $100,000, but the actual sale price turned out to be far higher.
The LCG Auction began on June 30 and ran through July 16. The initial bid was $10,000, and the lot had a total of 28 bids, which led to the record-breaking $190,372.80 sale.
The iPhone was originally sold with either 4GB or 8GB of storage when it launched 16 years ago on June 29, 2007. The 8GB model turned out to be far more popular, so Apple discontinued the 4GB model after just a few months in favor of a higher 16GB capacity.
The person selling the iPhone was part of the original engineering team when the iPhone launched, according to LCG Auctions, and it comes with a letter of provenance. The 4GB model was sold for $499, while the 8GB version cost $599.
Apple's first M3-powered Macs could arrive as early as October, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said sources tell him an October event will follow Apple's iPhone 15 series announcement in September, and the state of Apple's current product lineup suggests it will focus on new Macs with M3 chips.
Given that Apple launched new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models in January, and more recently new 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro models in June, Gurman believes the first beneficiaries of the new M3 chip will be the next iMac, 13-inch MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Looking further ahead, new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 chips are expected to arrive in early 2024, featuring M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, according to Gurman in a previous report.
The M3 chip is expected to be built on chipmaking partner TSMC's 3nm process, resulting in significant performance and power efficiency improvements over the 5nm-based M2 chip that Apple's most recent Mac models are based on. TSMC kicked off mass production of 3nm chips in late December.
Samsung today announced the upcoming U.S. launch of its ViewFinity S9 display, which is designed to compete with the Studio Display from Apple. The ViewFinity S9 previously launched in South Korea in June, but next month it will be expanding to the United States.
The 27-inch ViewFinity S9 features a 5K display with a resolution of 5120 x 2800 and 218 pixels per inch. It offers 600 nits typical brightness, a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and 99 percent DCI-P3 for vivid, realistic colors, and it is has a 60Hz refresh rate with a 5ms response time. According to Samsung, there is also an Intelligent Eye Care feature built into the display to cut down on eye strain.
Priced at $1,599, the ViewFinity S9 has the same price tag as the Studio Display from Apple, but Apple charges an additional $300 for Nano-texture matte glass and $400 extra for a tilt and height adjustable stand. Samsung's ViewFinity S9 has a matte display and built-in height and tilt adjustment at its base price, along with a Pivot function that allows the screen to be rotated 90 degrees to a portrait orientation. VESA mounting is also an option.
The display includes one Thunderbolt 4 port, three USB-C ports, a Mini DisplayPort, and a DC 20V port for a power supply. It can connect to both PCs and Macs, and offers 90W power transfer and data speeds of up to 40Gb/s for machines connected through the Thunderbolt 4 port.
At the top of the display, there is a 4K SlimFit camera that can tilt to fit the angle of the monitor, with an Auto Framing feature keeping the user visible and in the shot, similar to Apple's Center Stage feature. Built-in speakers are included, and an Adaptive Sound+ option allows noise levels to automatically adjust.
Samsung created a Smart Calibration feature for the ViewFinity S9, which uses an iPhone 11 or later or a modern Galaxy smartphone to quickly customize the screen. Through the SmartThings app, display users can adjust white balance and gamma settings using the Basic mode, or tweak color temperature, luminance, color space, and more with the Professional mode. Calibration works by pointing the smartphone's camera at the ViewFinity S9, and after the process is complete, the app provides a report of the adjustments made and the Delta E color accuracy.
The ViewFinity S9 includes Smart TV apps that allow the display to function as a TV independent of a connected computer. It supports popular streaming apps and the Samsung Gaming Hub for playing cloud-based games from Xbox and NVIDIA. There is a remote control for using the TV features.
Samsung's ViewFinity S9 is priced at $1,599 and it will be available for purchase from the Samsung website and from other retailers in August.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
As promised for the month of July, Apple has released the first public betas of iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and related updates, opening up testing to a wider range of users ahead of their official releases later this year.
Other big stories this week included the latest rumors about the iPhone 15 Pro coming up in just a couple of months, a massive new iMac model in Apple's product pipeline, and a significant new feature for macOS Sonoma with the ability to use iCloud Keychain on various third-party browsers. Read on for all the details on these stories and more!
iOS 17 Public Beta Now Available
Apple this week released the first public beta of iOS 17. The upcoming software update includes several new features and changes, including a StandBy mode when an iPhone is charging in a landscape position, improved autocorrect, interactive Home Screen widgets, the ability to download sections of Apple Maps for offline use, and more.
Not interested in the beta? iOS 17 should be released to the public in September, alongside the launch of iPhone 15 models. The software update is compatible with the iPhone XS and newer.
iPhone 15 Pro's Top Rumored Features: USB-C Port, Titanium, and More
Key new features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models include a USB-C port, a customizable Action button, a titanium frame, a faster A17 Bionic chip manufactured with TSMC's latest 3nm process, and thinner bezels around the display. The higher-end Pro Max model is also expected to feature an upgraded Telephoto lens with periscope technology for up to 6x optical zoom.
It was already possible to save full-page screenshots as a PDF in the Files app, but the added option of saving them to the Photos app will make it easier to share full-page screenshots in iMessage conversations and on social media.
Larger iMac With Around 32-Inch Display in Early Testing
Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac and iMac Pro, and has yet to launch a larger-screen iMac with an Apple silicon chip as a replacement, so a 32-inch iMac would be a much-awaited addition to the Mac lineup if it ever launches.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple made a number of changes to the Messages app in iOS 17, introducing a new look, updated stickers functionality, and important new safety features that help people traveling alone feel safer.
This guide highlights all of the features that Apple is adding to Messages in iOS 17.
Design Updates
Apple updated the design of the Messages to cut down on clutter. The "+" button on the left side of the compose window houses all of the Messages apps and tools. Tapping on it brings up a dropdown list of options, that include Camera, Photos, Stickers, Cash, Audio, Location, Store, and Messages apps that have been installed.
You can tap on one of the options to open its related function. So instead of tapping on the little photos icon to add a photo as you did in iOS 16, you will tap on the "+" button and then the Photos option to get to your Camera Roll in iOS 17.
In iOS 16, Apple had a camera icon and an App Store icon that could be tapped to expand the available options. Apps expanded across the top of the keyboard horizontally, so the cleaner vertical design is a notable change. It makes for a much more simplified design, and it's easier to tell what's what with the larger icons and text descriptions.
Check In is a safety feature that you can use when you're traveling to have someone else keep an eye on your progress. You can let a friend or family member know that you're going somewhere, and they'll be automatically notified when you reach your destination.
To use Check In, you'll need to select a conversation with a trusted person, tap on the "+" button, and choose the Check In option. From there, you can input the location that you're going to and the time you're set to arrive.
The person on the other end will be notified that you're heading somewhere and when you should get there. If you stop making progress while you're on your way, Messages will check in with you to see what's going on, and if there's no response, your battery level, full location, and cellular status will be shared with the person you selected.
You can customize the amount of data that you share. Limited shares location, network signal, and battery level, while Full shares all of that plus route traveled, location of last iPhone unlock, and location of where the Apple Watch was last removed.
When you arrive at your destination, your friend or family member is notified that you got there safely and the Check In ends successfully.
Stickers
Stickers have been in the Messages app for years now, but they haven't gotten a lot of attention. Apple is changing that in iOS 17, because all emoji are now considered stickers, in addition to actual stickers.
Emoji now behave the same way as stickers, so in addition to simply inserting them into a conversation, you can also drag them anywhere on a message, and you can layer them on top of one another to create little emoji scenes. To put an emoji on a message, just open the emoji keyboard, select an emoji, and drag it up to the message you want to accent.
If you open up the Stickers section of the Messages app, you'll see stickers from apps you've downloaded, stickers you've created, emoji, and Memoji in one spot.
Creating Stickers
Apple in iOS 16 introduced a Remove Subject From Background option, and in iOS 17, you can use it to create and save your own stickers. Choose any of your photos and long press on the subject of the photo to get to the "Add Sticker" option.
Choose that and it will be added right to your sticker collection, and if it's a Live Photo, it will animate.
There are a number of effects that can be added to make your digital stickers look more like real stickers, including a white outline, comic-like shading, a puffy 3D look, and a shiny, holographic finish. The sticker effects will animate and reflect the light appropriately, making your self-created stickers look professionally done.
Sticker Reactions
With emoji able to be placed anywhere on an iMessage, you can use them in place of tapback reactions. Just drag the emoji to the message that you want to respond to rather than long pressing for a tapback. Later in the year, Apple plans to allow stickers to be used right in the tapback interface.
Sticker Expansion
Stickers can now be used anywhere that emoji can be accessed, including third-party apps, pictures, emails, and more. So once you create your stickers from photos, you can do more with them than just send them to people using Messages.
Memoji
Apple added new halo, smirk, and peekaboo Memoji stickers to go along with the existing still Memoji sticker options.
Catch-Up
If you get behind on a Messages chat with a friend or with a group of people, iOS 17 shows you a catch-up arrow. If you tap it, it will jump to the first message in a conversation that you have not seen. Catch-up is a feature that will be coming in an update to iOS 17 and it won't be in the launch version of the software.
Swipe to Reply
If you want to reply to a specific message in a conversation, just swipe from left to right to bring up the reply interface. This is a much quicker way to reply to something specific someone has said because you no longer need to long press and tap the reply button.
Search Improvements
Apple improved Messages search in iOS 17 with an option to combine multiple filters. If you're looking for images from a certain person, for example, you can type in "photos" and then the person's name, tapping to select each search filter to narrow down your search results.
Audio Message Transcriptions
If someone sends you an audio message and you're somewhere where you can't listen to it right away, iOS 17 will transcribe it for you so you can read it instead.
Auto-Delete Verification Codes
Many websites and services use texted one-time passcodes for verification purposes, and those one-time codes can clog up the Messages app. In iOS 17, there's an option to have those messages auto delete after the code is autofilled and used for a login. Apple should ask you if you want to enable this when you use the autofill feature after upgrading to iOS 17, but it can be toggled on manually under Settings > Passwords > Password Options > Clean Up Automatically.
Location Sharing
With the "Location" setting under the Messages options, you can share your location or request a friend's location directly from the Messages app. You can also set a pin at a specific location you're going to be going to without opening the Maps app.
Apple in iOS 17 is introducing a new Live Voicemail feature that is designed to provide you with a transcript of the message that's being left as the person is speaking, so you can choose to pick up the phone if it's important.
Live Voicemail is functional in both the developer and public betas, and the way the feature is set up has some iPhone users wondering if it's too confusing.
With the Live Voicemail feature enabled, the default voicemail message that was used in iOS 16 has changed. Unless you have a custom-created voicemail message, the default iOS 17 voicemail recording asks callers to provide a reason why they're calling after the tone sounds, and are informed that "the person you're calling may pick up." Note that if you had a custom message in iOS 16, there will be no change, so this impacts people who are using the default voicemail greeting feature.
The "may pick up" wording seems to be confusing some people who are calling iPhone owners that have iOS 17 installed. Two separate Reddit threads feature complaints from Reddit users who have received calls from people who have not understood Apple's messaging. From Reddit:
I just received a voicemail where someone explained their call and then sat in silence for 2 full minutes because they expected me to pick up. They then sent me a message about my phone not working. It seems like the current greeting when people reach live voicemail confuses them, especially since often they'll get that because I just didn't have my phone with me.
Multiple other Reddit users have had the same problem, receiving confused texts from people or odd voicemail messages that feature dead air. We here at MacRumors have also experienced this same issue. On two occasions, incoming callers heard the message, stated their name, and then waited for the phone to be picked up rather than leaving a voicemail.
It is not yet clear if Apple has plans to make any changes to the default Live Voicemail messaging ahead of when iOS 17 launches this fall. There is an option to customize a voicemail by going to Phone > Voicemail > Greeting > Custom, which can provide a solution as you can record your own message.
If you have the iOS 17 beta and are running into trouble with Live Voicemail and don't want to create a custom voicemail message, the feature can be disabled by opening up the Settings app, going to the Phone section, tapping on the Live Voicemail option, and toggling it off.
Ridiculous Fishing tasks players with casting a line as deep as possible then using tilt-based gestures to grab as many fish as possible. Players take on the role of a fisherman named Billy, who has some unorthodox ideas about fishing. Catching fish unlocks additional levels and new items to purchase.
The game has been rebuilt from the ground up for Apple Arcade, and it features new 3D art, a new Pro Fishing Tour endgame mode, new guest fish, leaderboard support, and other new content.
The developers behind Ridiculous Fishing have created some of the most popular and well-known iOS games, including Super Crate Box, SpellTower, Card of Darkness, Threes, Hundreds, and more.
Several other Apple Arcade games are also receiving new content updates today, with additional functionality coming to Jetpack Joyride 2, Zookeeper World, SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit, Simon's Cat, Solitaire Stories, Farmside, and Angry Birds Reloaded.
Apple Arcade is Apple's subscription gaming service, offering hundreds of iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV games for $4.99 per month. Apple adds new games to Apple Arcade regularly, and the subscription fee allows all members of a Family Sharing group to use the service.
Ember earlier this year introduced a new version of its electric Travel Mug, adding a key Apple feature - Find My support. You might be wondering, why does a mug need Find My? I'm not sure I have a great explanation, but it's a nice-to-have add-on for a product that's positioned as a small luxury.
The Ember Travel Mug 2 is $200, and the reason it's so expensive is because it's self-heating. It can keep a beverage at your desired temperature for three hours while on the go, or all day when on the included charging coaster. The temperature can be set from 120°F to 145°F, which is hot, but not likely to cause burns.
I have no insight into coffee temperatures as a non-coffee drinker, but some internet research suggests that's an ideal coffee temperature range. I know there are some people out there who like coffee really hot, but if on the higher end of warm works for you, this cup will get coffee to a level you like.
While I don't drink coffee, I do drink tea, and because I drink green, oolong, and white varieties, I'm fairly well-versed on beverage temperatures. 150 to 160 degrees is in the burn your tongue range. For me, 145 is uncomfortably warm, and 138 is just about right. By default, the Ember Mug is set to 135, but you can turn it up to 145 or down on the cup itself or in the app.
Design wise, the Ember Mug looks like your average travel cup. It has a soft touch silicone exterior in black and a stainless steel interior that holds 12 ounces of liquid. 12 ounces is on the smaller side for a travel cup and I do wish that it held more, but it needs to fit in a cup holder and have space for the battery, heating elements, and other hardware.
There's a logo at the top of the Ember Mug that can be interacted with to control the mug, and a series of LEDs at the bottom that let you know the status of the cup, the temperature, whether the cup is empty, and whether the battery has died. The Ember Mug knows when liquid is inside, and it immediately detects the temperature of what's poured in.
You can swipe to change the temperature of the Ember on the mug itself, or in the app. It's easiest to adjust the temperature on the cup if you like to make regular changes, but if you just need to set it on your favorite temperature, it's quick to do within the app. The app is decent, and there are presets for different beverages like 135 degrees for coffee, and 131 degrees for a latte. Some of the temperature choices feel a little arbitrary, but all of the presets are editable.
There's a tea timer in case you want to brew tea in the mug, and a recipes section that has a handful of drink options. There is a health integration feature that can estimate the amount of caffeine that you're consuming per day by how often you refill the Ember Mug.
Since this is a travel cup, it works with a battery. The battery lasts for approximately three hours, give or take about 20 minutes. My testing was primarily at 138 degrees, and the cup was able to keep it at that exact temperature until the battery ran down. It charges via a charging base that needs to be plugged in, and if the cup is on the base, it can keep a drink warm all day.
If you're using it at a desk, it's handy to have it on the charger for all-day heat, and the option to grab it and go when necessary is useful. I'm a slow drinker so I can exhaust that three hour battery life, and I appreciate the always-on charger option. The Ember Mug's charger is unfortunately not USB so I have to have a separate cable plugged in to an outlet, which I'm not a fan of. I'd prefer being able to power it through a dock/my computer but that is not an option.
The Ember Mug is not double walled and when the battery runs out, it's not going to keep a drink warm for long. Compared to a much cheaper tumbler with insulation, like a Yeti, the Ember Mug has pros and cons. It doesn't keep a drink warm without power and it's expensive, but it can keep a drink at a specific temperature for an extended length of time, which can't be replicated by an insulated cup.
If I pour 175 degree tea into a Yeti, I have to open the lid and wait for it to cool down, or wait for a long time for it to be drinkable. With the Ember Mug, it gets to my preferred temperature much quicker, and stays there. The Ember Mug is also able to heat up a beverage that has cooled down, so you can pour lukewarm coffee in it to heat it back up, though this takes a lot of time and doesn't seem to be the best use case.
In terms of functionality, there are some things to be aware of. The Ember Mug uses a press down lid, which I like because it doesn't seem to leak at all, but is easy to drink from. If I toss the Ember Mug in a bag, it doesn't drip, which isn't always the case with travel cups. You do need to make sure not to fill it fuller than the line at the interior of the cup, but it seems to work well when filled properly.
If the Ember Mug has been upside down or moved around a lot, there can be some pressure build up and some tiny droplets of liquid can fly upward a bit when you press down on the lid. Ember warns about this and suggests holding it away from your face when you press the lid, but it hasn't been a huge issue over the time that I've been using the cup. There is no hole for a straw, which I do miss. I like to use a glass straw for tea and similar hot beverages to avoid teeth staining, but the no-leak lid design doesn't accommodate that feature.
Unsurprisingly, you cannot microwave the Ember Mug 2, nor can you put it in the dishwasher. The lid can go in the dishwasher, but the mug itself needs to be hand washed. The charging base needs to be kept dry, and before you put the cup on the base, you need to make sure the bottom is dry.
Beyond keeping a drink warm, the Ember Mug 2 has Find My integration as a new selling point. You can add the Ember Mug to the Items tab in the Find My app, where it can be tracked just like an AirTag. The Find My network that the Ember Mug uses takes advantage of any nearby iPhone to relay the mug's position, so if it gets lost, you can track it down.
Misplacing a travel mug seems a lot more uncommon than losing keys or a wallet, but I guess it does happen, especially if you're taking the Ember to multiple locations on a regular basis. I let the Ember Mug's battery die and then I waited a full 48 hours to see how long the Find My feature would work, and Find My was still functional at that point.
The Ember Mug is designed with some power reserve, so even when the cup is no longer heating up because of a low battery, it's still locatable with Find My. It also goes into a sleep mode when there's no liquid inside to heat up, which preserves battery. I was concerned that Find My would stop working when the battery was exhausted, but there seems to be a window of time where you can locate the cup with a low battery.
I don't think Find My is an essential feature for a drinking vessel, but it is absolutely nice to have on a cup that costs $200. It's also not a feature you'd expect to see in a mug, so if you have it in a bag that's then stolen or misplaced, you can track it all down with no one being the wiser.
Bottom Line
It's hard to justify a $200 smart travel cup because there are "dumb" travel cups that do almost as much for a fraction of the price, but I do think the Ember Mug is worth $200 price that it sells for.
The actual design of the mug is solid - it fits well in a cup holder, it has a sleek look, and the lid is easy to drink from and doesn't seem to leak. It holds temperature for long enough to drink a cup of coffee or all day if you have it on the charging base, it supports touch control, and it has a ton of LEDs for status updates. Who doesn't want a cup that says Hello in the morning, lets you know the specific temperature of your beverage and adjusts with a swipe? It also won't be easy to lose with the Find My integration.
My biggest complaint about the Ember Mug is probably the size. It would be nice to have an XL version that holds more liquid, because while I do like to enjoy a hot beverage for many hours, I'd like to not have to refill as frequently. Aside from that, the Ember Mug has so many bells and whistles that it's hard to complain about anything but the price.
If you often lose cups, either at work or in the car, Find My will has the potential to be a useful feature addition. You'll either be able to track the Ember Mug or it will show its last known location so you can figure out where it's at.
The Ember Mug is not a device that anyone needs, but I think hot beverage enjoyers will get a lot out of it. It's also the type of product that you can buy for someone who has everything, and I would not hesitate to give it as a gift. I do want to point out that the desktop version of the Ember Mug is $150, so $50 less, plus it holds more. On the downside, it only works for 80 minutes off of the charger, but it is a good alternative if you plan to use the Ember primarily at a desk.
Later this year, Apple is expected to refresh the 24-inch iMac. The update is set to focus on the M3 chip, with no other major changes rumored, likely owing to the complete redesign that the current machine received upon its introduction in April 2021. This means that the iMac is set to be the only Mac product line to skip the M2 generation of chips entirely.
The 24-inch iMac could be among the first Macs to get the M3 chip, which should offer major performance and efficiency improvements over the M1 and M2 chips due to Apple's transition from TSMC's 5nm processes to a 3nm node. A refreshed selection of color options is also not out of the question.
An iMac with a 32-inch display – the same size as the Pro Display XDR – is also in development, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It is expected to feature the M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, and appears to be positioned as a successor to the iMac Pro or the high-end 27-inch iMac. This new high-end desktop iMac is not expected to launch until late 2024 or sometime in 2025.
Lululook has a selection of high-quality titanium Apple Watch bands that match the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra, as they were designed specifically for Apple's newest wrist-worn device. Lululook's bands are ideal for Apple Watch Ultra owners who are looking for a band option that is refined enough for the office and other situations where sportier bands don't quite work.
The Lululook Retro Titanium Band, priced at $40, has a classic look that's similar in style to the Submariner band from Rolex. It offers a multi-link design with a secure clasping mechanism. There is a folding buckle and double buttons to lock the strap on the wrist, preventing the Apple Watch from coming loose.
Lululook's Timeless Titanium Band is the closest match to Apple's stainless steel Link bracelet, but in a color that works better with the Apple Watch Ultra. The band has a secure closing mechanism, and at $70, it's much more affordable than the Link bracelet.
The Modern Titanium Band from Lululook is the company's most unique, and Lululook says that it was inspired by Iron Man. Available for $46, this is the band that stands out the most of the bunch, so if you want a modern version of a titanium band it's worth checking out.
All of the bands from Lululook are made from a lightweight titanium material that is comfortable on the wrist and able to hold up to heavy use. Lululook says that the bands are waterproof and sweatproof, and because of the low weight of the titanium, the bands work for all-day use.
The bands are 200mm in length and are adjustable by removing links, so Apple Watch owners can get a perfect fit. Titanium is lighter than steel, so Lululook says that these bands are lighter than Apple's own Link band, and that the material will resist scratches and corrosion. Lululook's full range of Apple Watch bands can be found on the Lululook website.
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The current Apple TV 4K was released in November 2022 with the A15 Bionic chip, a larger 128GB storage option, a slightly thinner and lighter design, HDR10+ support, a Siri Remote with a USB-C port, lower pricing, and other minor changes.
The next-generation Apple TV 4K is expected to be released next year. Ahead, we recap rumored features and changes for the streaming device.
Faster Chip
The next Apple TV will be equipped with a faster processor than the current A15 Bionic chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It's unclear which chip will be used, but possibilities include the A16 Bionic chip from the iPhone 14 Pro or the upcoming A17 Bionic chip, which is expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's latest 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements.
Lower Price
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the next Apple TV to be "more affordable" than the current model. He said a "sub-$100 price" would be the "sweet spot" for the Apple TV, but exact pricing for the next model remains to be seen.
Both the second-generation (2010) and third-generation (2012) versions of the Apple TV were priced at $99 in the U.S. at launch, and Apple eventually lowered the price of the third-generation model to $69, so there is precedent for a sub-$100 Apple TV that would better compete with low-priced streaming devices sold by Google, Amazon, and Roku.
The current Apple TV 4K already starts at a lower price of $129 in the U.S., compared to $179 for the previous-generation model.
Same Design
The next Apple TV will stick with the "current design," according to Gurman.
Apple said the A15 Bionic chip's increased power efficiency allowed for the fan to be removed in the current Apple TV, resulting in the device having a more compact design that is around 12% thinner and around 50% lighter than the previous model.
2024 Launch
Apple plans to release the next Apple TV in the first half of 2024, according to Gurman, but no specific timeframe is known at this point. Previous models of the Apple TV 4K launched in November 2022, May 2021, and September 2017.
The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will launch later this year and feature 3D-printed mechanical parts, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a post published on Medium earlier today, Kuo said that his latest survey of Apple's supply chain indicates that "Apple is actively adopting 3D printing technology." Specifically, "some of the titanium mechanical parts of the 2H23 new Apple Watch Ultra will be made by 3D printing."
The components could include the Digital Crown, Side Button, and Action Button, as these are the only mechanical parts of the Apple Watch Ultra. These titanium parts are currently CNC machined.
The change has the potential to improve production time and reduce costs. If shipments from suppliers go well, Kuo believes more Apple products will adopt 3D printing technology in the future.
Until now, only Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had said that Apple would release a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra alongside the Apple Watch Series 9 models later this year. Thus, Kuo's latest report seems to add further credibility to the belief that the Apple Watch Ultra will follow the same annual update cycle as the standard Apple Watch series.
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iPhone 15 lineup 
