MacRumors

Summaries and smart reply options aren't the flashiest of Apple Intelligence features, but these are capabilities that Apple is introducing in iOS 18.1 that have the potential to be useful for most people's day-to-day device usage.

Summaries

Summaries are available across the operating system and can be used in different ways for apps, notifications, emails, and more.

Mail and Messages

In your email inbox in the Mail app, you'll see an AI summary of the main content of the email message, so you can tell whether it's important at a glance. You don't get a lot of information, but it's enough to give context when the title doesn't unveil what an email is about. When you tap into an email, you can use the "Summarize" option at the top to get an overview.

You'll see summaries of incoming messages on the Lock Screen so you can decide whether it's important to respond. It's particularly useful for long messages, because it's good at pulling out the most important bits. You can also see summaries of unread messages right in the Messages app.

You can turn off Messages summaries by going to Settings > Apps > Messages and toggling off Summarize Messages. Turn off Mail summaries the same way, but in the Mail section.

Notifications

For almost all of your notifications, ‌Apple Intelligence‌ can group them up and give you a short, one-sentence summary of what's in them. Tapping expands the stack so you can see everything individually.

Notification summaries work for built-in apps like Messages, and also your third-party apps. ‌Apple Intelligence‌ tries to pick out what's most relevant. For messaging apps or email, it'll give a short summary of one or two messages, while aggregates like camera motion notifications are grouped up so you can see which areas had motion activations at a glance.

Notification summaries are automatic when you have ‌Apple Intelligence‌ on, but if you want to turn them off, you can do so by opening up the Settings app, going to Notifications, and turning off Summarize Previews. You can disable the feature entirely or on a per-app basis.

Safari

Safari supports a new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ Summary feature that lets you get an overview of webpages or articles. If you see a purple sparkle on the URL bar, you can tap it to view a summary.

Summaries are technically part of Reader Mode, but you don't always have to enter into Reader Mode to view one. Summaries show up automatically for longer articles, but if you're not seeing one, tap into Reader Mode and then tap on the Summarize button.

You can also select any text anywhere in Safari, then tap on Writing Tools, and choose Summary to get a summary of your highlighted text. This summarize feature is part of Writing Tools.

Summaries tend to be a paragraph at most, so you're not always going to get a full picture of what's in an article. It's more of an overview to let you know whether it's worth reading.

Notes

In the Notes app, you can select text and choose the Writing Tools Summary option just like you can in Safari, but there are also summaries created for recorded phone call transcripts and transcripts of voice memo recordings captured with the Notes app.

In a note with a recording, tap into it and you'll see a "Summary" option at the top that you can choose to get a summary of a transcript. Note that phone call recording, voice memos in notes, and transcripts of those recordings are available to everyone. It's only the summary feature that's an ‌Apple Intelligence‌ feature.

Other Apps

In all apps, you can select any text and use Writing Tools to generate a summary of that text, just like you can in Safari and Notes.

Smart Replies

Smart Replies are a feature in Mail and Messages, and you'll see them in the suggestions bar above the keyboard.

Smart Replies can be useful when you're replying to a message that has a clear question in it, such as "Do you want to go to the movies tonight?" or "Did you see [insert popular TV show here] last night?"

It is less useful for most other responses. Smart Replies don't seem to learn from individual tone or voice, and most of the time, the suggestions don't always sound like they came from a human. It tends to use a lot of "haha" responses and exclamation points, and when it's not suggesting haha as a reply, it's often rephrasing what the other person said, which is not generally how people respond to messages.

How Useful Are These Features?

Smart Replies and other ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are in beta right now, and will be released in a beta capacity, too. Summaries have room for improvement in terms of thoroughness, but the option is already useful, particularly when viewing notifications on the Lock Screen or scrolling through your email messages.

Summaries for longer form content could stand to be more detailed, and right now, you're only going to get a high level overview.

Smart Replies are of questionable use at the current time, and hopefully this is something that will get a lot better when the personal context Siri features are released next year. Right now, Smart Replies can almost be more of an annoyance, but we are in the very early days of ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

Apple Intelligence Requirements

To use the summary and smart reply ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features, you need a device capable of ‌Apple Intelligence‌. That includes the iPhone 15 Pro, the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, any iPad with an M-series chip, and any Mac with an M-series chip.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ features do not work on any other devices because of the processing power and memory required.

Release Date

‌Apple Intelligence‌ is in the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 betas at the current time. The betas are available to developers and public beta testers, and the updates are expected to see a release on Monday, October 28.

Apple sells two external displays, including the Pro Display XDR and the Studio Display, but neither has received hardware upgrades in years. In fact, the Pro Display XDR is nearly five years old, having been released all the way back in December 2019.

Below, we recap rumors about potential next-generation Pro Display XDR and Studio Display monitors, but nothing seems to be imminent.

Pro Display XDR

Released alongside the 2019 Mac Pro, the high-end Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch screen with LED backlighting, 6K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 1,600 nits of brightness, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the monitor still starts at $4,999, while the optional Pro Stand costs $999 extra.

In December 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was working on an updated version of the Pro Display XDR with an Apple silicon chip, something the current model lacks. In the Studio Display, an A13 Bionic chip powers features such as Center Stage camera framing, spatial audio, and Siri voice commands. However, there have not been any recent rumors about a new Pro Display XDR, so it's unclear what Apple's current plans are.

Additional features that customers are hoping for with the next Pro Display XDR include a built-in camera, speakers, and a higher refresh rate.

Studio Display

Apple released the Studio Display in March 2022, alongside the first Mac Studio. The monitor features a 27-inch LCD screen with 5K resolution, a 60Hz refresh rate, P3 wide color, up to 600 nits brightness, a built-in camera and speakers, one Thunderbolt 3 port, and three USB-C ports. In the U.S., the Studio Display continues to start at $1,599, although the standard configuration is on sale on Amazon for $1,349 as of writing.

In his December 2022 report, Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors, but he did not specifically mention a new Studio Display. In July 2023, Gurman said Apple's next-generation monitors could launch in 2024 at the earliest, but there are only a few months left in the year and there have been no recent rumors.

There have been on-again, off-again rumors about Apple planning a new 27-inch external display with mini-LED backlighting, which would allow for increased brightness and higher contrast ratio. In April 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the display was slated for mass production in 2024 or early 2025. It is unclear if this monitor would be the next Studio Display, or if it would have different branding.

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Just over six months after Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple abandoned its plans to release an electric vehicle, California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) canceled Apple's autonomous vehicle testing permit, according to macReports.

The report states that the DMV received confirmation from Apple to cancel the permit on September 25, and the permit became canceled as of September 27. While this decision is not surprising given Gurman's reporting earlier this year, this is effectively the final nail in the coffin for Apple's decade-long electric vehicle project.

The permit allowed Apple to test a self-driving vehicle with a safety driver on any public road within California. Apple received the permit in 2017, and macReports said that it would have been active until April 30, 2025 had it not been canceled.

Apple was using leased Lexus SUVs equipped with an array of sensors and cameras to test various autonomous driving technologies on California streets.

Read our Apple Car roundup for more details about the canceled project.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Southern Straps to give MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Apple's new Apple Watch Series 10 models and a Southern Straps band to go along with it. Southern Straps has been producing high-quality bands for the Apple Watch for close to 10 years, and the company's selection of bands offer a great alternative to Apple's bands in unique styles that Apple does not offer.

Southern Straps has a range of nylon bands that pair a comfortable fit with a classic watch band design. After the Apple Watch came out in 2015, Southern Straps was the first company to make nylon Apple Watch bands, and with many years of experience, the company has had plenty of time to perfect the band's look and construction.

Available for $29, each Southern Straps Apple Watch band is made from a single piece of nylon that is folded over, heat sealed, and stitched together for durability. The multi-step process makes sure that every band is going to hold up for multiple years of use, and there is a five-year warranty on the bands.

Southern Straps offers 11 color options, ranging from solid colors in green, black, and sand, to striped options in colorful combinations like blue and green, blue and orange, khaki and red, blue and white, black and gray, and the classic red, white, and blue.

Bands can be ordered with hardware in black, silver, or gold to match the different Apple Watch models. There are two sizes: one that is compatible with 42mm to 49mm Apple Watch models, and one that is compatible with smaller 38mm to 41mm models. The bands work with every Apple Watch model from the original Apple Watch to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Series 10.

Pegged spring bars are included with each band so that you can change the hardware if you get an Apple Watch in a new size or a new color. Southern Straps bands are perfect for daily use for everything from work to working out.

Southern Straps is offering an Apple Watch Series 10 for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (October 11) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 18. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after October 18 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss the unprecedented leak of Apple's M4 MacBook Pro models and the company's rumored move to more staggered hardware and software releases.

Multiple leaks surrounding Apple's unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip recently surfaced online. The leaks began with unboxing videos shared by several Russian YouTube channels, showcasing the new entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ ahead of its official announcement. These leaks were followed by a listing on a Russian classifieds site, where multiple units were allegedly being sold after what appears to be theft from a warehouse. This marks one of Apple's most significant leaks in recent memory, drawing comparisons to the 2010 iPhone 4 prototype incident.

The leaked ‌MacBook Pro‌ reveals several notable upgrades. The M4 chip with a 10-core CPU is 25% faster than the M3's 8-core CPU. As rumored, it also comes with 16GB of RAM as the new base configuration, doubling the previous standard of 8GB, and support for up to two external displays with the lid open. Another key improvement is the addition of a third Thunderbolt port, bringing the entry-level model up to parity with the higher-end configurations. It also looks like the entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ will be available in the Space Black color option for the first time. Despite these upgrades, the display, general design, and other features remain unchanged from the current ‌MacBook Pro‌. These revelations come just weeks before Apple is expected to officially unveil its first M4-powered Macs, with a rumored release date of November 1.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple appears to be slowly moving away from its traditional annual release schedule for hardware and software, favoring a more staggered approach. This shift is evident with the introduction of iOS 18, where key features like Apple Intelligence are delayed and due to be rolled out in subsequent updates throughout 2025. As Apple's product lineup grows more complex, this strategy would allow for better quality control and innovation by releasing products and features when they are fully developed, rather than adhering to fixed timelines.

While iPhones are expected to maintain their yearly updates, other products like the Apple Watch and Mac lineup may follow a multi-year or staggered release schedule to make the company's launches less predictable and more flexible. We discuss whether this is a good move for Apple and take stock of its product strategy as a whole in light of recent releases.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about the latest rumors surrounding Apple's "Home Accessory" product, which could launch as soon as next year.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

This week was Amazon's second Prime Day of 2024, and even though it's technically come to a close, there are still plenty of Apple discounts that remain live. This includes record low prices on the AirPods Max, Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Ultra 2, iPad, and more.

AirPods

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.

The only Prime Day deals for AirPods still around are for both AirPods Max models, and they're both all-time low prices for each pair of headphones.

Apple Watch

Top Apple Watch deals during Prime Day included the Apple Watch SE available from $169.99 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Black for $729.99. Both of these are all-time low prices on each model.

9th Gen iPad

You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad for $199.99 in both colors, down from $329.00. This is a match of the record low price on this version of the 2021 tablet.

MacBook Air

MacBook Air discounts were abundant this Prime Day, with both M2 and M3 models getting huge markdowns on Amazon. You can still get the M2 model at an all-time low price of $749.00 today on Amazon.

Apple Pencil

One of the best accessory deals this week is on the Apple Pencil Pro, now down to $96.00, from $129.00. This is a record low price on the Apple Pencil Pro.

MagSafe Charger

Amazon this week introduced a few deals on Apple's new lineup of MagSafe Chargers, including the 1-meter model for $29.00 and 2-meter model for $39.00. At $10 off, these are new record low prices for each model.

Beats

There's a big collection of Beats headphones discounted for Prime Day this year, starting with the Beats Studio Buds for $79.99, down from $149.95. The newer Beats Studio Buds+ are on sale for $129.99, down from $169.95.

The Beats Studio Pro are on sale for $169.99, down from $349.99, which is a new record low price. You can also get the Beats Solo 4 Headphones for $99.99, down from $199.99 and the Beats Fit Pro for $149.99, down from $199.99.

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.

A few months ago, the SuperDrive went out of stock on Apple's online store in the U.S., and it is now listed as sold out or unavailable in all countries. Given it has yet to return, it seems likely that Apple has discontinued the 16-year-old accessory.

Introduced in 2008, the SuperDrive is an external CD/DVD drive that was released alongside the original MacBook Air, which lacked a built-in CD/DVD drive. Despite having an outdated USB-A cable attached to it, the SuperDrive remained available on Apple's online store until just recently, becoming one of the company's longest-sold products.

CD/DVD drives have become a niche market, so it's not surprising that Apple has finally stopped selling the SuperDrive. There are plenty of other CD/DVD drives for customers who really need one, and they don't require a USB-C adapter for use with modern Macs. Nevertheless, it's the end of an era for a legacy technology at Apple.

I recently had the opportunity to test out the latest Zugu case for the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro, and I came away impressed with its blend of style and functionality.

While designed for the newest ‌iPad Pro‌ model, this case retains the key features that have made Zugu a popular choice among iPad users over the 14 years that the company has been operating.

Design and Protection

When I took the Zugu case out of the box, its minimalist appearance immediately caught my eye. I opted for the black color, which has an understated, professional look. The case is also available in slate (a subtle blue), berry (a rich red), and pine (a deep green). The soft pleather exterior feels good in the hand and provides a secure grip, unlike some slippery plastic alternatives.

Underneath the exterior is a robust combination of TPU and polycarbonate, offering what feels like very decent drop protection. (I haven't had a mishap yet, but it certainly instills confidence.) Thick bumpers along the edges provide an extra layer of defense, particularly for the screen corners, which is something I always look for in a case. The volume and power button covers are also nicely tactile and rubbery.

I was pleased to discover it has a soft microfiber interior to help prevent scratches on the ‌iPad‌ itself. Despite these protective features, the case on its own weighs a relatively light 515 grams, and it's only around half an inch thick with the ‌iPad‌ inside and the lid closed. All of the speaker and port holes are well-aligned, while the top cover is a particularly notable protective feature, and completely covers the screen when closed. It also plays nice with the ‌iPad‌'s sleep/wake feature. It's a welcome additional layer of protection against scratches and minor impacts when stowed in a bag on your commute.

Versatility and Convenience

The Zugu case's adaptability is definitely its standout feature. Its adjustable magnetic stand offers 10 different angles, which makes it suitable for various activities, whether you're browsing, typing, drawing with Apple Pencil, or watching media. An extra thoughtful detail is the presence of air flow vents to prevent overheating during extended use or intensive bouts of gaming.

During testing, I found the magnetic functionality particularly clever. By flipping up and exposing the magnetic feet in the kickstand, I could easily attach my ‌iPad‌ to metal surfaces like a refrigerator door. If you follow recipe instructions in the kitchen, this frees up valuable counter space. Just be mindful not to slam the fridge door while the ‌iPad‌ is attached.

Zugu also includes a couple of neat storage options for the ‌Apple Pencil‌. A recess along the side allows for easy snap-on wireless charging, while an elastic pocket on the back provides added security during transport.

Summing Up

Given that the 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ starts at $1299, there's really no point cutting corners when it comes to ensuring it's protected at all times. I wouldn't skimp when choosing a laptop case, and the same applies here. For me, the Zugu case for M4 ‌iPad Pro‌ offers a compelling balance of protection, functionality, and style, at a competitive $79.99 starting price.

Its versatile stand options, secure magnetic mounting, and thoughtful design features like air vents and ‌Apple Pencil‌ integration set it apart from many competitors. While the magnets are generally strong, I'd still advise exercising caution when mounting the case on a vertical surface. Overall though, it's a solid choice for those seeking a premium, feature-rich case for their ‌iPad Pro‌.

Where to Buy

The Zugu case for ‌iPad Pro‌ is available directly from Zugu's website, starting at $79.99. Zugu also offers variants for other ‌iPad‌ models, including the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌, the standard ‌iPad‌, iPad Air, and iPad mini. Each Zugu case purchase also contributes funds to Children International, a humanitarian organization focused on helping kids around the world learn the skills needed to break free from poverty. Zugu has so far donated over $1 million to the cause, according to its website.

Note: Zugu provided MacRumors with a 13-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ M4 case for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Following the release of iOS 18 last month, some BMW owners have experienced issues with shared car keys in the Apple Wallet app, according to messages on the Apple Support Community and the largest BMW discussion forum.

Affected users said that the "passive entry" feature that allows you to lock, unlock, and start compatible BMW vehicle models by simply having your iPhone on you no longer works for secondary Wallet keys shared with others, such as a spouse or other family member. The primary key still works for passive entry, the people said.

The issue does not appear to be fixed in the iOS 18.0.1 update released last week, or in the latest iOS 18.1 beta. The underlying cause is unclear.

We will share any new information about this issue as it becomes available.

Apple today shared a new ad that highlights how artists used the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Pro to design personalized artwork for seven NHL goalie masks being worn during the 2024-25 season. The artwork was then hand painted onto the masks.

The goalie masks were created for Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, Jacob Markström of the New Jersey Devils, Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers, Sam Montembeault of the Montréal Canadiens, Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators, Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks.

NHL goalies have worn personalized masks for decades, but this is the first time that Apple has advertised becoming involved with the creative process.

At least some of the masks were designed in Adobe Photoshop, based on the images below.

More details about this "Made on iPad" campaign are available on the NHL's website.

The latest NHL season kicked off earlier this month.

Apple has opened a new applied research laboratory in Shenzhen, China, marking a significant expansion of its research and development capabilities in the world's largest smartphone market. The facility, which began operations on Thursday, is located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong tech cooperation zone.

Apple announced plans for the Shenzhen lab in March, stating it would enhance testing and research for major products including the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro spatial computing headset. The lab is also intended to strengthen Apple's collaboration with local suppliers.

Spanning 20,000 square meters (215,000 square feet) in its initial phase, the facility is set to become Apple's research and development hub in the Greater Bay Area. This economic region encompasses Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong province.

According to state media reports, the lab will eventually employ over 1,000 domestic and international talents. Apple has described it as its "most extensive" lab outside the United States, underscoring the company's commitment to the Chinese market.

The move comes as Apple faces increasing competition in China, particularly from Shenzhen-based Huawei. Recent data from research firm CINNO showed that in August, Huawei outsold Apple in mainland China for the first time in nearly four years.

Despite efforts to diversify its manufacturing supply chain outside China, Apple continues to invest in research within the country. The company has previously established research centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Shenzhen, with its research and development team in China reportedly doubling in size over the past five years.

(Via South China Morning Post.)

Apple is once again planning to cut the interest rate of its Apple Card high-yield savings account, with the new rate set to go live on Friday, October 11.

The ‌Apple Card‌ savings account's annual percentage yield (APR) will drop to 4.10 percent, down from 4.25 percent. This is the third cut that Apple has made this year, and the second in the last few weeks.

Back in late September, Apple lowered the APY from 4.4 percent to 4.25 percent, and rates dropped from 4.5 percent to 4.4 percent in April.

At 4.10 percent, the Apple savings account APY will be below 4.15 APY that it launched with back in April 2023. Savings account interest rates fluctuate with changes made by the Federal Reserve, and when rates are lowered, banks cut their APYs. There was a notable rate cut of 50 basis points in September, and today, Federal Reserve policymakers suggested that more cuts are on the horizon.

Several other high-yield savings accounts from companies like Discover, American Express, and Capital One also now have a 4.10 APY.

Apple partners with Goldman Sachs for the Apple savings account. It is available for ‌Apple Card‌ holders, and can be managed through the iPhone Wallet app much like the ‌Apple Card‌. The Apple savings account is designed to allow ‌Apple Card‌ users to earn interest on their Daily Cash balance, and on funds transferred from bank accounts or Apple Cash balances.

Earlier this month, Apple decreased the ‌Apple Card‌ APR range, and it is now at 18.74 percent to 28.99 percent, down from 19.24 percent to 29.49 percent.

Though smart rings with health capabilities have been growing in popularity, Apple has no plans to join the smart ring market, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. While Apple explored the idea, there is no active development of a ring going on at this time, and Apple has no plans to launch a ring.

Smart rings on the market from companies like Oura measure heart rate, track body temperature, and have sleep tracking capabilities, all of which are functions of the Apple Watch. If Apple released a smart ring, it would have the same feature set of the Apple Watch, and it would likely cannibalize Apple Watch sales.

Back in February, Gurman said that Apple's industrial team had suggested that Apple work on a smart ring, with the device possibly serving as a lower-cost alternative to the Apple Watch. Apple executives apparently weren't interested, and active development didn't happen.

Gurman's report followed a February rumor from Korean site Electronic Times, which said that Apple was "speeding up development" of a smart ring that could be used for health tracking. The site claimed that Apple was weighing the idea of a smart ring as an expansion of its wearables lineup, but those rumors may have been spurred by Samsung's Galaxy Ring.

Samsung introduced the Galaxy Ring in July alongside new foldable smart phones. Designed to work only with Galaxy devices, the Galaxy Ring tracks movement, sleep, heart rate, and respiratory rate, providing users with a daily sleep score and an energy score.

New devices from Samsung can spur rumors about Apple products because the two companies typically compete in the same markets, but there are some instances where Apple has not followed in Samsung's footsteps. Samsung has had foldable smartphones for years now, and Apple still seems to have no concrete plans for a foldable iPhone.

There have been Apple patents for ring-like devices, and those patents have also led to "iRing" rumors, but Apple patents all kinds of strange things that never make it to launch.

Gurman is a reliable source for information on Apple's future plans, but there are some who still seem to think an Apple ring is coming. CCS Insight told CNBC just this week that Apple might launch a "connected ring" to rival Samsung by 2026.

Rather than launching a ring, Apple may instead lower the price of the Apple Watch. The next-generation Apple Watch SE that's slated for 2025 is expected to include a plastic casing that could bring lower costs and more appeal to customers looking for something cheap and durable, either for themselves or for their children.

Starting with iOS 18, Apple said event tickets in the Wallet app on the iPhone are able to offer an all-new design that displays key information, and Ticketmaster today announced that it will be the first ticketing company to roll out this enhanced experience.

The redesigned tickets will include more relevant information about an event, such as a map of the venue, parking details, recommended Apple Music playlists, local forecasts from the Weather app, and quick access to location sharing. In addition, venues and sports teams can add links to their app or website to the ticket.

Ticketmaster said the first event that will offer its redesigned tickets in the Wallet app will be Los Angeles FC's upcoming match against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Stadium on Saturday, October 19. iPhone users who have updated their device to iOS 18 or later can add their tickets to the Wallet app through the Ticketmaster or LAFC apps.

Ticketmaster said the Miami Heat will be the next team to debut the new ticket experience, but it did not say when, and the new tickets will roll out more widely in 2025.

In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple will be making a donation of an undisclosed amount to Hurricane Milton relief efforts.

"Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Milton," said Cook. "To everyone still in harm's way, please stay safe. Apple will be making a donation to help with relief efforts on the ground."

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida late Wednesday. The storm, and many tornadoes that resulted from it, caused catastrophic damage, flooding, and loss of life across many areas of Florida.

Apple has donated to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief efforts in the past.

Apple today stopped signing iOS 18.0, preventing iPhone users who have upgraded to iOS 18.0.1 from downgrading to iOS 18. Apple released iOS 18.0.1 a week ago on October 3.

It is not unusual for Apple to stop signing older versions of iOS within a week or two after a new version of iOS is released. When Apple stops signing an update, it can no longer be installed on an ‌iPhone‌ due to a server-side software verification check that happens before new software is installed, so those who have upgraded to the latest version of ‌iOS 18‌ cannot downgrade to iOS 18.0.

Apple prevents downgrading to older versions of iOS to encourage ‌iPhone‌ users to keep their operating systems up to date with the latest security fixes. iPhone 16 users who have upgraded to iOS 18.0.1 can no longer install any older software, but iPhone 15 and earlier users have the option of downgrading to iOS 17.7, which is also still signed.

The iOS 18.0.1 update addressed bugs with the touch screen, Camera, and Messages app, plus it fixed two vulnerabilities.

Apple in 2023 hosted a "Global Police Summit" to help police agencies around the world better take advantage of Apple products for police work like surveillance, reports Forbes. The meeting was held in October 2023 at Apple Park, and it preceded the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. As many as 50 police department employees from seven countries attended the events.

At the event, police agencies shared their "successes, innovations, and lessons learned," according to an email about it, while Apple engineers did presentations on products and features that benefit law enforcement such as "CarPlay, Crash Detection, Emergency SOS via Satellite, Vision Pro and more."

LAPD chief information officer John McMahon told Forbes that it was one of the most useful conferences he'd attended. "I've never been part of an engagement that was so collaborative," he said. A New Zealand police department shared an experience creating an app for storing and accessing police data connected to the National Intelligence Database, as one example of what was demonstrated at the conference.

While Apple has refused to unlock iPhones at law enforcement request and has fought public battles to avoid adding backdoors to its products, Apple does respond to some legal requests from governments and law enforcement, and law enforcement agencies are a business like any other that can purchase Apple products for police work.

Electronic Frontier Foundation analyst Matthew Guariglia told Forbes that Apple has kept the product meetings and conferences quiet because the company is aware that they do not align with pro-privacy marketing. "They want to get the reputation that they protect users' data and they will do so at the expense of their relationship with law enforcement, and at the same time recognizing that creating tech for law enforcement is a multi-billion-dollar industry," he said.

Gary Oldham, who oversaw Apple's worldwide strategy for public safety and emergency services until August of this year, spoke with Forbes and said that he had worked to grow Apple's public safety market share in multiple target markets around the world. Oldham specifically worked with police agencies in California to "deepen Apple tech use." Several police departments in California are testing using the Vision Pro for surveillance work. In Western Australia, the police force uses Siri through ‌CarPlay‌ to access police data and send updates about incidents.

Oldham did not provide a reason why he left Apple in August, and Apple did not hold a Global Police Summit in 2024.

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Apple today introduced Submerged, the first scripted short film designed for Apple Immersive Video on the Vision Pro headset. The 17-minute movie is set in World War II, and it follows a group of sailors that are struggling to survive a deadly torpedo attack.

Submerged was directed by Austrian filmmaker Edward Berger, who also directed 2022 movie All Quiet on the Western Front. Apple shared a behind the scenes video on the making of Submerged, showing off the full-scale 23-ton submarine set that was used for filming.

Submerged, like other Apple Immersive Video content, features high-resolution 3D video that's meant to be viewed on the Vision Pro, and it is meant to make the wearer feel like they are part of the action. Spatial Audio is included for a more immersive experience.

"Apple Immersive Video allows Apple Vision Pro users around the world to experience the next generation of sports, documentaries, and music performances. With Submerged, an immersive film from visionary director Edward Berger, we're excited to premiere the next generation of narrative filmmaking," said Tor Myhren, Apple's vice president of Marketing Communications. "Vision Pro places you in the middle of the story -- inside a densely packed submarine, shoulder to shoulder with its crew. That deep sense of immersion just wasn't possible before, and we can't wait to see how it inspires filmmakers to push the boundaries of visual storytelling."

In addition to introducing Submerged, Apple also highlighted additional Apple Immersive Video content coming in the next few months.

Next Friday, Apple plans to release an immersive short film featuring the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and in November, Apple will team up with The Weeknd for an immersive music experience celebrating his new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

In December, Apple will release the next episode of its Adventure series. "Ice Dive" will follow freediver Ant Williams as he attempts his best record for the longest distance dive under ice with a single breath. Adventure will continue in early 2025 in Majorca, Spain, with sport climber Kai Lightner.

A new series called Concert for One will also come before the end of 2024, and it will feature intimate performances from some of the world's biggest artists. The first episode will feature British singer-songwriter RAYE.

The next episode of the Elevated series will come in early 2025, and it will feature a crisp autumn in New England, with an aerial journey along winding coastlines and rivers.

Apple Vision Pro is available in Australia, Canada, China mainland, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. All Apple Immersive Video is available at no additional cost and it can be viewed in the Apple TV app in most countries. In China, the video content can be watched in the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.