MacRumors

One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to exercise more, and Apple Fitness+ will be adding more content next week to help out.

Apple today announced that Fitness+ will be gaining a variety of new workouts, meditations, and "Time to Walk" audio episodes starting January 8.

The following new workouts will be available:

• Starting January 8, 10 new workouts with music by Rihanna will be available.
• Starting January 15, new workouts with music by Britney Spears will be available.
• Starting January 22, new workouts with music by U2 will be available.
• Starting February 5, Artist Spotlight workouts will feature music by Usher, who will be headlining this year's Apple Music Halftime Show at Super Bowl LVIII.

Seven new "Sound" meditations coming to Fitness+ will allow you to relax with a variety of "soothing tones and rhythms." Apple is also adding a new workout program called "Strength, Core, and Yoga for Golfers," which it says is designed to improve strength, balance, flexibility, and mobility for golfers of all skill levels.

Similar to podcasts, "Time to Walk" episodes feature influential people sharing stories and music that users can listen to while walking. Upcoming episodes will feature new guests, including Al Roker, Trixie Mattel, Lilly Singh, Common, and Colman Domingo. For the first time ever, select episodes will be available on Apple Podcasts for free in the 21 countries where Fitness+ is available, even without a subscription.

Apple Watch users can earn a new limited-edition award called "Ring in the New Year" when they close all three Activity rings for seven days in a row any time in January.

"From sound meditations to help you relax, to building strength for an improved golf swing, or turning up the volume on your workouts, Fitness+ has something for everyone to help them stay active and support their wellbeing in the new year," said Jay Blahnik, Apple's Vice President of Fitness Technologies, in a press release.

Fitness+ is available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. In the U.S., the service costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, with free trial options available.

Fitness+ subscribers can read Apple's press release for more information.

Apple is preparing to preview a new version of Siri with generative AI and a range of new capabilities at WWDC, according to a post on the Korean social media site Naver from a user with a track record for posting Apple rumors.

According to developer sources speaking to the operator of tech news aggregator account "yeux1122" on Naver, Apple has recently made progress with integrating generative AI into ‌Siri‌ using its Ajax-based model that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman first mentioned in July. The new version of ‌Siri‌ apparently touts natural conversation capabilities, as well as increased user personalization.

The new features are believed to be available across devices, suggesting that the new version of ‌Siri‌ will retain conversation information from one device to another. It is also said to feature a new "Apple-specific creational service," which might relate to the previously reported Siri-based Shortcuts capabilities rumored for iOS 18.

Apple is purportedly working on linkages for the new version of ‌Siri‌ to connect to various external services, likely via an API. Finally, the report suggests that some of Apple's new AI features may differ based on subscription service status, but it is unclear what shape this could take.

A recent forecast from Deepwater Asset Management similarly claimed that Apple will bring generative AI to ‌Siri‌ this year. The Naver blog account has a mixed track record for forecasting Apple's plans, but some of its claims have proven to be significant. For example, in March 2022 it accurately revealed some details about the third-generation iPhone SE ahead of Apple launching the model. In October of the same year it also accurately predicted that Apple would delay the release of new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models until early 2023.

The iPhone 16 Pro models will be the first to feature more than one 48-megapixel sensor, leaving the Telephoto as the only rear-facing camera with a 12-megapixel resolution, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports.

Writing on Medium, Kuo explained that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s Ultra Wide camera will feature a 48-megapixel sensor. The upgrade should allow the camera to capture more light, resulting in enhanced photos when shooting in 0.5× mode, especially in low-light environments.

The iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models already have a 48-megapixel Main camera that uses "pixel binning" to merge data from four pixels on the sensor into one "super pixel" for improved low-light capture. With the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, this technology is expected to expand to the Ultra Wide lens, which is currently a 12-megapixel lens.

This also means that ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models should be able to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos in Ultra Wide mode. These photos retain more detail in the image file for more editing flexibility, and can be printed at large sizes.

Last year, International Securities analyst Jeff Pu claimed that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ will feature a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera. Just a few months later, further details about Apple's plan for the new Ultra Wide camera emerged on Chinese social media site Weibo. With Kuo now throwing his weight behind the rumor, the upgrade seems highly likely.

In 2025, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to complete the rear camera array's transition to 48-megapixel sensors, bringing the technology to the Telephoto lens. Kuo added that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is on-track to feature the tetraprism Telephoto camera introduced on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max. He also said that the iPhone 17 lineup will feature an upgraded front-camera camera unit with a 24-megapixel sensor and a six-element lens.

Apple will likely acquire the fitness company Peloton this year, a new hedge fund manager forecast claims.

Deepwater Asset Management's annual forecast for 2024 (via Connect the Watts) says that Apple is likely to acquire Peloton sometime this year. The move would help Apple bolster its Fitness+ subscription service, adding workout equipment to compliment the Apple Watch and its existing activity tracking software. Absorbing Peloton's subscriber base of three-million users would ostensibly add about $1.7 billion to Apple's subscription revenue and line up with its continued investment in health and wellness, the company claims.

In 2022, Apple was repeatedly floated as a potential buyer of Peloton amid financial difficulties and threats to its business model, but the company's prospects have since improved somewhat and Deepwater Asset Management's new forecast is the first serious mention of the possibility in some time. Major questions remain about why Apple would want to take responsibility for Peloton's fragile business model and not simply focus on growing Fitness+, but anything is possible.

Deepwater Asset Management also believes that Apple will bring generative AI to Siri this year, introducing the revamped assistant at WWDC. The hedge fund manager is also not expecting Apple to announce any additional Vision Pro products this year.

The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The information was shared in a new post on Medium. The iPhone 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature the same hardware. With the ‌iPhone 17‌, Apple will apparently bolster the hardware to a 24-megapixel camera with a six-element lens. Kuo says that the upgrade will significantly improve the image quality of the front-facing camera.

• iPhone 6S: 5-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 4P lens
• iPhone 7, iPhone X, and iPhone XS: 7-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 4P lens
• iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13: 12-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 5P lens
• iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16: 12-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus, and 5P lens
• iPhone 17: 24-megapixel front-facing camera with autofocus and 6P lens

The upgraded resolution to 24 megapixels is noteworthy because it would allow for greater detail and clarity in images. With a higher resolution, photos can maintain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, providing more flexibility in post-processing. Additionally, the larger number of pixels can capture finer details, making the images sharper and more vibrant.

The upgrade to a six-element lens would also slightly enhance image quality. Each element can be designed to correct for various aberrations and distortions, leading to clearer, more accurate photos. The additional elements can also improve the efficiency of light transmission to the sensor, enhancing low-light performance.

It is worth noting that the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to be the first ‌‌iPhone‌‌ to feature under-panel Face ID technology, which could reduce the size of the Dynamic Island, but a circular cutout for the front-facing camera is expected to remain. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ will probably be Apple's last premium model to include a circular cutout for the front-facing camera. Apple is then expected adopt under-display cameras in 2027's "Pro" ‌‌iPhone‌‌ models for a true "all-screen" appearance.

T-Mobile today announced that people who subscribe to the Go5G Next plan will have free access to ad-supported Hulu content starting on January 24.

Hulu is a perk that joins the existing Apple TV+ and Netflix subscriptions that T-Mobile Go5G Next users have access to.

T-Mobile says that free Netflix, Hulu, ‌Apple TV‌+, and MLB.TV add up to more than $35 per month or $400 per year in benefits.

The Hulu plan that T-Mobile customers are able to access is valued at $7.99 per month, and it does include ads during shows and movies. Hulu says that ads typically play at the beginning of the stream and throughout the video, similar to a traditional TV broadcast.

T-Mobile's Go5G Next plan is the company's highest-tier plan that includes a smartphone upgrade with trade-in on an annual basis. It is priced at $100 per month for a single line.

Three hours after releasing the second betas of iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3, Apple has pulled the updates from the Developer Center and over the air, meaning they are no longer available to download and install.

Apple has removed the iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 betas after a number of people reported that the software is bricking devices. According to reports on the MacRumors forums, Twitter, and Mastodon, some iPhone owners who updated found their devices stuck in a boot loop.

The only fix to the issue appears to be restoring a stuck device, which is why Apple has pulled the update. Once the bug is addressed, Apple will re-release the beta.

There are reports that suggest the iOS 17.3 boot loop bug could be related to the Back Tap setting. A log shared by developer Guilherme Rambo indicates that a Back Tap setting caused his device to crash, and there have been several other affected users who have Back Tap enabled in some capacity.

Some others who had Back Tap enabled were able to install the update, and others who did not have the feature on had the booting issue, so it is not entirely clear how Back Tap is involved.

Last month, many Apple Music subscribers reported that the "Add Playlist Songs" setting was broken on the iPhone, iPad, and sometimes the Mac. After a user toggled off the setting, the bug could cause it to turn back on, resulting in any songs that a user added to a playlist being added to their music library in an unwanted manner.

Fortunately, it appears that Apple quickly addressed the bug with a server-side fix, and users are no longer impacted by this issue. Given it was a server-side fix, users do not need to update their devices to a newer software version for it to apply.

Apple never publicly acknowledged the bug, so the underlying cause is unclear.

The second beta of iOS 17.3 that Apple released today is causing major issues for some iPhone owners, so users that have not yet installed the new software may want to hold off.

As noted by reports on the MacRumors forums, Twitter, and Mastodon, some ‌iPhone‌ owners who have attempted to update to iOS 17.3 beta 2 have found their devices stuck in a boot loop with a blank black screen that has a frozen spinning wheel.

Restoring to the prior version of iOS 17.3 or the iOS 17.2.1 release software appears to address the problem, but users who do not have a backup may have issues with the restore process.

Not all ‌iPhone‌ users appear to be affected, as some iPhones updated to iOS 17.3 beta 2 have come through fine.

Apple has not yet commented on the bug, but it is likely the second iOS 17.3 beta will be pulled in the near future until the issue can be addressed.

Amazon is discounting an array of Apple Watches today, including the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Although none are at all-time low prices, these are the best discounts we've tracked since the Black Friday shopping 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.

Apple Watch Series 9

Starting with the Apple Watch Series 9, Amazon has the 41mm GPS device for $349.00 in three Aluminum colors, down from $399.00. The 45mm GPS device is on sale for $379.00 in every Aluminum color, down from $429.00.

The Apple Watch Series 9 is Apple's newest mainline wearable device. It shares the same look as the previous generation model, but includes a faster S9 chip, brighter display, and new features like Double Tap.

Apple Watch SE

Amazon has the 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $199.00, down from $249.00, and the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE for $229.00, down from $279.00. Both models are available in three Aluminum colors: Midnight, Silver, and Starlight.

The Apple Watch SE is Apple's low-cost option in the Apple Watch lineup, and it'll get the job done for most people who want a simple fitness tracker. It lacks the Series 9's health sensors like ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensing.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Finally, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has dropped to $749.00 on Amazon, down from $799.00. This one is available in a large collection of colors and band styles, and it's just about $10 away from the all-time low price.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple's most rugged wearable, and compared to the previous generation it has an improved GPS, more durable display, extra long battery life, and more.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the updates available three weeks after the release of the first iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 betas.

Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 Developer Beta. An Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

iOS 17.3 introduces a Stolen Device Protection feature that limits access to your private information in case someone obtains both your iPhone and your passcode. When activated, it requires Face ID or Touch ID identity verification to do things like accessing passwords in iCloud Keychain, turning off Lost Mode, making purchases through Safari with saved payment credentials, and more.

There are also features that require verification and have a one-hour delay to access, such as changing an ‌Apple ID‌ passcode, an ‌iPhone‌ passcode, turning off Find My, and turning off ‌Face ID‌. More details can be found in our article on Stolen Device Protection.

The update also adds collaborative Apple Music playlists, a feature that lets Apple Music subscribers share playlists with others to build shared song lists. Collaborative playlists are simple to use, can be shared with a link, and support emoji reactions.

Apple is expected to release iOS 17.3 later in January.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming three weeks after the release of the first macOS Sonoma 14.3 beta.

Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Under Beta updates, toggle on the macOS Sonoma Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

We don't yet know what features are included in macOS Sonoma 14.3, and there were no notable changes discovered in the first beta.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 10.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming three weeks after the release of the first watchOS 10.3 beta.

To install the ‌watchOS 10.3‌ update, developers will need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under "General" in Settings, and toggle on the watchOS 10 Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.

Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10.3 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.

There's no word yet on the new features that might be included in watchOS 10.3, and no notable new features were found in the first beta.

While the majority of Apple's product lineup has been updated over the past few years, there are a handful of devices and accessories that are quite old. Below, we highlight seven of the oldest and most obscure products that Apple still sells in 2024.

Many of these products are unlikely to be updated ever again, and it's unclear how long Apple will continue to sell them on its online store.

SuperDrive

Introduced alongside the original MacBook Air in 2008, the USB SuperDrive is an external CD/DVD drive. It remains available on Apple's online store for $79, but you'll need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to use it with a modern MacBook.

The last MacBook with a built-in CD/DVD drive was discontinued in 2016.

MagSafe Converter

For just $9.99, you can own Apple's tiny MagSafe to MagSafe 2 converter. This adapter allows Apple's very-old Thunderbolt Display to charge an also-very-old MacBook Pro or MacBook Air equipped with a MagSafe 2 connector.

For those counting, Apple moved on to MagSafe 3 in 2021.

EarPods With 3.5mm Plug

Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone starting with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus back in 2016, but it continues to sell wired EarPods with a 3.5mm headphone plug for $19. You can also get EarPods with Lightning or USB-C.

Hey, Macs still have a headphone jack.

30-Pin to USB Cable

Still rocking out with an older iPod or iPhone? Apple has you covered with its 30-pin to USB cable, featuring breakthrough USB 2.0 technology from the early 2000s.

Pro tip: you can get one for much cheaper on Amazon if you really need one.

Mac Pro Security Lock Adapter

Want to keep your 2013 Mac Pro secure in 2024? Apple's $49 adapter lets you attach a compatible Kensington lock to the computer.

We're honestly surprised Apple still sells this one.

Link Bracelet

Apple hasn't updated the stainless steel Link Bracelet since the original Apple Watch was released in 2015. The band is still listed in its original 38mm and 42mm sizes for $449.

Mac Pro Wheels

For the low price of $699, you can add wheels to your 2019 or newer Mac Pro tower, allowing it to roll around. Or, you could install them on a skateboard.

There's also a Mac Pro feet kit for $299 in this economy.

Amazon is kicking off the new year with an all-time low price on Apple's AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C, available for $189.99, down from $249.00. There's an estimated delivery date of January 7 for most residences in the United States.

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.

We haven't tracked an all-time low price on this model of the AirPods Pro 2 since around early December. This is largely the same model as the AirPods Pro 2 from 2022, with the addition of a USB-C port on the MagSafe Charging Case, instead of Lightning.

A few other noteworthy AirPods deals include the AirPods 3 for $149.99, down from $169.00, and the AirPods 2 for $99.00, down from $129.00. Stock on the AirPods 3 has begun to dwindle with delivery into mid January, but the AirPods 2 has the same estimates as the AirPods Pro 2.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Apple's Vision Pro headset will launch in the last week of January, a sketchy online report coming out of China claims.

The information comes from Wall Street Insights, a Chinese investor news service with an unproven track record for Apple rumors. The website claims to have obtained exclusive information suggesting that the Vision Pro will launch on Saturday, January 27 in the United States. While the report clearly says that the launch is set to occur on a date that falls on a Saturday in the United States, there is a chance that the website is actually referring to January 27 in China, which falls on Friday, January 26 in the United States – a much more likely date for the launch of the Vision Pro.

Apple has rarely launched any of its hardware products on Saturdays, so it seems very unlikely that the Vision Pro headset would be the first. The company likely prefers to launch products on weekdays to align with normal business hours, ensuring maximum media coverage and stock market reaction. Friday, January 26 is likely also a more accurate interpretation since Apple overwhelmingly chooses Fridays to launch its new devices.

Apple simply says that the Vision Pro headset will launch "early" this year and has not yet announced any specific time frame for pre-orders and the product's launch. Oft-accurate Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that he expects the Vision Pro to hit shelves in late January or early February, which effectively lines up with this latest report from China. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, on the other hand, has been firmer in saying that Apple is planning the device's retail launch for February.

Last Friday, we shared our annual What to Expect Guide that covers everything we're expecting to see from Apple in 2024, based on current rumors and historical product release information.

We're going to see the launch of the Vision Pro early in the year, followed by new OLED iPad Pro models, a new version of the AirPods, an iPad Air in a new size, an Apple Watch that has blood pressure monitoring and sleep detection, and of course, refreshed iPhone 16 models with a host of new features.

While we know what we're expecting to see from Apple in 2024, we want to hear from the MacRumors community. What are you hoping to see Apple release this year?

Are you looking forward to generative AI? Crossing your fingers for new iPhone features? What would you like to see in iOS 18? Will you buy Apple's Vision Pro headset?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and take a look at our What to Expect Guide to see an overview of the current rumors. We'll be hearing a lot more about Apple's 2024 product plans in the coming months, and we'll have in-depth coverage at MacRumors.com.

If you want to discuss Apple's upcoming products, our MacRumors forums are an excellent resource, plus they're a great place to get help on current Apple products, software, and so much more.

We'd like to thank our readers and our forum members for making MacRumors the number one source for Apple news, rumors, and advice. MacRumors celebrated its 23rd birthday this year, and that's thanks to our dedicated supporters. We are looking forward to another year of rumors and product launches in 2024. Happy New Year!