Apple has finally brought T9 dialing support to the iPhone with iOS 18, a feature long available on Android devices. This addition to the Phone app allows users to quickly find and call contacts using the number pad, which can streamline the process of making calls if you've used the feature before.
T9 dialing, or Text on 9 keys, is a predictive text technology that emerged in the late 90s to make it easier to type text messages on devices with limited input options, such as traditional mobile phones with numeric keypads. Each number key (2-9) on a T9 keypad is mapped to a set of letters. For example, the key "2" corresponds to "ABC," "3" to "DEF," and so on.
The best match appears first above the keypad, and tapping the person's name will call them. If there are several possible matches in your contacts, they can be revealed as a list by tapping "X more..." below the first match. Taken together, the new options should enable faster calling.
Here's how to use T9 dialing in iOS 18:
Open the Phone app and tap the keypad tab.
Type the contact's name using the number keys (e.g., for "Dad," press 3-2-3).
Above the keypad, tap the matching contact to call, or "X more..." to see additional matches.
This feature aims to speed up the calling process, especially for users who prefer the number pad or have difficulty navigating contact lists. It's particularly useful for one-handed operation or when quick dialing is necessary.
Add Contacts From the Keypad
iOS 18 also introduces new options for adding numbers to contacts directly from the keypad. When entering a new number:
After entering a new number, tap the new button in the top-left corner of the keypad screen.
Choose "Create New Contact" or "Add to Existing Contact" as needed.
That's all there is to it. In addition to the new features described above, Apple has also added the ability to search recent calls. Simply look for the search field at the top of your recent calls list and start typing into it to find the contact or number you're looking for.
Apple is developing a new version of its Vision Pro headset that is set to enter mass production in the second half of 2025, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo claims the most significant change in the new model will be the inclusion of Apple's M5 chip, a substantial upgrade from the M2 chip found in the current Vision Pro. The processor boost is expected to significantly improve device's computing power, with a particular emphasis on integrated Apple Intelligence features.
Despite the upgraded internals, Kuo reports that other hardware specifications and the overall design of the Vision Pro will remain largely unchanged. This approach could help Apple manage production costs, although the price point is expected to stay close to the current $3,499 starting price of the first-generation model.
Kuo emphasized that if this new version creates compelling use cases, it could push Apple's spatial computing platform closer to mainstream adoption. He also speculates on the potential integration of advanced AI models, such as text-to-video capabilities similar to OpenAI's Sora, which could dramatically enhance the Vision Pro experience.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to introduce Apple Intelligence features to the Vision Pro headset in the future. While the device is capable of running on-device AI functions such as writing tools, notification summaries, and an upgraded Siri, these features are not expected to arrive in 2024. Instead, Apple may be reserving the Apple Intelligence integration for visionOS 3, potentially launching in 2025.
Earlier this week, repair site iFixit took apart the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus to demonstrate the new battery removal process that uses electricity for adhesive removal, and today, iFixit is back with a teardown of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models do not have the same simplified battery removal process as the iPhone 16, with Apple instead using traditional stretch release adhesive for its pricier iPhones. It's still easier to get inside, though, because you can do so through the back of the iPhone rather than the display, which can be easily damaged.
Apple encased the iPhone 16 Pro battery in metal like the iPhone 16 models, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max does not have the metal casing around its battery, and it's not clear why. iFixit called the decision to use the metal-encased battery in just the 16 Pro and not the 16 Pro Max "perplexing."
The LiDAR Scanner is more accessible, which makes it easier to access for repairs. In prior Pro iPhone models, it was under the main camera assembly. The camera modules are almost identical, but not quite interchangeable due to a different cable length and a screw positioned in two separate locations inside each model.
Apple moved the mmWave antenna to make room for the Camera Control button, and in the 16 Pro models, it's in a hollowed out space near the top of the device. iFixit says that mmWave signal could still suffer due to the titanium frame of the iPhone 16 Pro models.
USB-C port removal is "massively" simplified, but iFixit points out that Apple does not sell replacement USB-C ports. The logic board can also be pulled out with only the removal of the upper speaker assembly, which is a major improvement to the design.
Notably, the teardown revealed that the iPhone 16 Pro models are using a Qualcomm SDX71M modem, which is a custom version of the SDX70M modem used in the iPhone 15 Pro models. Rumors had suggested the Pro models would include the Qualcomm X75 modem, which doesn't appear to be the case.
iFixit gave the iPhone 16 Pro models a repairability score of 7 out of 10 due to the design changes and the availability of repair manuals.
Apple is rumored to be working on a sort of iPad-like smart display that will serve as a home hub for controlling your HomeKit and Matter devices. We've been hearing rumors about the device for the last couple of years, and now there's some new information about its potential design.
Called the "HomeAccessory" internally, the upcoming smart home device has a "squarish display," according to 9to5Mac. The square display would make the product distinct from an iPad, which has a more rectangular display. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously described the smart home hub as "iPad-like" with features adopted from the iPad, HomePod, and the Apple TV, but he's also described a separate HomePod with a screen, which seems to be simpler.
9to5Mac claims it is unclear whether the square design will make it into the final product, which also seems to have a built-in camera for FaceTime. The device includes a camera that is able to identify hand gestures from afar, and it can tell one person apart from another for personalized requests. While it can run apps and play media like the Apple TV, it will also serve as an AirPlay receiver like the HomePod.
MacRumors spotted signs of the HomeAccessory in Apple's backend code earlier this year. It is a product that is distinct from Apple's other home devices, the Apple TV and the HomePod. It seems to run a variant of tvOS much like the HomePod, and the test version we've seen described is equipped with an A18 chip, so there is a possibility that it might not be too far off from launching.
With an A18 chip or later, Apple's smart home product would be able to run Apple Intelligence features, and it would support the smarter Siri that Apple plans to introduce in 2025. Prior rumors have said that it will debut in 2025 at the earliest, and 9to5Mac says it could come next spring.
Apple today released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro 2, with the software available for both the USB-C and Lightning models. The AirPods Pro 2 firmware has a build number of 7A305, up from the 7A302 firmware released earlier in September.
There is no word yet on what's included in the firmware, but Apple is planning to add hearing aid and hearing test features to the AirPods Pro 2 in the not too distant future.
The firmware update could potentially lay the groundwork for those capabilities ahead of when the full feature set comes out in an iOS 18 update. Apple has already received FDA approval for the hearing aid functionality for the AirPods Pro 2.
Apple doesn't have a way to manually upgrade AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air when the AirPods are in a charging case and connected to an iOS device or Mac.
Best Buy is back this week with big discounts on the M2 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, providing up to $1,000 off select models. A My Best Buy Plus/Total membership is not required to see these discounts.
You'll find both Wi-Fi and cellular tablets on sale at Best Buy, with a particular focus on the larger capacity 1TB and 2TB models. All deals listed below represent record low prices on each iPad Pro model, and many of them can currently only be found at Best Buy.
With such steep savings, these previous generation iPad Pros are worth looking into purchasing for anyone who wants to prioritize saving money over owning the newest M4 iPad Pro. There are some major differences between the two generations, like the M4's support for Apple Pencil Pro and a new nano-texture display option, so be sure to read about which one works best for you in our Buyer's Guide.
Apple appears to be internally testing iOS 18.0.1 for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software update in our website's analytics this week. Our logs have accurately revealed many iOS versions before they were released.
It is unclear when iOS 18.0.1 will be released, but our best guess is the update will be available towards the end of next week at the latest.
iOS 18.0.1 will precede iOS 18.1, which Apple previously announced will be released in October. Already available in beta, iOS 18.1 includes the first Apple Intelligence features for the iPhone, including writing tools, notification summaries, and more. Apple Intelligence is available on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and any iPhone 16 model.
Woot is hosting a new tech sale this week, and it includes all-time low prices on Apple's iPhone 16 Silicone and Clear cases. You can get these accessories for just $29.99 when using the code APPLEFIVE at checkout, and Woot has multiple colors in Silicone available for most models of the iPhone 16.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple-focused publication iMore on Wednesday sadly announced that it will no longer be publishing new content on its website. Existing content published by the website will remain available indefinitely, it said.
"iMore leaves the stage at a pivotal crossroads for online publishing, where the battle for readers' time and attention is more demanding than ever before, and the aforementioned AI advances and search discovery methods further complicate the playing field," wrote iMore's final editor-in-chief Gerald Lynch, in a farewell blog post.
iMore is the second well-known technology website owned by Future PLC to be shuttered in as many months, following AnandTech in August. In a financial disclosure today, the company announced that it is closing a "number of non-core or low to no growth assets," including a "small number of print and digital brands."
Future PLC also owns Android Central, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Windows Central, and more.
iMore's History
The website that eventually became iMore has operated under various names for over 17 years. The site originally launched as PhoneDifferent.com in 2007, merged with and took the name of TheiPhoneBlog.com in 2008, and abbreviated its domain name to TiPb.com in 2010. In 2012, the website rebranded as iMore.
iMore has been home to a number of well-known technology journalists over the years, including Dieter Bohn, Rene Ritchie, Serenity Caldwell, and many others. Bohn went on to become a founding member of The Verge in 2011, and he now works at Google. Ritchie left iMore in 2020 after 12 years at the website, and he now works for YouTube. Caldwell worked for iMore between 2014 and 2018, and she now works at Apple.
Ritchie was an especially prominent voice at iMore, having published numerous op-eds about Apple products over his years at the website.
iMore had a dedicated team of writers in more recent years, including Lynch, Lory Gil, Stephen Warwick, Joe Wituschek, Oliver Haslam, Tammy Rogers, John-Anthony Disotto, Daryl Baxter, James Bentley, Karen Freeman, and others.
From one Apple blog to another, we wish the iMore team past and present all the best.
Disney+ has announced a new "Paid Sharing" program across multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe, as its global account sharing crackdown kicks up a gear. The move, which was announced earlier this year by Disney CEO Bob Iger, aims to boost revenue and subscriber growth for the streaming service.
Similar to Netflix's approach, the new system restricts account usage to members of a single household. Disney+ defines a household as "a collection of devices associated with your primary personal residence that are used by the individuals who reside there."
To accommodate users who wish to share their account with individuals outside their household, Disney+ has introduced an "Extra Member" add-on feature. In the US, this option costs an additional $6.99 per month for Disney+ Basic subscriptions and an extra $9.99 per month for Disney+ Premium subscriptions. UK pricing has been set at £3.99, £4.99, and £4.99 per month for Standard with Ads, Standard, and Premium plans, respectively.
It's worth noting that the Extra Member feature comes with some limitations: Account holders can only add one extra member, who must be 18 or older and reside in the same country, and the added member can only stream to one device at a time.
For those who frequently travel, Disney+ will still allow account holders to access the service when away from home. Users encountering access issues can verify their identity through a one-time passcode sent to the account's associated email address.
Disney+ is also offering the option to transfer eligible profiles to new subscriptions, allowing users to retain their watch history and settings if they choose to create their own account.
The move follows Netflix adopting similar restrictions in 2023, which the company said had led to significant subscriber growth. Disney aims to replicate this success, with Iger previously stating that the company needs to turn its streaming business into a growth business. Those comments came after Disney's streaming division experienced a $512 million loss in the third fiscal quarter of 2023.
The full rollout of the password sharing restrictions across the US, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be completed by the end of the month, potentially impacting a large swathe of the company's more than 110 million subscribers worldwide.
Facebook parent company Meta today unveiled "the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made," called Orion. Meta claims Orion looks and feels like a regular pair of glasses, but with augmented reality capabilities.
The glasses have been in development for over five years, and Meta describes them as lightweight and great for indoor and outdoor use. Unlike a VR headset, AR glasses augment the real world rather than shutting it out, providing digital experiences that are not constrained by the display of a smartphone or headset.
Orion has the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date. That field of view unlocks truly immersive use cases for Orion, from multitasking windows and big-screen entertainment to life-size holograms of people - all digital content that can seamlessly blend with your view of the physical world.
According to Meta, Orion is a "feat of miniaturization," featuring components that are sized down to a fraction of a millimeter. The glasses have clear lenses that allow the wearer to see other people's eyes and expressions.
Orion includes built-in contextual AI that is able to "sense and understand" the world around the wearer to "anticipate and proactively address" the wearer's needs. Meta AI can do things like craft a recipe from what's inside your refrigerator, or phone a friend while the user washes dishes.
Orion is not a consumer focused product, but it is also not just a research prototype. Meta is providing its employees and "select external audiences" with access to Orion, so that it can use the data to "learn, iterate, and build" toward a consumer AR glasses product line.
Going forward, Meta wants to improve the AR display to make visuals sharper, optimize for a slimmer form factor, and work to build at scale to make the AR glasses more affordable.
Apple too is rumored to be working on AR glasses, but the product is still many years away from launching at this point. Apple has struggled with getting the power of an iPhone into a device that uses only a fraction of the power to prevent overheating.
Along with AR glasses, Facebook today introduced new AI features for its Ray-Ban Meta Glasses and unveiled a super cheap $300 Meta Quest 3S mixed reality headset, a more affordable version of the Meta Quest 3.
Microsoft today announced that it will "soon" be combining its Xbox and Xbox Game Pass apps on the iPhone and iPad, as well as on Android.
Features from the Xbox Game Pass app will be moving to the Xbox app for an all-in-one experience. In the Xbox app, you will be able to view your Game Pass membership, browse the catalog of games, view and claim perks, and more.
As part of this transition, Microsoft said the Xbox Game Pass app for the iPhone and iPad will be removed from the App Store starting in November.
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that provides gamers with a rotating selection of games to play on an Xbox console or Windows PC. With the Xbox Game Pass app, you can search, view, and download games available in the Game Pass catalog, but the titles cannot be played on the iPhone and iPad directly.
Apple TV+ will once again be making the iconic "Peanuts" specials available to non-subscribers for a limited time this holiday season.
Here is when each special will be available to stream for free in the Apple TV app:
"It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown": Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20
"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving": Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24
"A Charlie Brown Christmas": Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15
Apple TV+ subscribers can already watch the specials at any time of the year.
Apple holds the rights to "Peanuts" content through a deal with distributor WildBrain, and this will be the fourth consecutive year that the specials air on Apple TV+. Not everyone has been a fan of this exclusivity, with a petition calling for the specials to return to broadcast TV networks having received nearly 270,000 signatures since 2020.
Apple last week launched watchOS 11, the latest major software update for compatible Apple Watch models, as well as the new Apple Watch Series 10 and a black version of the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, both of which come with watchOS 11 pre-installed. New watchOS 11 features include Workout and Activity Ring updates, a Vitals app, new watch faces, and more.
In this article, we've listed 25 features and enhancements in Apple's new smartwatch software, many of which may have gone under your radar. Bear in mind that watchOS 11 requires Apple Watch Series 6 or later and an iPhone XS or later with iOS 18.
1. Digital Crown for Notifications
Previously in watchOS 10, you had to swipe down on your Apple Watch watch face to view notifications, indicated by the red dot at the top of the screen. This method still works in watchOS 11, but now you can alternatively turn the Digital Crown downwards to reveal them and quickly scroll through.
2. Check In
Check In lets you automatically notify a friend or loved one when you’ve arrived at a destination. Apple introduced Check In on iPhone in iOS 17, but it didn't feature in last year's watchOS 10 update for Apple Watch. Thankfully, Apple has rectified the omission in watchOS 11, and you can now start a Check In from Messages by entering your destination or arrival time (via the + button). What's more, you can start a Check In when doing an outdoor workout, which is handy if you're going for a run after dark.
When you start a workout in the Workout app, swipe right to reveal the Start/Pause, New, and Segment options. Below these, you'll find the new Check In option. When starting a Check In, you'll be asked to define when you should be prompted to Check In with someone – when you arrive home, after a timer, or when the workout ends.
3. Pause Activity Rings
Apple Watch now lets you pause your activity goals if you need to rest up. Tap the main Activity Rings display on your Apple Watch, and you'll see a new Pause Rings option that mutes coaching and goal tracking while maintaining your Move streak. So if you're aiming for a streak and something unexpected upends your efforts (if you fall ill, for example) you can pause tracking without losing out and having to start again. Pause options include for today, for a week, until next month, and custom (you can pause your rings for up to 90 days).
4. New Watch Faces
The Photos watch face has been redesigned in watchOS 11, and can now search photos in your library, analyze them using machine learning, and select the best compositions, framing, and image quality for your watch. You can also customize the time size and layout (including complications), as well as choose your favorite font.
Elsewhere, there are two additional watch faces in watchOS 11: Flux and Reflections. Flux changes color as a horizontal line representing the seconds dial travels up the screen and switches up the number style with each new minute. Meanwhile, Reflections can be switched between a fullscreen and circular style, only the latter of which supports complications.
5. Sync Maps to Watch
In iOS 18, the Maps app features detailed trail networks and hikes, including all 63 U.S. national parks. If you add a trail, hike, or custom route to your maps Library and download it to your iPhone for offline use, you can also opt to sync it to your Apple Watch, where you'll get turn-by-turn directions.
6. Action Button Quick Menu
In Settings, you can assign various functions to the Action button, but in watchOS 11 you can also do this just by long pressing the Action button.
This will bring up a menu that includes Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, Shortcut, Voice Memo, Translate, Accessibility, and Recognize Music. Selecting a function will automatically assign it to the button so that it works next time you press it.
7. Workout Effort
After completing most cardio-focused workouts in the Workout app, you'll receive a prompt to rate your effort or edit your estimated effort, indicating how hard you exercised. Your pace, elevation, heart rate, and personal data like age, height, and weight are factored into each rating. The effort metric is used to calculate your training load over time (see below). If you don't want to rate your effort, turn off the Effort Reminder switch, which can be found in Settings ➝ Workout.
8. Training Load
The new Training load feature compares the intensity (calculated by the effort metric) and duration of your workouts over the last seven days to what you've done over the previous 28 days. It then classifies your current training load on a scale from well below to well above — to help you understand the relative strain on your body and decide if it's sustainable.
Training load is also matched with your overnight Vitals readings (see feature number 19) to give you a better idea of whether you're under-training or overdoing it. You can review your training load in the Activity app.
9. Music Recognition
Shazam now comes pre-installed in watchOS 11 under the moniker "Music Recognition," where you can identify songs playing in the environment and access previously recognized songs, which are synced across your iPhone. There's also an option to enable Music Detection in the Smart Stack, which will make Music Recognition a suggested widget when music is playing in your vicinity.
10. Tides App
The new Tides app lets you check the condition of over 115,000 beaches all over the world for the next seven days. Slide your finger along the tide gauge to flow forward into the future. You can check rising, falling, high, and low tides, as well as weather, wind speed and direction, sunrise, sunset, swell height, and intervals between swells. There's an option to open the tide location in Maps and Weather, as well as a Tides widget that you can add to the Smart Stack.
11. Exit Sleep Mode Faster
In previous versions of watchOS, you had to long press the Digital Crown for around three seconds to exit sleep mode. This delay felt like an age in the middle of the night. Fortunately in watchOS 11, all you need to do is press the Digital Crown and your regular watch face will be displayed immediately.
12. Add Missing Workout Minutes
If you pause a workout and then continue working out but forget to resume on your watch, the Workout app will now ask you if you want to resume – and will even offer to add on the minutes that you missed.
13. Custom Pool Swim Workouts
watchOS 11 includes new custom workouts for Pool swims. So now you can customize 100 yard individual medley, 800 meter freestyle, 1200 yard pyramid, 800 yard swim and kick, 800 yard time cycles, and 1200 yard speed work. Your Apple Watch will then guide you through timed intervals of work and recovery in the pool, with haptics to let you know when it’s time to move to the next interval.
Additionally, a new Up Next workout view for all types of Custom Workouts can show what remains in the current interval and provide a snapshot of the upcoming interval. Thanks to enhancements in GPS positioning, the Workout app also offers even more workout types that can track distance. These include Soccer, American Football, Australian Football, Outdoor Hockey, Lacrosse, Downhill Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Snowboarding, Golf, Outdoor Rowing, and more. You will also see your route maps for more workouts than before.
14. Change Activity Goals
The Activity app for Apple Watch now lets you schedule custom activity goals for different days of the week. If you tap the +/- button when viewing your Move, Exercise, or Stand goals in the app, a new Change Goals option lets you schedule goals for individual days of the week, or just for today.
This means you can, for example, set custom workout goals from Monday to Friday, with lower goals during the weekend. This schedule can also be managed through the Fitness app in iOS 18. The Move, Exercise, and Stand activity summaries include the same +/- button that lets you adjust the goal for just today, or adjust your schedule for each day of the week.
15. Pin Timers
The Timers app now lets you pin timers that you use regularly to the top of the app interface. Simply scroll down to the bottom of the timers, tap Edit, and then tap the pin icon on any timer to pin it to the top.
16. New Double Tap Actions
The Double Tap feature can now be used to scroll through navigable content in any Apple app, including the Weather and Messages. You can even use a double tap to dismiss a timer that has ended. Apple has also opened up Double Tap to developers with a new API, so expect to see third-party support coming soon.
17. Customize Fitness Summary
In the Fitness app on iOS 18, if you tap and hold any card (excluding Activity Rings) in the redesigned Summary view, an Edit option will appear. Tap that, and jiggle mode will be enabled. This allows you to choose from a selection of available sizes and data presentation types for the tapped card – similar to how widgets work on the Home Screen.
You can also arrange the cards under Activity Rings in the way that best suits you, as well as add cards using the Add button. The same customization screen can be accessed via the Edit Summary option at the bottom of the interface, where you will also find a See All Categories option to directly access the data you want.
18. New Widgets
watchOS 11 brings several new intelligent widgets to the Smart Stack, including Vitals, Tides, Music Recognition, Check In, Translate, and Photos.
19. Vitals
Apple has enhanced the sleep tracking capabilities of Apple Watch with the introduction of the Vitals app. The app displays crucial overnight health data including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen levels (where available), and sleep duration. One of the app's key features is its ability to establish personalized typical ranges for each health metric collected during sleep, allowing you to quickly assess how your current metrics compare to your usual patterns.
The app sends notifications if multiple metrics fall outside your typical range. These alerts are accompanied by contextual information, highlighting potential factors that might influence these readings, such as medications, changes in elevation, alcohol consumption, or illness.
20. Translate Phrases
Thanks to the Translate app in watchOS 11, you can now see a translation on your wrist by typing or dictating a phrase. You can play the translation out loud and even slow it down. And you can use the Translate app on your watch without your iPhone when you have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection, or by downloading a language for offline use. According to Apple, the Translate widget will also automatically surface in your Smart Stack if you're traveling in a location where a different language is spoken.
21. Redesigned Now Playing View
In previous versions of watchOS, the Now Playing View would take up the whole screen, preventing you from quickly checking your watch face. In watchOS 11, it's been moved to the top of the Smart Stack, which is accessed with a scroll of the Digital Crown, keeping the time and your complications front and center. To revert to the fullscreen media playback controls, simply tap the widget.
22. Play Audio Through Apple Watch Speaker
If you have an Apple Watch Series 10 or an Apple Watch Ultra 2, you can now choose your watch's speakers through which to play audio. If you have music or podcasts downloaded to your watch, even if you don't have AirPods or your iPhone, you can still listen to them from your wrist. To switch playback from iPhone to Apple Watch, in the audio output menu (accessed via the top-right icon in the Now Playing screen), simply tap Control Other Speakers & TVs, then tap Apple Watch.
23. New Modular Ultra Bezel
The Modular Ultra watch face has picked up a new bezel option that displays your training load and vitals readings. Vitals must collect data for seven sleeps before displaying anything (you need sleep mode on for it to collect the full set of data). Training load is based on the effort of your workouts over the last four weeks.
24. Change Alert Tones
In Settings ➝ Sounds & Haptics, you'll notice new options to choose the Ringtone and Text Tone that your Apple Watch emits, as well as the ability to customize individual alerts for new Mail, Calendar, Reminders, and Default.
25. Live Activities in Smart Stack
Last but not least, watchOS 11 brings Live Activities support to Apple Watch. So if you have an ongoing Live Activity on your iPhone, it will also conveniently appear at the top of your Smart Stack, allowing you to keep tabs on how the activity is progressing right from your wrist.
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Starting with the 42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10 in Rose Gold Aluminum, you can get this model for $369.00 in S/M, down from $399.00. Additionally, the 46mm GPS model in Jet Black Aluminum is available for $399.00 in M/L, down from $429.00.
We've seen a few $10 discounts on the Apple Watch Series 10, some of which are still available on Amazon today, but this is the first time we're tracking a bigger markdown on the brand new wearable. No other major online retailer has a discount on the Series 10 this week, and Amazon provides an estimated delivery between September 27 and 30.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Secondly, Amazon has further discounted the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Black this week. You can get a few models of the Black Titanium watch for $734.89, down from $799.00. This beats the sale price we tracked over the weekend by about $15, and marks a new all-time low price for the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Apple is reportedly investigating the use of lower-resolution displays for a budget-friendly version of its Vision Pro spatial computing headset, according to recent reports from DigiTimes and other industry sources.
Apple has received OLED display samples from Japan Display (JDI) with a pixel density of around 1,500 pixels per inch (PPI), claims The Elec. This is significantly lower than the 3,391 PPI displays used in the current Vision Pro, which launched earlier this year starting from $3,500.
By reducing the pixel density, Apple could substantially cut down on manufacturing costs while still offering a high-quality visual experience. Indeed, reports as far back as June indicate that Apple has been sending requests for information (RFIs) to various display manufacturers, including Samsung Display and LG Display. These RFIs have reportedly asked for OLED displays with pixel densities around 1,700 PPI, suggesting Apple is exploring multiple options for its cheaper headset.
Notably, the sample provided by JDI is said to use glass core substrate (GCS) OLED technology, rather than the OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) displays currently used in the Vision Pro. This shift in display technology could further contribute to a cost reduction.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in June claimed that a cheaper Vision Pro could require a tethered iPhone or Mac to operate, which would allow Apple to save money on processing power and components needed to make it a standalone device. Gurman also claimed that an existing prototype lower-cost headset, codenamed N107, has a narrower field of view compared to Vision Pro. Apple could even potentially eliminate the EyeSight feature and use lighter weight build materials.
Regardless, the development of the device apparently remains at an early stage – DigiTimes suggests it could take two to three years before it enters mass production. That's a lot later than previous predictions that we could see a late 2025 launch. In the meantime, competition among display manufacturers to secure Apple's orders is expected to intensify, with companies from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan all vying for a piece of the potentially lucrative contract.
Apple's iOS 18 brings a significant redesign to the Photos app, introducing a unified Library View that consolidates all sections into a single, scrollable interface. While this new layout aims to streamline navigation, you may want to tailor it to your preferences. Here's how you can customize and reorder collections in the new Photos app.
Understanding Collections in Photos
In iOS 18, everything outside the main photo grid in the Photos app is considered a "Collection." These include:
Recent Days: Chronological view of your latest photos, similar to the previous iOS 17 Days view. Tap to see your entire library sorted by date.
Albums: Access all your created albums, including those shared with others.
People and Pets: AI-organized albums of individuals and animals. New Group feature automatically clusters frequent companions, with manual creation option.
Memories: Auto-generated slideshows, now featuring Apple Intelligence Memory Maker for enhanced presentations.
Trips: Location-based photo collections. View your travels organized by year.
Shared Albums: Collaborative photo collections shared between users.
Pinned Collections: Quick access to your most important albums or collections.
Featured Photos: AI-curated showcase of your best shots, updated regularly.
Media Types: Filter photos by capture mode (e.g., Live Photos, Portrait, Panoramas) or file type (e.g., Screenshots, Screen Recordings).
Utilities: Smart filters for practical image types like handwritten notes or receipts.
Wallpaper Suggestions: AI-selected images optimized for device wallpapers, with customizable visual elements.
Each collection offers different ways to view and organize your photos, from auto-generated slideshows to filters for specific types of images.
How to Customize and Reorder Collections
You can easily change the order of collections and choose which ones to display. By customizing your collections, you can prioritize the features you use most often, making your photo browsing experience more tailored to your needs. To do so, simply follow these steps:
Open the Photos app.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the main view.
Tap the Customize and Reorder option.
In the customization menu, you can deselect the checkmark next to a collection to remove it from view, and tap and hold the three bars next to a collection, then drag to rearrange its position.
Once you're satisfied with your changes, tap the "X" in the top right corner to exit and return to the main Photos view.
Remember, you can always return to this menu to make further adjustments as your preferences change. As you explore the redesigned Photos app, take some time to experiment with different collection arrangements. You might discover new ways to interact with your photo library that enhance the overall experience.
The Apple Card's high-yield savings account received an interest rate cut overnight, the second time it has done so this year.
The Apple Card savings account's annual percentage yield (APY) dropped from 4.4% to 4.25%, in line with the US Federal Reserve approving an aggressive rate cut of 50 basis points last week. Push notifications regarding the cut were sent to Apple Card users on Tuesday evening.
When the Apple Card's savings account first became available, it offered an APY of 4.15%. The rate then increased three times, first to 4.25%, then to 4.35%, and finally to 4.5%, before being lowered to 4.4% in April 2024.
Apple introduced its savings account in April 2023, partnering with Goldman Sachs. Designed for Apple Card holders, the account is exclusively available to U.S. residents aged 18 and above. It can be managed through the iPhone's Wallet app, offering a user-friendly experience with no fees, minimum deposits, or balance requirements.
The account allows users to earn interest on their Daily Cash cashback balance, as well as on funds transferred from linked bank accounts or Apple Cash balances. Initially capped at $250,000, the maximum balance has since been increased to $1,000,000, providing more flexibility for high-value savers.
Opening an account is straightforward. Users simply need to access their Apple Card in the Wallet app, tap the three-dot menu at the top of the screen, select Daily Cash, and then choose the option to set up savings. This process integrates seamlessly with the existing Apple Card interface.
It's worth noting that Goldman Sachs has reportedly indicated plans to end its consumer lending partnership with Apple. However, the potential impact of this change on Apple Card holders remains uncertain at this time.
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