MacRumors

Apple today seeded the seventh beta of the upcoming tvOS 18 refresh to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the sixth beta came out.

Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 18 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.

tvOS 18 adds an InSight feature to the TV app, and it is able to provide real-time information about actors, music, and more in ‌Apple TV‌+ shows and music. Enhanced Dialogue has been refined with machine learning and computational audio so it is better able to boost vocal clarity over background noise and music, plus it is now available on built-in TV speakers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices.

Subtitles will now show up automatically when relevant, such as when the TV's volume is muted, a show or movie is rewound, or when the language of a show doesn't match the device language.

Other new features include 21:9 aspect ratio support for projectors, new screen savers and improved controls for swapping screen savers, and support for Live Captions during FaceTime calls through an iPhone or iPad.

Apple is investing billions of dollars into developing an in-house cellular modem, but the project is not expected to yield immediate improvements for users, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

In last week's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that, unlike the transition to Apple silicon, the company's first custom modem will not offer noticeable benefits for users. Individuals within Apple apparently "acknowledge that customers don't really care who makes the modem in their phone" and "it's hard to tell how big the benefits will be in the near term."

Instead, Apple is looking to play "the long game, hoping its modem will evolve into a more advanced component that could ultimately change the way an iPhone looks and works."

Down the road, there are plans for Apple to fold its modem design into a new wireless chip that handles Wi-Fi and Bluetooth access. That would create a single connectivity component, potentially improving reliability and battery life.

There's also the possibility that Apple could one day combine all of this into the device's main system on a chip, or SoC. That could further cut costs and save space inside the iPhone, allowing for more design choices.

Apple has used modems designed by Qualcomm for over a decade, but moved to design its own following a legal battle over royalties and patents in 2018. Since then, it has faced issues with performance and overheating, and the component's debut has been pushed back until next year at the earliest. Its rollout is expected to take place on a gradual basis, starting with more niche devices and expanding across the lineup over the period of a few years.

Amazon is back this week with a big sale across the MacBook Air lineup, including both the M2 and M3 MacBook Air models. You can find many of the same deals being matched at Best Buy, and you won't need a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership in order to see the discounts this time around.

13-Inch M2 MacBook Air

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.

Starting with the M2 MacBook Air, Amazon is offering $200 off both models of the 2022 notebook. Prices start at $799.00 for the 256GB M2 MacBook Air in all colors, and increase to $999.00 for the 512GB MacBook Air in Midnight. In regards to the former model, this is a match of the all-time low price for this MacBook Air.

13-Inch M3 MacBook Air

For the newer models, Amazon is taking $250 off the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air with multiple all-time low prices. You can get the 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air for $849.00 in every color, down from $1,099.00. Both 512GB models are on sale as well with best-ever prices.

15-Inch M3 MacBook Air

Finally, Amazon also has the 15-inch M3 MacBook Air for $249-$250 off every model. These start at $1,049.99 for the 256GB 15-inch M3 MacBook Air, down from $1,299.00, and again include both 512GB models. Overall, every 15-inch M3 MacBook Air deal from Amazon this week represents all-time low prices on each model, and two of them will require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the final deal price at checkout.

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

Apple is offering an extended three-month free Apple Music trial for new users over the summer, provided they haven't been a subscriber to the streaming service before.

‌Apple Music‌ typically offers a one-month free trial for new subscribers since it was shortened from three months in 2022, so this deal is worth grabbing if you are curious about the service.

Note that this offer is for new subscribers only. If you are not currently a subscriber to Apple Music, and you have never previously subscribed to Apple Music or Apple One, or had access to Apple Music through a Family plan, you are eligible for this offer.

Engadget spotted the offer, which is running until September 23. After the trial ends, the service will automatically renew for $11 per month, so it's a good idea to set a reminder in case you don't want to continue paying for access.

To redeem the offer, open the Apple Music app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and sign in with your Apple ID. If the offer doesn't appear immediately after launching the app, go to the Home tab where it will appear, then tap Accept Now.

A recent survey conducted by SellCell suggests that a significant majority of iPhone users are planning to upgrade to the upcoming iPhone 16 series, with many expressing a preference for a better thermal design to prevent overheating issues.

The survey, which polled over 2,000 US-based ‌iPhone‌ owners (1,000 males and 1,000 females), found that 61.9% of respondents plan to purchase an ‌iPhone 16‌ model upon release.

Competitive pricing emerged as the most crucial factor, with 30.9% of respondents citing it as the primary influence on their decision to upgrade. But it was improved heat management that turned out to be another key area of interest, with 26.8% of users hoping for better thermal performance to prevent overheating issues.

Shortly after the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro Max were released last September, some customers began to experience an issue with the devices overheating. Apple eventually mitigated the problem with an iOS 17 update, but ‌iPhone 16‌ models are expected to be equipped with a new thermal design to address potential overheating.

The SellCell survey also revealed significant interest in Apple Intelligence capabilities for the ‌iPhone 16‌. A striking 82.1% of respondents expressed willingness to wait up to a month after release for the AI features to be fully implemented. Apple plans to release ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features in an iOS 18.1 update that is expected to arrive in October.

Another intriguing finding was the interest in larger displays for the ‌iPhone 16‌ series. Despite the current ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro Max already boasting a 6.7-inch screen, over half of the respondents (54.9%) indicated they would welcome even bigger iPhones. The finding chimes with expectations that the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models will have slightly bigger displays.

However, there was a notable gender divide on the issue of display size. The majority of men (62.1%) were in favor of larger displays, while women are more evenly split, with 47.8% expressing interest in bigger screens. Some female respondents cited concerns about handling and holding larger devices comfortably.

For those who said they won't be buying the ‌iPhone 16‌, most people (34.2%) cited the expense as the reason, closely followed by people who won't invest because they are keeping their existing phone (34.1%).

• iPhone 16 Launch Is Less Than One Month Out – Here's Everything We Know

Apple is expected to announce its new ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup next month at an event that could take place on Tuesday, September 10, although Apple has not yet provided official confirmation of the date.

Apple in the second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.1 has added a set of new backgrounds for FaceTime calls that showcase features of Apple Park.

There are nine backgrounds in all, featuring iconic locations around the company's circular headquarters in Cupertino, California, which should be familiar to anyone who has watched a recent Apple event.

For example, one shows ‌Apple Park‌'s rainbow arch, based on the company's rainbow apple logo and erected as a tribute to its late co-founder Steve Jobs, who helped conceptualize the spaceship-like design of the main building on the campus prior to his death.

In macOS Sequoia, there are other new built-in backgrounds that can be used for ‌FaceTime‌ and other video calls to blur out and hide what's behind you. These include different color gradients and the ability to use photos from your photo library.

Elsewhere, ‌FaceTime‌ has also gained the ability to preview what you're going to share in a video call when using screen sharing. Video calling apps will now give you a small preview of what will be shared before you okay the sharing process, which is useful to double check that you're not sharing information you don't want everyone to see.

• Will My Mac Run macOS Sequoia?

macOS Sequoia 15.1 is currently in its second developer beta phase and is expected to arrive for all users with supporting Macs later this year, following the release of macOS Sequoia 15. Apple has split Apple Intelligence into a separate set of betas because these features will not be available in the initial launch version of ‌macOS Sequoia‌.

Apple is making the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max in India for the first time this year as it looks to diversify production beyond China, according to Bloomberg.

Apple has reportedly been considering producing its high-end iPhone Pro models in India for the last couple of years, and has now decided to manufacture the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max models in India.

Initially, the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models will be imported into the country, but Apple will start local assembly for both the domestic market and exports shortly after launch in mid-September, once the new product introduction (NPI) process is complete.

Training is said to be already underway for thousands of workers at Foxconn's factory in southern Tamil Nadu state as it rushes to produce the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models as close to the global launch as possible.

• When Is the iPhone 16 Coming Out?

Last year, Apple had India-made ‌iPhone‌ 15 models ready on launch day, with locally made ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus models becoming available shortly after.

Today we're tracking a new all-time low price on the 512GB M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro, which has hit $1,499.00 at Best Buy and Amazon, down from $1,999.00. This beats the previous low price by $100, and is available to all Best Buy shoppers without the need of a membership.

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.

We're also tracking a few more 14-inch MacBook Pro discounts at both Best Buy and Amazon this week, including both M3 Pro and M3 Max models. You can get the 1TB M3 Pro for $2,099.00 ($300 off) and the 1TB M3 Max for $2,899.00 ($300 off).

In regards to the larger models, you can also find a solid record low price on the 512GB M3 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro right now. It's available for $1,999.00 at Best Buy and Amazon, down from $2,499.00.

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

Apple today released an updated version of iOS 17.6.1, with the new software coming a week and a half after the launch of the original iOS 17.6.1 update. The new version has a build number of 21G101, up from 21G93.

iOS 17.6.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 17.6.1 update addresses an issue that could prevent the enabling or disabling of Advanced Data Protection. It is not clear what is different between the new version of the software and the original version.

This update includes important bug fixes and addresses an issue that prevents enabling or disabling Advanced Data Protection.

The Advanced Data Protection bug impacted a small number of users. Those who tried to turn Advanced Data Protection on and weren't able to get it enabled saw an error message and it was clear it wasn't active. Affected users who tried to turn it off saw it disabled in the interface, though it was actually still active for iCloud data.

Both of those bugs have been fixed in the update. iPhone users who had the bug that prevented Advanced Data Protection from properly turning off will see a notification that asks them to confirm the decision to turn the feature off after installing iOS 17.6.1. Apple says that the few users who experienced this bug had an expected level of security or more, in the situation where ADP did not turn off as expected.

Update: The re-released iOS 17.6.1 update is available over the air on devices that are updating from older versions of iOS, including iOS 12 and iOS 16. If you already had iOS 17.6.1 installed or another version of iOS 17, you will not see the update with the 21G101 build number, nor will devices that have iOS 13, iOS 14, or iOS 15 installed. It fixes an issue that could prevent access to Apple Fitness+.

Apple today released watchOS 10.6.1, a minor update to the watchOS 10 operating system that came out in September. watchOS 10.6.1 comes three weeks after watchOS 10.6, which was another bug fix update.

‌‌watchOS 10‌‌‌.6.1 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

According to Apple's release notes, the watchOS 10.6.1 update fixes an issue that could prevent access to the Apple Fitness+ service.

Apple today released tvOS 17.6.1, a minor update to the tvOS 17 operating system that came out last September. tvOS 17.6.1 comes a few weeks after Apple released tvOS 17.6.

tvOS 17.6.1 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 17.6.1 automatically over time.

tvOS updates are often minor in scale, and tvOS 17.6.1 is no exception. We do not yet know what's included in the update.

Apple shares release notes for tvOS in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each new version of tvOS comes out.

Apple today announced the launch of a Podcasts on the web feature, which works in Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox on Macs, PCs, and other devices. Podcasts on the web allows users to search for, browse through, and listen to podcasts with access to the Up Next queue and library when signed in to an Apple Account.

Apple Podcasts on the web works like the ‌Apple Podcasts‌ app, and users can subscribe to and get updates for their favorite shows. Apple has long had a podcasts feature that allowed podcasts to be listened to on the web when embedded in an article, but now there is a dedicated website on devices without a Podcasts app.

You can check out Podcasts on the web by going to Apple's podcasts.apple.com site. Note that if you have the Podcasts app installed on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the website will open the app automatically rather than directing you to the web.

Podcasts on the web comes a month after Apple introduced Apple Maps on the web, which serves as an alternative to Google Maps.

In iOS 18, currently in beta, Apple is allowing iPhone users to replace the flashlight and camera buttons on the Lock Screen with something more useful, or to make them disappear entirely.

The dedicated flashlight and camera shortcuts you see at the bottom of your iPhone's Lock Screen were introduced in their current form with the release of iOS 11 alongside the iPhone X in 2018, and the two icons have since been a staple, non-customizable feature.

But that's all set to change this September with the launch of iOS 18. The Lock Screen buttons on your iPhone can now be replaced with any Control Center option. This includes system features like Dark Mode, Airplane Mode, Accessibility options, Calculator, and Translate, as well as Shortcuts – making the functional possibilities endless.

• How to Install the Third iOS 18 Public Beta

The change in iOS 18 is part of a broader Control Center redesign, significantly expanding the quick access potential from the Lock Screen. Apple has also opened up this functionality to third-party apps, allowing their icons to be added to the Control Center and, by extension, the Lock Screen buttons.

To maintain user privacy and data security, certain options may require Face ID or Touch ID authentication before granting access from the Lock Screen. This ensures that sensitive information remains protected even with this increased accessibility.

The following steps explain how to switch up your Lock Screen buttons in iOS 18:

1. Press and hold on the Lock Screen after authenticating.
2. Tap Customize.
3. Tap Lock Screen.
4. From there, tap the "-" icon to remove apps that are assigned to those buttons. The Flashlight and Camera apps are the default, so they will need to be removed.
   
   

5. Next, tap the "+" button and choose a new control to add from the scrolling menu of options.
6. Repeat for the second Lock Screen button if desired.
7. Tap Done in the top-right corner to finish.
   
   

Don't forget that if you replace the camera button or remove it completely, you can still easily access the Camera app from the Lock Screen by swiping left across the screen.

iPad illustration app Procreate today announced that it has no plans to bring generative AI to its software, setting itself apart from many competitors who have embraced the technology.

The decision comes at a time when many companies in the digital art space, such as Adobe, are rapidly integrating AI capabilities into their products and services. Procreate's stance is grounded in a commitment to preserving what it describes as the "humanity" of creative work. The company issued a statement on its website that expressed strong reservations about the impact of generative AI on the creative process:

Generative AI is ripping the humanity out of things. Built on a foundation of theft, the technology is steering us toward a barren future. We think machine learning is a compelling technology with a lot of merit, but the path generative AI is on is wrong for us.

We're here for the humans. We're not chasing a technology that is a moral threat to our greatest jewel: human creativity. In this technological rush, this might make us an exception or seem at risk of being left behind. But we see this road less travelled as the more exciting and fruitful one for our community.

James Cuda, the CEO of Procreate, reinforced the position in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his dislike of generative AI and explaining that Procreate's products are designed with the intention that "a human will be creating something." The announcement appears to have resonated with many digital artists who have expressed concerns about the integration of AI into creative tools.

Apple today announced it will donate $10 to the National Park Foundation for every purchase made in the U.S. using Apple Pay on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, or at an ‌Apple Store‌, up to a maximum of $1 million.

Apple has supported the National Park Foundation with this annual charitable initiative since 2017. This year, the program runs from today through August 25.

Apple celebrates U.S. national parks every August with special content across Apple Maps, Apple Podcasts, and other apps. In addition, on August 25, Apple Watch users can unlock a special national parks award in the Fitness app by recording a workout of 20 minutes or more with any app that adds workouts to the Health app.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is a national parks enthusiast, commenting "Every time I visit a national park, I'm struck by their extraordinary beauty and incredibly rich history. We're proud to partner with the National Park Foundation to help preserve these natural treasures that inspire so many people. Their important work helps ensure that future generations will be able to experience that same sense of awe, wonder, and reverence for the planet we call home."

Apple's rumored tabletop robot has been spotted in its global supply chain for the first time, Taiwan's United Daily News reports.

Apple has apparently chosen Hongzhun to play a critical role in the development of the forthcoming device. Specifically, the supplier will be responsible for developing key mechanical components and casings for the tabletop robot. Once the product moves into mass production, Hongzhun will be tasked with producing the mechanical parts on a large scale. Hongzhun is a subsidiary of Foxconn, a longstanding manufacturing partner of Apple.

At its most recent shareholders' meeting, Hongzhun announced its intention to invest in emerging technologies such as robotics and AI, signaling a move away from its traditional focus on producing casings for laptops and game consoles. Hongzhun has prior experience in assembling Foxconn's own "FoxBot" robot.

Apple's robot project, reportedly code-named J595 internally, is described by Bloomberg as a desktop device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm. It is designed to serve as a central hub in Apple's smart home ecosystem, integrating with other Apple products and services like Siri, and run a variant of iPadOS. It could be introduced as soon as 2026, with an estimated price tag of approximately $1,000.

Amazon today has a new all-time low price on Apple's 9th generation 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, available for just $199.00, down from $329.00. This sale beats the previous low price by about $30, and it's available in both colors right now on Amazon.

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.

Additionally, you can get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $349.99 on Amazon, down from $479.00. This is another new record low price on the previous generation tablet. If you prefer shopping at Best Buy, you'll also find many of these deals being matched at that retailer this week.

Although these iPads are a few years old at this point, today's new ultra-low prices should make them perfect for anyone looking for a simple and cheap iPad for daily Internet browsing. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple still plans to refresh its entry-level and mid-tier AirPods later this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman reiterated his previous reporting by saying that Apple intends to release two versions at different price points, replacing the current second-generation and third-generation models.

Both models will feature a redesigned look, including a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, shorter stems similar to the AirPods Pro, along with an updated fit and enhanced audio quality.

The higher-end version is expected to include Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), making ANC available at a lower price point for the first time and no longer exclusive to AirPods Pro.

Gurman said Apple intends to launch a third-generation AirPods Pro "later," by which he likely means next year, based on previous reporting.

• AirPods Lineup to Get These Updates in 2024

What Gurman did not mention in his latest update is the status of new AirPods Max. It's been almost four years since Apple introduced its premium over-ear headphones. You can learn more about everything we know about the second-generation model we're expecting – and when – in our recent AirPods rumor roundup.