MacRumors

It's nearly September, meaning that new iPhones are just around the corner. All four upcoming iPhone 15 models are widely expected to be equipped with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but there may be speed differences across the lineup.

In November 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max would support at least the USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 specifications for data transfer speeds up to 20 or 40 Gbps. Kuo said the USB-C port on the lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models would remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps, which is the same speed as Lightning on existing iPhones.

All current-generation iPad and Mac models already have USB-C ports with varying speeds:

Device	USB-C Specification
All current Mac models	Thunderbolt (Up to 40 Gbps)
iPad Pro (2021 and 2022)	Thunderbolt (Up to 40 Gbps)
iPad Pro (2018 and 2020)	USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Up to 10 Gbps)
iPad Air (2022)	USB 3.1 Gen 2 (Up to 10 Gbps)
iPad Air (2020)	USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Up to 5 Gbps)
iPad mini (2021)	USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Up to 5 Gbps)
iPad (2022)	USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)

The rumored speeds for the iPhone 15 lineup:

Device	USB-C Specification
iPhone 15 Pro Max	USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt (Up to 20 or 40 Gbps)
iPhone 15 Pro	USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt (Up to 20 or 40 Gbps)
iPhone 15 Plus	USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)
iPhone 15	USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)
iPhones with Lightning	USB 2.0 (Up to 480 Mbps)

Higher speeds allow for faster data transfer over a USB-C or Thunderbolt cable, such as when exporting photos from an iPhone to a Mac.

Rumors suggest that Apple will include a new braided USB-C cable with all iPhone 15 models, but the cable might remain limited to USB 2.0 speeds. This means that customers purchasing an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max would need to purchase a higher-spec cable separately to take advantage of the faster speeds that are rumored.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 series at an event that is rumored to be planned for Tuesday, September 12. Apple has yet to officially announce the event, but invites will likely go out in the next week or two.

This week, all-time low prices arrived for the Apple Watch Ultra, 15-inch MacBook Air, and Beats Studio Pro at various retailers, and we're recapping all of these deals and more below. In addition to the Apple product discounts, we're still tracking great deals on various Anker accessories.

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.

Apple Watch Ultra

• What's the deal? Take $99 off Apple Watch Ultra
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

One of the most notable deals of the week is on the Apple Watch Ultra, which hit a new all-time low price on Amazon of $699.99. That's $99 off the regular price of the wearable, and it's available in multiple colors and band styles.

Beats Studio Pro

• What's the deal? Take $100 off Beats Studio Pro
• Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The new Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones got their first discount this week, available for $249.99 at Best Buy and Amazon, down from $349.99. You'll find all four colors on sale at both retailers: Sandstone, Navy, Deep Brown, and Black.

HomePod (2nd Gen)

• What's the deal? Take $14 off HomePod
• Where can I get it? B&H Photo

The second generation HomePod has a small discount right now on B&H Photo, on sale for $284.99, down from $299.00. This is about $5 higher than the record low price we tracked back in May, so although it's not a steep discount it's the best sale around online for anyone in the market for Apple's smart speaker.

15-Inch MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take $200 off 15-inch MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple's new 256GB 15-inch MacBook Air returned to its record low price of $1,099.00 this week on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. You'll also find a best-ever price on the 512GB model, available for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker accessories
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker's collection of discounts this week centered around the Eufy SmartDrop Package Box, available for $199.99, down from $399.99. You can also save on portable batteries, USB-C cables, charging stations, and more if you visit our original deal post.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

YouTuber and TechnoBuffalo founder Jon Rettinger joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss the iPhone 15 lineup and what it will take to make the iPhone exciting again.

We reflect on some of the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro's key upgrades, such as a Thunderbolt USB-C port and a titanium chassis, and the long-term direction of the ‌iPhone‌. We also talk switching to Android, the state of foldable smartphones and Apple Watch rivals, the possibility of iMessage coming to Android, and the nature of Apple's vehicle project.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up with our discussion about two of the most significantly redesigned devices Apple is rumored to have in store: The "Apple Watch X" and the fourth-generation iPhone SE.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Andru Edwards, Kevin Nether, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Mark Gurman, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

Apple's iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus are expected to be announced in just a matter of weeks, introducing over a dozen upgrades and changes to surpass the iPhone 14 models introduced last year.

After over a year of rumors about the upcoming devices, we have compiled all of the key differences the next-generation standard ‌iPhone‌ models are expected to feature based on information from reliable sources like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, DSCC's Ross Young, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and others. Many of these insights have been corroborated, but some have only been rumored in isolated reports. Nevertheless, MacRumors believes the following table represents a credible overall picture of what the ‌iPhone 15‌ could look like compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 14:

‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus	‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus
Aerospace-grade aluminum chassis with 90° edges	Aerospace-grade aluminum chassis with slightly curved edges
Glossy glass back	Frosted glass back
"Notch" TrueDepth camera array	Dynamic Island
7.79mm thick	7.81mm thick
Lightning port (480Mb/s)	USB-C port (480Mb/s)
12-megapixel camera	48-megapixel camera
ƒ/1.5 wide camera	ƒ/1.7 wide camera
A15 Bionic chip	A16 Bionic chip
OLED display driver chip (40nm)	More power-efficient OLED display driver chip (28nm)
U1 chip (16nm)	Next-generation ultra-wideband chip (7nm)
Qualcomm X65 modem	Qualcomm X70 modem
Wi-Fi 6 connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E connectivity
Support for Qi wireless charging	Support for Qi2 wireless charging
Support for 7.5W wireless charging with third-party accessories	Support for 15W wireless charging with third-party accessories
Support for ~27W wired charging	Support for 35W wired charging
Available in midnight, starlight, blue, yellow, purple, and (PRODUCT)RED	Available in midnight, starlight, blue, yellow, and coral pink/orange
Comes with white 1m USB-C to Lightning charging cable	Comes with color-matched 1.5m USB-C to USB-C braided charging cable

The latest reports point to an Apple event to announce the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup taking place on Tuesday, September 12. Launch is expected to follow on Friday, September 22. To understand all of the differences between the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, see our other specific comparison:

• iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro: 20+ Upgrades and Changes to Expect

Take a look at our dedicated roundup for more detailed information about what we're expecting from the ‌iPhone 15‌ models. Be sure to let us know what upgrades you're most looking forward to in the comments.

A second device presumed to be an iPhone 15 model has been spotted in India's regulatory database, just weeks before the device is expected to be officially announced.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) listing, spotted by MySmartPrice, shows an Apple smartphone with the model number "A3090." Last week, an Apple device with the model number "A3094" appeared in the BIS database. The iPhone 14 has the model numbers A2649, A2881, A2884, A2883, and A2882. No Apple devices with the model numbers A3090 and A3094 currently exist and with ‌iPhone‌ model numbers roughly increasing with each successive generation, it is highly likely these devices are from the impending ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup.

In August 2022, just a few weeks before the announcement of the ‌iPhone‌ 14 lineup, a single iPhone 14 model was spotted in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) database with the model number A2882. This turned out to be the standard ‌iPhone‌ 14 model built for "other countries and regions."

New Apple devices being spotted in global regulatory databases often indicates that launch is soon to follow. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to announce the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup at an event on Tuesday, September 12.

Apple in ‌iOS 16‌ introduced a Remove Subject From Background option for photos on your iPhone, and in ‌iOS 17‌, you can also use the feature to create and save your own stickers. Keep reading to learn how it works.

In iOS 16, Apple enhanced its Visual Look Up capability for photos by making it possible to isolate the subject of a picture from its background so that you can copy it to the clipboard for use elsewhere or share it in another app.

With iOS 17, Apple has taken the feature further by allowing you to export isolated photo subjects as stickers that you can use in Messages. And if the subject is in a Live Photo, the sticker will even animate.

There are a number of effects that can be added to make your digital stickers look more like real stickers, including a white outline, comic-like shading, a puffy 3D look, and a shiny, holographic finish. The sticker effects will animate and reflect the light appropriately, making your self-created stickers look professionally done.

The following steps show you how to create your first photo-sourced sticker in iOS 17.

1. Launch the Photos app and select an image from your library containing a well-defined subject.
2. Press and hold on the subject until it ripples and a white glow flows around its outline.
3. In the popup menu that appears, tap Add Sticker.
4. To change the look of your sticker, tap Add Effect, and you'll be given several options including Original, Outline, Comic, Puffy, and Shiny.
5. Tap Done to finish.

That's all you need to do. The next time you open Messages, you'll find it in your personal stickers collection, ready to send to friends and family. To use it in a Messages conversation thread, simply tap the + button next to the compose field, then tap Stickers.

Tap the sticker in question, then tap the Send button. Alternatively, you can long-press the sticker and drag it into the conversation, or even onto a specific message bubble, just like a tapback reaction.

• iOS 17: How to Use Emoji as Stickers in Messages

In iOS 17, Apple has added several new features to its Messages app to make communicating with other Apple users more creative and fun. Check out our dedicated Messages roundup to learn else is in store when iOS 17 is publicly released next month.

Apple may offer a USB-C data transfer accessory cable for iPhone 15 Pro models that is capable of Thunderbolt or USB4 speeds of up to 40Gbps. That is the latest claim made by Kosutami, who posted details of the cable on Twitter (now X).

According to the leaker, the length of the cable is 0.8 meters, which is shorter than Apple's existing Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable (1.8m), and it is said to support charging up to 150W. Apple will allegedly sell the cable separately.

Given the expected switch to USB-C across all iPhone 15 models, there has been a lot of conjecture about which port standard Apple will use in its premium iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max devices to potentially differentiate them further from the more affordable iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 Pro models will support "at least" USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. However, the leaked USB4 cable is based on the Thunderbolt 4 protocol, allowing it to offer equivalent speeds of 40Gbps, or twice the preceding USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard.

As for the 150W charging claim (not 120W – a correction made by Kosutami in a subsequent tweet) this would make the cable capable of faster power delivery than Apple's existing Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable (100W), however that does not necessarily mean iPhone 15 Pro models will be capable of charging at this speed.

Earlier this year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the ‌iPhone 15‌ models would support faster charging speeds due to the transition to USB-C, while one rumor has claimed that at least some iPhone 15 models may support charging speeds up to 35W. Current iPhone 14 models can charge at a maximum of around 27W, with the Pro models able to charge a bit faster.

Speculation therefore remains rife about the USB-C port capabilities of the iPhone 15 lineup, and nothing is certain beyond the switch from Lightning. Rumors suggest the cables supplied in iPhone 15 boxes are limited to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds at a rate of 480 MBps, which is the same as Lightning.

In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be supplied with cables capable of USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds, as per Kuo's original claim. Images from ChargerLab suggest that some iPhone 15 models will include a Thunderbolt/USB 4 retimer chip, seemingly confirming the rumor of higher-speed data transfer for the Pro models.

Each iPhone 15 will include a braided USB-C charging cable in the box that is thicker (i.e. more durable) and 50% longer than the Lightning cable that comes with current iPhone models, according to reports. The cables are also rumored to be color-matched to possible new iPhone colors, coming in at least black, white, yellow, blue, and orange.

Apple will announce the new iPhone 15 lineup at an event that is expected to be held on September 12.

With the iOS 17 Photos and Camera apps, Apple added several features that make the apps more pleasant to use. Visual Look Up can recognize more than ever, including various mystery symbols you see in your daily life, plus the ‌Photos‌ app will detect your pets and put them in their own album.

This guide highlights all of the new iOS 17 ‌Photos‌ and Camera app features.

Pet Recognition

In addition to people, the ‌Photos‌ app can recognize specific animals so you can have your pets automatically sorted into albums. Accordingly, the People album has been renamed the "People & Pets" album.

The pet recognition feature works on cats and dogs, and Apple says that people recognition has also improved.

Visual Look Up

Apple gave Visual Look Up some major updates. For a recap, Visual Look Up is the name of the feature that lets you get more information about the subject of a photo when you tap on the information button in the ‌Photos‌ app.

For images of food, the iPhone will identify what's in the photo and present recipes sourced from the web. A whole range of symbols can now be recognized, from street signs to dashboard icons to the laundry instructions you see on clothing tags. If you take a picture of one of these symbols and then tap for info, the ‌iPhone‌ will be able to tell you what it means.

You can also use the long press on an image gesture to pull the subject from the background of an image to look up what it is, if it is compatible with Visual Look Up.

Finally, Visual Look Up can be used in videos. You can pause a video on any frame and tap on the info button to look up what's in the video.

One-Tap Crop

When you zoom into an image in the ‌Photos‌ app, you can tap on the "Crop" button in the upper right corner to crop into the zoom without having to open up the photo editing interface.

Photos Interface Changes

In the photo editing interface, the Cancel and Done buttons have been moved to the top of the display, and all of the tool icons have text descriptions to explain what they do.

Camera Leveling

A new level option in iOS 17 adds a horizontal line to the Camera app so you can make sure that landscape shots are lined up and level before capturing an image.

• How to Straighten Your Shooting Angle With the New Camera Level Feature

QR Code Updates

While the ‌iPhone‌'s Camera app has been able to read QR codes since iOS 11, iOS 17 fixes an interface that has been irritating for quite some time. Rather than the link for a QR code popping up in the middle of the display, it now shows up at the bottom of the screen so it's easier to tap.

Cinematic Mode

Apple added a Cinematic API for third-party apps, which will allow photo and video apps to incorporate Cinematic mode video playback and editing.

Animated Stickers

With the remove subject from background tool, you can turn any Live Photo into an animated sticker that can be used in Messages and other apps.

Just long press on the subject in a photo and then choose the "Add Sticker" option. From there, you can add effects like a white sticker outline, a "puffy" sticker effect, glitter, and more.

This feature also works with any photo if you just want a still image.

Screenshot Updates

If you take a screenshot in iOS 17, you'll see a Save to ‌Photos‌ option that saves the full page of the screenshot as an image. Previously, the feature for capturing a full page screenshot would only save it as a PDF.

Read More

More information on all of the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

The iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to feature a titanium frame instead of a stainless steel frame for the first time, and with the material swap, Apple is also focusing on new colors.

Back in July, we teamed up with Unknownz21 to reveal a new dark blue shade that Apple plans to use for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and at that time, we also said that Apple has been testing a silver-gray shade and a space black color. 9to5Mac today said that it has also heard that Apple will be introducing a new dark blue color, which will be joined by silver, space black, and a natural titanium shade that could be called "Titan Gray."

The dark red color that 9to5Mac suggested we would see for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro has turned out to be inaccurate, with Apple offering only these cool-toned options. Apple also does not plan to sell a gold ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro or Pro Max this year.

Gold has long been one of the colors that Apple has made available for the Pro iPhones due to the color's popularity in places like China.

According to 9to5Mac, the standard ‌iPhone 15‌ models will come in black, green, blue, yellow, and pink, which are colors that we have seen rumored previously.

We'll get a first look at the color options for the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup in September, with rumors suggesting that Apple will hold an event on Tuesday, September 12.

Astropad, the company behind the Luna Display and Astropad Studio app, today announced the launch of Rock Paper Pencil, a new screen protector and Apple Pencil tip kit that are designed to mimic the feel of writing with a pen on paper.

According to Astropad, Rock Paper Pencil is meant to have "unmatched realism" thanks to the combination of the custom ‌Apple Pencil‌ tip and screen protector engineered to match. Unlike most screen protectors available, the Rock Paper Pencil screen protector is magnetic, removable, and reusable. It snaps onto an iPad and can be removed when not needed for writing purposes.

The screen protector has "nano-texture technology" that mimics the texture of paper and also cuts down on glare, while the ‌Apple Pencil‌ tip is made from metal and similar in design to a ballpoint pen tip. Astropad says that it is more precise than the ‌Apple Pencil‌, and it is able to screw right on to the ‌Apple Pencil‌ 2.

Astropad is selling the Rock Paper Pencil in two sizes, including 12.9-inch to fit third-generation and newer iPad Pro models and 11-inch to fit the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and the iPad Air.

The Rock Paper Pencil kit can be purchased from the Astropad website for $31.99 at the current time, as there is a 20 percent launch discount available.

Today Amazon has returned with a match of the all-time low price on Apple's new 15.3-inch MacBook Air notebooks, including every color of the 256GB and 512GB options. You can get the 256GB 15.3-inch MacBook Air for $1,099.00, down from $1,299.00.

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.

This sale is available in all four colors: Space Gray, Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. All models are in stock and have an estimated delivery date between August 26 and August 30. These notebooks debuted this past June and we last tracked this record low price earlier in August.

Additionally, Amazon has the 512GB 15.3-inch MacBook Air on sale for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in one color (Starlight), and has an estimated delivery date between August 26 and August 30.

The new MacBook Air features a large 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, M2 processor, six-speaker system, two Thunderbolt ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and MagSafe. The 15.3-inch MacBook Air is mostly similar to the 2022 13.6-inch MacBook Air, but there are some key differences that we highlighted in our buyer's guide.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Meta-owned Twitter competitor Threads is finally getting a highly requested feature -- web access. The Threads social network can be accessed on the desktop and mobile devices using any web browser.

Since its July debut, Threads has only been available on mobile devices through dedicated apps. At launch, Threads was very barebones, with Meta working to add new functionality on a regular basis to bring the network in line with Twitter.

Threads web access started rolling out on Tuesday, but it appears to be much more widely available as of this morning. A lack of web access could be one of the reasons that Threads has been losing users since it garnered more than 100 million users the week that it came out.

While Threads now features web access and a chronological timeline of just those you follow, it continues to lack key features like lists and direct messages.

Threads integrates with Instagram, so it continues to have a strong user base for such a new app. MacRumors is on Threads, and all of our content is posted there for those who would like to follow us outside of Twitter and Facebook.

The new Beats Studio Pro over-ear headphones have received their first discount today on Best Buy and Amazon, available for $249.99, down from $349.99. Best Buy offers free in-store pick-up as well as free next-day shipping, and Amazon offers the usual free two-day shipping for Prime customers.

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.

These headphones debuted last month with improved sound quality, voice performance, comfort and durability, and connectivity. You'll find all four colors on sale at both Amazon and Best Buy: Sandstone, Navy, Deep Brown, and Black.

In addition to the Beats Studio Pro headphone sale, we're tracking a few deals on other Beats products at both Best Buy and Amazon this week. This includes savings on the Beats Flex, Beats Studio Buds, Beats Studio Buds+, and Beats Fit Pro.

• Beats Flex - $39.99, down from $69.99 [Best Buy / Amazon]
• Beats Studio Buds - $99.99, down from $149.99 [Best Buy / Amazon]
• Beats Studio Buds+ - $129.99, down from $169.99 [Best Buy / Amazon]
• Beats Fit Pro - $159.99, down from $199.99 [Best Buy / Amazon]

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

Hardware prototyping consultant Ken Pillonel has created a transparent AirPods Pro charging case with a repairable design using 3D printing technology and transparent SLA resin, as part of his ongoing efforts to highlight repairability and sustainability issues in modern consumer electronics.

The project began with Pillonel downloading 3D files and employing transparent SLA resin to create the AirPods Pro case. Using a Formlabs Form 3+ printer, Pillonel printed the parts, cleaned them with IPA, and carefully dried them using compressed air. He then cured the parts and undertook a labor-intensive phase of sanding carried out in sequence using 400, 600, 800, and 1000 grit sandpaper, with the parts regularly dipped in tap water to aid in cleanliness and progress assessment.

The process continued with a cleansing in new IPA and drying with hot air to prevent mineral residue deposits from water. To finalize the aesthetic, Pillonel applied a clear spray varnish to the parts. The spray transformed the parts from opaque to entirely clear, achieving the desired transparent look.

The transparent design also taps into a nostalgic aesthetic, reminiscent of transparent gadgets from the past. Beyond the visual appeal, the project represents Pillonel's continued effort to highlight repairability issues in contemporary consumer electronics and encourage a move towards more sustainable design practices. By using screws and nuts instead of adhesive and a USB-C port, Pillonel's ‌AirPods Pro‌ case can easily be taken apart and repaired.

Apple recently introduced a transparent variant of the Beats Studio Buds +, while Nothing's transparent Buds (1) and (2) have sought to compete with AirPods, indicating something of a revival of interest in transparent electronics.

Google's Chrome browser for iOS is testing an option for users to shift the address bar to the bottom of the screen, two years after Apple’s Safari made the same change.

The move, spotted by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, is currently in beta testing in the Testflight version of the app. Currently the change is optional, enabling users to set the URL bar to the top or bottom by pressing and holding the bar to bring up a switch, or by changing the location via Settings -> Address Bar.

Apple in its iOS 15 beta testing phase introduced a redesigned Safari experience that moved the URL bar and tab interface to the bottom of the iPhone, a decision that initially proved controversial with ‌iPhone‌ users.

Locating the bar at the bottom of the interface made it easier to browse with one hand, but not everyone was happy. After listening to feedback, Apple added a toggle to show the address bar at the top of the ‌iPhone‌ rather than the bottom, for users who preferred the more iOS 14-like experience.

It's not clear whether Chrome will roll out the change to all users – Google tried a similar change in Chrome for Android in 2017, then subsequently removed the feature. However, with iPhone screens historically getting iteratively bigger, many will likely welcome the change, should it stick.

All iPhone 15 models this year are expected to adopt USB-C ports for the first time, and while USB-C has several advantages over Lightning, another rumor today suggests that Apple's standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models are unlikely to enjoy any increase in data transfer speeds following the transition.

According to leaker Majin Bu, who has previously shared details about Apple's new cables, the USB-C cables supplied in iPhone 15 boxes are indeed limited to USB 2.0 data transfer speeds at a rate of 480 MBps, which is the same as Lightning.

In contrast, rumors converge on both iPhone 15 Pro models supporting higher USB-C transfer speeds. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 Pro models will support "at least" USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. For comparison, the iPad Pro features a Thunderbolt port for transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps, while the entry-level iPad’s USB-C port is limited to just 480 Mbps.

With the higher-specification data transfer speed, iPhone 15 Pro models will therefore be able to transfer video and other file types much more quickly than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

Each iPhone 15 will include a braided USB-C charging cable in the box that is thicker (i.e. more durable) and 50% longer than the Lightning cable that comes with current iPhone models, according to reports. The cables are also rumored to be color-matched to possible new iPhone colors, coming in at least black, white, yellow, blue, and orange.

With iOS 17, Apple introduced new features for the Maps app. The changes in the Maps app aren't as notable as some of the additions we've seen with prior software updates, but there is at least one long-awaited function.

This guide rounds up everything that's been changed or added in the iOS 17 Maps app.

Offline Maps

Maps can be downloaded so that you can use them offline in iOS 17, which is useful when there is no cellular or WiFi connection. You can save a specific area of a map to your device, allowing it to be accessed while offline.

Saving retains all information like business hours and ratings, plus it allows for turn-by-turn directions, so the Maps app basically works like it does when it has a connection, with the exception of real-time traffic information.

You can search for any location in the Maps app or set a pin and then choose the "Download" option to get an offline map. Tapping on the download button brings up a drag and drop interface where you can select how much of the map you want to download.

Apple allows for downloads of full cities and surrounding areas, so you can, for example, download a map of Los Angeles that includes the area all the way up to Bakersfield and down to San Diego. Apple lists the size of each downloaded map, with size depending on the area you've selected and what's in that area. A small selection may only be 200MB, but a larger area that has a lot of roads and businesses could be 3GB or more.

Limited Service Warnings

If you look up directions for a route that goes through an area that often has no cellular signal, the Maps app will recommend that you download the map for offline usage.

As of right now, this feature is available for National Parks located in the United States.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Apple Maps now displays real-time charging station availability along Maps routes for electric vehicle owners. Users can choose a preferred charging station to see only those compatible with their vehicle.

Interface Update

When you're getting turn-by-turn directions, the Maps app shows tappable icons for driving, walking, transit, and other options rather than a dropdown menu. The arrival time and avoidance preferences options are still in the same dropdown menu as they were in iOS 16.

Volume

In the turn-by-turn directions interface, you can tap on the ^ button to see a new Voice Volume option that allows you to adjust the volume of the spoken directions. Options include Softer, Normal, and Louder.

The new volume option joins Add Stop, Share ETA, and Report an Incident.

Read More

More information on all of the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

Apple has made headlines for lobbying against right to repair laws in recent years, but this week the company decided to express support for California's Right to Repair Act, SB 244.

As noted by repair site iFixit, Apple yesterday sent a letter to California senator Susan Talamantes Eggman urging the California legislature to adopt the bill.

SB 244 would require companies to provide customers with the tools to diagnose and repair consumer electronics and appliances. Apple has already launched a Self Service Repair program for iPhones and Macs, with this program offering customers repair kits, repair manuals, and components for repairs.

Apple likely meets the requirements of SB 244 with the Self Service Repair program and with the repair programs that it has for repair shops, including options to become Apple Authorized Service Providers and to receive parts through the Independent Repair Provider Program.

California's bill also says that service and repair facilities that are not authorized repair providers for a company must disclose if they're using replacement parts that are used or not from the manufacturer. That means an independent iPhone repair shop in California would be required to source parts from Apple or to inform customers that device repairs are done with counterfeit components or used parts.

Further, the bill has a component that prevents manufacturers from being required to make tools, parts, and documentation available for any component that would disable or override antitheft security measures, which would encompass features like Face ID.

Independent repair shops already have the option of purchasing components from Apple, but have complained that Apple forces them to sign invasive contracts. As for the ‌Self Service Repair‌ Program, the kits and components that Apple sells are not much more affordable than simply getting a repair from an Apple Store.

In its letter, Apple said that it would continue to support the bill so long as it provides "protections for customers and innovators." Apple highlights specific components of the bill that encompass the protections that it prefers.

Assurances that the bill would not threaten consumer safety and data security by requiring that manufacturers allow repair providers to disable device security features, many of which have been requested by law enforcement agencies and required by law to thwart theft,

Focus on requiring manufacturers obligations to provide the documentation, tools, and parts to enable the repairs performed by authorized repair channels, as opposed to a broader undefined scope of repairs which may compromise consumer physical safety, repair reliability, and device integrity,

Requirements that repair providers disclose the use of non-genuine or used parts, and

Prospective application that would allow manufacturers to focus on building new products that comply with the proposal.

Apple has not in the past supported Right to Repair legislation, but SB 244 is not as open-ended as some of the past repair bills that states have promoted, and is not a free pass for repair shops as it includes consumer protections that prevent repair facilities from surreptitiously using substandard repair components. The bill would require components, repair manuals, and other necessary repair information to be made available for seven years for any product that costs more than $99.99, a move that would also undoubtedly benefit California customers. The full letter that Apple sent in support of the bill is available to read on Scribd.