MacRumors

Microsoft is planning to launch a privacy-focused version of ChatGPT amid Apple's apparent lack of grip on emerging AI technologies, The Information reports.

Microsoft's Azure cloud server unit plans to offer a version of ChatGPT that runs on dedicated cloud servers where the data is kept separate from that of other customers later this quarter. Data on this isolated server will not communicate with the main ChatGPT system to preserve privacy. The service could cost as much as 10 times more than what customers currently pay to use ChatGPT.

The move seeks to appeal to businesses, such as banks, financial services, and healthcare institutions, who have avoided adopting ChatGPT out of fear that their employees could inadvertently give the chatbot sensitive proprietary information. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Samsung has banned employee use of generative AI utilities like ChatGPT after the discovery that staff had uploaded sensitive source code to the platform. The company is said to be concerned that data transmitted to artificial intelligence platforms including Bing and Google Bard could end up being disclosed to other users.

OpenAI has already sold Morgan Stanley a private ChatGPT service that does not involve Microsoft. The bank's wealth management division is already using the service to allow employees to ask questions and analyze content in thousands of the bank's market research documents.

Microsoft salespeople are said to already be fielding inquiries from organizations about the forthcoming product. Many large customers, including banks, have existing contracts with Azure, which could prove advantageous in persuading them Microsoft will manage their data securely.

Last week, it emerged that Siri and Apple's AI efforts have been severely hamstrung by organizational dysfunction and a lack of ambition. Many Apple employees purportedly left the company because it was too slow to make decisions or too conservative in its approach to new AI technologies, including the large-language models that underpin chatbots like ChatGPT.

Microsoft's latest move seemingly leapfrogs Apple to offer a privacy-focused AI chatbot in a ringfenced environment. Apple's uncompromising stance on privacy and insistence on a high level of control over its products and services has reportedly created considerable challenges for enhancing ‌‌Siri‌ and the company's investment in AI technologies‌.

Apple has pushed for an increasing number of ‌Siri‌'s functions to be performed on-device and the company apparently prefers ‌its responses to be pre-written by a team of around 20 writers, rather than AI-generated, to maximize privacy and control. This has seemingly left the company out of the AI chatbot race, allowing Microsoft to flaunt Apple's preferred privacy credentials in the AI arena.

Apple and Google today jointly submitted a proposed industry specification to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth item trackers for unwanted tracking of individuals. As part of this initiative, the companies plan to expand AirTag-like unwanted tracking alerts to third-party item trackers in future versions of iOS and Android.

Tile, Chipolo, Samsung, Eufy, and Pebblebee have expressed support for the draft specification, according to Apple's announcement.

The specification has been submitted via the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standards organization and will be subject to a comment period over the next three months. Following the comment period, Apple and Google will partner to address feedback, and plan to release a "production implementation" of the specification by the end of 2023 that will then be supported in future versions of iOS and Android.

Since launching in April 2021, there have been several news stories about the AirTag being used for unwanted tracking. Currently, if iOS detects an unknown AirTag moving with someone over time, they are alerted with a push notification. Users can then take steps to find and disable the AirTag if necessary, as outlined in an Apple support document.

Marketing renders of Google's long-rumored Pixel Fold have emerged online, including detailed hardware specifications, leaving seemingly little still to be revealed ahead of the device's expected official unveiling later this month.

Coming courtesy of the ever-reliable leaker Evan Blass, the genuine renders essentially corroborate design details that have been floating around for some time: The Pixel Fold adopts a form factor similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, featuring a 5.8-inch OLED display on the outer cover, and a main 7.6-inch OLED display (the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4) that unfolds like a book. Both screens have a 120Hz refresh rate.

Based on details from Blass, the device is 5.5" tall by 3.1" wide by 0.5" thin when folded (139.7mm x 79.5mm x 12.1mm) and 5.5" x 6.2" x 0.2" (139.7mm x 158.7mm x 5.2mm) when unfolded. That should make the device able to fit easily in a pocket when folded. The Fold is powered by Google's Tensor G2 chip and a dedicated Titan M2 security co-processor, and comes with 12GB of RAM as well as 256GB or 512GB of UFS 3.1 storage.

The Fold's outer cameras are comprised of 48MP main, 10.8MP ultra-wide, and 10.8MP Dual Pixel telephoto lenses, while the inner camera is an 8MP lens. The Fold also weighs 283 grams, is IPX8 water resistant, and will have a 4,821mAh battery that is able to last for up to 24 hours. Color options are listed as Obsidian and Porcelain.

The Pixel Fold will be introduced at Google I/O on May 10, and Google plans to market it as a device with the "most durable hinge" on a foldable smartphone, a claim that should prove particularly apropos given recent reports emerging of hinge problems across Samsung's foldable Z phone line. The device is expected to be priced from around $1,700, which is in line with Samsung's pricing.

With the Pixel Fold becoming available in June, Google will beat Apple to the foldable smartphone market. There are rumors that Apple has been experimenting with foldable iPhones, but the company could actually introduce the technology in the iPad first.

At the current time, there is no solid word on just when Apple might introduce its first foldable iPhone, but analysts have suggested it won't come until 2025 at the earliest.

Apple's Safari has retaken the lead over Microsoft Edge to become the world's second most popular desktop browser, based on data provided by web analytics service StatCounter.

According to the data, Safari is now used on 11.87 percent of desktop computers worldwide, 0.87 percent ahead of Edge, which stands at 11 percent. Google Chrome remains in first place with a dominant 66.13 percent share, and Mozilla's Firefox stands in fourth with 5.65 percent. Here's how the latest full rankings look:

• Chrome 66.13%
• Safari 11.87%
• Edge 11%
• Firefox 5.65%
• Opera 3.09%
• IE 0.55%

The stats look favorable for Apple compared to the same time last year, when Edge trumped Safari for second place by a small sub one-percent margin, owing to broadly positive reception of Microsoft's reimagined default browser for Windows 11.

Apple's resurgence in the browser wars corresponds to a marked increase in global Mac sales in 2022, despite supply constraints throughout the course of the year. Interest in the ‌M1‌, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and M2 chips saw Apple's Mac revenue hit $11.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, up $2.5 billion year over year.

In fiscal 2022, Macs earned a total of $40.1 billion, up $5 billion from the $35 billion that Macs earned in fiscal 2021. In Q4 2022, half of Mac buyers were new to the product line, giving macOS and Apple's default Safari browser significantly more exposure.

Despite Safari's surge, it has made virtually no progress in catching up to first-placed Google Chrome, which retains an iron-clad grip on the market, with its share down just 0.51 percent compared to the previous year. Chrome's popularity on both macOS and Windows platforms continues largely unabated.

The latest legal dispute between Apple and pulse oximetry company Masimo today ended in a mistrial, reports Bloomberg. The jury overseeing the case was not able to come to a final decision in its deliberations, causing U.S. district judge James Selna to declare a mistrial.

Six jurors wanted to decide in favor of Apple, but one juror held strong for Masimo, leading to an impasse. Earlier this afternoon, the jurors sent the judge a note asking what to do because the juror voting in favor of Masimo would not change her position.

The judge initially planned to send the jurors home for the night with deliberations to continue on Tuesday, but after they insisted they would not be able to come to a consensus, he opted to call it.

Apple and Masimo have been in court over the last few weeks to determine whether Apple illegally poached Masimo employees and stole trade secrets when developing the Apple Watch. Masimo was seeking over $1.8 billion in damages and co-ownership of five Apple pulse oximetry patents that Masimo said used its technology.

Apple in July 2013 hired Chief Medical Officer Michael O'Reilly and then in 2014, it hired Cercacor Chief Technical Officer Marcelo Lamego (Cercacor is a Masimo spinoff company). Masimo claims that the two former employees inappropriately shared Masimo's intellectual property when they developed the Apple Watch, which Apple denies.

During the trial, Masimo attempted to demonstrate that Apple Watch development was floundering prior to the hiring of the two Masimo employees, pointing to a 2013 email where now-retired Apple executive Bob Mansfield called the Apple Watch "a mess" and said the sensor would "fail" on its "current path."

Apple maintained that no Masimo IP was used in its work on the Apple Watch, and further, that what Masimo claims are "trade secrets" are ideas "long known and used by multiple companies." Apple said that Masimo targeted it because Masimo saw the success of Apple Watch and wanted to make its own smart watch. Masimo did indeed come out with an Apple Watch-like wearable in late 2022 after decades of focus on large medical devices for healthcare.

In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that it plans to ask the court to dismiss the trade secret allegations. For context, five of Masimo's claims against Apple were thrown out during the trial, reducing Masimo's self-calculated award.

"We thank the jury for their careful consideration in this case. We deeply respect intellectual property and innovation and do not take or use confidential information from other companies. We are pleased that the court correctly rejected half of the plaintiffs’ trade secret allegations, and will now ask the court to dismiss the remaining claims."

Masimo said that it plans to continue pursuing the trade theft case.

"While we are disappointed that the jury was unable to reach a verdict, we intend to retry the case and continue to pursue legal redress against Apple. As we begin that process, the United States Trade Commission is scheduled in the coming months to decide whether to ban the importation of certain models of the Apple Watch, following a ruling last year by an Administrative Law Judge that Apple infringed one of Masimo’s patents for pulse oximetry."

Masimo previously sued Apple for patent infringement, but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ended up invalidating all but two of the patents. The United States International Trade Commission in January said that Apple had infringed on a Masimo patent, a case that is still ongoing.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is encouraging New York car owners to install Apple AirTags in cars in order to cut down on car theft in the city.

In a tweet shared over the weekend, the NYPD said that "the 21st century calls for 21st century policing," and that an AirTag in a car will help officers recover a car if it is stolen. An accompanying video instructs car owners to get an ‌AirTag‌ and install it in a location in the vehicle where it can't easily be found.

The video then demonstrates a car theft where the owner uses the Find My app to track the car, with the tracking information relayed to the police. Officers find the car thanks to the ‌AirTag‌ and are able to recover the vehicle and arrest the thief.

"Safe guard your car by simply putting an Apple ‌AirTag‌ inside of it," the NYPD writes at the end of the video. The ‌AirTag‌ initiative comes after a viral TikTok car theft video that caused an uptick in thefts across the United States. In the TikTok, thieves demonstrate how to get into Hyundai and Kia vehicles through an easily accessible exploit.

In an accompanying press conference on Sunday, New York City mayor Eric Adams said that the city will provide 500 free AirTags to car owners. According to CBS News, the AirTags are available to residents in Castle Hill, Soundview, and Parkchester, as these areas have seen a 548 percent increase in stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

Apple on April 17 introduced the Apple Card Savings account, and it turns out that it was highly popular with iPhone users. The new Apple-branded high-yield savings account saw up to $990 million in deposits during the first four days after launch, according to Forbes.

Forbes says that it spoke with two anonymous sources with knowledge of how the Apple Savings account performed shortly after launch, but the deposit total has not been officially confirmed by Apple or by Goldman Sachs, Apple's partner on the ‌Apple Card‌ Savings venture.

During the first day alone, ‌Apple Card‌ owners deposited $400 million, which is perhaps not a surprise given Apple's large ‌iPhone‌ user base in the United States. By the end of the week, approximately 240,000 accounts had been opened.

The Apple Savings account is limited to ‌Apple Card‌ holders, and it allows them to deposit the Apple Cash earned from the ‌Apple Card‌ directly into the account. ‌Apple Card‌ holders can also deposit additional money from a checking account into the ‌Apple Card‌ Savings account, where it will earn interest.

Apple is offering a 4.15% APR at the current time, which is appealing when combined with the ease of opening the savings account. Creating an account takes just a couple of minutes for those who already have an ‌Apple Card‌, and it works like any other savings account. There are no fees and there is no minimum balance, though accounts can't exceed the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit.

The competitive APR and the simplicity of the Apple Savings account will give it an edge over competing high-yield savings account providers. Getting a higher rate for a savings account typically requires dealing with a digital bank, and not many popular financial companies are able to compete with Apple on APR. Citi Bank, for example, has a 3.85% rate, and Discover is at 3.75%. American Express also offers a 3.75% APR, while Capital One is at 3.50% and Barclays is at 4%.

Like the ‌Apple Card‌, the Apple Savings account is managed from the Wallet app, and earnings can be tracked through a simple, informative interface.

This year, Mother's Day lands on Sunday, May 14, and we're tracking quite a few offers and deals from some of the best Apple-related accessory companies. If you're planning on purchasing a gift for someone, we recommend looking at the below deals as soon as possible, considering shipping estimates vary for every company.

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.

ZAGG

ZAGG is offering a straightforward 20 percent off sitewide for Mother's Day, including the usual array of Mophie chargers and protection accessories. This sale will also cover accessories from Gear4 and Invisible Shield.

Specifically, you can get 20 percent off up to three products on ZAGG's website, excluding anything that has already been discounted. You don't need a coupon code and all sale prices will be reflected in your cart, and this sale will last through May 7.

Verizon

Verizon has the AirPods Pro 2 available for $199.99, down from $249.99. We very briefly saw a discount on this model to $194.99 last month, but this rare deal never emerged again and today's deal remains a solid second-best price.

Verizon also has both models of the AirPods 3 on sale. You can get the AirPods 3 with Lightning Charging Case for $149.99, down from $169.99; and the AirPods 3 with MagSafe Charging Case for $159.00, down from $179.00. Verizon has been one of the only retailers to provide any consistent deals on the AirPods 3 this year.

If you're looking to buy an iPhone this Mother's Day, Verizon is offering up to $1,000 off iPhone 14 Pro when trading in an old smartphone and signing up for select 5G Unlimited plans. The carrier also has deals on Apple Watch SE and iPad models this month.

AT&T

AT&T is discounting a large collection of smartphones for Mother's Day this year, including up to $1,000 in savings on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. You'll need to have an eligible trade-in, pick or upgrade to an eligible unlimited plan, and then you'll get up to $1,000 off in credits over 36 months.

AT&T also has the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra under a buy two, get $300 off deal. If you purchase any two Apple Watch models on an installment plan and add at least one new line, you can get up to $300 off in bill credits over 36 months.

Belkin

Belkin has up to 20 percent off select accessories for Mother's Day in 2023. You can shop all of the compatible accessories from this list and then enter the code MOM23 at checkout in order to get up to 20 percent off these devices.

Belkin's sale includes discounts on wireless chargers, MagSafe-compatible mounts, screen protectors, headphones, smart home products, and more. This deal will only last through the end of the week, so be sure to shop soon if you're interested.

Casely

iPhone cases make a great, simple gift and Casely has a new buy one, get one free sale going on this month. This sale covers a select collection of iPhone cases and battery packs, and will last through the middle of May.

Hyper

Hyper has up to 50 percent off select USB-C hubs, iPhone charging stations, battery packs, MacBook sleeves, and more. These deals have been applied automatically and do not require a coupon code of any kind.

• Pearl Makeup Mirror + Portable Charger - $16.79, down from $23.99
• Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack - $24.99, down from $49.99
• HyperShield Stash & Go Sleeve for 13"-14" MacBooks - $31.49, down from $44.99
• 4-in-1 Wireless Charger - $89.99, down from $149.99

More Sales

• OtterBox - Get 20% off iPhone cases and accessories.
• Moment - Get 25% off photography accessories and equipment.
• JBL - Save on JBL's best portable speakers and headphones.
• Newegg - Save on PCs, monitors, and more.
• Nomad - Get steep discounts during Nomad's latest overstock sale.
• Pad & Quill - Save on Apple Watch bands and iPad folios during Pad & Quill's warehouse sale.

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

Apple today released Rapid Security Response (RSR) updates that are available for iPhone and iPad users running the iOS 16.4.1 update and Mac users running macOS 13.3.1. These are the first public RSR updates that Apple has released to date.

Rapid Security Response updates 16.4.1 (a) and macOS 13.3.1 (a) are designed to provide iOS 16.4.1 users and macOS 13.3.1 users with security fixes without the need to install a full software update.

iOS Security Response 16.4.1 is available through the standard Software Update mechanism in the ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ Settings app, but is a quick update, requiring just a couple of minutes to download the update and then a quick restart for the install process. The macOS update can be installed through System Settings.

Once the ‌iPhone‌ Rapid Security Response update is installed, iOS 16.4.1 users will see an updated version of the software, and tapping on the version in the About section of Settings will display information about the installed iOS version and the Rapid Security Response update. Those who want to disable Rapid Security Response updates on ‌iPhone‌ can do so by following our how to. The updates can also be disabled on the Mac.

Apple has been testing the Rapid Security Response feature since last year, with RSRs first introduced with the launch of iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. To date, Apple has only provided updates to beta testers in order to make sure the function is working before providing it to all iOS and macOS users. These are the first Rapid Security Response updates that Apple has provided to the general public following the beta testing period.

Going forward, Apple will make Rapid Security Response updates available only to those who are running the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Update: Apple is releasing the Rapid Security Response updates on a rolling basis across next 48 hours, so not all users will see it right away.

Apple's first-ever store at Tysons Corner Center will soon be relocating within the shopping mall, according to Michael Steeber's weekly Tabletops newsletter. The mall is located in Tysons, Virginia, a Washington, D.C. suburb.

Steeber said the following message was posted on a temporary wall at a new location in the mall:

The first-ever Apple Store opened 22 years ago here at Tysons Corner. Soon we look forward to welcoming you to this newly reimagined space. Thank you for being part of our story. Here's to the next chapter.

Apple has yet to announce a grand opening date for the new location, and the current store remains open for now. On the store's page, Apple teases that "a new chapter is coming soon," without providing any further details. The mall's website says Apple's new store will be located on the upper level between Nespresso and Victoria's Secret.

In what has become an iconic video, Steve Jobs conducted a tour of Apple Tysons Corner, unveiling the Genius Bar and more. The store opened to the public on May 19, 2001, just a few hours before Apple Glendale Galleria opened its doors in Glendale, California. The two locations welcomed over 7,700 people and sold a combined total of $599,000 of merchandise through the first weekend of operations, according to Apple.

Steeber said the new store's opening will be significant:

It goes without saying that this opening will be significant because it's the first time the first Apple Store has ever moved. But this opening will be much more than that — trust me. Tysons Corner is where it all began.

The existing storefront had already received a facelift in the 2000s, losing its iconic black facade with two backlit Apple logos on each side of the entrance.

Apple now operates 525 stores around the world.

MacRumors is pleased to announce our Fourteenth Annual MacRumors Blood Drive, throughout the month of May 2023. Let's save lives together by encouraging donations of blood, platelets, and plasma. While most blood drives are specific to a geographic location, our blood drive is online and worldwide. Anyone can participate.

Over the past 13 years, MacRumors Blood Drives have recorded donations of 1193 units units of blood, platelets, and plasma, cheered for donors, and celebrated new signups for the organ donor and bone marrow registries. We've heard from first-time donors, from regular donors, and from those whose lives were saved by the donations of strangers.

This year's featured blood donor is user fwmireault, a regular blood donor and registered organ donor who last year participated in the MacRumors Blood Drive for the first time, and joined the bone marrow registry as well.

How to participate in the MacRumors Blood Drive​

1. If you are an eligible donor, schedule a blood, platelet, or plasma donation (see FAQ) at any donation center near you. Post in the MacRumors 2023 Blood Drive! thread to tell us about it. Also post if you register as an organ donor or register for the bone marrow registry (see FAQ). We'll add all donors and registrants to our Honor Roll.
2. If you aren't eligible to donate, please encourage someone else to make a donation, and let us know. If they donate, you'll both be added to our Honor Roll.
3. Share our message with friends, relatives, and followers. Thank the people who post in the MacRumors 2023 Blood Drive! thread.

After the MacRumors Blood Drive ends on May 31, record your future blood, platelet, and plasma donations on our Team MacRumors page (see instructions). We'll tally your donations and count them for the MacRumors 2024 Blood Drive next May.

Today Amazon has a pair of discounts on Apple's iPad mini 6 and 2021 iPad, both of which have hit some of the best prices we've seen so far this year. As of writing, these deals are only available on Amazon, and most of the tablets are in stock and available to deliver by this weekend. Additionally, we're tracking a return of the best price on Apple Pencil 2.

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.

iPad mini 6

Starting with the iPad mini 6, you can get all four colors of the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet for $399.99, down from $499.00. We haven't tracked this best-ever price on the iPad mini 6 since March, so it's a great opportunity for anyone who's been waiting to pick up the 8.3-inch miniature tablet at a good discount.

Similarly, the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 has hit an all-time low price of $539.99, down from $649.00. This one is also available in all four colors, but you'll need to add the tablet to your cart and head to checkout in order to see the fully discounted price.

Moving to cellular models, the 64GB cellular iPad mini 6 is available for $549.99, down from $649.00. The 256GB cellular iPad mini 6 is down to $629.00, from $799.00. Both of these are record low prices and only available on Amazon right now.

iPad (2021)

For the 9th generation iPad, prices start at $269.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, down from $329.00. This one is a second-best price on the iPad, but we haven't tracked all-time low prices for a few months and this is still a solid discount.

The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad is on sale for $399.00, down from $479.00, which is also a second-best price and just about $10 higher than the record low. Both tablets are available in Silver and Space Gray at these prices.

Apple Pencil 2

Lastly, the Apple Pencil 2 has returned to its best-ever price of $89.00 on Amazon, down from $129.00. The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the following iPads: iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later). The second generation Apple Pencil can also magnetically attach and pair to the iPad Pro, iPad mini, and iPad Air.

For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. 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.

Apple plans to announce the rumored 15-inch MacBook Air at WWDC, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The laptop is expected to be unveiled alongside iOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and Apple's long-awaited AR/VR headset.

Gurman revealed the plans in his newsletter on Sunday:

As part of watchOS 10, the company is planning to bring back widgets and make them a central part of the interface. This new strategy will debut at WWDC in June, alongside the unveiling of iOS 17, macOS 14, the 15-inch MacBook Air, and, of course, the much-anticipated mixed-reality headset.

The well-connected Apple reporter previously said new MacBooks were coming at WWDC, but this is the first time he explicitly confirmed the 15-inch MacBook Air will be unveiled at the conference, which will begin with Apple's keynote on June 5.

15-inch MacBook Air rumors began in early 2021, and production of display panels for the laptop reportedly ramped up in recent months as its launch nears. Like the 13-inch MacBook Air, the initial 15-inch model will be powered by the standard M2 chip with multiple GPU configurations, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

No design changes have been rumored for the 15-inch MacBook Air beyond its larger display size. The 13-inch model has a notch in the display, a 1080p camera, a MagSafe 3 charging port, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a scissor switch Magic Keyboard with a Touch ID button, and a Force Touch trackpad, with available color options including Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver.

Apple announced the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip at WWDC last year.

watchOS 10 will introduce an all-new system of widgets for interacting with the Apple Watch, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that widgets will become a "central part" of the Apple Watch's interface with watchOS 10. He compared the new system to Glances, the widgets interface that launched on the original Apple Watch before being scrapped within a few years, and the style of widgets that iOS 14 brought to the iPhone.

The new interface will apparently be "reminiscent" of the ‌Siri‌ watch face that was introduced in watchOS 4, but as an overlay for any Apple Watch face. "It's also similar to widget stacks, a feature in iOS and iPadOS that lets users pile many widgets into one and scroll through them," Gurman added.

The plan is to let users scroll through a series of different widgets — for activity tracking, weather, stock tickers, calendar appointments and more — rather than having them launch apps.

Apple is also apparently testing changes to the functions performed by the Apple Watch's buttons. For example, a press of the Digital Crown may now launch the new widgets view, rather than navigate to the home screen.

Gurman believes that the move is an admission that an iPhone-like app experience "doesn't always make sense on a watch" since "Apple Watch apps have barely caught on." Due to being a radical departure from the app-centric experience existing Apple Watch users are used to, Apple may make the new interface optional.

The changes are part of what Gurman claims will be one of the Apple Watch's biggest software updates since its introduction and the most significant change to the Apple Watch this year, as only minor hardware updates are expected to be unveiled later this year.

WWDC is a little over a month away, and rumors about iOS 17 are continuing to come into focus with new reports surfacing this week about enhancements to the Lock Screen, Apple Music, and App Library, as well as new health tools and perhaps a brand-new journaling app.

Apple also appears to be gearing up to release some new Macs, while the upcoming Beats Studio Buds+ earphones saw their full details prematurely posted to Amazon, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!

iOS 17 to Include Mood Tracker, Health App Coming to iPad

iOS 17 will include new tools for tracking emotion and managing vision conditions in the Health app, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He also expects the Health app to expand to the iPad this year.

In addition, Gurman said Apple is working on an artificial intelligence-powered health coaching service that it plans to launch next year. He said the feature is designed to encourage exercise, healthy eating, and quality sleep.

Three Unreleased Mac Models Appear on Apple's Servers

Three new Mac model numbers were recently added to a Find My configuration file on Apple's backend, suggesting that new Macs could be on the horizon.

Apple is widely expected to release a larger 15-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip in the near future, while other models like the 24-inch iMac and the Mac Pro are due for updates over the coming months, but it's unclear which new Macs are listed in the file.

iOS 17 Rumored to Add New Lock Screen, Apple Music, and App Library Features

iOS 17 will include new features and changes across the Lock Screen, Apple Music, App Library, and Control Center, according to a Weibo post this week from the same account that revealed Apple would launch the iPhone 14 in Yellow earlier this year.

Apple will announce iOS 17 during the WWDC keynote on June 5. Overall, rumors have suggested the update will be focused on performance and stability improvements.

Beats Studio Buds+ Launching in May With Transparent Design Option and More

Apple's rumored Beats Studio Buds+ were briefly listed on Amazon this week, providing a closer look at new features and changes before they are officially announced. The earbuds were listed with a May 18 release date and a $169.95 price in the United States.

The listing revealed that the Studio Buds+ will be available in a new transparent design option, and feature improved noise cancellation, longer battery life, and more.

Apple Reportedly Plans to Release iPhone Journaling App

The Wall Street Journal this week reported that Apple plans to release a journaling app for the iPhone that would compete with the likes of Day One.

If released, the app would "analyze the users' behavior to determine what a typical day is like, including how much time is spent at home compared with elsewhere, and whether a certain day included something outside the norm," according to the report.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

The Wallet and Health apps are rumored to be getting updates in iOS 17, and leaker @analyst941 today shared some mockups that allegedly represent the design changes that we can expect to see.

In the Wallet app mockup, there's a navigation bar at the bottom that separates the different functions available in the app. Cards, Cash, Keys, IDs, and Orders are listed categories. Note that this is a mockup, so the "ID's" spelling is likely an oversight. There's also a "Passes & More" tab, and the leaker claims there are other features coming as well.

Users will reportedly be able to swipe down to access a search interface to find a specific card or pass, and there's a "Transactions" button. Compared to the current Wallet app design, this would be a functional improvement because it would make finding certain features like specific passes and order details simpler. It would not be a surprise to see a design like this given the many functions the Wallet app now serves in addition to storing credit and debit cards.

As for the Health app, Analyst941 claims that the "Favorites" section under "Summary" will see a redesign with a card-style interface. Each card will have "visual data" that includes "colored graphs," "tables," and other information. Since the Summary tab in the Health app also includes Trends and Highlights, it is not clear how the card design for Favorites would work with those sections.

Analyst941 leaked accurate information about the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island ahead of its launch last year, but this leaker does not have a long-term track record as of yet and the information shared should be viewed with some skepticism in light of that.

Analyst941 has shared a number of rumors about features coming in iOS 17 in recent weeks, suggesting that there's a "special" version of iOS 17 in the works for a 14.1-inch iPad and that iPads will get iPhone-style Lock Screen customization, plus they have mentioned vague changes coming to Search, the ‌Dynamic Island‌, Control Center, and more. They have also made claims about a new watchOS 10 Home Screen layout and have said that in the future, the Apple Watch will be able to pair with multiple devices, including the iPad and Mac.

It's worth noting that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has expressed doubt about Analyst941's claims and believes that some of the information is inaccurate. We'll know more about Analyst941's accuracy in just over a month when Apple unveils iOS 17, watchOS 10, and other updates at the June 5 WWDC keynote.

Regardless of whether these mockups are accurate, there are other reliable rumors suggesting updates for the Health and Wallet apps. On the MacRumors podcast, Gurman confirmed that Apple is working on updates to the Wallet app, and he also recently said that Apple is working on new features for the Health app such as an expansion to the ‌iPad‌ and a mood tracking feature.

Apple was working on a version of the Apple Watch Ultra with a microLED display, but work on the project has been canceled for now. Apple no longer plans to develop microLED display technology in-house, and plans for a microLED Apple Watch have been nixed or indefinitely delayed.

This guide highlights the rumors that we heard about the microLED Apple Watch.

MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra

Introduced in 2022, the current Apple Watch Ultra uses standard OLED technology. MicroLED is, as the name suggests, LED display technology rather than OLED display technology, but it offers many of the benefits of OLED along with some improvements. The microLED Apple Watch was rumored to include a 2.1-inch diagonal display.

MicroLED displays are brighter and have more vibrant colors and rumors suggested the display would a look like content is "painted on top of the glass."

MicroLED Overview

MicroLED is a new technology that's been around for about two decades, but it has not yet been mass produced, because of the costs associated with it and the difficulty of making the displays. Samsung, for example, has made a microLED TV, but it sells for $150,000.

As the name suggests, microLED uses microscopic LEDs for individual pixels. The production process involves creating little tiny LEDs on a wafer and transferring them to a backplane, a process that hasn't been perfected yet because of the time that it takes to test all of those LEDs. Since this is nascent technology, there are new cutting-edge production techniques in the works, and multiple companies are focused on figuring out microLED.

Compared to LED displays, microLED is much more energy efficient and it would likely notably increase battery life on the Apple Watch Ultra and other devices that adopt the technology in the future. Unlike OLED, there's much less risk of screen burn-in, and microLEDs have a longer potential lifetime.

MicroLED displays also provide contrast improvements and faster response times because of the pixel-level individual lights, plus the color is better and brighter. In a nutshell, it's a next-generation technology superior to OLED and miniLED. Like OLED displays, microLED displays can be flexible, so if Apple eventually transitions to foldable devices, those products could use microLED. The technology would also work for curved displays.

Apple's In-House Display Development

MicroLED is not like Apple's other display technologies because it was the first display type that Apple was planning to design in-house. Rather than using a third-party display supplier like Samsung or LG Display, Apple aimed to design the displays itself and have them manufactured by partners like TSMC.

Apple spent over six years working on microLED technology, and it invested billions into developing new displays. Way back in 2015, Apple opened a secret laboratory in northern Taiwan to work on thinner, brighter, and more energy-efficient displays for future iOS devices, and rumors suggested the factory was dedicated to microLED. In 2023 Bloomberg called microLED one of the company's most "critical projects," but it was scrapped because it was not too expensive and complicated.

Apple in February ended a relationship with ams OSRAM a company that was going to supply it with microLED panels for the Apple Watch Ultra, and Apple also stopped working with a manufacturing company contracted to develop components for the device in March. News of the full cancelation of the project followed.

Apple reportedly had than 300 employees working on microLED display development. Those employees will be relocated to other departments, able to apply for new jobs within Apple, or laid off and provided with severance.

MicroLED Launch Date

There is no current plan to release a microLED Apple Watch. That could change in the future as Apple is said to be "eyeing" potential uses for other products, and "identifying" new suppliers and manufacturing processes.

Apple this week added a grayed-out "2023" label to its refurbished Macs page (only visible in a desktop browser) in the U.S., suggesting it will soon begin selling refurbished models of the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini machines released in January.

The latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are available with M2 Pro or M2 Max chips, providing up to 20% faster performance and up to 30% faster graphics compared to the previous generation. The laptops can be configured with up to 96GB of RAM, compared to 64GB previously. Other new features and improvements include Wi-Fi 6E, an HDMI 2.1 port with 8K external display support, and an extra hour of battery life.

The new Mac mini can be configured with the M2 chip and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, or the M2 Pro chip and four Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Apple's refurbished Macs are typically discounted by 15% compared to the equivalent brand new models. For brand new models, pricing starts at $1,999 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, at $2,499 for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and at $599 for the Mac mini, but prices increase significantly depending on the specifications chosen.

Apple tests, inspects, cleans, and repackages all refurbished Macs to ensure they are fully functional and in good condition, and Apple's refurbished products are covered by a one-year limited warranty and eligible for AppleCare+ coverage.