MacRumors

Halloween is just a few days away, and in anticipation of the holiday we're tracking multiple sales and promotions on Apple-related accessories from retailers like Sonos, Belkin, Hyper, Best Buy, and many more.

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.

Best Apple Deals

In addition to accessories, we're tracking a few discounts on Apple products like the iPad, iPad Air, AirPods, and Apple Watch Ultra. All of the devices in the list below can be found on Amazon (with the exception of the HomePod at B&H Photo), and none require coupon codes in order to see their discounts.

• 9th Gen iPad - $249.00, down from $329.00
• HomePod (2nd Gen) - $279.99, down from $299.00
• iPad Air - $499.99, down from $599.00
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (128GB Wi-Fi) - $989.00, down from $1,099.00
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro (256GB Wi-Fi) - $1,049.00, down from $1,199.00
• Apple Watch Ultra - $659.00, down from $799.00

MacBook Air Deals

Amazon and Best Buy are hosting quite a few all-time low prices on nearly every MacBook Air this weekend. Specifically, you'll find record low prices on the 15-inch MacBook Air, 13.6-inch MacBook Air, and 13.3-inch MacBook Air.

Shoppers should note that Best Buy does have a better deal for the 15-inch MacBook Air, but only if you have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. If you do, these notebooks have hit a new all-time low price of $999.00, which is $300 in savings for the 256GB model.

If you don't have a My Best Buy membership, you can sign up to take advantage of this deal and many more. The base "Plus" plan starts at $49.99 per year and provides access to thousands of deals and early events, like the current Black Friday Early Access sale.

• 13.3-inch M1 MacBook Air (256GB) - $749.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, down from $999.00
• 13.6-inch M2 MacBook Air (256GB) - $899.00 at Best Buy, down from $1,099.00
• 15-inch M2 MacBook Air (256GB) - $1,049.00 at Amazon and Best Buy, down from $1,299.00
• 15-inch M2 MacBook Air (512GB) - $1,249.00 at Amazon and Best Buy, down from $1,499.00

iPhone 15 Deals

Apple's newest iPhones continue to see steep markdowns at various cellular carriers, including AT&T and Verizon. At AT&T, new and existing customers can get up to $1,000 off iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, and up to $700 off iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus with an eligible trade in.

Verizon is also offering up to $1,000 off the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max this season, after you trade in an older device and add a new line. If you buy a new smartphone and add a new line on an Unlimited plan, you'll also be eligible for a free Apple TV 4K and six months of Apple One from Verizon.

As always, anyone looking into carrier deals should read the fine print on each offer as there are stipulations for each deal.

Sonos

This weekend only, Sonos is offering 20 percent off select home theater bundles. This includes products like the Sonos Arc soundbar, Ray soundbar, Sub (gen 3) subwoofer, and more. All the items in this sale will expire on Sunday, October 29.

• Ray soundbar + Sub Mini - $565.99, down from $708.00
• Beam soundbar + Sub Mini - $742.00, down from $928.00
• Beam Soundbar + Era 100 Speaker (2) + Sub Mini - $1,240.99, down from $1,426.00
• Arc soundbar + Sub - $1,358.40, down from $1,698
• Arc soundbar + Era 100 speakers (2) + Sub - $1,855.98, down from $2,196.00
• Arc soundbar + Era 300 speakers (2) + Sub - $2,211.08, down from $2,596.00

Anker

Anker's Halloween sale has up to $800 off its popular portable PowerHouse batteries. Additionally, we're tracking a few ongoing Anker discounts on the retailer's website as well as on Amazon, all listed below.

PowerHouse Batteries

• PowerHouse 757 - $799.99, down from $1,099.99
• SOLIX C1000 - $899.00, down from $999.00
• SOLIX F1200 - $1,059.99, down from $1,599.99
• PowerHouse 767 - $1,599.00, down from $1,999.00

Wall Chargers

• 67W 3-Port USB-C Charger - $45.00, down from $59.99
• 150W 4-Port USB-C Charger - $87.99, down from $109.99
• Prime 240W 4-Port Desktop Charger - $149.99, down from $199.99

Portable Batteries

• Nano Power Bank with Foldable USB-C Connector - $25.50, down from $29.99 [Amazon]
• PowerCore 20,000 mAh - $36.52, down from $49.99
• PowerCore 10,000 mAh - $69.99, down from $99.99
• PowerCore 24,000 mAh Power Bank with Smart Digital Display - $99.99, down from $159.99
• PowerCore 26,000 mAh - $99.99, down from $149.99
• Prime 20,000 mAh Power Bank with Smart Digital Display - $110.49, down from $129.99 [Amazon]

Hyper

Hyper is offering up to 31 percent off select products this Halloween, including battery packs, USB-C accessories, MagSafe-compatible chargers, and more. This event will run through Halloween on Tuesday, October 31 and all sales have been applied automatically.

• HyperShield Stand & Go Sleeve for 15"/16" MacBook Pro - $31.04, down from $44.99
• HyperJuice Magnetic Battery Pack - $34.99, down from $49.99
• HyperJuice 140W USB-C Charger - $89.69, down from $129.99
• HyperJuice 4-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe - $149.99, down from $199.99

Belkin

Belkin has introduced a pre-Black Friday sitewide sale in late October. You can get up to 30 percent off sitewide by using the code PBF23 at checkout. This sale covers 15 percent off MagSafe chargers, 20 percent off portable batteries, 20 percent off wall chargers, and more.

• BoostCharge Power Bank 20,000 mAh - $31.99, down from $39.99
• BoostCharge Pro Dual USB-C Wall Charger - $39.99, down from $49.99
• BoostCharge Pro Power Bank 10,000 mAh with Apple Watch Charger - $79.99, down from $99.99
• BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger - $84.99, down from $99.99
• BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad - $127.49, down from $149.99

Samsung

Samsung's current weeklong sale is coinciding with Halloween this time around, and it has a wide variety of discounts, including sales on monitors and TVs. The highlights of the sale include the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Display at $300 off and the Smart Monitor M8 at $200 off.

Starting with the newer 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Display, this monitor is available for $1,299.99, down from $1,599.99. This is a match of the all-time low price on the device, which we last tracked around Prime Day, and you'll find the same price on Amazon.

The ViewFinity S9 is a 27-inch display with a Thunderbolt 4 port, three USB-C ports, and a Mini DisplayPort, and it includes 90 watts of power for machines connected through the Thunderbolt 4 port. A removable 4K SlimFit webcam supports tilt adjustments, as well as Auto Framing of subjects in the shot, similar to Apple's Center Stage feature. Built-in speakers with an Adaptive Sound+ option to automatically adjust noise levels are also included.

The new model of the 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 is also on sale, available for $499.99, down from $699.99. This is a second-best price on the M80C model, and Samsung has every color at this price. On Amazon, it's only available in Warm White.

We've gathered a few more monitors and TVs on sale below, but be sure to head to Samsung to see the full extent of the sale. This event is set to run the rest of the month, and end on November 1. The prices on Amazon are not directly part of the Samsung website event, so they could expire sooner.

• 34-inch ViewFinity HDR10 Monitor - $279.99 ($100 off)
• 34-inch OLED Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,199.99 ($300 off)
• 49-inch Odyssey OLED Curved Gaming Monitor - $1,399.99 ($400 off)
• 55-inch Neo QLED 4K TV - $999.99 ($500 off)
• 85-inch QLED 4K TV - $1,799.99 ($500 off)

More Deals

• Pad & Quill - Get 50 percent off sitewide with Pad & Quill's going out of business sale
• Adorama - Get up to 70 percent off audio equipment, home electronics, and more
• eBay - Get 20 percent off home decor
• ESR - Get 20 percent off iPhone 15 Pro Max cases with code AFFNEW20
• JBL - Get up to 50 percent off Bluetooth speakers and headphones
• Moment - Early holiday deals including savings on iPhone accessories and photography equipment
• Newegg - Save on computer equipment

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

Apple will likely announce new versions of its Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad for the Mac at its "Scary Fast" event on Monday, October 30, according to a report today from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The updated accessories are expected to be equipped with USB-C ports instead of Lightning ports for charging.

The accessories will likely be unveiled alongside an updated 24-inch iMac with an M3 chip, which Gurman also expects to be announced at the event.

It's unclear if the accessories will have any design changes beyond the switch to USB-C. They look largely the same as they did when they received their last major update in October 2015, although there have been some minor revisions over the years, including a switch to braided cables, and new color options that are only available with the 24-inch iMac. Apple also released a Magic Keyboard with a Touch ID button in 2021.

While the Magic Mouse lasts around a month or longer between charges, the position of the Lightning port on the bottom of the mouse has been a meme in the Apple community for many years, as it prevents the mouse from being used while charging. It's unclear if the USB-C port on the new version will be placed in a more convenient location.

All four iPhone 15 models are equipped with USB-C ports instead of Lightning. The latest Siri Remote for the Apple TV also has a USB-C port, and Apple discontinued the MagSafe Battery Pack and MagSafe Duo Charger with Lightning ports.

Apple's event on October 30 begins at the unusual time of 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern, so make sure to mark your calendar correctly.

Google Maps is getting a new Immersive View for routes that uses artificial intelligence, Street View, and aerial images to preview every step of a journey ahead of time.

When users get directions for driving, walking, or cycling, Google Maps now offers a "multidimensional experience" that can be used to preview bike lanes, sidewalks, intersections, and parking along the route, according to Google.

A time slider can be used to see air quality information and how the route looks as the weather changes throughout the day, while AI and historical driving trends simulate how many cars might be on the road at a given time.

Immersive View for routes is rolling out in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paris, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tokyo and Venice on Android and iOS.

In addition to Immersive View for routes, Search with Live View is being replaced with Lens in Maps, which uses AI and augmented reality to help users orient themselves in a new neighborhood.

Tapping the Lens icon in the search bar and lifting your phone now gives you AR-delivered information about nearby ATMs, transit stations, restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. Google says Lens in Maps is rolling out to more than 50 new cities including Austin, Las Vegas, Rome, São Paulo and Taipei.

Elsewhere, the navigation map is getting updated colors, more realistic buildings, and improved highway lane details. These updates start rolling out in the coming months in 12 countries, including the U.S., Canada, France and Germany.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is also set to get information about high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes along a route, and in Europe, AI-powered speed limit information is expanding to 20 countries. Both features start rolling out on Android, iOS, and for cars with Google Built-in in the coming months.

Lastly, Google says EV drivers on Android and iOS will now see even more helpful charging station information, including whether a charger is compatible with their vehicle and whether the available chargers are fast, medium, or slow. This also includes the ability to see when a charger was last used so you know it's not a broken charger. These updates start rolling out globally on iOS and Android this week wherever EV charging station information is available.

A new version of the 13-inch MacBook Pro featuring the M3 chip is unlikely to appear at Apple's "Scary Fast" Mac event next week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter shared over the weekend, Gurman said that supplies of the 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ were running low and indicated that it could be replaced next week.

He now says that the new machine likely won't appear at Apple's upcoming event. The new entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌, codenamed "J504," apparently remains in the works and features a "base version of the M3 chip." Gurman has reported the existence of the device since April.

This means that the main models in the running for announcement at the event are the iMac and the 14- and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, all with M3-series chips. Gurman added that he is not expecting to see any other refreshed devices at the event, including iPads or AirPods.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Thursday ordered a ban on Apple Watch imports into the country after finding that Apple violated pulse oximetry company Masimo's patents with the devices (via Reuters).

The ban is now subject to presidential review, so it does not take effect immediately, and Apple can take the ban to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit after the 60-day review period ends. Presidents have rarely vetoed bans in the past.

"Masimo has wrongly attempted to use the ITC to keep a potentially lifesaving product from millions of U.S. consumers while making way for their own watch that copies Apple," an Apple spokesperson said. "While today's decision has no immediate impact on sales of Apple Watch, we believe it should be reversed, and will continue our efforts to appeal."

Masimo Chief Executive Officer Joe Kiani said the decision "sends a powerful message that even the world's largest company is not above the law."

Since 2021, Masimo has been embroiled in an ongoing battle with Apple over several health capabilities found in some Apple Watch models, and Masimo has been pushing to have the models banned in the United States. The ITC decision did not specify which models of Apple Watches would be affected by the ban, but Masimo's original complaint said the Apple Watch Series 6, released in 2020, infringed its patents.

Masimo accuses Apple of having illegally poached Masimo employees and stole trade secrets when developing the Apple Watch. The company is seeking over $1.8 billion in damages and co-ownership of five Apple pulse oximetry patents that Masimo says use its technology.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ended up invalidating all but two of the patents, but the ITC in January said that Apple had infringed on a Masimo patent relating to light-based technology for reading blood-oxygen levels.

Apple is also facing an Apple Watch import ban in a separate patent court battle with medical technology company AliveCor. The ITC issued a ban in February, and the Biden administration declined to overrule the decision, but the ban has been placed on hold while proceedings over the validity of AliveCor's patents are completed.

Apple today released the first beta of an upcoming iOS 17.2 update, and it adds a whole slew of features. You can now access the Journal app that Apple has been working on, and share playlists with friends so they can add songs.

iOS 17.2 is limited to developers right now, but it should soon be coming to public beta testers. We're expecting to see iOS 17.2 released to the public around November or December.

Journal App

iOS 17.2 includes the Journal app that Apple announced as part of iOS 17. With the Journal app, users can record their daily activities and thoughts, with Apple providing optional prompts that can be used as inspiration.

A Journal entry can be added by tapping on the "+" button in the Journal app, and from there, users can choose a suggestion as the basis for their writing or just opt for "New Entry" to write anything at all.

Entries are automatically tagged with a date for organizational purposes, but there are options for bookmarking, too. Journal entries can include images, voice recordings, and location tags.

Messages App Sticker Tapback Reactions

You can now long press on any chat bubble in the Messages app to add a sticker response that serves as an alternative to a tapback reaction. Tapping on "Add Sticker" lets you choose either a sticker or an emoji to apply to the corner of an iMessage.

There was already an option to drag a sticker or an emoji onto any message bubble, but this is a much quicker method of quickly responding to an incoming message with a quick graphic that is more expressive than a tapback reaction.

Collaborative Apple Music Playlists

There is now an option to create a playlist in Apple Music that multiple people can add to. In a playlist you have made, tap on the three dot icon in top right of the app.

From there, select the Collaborate option and choose "Start Collaboration." You'll be able to create a link to the playlist, and anyone who has access to that link can add to it. You can also invite people to join via QR code, and if you want, you can approve each person that asks to join.

Favorites Apple Music Playlist

Songs that you have favorited in the ‌Apple Music‌ app are now aggregated into a Favorites playlist.

Apple Music Listening History Focus Filter

There is a Focus Filter for the ‌Apple Music‌ Listening History feature, so if you want to let someone else use your device to listen to music, you can activate this to turn off the Listening History so their song choices won't affect your recommendations.

Action Button Translate

iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max users can now choose a new Translate option for the Action Button.

When the Action Button is set as Translate, pressing to hold causes the iPhone to pop up a Translate window that listens for spoken text. It is able to translate from one set language to another, using the languages that you have previously set up in the Translate app.

iMessage Contact Key Verification

First previewed in December 2022, iMessage Contact Key Verification is a feature designed for those who face "extraordinary digital threats," such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials.

Users can ensure that there is no "man in the middle" snooping on iMessage conversations, and there is a Contact Verification Code so that iMessage users can verify that they're speaking to the correct individual during in-person meetings or on FaceTime calls.

Messages in iCloud Syncing

The "Messages" section in iCloud in the Settings app has been renamed to "Messages in ‌iCloud‌." It shows the total amount of storage that messages are taking up, the number of messages synced to ‌iCloud‌, and the time of the last sync. There's also a "Sync Now" option to force an update.

Apple previously said that additional settings would be synced through Messages in ‌iCloud‌ in iOS 17, like Text Message Forwarding, Send & Receive accounts, and SMS filters across devices, so this may see those additional settings syncing.

Apple TV App

Apple has removed the separate tabs for Movies and TV shows in the Store section of the Apple TV app on the ‌iPhone‌ and the iPad. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that Apple also plans to remove the option to purchase TV shows and movies from the iTunes app as part of a TV app redesign, but that has not yet happened.

Emergency Alerts Local Awareness

Under Notifications > Emergency Alerts in the Settings app, there is a new "Local Awareness" option that can be turned on. Apple says that Local Awareness uses your approximate location to improve the timeliness, accuracy, and reliability of emergency alerts.

Weather Widgets

There are new Details, Daily Forecast, and Sunrise/Sunset widgets. Detail shows information like precipitation chance, UV index, wind speed, and air quality, while Daily Forecast offers the weather for the next few days in a small widget size. Sunrise/Sunset shows the sunrise and sunset times for each day.

Digital Clock Widget

There is a new Digital Clock widget that can be added to the Home Screen or Lock Screen.

Contact Posters

You can now select a rainbow-colored text for your name when setting up a Contact Poster in the Contacts app.

Books Page Turning Animation

There's a new "Fast Fade" option for the page turning animation in the Books app. Apple has also removed the icon that you could turn on to scroll through content quickly.

AirPlay

There's a new "AirPlay Receiver" setting that will allow the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset to stream or share content to an ‌iPhone‌.

It also looks like the ‌AirPlay‌ feature for hotels that Apple announced earlier this year is live or will be live soon. It is designed to let you ‌AirPlay‌ content from your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌ to an AirPlay-equipped smart TV.

Memoji

Apple added a "Body" section for Memoji where users can customize waist, bust, shoulders, and arms.

News App

The News app now supports Live Activities for following news-related events such as elections.

More iOS 17.2 Beta 1 Features

Know of a feature that we left out in this list? Let us know in the comments below.

Apple today released the first iOS 17.2 beta, and it has the long-awaited Journal app that Apple initially announced as part of iOS 17. We've installed iOS 17.2 and thought we'd go hands-on with the Journal app to give MacRumors readers a first look at how it works.

The Journal app has a simple, straightforward UI. When you open it up, you're presented with a "+" button, and tapping on it lets you start a new entry. When you first open the app, you can decide what information the Journal app can pull from your phone for writing prompts. Options include workout activity, media like podcasts and music, photos, and significant locations.

There is a setting to prefer suggestions with others when you're around your contacts or large groups, and an option to be discoverable by others to help prioritize the suggestions of other people. Journal options can be toggled on and off in the Settings app under Privacy & Security > Journaling Suggestions.

You can opt to write whatever you like, or choose from one of Apple's prompts that are based on your device usage. Prompts include invitations to reflect on your day, recall a new idea, think of what made you smile, think about what you could do to improve your life, and more.

Journal entries can be customized with images, location information, and voice recordings. Entries are organized by date, and can also be bookmarked so you can save your favorite entries. To keep your Journal secure, you can set it up so you need a Face ID scan to unlock it.

Will you use the Journal app? Let us know in the comments below.

Apple in the tvOS 17.2 beta has updated its Apple TV app, making it easier to navigate and find content to watch. There is a dedicated sidebar that houses content from different apps and streaming services, including ‌Apple TV‌+.

The sidebar has dedicated sections for Search, Watch Now, ‌Apple TV‌+, MLS Season Pass, Sports, the Store, and the Library.

In a separate "Channels and Apps" area, users can access content from specific streaming services that integrate with the TV app. Options include ABC, CBS, Comedy Central, Hulu, ESPN, Discovery, Peacock, Prime Video, and more.

Tapping into a channel like Hulu shows content and watch suggestions just for that service.

Up Next in Watch Now has not changed, but Apple has added a new "My TV" section below the top charts that houses TV suggestions from multiple networks as a replacement for "My Channels." There isn't any dedicated Channels section in Watch Now, but a Channels and Apps feature has been added to the Store.

Apple has also made tweaks to the ‌Apple TV‌ app on the iPhone and the iPad. In the Store section, there are no longer separate tabs for Movies and TV Shows, with everything integrated together.

The changes to the ‌Apple TV‌ app come after a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said Apple would introduce a new design in December. Gurman's report said that Apple would remove standalone iTunes ‌Apple TV‌ apps that are available for renting and purchasing TV shows and movies, but that has not yet happened.

iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max users can select a new "Translate" option for the Action Button with the new iOS 17.2 beta. Apple promised that a Translate option was coming for the Action Button, but said that it would not be available right when the new iPhones launched in September.

When the Action Button is set as Translate, pressing to hold causes the iPhone to pop up a Translate window that listens for spoken text. It is able to translate from one set language to another, using the languages that you have previously set up in the Translate app.

The languages you translate between can be changed by selecting different languages in the Translate app. The Translate app supports Chinese, English, Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

To choose the Translate option for the Action Button, open up the Settings app, scroll down to Action Button, and then swipe through until you get to the Translate function.

In addition to the new Journal app, the iOS 17.2 and macOS 14.2 updates add support for iMessage Contact Key Verification, a feature that Apple first previewed in December of last year.

Designed for those who face "extraordinary digital threats," such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials, iMessage Contact Key Verification allows people to verify the identify of the person they're corresponding with. It is available today in the iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, macOS Sonoma 14.2, and watchOS 10.2 betas.

iPhone, iPad, or Mac users who have iMessage Contact Key Verification enabled will be notified if a malicious entity somehow succeeds in breaching cloud data servers and is able to eavesdrop on a conversation.

The feature also includes a Contact Verification Code that can be used in person or on FaceTime.

With iMessage Contact Key Verification, users can choose to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend. Contact Key Verification uses Key Transparency to enable automatic verification that the iMessage key distribution service returns device keys that have been logged to a verifiable and auditable map. When a user enables Contact Key Verification, they will be notified about any validation errors directly in the Messages conversation transcript and Apple ID Settings.

For even higher security, iMessage contact key verification users can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure call. They can also choose to create or edit a contact and save a public key to turn on CKV with that person.

To use iMessage Contact Key Verification, all devices signed into an iCloud account must have the iOS 17.2 beta, macOS 17.2 beta, and/or watchOS 10.2 beta.

The iOS 17.2 beta that Apple seeded to developers today includes the first iteration of the Journal app that Apple announced way back in June when iOS 17 was initially previewed.

Apple's Journal app will let iPhone and iPad users record their daily thoughts and activities. It incorporates data like photos, music listened to, workouts, and more, plus it suggests topics to write about.

Entries can have integrated photos, music, and audio recordings, and important moments can be highlighted.

The Journal app is passcode and Face ID protected for privacy purposes, and all of the suggestions are done on-device. Entries are end-to-end encrypted.

Apple today released the first betas of upcoming iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming one day after the launch of iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1.

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

There's no word yet on what's included in the iOS 17.2 beta yet, but we are waiting on the Journal app that Apple has said is coming in a later version of iOS 17. We are also still waiting on the option to use stickers as a tapback reaction in Messages, an arrow for catching up on missed Messages conversations, and a favorite songs playlist in Apple Music.

We'll update our article when we learn what's new in the iOS 17.2 beta.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a day after the release of macOS Sonoma 14.1.

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

There is no word on what's new in the macOS Sonoma 14.2 beta, but we'll update this article when we find out what's been added.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 10.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a day after the launch of watchOS 10.1.

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

Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.

There's no word yet on what might be included in watchOS 10.2, but we'll update this article if we find new features.

B&H Photo today has the second generation HomePod for $279.99, down from $299.00. This sale is only available in the White color, and it's just $0.99 away from being a match of the all-time low price on this HomePod.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

It's been nearly six months since we last tracked a record low price on the 2023 HomePod, so if you've been waiting for a good deal this is the time to jump on a sale. B&H Photo provides free two-day shipping in the contiguous United States.

Apple introduced the new HomePod back in January, and it features new temperature and humidity sensors, improved sound and microphone technology, and HomeKit and Matter support. Today's discount at B&H Photo is the just the second time we've seen a near all-time low price on the 2023 HomePod.

We track the best deals on HomePod every week, so be sure to bookmark our guide if you're on the hunt for solid HomePod discounts. You can also visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

There are currently no signs of an "Apple Watch Ultra 3" being in development within Apple's supply chain, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. As a result, he believes the likelihood of a new Apple Watch Ultra being released in 2024 is "decreasing."

"If Apple doesn't officially kick off the Apple Watch Ultra 3 project by December, it's almost confirmed that we won't see a new Apple Watch Ultra in 2024," said Kuo.

If the Apple Watch Ultra is not updated next year, Kuo believes it is likely because Apple "needs more time to develop innovative health management features" and "address issues" related to micro-LED production. A new Apple Watch Ultra with a larger 2.1-inch micro-LED display is rumored to launch in 2025 or 2026.

This prediction comes just over a month after the Apple Watch Ultra 2 was released. Key new features of the Ultra 2 include a 50% brighter display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, a faster S9 chip, a "Double Tap" gesture for interacting with the watch without touching the screen, on-device Siri, an increased 64GB of internal storage, and more. The original Apple Watch Ultra was released last year, so the models launched one year apart.

Apple is actively developing new 12-inch and 13-inch MacBook models for sale at a planned price point of around $700 or less, claims a rumor out of Korea.

According to the operator of news aggregator account "yeux1122" on the Naver blog, supply chain sources have "consistently" seen evidence that Apple has low-cost MacBooks in two different sizes in ongoing development.

The account's sources suggest that while Apple has yet to fully commit to mass producing the low-cost Macs, they are now "more likely than ever" to make it to market because of a sharp fall in iPad and MacBook sales.

The latest rumor comes after Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week claimed that Apple is considering launching a low-cost MacBook series next year to boost ailing MacBook shipments, with a target of 8-10+ million units per year.

A DigiTimes report last month also said Apple could launch a more affordable MacBook series in late 2024 to differentiate from the company's existing MacBook Air and Pro lines, and to help the company compete with Google's popular Chromebook models.

The number of educational institutions that have adopted Chromebooks over the last few years has seen rapid growth, especially when compared to Apple's iPads, sales of which have declined in the education market.

Apple's attention is said to be increasingly focused on the sector as a possible avenue to boosting flagging MacBook sales, and is considering offering cheaper and more compact student-friendly machines to claw back its market share. Higher-performance Chromebooks can be picked up for around $700, hence the ~$700 figure Apple is targeting, according to the latest rumor.

• Could Apple's Rumored 2024 Budget Mac Be a 12-inch MacBook?

The Naver blog account has a mixed track record for forecasting Apple's plans, but some of its claims last year proved to be significant. For example, in March 2022 it accurately revealed some details about the third-generation iPhone SE ahead of Apple launching the model. In October of the same year it also accurately predicted that Apple would delay the release of new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models until early 2023.