Samsung today kicked off a new monitor sale, providing up to $700 off select monitors. Within this sale is one of the first discounts on the latest model of the 32-inch iMac-like Smart Monitor M8, available for $599.99, down from $699.99.
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Samsung launched this refreshed version of the Smart Monitor M8 back in June, including updates like HDR10+ support and a portrait orientation option. Today's sale is the lowest price we've tracked since the monitor debuted, although it's not quite as low as we've seen the previous generation monitor get in past sales.
Besides the Smart Monitor M8, there are five other Samsung monitors being discounted this week. The sale is focused on Samsung's line of curved gaming monitors, ranging in price from $1,099.99 to $2,499.99 and totaling up to $700 in savings.
Apple suppliers will likely begin mass production of a second-generation AirTag in the fourth quarter of 2024, according to new information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The current AirTag launched in April 2021 and is priced at $29.
Kuo believes the new AirTag will have better integration with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset, as part of a spatial computing ecosystem, but he did not provide any additional details or reveal any other potential new features for the item tracker.
The current AirTag is equipped with an Apple-designed U1 chip for Ultra Wideband, enabling a Precision Finding feature that displays the distance and direction to an AirTag. Kuo already said iPhone 15 models will likely have an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip, so perhaps Apple is planning an upgraded U2 chip for both iPhones and the AirTag.
Based on this timeframe, a new AirTag is still over a year away from launching, so additional rumors about the accessory are likely to surface over the coming months.
DJI today announced the launch of the Osmo Action 4, a new action camera that DJI describes as the ultimate companion for adventure enthusiasts and thrill seekers.
Designed for capturing action shots, the Osmo Action 4 features an improved 1/1.3" image sensor compared to the prior-generation Action 3. It continues to include an f/2.8 aperture, a 155 degree field of view, and the ability to shoot 4K video at up to 120 frames per second.
There are multiple shooting modes for high movement sports, including 360 degree HorizonSteady modes for vertical shots, horizontal shots, FPV footage, Wi-Fi livestreaming, and more. DJI says that the color temperature sensor is able to ensure vivid, true-to-life shades outdoors, indoors, and underwater.
The Osmo Action 4's battery supports up to 2.5 hours of filming, and there is a fast charge feature that provides 80 percent power in 18 minutes. The battery can withstand freezing temperatures, and the camera can film in water up to 18 meters deep without a case.
Other features include dual touchscreens, a Quick Switch button for swapping modes, built-in microphones, and voice control options.
There are a wide range of accessories that are compatible with the Osmo Action 4, such as a helmet mount, chest mount, waterproof case, bike rail mount, wrist strap, backpack strap mount, neck mount, and floating handle.
The progress of Apple's generative AI technology is significantly behind its competitors and there is no sign that the company plans to launch AI services next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a new post on Medium outlining how Apple's imminent earnings report will affect Apple stocks and the supply chain, Kuo explained that the company will likely not dedicate much time to discussion of AI during its earnings call due to its lack of progress in the area. There is reportedly no sign that Apple has plans to launch or integrate AI computing or hardware products in 2024, indicating that AI is unlikely to boost the company's stock price or supply chain in the immediate future.
Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on "Apple GPT" artificial intelligence projects that could rival OpenAI's ChatGPT. Apple does not yet have a "clear strategy" for creating a product for consumers, and while it could be planning to make a "significant" AI announcement in 2024, Gurman claims it has no concrete plans as of yet.
During Apple's May earnings call, Tim Cook said there are a "number of issues that need to be sorted" with AI, and that it's important to be "deliberate and thoughtful" in the development approach. Cook also said that Apple views AI as "huge," and plans to "continue weaving it in products on a very thoughtful basis."
Apple appears to be working on a deal to secure the rights to college football games, as it has proposed a deal to the Pac-12. According to ESPN, Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff on Tuesday presented the conference with a potential subscription-based Apple streaming deal.
The Pac-12 television contract expires after this school year, giving Apple an in for negotiating a new deal. So far, the Apple streaming deal is the "likely leader," but no deal has been reached.
A deal with Apple would begin in the 2024-2025 season and would be short-term to begin with. The terms would be similar to Apple's partnership with MLS, with Apple offering a standalone subscription and Apple in turn getting exclusive streaming rights.
According to sources, the first year of what's expected to be a relatively short-term contract with Apple would start in 2024-25 and begin relatively low to the league's hopes. But the deal, sources said, would incrementally improve and potentially be competitive with its peers in the Big 12 and ACC down the road, provided certain subscription numbers are met.
Pac-12 includes the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, UC Berkeley, University of Oregon, Stanford University, Oregon State University, University of Utah, University of Washington, and Washington State University, though there are additional affiliate members. Pac-12 members are concerned about a drop in viewership should the traditional broadcast model be abandoned in favor of streaming.
A Pac-12 streaming deal needs to provide the money and exposure that the universities are looking for. The Big 12 Conference inked deals with ESPN and Fox, with teams set to earn an average of $31.7 million annually, so Apple would need to come close to that.
Dock and stand accessory company Svalt this month introduced three new cooling docks that are designed for Apple's line of MacBook Pro machines. The Cooling Dock DHCR, Cooling Dock DHC, and Cooling Dock DHCx are designed to be used with Macs in clamshell mode.
Priced between $220 and $280, the docks are carved from solid aluminum to transfer heat away from the MacBook's processor. Svalt says the docks have been designed with cooling fins, deep air channels, and a curving horizontal air channel, all of which pull heat away from the MacBook Pro.
The DHC model has a built-in fan at the back of the dock, while the other two versions have optional add-on accessory fans or can be used without a fan.
The dock is designed to position the laptop at the ideal angle for heat dissipation, and a protective edge and retention pad hold the machine in place. Apple silicon Macs aren't known for their heat, but Svalt claims that the dock is able to eliminate heat throttling and ensure that the MacBook Pro is able to reach peak performance when in clamshell mode.
According to Svalt, the Cooling Docks are built to "seamlessly merge" with the built-in cooling systems of the 2021 to 2023 MacBook Pro models and "all other Apple laptops from the last decade."
Apple recently launched a new advertising campaign to promote its Apple Pay payment method, using the "Pay the Apple Way" slogan on billboards, social networks, and more.
The "Pay the Apple Way" messaging is meant to demonstrate the ease of using an iPhone or Apple Watch to make a purchase without the need to pull out a card from a wallet. Apple highlights the simplicity and speed of Apple Pay, as well as the built-in security.
Apple has installed billboards in the United States and the UK, which is where it is promoting Apple Pay. Apple plans to debut a dynamic and immersive experience using prominent street billboards and mall placements. Apple customers in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Dallas, and Atlanta will see the ads.
There are four videos that go along with the campaign that show the ease of use of using Apple Pay, and Apple plans to show these on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networks. For TikTok specifically, Apple has teamed up with TikTok creators. Each personality will answer the question "Can I [blank] with Apple Pay?" to spark dialogue about the uses of contactless payments.
The advertising campaign is already live, with the ads appearing in cities and on social media networks. Apple Pay is one of the most widely used contactless payment methods, and Apple says it is accepted by more than 85 percent of retailers in the United States.
We began tracking the best back to school accessory deals yesterday, highlighting discounts from companies like ZAGG, Belkin, AT&T, Anker, Office Depot, and more. Today, we're shifting focus to track all of the best back to school sales you can shop on Apple's own products, including low prices on AirPods Pro 2, MacBook Air, iPad, AirTag, and 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.
Apple Accessories
There are a few of Apple's first-party accessories that could make for good back to school backpack accessories, including the AirTag 4-Pack at $84.99 on Amazon, which is $14 in savings and one of the best prices of the year so far on the accessory. For note taking or use in art courses, the Apple Pencil 2 is on sale for the all-time low price of $89.00 on Amazon, down from $129.00.
Lastly, the MagSafe Charger is down to $28.99 on Woot this week, down from $39.00. This is about $1 off from the lowest price we've ever tracked on the charger, and it's in new condition on Woot and comes with a one year Apple manufacturer limited warranty.
If you're shopping for a cheap Apple notebook to bring to school this fall, the best you'll find right now is the M1 MacBook Air for just $749.99 on Amazon, down from $999.00. This has been one of the all-around best deals on any Apple notebook since Prime Day in July, and it's a record low price on this 2020 MacBook Air.
Although there are two newer models of the MacBook Air, with the 2022 13.6-inch model and 2023 15.3-inch model, the M1 notebook from 2020 should work great for common tasks like taking notes, writing papers, and using scheduling tools. You can read our guide to get a better look at all the similarities and differences between the generations.
MacBook Pro
If you're willing to spend more money on a more powerful notebook, the M2 13-inch MacBook Pro is available for $1,099.00 on Amazon, down from $1,299.00. This is Apple's entry-level MacBook Pro option, and with Amazon's $200 discount the notebook is a bit more enticing for students who might need the upgraded M2 chip.
Amazon has a pair of AirPods discounts, both of which offer a form of noise cancelation perfect for study sessions. You can get the AirPods Pro 2 for $199.00 ($50 off) and the AirPods Max for $449.99 ($99 off). The AirPods Max requires you to add the headphones to your cart in order to see the final discount.
One of the cheapest iPads available right now is the 9th generation 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, on sale for $269.99, down from $329.00. This is a solid second-best price on the tablet, and Amazon has both Silver and Space Gray at this price.
Popular accessory maker Twelve South today announced the launch of the Curve SE, an aluminum multi-piece stand that builds on the original Curve MacBook Stand.
The three pieces of the Curve SE snap together so you can position your MacBook at the ideal ergonomic height. It can be used alongside a secondary display like the Studio Display, and you can also adjust it to put your webcam at eye level for better video calls.
Twelve South's Curve SE is similar in design to the standard Curve, but it is more affordable, coming in at $20 less. It has the same benefits and a sleek, aluminum design, but it does not feature the same black or white matte finish as the original.
There are silicone-lined arms that grip your MacBook to hold it securely in place on the stand, just like the standard Curve stand. In terms of design, it is basically identical to the Curve stand, but with the three-piece assembly that keeps costs down.
The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra will be available with a black titanium case, according to a previously-accurate leaker known as ShrimpApplePro. The new Ultra will also remain available in its existing "Natural" titanium finish, the leaker said.
Mockup of a black Apple Watch Ultra via ShrimpApplePro
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently said Apple tested a darker titanium finish for the current Ultra, but decided not to release it at the time. He said it was "theoretically" possible the finish could be released for the new model this year. Previously, the high-end Edition model of the Apple Watch Series 7 was available with a Space Black titanium case.
Another new feature expected for the Ultra is a faster S9 chip, which Gurman said is based on the A15 Bionic chip first used in iPhone 13 models.
The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra is expected to be announced in September alongside the Apple Watch Series 9, which is rumored to be available in pink.
Released in September 2022, the Apple Watch Ultra is a larger and more rugged version of the Apple Watch designed for hiking, extreme water sports, diving, and other outdoor activities. It is priced at $799 in the United States.
The seventh-generation iPad mini appears to be in the works at Apple, according to the leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro."
In a thread of tweets that included details about the Apple Watch Series 9 and second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, the leaker said that they have seen evidence that at least one new iPad model is coming, likely the seventh-generation iPad mini.
ShimpApplePro's mention of the next-generation iPad mini alongside information about the new Apple Watch models that are expected to launch in the fall may suggest that the small tablet's launch may be sooner rather than later, but the leaker added that they will share more details on the matter in due course.
Like the 11th-generation iPad, a chip upgrade may be the most likely feature coming to the next iPad mini – an aspect supported by other reports. The iPad mini currently contains the A15 Bionic chip. By early 2024, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are expected to be on sale touting the A16 Bionic and A17 Bionic, respectively, meaning that the iPad mini may be most likely to get one of these processors.
A minor spec bump could also include upgrades to the front and rear cameras, potentially bringing features like Photonic Engine to the iPad for the first time. ProRes video recording, Audio zoom, stereo audio recording, Portrait mode, and Portrait Lighting support are all plausible new features in this area.
The latest iPad Pro models brought connectivity upgrades like Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to the iPad for the first time. By 2024, it seems highly likely that these capabilities will make their way to the iPad mini. It is also possible that Apple Pencil hover, another iPad Pro-exclusive feature, could finally trickle down to the iPad mini in its next incarnation, but little is currently known about exactly what the refreshed device will offer.
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 9 will feature the same design as the Series 8, with 41mm and 45mm case sizes, but a new pink color will be available for the aluminum model, according to info shared today by a previously-accurate leaker known as ShrimpApplePro.
Pink will be a fifth color option for the aluminum Series 9 alongside the existing Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED finishes, the leaker said. Apple already offers a pink finish for a few other devices, such as the latest iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad, and iMac, and the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are also rumored to be available in pink.
For Apple Watch Series 9 models with a stainless steel case, color options are said to remain Gold, Silver, and Graphite.
The leaker expects Apple Watch Series 9 models to be equipped with a new chip, which Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously said will be based on the A15 Bionic chip first used in the iPhone 13 models for improved performance.
Apple is expected to unveil the Apple Watch Series 9 in September alongside the iPhone 15 lineup and a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra. Series 9 models will ship in a smaller box compared to Series 8 models, the leaker added, as Apple continues to reduce the environmental footprint of its product packaging.
Air Canada today announced that its in-flight entertainment system now offers a selection of Apple TV+ shows for free on airplanes equipped with seat-back screens, allowing passengers to watch episodes of Ted Lasso, Severance, Foundation, The Morning Show, and other original content from the streaming service. Air Canada said it is the second airline in the world to offer in-flight Apple TV+ programming after American Airlines.
On the ground, Apple TV+ costs $8.99 per month or $89 annually in Canada. The streaming service is available in the Apple TV app across several devices and platforms, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV box, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks, and select smart TVs from LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio. Apple TV+ content can also be streamed on the web at tv.apple.com.
Air Canada's announcement was earlier reported by the blog iPhone in Canada.
Mophie has resolved the intermittent charging issues plaguing its 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe, and the accessory is now once again available to purchase on Apple and ZAGG's websites. The accessory was removed from both storefronts in mid July following widespread reports from users unable to get their iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch to hold a charge on the device.
According to a statement from Mophie, the company will send out a firmware update kit to all current owners of a defective Travel Charger within the next two weeks. If you do own the accessory, you should be receiving an email from Mophie soon with instructions on how to get the kit.
If you haven't heard from Mophie and have had issues with the Travel Charger, you can email travelcharger@mophie.com and speak to Mophie's customer service. The kit is free and only one kit is needed regardless of how many Travel Chargers you own. The kit comprises one USB-C dongle that plugs into the USB-C port at the base of the charger and should take no longer than two minutes to update.
Trouble with the Travel Charger began sometime in June, when users in Apple's discussions community and other forums began talking about charging issues with the accessory. Many users noticed that the device was not providing a consistent charge to anything sitting on it, be it an iPhone, AirPods, or Apple Watch. Because of this, the Travel Charger was unavailable to purchase since mid July.
Now that the problem has been addressed, you can purchase the accessory once again from Apple or ZAGG for $149.95.
(Thanks, Jens!)
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Apple today announced that it is working with Pixar, Adobe, Autodesk, NVIDIA, and Linux to promote and develop Pixar's 3D Universal Scene Description technology.
Open Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) was created by Pixar Animation Studios as a 3D scene depiction technology that promises significant interoperability among tools, data, and workflows. It is widely recognized for its efficiency and ability simplifying cinematic content creation. Mike Rockwell, Apple's vice president of the Vision Products Group, commented:
OpenUSD will help accelerate the next generation of AR experiences, from artistic creation to content delivery, and produce an ever-widening array of spatial computing applications. Apple has been an active contributor to the development of USD, and it is an essential technology for the groundbreaking visionOS platform, as well as the new Reality Composer Pro developer tool. We look forward to fostering its growth into a broadly adopted standard.
The Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) seeks to augment the functionalities of OpenUSD and encourage a high level of 3D tool and data interoperability. It will formulate written specifications to define the features of OpenUSD and promote widespread adoption, integration, and implementation of the technology. To learn more about the Alliance for OpenUSD, visit the organization's website.
Anker is introducing a number of new charging accessories in its higher-end Anker Prime lineup today, including multiple variants of wall chargers, desktop chargers, and power banks.
In the traditional wall charger category, Anker is launching two new options with GaN technology and folding prongs (U.S. versions only) to enable compact form factors. There's a 67-watt charger ($59.99 at Anker and Amazon) and a beefier 100-watt version ($84.99 at Anker and Amazon), with each one featuring a pair of USB-C ports and a USB-A port.
67-watt (left) and 100-watt (right) wall chargers
On each model, you can get the full 67 or 100 watts from either USB-C port, while the USB-A port can deliver up to 22.5 watts. Available power will, however, be divided among the ports if you have multiple accessories plugged in to charge.
Anker notes that the two models are each about half the size of their respective first-party Apple charger (67-watt and 96-watt) counterparts, while both products include the latest temperature control technology, insulated pins, and advanced chip technology for greater power efficiency.
If you need more charging power at a fixed location, the Anker Prime 240W GaN Desktop Charger ($199.99 at Anker and Amazon) offers three USB-C ports and a USB-A port. One of the USB-C ports can deliver up to 140 watts for the fastest possible charging of Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro models over Apple's USB-C to MagSafe cable. The other two USB-C ports can deliver up to 100 watts each while the USB-A port offers up to 22.5 watts of charging power.
240W GaN (left) and 6-in-1 (right) charging stations
For users who want a thin desktop charging option, the Anker Prime 6-in-1 Charging Station ($109.99 at Anker and Amazon) offers up to 140 watts of USB charging power across two USB-C and two USB-A ports, plus two additional power outlets, all in a package that's just 0.7 inches thick. A removable 5-foot cable gives you flexibility for placement, while the full 140-watt charging power can be routed through a single USB-C port for the fastest possible MacBook Pro charging. An integrated digital display also gives you a glanceable moment-by-moment look at the USB power draw.
For those who are looking for a combination of desktop and on-the-go charging with some of the latest bells and whistles, the Anker Prime Power Bank series pairs several portable power bank options with a wireless charging base that doubles as a desktop charger.
There are three Anker Prime power banks options coming in at 12,000 mAh at 130 watts for $89.99 (Anker and Amazon), 20,000 mAh at 200 watts for $129.99 (Anker and Amazon), and 27,650 mAh at 250 watts for $179.99 (Anker and Amazon). All three models support a new wireless charging base or can be recharged through their USB-C ports, and they all feature smart displays to provide information on current charge state, estimated time remaining or until full recharge, and current output wattage.
250-watt power bank and charging base
The 130-watt model supports 65-watt input and output with a pair of USB-C ports, while the 200-watt model supports up to 100 watts of input and output with two USB-C ports and a USB-A port. The 250-watt model supports a maximum of 140 watts input and output through a single port with a pair of USB-C ports and a USB-A port.
The 100W Charging Base can deliver 100 watts of charging power through its pogo-pin connector to recharge any of the new Anker Prime power banks, while three additional ports integrated into the side of the charging base can charge additional devices. There are two USB-C ports (one at 100 watts and one at 30 watts) and a USB-A port with up to 22.5 watts of charging power. As with the other chargers, the maximum 100-watt charging power will be divided among the various outputs based on what is connected.
The charging base sells for $69.99 on its own at Anker and Amazon or comes as part of a bundle with the 250-watt power bank model for $219.99, saving you $30 over purchasing the two items separately.
The 240W Desktop Charger and the 250W Power Bank are going up for pre-order, while the rest of the new products are launching today in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany with the exception of the 6-in-1 Charging Station, which is U.S.-only. Some of the new products currently have clippable 10% off coupons at both Anker and Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker and Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple's main OLED supplier Samsung has received mass production approval for the displays for all four models in Apple's iPhone 15 series, which are expected to be released in September.
Korean-language based The Elec reports that Samsung Display was granted approval on August 1, ahead of rivals LG Display and BOE. LG Display, which is supplying OLED panels for both iPhone 15 Pro models, has received conditional approval for the smaller iPhone 15 Pro, with formal approval for the iPhone 15 Pro Max expected in a month or two. BOE, which is supplying OLED displays for the standard iPhone 15 and larger iPhone 15 Plus, is still awaiting conditional approval from Apple.
Rumors have suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have slimmer bezels than the iPhone 14 Pro models, and that this decrease in bezel size is creating manufacturing issues. LG Display in particular is said to have had setbacks in implementing the smaller bezels, and both LG and BOE have faced difficulties in adding cutouts for the Dynamic Island, with the latter supplier highly likely to miss shipments for the rest of the year as a result. BOE has subsequently had to hand over initial OLED shipments to Samsung, which is now expected to achieve higher shipments in 2023 than previously expected.
Although LG Display did not receive mass production approval in time, industry observers have suggested LG's losses may be limited due to other production disruptions that have occurred on the camera module supply side. Image sensors for the iPhone 15 series are being mainly supplied by Sony, while the folded zoom components for the Periscope lens on the Pro Max model are coming from LG Innotek. However, the production yield of both components is said to have fallen below expectations.
According to the report, Apple is likely to be prioritizing production of the 6.1-inch Pro model over the 6.7-inch Pro Max, which is currently experiencing the most production disruption, in order to guarantee a 50-60% supply of Pro models this year. Despite the disruptions, a report from The Informationsuggests Apple will still release all iPhone 15 models in September as expected, although there could be a limited number of iPhone 15 Pro Max devices available in the first weeks after launch.
Apple today seeded the second betas of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its launch. The second beta comes a little over two weeks after the first beta. The second public beta features the same content that's in the fourth developer beta released last week, although Apple has also seeded a revised version of that developer beta today.
In addition to iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, new public betas of tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and HomePod software 17 are also available.
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates by opening up the Settings app, going to General, tapping on the Software Update section and toggling on the iOS 17 Public Beta option.
iOS 17 adds a new StandBy option for the iPhone, allowing it to serve as an information hub when it is in a horizontal position and connected to a charger. StandBy mode displays the time, Live Activities, incoming notifications, and tons of widgets.
Speaking of widgets, widgets you use on the Lock Screen and Home Screen are interactive, so you can do things like control a smart light or check off a Reminder without opening an app. Autocorrect is smarter than before, and it's easier to correct mistakes with a quick tap.
AirDrop has a new NameDrop feature for quickly sharing contact information with a person nearby, and the Phone app has customizable Contact Posters that let you choose what people see when you call them.
Live Voicemail shows the voicemail that someone is leaving right on your Lock Screen so you can pick up if it's important, and the Messages app has a refined look and a Check-In feature that's meant to help you get to your destination safely.
FaceTime supports video messages so you can leave a video voicemail if someone misses a call, plus you can use it on the Apple TV. Safari has a locked private browsing window and a password sharing feature, and better tracking prevention. The Maps app now works offline, the Photos app can recognize your pets, and Visual Look Up works with food, symbols, videos, and more.
There's a new mood tracking feature available in the Health app, and later this year, Apple also plans to add a journaling app.