Apple today released watchOS 9.5.1, a minor bug fix update designed for the Apple Watch. watchOS 9.5.1 is a free download that comes two weeks after the launch of watchOS 9.5.
watchOS 9.5.1 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on the iPhone by opening it up and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
According to Apple's release notes for the update, it includes "improvements and bug fixes" for the Apple Watch, with no details on which bugs have been addressed.
Ahead of WWDC, Apple is getting developers and fans hyped for the event, today highlighting some of the ways that the WWDC keynote can be watched. WWDC can be viewed through Apple.com on the Events page or through the Apple Developer app.
Apple also plans to offer the live stream through the Apple TV app and on YouTube, with the YouTube stream live as of this morning.
Apple says that those who use the Apple Developer app to watch the keynote can use the SharePlay feature to view it alongside friends, making it easy to chat about the various announcements.
Apple is now allowing eligible developers to sign up for WWDC activities, including chats with Apple engineers, designers, and other Apple experts. There are numerous Q&A sessions, icebreakers, and Meet the Presenter activities, which are hosted through Slack.
Some of the available Activity topics include Augmented Reality, Design, App Store, Health and Fitness, Developer Tools, Maps and Location, Privacy and Security, System Services, and more.
Apple is also offering Sessions and Labs, which will be available after the keynote event.
This year's WWDC keynote is expected to focus on Apple's AR/VR headset, which is rumored to be making its debut at the event. Apple's WWDC tagline is "Code new worlds," which appears to be an obvious hint about the new xrOS platform that will run on the headset.
Apple planned to offer the MagSafe Charger in eight different color options around 2020, the prototype collector known as "Kosutami" claims.
MacRumors is told that Apple prototyped the MagSafe Charger in Space Gray, Starlight, Green, Pink, Purple, Yellow, Blue, and (PRODUCT)RED color options. The Yellow, Blue, and (PRODUCT)RED variants, in particular, were apparently highly saturated, deep shades.
The rubberized disc on the surface that makes contact with the iPhone and the cable was paired in a contrasting color to the shade of the aluminum exterior. For example, the Space Gray MagSafe Charger was matched with a black disc and cable. The prototypes seem to originate from the period in which the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups were being developed, explaining why many of the planned shades correlate with the color options offered on those devices.
To date, the MagSafe Charger for iPhone has only been available in Silver. Upon releasing the M2MacBook Air, Apple has offered the MagSafe 3 charger for Mac in Silver, Space Gray, Midnight, and Starlight, so additional color options for MagSafe for iPhone may not be out of the question in the future.
Kosutami first shared news of the plans for a range of MagSafe Charger color options last week, adding that Apple similarly prototyped multiple color options for the unreleased "Magic Charger" accessory.
Much like Apple Music for Android, the Apple Music Classical app for Android largely mirrors the design of its iOS counterpart. Notably, the Apple Music Classical app for Android comes before Apple has made the app available for the iPad or Mac.
In 2021, Apple announced that it had purchased the classical music streaming service Primephonic and would be folding it into Apple Music via a new app dedicated to the genre. Apple launched Apple Music Classical in March, offering a standalone experience for discovering and listening to classical music.
The Apple Music Classical app offers Apple Music subscribers access to over five million classical music tracks, including new high-quality releases, in addition to hundreds of curated playlists, thousands of exclusive albums, and other features like composer bios and deep dives on key works.
The app offers a simpler interface for interacting with classical music specifically. Unlike the existing Apple Music app, Apple Music Classical allows users to search by composer, work, conductor, catalog number, and more. Users can get more detailed information from editorial notes and descriptions.
Apple commissioned high-resolution digital portraits of famous composers like Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, and Johann Sebastian Bach for the app, using color palettes and artistic references from the relevant classical period, with more unique artwork to be added over time. Apple works with classical music artists and institutions to offer exclusive content and recordings.
Just days ahead of WWDC, where Apple is expected to unveil its long-rumored AR/VR headset, developer Steve Troughton-Smith has managed to trick App Store Connect into showing the headset's rumored "xrOS" operating system name.
After analyzing some of Apple's open source code, Troughton-Smith attempted to submit an app crafted for the headset. App Store Connect rejected the app, but recognized it as an xrOS binary in an error message, despite Troughton-Smith never mentioning xrOS. This provides yet another indication that xrOS will be the public-facing name of the headset's operating system, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported.
The error message, which does not capitalize xrOS or iOS:
Incorrect Platform. You included the xros arm64 executable in your ios bundle. Only ios executables can be included.
Apple is likely behind a few shell companies that have applied for trademarks for various other names, including xrProOS, realityproOS, and realOS, but it appears increasingly likely that xrOS will prevail as the name of the headset's operating system.
Earlier this week, we published a guide that provides an overview of what to expect from xrOS based on rumors. Apple is expected to preview xrOS alongside iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 during its WWDC keynote on June 5. The headset itself is also expected to be unveiled, providing a first look at the hardware.
The iPhone 16 Pro models will feature a taller aspect ratio of 19.6:9, a change that will trickle down to the standard iPhone 17 models the following year, new forecasts from display analyst Ross Young claim.
The iPhone 14 lineup has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, a specification that is expected to remain the same across this year's iPhone 15 lineup. The change with the iPhone 16 Pro models means that the devices should get slightly taller, rather than wider. While the iPhone 16 Pro models have been widely rumored to feature larger screens for some time, the aspect ratio of the devices was unclear until now.
Young also provided exact display sizes for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The devices are expected to increase from 6.12- and 6.69-inches to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. This represents a display size increase of 2.5% on both devices.
With the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus in 2025, Apple will apparently bring the larger 6.27- and 6.86-inch display sizes to its two standard iPhone models. As Young has previously reported, these devices are also expected to gain LTPO panels to support ProMotion for variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. This means that the standard iPhone 17 models look set to receive a substantial display upgrade, with larger sizes and LPTO for ProMotion.
In addition, Young reaffirmed his previous statement that the iPhone 17 Pro models will be the first to feature under-display Face ID technology, sitting alongside a hole-shaped cutout for the front-facing camera.
Amazon today has a few exclusive discounts on the 2022 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with up to $99 off select tablets and a few all-time low prices. Most of the iPad Pros can be delivered between June 1 and 5 for United States residents.
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.
Every deal shared below requires you to add the tablets to your Amazon cart in order to get the discounted price. Once in your cart, an automatic coupon worth around $50 will be applied to your order and you'll see the sale price.
Starting with the 128GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro, this model is on sale for $999.99, down from $1,099.00. It's available in both Silver and Space Gray, and this is an all-time low price.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Secondly, the 256GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro has hit $1,099.99 on Amazon, down from $1,199.00. It's also available in Silver and Space Gray and this one is a second-best price.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Amazon also has the 512GB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro on sale, available for $1,299.99, down from $1,399.00. Colors on sale include both Silver and Space Gray.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
Ahead of Apple's keynote event at WWDC on Monday, June 5, the company's annual "AR experience" easter egg is now available.
Apple's imagery for WWDC 2023 has a bubble-like theme that emphasizes the colors of iridescent thin film interference. The AR experience shows an Apple logo-shaped bubble that animates clockwise with the date of June 5, 2023 in the center.
To view the AR experience, open up the Apple Events website on an iPhone or iPad and tap on "View the AR experience." From there, you can scan the area around you to see the logo in real time, or view it in "Object" mode to get a clearer picture of what it looks like without having to navigate your physical environment.
Apple's event will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, June 5. In addition to being streamed on YouTube, the event can be watched through the events webpage and in the Apple TV app. If you're unable to watch, you can tune in to the MacRumors live blog on the site or follow along with our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Apple prototyped versions of the AirPods' charging case in five different color options to match the iPhone 7, according to the prototype collector known as "Kosutami."
The first-generation AirPods in "Pink," intended to match the Rose Gold iPhone 7.
Images shared with MacRumors and posted on Twitter earlier today show a first-generation AirPods casing in a pink colorway. It continues to have a polished, glossy finish like the final release version in white. The inside of the casing, as well as the AirPods earbuds themselves, continue to be white.
The prototypes date back to the period in which Apple was developing the iPhone 7. The company apparently developed AirPods prototypes in Black, Blonde, Pink, and Red to match the iPhone 7's color options, MacRumors was told. The iPhone 7 was available in Jet Black, Black, Gold, Rose Gold, and (PRODUCT)RED. Since the AirPods' casing is made of polycarbonate rather than anodized aluminum like the iPhone, Apple seems to have switched to names like "Blonde" and "Pink," instead of "Gold" and "Rose Gold," to denote the different materials and finishes.
Apple also apparently developed a purple AirPods prototype to match an unreleased version of the iPhone 7 in purple. Purple was one of the color options rumored for the iPhone 7 around 2016, with a range of leaked images showing a purple casing for the device first appearing in May of that year.
Apple is said to have only canceled the AirPods color options at the design validation testing (DVT) or production validation testing (PVT) stage, suggesting that the decision was made at a fairly late stage. Kosutami has previously provided insights about Apple prototypes such as the "Magic Charger" in the past.
Some users have sought after AirPods in different color options for several years. While Apple was seemingly only ever considering offering the charging case in different color ways, it is interesting to know that the company got as far as prototyping five distinct color options for the device to match the iPhone. Today, the AirPods Max are the only AirPods to have been offered in different color options.
The founder of Hello Games, the makers of popular action-adventure survival game "No Man's Sky," yesterday tweeted two apple emojis, sparking speculation that the studio is teasing an announcement for Apple platforms at WWDC.
Hello Games founder Sean Murray has been known to tease upcoming announcements via cryptic emojis in the past. At WWDC last year, Apple announced that No Man's Sky would be available for the iPad and Mac would by the end of 2022. Hello Games missed that deadline and the game has yet to release for Apple devices, meaning that the two emoji teasers could indicate that the launch of No Man's Sky for the iPad and Mac is now imminent.
Given widespread anticipation about Apple's expected announcement of a mixed-reality headset at WWDC in less than a week, there is now speculation that Hello Games could be working on a game for the new device. No Man's Sky is already available on multiple VR platforms, including on PC and PlayStation VR. When the game was demoed at WWDC last year, it was played on a Mac with the M1 chip. Since Apple's headset is rumored to feature at least one chip that is based on the M2 chip in addition to a dedicated image signal processor, it should be more than capable of running the game.
Hello Games has also worked with Apple to publish games on Apple Arcade. Given Apple's discussions with Hello Games in recent years, No Man's Sky being among the initial wave of games available on Apple's mixed-reality headset is not out of the question.
While some rumors have suggested Apple's headset is not particularly focused on gaming, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has repeatedly referred to gaming, media, and communication as the three main priorities of the device. Apple has reportedly been working with a number of gaming developers to help them update their existing content for mixed reality and the company is expected to provide a robust set of developer tools for creating experiences for the headset.
The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple's annual developer and software-oriented conference, is now just a few days away. As with previous years, Apple is expected to introduce major updates to all of its operating systems, but unique to WWDC 2023, Apple is also very likely to unveil xrOS, the software that will run its much-rumored AR/VR mixed-reality headset. Here's everything we're expecting from it.
Apple has not publicly acknowledged the existence of its headset, but internal Apple sources have confirmed that the operating system will be called xrOS, and Apple has used hidden shell companies to trademark the name in various countries.
xrOS is meant to stand for "extended reality," hinting at the augmented and virtual reality functions at the heart of the head-mounted device. The backend capitalization also conforms to the naming conventions Apple has adopted for all of the operating systems in its ecosystem.
According to reporting by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple sees the headset as a device for gaming, watching streaming video, video conferencing, health and fitness, and interfacing with other people. Therefore xrOS will be focused on providing the best possible environment for delivering that content.
Apple-registered wordmark for "xrOS" in New Zealand
xrOS User Interface
xrOS is believed to have an iOS-like interface that will be familiar to iPhone and iPad users, but presented to them and interacted with in an entirely new way.
We are expecting a dedicated Home Screen containing apps and customizable widgets, all of which can be rearranged, and all viewed on dual high-resolution 4K micro OLED displays with up to 3,000 pixels per inch for a rich, realistic, and immersive viewing experience.
Both of the user's hands and eyes will be tracked by more than a dozen optical cameras, and the wearer is expected to be able to look at an on-screen item to select it, and use a hand gesture like a pinch to activate the item on the screen.
The now defunct-Google Glass: An early example of an AR interface
The xrOS software could even potentially project AR app interface elements onto actual objects in the real world for a mixed-reality overlay kind of effect.
Apple is also said to be working on an in-air typing feature that is expected to be a bit rudimentary at launch, with Apple to make notable improvements over time.
Apps
At the core of xrOS will be re-imagined versions of stock Apple apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, Maps, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Podcasts, Reminders, and Calendar, as well as a FaceTime app customized for the headset. The Maps app will also feature, and could incorporate some of Apple's Look Around and landmark functionality, allowing users to explore cities around the world.
Users will be able to work on several apps at the same time, while an xrOS App Store will host made-for-headset apps, as well as existing App Store content. Apple is also said to be adapting iPad apps for the headset's 3D interface.
In addition, Apple is set on transforming several existing services and apps into immersive viewing experiences. For example, users will be able to watch videos in virtual reality environments as if they were looking at a giant screen, or participate in guided meditations accompanied by immersive visuals, audio, and voiceovers.
Some of the apps and services said to offer radically different experiences in xrOS include Apple Fitness+, Apple TV+ (with a focus on viewing sports content like MLB and MLS), and a 3D version of Apple's collaborative Freeform tool. As for FaceTime, with all of the cameras that the headset is expected to have, one-on-one chats are said to feature realistic avatars which mimic the user's actual facial expressions and body movements.
Apple is also said to have created a Books app for reading in virtual reality, a Health app focusing on psychological wellness, and a Camera app that can take images from the headset's cameras.
Gaming and App Creation
To get people to purchase the mixed-reality headset, Apple will need to convince users that the software experiences are worth it. That will require not only compelling first-party experiences, but also innovative third-party apps from developers.
Iron Man VR on the Meta Quest headset
With gaming reportedly a focus, Apple is said to have been working with a select number of game developers to help them update their existing content for mixed reality, but Apple reportedly also has a robust set of tools available that will allow non-developers to create their own AR/VR experiences. According to one report, customers will be able to create and release AR apps for the headset using Siri as an assistant, even if they do not have the ability to code.
The report likens Apple's tool to Minecraft and Roblox, which allow anyone to easily create 3D tools and worlds. Apple is said to be utilizing technology that it acquired from Montreal-based startup Fabric Software in 2017, and customers would be able to distribute the AR apps they create on the App Store alongside developers.
It's worth noting that the report cites sources who last saw demonstrations of the tool in 2021, so the report is based on older information and it's possible that Apple's plans have changed at least slightly in the time that has passed since. Whether this latter report is still accurate is something we should learn soon.
When is xrOS Coming?
Apple's software tools for the headset are likely to be revealed at WWDC 2023, giving developers time to create AR and VR apps and experiences for the headset before it launches. In that sense, we won't see the full version of xrOS until the headset is officially released to the public, and that isn't expected to happen until later in the year.
For everything else we know about the headset, including all the hardware details, be sure to check our dedicated AR/VR headset roundup.
Apple has prototyped at least one colored version of its MagSafe Charger for iPhone, suggesting the company could potentially one day release a new version of the device in additional color options beyond the standard silver model.
That's the claim made by Twitter account @KosutamiSan. According to the collector of rare Apple products, prototype information they obtained indicates that Apple intended to release its current MagSafe charger in a "colored version," similar to the MagSafe Charging 3 Charging cables it makes for the MacBook Air.
Apple includes a color-matched MagSafe 3 charging cable in the box with the MacBook Air, but also makes them available to purchase separately in the four MacBook Air colors: Space Gray, Silver, Midnight, and Starlight.
According to @KosutamiSan, Apple's prototyped colored MagSafe Charger for iPhone has more color saturation than the MagSafe power cables. The collector shared the above picture of a Starlight-colored MagSafe puck as an example, while also claiming that Apple has prototyped similar colored versions for the unreleased horizontal stand-based model called "Magic Charger."
It's not clear whether the prototyped colored chargers were designed to match with unreleased iPhone colors but were never mass produced. It's likewise unknown if Apple intends to launch colored versions in the future, but the prototyping tidbit is interesting nonetheless, and there is a chance that Apple could release more varieties of its MagSafe charger to compete with rivals in the new Qi2 market that is set to coalesce later this year.
Apple is contributing to the new version of the Qi open standard and it will work much like MagSafe. As a result, Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 models are expected to support 15W wireless fast charging even when using third-party chargers that are not Apple-certified, removing a key hurdle for third-party wireless chargers to compete with the company's MagSafe accessory.
Article updated to include additional Magic Charger details.
The increased size of next year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max allows for upgrades including a periscope telephoto camera and a 12% larger main camera sensor, according to a new report.
The rumor was first shared on Chinese social media site Weibo by a user who says that they have obtained industry insider information. Corroborating several other reports that next year's iPhone 16 Pro models will feature larger displays, the individual claims that the increased size of the devices will provide more internal space for components including a periscope telephoto camera system. Earlier today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the larger size of the iPhone 16 Pro models could help facilitate improved camera hardware or bigger internal batteries.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to introduce the iPhone's first periscope telephoto camera, the feature is expected to be exclusive to Apple's largest iPhone at first. With next year's iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the telephoto camera to both of the "Pro" models. The increased size of the iPhone 16 Pro, is, therefore, at least partially explained by the need for more internal space to implement the periscope camera on the smaller Pro model.
For the iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 16 "Ultra," the additional internal space will apparently allow for a larger main camera sensor that is 1/1.14-inches in size. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max currently feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor. No sensor size increase is expected for this year's iPhone 15 Pro Max. This claim has since been supported by the Twitter leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro."
A larger sensor could improve the main iPhone camera's dynamic range and background blur. It could also substantially enhance low-light photography capabilities since a bigger surface area can capture more light with the same shutter speed and aperture.
Apple will begin accepting trade-ins of three new Mac models on June 5, the day of Apple's WWDC 2023 keynote event, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In a tweet shared earlier today, Gurman said that the Mac Studio, 13-inch M2MacBook Air, and 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, will become eligible for trade-in with Apple on Monday, June 5. Gurman is expecting new Mac hardware to be unveiled during Apple's keynote on June 5, including an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air model. "Read into that as you will," he added.
Apple introduced the Mac Studio in May 2022, offering M1 Max and M1 Ultra chip configurations. Despite the launch of a range of Macs with the M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Max chips, Apple has not yet refreshed the Mac Studio. Gurman believes that two new Mac Studio models are in the works, but is unsure of when they will launch.
He has previously cast doubt over the possibility of update being announced at WWDC, suggesting that Apple is more likely to wait until the M3 generation to update the Mac Studio as to avoid cannibalizing the Apple silicon Mac Pro. Even so, updated Mac Studio models with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chip options are not out of the question for WWDC.
13-inch MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip are also rumored to be in development, but the first M3 Macs are not expected to launch until toward the end of the year. As such, Gurman's latest information about new Mac trade-ins does not necessarily that indicate direct successors for all of the aforementioned devices are on the immediate horizon.
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman corroborated other reports about Apple's plan to increase the size of its two "Pro" iPhone models from 6.1- and 6.7-inches by "a couple tenths of an inch diagonally." The new display sizes would be the largest ever for the iPhone.
Gurman noted that the change will make Apple's high-end smartphones more competitive with the equivalent devices offered by Samsung. The increase could also create more internal space for improved hardware, such as camera technology and larger batteries.
In May, display analyst Ross Young said that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature displays 6.3- and 6.9-inches in size, respectively, representing an increase of around 0.2-inches. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Twitter leaker "Unknownz21" then corroborated this rumor, with the latter providing alleged internal model numbers for the devices.
We're just over a week away from the WWDC keynote where Apple will reportedly finally reveal its long-rumored mixed-reality headset, and there are undoubtedly a number of other announcements planned for the event.
Ahead of WWDC, Apple this week released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, bringing versions of the company's professional video and audio apps to the tablet for the first time. This week also saw various rumors about the iPhone 15 and 16 lineups, plus some fresh news about the upcoming iOS 17 update, so read on for details on these stories and more!
Apple Releases Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad
Apple this week released Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for select iPad models. Apple says both apps have been designed to take advantage of the iPad’s touch-first interface, providing the "ultimate mobile studio for video and music creators." Both apps have subscription-based pricing set at $4.99 per month or $49 per year in the U.S. after a one-month free trial.
iOS 17 to Turn iPhone's Lock Screen Into Smart Home Display
iOS 17 will include a new interface that shows information such as calendar appointments, the weather, and notifications in the style of a smart home display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. His report said the new view will appear when an iPhone is locked and positioned horizontally.
Ahead of WWDC, the Apple Developer app has been updated with new stickers and other preparations. 175 coding session videos will be available in the app for anyone to watch, free of charge, starting June 6.
iPhone 15 to Support 15W Wireless Fast Charging Using Non-MagSafe Chargers
iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to be released in September 2024, so they are still far away from launching, and Apple's plans could change before then.
2023 Pride Band for Apple Watch Now Available to Order
Inspired by the LGBTQ+ community, the new Pride band features a sprinkles-like design showcasing the original Pride flag colors and five others. Apple continues to support LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations around the world.
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.
Ahead of new iPhone launches, case makers invest significant money into sourcing leaked details on updated designs to be the first to come out with appropriate cases. That often results in dummy models that are accurate replicas of future iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 dummy models that we're sharing today.
We were able to get our hands on a set of dummy models that represent the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, aka the four new iPhones that we're expecting Apple to launch in September 2023. We've already heard endless rumors about the iPhone 15 models, but it helps to be able to see all the changes and design updates in person.
At first glance, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models look similar to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, but there are notable differences when you look a bit closer. There are no more Lightning ports, for example, as Apple is adopting USB-C this year. There are USB-C ports at the bottom of each device, which will allow for charging with the same USB-C cable that can be used to charge a modern Mac or iPad.
On the surface, the USB-C ports on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro look identical, but we are expecting the iPhone 15 Pro models to support faster data transfer speeds with possible Thunderbolt support. There have also been hints that Apple will restrict some functionality to Made for iPhone cables, but we can't tell if that's the case with dummy models.
There have been multiple rumors of a minor design change to the corners of the iPhone 15 models, which you can indeed see. It's a subtle shift, but the corners are rounder than before, making for a more comfortable feel in the hand.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro models will use titanium instead of stainless steel, but that's a feature we can't see in the dummy models. Rather than the shiny finish of the dummy models, we'll likely see a more high-end matte finish. All of the dummy models feature a frosted glass back, something that has in the past been limited to the Pro models. We have heard rumors that frosted glass will be used across the board, but it is a curious choice.
All four iPhones in 2023 are also expected to have the Dynamic Island instead of a notch, and that will effectively mark the end of the notch in Apple's flagship iPhone lineup. Right now, the Dynamic Island is limited to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, but even the lower-priced iPhone 15 will have the updated design in 2023.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max dummy models feature a unified volume button, but that design tweak may have been changed last minute. Apple was rumored to be implementing solid-state technology into the volume buttons, but there were too many bugs to be worked out, so the function has been held until the iPhone 16. Because of that, we may see the traditional two-button design rather than the unified button.
What's more certain is Apple's elimination of the mute switch, which is turning into a button. We'll have a button above the volume buttons, and it may be an Action button instead of a dedicated mute button, similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra. The Action button would be programmable and able to do more than just mute the iPhone.
Cameras look about the same and you won't notice major external changes, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to get a new periscope lens with up to 6x optical zoom. It takes a lot of space inside the phone to implement this technology, so it's going to be limited to the Pro Max.
We're about four months away from the debut of the iPhone 15 models, which means the design has been finalized and Apple will soon start mass production. We'll be hearing more about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models as a launch approaches, with everything we know aggregated in our dedicated roundups.
Apple's "My Photo Stream" service is set to shut down on July 26, 2023, which means customers who are still using that feature will need to transition to using iCloud Photos prior to that date.
My Photo Stream is a free service that uploads the last 30 days of images (up to 1,000) to iCloud, making them accessible on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC. It predates iCloud Photos and has largely been replaced by the iCloud Photos service at this point.
Going forward, Apple plans to have all customers use iCloud Photos instead of My Photo Stream. New photo uploads to My Photo Stream will stop on June 26, 2023, and images will remain in iCloud as usual for 30 days until the shutdown point.
Because all of the images in My Photo Stream are stored in their original format on at least one Apple device, there isn't a danger of photos being lost as part of the shutdown process. Apple recommends that users who want to have their images on a particular device save them to the Photo Library on that device prior to July 26.
Images in My Photo Stream can be saved to the Photos app on the iPhone by opening up Photos, going to the My Photo Stream album, selecting individual photos, and using the Share button to save them to the Library. The process is the same on the Mac, but you will need to drag images from My Photo Stream to the Library.
Apple suggests that iPhone, iPad, and Mac users turn on iCloud Photos to view their photos and videos across their devices. iCloud Photos is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 8.3 or later and Macs running OS X Yosemite or later.
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The first-generation AirPods in "Pink," intended to match the Rose Gold iPhone 7.
Apple-registered wordmark for "xrOS" in New Zealand
The now defunct-Google Glass: An early example of an AR interface
Iron Man VR on the Meta Quest headset
