MacRumors

The upcoming macOS 13.5 update resolves a syncing issue with the third-generation and fourth-generation iPod shuffle, according to Apple's developer release notes. The update is currently in beta testing and will likely be released later this month.

iPod shuffle MacRumors YouTube
From the release notes:

Resolved Issues

Fixed an issue where iPod shuffle (3rd and 4th generation) cannot be synced due to an unknown error (-244).

Apple discontinued the iPod shuffle in 2017, so this is a niche bug fix, but it evokes nostalgia for the miniature music player. The original iPod shuffle launched in 2005 and was the first model without a screen, allowing for a more portable design and a lower $99 starting price with 512MB of storage. A 1GB model was available for $149.

"iPod shuffle is smaller and lighter than a pack of gum and costs less than $100," said Apple's former CEO Steve Jobs. "With most flash-memory music players users must use tiny displays and complicated controls to find their music; with iPod shuffle you just relax and it serves up new combinations of your music every time you listen."

Beyond new color options in 2012 and 2015, Apple last updated the iPod shuffle in 2010 with a square design and 2GB of storage.

macOS 13.5 will likely be one of the final updates to macOS Ventura, as Apple prepares to release macOS Sonoma later this year.

(Via: @aaronp613)

Related Forum: macOS Ventura

Yesterday we highlighted some of the best Apple-related product discounts that you can find on Amazon during Prime Day, and now we're focusing on third-party accessory markdowns during the event. In this article you'll find all the best accessories for charging, smart homes, smartphones, and more.

primeday2020 feature3Note: 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.

Shoppers should remember that Prime Day sales are typically time sensitive, so purchase quickly if you're interested. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Prime on Amazon if you're a new customer; afterwards the service runs for $14.99/month or $139/year.

Anker

prime day anker

As expected, Anker is offering a massive sale on its best accessories for Prime Day. We've highlighted some of the best products on sale below, including Bluetooth trackers and portable batteries.

Bluetooth Trackers

Cables and Wall Chargers

Portable Batteries

Hubs and Charging Stations

TVs

prime day tvs

Beats

prime day beats

There's a big collection of Beats headphones discounted for Prime Day this year, starting with the Beats Studio Buds for $89.99, down from $149.95. The newer Beats Studio Buds+ are on sale for $149.99, down from $169.95.

The Powerbeats Pro are available for $149.99, down from $249.95 and the Beats Studio3 Headphones are on sale for $159.99, down from $349.95. Lastly, the Beats Solo3 Headphones are discounted to $108.95, down from $199.95.

Monitors

prime day monitors

Samsung's popular 32-inch Smart Monitor M8 (Model M80B) is down to the best price we've ever seen it on Amazon, available for $379.99, down from $699.99. Back during the 2022 holiday season we tracked this monitor at $399.99, so today's Prime Day discount is a new all-time low price.

In addition to the Smart Monitor M8, Amazon has a wide array of monitors and PCs on sale from HP, Acer, Samsung, and more for Prime Day. One of the highlights is Samsung's 49-inch Odyssey G9 Curved Gaming Monitor for $899.99, down from $1,399.99.

Satechi

prime day satechi

Satechi's Prime Day sale includes big savings on USB-C hubs, docking stations, chargers, keyboards, cables, and more.

Amazon Devices

prime day kindle

Of course, some of the best discounts can be found on Amazon's own line of products. This includes Kindle e-readers, Blink security cameras, Fire tablets, and more.

Memory and Storage

prime day lacie drive

SanDisk, LaCie, Seagate, WD, and more are offering great discounts on hard drives, microSD cards, memory cards, USB drives, external and internal SSDs, and more. In total, you'll find up to 58% off these accessories during Prime Day.

Plugable

Plugable's Prime Day deals focus on the brand's docking stations, and you can find even more discounts than those listed below on Plugable's Amazon storefront.

Google Nest Thermostat

prime day nest

Amazon has the Google Nest Thermostat for $84.99, down from $129.99 during Prime Day. This is one of the lowest prices we've seen for the Nest Thermostat, and it's available at this price in all four colors.

Philips Hue

prime day hue

More Sales

Audio

Smart Home

Computer Accessories

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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple this week launched a new Apple Card promotion that will provide customers who sign up for an Apple Card 10 percent Daily Cash back on App Store purchases during the first six months of card ownership.

apple card feature2
The deal is only available to new ‌Apple Card‌ owners approved for an account between 7/11/23 and 7/25/23. After signing up, ‌Apple Card‌ users will get a total of 10 percent Daily Cash back on ‌App Store‌ purchases and other Apple services. Qualifying services include Apple Arcade, Apple Books, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple News+, Apple One, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Apple TV+, ‌Apple TV‌ Channels, iCloud, and AppleCare+.

Daily Cash back will be increased for up to $1,000 in total qualifying purchases, for $100 in maximum cash back. The ‌Apple Card‌ must be associated with the Apple ID used to make the ‌App Store‌ or Apple service purchase, and all digital Apple accounts must also have a zero balance as the ‌Apple Card‌ can't supersede digital credits and gift cards. More information can be found on the Apple Card website.


Apple frequently runs promotions that offer new ‌Apple Card‌ subscribers extra Daily Cash in order to entice them to sign up for an ‌Apple Card‌. The ‌Apple Card‌ continues to be limited to U.S. users only, and new ‌Apple Card‌ holders will also be eligible to sign up for the accompanying Apple Savings account to earn 4.15 percent interest on Daily Cash and other deposits.

Apple today released a new firmware update for the Beats Studio Buds earbuds, updating the firmware to 10M4372. The prior update, released in November, was 10M2155.

beats studio buds april 2022 colors
Apple does not provide information on what's included in firmware updates for its Beats earbuds, so we are not sure what improvements or bug fixes the new software brings.

There's no standard way to upgrade the ‌Beats‌‌ Studio Buds, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. Putting the Beats‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting them to a power source, and then pairing them‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

If we find notable changes after the firmware update is installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes rather than outward-facing changes.

As Prime Day continues today, we're highlighting all of the best Apple deals you can get for under $100 on Amazon. This includes AirPods, Apple Pencil 2, AirTags, iPhone 14 cases, USB-C chargers, and more.

primeday2022Note: 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.

You can find every Apple deal available during Prime Day in our dedicated post. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals, and you can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.

$30 Or Under

prime day airtag loop

In the cheapest category, you can get Apple's 20W USB-C Power Adapter for $14.99, down from $19.00 and the AirTag Leather Loop for $27.99, down from $39.00. For the Leather Loop, only Saddle Brown is available at this low price.


$50 Or Under

prime day iphone 14 case

For accessories priced between $30 and $50, there are quite a few sales on Amazon for Prime Day. You can get the MagSafe Charger on sale for $31.00, down from $39.00 and the 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter for $44.99, down from $59.00.


Otherwise, you can find quite a few iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max cases on sale in this price range. Prices start at $37.49 for the Silicone Cases and increase to $44.99 for Leather Cases, with multiple color options available.




$100 or Under

prime day airtag 4 pack

Lastly, we're tracking a few deals on Apple products that are just under $100 for Prime Day. You can get an AirTag 4-Pack for $88.49 ($10 off), an Apple Pencil 2 for $89.00 ($40 off), and AirPods 2 for $89.99 ($39 off).



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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple today seeded an updated version of the third beta macOS 14 Sonoma to developers for testing purposes. The beta comes one week after the launch of the initial third beta.

macos sonoma 4
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, with the betas available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.

It is not clear why Apple is releasing a second version of the third macOS Sonoma beta, but it could be in preparation for a public beta. Apple said that it planned to release a public beta of macOS Sonoma in July.

Related Forum: macOS Sonoma

Apple today seeded updated third betas of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the release of the initial third betas.

General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple
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 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

It is not clear if there are new features in the updated third beta of iOS 17, but the initial beta added tweaks to the Home app, Apple Music, the mood tracking function, and more, with full details in our iOS 17 beta 3 article.

iOS 17 is a major update that introduces a customized look for each person that calls, with the person who places the call able to customize their look. Live voicemails let you see a transcript of a message someone is leaving in real time so you can choose to pick up the phone if you want, and voice messages people send in iMessage are now transcribed into text. You can also record a video or audio message when someone misses your FaceTime call, and ‌FaceTime‌ works on the Apple TV through Continuity functionality.

In Messages, apps have been moved to a new tucked-away interface for a cleaner look, and there is a new Check In feature that is designed to let your friends and family keep an eye on you when you're traveling. Check In automatically notifies friends or family members when you arrive at a destination, such as home. Locations can also now be shared directly from the Messages app.

In a group chat, there's a catch-up arrow so you can see the first message you haven't seen in a conversation, and with search filters, you can more easily find what you're looking for. Stickers have been overhauled, and all emoji are now stickers, living alongside sticker packs and Memoji. Using the remove from background feature in iOS 17, you can turn the subject from any image into a sticker.

With StandBy, an iPhone placed horizontally turns into a little home hub that displays information like the calendar, time, home controls, and more, and Live Activities can be displayed in full screen too.

Widgets on the Home Screen are interactive, so you can do things like check off an item on a to-do list or turn off the lights without having to open an app. AirDrop has been improved and there's a NameDrop function for sharing contacts quickly, plus you can hold two iPhones together to start a SharePlay session. SharePlay also now works with CarPlay so passengers can play their music in the car too.

Other new features include a journaling app coming later this year, AirPlay in select hotel rooms, improvements to AirPods Pro 2 thanks to a new Adaptive Audio feature, offline Maps, Siri that does not require the "Hey" activation, and improvements to search and spotlight.

Apple has also seeded a new third beta of tvOS 17 to developers.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

In a support document published today, Apple said it is aware of an issue where the recently released Rapid Security Responses for iOS 16.5.1, iPadOS 16.5.1, and macOS 13.4.1 might prevent some websites from displaying properly.

Rapid Security Response Feature 1
The affected Rapid Security Responses are labeled as iOS 16.5.1 (a), iPadOS 16.5.1 (a), and macOS 13.4.1 (a). Apple said new Rapid Security Responses with a (b) suffix will be available soon to address this issue. Users who do not wish to wait have the option to uninstall the (a) versions by following the steps outlined by Apple below.

iPhone or iPad: Open Settings > About > iOS Version, then tap "Remove Security Response." Tap Remove to confirm.

Mac: Choose the Apple menu > About this Mac, then click More Information. Under macOS, click the Info (i) button next to the version number. Click Remove and Restart, then click to confirm.

Rapid Security Responses are designed to provide iPhone, iPad, and Mac users with security fixes without the need to install a full software update. The updates released yesterday addressed an actively exploited WebKit vulnerability, but some users who installed the updates were subsequently unable to load some websites.

(Via: Mr. Macintosh)

Related Forums: iOS 16, macOS Ventura

New record low prices have appeared on Amazon for both the 9th and 10th generation iPad, marking the newest pair of deals happening during this year's Prime Day.

prime day ipadNote: 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.

9th Gen iPad

Starting with the 2021 9th generation iPad, Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi model for $249.99, down from $329.00, which is a match of the previous all-time low for this tablet. The 256GB Wi-Fi model is on sale for $389.99, down from $479.00, and this one is a new record low price.


10th Gen iPad

For the newer 2022 10th generation iPad, Amazon is introducing fresh all-time low prices for both Wi-Fi models. The 64GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $379.99, down from $449.00; and the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $529.99, down from $599.00. Both beat the previous low price by more than $20.


Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Nothing today announced the launch of the Nothing Phone (2), the second-generation followup to the original Nothing Phone that came out last year. Like the Nothing Phone, the 6.7-inch Nothing Phone (2) features a unique transparent design with LED highlights that Nothing calls a Glyph Interface.


There are additional LED segments in the Glyph for improved customizability, with light and sound sequences able to be assigned to contacts or used for ringtones. The LEDs are also able to function as a progress tracker for ride or delivery services, plus they can alert users to notifications. Design wise, the Phone (2) has a thinner midframe and a pillowed glass back that Nothing says makes it more ergonomic.

nothing phone 1
The Phone (2) runs the Android-based Nothing OS, and the new version can be used in a monochrome colorway with no app labels. Key features can be accessed through widgets without the need to open an app, and the operating system supports custom grid designs, widget sizes, and color themes.

nothing phone 2
As for the camera, the Phone (2) includes a 32-megapixel front-facing camera and a dual rear camera system with two 50-megapixel sensors. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and it is equipped with a 4700mAh battery.

The Nothing Phone (2) is launching in the United States as well as other countries, and this marks the first time that a Nothing device has been available in the U.S. It can be preordered in the United States, UK, and Europe today, with pricing starting at $599 for 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

nothing phone 3
General availability will begin on July 17, and U.S. customers in New York can attend an event on July 13 to be among the first in the world to purchase the Phone (2).

Continuing with our Prime Day deals series, right now Amazon is offering fresh discounts on the iPad mini 6. With these sales, you can get the 8.3-inch tablet for the best prices we've ever seen.

ipad mini prime dayNote: 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.

You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $379.99, down from $499.00. The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini is available for $529.99, down from $649.00. At $119 off, these are both new record low prices on the iPad mini 6, and the Prime Day price beats the previous record low by about $20.


Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

We're tracking deals on Apple products as Prime Day continues, and right now you can get record low discounts on the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE. Across the line, all of the deals shared below are new all-time low prices on each model, and only Amazon has the sales.

prime day series 8Note: 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.

As with all Prime Day sales, only Amazon Prime members can take advantage of today's deals. If you aren't a member, you can join Prime via a free 30-day trial to participate in this year's Prime Day. Once your trial is over, Prime membership will run for $14.99/month or $139/year. For students, that's $7.49/month or $69/year.

Apple Watch SE

Starting with the Apple Watch SE, Amazon has the 40mm GPS model for just $199.99 in select colors, down from $249.00. The 44mm GPS model is available for $229.99, down from $279.00. These are now the best prices we've ever seen on both versions of the second-generation Apple Watch SE.



Apple Watch Series 8

For the main Apple Watch Series 8 models, prices start at $279.99 for 41mm GPS and rise to $309.99 for 45mm GPS. Similar to the SE devices, this is the first time we've ever seen these watches go this low, and they're available in multiple colors.


Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 15 lineup in September. As usual, the Pro and Pro Max models are expected to have a wide range of new features, including a USB-C port, A17 Bionic chip, titanium frame, and more.

iPhone 15 Pro Two Volume Buttons and Titanium Feature Blue Green
Below, we have recapped the top five new features rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models.

  • USB-C port: iPhone 15 Pro models are widely rumored to feature a USB-C port, providing a more universal charging standard. On the Pro models, the USB-C port is expected to support at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3, which would result in the devices having significantly faster data transfer speeds over a wired connection compared to existing iPhones with a Lightning port.
  • Action button: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to be equipped with a customizable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra. The button would replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included on every iPhone model since 2007. Users would likely be able to assign the button to various system functions, such as Ring/Silent, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Low Power Mode, and more.
  • Titanium frame: A second Apple Watch Ultra feature that iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to adopt is a titanium frame, versus stainless steel on the iPhone 14 Pro. The titanium frame is said to have more of a brushed finish.
  • A17 Bionic chip: iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be equipped with Apple's next-generation A17 Bionic chip. The chip will reportedly be manufactured based on TSMC's advanced 3nm process for significant performance and power efficiency improvements compared to the 5nm A16 Bionic chip in iPhone 14 Pro models.
  • Ultra-thin bezels: iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to have even thinner, slightly curved bezels around the display.

With around two months to go until the iPhone 15 lineup is unveiled, additional features could be rumored, so keep tabs on our iPhone 15 Pro roundup.

Amazon Prime Day is officially underway today, and we've started tracking all of the best deals you can find on Apple products. This includes solid markdowns on a range of AirPods, with the best price of the year so far on AirPods 2.

airpods 2 prime dayNote: 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.

Specifically, you can get the AirPods 2 with Charging Case for $89.99, down from $129.00. This is an overall second-best price on the AirPods 2, but it's a match for the best price we've tracked so far this year on the accessory.

You can also get the AirPods 3 (Lightning Case) for $139.99, down from $169.00 and the AirPods Pro 2 for $199.00, down from $249.00. Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime on Amazon if you don't have the service yet.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Amazon Prime Day is back again, and this summer it will last for two days. During this time, you'll find a large selection of deals and offers across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.

primeday2020 feature3Note: 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.

For our coverage, we're focusing entirely on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48 hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, iPad mini, and more.

As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Day requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year, and it comes with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.

AirPods

Starting with AirPods, you'll find a wide selection of solid deals across the AirPods lineup on Amazon during Prime Day. Prices start at $89.99 for the AirPods 2 ($39 off), then increase to $199.00 for the AirPods Pro 2 ($50 off).

airpods 2 prime day

This is an overall second-best price on the AirPods 2, but it's a match for the best price we've tracked so far this year on the accessory. We're also tracking the AirPods Max at a discount during Prime Day, available for $449.00, down from $549.00.

Update: Since we posted yesterday, most AirPods deals have remained strong, but the AirPods 3 have gone up to $149.00, which is still a solid second-best price. AirPods Max are also slipping into August and September, so be sure to place your order soon if you plan to buy one.




Apple Watch

Big discounts have hit across the Apple Watch family this Prime Day, including record low prices on both Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 8.

prime day series 8

Apple Watch SE

Starting with the Apple Watch SE, Amazon has the 40mm GPS model for just $199.99 in select colors, down from $249.00. The 44mm GPS model is available for $229.99, down from $279.00. These are now the best prices we've ever seen on both versions of the second-generation Apple Watch SE.

Update: All Apple Watch SE model discounts have expired today. If they return, we'll be sure to update this section again.



Apple Watch Series 8

For the main Apple Watch Series 8 models, prices start at $279.99 for 41mm GPS and rise to $309.99 for 45mm GPS. Similar to the SE devices, this is the first time we've ever seen these watches go this low, and they're available in multiple colors.


9th Gen iPad

Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi model of the 9th generation iPad for $249.99, down from $329.00, which is a match of the previous all-time low for this tablet. The 256GB Wi-Fi model is on sale for $389.99, down from $479.00, and this one is a new record low price.

ipad prime day


10th Gen iPad

For the newer 2022 10th generation iPad, Amazon is introducing fresh all-time low prices for both Wi-Fi models. The 64GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $379.99, down from $449.00; and the 256GB Wi-Fi tablet is available for $529.99, down from $599.00. Both beat the previous low price by more than $20.

Update: The sale on the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad has ended today, but you can still get the 256GB Wi-Fi model at its best-ever price.

prime day ipad


iPad mini 6

Amazon is offering fresh discounts on the iPad mini 6. With these sales, you can get the 8.3-inch tablet for the best prices we've ever seen.

ipad mini prime day

You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $379.99, down from $499.00. The 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini is available for $529.99, down from $649.00. At $119 off, these are both new record low prices on the iPad mini 6, and the Prime Day price beats the previous record low by about $20.


iPad Air

The iPad Air from 2022 is seeing notable discounts this week, starting at $499.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model and $649.99 for the 256GB Wi-Fi model. Both of these are record low prices for the tablet, and are available in multiple colors.

ipad air prime day


M2 13-Inch MacBook Pro

Amazon has Apple's M2 13-inch MacBook Pro (256GB) for $1,099.00, down from $1,299.00, which is an all-time low price. You can also get the 512GB model for $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00.

prime day macbook pro m2


M2 Pro/M2 Max MacBook Pro

Apple's newest MacBook Pro models are hitting solid low prices during Prime Day this year, including discounts on both 14-inch and 16-inch models.

prime day 2023 macbook pro

14-Inch




16-Inch



M1 MacBook Air

A new all-time low price has appeared on the 13.3-inch M1 MacBook Air from 2020, available for $749.99, down from $999.00

prime day macbook air

It's on sale in all three colors of Gold, Silver, and Space Gray at this price, with a fast one-day shipping estimate for Prime members. At $249 off, this is now the best price that we've ever tracked for the M1 MacBook Air, and right now only Amazon has the sale.

More Sales

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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple in iOS 17 has introduced a handy new camera feature that helps to straighten up your shooting angle before you even hit the shutter. Running the iOS 17 beta? Then keep reading to learn how to take advantage of the new Level option.

iPhone 14 Pro Rear Camera
For a while now, Apple's Camera app has included a few optional settings that can help you line up your shots. There's a Grid that can be overlaid on the viewfinder to help apply the rule of thirds, and a somewhat-hidden leveling feature for top-down photos that displays a floating crosshair to help you line up your subject properly.

With iOS 17, Apple has further enhanced the camera leveling functionality by separating it out from the Grid mode. By making it an individual option, Apple has also included an additional horizontal level for more traditional straight-on photos.

ios 17 camera level no
Turning the Level option on will pop up a broken horizontal line on the screen when your iPhone senses you're lining up for a straight-on shot and you tilt your device slightly out of horizontal. The line appears white while your phone is out of level and then turns yellow once you achieve a level orientation to indicate success.

ios 17 camera level

How to Enable the Camera Level

The new Level option is off by default if you don't have Grid mode enabled. You can turn it on manually by following these steps.

  1. Open the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  2. Scroll down and select Camera.
  3. Under the "Composition" section, toggle on the switch next to Level.

settings

Now open the Camera app and try shooting a subject at a straight angle, and you should see the broken horizontal lines in the center of the viewfinder. Straighten your angle up to connect the lines and make a single yellow line.

The leveling pop-up only appears briefly and only within a narrow range of angles close to horizontal (in either portrait or landscape orientation), so it won't intrusively pop up when you're intentionally trying to take a photo at an angle.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

Apple has launched an online store in China's WeChat app, the Tencent-owned social media platform has announced (via Reuters).

apple wechat
China's dominant messaging app will host the Apple store via one of its mini-programs, which typically offers e-commerce, financial, and live-streaming services to WeChat's over 1.2 billion users.

Customers will be able to purchase the full line of Apple products including iPhones, iPads, and Macs on the store. Orders via WeChat are eligible for free shipping, and some users can pay for three-hour delivery and access Apple's trade-in program.

The move follows a pattern of Apple branching out its sales in China by turning to social media platforms, which Chinese consumers increasingly use to shop.

As Reuters points out, Apple already operates a similar shop on Tencent-rival Alibaba Group's Tmall online marketplace, while JD.com, China's second-largest online retailer, is an official Apple reseller. Apple also tried marketing its products on a livestream in China in May for the first time with an hour-long show.

China's smartphone sales in the first quarter fell 5% year on year, marking the lowest first-quarter sales figure for the country since 2014, according to data from Counterpoint Research cited by Reuters.

However, the research firm said Apple bucked the trend in the same quarter by recording a 19.9% share of the Chinese smartphone market – its biggest since 2014 – as it increased sales by 6% year-on-year in a declining market.

Tags: China, WeChat

Apple's Vision Pro headset will use a new type of dynamic random access memory, or DRAM, that has been custom designed to support Apple's R1 input processing chip, reports The Korea Herald.

apple vision pro chips
Apple Vision Pro is powered by a pair of chips. The main processor is the M2, which is responsible for processing content, running the visionOS operating system, executing computer vision algorithms, and providing graphical content.

The R1 chip meanwhile processes all of the information coming from the 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones in the headset, and streams images to the displays within 12 milliseconds – eight times faster than the blink of an eye – providing the wearer with a virtually lag-free view of the world.

To support the R1's high-speed requirements, the headset will reportedly use a 1-gigabit low latency DRAM chip supplied by SK hynix that features an increased number of input and output pins to minimize delays.

The DRAM chip is also said to utilize a unique packaging method called Fan-Out Wafer Level Packaging, which enables it to be attached to the R1 chipset as a single integrated unit, allowing for a doubling in processing speed.

Apple's $3,500 headset is set to go on sale early next year. Chinese contract manufacturer Luxshare will initially assemble the device. However, according to one report, Apple may limit production to fewer than 400,000 units in 2024, due to issues related to the supply of the two micro-OLED displays for the wearer's eyes and the outward-facing curved lenticular lens.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro