MacRumors

Apple today released macOS 13.1 Ventura, the newest version of the operating system that runs on Macs. macOS Ventura 13.1 comes more than a month after the launch of macOS 13 Ventura.

Ventura Macs Feature Blue
The ‌macOS Ventura‌ update can be downloaded for free on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Settings. Apple has also released macOS Big Sur 11.72 and macOS Monterey 12.6.2 for Mac users that are not able to update to Ventura.

Today's macOS Ventura update introduces the Freeform app, designed to allow users to sketch, draw, and write on a blank whiteboard-style canvas that can be used with friends and colleagues. It also includes Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, expanding end-to-end encryption to ‌iCloud‌ Backup, Notes, Photos, and more.

There are improvements to search in Messages, an option to play a sound in the Find My app to locate AirTags, AirPods Pro, and ‌Find My‌ network accessories, plus there are several bug fixes. Apple's full notes for the update are below.

Freeform
- Freeform is a new app for working creatively with friends or colleagues on Mac, iPad and iPhone
- A flexible canvas lets you add files, images, stickies, and more

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
- New option expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected using end-to-end encryption to 23 -- including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos -- protecting your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
- Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note
- Play sound in Find My app can now help you pinpoint the location of nearby AirTags, AirPods Pro (2nd generation) case, and Find My network accessories
- Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made
- Fixes an issue where you may lose keyboard and mouse input in some apps and games

Some features may not be available for all regions, or on all Apple devices.
For detailed information about the security content of this update, please visit: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

For more on all of the features that are available in the macOS Ventura update, we have a dedicated macOS Ventura roundup.

Related Forum: macOS Ventura

Apple today released iOS 16.2, the second major update to the iOS 16 operating system that came out in September. iOS 16.2 comes more than a month after the launch of iOS 16.1, an update that added support for Live Activities, Matter, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and more.

iOS 16
The ‌iOS 16‌.2 update Apple's can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. It can take a few minutes for the updates to propagate to all users due to high demand. Note that Apple has also released iOS 15.7.2 for iPhone users who have older devices, with the update offering security improvements.

Today's iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates bring several notable features to iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, including the Freeform app, which is a sort of digital whiteboard that you can use for anything, while also working collaboratively with friends and colleagues.

It includes the Apple Music karaoke feature called "Sing," it introduces Advanced Data Protection for end-to-end encryption for more ‌iCloud‌ features, plus more. On the iPad, the update brings support for external displays on M1 and M2 iPads.

Apple's full release notes for the iOS update are below:

Freeform
- Freeform is a new app for working creatively with friends or colleagues on Mac, iPad and iPhone
- A flexible canvas lets you add files, images, stickies, and more
Drawing tools let you sketch anywhere on the canvas with your finger

Apple Music Sing
- A new way to sing along with millions of your favorite songs in Apple Music
- Fully adjustable vocals let you duet with the original artist, sing solo, or mix it up
- Newly enhanced beat-by-beat lyrics make it even easier to follow along with the music

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud
- New option expands the total number of iCloud data categories protected using end-to-end encryption to 23 -- including iCloud Backup, Notes, and Photos -- protecting your information even in the case of a data breach in the cloud

Lock Screen
- New settings allow you to hide wallpaper or notifications when Always-On display is enabled on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Sleep widget lets you view your most recent sleep data
- Medications widget lets you view reminders and quickly access your schedule

Game Center
- SharePlay support in Game Center for multiplayer games so you can play with the people you are on a FaceTime call with
- Activity Widget allows you to see what your friends are playing and achieving in games right from your Home Screen

Apple TV
- Live Activities for Apple TV app let you follow your favorite teams with live scores right on your Lock Screen or in Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

Home
- Improved reliability and efficiency of communication between your smart home accessories and Apple devices

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Improved search in Messages allows you to find photos based on their content, like a dog, car, person, or text
- Turn Off Hide IP Address setting enables iCloud Private Relay users to temporarily disable the service for a specific site in Safari
- News articles in Weather display information relevant to the weather in that location
- Participant Cursors in Notes allow you to see live indicators as others make updates in a shared note
- AirDrop now automatically reverts to Contacts Only after 10 minutes to prevent unwanted requests to receive content
- Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models
- Fixes an issue that causes some notes not to sync with iCloud after updates are made

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

Apple also has some ‌iPad‌ specific notes:

Stage Manager
- External display support with resolutions up to 6K available on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), and iPad Air (5th generation)
- Drag and drop files and windows from your compatible device to your connected display, and vice versa
- Support for using up to 4 apps on the iPad display and 4 on the external display

iPad Specific Features and Fixes
- Fixes an issue that may cause Multi-Touch gestures to become unresponsive while using the Zoom accessibility feature

Following the launch of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, Apple may soon seed out the first betas of iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3, giving us a look at new features that we can expect to see in the new year.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Apple today released watchOS 9.2, the second major update to the watchOS 9 operating system that Apple launched in September. watchOS 9.2 comes more than a month after the debut of watchOS 9.1, an update that added battery life improvements.

watchOS 9 Feature
watchOS 9.2 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.

watchOS 9.2 includes Race Route, a feature that is designed to let outdoor runners, cyclists, and wheelchair users to compete against their previous performances, plus for outdoor run workouts, it can detect when you arrive at a running track.

There's a new custom kickboxing algorithm, the Noise app now lets you know when sound levels are reduced with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, and there are optimizations for Crash Detection along with a few bug fixes. Apple's full notes for the update are below:

watchOS 9.2 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
- Outdoor Run workout now automatically detects when you arrive at a running track and provides track specific metrics
- Race Route lets you compete against your previous performance in Outdoor Run, Outdoor Cycle, and Outdoor Wheelchair Workouts
- New custom Kickboxing algorithm in the Workout app for more accurate metrics
- Noise app displays when environmental sound levels are reduced while wearing AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods Max with active noise cancellation
- Family Setup users can be invited to the Home app to control HomePod speakers and smart home accessories, and unlock doors with home keys in Wallet
- Accessibility support to visualize when Siren is in use on Apple Watch Ultra
- Improved response time and accuracy of hand gesture controls for AssistiveTouch and Quick Actions
- Crash Detection optimizations on Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch SE (2nd generation)
- Fix for bug that causes display of incorrect watch time immediately after dismissing an alarm in Sleep Focus
- Fix for bug causing interruptions to mindfulness sessions

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit: https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

watchOS 9.2 will require iOS 16.2 to install on an Apple Watch, and it is compatible with all Apple Watch models able to run watchOS 9.

Apple today released tvOS 16.2, the second major update to the tvOS 16 operating system that initially debuted in September. tvOS 16.2 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 16.1, an update that introduced Siri improvements and iCloud Shared Photo Library.

Apple TV 2022 Feature Orange
The tvOS 16.2 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌ by going to System > Software Update. ‌‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to ‌tvOS 16.2 automatically. tvOS 16.2 is compatible with ‌Apple TV‌ 4K and ‌Apple TV‌ HD models.

tvOS 16.2 adds support for Apple Music Sing, the new karaoke feature designed to let ‌Apple Music‌ subscribers with an ‌Apple TV‌ sing along to their favorite songs, solo or in duets. ‌Apple Music‌ Sing is compatible with the third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, which is the newest model.

The update adds ‌Apple TV‌+ previews, displaying videos of new ‌Apple TV‌+ shows and films in the Originals tab, plus it tweaks the main TV app interface, moving down the "Watch Now" bar in favor of content previews.

Apple says that tvOS 16.2 provides video recommendations on what to watch next after you finish a show or movie, plus it introduces a new unified sports experience. You can follow your favorite teams in the ‌Apple TV‌ app and automatically have news on those teams show up in Apple News.

Apple provides additional details on tvOS releases in its dedicated tvOS support document, which is updated after each new iteration of tvOS.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Alongside iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2, watchOS 9.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple today released new software created for the HomePod and HomePod mini.

homepod mini color bars
According to Apple's release notes, ‌HomePod‌ software version 16.2 adds performance and stability improvements, with no additional information. It's worth noting that alongside the new iOS and macOS updates, the ‌HomePod‌ software adds a new Home app architecture.

‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app by following the instructions in our HomePod‌‌ update how to.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Deals on Apple's line of MagSafe accessories have come and gone throughout the holiday season, and one of the last remaining solid deals before Christmas is on the regular MagSafe Charger. Amazon has this accessory for $29.99, down from $39.00, which is a solid second-best price.

magsafe gingerbreadNote: 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.

Getting Apple's products shipped and delivered in time for Christmas is getting harder as we near the 25th, and the MagSafe Charger is one of the last Apple accessories on Amazon with a delivery date before Christmas and a solid discount.

The MagSafe Battery Pack and MagSafe Duo Charger also have delivery dates before Christmas, but neither have particularly steep discounts on Amazon as of writing. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Best Buy today announced it has expanded its Upgrade+ program to include select 24-inch iMac and Mac Studio models. Launched in October in partnership with Apple, the program provides interest-free monthly financing via Citizens Bank for select Macs purchased from Best Buy in the United States, similar to Apple's own iPhone Upgrade Program.

iMac 24 Apple Newsroom
For example, an approved customer can finance an iMac starting at $28.17 per month for 36 months. After 36 months, customers who purchase an eligible Mac will then have the options of making a final, higher payment to keep the Mac, returning the Mac, or returning the Mac and upgrading to a newer model through the program.

For example, Upgrade+ allows customers to finance:
- An iMac from $28.17/month for 36 months and the $286 final payment is due in month 37. Based on an original price of $1,299.99.
- A Mac laptop from $19.99/month for 36 months and the $280.35 final payment is due in month 37. Based on an original price of $999.99.

Upgrade+ also offers customers the option to finance the purchase of an AppleCare+ plan for their Mac and select Apple accessories. Best Buy Totaltech members who purchase an eligible Mac through the program will receive AppleCare+ at no additional charge for up to 24 months while their membership is active.

Other models available through the Upgrade+ program include the MacBook Air with the M1 chip or M2 chip, 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip, and 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

More details about the program are available on Best Buy's website.

Amazon today has a few models of Apple's M2 MacBook Air at a discount and with shipping in time for Christmas. Prices start at $1,049.00 for the 256GB M2 MacBook Air, down from $1,199.00, which is a match of this model's all-time low price.

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This sale is available in all four colors, but only Space Gray and Midnight options are available to be delivered before December 25. Starlight and Silver colors have delivery dates slipping into late December and early January as of writing.

For the 512GB M2 MacBook Air, options are more limited. There are again two colors available at the all-time low price of $1,299.00, down from $1,499.00, but only Silver has a guaranteed delivery date before Christmas.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Popular writing app and markdown editor Ulysses has gained a new Projects feature that's aimed at users who tend to work on larger projects, such as books, a thesis, or a blog.

29 Projects Assembly
New to the app in version 29, the Projects feature only shows what's relevant to the current project and hides everything else in the app's sidebar to improve focus.

The writing goal and deadline for the project is shown in prominently in the sidebar, where there are dedicated sections for content as well as additional silos for research material, while keywords for each project are managed separately.

The interface for projects has been designed to make content easily exportable, and each project can have separate settings, such as export style and file format.

In addition, Ulysses 29 overhauls the dashboard and Revision mode toolbars on Mac and the menus on iOS, and fixes a bug where italics would fail to show in the editor. The whole process of moving groups and sheets has also been reworked, so that Ulysses drag-and-drop interactions finally work as they should.

29 Projects Keywords ulysses
Ulysses can be downloaded for free on the App Store. After a 14-day trial period, a subscription is required to unlock the app on all devices. A monthly subscription costs $5.99, while a yearly subscription is $39.99.

Students can use Ulysses at a discounted price of $10.99 per six months. The discount is granted from within the app. Ulysses is also included in Setapp, the subscription-based service for Mac applications created by MacPaw.

Tag: Ulysses

Microsoft Authenticator for iOS will drop support for the Apple Watch companion app from January 2023, the company has revealed.

Microsoft Authenticator
Used principally for signing into Microsoft accounts with two-step verification enabled, the Microsoft Authenticator for iOS gained an Apple Watch companion app in 2018.

The watch app supports Microsoft personal, work, and school accounts that are set up with push notifications and lets users bypass the need to pick up their iPhone at all to complete the authentication process.

However, this functionality is being removed at the beginning of next year. Microsoft documented the change to the iOS app in an updated FAQ webpage. In answer to the question "Is Apple Watch supported for Authenticator on iOS?" Microsoft gives the following reply:

In the upcoming Authenticator release in January 2023 for iOS, there will be no companion app for watchOS due to it being incompatible with Authenticator security features. This means you won't be able to install or use Authenticator on Apple Watch. We therefore recommend that you delete Authenticator from your Apple Watch. This change only impacts Apple Watch, so you will still be able to use Authenticator on your other devices.

Microsoft did not specify which security features the watchOS app is incompatible with going forward, and instead simply directs users to the ‌iPhone‌ or iPad app to authenticate login attempts.

The Microsoft Authenticator app for Apple Watch joins a long list of abandoned third-party watchOS apps that have been discontinued over the last few years, either because of perceived redundancy or lack of user uptake. Other notable Apple Watch apps that have got the chop include Twitter, Instagram, Target, Trello, Slack, Hulu, and Uber.

Tim Cook today publicly paid tribute to Sony's long-term partnership with Apple in creating cutting-edge camera sensors for successive iPhone models for over a decade.

tim cook sony japan visit
In a tweet posted during his visit to Sony's camera development facility in Kumamoto, Japan, Cook acknowledged the company's successful partnership with Apple to create "the world's leading camera sensors for ‌iPhone‌," and thanked the team at the facility for showing him around.

Apple doesn't usually reveal the specific makers of the hardware components that it uses in iPhones, but its use of Sony camera hardware has long been known by close followers of the company's supply chain.

Apple reportedly used Sony's camera sensor for the iPhone 6, and subsequent hardware teardowns by the likes of iFixit have identified Sony-made components in successive ‌iPhone‌ models.

Cook's tweet suggests Apple's partnership with Sony remains strong, and rumors to that effect already signal the Japanese company's contributions to future Apple products. For example, According to a November report from Nikkei, next year's iPhone 15 models will be equipped with Sony's newest "state of the art" image sensors.

Compared to standard sensors, Sony's image sensor doubles the saturation signal in each pixel, allowing it to capture more light to cut down on underexposure and overexposure. Nikkei said that it is able to better photograph a person's face even with strong backlighting.


Apple is working on a periscope telephoto lens that will improve the ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌ Pro's optical zoom capabilities, allowing for up to 10x optical zoom to match some Android smartphones that are on the market. The Sony image sensor technology would likely be used for the Wide camera that Apple considers the ‌iPhone‌'s "main" camera as Apple typically uses different technology for each lens.

Also for next year, Sony is expected to supply Apple with an OLED on silicon (OLEDoS) – also known as micro-OLED – display for the company's first-generation mixed-reality headset.

Tags: Japan, Sony

Apple today announced the expansion of Emergency SOS via Satellite and Find My via satellite functionality to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ireland.

Emergency SOS via Satellite iPhone YT
iPhone 14 users can now connect with emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available, and calls from the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature will be routed to local emergency services facilities.

Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is available to all ‌iPhone 14‌ users running iOS 16.1 in supported countries and it is free to use for two years. It is designed to allow iPhone users to make emergency calls using satellite connectivity outdoors when no cellular or WiFi connection is available.

Apple says that with the release of iOS 16.2, expected later today, users who dial a local emergency service number will automatically be routed to 112, the European emergency phone number, if the call does not go through due to a cellular or Wi-Fi connection not being available, enabling them to utilize Emergency SOS via satellite even if they don't dial 112.

"Emergency SOS via satellite makes emergency communications over satellite more accessible, which is very exciting,” said Gary Machado, the European Emergency Number Association's CEO. "In practice, it means that many more people will be able to contact 112 when they have no mobile coverage and need urgent assistance. We are confident that this will save many lives and offer significant help to emergency services dealing with these often very complicated rescues."

"Being able to use a satellite connection to contact 999 or 112 if there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is a breakthrough that Apple has brought to the general public with iPhone 14," said John Anthony, the British Association of Public Safety Communications Officials' president. "The feature will mean that emergency services can be alerted when it was not previously possible and are then able to do their jobs to better effect, in part because of the initial information that can be shared with dispatchers, such as location and essential details about the emergency. Ultimately, this will help save lives."

Emergency SOS via Satellite launched in the United States and Canada last month, and at the time, Apple said that it would expand to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December. Support for more countries will follow next year, according to Apple.

Satellite connectivity can also be used to update a ‌‌Find My‌‌ location without WiFi or cellular connectivity through the ‌‌Find My‌‌ app.

Sonos today updated the Trueplay feature available for the Sonos app, allowing Trueplay to work with iPhone 14 models. Trueplay uses the iPhone to take a scan of the room where a Sonos product is located, measuring how sound reflects off of walls, furnishings, and surfaces in the area.

Sonos Feature
Trueplay is designed to use that information to fine tune a Sonos speaker or device to optimize the sound output. A three minute process, Trueplay can be done through the Settings tab of the Sonos app on iOS devices.

Since the launch of the ‌iPhone 14‌ models, Trueplay has not been available, which means ‌iPhone 14‌ users with Sonos speakers and no other ‌iPhone‌ have not been able to use the tuning feature. Sonos implemented over-the-air support as of today, so Trueplay is able to work with the ‌iPhone 14‌, ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus, ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro, and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max.

All Sonos products support Trueplay with the exception of the Port, Connect, and Roam SL.

(Thanks, Steve!)

Tag: Sonos

Apple today released a new firmware update designed for its AirTag item trackers, with the firmware featuring an updated build number of 2A36, up from the 2A24e firmware that Apple started releasing in November. Note that when you install the update, you will see a 2.0.36 version number.

AitTag New Firmware
There is no word yet on what's included in the update, but Apple may provide a support document with details.

It is not possible to force an ‌AirTag‌ update, as it's something that's done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your ‌AirTag‌ in range of your ‌‌iPhone‌‌, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current ‌AirTag‌ firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.

Curiously, Apple started providing the prior 2A24e AirTags firmware on a rolling basis in November, but ultimately pulled the update before it saw a full launch. The new firmware released today replaces that version.

Apple TV+ series "Severance" and "Black Bird" have been nominated for the 80th annual Golden Globe Awards, which will be presented on January 10, 2023. A few prominent cast members in each show have also received nominations.

Severance Apple TV Plus Banner
Apple's streaming service landed six nominations in total:

  • Severance — Best Drama Series
  • Black Bird — Best Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Motion Picture
  • Adam Scott, Severance — Best Actor in Drama Series
  • John Turturro, Severance — Best Supporting Actor in Television Series
  • Taron Egerton, Black Bird — Best Actor in Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture
  • Paul Walter Hauser, Black Bird — Best Supporting Actor in Television Limited Series/Motion Picture

"Severance" is a sci-fi thriller created by Dan Erickson and executive produced by Ben Stiller. The series revolves around a mysterious company named Lumon Industries, whose employees cannot recall any memories about their personal lives while they are at work. Likewise, once the employees leave the office, they cannot remember anything about the workplace. The series has been renewed for a second season.

"Black Bird" is a limited drama series created by Dennis Lehane. When a policeman's son is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum-security prison, he is offered an opportunity for a commuted sentence with no conditions by authorities in exchange for entering a maximum-security prison and befriending a suspected serial killer to get him to confess.

Apple TV+ has been nominated for Golden Globe awards in the past, including for series "Ted Lasso" and "The Morning Show." In both 2021 and 2022, "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis won a Golden Globe award for Best Television Actor in a Musical or a Comedy.

Anker is back today with a new Gold Box deal on Amazon, offering up to 50 percent off a collection of its most popular charging accessories. In total these deals include savings on wireless chargers, USB-C wall chargers, portable batteries, MagSafe-compatible chargers, and more.

anker snowNote: 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.

Many of the Anker products on sale today have delivery dates ahead of Christmas day, so if you're shopping for the holiday season these accessories can make for solid gifts and stocking stuffers. You can find all of the items on sale listed below, including markdowns on wireless chargers, portable chargers, USB-C hubs, wall chargers, and charging cables.

Wireless Chargers

Portable Chargers

USB-C Hubs

Wall Chargers

Cables

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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Smart home accessory company Eve Systems today announced the rollout of an over-the-air firmware update that will bring Matter support to the recent Eve Energy, Eve Door and Window, and Eve Motion devices.

eve matter
The optional Matter update will be available on iPhones and iPads running iOS or iPadOS 16.2, which is currently available in a beta capacity. Updating to Matter will also require a Thread Border Router capable Home Hub like the HomePod mini or the second/third-generation Apple TV 4K, and users will need to sign up for the Eve Matter Early Access Program, which will include a link to the Eve TestFlight app.

Eve says that these are the first products that have Matter support on the market. Eve devices updated with Matter will continue to work with HomeKit, with no change to the Home app experience, but once a device has been updated to Matter, it cannot be migrated back to ‌HomeKit‌.

Devices with Matter support will work with ‌HomeKit‌, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home, though Amazon and Google have not yet rolled out support.

The Matter-compatible Eve Door and Window, Eve Energy, and Eve Motion can be purchased from the Eve website or from Amazon.com.

The Apple Pencil 2 is once again available for its all-time low price today on Amazon, priced at $89.00, down from $129.00. The accessory is in stock and available to deliver as soon as December 17 for Prime delivery, or December 20 - 21 for free delivery.

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The Apple Pencil 2 is compatible with the following iPads: iPad mini (6th generation), iPad Air (4th generation and later), 12.9-inch iPad Pro (3rd generation and later), and 11-inch iPad Pro (1st generation and later). The second generation Apple Pencil can also magnetically attach and pair to the iPad Pro, iPad mini, and iPad Air.

If you have the newest iPad Pro models, the second-generation Apple Pencil can now be detected while hovering up to 12mm above the display. This allows users to see a preview of their drawing before they make it, and with Scribble text fields automatically expand when the pencil gets near the screen.

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