MacRumors

YouTube's Apple TV app is crashing and causing some issues for users when they try to exit out of the app, according to user reports online.

On Twitter and Reddit, users report that when trying to exit out of the YouTube app, their ‌Apple TV‌ becomes unresponsive and shows a black screen. The issue begins when users press the back button on their ‌Apple TV‌ remote, which then causes the YouTube app to ask users to confirm they wish to exit the app. Doing so causes the screen to go black, with users having no choice but to force close the app or disconnect and replug their ‌Apple TV‌. To force close an app on ‌Apple TV‌, double press the TV button on the remote, find the desired app, and swipe up on the trackpad.

YouTube has remained relatively quiet on the issue, telling frustrated users on Twitter to try deleting and reinstalling the app, despite those steps doing little to resolve the issue. Users affected by the bug are advised to make sure their YouTube app and ‌Apple TV‌ are up to date.

Apple reportedly wants to triple its iPhone production capacity in India within the next two years, part of a larger plan to diversify its supply chain out of China and into other parts of the world.

According to a report by Mint, an unnamed "senior industry executive" said, "[Apple is] looking to scale up the volumes that they make from India. It can rise by more than three times what they aim to make this year." The report cites a second executive who said Apple has instructed Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, three of its biggest suppliers, to increase their capacity and manpower in the country.

Just this week, it was announced Foxconn had invested $500 million in its Indian subsidiary in hopes of increasing its operational capacity in the country. Apple and its suppliers already produce several ‌iPhone‌ models in India, including the new iPhone 14, with reported plans to expand production to other products, including the iPad.

Supply of iPhone 14 Pro models ahead of the holiday season has been heavily limited due to disruptions in Foxconn's main plant in China. Apple said in a press release last month that it was "working hard" to restore supply to normal levels, but as the holidays approach, customers looking for a high-end ‌iPhone‌ will face a tough challenge.

In August 2021, Apple announced it had acquired classical music service Primephonic. At the time, Apple said it planned to launch a dedicated classical music app this year, but time is starting to run out if the company wishes to follow through with the plans on time.

"Apple Music plans to launch a dedicated classical music app next year combining Primephonic's classical user interface that fans have grown to love with more added features," said an Apple Newsroom press release shared last year. Apple has not publicly addressed the plans since and did not respond to our requests for comment over the past month.

The app would serve as a replacement for Primephonic, providing users with a destination for streaming classical music from the likes of Beethoven and Mozart.

Primephonic's website originally said it was "working on an amazing new classical music experience from Apple for early next year," but the "early next year" wording was changed to "next year" on March 9, 2022, just one day after Apple held an event to introduce the Mac Studio, Studio Display, fifth-generation iPad Air, and third-generation iPhone SE.

Primephonic's service shut down in September 2021, with subscribers at the time receiving six months of access to Apple Music for free. That means Primephonic subscribers were able to listen to Apple Music through February, suggesting that Apple might have planned to announce the classical music app at its March event this year, but wasn't ready to.

In February, a code-level reference to "Open in Apple Classical" was discovered in a beta version of the Apple Music app for Android. Then, in May, similar references to "Open in Apple Classical" and "A Shortcut to Apple Classical" were uncovered in the iOS 15.5 beta. These references were never made visible to the public, but it could reveal that Apple is or at least was planning to name the app Apple Classical instead of Apple Music Classical.

Even more references to the classical music app were discovered in an XML file on Apple's servers in late September as backend preparations continued. It's unclear if the app would be built into iOS or released separately on the App Store.

Apple said it would incorporate the best features of Primephonic, including "better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire" and "detailed displays of classical music metadata," and it's possible that the company simply needs more time to finish working on the task. Primephonic also operated with a unique pay-per-second-listened model instead of a pay-per-play model like Apple Music, so perhaps Apple is still trying to figure out a payout model that it finds suitable for the Apple Classical app.

At this point, the fate of Apple Classical is unclear. Apple could end up launching the app in the next week or two and meet its deadline after all, or the launch might be pushed back to 2023. A lesser possibility is that Apple decides not to release a classical music app and instead moves to incorporate more classical features into the Apple Music app in future iOS 16 or iOS 17 versions. In any case, Apple is staying quiet about its plans right now.

Twitter will eventually increase its character limit from the current 280 to 4,000, the company's new CEO, Elon Musk, has confirmed on Twitter.

In reply to a question whether rumored plans for Twitter to increase the character limit to 4,000 were true, Musk responded "Yes," without providing additional information. Twitter originally had a character limit of 140 before it was increased to 280 in 2017.

The exact details of the increase in character limit are not yet known, but previous reports and tweets by Musk suggested Twitter may make it easier for users to break up long chains of texts into multiple tweets part of a thread. It seems that an increase to 4,000 characters would eliminate that idea, and users could simply post longer blocks of text in single posts.

Twitter announced over the weekend that it plans to relaunch its Twitter Blue subscription service on Monday, which will offer users a verified blue checkmark and other perks such as the ability to edit tweets and upload higher-resolution 1080p videos. Twitter Blue will relaunch with a higher price of $11/month for iPhone users after Musk criticized Apple's 30% commission taken from in-app purchases.

Twitter today announced its Twitter Blue subscription option is relaunching Monday for $8/month on the web and $11/month through its iOS app. The higher price on iOS helps to offset the 15% to 30% cut that Apple receives from subscriptions paid through the App Store — a fee that Twitter owner Elon Musk has criticized as being too high.

Twitter Blue subscribers will receive a blue checkmark next to their name, but only after they verify their phone number and their account has been reviewed. Other perks include the ability to edit tweets and upload higher-resolution 1080p videos, and Reader Mode for easily reading tweet threads. Subscribers who change their username, display name, or profile photo will temporarily lose the blue checkmark until their account is reviewed again.

Twitter paused new Blue subscriptions last month after accounts with blue checkmarks were used to impersonate businesses, celebrities, and other high-profile individuals. The only requirement to get a blue checkmark was to spend $8.

Twitter also announced that it will begin replacing the "Official" label for brands and other notable accounts with a gold checkmark for businesses, while a gray checkmark for government and multilateral accounts will begin rolling out later in the week.

An image shared by Twitter shows that Blue subscribers will also eventually see 50% fewer ads than non-subscribers, gain the ability to post longer videos, have prioritized tweets in the replies section, mentions, and search, and get early access to other new features over time. All of these perks are listed as "coming soon."

Twitter has not indicated when accounts that were previously verified without subscribing to Blue will lose their blue checkmark.

Two unreleased Mac models have been spotted in Steam's November 2022 survey, which gathers anonymous information from willing Steam users on specific details of their computers, including the computer's model, CPU type, memory, and more.

In the survey for November 2022, two unreleased Macs with identifiers "Mac14,6" and "Mac15,4" were spotted towards the bottom of the list, alongside model identifiers that correspond to the Mac Studio, 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, ‌M2‌ MacBook Air, and other models.

Both "Mac14,6" and "Mac15,4" are listed with 0% usage on Steam's platform, but their placement on the list does suggest Apple may be testing the unreleased Macs with upcoming Apple silicon chips on Steam's gaming platform.

Interestingly, this isn't the first time we've seen a reference to an unannounced Mac with the model identifier "Mac14,6." That same identifier has been spotted in two separate (1,2) Geekbench score entries with the ‌M2‌ Max chip, which is likely to come first in upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Apple was expected to announce the updated ‌MacBook Pro‌ models during the fall of this year but then pushed plans until 2023.

The upcoming Macs are expected to feature ‌M2‌ Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips with faster performance and possible options for higher memory configurations. Apple announced the ‌M2‌ chip in June, marking the beginning of the second generation of Apple silicon, which came first to the redesigned ‌MacBook Air‌ and 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌.

(Thanks, Kim!)

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means Apple is wrapping up its final announcements and launches of 2022. This week saw Apple announce an expansion of encryption options for iCloud, a new karaoke-like experience called Apple Music Sing, and the launch of HomePod mini in new countries.

Apple is also rolling out the "biggest upgrade" ever for App Store pricing options for developers, and for those who are having a hard time getting a hold of an iPhone 14 Pro due to shortages, we took a look at why you might just want to wait until next year's models to upgrade, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!

Apple Announces End-to-End Encryption Option for iCloud Photos, Notes, Backups, and More

Apple this week announced a major expansion of end-to-end encryption for iCloud on an opt-in basis.

Starting with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1, coming later this month, a new Advanced Data Protection feature gives users the option to enable end-to-end encryption across many other iCloud data categories, including backups, photos, notes, and more.

Apple also previewed two other security features for iMessage and Apple ID accounts that will be available in 2023.

Apple Music Sing: New Karaoke Feature Announced for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

Apple Music Sing is a new karaoke-like feature in the Apple Music app that lets you sing along to tens of millions of songs.

The feature allows users to lower the volume of the vocals in a song and then take over as the singer within the lyrics section of the Apple Music app. You'll need a device with an A13 chip or newer, including the iPhone 11 and newer, select iPads, and the latest Apple TV 4K.

It's officially launching later this month, but it's available now for users running the iOS 16.2 beta and we went hands-on with the new feature to get a sense for how it works.

iOS 16.2 for iPhone Expected to Launch Next Week With These 12 New Features

iOS 16.2 is expected to be released next week following nearly two months of beta testing. With last-minute additions like Apple Music Sing and Advanced Data Protection, the software update now has over a dozen new features for the iPhone.

We've put together a list of 12 notable features and changes for the iPhone with iOS 16.2, including the Freeform app, a new AirDrop setting, and more.

Can't Get an iPhone 14 Pro? Here's Why You Should Wait for the iPhone 15 Ultra

Due to production issues at the main iPhone factory in China, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are currently very hard to find.

If you are unable to get your hands on an iPhone 14 Pro right now, it might be a good idea to check out our list of reasons to consider waiting for the "iPhone 15 Ultra" rumored to launch next year. New features expected include a faster USB-C port and much more.

Apple Announces App Store Changes, Including Expanded Pricing Up to $10,000

Apple this week announced it is providing developers with an additional 700 price points for App Store apps, allowing apps to be priced as low as 29 cents, or as high as $10,000 upon request.

Apple is also making it easier for developers to manage foreign exchange rate fluctuations. These changes apply now to apps offering auto-renewable subscriptions and will be available for all apps in 2023.

HomePod Mini Launching in More Countries This Month

Apple says the HomePod mini will be available in Finland, Norway, and Sweden starting December 13, with orders available now.

The smart speaker is also launching in South Africa on December 19 and in Denmark in early 2023.

It's been over two years since Apple released the HomePod mini in the United States. Earlier this week, we outlined what's next for the smart speaker.

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Google Chrome has announced it has gained support for passkeys, a new industry-wide standard with the hope of replacing passwords by making it easier and safer to log into websites and apps.

With passkeys, users can authenticate and log into websites using their iPhone or Android devices, replacing the need for a password. On newer versions of iOS and Android, users visiting websites that support passkeys can use biometric authentication on a trusted device to confirm their identity. Writing in a blog post, Google said it was adding passkey support to Chrome, which will let users scan a QR code on their Android or ‌iPhone‌ device to log in. Passkey support is also coming to Chrome on Android.

On a desktop device you can also choose to use a passkey from your nearby mobile device and, since passkeys are built on industry standards, you can use either an Android or iOS device. A passkey doesn't leave your mobile device when signing in like this. Only a securely generated code is exchanged with the site so, unlike a password, there's nothing that could be leaked.

A number of other companies and apps have introduced or announced upcoming support for passkeys, including 1Password, PayPal, Microsoft, eBay, and more. Passkey support in Google Chrome is available now with the latest update. To learn more about passkeys, check out our explainer.

The current Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR launched three years ago today, marking Apple's return to a modular tower design for its flagship desktop Mac, as well as the company's re-entry into the external display market.

In April 2018, Apple uncharacteristically confirmed that a redesigned ‌Mac Pro‌ would be released in 2019 to replace the controversial "trashcan" model from 2013. The new machine was officially unveiled at WWDC 2019 alongside the Pro Display XDR, Apple's first new display since 2011's Thunderbolt display. The ‌Mac Pro‌ and Pro Display XDR finally launched on December 10 of that year.

The 2019 ‌Mac Pro‌ features a prominent lattice pattern originally designed for the Power Mac G4 Cube in 2000, and the internals can be easily accessed by sliding off the casing. The machine contains eight PCIe slots for expansion and was praised for its modularity and repairability. It can be purchased in a rack mount configuration or with wheels for an additional $400.

The ‌Mac Pro‌ includes three impeller fans to allow it to run at peak performance, and supports up to 1.5TB of memory, two AMD Radeon Pro GPUs, and Intel Xeon chips with up to 28 cores. It can also be configured with Apple's custom Afterburner card for accelerating ProRes. The Pro Display XDR shares the ‌Mac Pro‌'s lattice design and offers a high-resolution, 32-inch 6K panel that can replace a reference monitor.

The ‌Mac Pro‌ is priced starting at $5,999, but can reach almost $53,000 with configuration options. The Pro Display XDR starts at $4,999, but can go up to around $7,200 with options.

Three years after launch, the ‌Mac Pro‌ is one of the last Intel-based Mac models still on sale and the only remaining Mac product line with no Apple silicon chip options. An all-new model that finally brings Apple silicon to the company's top-tier Mac aimed professionals has now been anticipated for over two years. At its "Peek Performance" event earlier this year, Apple even directly teased the launch of the Apple silicon Mac Pro, saying "that's for another day."

Previously, reports about a smaller Mac Pro model placed somewhere between the Mac mini and the ‌Mac Pro‌ made it difficult to know what to expect from the future of the high-end ‌Mac Pro‌ line, but it is now clear many of these rumors related to the Mac Studio, somewhat clarifying what can be expected from the next-generation ‌Mac Pro‌.

Multiple reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman about the Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌'s chip options and specifications provide a fairly straightforward picture of what to expect from the new flagship professional Mac. According to Gurman, users will be able to configure the new ‌Mac Pro‌ with "M2 Ultra" and "M2 Extreme" chip options.

• Apple Silicon Mac Pro Configurations: Everything We Know

Yet beyond its basic specifications, little is currently known about the device's design, ports, performance, and potential for modularity and customization, in real terms. Apple is expected to introduce the Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌ sometime next year, and it could come alongside a "Pro" version of the Studio Display with a mini-LED panel and support for ProMotion.

This week's major deals focused on third-party accessories from companies like Samsung, Anker, Nomad, Satechi, Twelve South, and more. In addition to these accessory sales, there were still plenty of Apple product discounts going on, including all-time low prices on MacBook Air, iPad, iPad Air, and more. Many of these still have Christmas delivery options as well.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Samsung

• What's the deal? Take up to $330 off Samsung's popular Smart Monitor M8 and many more deals
• Where can I get it? Samsung
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week Samsung began a new "Discover Samsung" winter savings event, which included major discounts across its line of TVs, monitors, computer storage, and more. The highlight of the sale is the Smart Monitor M8 for just $399.99 in select colors, down from $729.99. You can find even more products on sale in our post.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker's best charging accessories
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker began a new discount event on Amazon this week, including major markdowns on cables, portable chargers, wall chargers, wireless chargers, and more. You can find the full list of accessories in our post on the sale, and be sure to note that many require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the sales. Anker's deals are also known to expire fast, so some of these accessories may no longer be discounted, but the majority are still on sale as of writing.

Apple Accessories

• What's the deal? Take up to 35% off with our exclusive codes from Nomad, Twelve South, Satechi, and more
• Where can I get it? Nomad, Satechi, Pad & Quill, Twelve South, and 1Password
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This year marked the return of our annual article in which we share a collection of exclusive discounts from popular third-party accessory companies. For 2022, this list includes Nomad, Pad & Quill, Twelve South, Satechi, and 1Password. You can find full details for each sale in our article.

• Nomad - Save 20% off sitewide with code MRHOLIDAY
• Satechi - Get 25% off sitewide with code MR25
• Pad & Quill - Save 35% off regularly priced items sitewide with code MR15
• Twelve South - Save 20% off your order with code MacRumors20
• 1Password - Get 50% off first year of 1Password (new customers only)

MacBook Air

• What's the deal? Take up to $199 off M1 and M2 MacBook Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The year's best prices are still around this week for both the M1 and M2 MacBook Air. If you're okay with an older model (or are shopping for someone who would be), the $799.99 price tag on the 2020 M1 MacBook Air is a great sale. The M2 MacBook Air at $1,049.00 is another solid discount for anyone shopping around for the newest model.

iPads

• What's the deal? Take up to $99 off 2022 iPad and iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

The week began with a return of all-time low prices on both Apple's 2022 iPad and iPad Air, with up to $99 off these models. Prices start at $399.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad in select colors ($50 off), and increase to $499.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad Air in select colors ($99 off). Some of these are still in stock for Christmas delivery, so order soon if you're interested.

Magic Keyboard

• What's the deal? Take $89 off Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

All-time low prices continued with a new record low deal on the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air, on sale for $209.99 on Amazon, down from $299.00. Although this one is still on sale in both white and black colors, only black can be delivered before December 25.

Apple TV 4K

• What's the deal? Take $9 off 128GB Apple TV 4K
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple TV 4K discounts were very popular this holiday season, but now that we're nearing the middle of December, nearly all sales have ended. The major one still around is a $9 discount on the 2022 Apple TV 4K (128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) for $139.99, down from $149.00, an all-time low price.

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

Popular video editing app DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design is soon going to be available on the iPad, and a beta version of the app is being tested right now. We have access to the beta, and thought we'd take a deeper look at how DaVinci Resolve performs on the ‌iPad‌ for those who are interested.

DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ was first announced in October 2022, and it is designed with multitouch technology and the Apple Pencil in mind. Performance is optimized for the Apple silicon ‌iPad‌ models, and we tested on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

On the latest M2 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, Ultra HD ProRes rendering is 4x faster, but it also runs well on M1 iPads.

The ‌iPad‌ version of DaVinci Resolve is basically a version of the DaVinci Resolve 18 software for the desktop, and while there are some minor interface differences, functionality is similar. The app is able to open and create standard DaVinci Resolve project files that can be used interchangeably with the desktop version of DaVinci Resolve.

In our testing, DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ worked well for most workflows, and would be suitable for day to day use. There were no dropped frames, and the editing experience was solid. Color corrections, masking, and other effects that you might assume would not do well on the ‌iPad‌ were flawless, even when working with multiple 4K clips. Make sure to watch our video to see the app in action.

Blackmagic Design is aiming to release DaVinci Resolve for the ‌iPad‌ before the end of the year, and you will need an Apple silicon ‌iPad‌ to use the software when it comes out. DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ will be free to download, but there will be a Studio version priced at $95.

In addition to a deal on the first-generation AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case, Verizon is now nearly matching the all-time low price on Apple's brand new AirPods Pro 2. You can get these for $199.99, down from $249.00, which remains just about $2 away from the best price we ever tracked on the accessory.

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

Although they were around $197 on Woot prior to Black Friday, that sale was very rare and disappeared quickly. The $199.99 price tag has been the most consistent deal on the AirPods Pro 2 all season, and as of today only Verizon is offering the sale with all other retailers having ended their promotions.

Although it may return at other retailers, this could be the last chance to get the AirPods Pro 2 in stock and at a discount for Christmas delivery. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Ericsson today announced it has reached a patent license agreement with Apple that will settle a long-running dispute between the two companies over patents related to cellular technology.

The dispute dates back to early 2015 when the two companies sued each other over dozens of Ericsson patents related to cellular technology used in Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad.

The companies reached a seven-year patent licensing agreement in late 2015 that appeared to put an end to the dispute, but it was revived in late 2021 and early 2022 as the 2015 agreement neared its end and the companies were unable to agree on terms for extending the agreement and incorporating additional patents related to newer 5G technology.

With today's announcement, Ericsson and Apple have entered into a new multi-year agreement for cross-licensing cellular-related patents and additional patent rights.

Christina Petersson, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Ericsson says: “We are pleased to settle the litigations with Apple with this agreement, which is of strategic importance to our 5G licensing program. This will allow both companies to continue to focus on bringing the best technology to the global market.”

In addition to the patent licensing, the agreement also includes commitments from both companies to strengthen their existing collaborations, "including in technology, interoperability and standards development."

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Southern Straps to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple Watch Series 8 in aluminum and a matching nylon Southern Straps Apple Watch band.

Southern Straps is a small business that makes a range of Apple Watch bands available in both leather and nylon materials. There are 18 watch band styles in total, all of which can be ordered with custom hardware in black, silver, and gold to match your Apple Watch.

The bands from Southern Straps are available in sizes that work with all models of the Apple Watch, from the older 38mm Apple Watch to the new 49mm Apple Watch Ultra. The hand stitched leather bands come in either black or brown leather, while there's a whole selection of colors available in nylon. Leather bands are priced at $69, and nylon bands are priced at $49, plus there's a buy two get a third free deal.

All of the nylon bands from Southern Straps are made from a single piece of nylon that is doubled over, heat sealed, and stitched for impressive durability. Southern Straps is so confident in the sturdiness of the nylon band that they offer a five year warranty for each one.

Nylon bands are equipped with pegged spring bars so the hardware can be swapped out or upgraded for changes in watch material or watch sizing. The nylon bands are available in solid colors like green, sand, black, and there are also several multicolor striped options. Two colors like green and blue or black and grey are available, and there are even three-color options like blue, black, and orange.

Southern Straps bands are ideal for everyday wear, from sports activities to work and play. All of the bands are hand made, and the company's goal is to ensure that only the best quality straps end up on customer wrists.

We have one aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 (winner to pick size) and one nylon Southern Straps band up for grabs. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (December 9) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 16. The winner will be chosen randomly on December 16 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

Starting with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1, all of which are expected to be released next week, users have the option to enable a new Advanced Data Protection feature that expands end-to-end encryption to many additional areas of iCloud, including Messages backups, Photos, Notes, Reminders, Voice Memos, and more.

To protect users, Apple does not allow Advanced Data Protection to be enabled from a brand new device for an unspecified period after the device was first set up and added to a user's Apple ID account. We have seen dates range from late January to early February for when users will be able to turn on the feature from a new device. This buffer helps to prevent a malicious actor from enabling the feature if a user is hacked.

Users can still enable Advanced Data Protection from an older device they added to the same Apple ID account, such as another iPhone, iPad, or Mac. In this case, all devices added to that Apple ID account are fully protected by the expanded end-to-end encryption for iCloud, including newer ones that are still in the waiting period.

Turning on Advanced Data Protection removes your encryption keys from Apple's servers for the iCloud categories protected by the feature, ensuring that your data remains secure even in the case of a data breach in the cloud. When the feature is enabled, the encryption keys are only stored on your trusted Apple devices, meaning that they cannot be accessed by Apple or others. The feature can be turned off at any time, at which point your devices will securely upload the encryption keys to Apple's servers again.

When Advanced Data Protection is enabled, access to your data via iCloud.com is disabled by default. Users can turn on data access on iCloud.com, which allows the web browser and Apple to have temporary access to data-specific encryption keys.

iCloud already protects 14 data categories using end-to-end encryption by default, without Advanced Data Protection enabled, including passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, Health data, Apple Maps search history, Apple Card transactions, and more. Apple has a support document with a chart detailing what is protected by standard levels of encryption and what is protected by Advanced Data Protection when enabled.

Advanced Data Protection is available for U.S. users only at launch and will start rolling out to the rest of the world in early 2023, according to Apple. For more details about the feature, read our coverage of Apple's announcement earlier this week.

All-time low prices on Apple's AirPods lineup have been hard to come by in the wake of Black Friday, but on Verizon you can still get the best price we've ever tracked on the first-generation AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case. This model is available for $159.99, down from their original price of $249.99.

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

As with other Verizon sales, free two day shipping is available and you don't need to be a Verizon customer to get this deal. This price point on the AirPods Pro is a match of the all-time low price that we saw over Black Friday.

Stock for the 2021 AirPods Pro has been dwindling since the announcement of the second generation model, so Verizon's deal today makes for a great chance to get the previous generation model at its best price before it disappears again.

This model of the AirPods Pro was introduced in 2021 with the MagSafe Charging Case, but otherwise the headphones themselves are the same as the 2019 AirPods Pro.

If you're looking for latest second-generation AirPods Pro, Verizon also has a discount on those, bringing them down to $199.99 from $249.99.

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

Apple is accepting orders for the HomePod mini in Finland, Norway, and Sweden on its online store. The smart speaker is available in space gray, white, blue, orange, and yellow and is estimated for delivery in 4-6 business days in each country.

HomePod mini pricing is set at €109 in Finland, 1,249 kr in Norway, and 1,295 kr in Sweden, compared to $99 in the United States.

Apple previously announced that the HomePod mini would be available in these countries starting December 13 and orders can be placed in advance. Apple said the HomePod mini will also be available in South Africa starting December 19 and in Denmark next year.

Apple first released the HomePod mini in the U.S. and select other countries in November 2020. With Siri, the smart speaker can be used for listening to music, controlling HomeKit smart home accessories, setting a timer, and other tasks. Beyond new colors, the device has not received any hardware changes since launching two years ago.

iOS 16 is installed on almost 70% of compatible devices as the update's 100-day launch anniversary approaches, according to third-party analytics website Mixpanel.

iOS 16 was released to the public on September 12, 2022, and was initially doing better than last year's iOS 15 update regarding how quickly users were updating their iPhone to the newest version. Apple periodically shares adoption numbers for its latest operating system but has not yet done so for iOS 16.

According to Mixpanel, iOS 16 is installed on 68.90% of devices, with iOS 15 at 24.82% and iPhones running older operating systems at around 7%. iOS 16 has had multiple updates since its release in September, addressing bugs being experienced by users previously causing some to be reluctant to update.

Apple is expected to release iOS 16.2 this month, bringing multiple new features to iPhone users, including Apple Music Sing, Advanced Data Protection, new Lock Screen widgets, new options for the always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro, and more.