MacRumors

With the launch of iOS 16.2, Apple is expanding an AirDrop limitation that was introduced in China with the launch of iOS 16.1.1. Going forward, AirDrop will be primarily restricted to Contacts Only, and the option to turn on AirDrop for "Everyone" will be limited to 10 minutes.

Right now, AirDrop has three options: "Receiving Off," "Contacts Only," and "Everyone." The current "Everyone" option allows users to receive files and photos from all other iPhone users that are in close proximity using AirDrop, but in iOS 16.2, it is changing to "Everyone for 10 Minutes."

With the change, "Everyone" can still be enabled to allow users to receive content from anyone, but it will switch off after a 10 minute period, reverting to "Contacts Only." The tweak will require users to explicitly activate AirDrop to receive files and photos from strangers.

Apple allegedly made this change in China in the iOS 16.1.1 update after protestors in the country used AirDrop to spread anti-government material. Apple said that the feature was actually introduced in an effort to cut down on spam content spread in crowded areas like malls and airports.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

In addition to making end-to-end encryption available for iCloud Photos, Apple today announced that it has abandoned its controversial plans to detect known Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) stored in iCloud Photos, according to a statement shared with WIRED.

Apple's full statement:

After extensive consultation with experts to gather feedback on child protection initiatives we proposed last year, we are deepening our investment in the Communication Safety feature that we first made available in December 2021. We have further decided to not move forward with our previously proposed CSAM detection tool for iCloud Photos. Children can be protected without companies combing through personal data, and we will continue working with governments, child advocates, and other companies to help protect young people, preserve their right to privacy, and make the internet a safer place for children and for us all.

In August 2021, Apple announced plans for three new child safety features, including a system to detect known CSAM images stored in iCloud Photos, a Communication Safety option that blurs sexually explicit photos in the Messages app, and child exploitation resources for Siri. Communication Safety launched in the U.S. with iOS 15.2 in December 2021 and has since expanded to the U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and the Siri resources are also available, but CSAM detection never ended up launching.

Apple initially said CSAM detection would be implemented in an update to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 by the end of 2021, but the company ultimately postponed the feature based on "feedback from customers, advocacy groups, researchers, and others." Now, after a year of silence, Apple has abandoned the CSAM detection plans altogether.

Apple promised its CSAM detection system was "designed with user privacy in mind." The system would have performed "on-device matching using a database of known CSAM image hashes" from child safety organizations, which Apple would transform into an "unreadable set of hashes that is securely stored on users' devices."

Apple planned to report iCloud accounts with known CSAM image hashes to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), a non-profit organization that works in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement agencies. Apple said there would be a "threshold" that would ensure "less than a one in one trillion chance per year" of an account being incorrectly flagged by the system, plus a manual review of flagged accounts by a human.

Apple's plans were criticized by a wide range of individuals and organizations, including security researchers, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), politicians, policy groups, university researchers, and even some Apple employees.

Some critics argued that the feature would have created a "backdoor" into devices, which governments or law enforcement agencies could use to surveil users. Another concern was false positives, including the possibility of someone intentionally adding CSAM imagery to another person's iCloud account to get their account flagged.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

The Apple Music Sing feature that Apple announced earlier this week is now available in the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and tvOS 16.2 release candidates that were released this morning.

Designed as a karaoke feature, ‌Apple Music‌ Sing provides real-time lyrics that iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV users can sing along with.

Features include adjustable vocals for changing the volume of the original singer, real-time lyrics that move to the rhythm of the vocals, background vocal options, and a duet view for multi-singer tracks.

Apple has introduced more than 50 playlists that include songs, duets, choruses, and anthems ideal for use with ‌Apple Music‌ Sing.

‌Apple Music‌ Sing can be used on the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and later, the third-generation 11-inch iPad Pro and later, the fifth-generation 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and later, the fourth-generation iPad Air and later, the ninth-generation ‌iPad‌ and later, the iPad mini and later, and the third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, which is the newest model.

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Ventura 13.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta launching less than a week after Apple seeded the fourth macOS Ventura 13.1 beta.

Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, the beta will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Settings.

The latest macOS 13.1 update introduces Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, which adds end-to-end encryption for ‌iCloud‌ Backup, Notes, Photos, iCloud Drive, Reminders, Voice Memos, and more. The new encryption functionality is available across all platforms and will be introduced in the U.S. with the launch of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1.

With macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple has debuted the Freeform app, which is aimed at creative collaboration. It can be used for brainstorming, planning out ideas, jotting down thoughts, sketching, and other creative purposes. Users can insert drawings, sticky notes, shapes, text boxes, photos, videos, PDFs, links, and other documents, with Freeform serving as a blank canvas. Freeform "boards" can be shared with other people and discussed over FaceTime, with updates from all participants synced to everyone in real-time.

macOS Ventura 13.1 also introduces support for an updated Home app architecture that improves performance for smart home devices, with these features also available in iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2.

Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the betas coming less than a week after Apple seeded the fourth betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2.

Registered developers are able to download the iOS 16‌.2 and iPadOS 16.2 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the beta is available over the air.

Today's RC brings an opt-in end-to-end encryption to additional iCloud features, with the feature coming to all U.S. users with the launch of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2. Advanced Data Protection for ‌iCloud‌ adds end-to-end encryption for ‌iCloud‌ Backup, Notes, Photos, iCloud Drive and more. With Advanced Data Protection enabled, the only ‌iCloud‌ categories not covered by end-to-end encryption include ‌iCloud‌ Mail, Contacts, and Calendar.

iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 include the Freeform app, which can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, brainstorming ideas, creating mood boards, and more. Multiple people can work on the same Freeform board, with changes synced for all participants in real time.

For the iPad, iPadOS 16.2 brings external display support to the Stage Manager multitasking feature, allowing up to eight apps to be used at once. External display support is available for the M1 and M2 ‌iPad‌ models.

Apple has added a new Home app architecture coming in iOS and iPadOS 16.2, which Apple says is designed to bring faster, more reliable performance, especially in homes with a lot of smart home accessories. The new architecture requires the HomePod 16.2 beta software, and it causes the Home app not to work with devices updated to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1.

Unintentional Emergency SOS calls can be reported to Apple in iOS 16.2, there's a new Sleep widget, live sports scores are back for the TV app, there are changes to always on display on the iPhone 14 Pro, and more, with full details available in our iOS 16.2 feature guide. Apple's full release 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
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

iOS 16.2 is expected to see a release in mid-December.

In addition to expanding end-to-end encryption to many additional iCloud data categories on an optional basis, Apple today also announced two other new security features designed to protect against threats to user data in the cloud.

Apple says the new iMessage Contact Key Verification and Security Keys for Apple ID features will be available globally on the iPhone and other devices in 2023.

iMessage Contact Key Verification allows users who face "extraordinary digital threats," such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials, to further verify that they are messaging only with the people they intend. In conversations between users who have enabled iMessage Contact Key Verification, users are alerted if a state-sponsored attacker or other malicious actor were ever to succeed breaching cloud servers and inserting their own device to eavesdrop on the conversation.

As an additional layer of security, iMessage Contact Key Verification users can compare a Contact Verification Code in person, on FaceTime, or through another secure call to further verify they are communicating only with whom they intend.

Second, Security Keys for Apple ID will give users the choice to use third-party physical security keys to further protect their account. For users who enable this feature, Security Keys strengthens Apple's two-factor authentication by requiring a hardware security key as one of the two factors instead of an authentication code.

"Our security teams work tirelessly to keep users' data safe, and with iMessage Contact Key Verification, Security Keys, and Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, users will have three powerful new tools to further protect their most sensitive data and communications," said Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi.

Apple today announced it is expanding end-to-end encryption to many additional iCloud data categories on an opt-in basis for enhanced security.

iCloud already protects 14 data categories using end-to-end encryption by default, including the Messages app when backups are disabled, passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, Health data, Apple Maps search history, Apple Card transactions, and more, as outlined in this Apple support document. With the optional Advanced Data Protection feature, the number of iCloud data categories that use end-to-end encryption rises to 23.

Advanced Data Protection will be available on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac starting with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1 later this month and provides end-to-end encryption for the following additional iCloud categories:

• Device Backups and Messages Backups
• iCloud Drive
• Notes
• Photos
• Reminders
• Voice Memos
• Safari Bookmarks
• Siri Shortcuts
• Wallet Passes

Apple says the only major iCloud data categories that are still not protected by end-to-end encryption are Mail, Contacts, and Calendar because of the "need to interoperate with the global email, contacts, and calendar systems" that use legacy technologies.

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud is available to test starting with the latest iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS 13.1 beta versions being released today. Apple says the optional security feature will be available to U.S. users by the end of the year and will start rolling out to the rest of the world in early 2023.

End-to-end encrypted iCloud data can only be decrypted on your trusted Apple devices where you're signed in with your Apple ID account, ensuring that the data remains secure even in the case of a data breach in the cloud. Not even Apple has access to the encryption keys, so if you lose access to your account, you can only recover the data using your device passcode or password, recovery contact, or recovery key. Users will be guided to set up at least one recovery contact or recovery key before they turn on Advanced Data Protection.

"Advanced Data Protection is Apple's highest level of cloud data security, giving users the choice to protect the vast majority of their most sensitive iCloud data with end-to-end encryption so that it can only be decrypted on their trusted devices," said Ivan Krstić, Apple's head of Security Engineering and Architecture. "For users who opt in, Advanced Data Protection keeps most iCloud data protected even in the case of a data breach in the cloud."

You can turn off Advanced Data Protection at any time. Upon doing so, your device will securely upload the required encryption keys to Apple servers, and your account will revert to a standard level of protection, according to Apple.

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

Advanced Data Protection is designed to maintain end-to-end encryption for most shared iCloud content as long as all participants have Advanced Data Protection enabled, including iCloud Shared Photo Library, iCloud Drive shared folders, and shared Notes. However, Apple says iWork collaboration, the Shared Albums feature in Photos, and sharing content with "anyone with a link" do not support Advanced Data Protection.

For a more technical overview of Advanced Data Protection, read the iCloud security overview and the Apple Platform Security guide.

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 9.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new update coming less than a week after the launch of the fourth watchOS 9.2 beta.

To install the new ‌watchOS 9.2 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.2‌ can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the ‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌ it is paired with.

watchOS 9.2 introduces support for a new Home app architecture that has also been added to iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura. The update also adds a race route workout feature for runners and cyclists. Race Route is designed to allow athletes to compete against themselves on a route they've already completed or tracked as an outdoor run or outdoor cycle on Apple Watch.

Apple yesterday announced a karaoke experience coming to Apple Music called "Apple Music Sing," which will be available later this month to Apple Music subscribers.

Despite its seemingly simple functionality of showing lyrics and allowing users to sing along in an interactive way, Apple Music Sing will only be supported on select Apple devices. Below, we've listed the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV models that will support the new experience later this month. Apple Music Sing will not be available on the Mac.

iPhone

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (Third-generation)

iPad

• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (Fifth-generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (Third-generation and later)
• iPad Air (Fourth-generation and later)
• iPad (Ninth-generation and later)
• iPad mini (Sixth-generation)

Apple TV

• 2022 Apple TV 4K

Apple says that Apple Music Sing will be available to all users sometime later this month but has not provided a specific date. Apple is expected to test Apple Music Sing with developers and public beta testers before its launch.

Anker this week has introduced a new sale across its most popular accessories on Amazon, including savings on USB-C cables, wall chargers, portable batteries, wireless chargers, and more.

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

Many of these sales require you to clip an on-page coupon in order to see the discount at the checkout screen, so be sure to watch out for those when shopping on Amazon. You can find all of the Anker accessories on sale below, all of which are only available on Amazon.

Cables

• Nylon USB-C to USB-C Cable (2-Pack) - $12.59 with on-page coupon, down from $15.99
• Powerline III USB-C to USB-C Cable (2-Pack) - $19.99, down from $27.99

Wall Chargers

• Nano Pro Compact Fast Charger - $12.74 with on-page coupon, down from $17.99
• PowerPort III 40W 2-Port Type-C Fast Charger - $20.99 with on-page coupon, down from $27.99
• Compact Power Strip (2x Outlets, 4x USB Ports) - $75.99 with on-page coupon, down from $94.99
• Nano II 65W USB-C Charger - $45.99, down from $59.99
• 140W USB-C Charger - $69.99 with on-page coupon, down from $99.99
• 4-Port Foldable Charger - $109.99, down from $119.99

Portable Chargers

• PowerCore 5,000 mAh Magnetic Portable Charger - $34.99, down from $39.99
• PowerCore 20,000 mAh - $51.99, down from $59.99
• PowerCore 10,000 mAh Hybrid Charger - $79.99 with on-page coupon, down from $99.99
• PowerCore 24,000 mAh with Smart Digital Display - $119.99 with on-page coupon, down from $149.99
• PowerCore 26,000 mAh - $179.99, down from $199.99

Miscellaneous

• PowerWave Magnetic 2-in-1 Stand - $39.99, down from $49.99
• 7-in-1 USB-C Hub - $29.74 with on-page coupon, down from $34.99
• USB-C to HDMI Adapter - $15.29 with on-page coupon, down from $17.99
• Portable Power Station - $799.99 with on-page coupon, down from $999.99

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

Apple has reportedly kicked off the development of a 20-inch display, possibly for a future MacBook Pro model, according to a report today by The Elec, citing industry sources.

Per the report, the 20-inch device will feature a 20.25-inch OLED display made by an unknown South Korean component supplier. With a 20.25-inch display unfolded, the device would feature a 15.3-inch screen when folded, larger than the current largest iPad Pro but smaller than the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌.

Given that the screen size is in its early 20 inches when unfolded, the project product is likely to be in a form close to a MacBook (laptop). Assuming a 20-inch product is 20.25 inches, it will be 15.3 inches in size when folded. The currently available Apple MacBook Series screen sizes are mid-to-late 10 inches, and the iPad (tablet) series screen sizes are between less than 10 inches and early 10 inches.

The report claims that Apple is eyeing a mainstream commercial launch of its foldable device in 2026 or 2027, but is cautious that Apple is unlikely to do so until it transitions the iPad and Mac to OLED displays. Currently, only the high-end iPhone and Apple Watch models have OLED displays while other Apple products have LCD panels.

In an additional tidbit of the report, The Elec claims that Apple is looking to replace the iPad mini with a foldable device that measures 10 inches and notes a foldable ‌iPhone‌ is "unlikely," despite reports that Apple is working on one.

According to today's report, Apple plans to launch 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad‌ models with OLED displays in 2024, lining up with previous reports and rumors. The report also cites 2025 as the year Apple plans to debut a ‌MacBook Pro‌ with an OLED display.

"iPhone 14" was the eighth most searched term around the world on Google in 2022, beaten by other terms such as Wordle, the World Cup, Ukraine, and the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

The revelation was made in Google's annual release of its "Year in Search," showing the most searched-for term in different categories, including news, people, movies, and more. "‌iPhone 14‌" was ranked on the list of top 10 for general searches, and according to Google Trends, searches for the term logically spiked in September when the new ‌iPhone 14‌ and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro series were announced.

In more specific terms, "Dynamic Island" was one of the most searched follow-up terms for "‌iPhone 14‌," despite being only available on the higher-end ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro. Other high-ranking related searches included Deep Purple, "‌iPhone 14‌ pre-order," and "‌iPhone 14‌ price."

Swiss-based privacy startup Proton today announced the availability of mobile apps for its Proton Drive cloud storage service, providing users with an easier way to securely upload, store, and share files from their iOS and Android devices.

All files and folders uploaded to the storage service are protected by Proton's open-source, publicly-audited end-to-end encryption, which uses on-device encryption keys ensuring no one else – not even Proton – has access to the contents. That includes associated metadata, such as file and folder names, real file size, file extensions, thumbnails, and more.

Data uploaded and stored on Proton's servers reside in data centers in Switzerland and Germany, giving users strong legal and hardware protections (the company claims it falls outside US and EU jurisdiction and isn't subject to intelligence-sharing agreements). There are no file size limits, so users can share and transfer large files securely.

The apps also offer offline access to files and folders so they can be accessed without an internet connection. If offline access is activated for a file or folder, they are encrypted and saved on-device so that they can only be accessed through the Proton Drive app.

In addition, users can generate secure file-sharing links from the Proton Drive app that can be shared with others, even if they don't have a Proton account. Shared files are similarly delivered in an encrypted environment and can be downloaded securely by recipients.

Proton Drive offers a free version with 1GB of cloud storage, while users subscribing to 500GB of encrypted storage ($9.99/month) via the Proton Unlimited plan also get Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton VPN. There's also an individual Proton Drive subscription that offers 200GB of storage for $3.99 a month.

"People have historically had very few options for secure personal cloud storage," said Andy Yen, founder and CEO of Proton. "While there have always been apps to upload and store files on your phone, they provide poor privacy, and data leaks from mobile devices are common. Proton Drive brings end-to-end encrypted file storage to iOS and Android and aligns with Proton's mission to ensure that privacy tools are easy to use and freely available."

The Proton Drive app is available as a free download from the App Store and Google Play Store. Proton says a Proton Drive Windows app will be available in beta shortly, followed by an app for macOS.

Avatars are officially coming to WhatsApp. The customizable, expressive characters, which are already available on Facebook and Instagram, can now be used as profile pictures on the messaging service or sent in the form of one of 36 custom stickers.

The process of customizing the cartoony virtual characters is similar to Apple's Memoji, except WhatsApp's avatars also include bodies for customizing additional outfits, which makes them resemble how users could one day look in Mark Zuckerberg's vision of a future metaverse.

Apart from being fun, Meta says the avatars will boost privacy and personalization. "Sending an avatar is a fast and fun way to share feelings with friends and family," the company wrote in a blog post. "It can also be a great way to represent yourself without using your real photo so it feels more private."

To see if the feature has rolled out to you yet, open WhatsApp, go to the Settings screen, then check under your profile picture for an Avatar menu option. From there you'll be able to create an avatar using a variety of outfits, hairstyles, and facial features, offering users "billions of combinations" for creating their virtual analogue, according to Meta.

With the latest macOS Ventura 13.1 beta, Apple has added the ability for users to chime their AirTags using the Find My app on their Mac.

Previously, Mac users could only get directions to their AirTags through the ‌Find My‌ app, meaning those who wanted an audible chime to more easily locate their AirTag would have to go to the ‌Find My‌ app on iPhone and iPad. macOS Ventura 13.1 is expected to be released alongside iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 later this month. It brings support for an updated Home app architecture that improves performance for smart home devices and the new Freeform app.

As we inch closer to the holidays, supply of iPhone 14 Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max models remains heavily constrained and unlikely to meet the holiday demand in the United States. On the flip side, several other products, including iPads, Macs, lower-end iPhone models, AirPods, and more, remain available for customers who are holiday shopping this year.

As we reported last month, supply constraints and ongoing restrictions in Apple's production plants meant that ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro supply would be critically low. "We now expect lower ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max shipments than we previously anticipated, and customers will experience longer wait times to receive their new products," Apple said in a press release last month, confirming reports of disruptions.

One month later and closer to the holidays, ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro supply seems to have not yet fully recovered. Wait times for both models of the high-end 2022 ‌iPhone‌ series were set at around six weeks one month ago, and are now set at around three weeks. While the situation appears to be ever so slightly improving, the three-week wait time puts the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro out of reach for customers looking to have it by the holidays.

While you may be unable to order and get an ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro for a loved one this holiday season, the rest of Apple's product lineup remains in ample supply. For example, the lower-end ‌iPhone 14‌ and ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus are estimated to arrive to customers in just a few days, according to Apple's online store, as are the third-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro, new 10th-generation iPad, certain Macs, Apple Watch, and HomePod mini.

For more up-to-date information regarding availability and delivery dates, be sure to check Apple's website.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board today invalidated a trio of AliveCor patents that AliveCor used in a complaint with the International Trade Commission, which is a win for Apple. The patents all related to heart rate monitoring technology used in AliveCor products.

AliveCor in April 2021 filed a complaint with the ITC alleging that Apple had infringed on several of its patents with the Apple Watch, and an ITC judge ultimately ruled in AliveCor's favor in June. The ITC at the time issued an initial determination that Apple infringed on AliveCor patent technology, which Apple is now appealing. If a final ruling determines Apple infringed on the patents, the ITC could issue an import ban on the Apple Watch.

Apple asked for a review of the claims in three of the patents that AliveCor was using against it, and the USPTO's Appeals Board found that multiple claims in U.S. Patent No. 10,638,941, U.S. Patent No. 10,595,731, and U.S. Patent No. 9,572,499 are "held to be unpatenable."

In a statement to MacRumors Apple said that the decision confirms that the patents AliveCor used against Apple for its ITC injunction are invalid.

We appreciate the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's careful consideration of these patents, which were found to be invalid. Apple's teams work tirelessly to create products and services that empower users, including the industry-leading health, wellness and safety features we independently developed and incorporated into Apple Watch. Today's decision confirms that the patents AliveCor asserted in the ITC against Apple are invalid.

When a patent is invalidated, it means there can be no infringement of the patent, which will factor in to the final ITC decision. The ITC will decide later in December whether there should be an import ban.

AliveCor and Apple are embroiled in several legal battles, as AliveCor has also filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and Apple has sued AliveCor for patent infringement.

Update: In a statement, AliveCor said that it is deeply disappointed in the decision and plans to appeal.

AliveCor is deeply disappointed and strongly disagrees with the decision by the PTAB and will appeal. The PTAB and ITC are two, separate independent bodies and will make their own separate independent decisions. We look forward to the separate Final Determination from the ITC expected December 12 and are cautiously optimistic based on the Initial Determination for AliveCor in June of this year.

We will continue to vigorously protect our patents for the sake of our customers. The PTAB decision does not impact AliveCor's ongoing business. We will continue to design and distribute our best-in-class portable ECG products and services to our customers.