MacRumors

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming macOS Sonoma 14.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the release of the fifth beta. The release candidate marks the final version of the macOS Sonoma 14.4 update that will be provided to the public.

sonoma desktop wwdc
Registered developers can opt-in to the beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. Note that an Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

macOS Sonoma 14.4 introduces new emoji characters, podcast episode text, and an option to only show icons for websites in the Safari Favorites Bar. The update also supports the new MacBook Air models that were introduced today.

macOS Sonoma 14.4 introduces new emoji as well as other features, bug fixes, and security updates for your Mac.

Emoji
- New mushroom, phoenix, lime, broken chain, and shaking heads emoji are now available in emoji keyboard
- 18 people and body emoji support facing the opposite direction

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Podcasts Episode text can be read in full, searched for a word or phrase, clicked to play from a specific point and used with accessibility features such as Text Size, Increase Contrast, and VoiceOver
- Business Updates in Messages for Business let you get updates that you've opted into, like order status, flight notifications, fraud alerts or other transactions from trusted businesses
- Safari Favorites Bar adds an option to show only icons for websites

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

macOS Sonoma 14.4 could see a public release as soon as this week.

Related Forum: macOS Sonoma

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming visionOS 1.1 update for developers, allowing them to test new features ahead of the software seeing a public launch. The new update comes a week after the release of the fourth beta.

visionOS Home Screen
The visionOS beta can be downloaded by going to the Settings app on the device and toggling on developer betas. A registered developer account is required, and Apple recommends making a backup before installing new software.

visionOS 1.1 brings support for iMessage Contact Key Verification and it adds Apple device management to the Vision Pro. With this functionality, IT departments at companies and educational institutions can manage Vision Pro headsets in the same way they manage iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

According to Apple's beta notes, users can now reposition volumetric scenes closer than before, enabling easier direct interaction with the volumetric scene content. That means objects can be placed closer to you. Apple also made several improvements to Personas, the virtual keyboard, and the Mac virtual display, with full release notes available below.

Mobile Device Management
- Enables account-driven device and user enrollment using Managed Apple IDs
- Support for device configuration (Wi-Fi, VPN, email accounts, single sign-on, and more)
- Support for deploying apps in volume including iPhone and iPad compatible apps, visionOS apps included in a Universal purchase, and proprietary in-house visionOS apps
- Support for remote erase via MDM and device inventory data

Messages
- Adds support for iMessage Contact Key Verification

Accessibility
- Closed captions can be anchored to the playback control while viewing Apple Immersive Video

Persona (beta) and EyeSight
- Adds an option to enroll your Persona hands-free
- Improves hair and makeup appearance
- Improves neck and mouth representation
- Improves rendering of the eyes for EyeSight

Virtual keyboard
- Cursor positioning for text input is now more accurate
- Resolves some instances where the virtual keyboard placement obscures the text input field
- Fixes an issue where in some cases, the text preview on the virtual keyboard may appear out of sync with the text field in the app
- Fixes an issue where the edit menu may appear unexpectedly

Mac Virtual Display
- Improves the reliability of discovering and connecting to a Mac using Mac Virtual Display
- Resolves an issue where Universal Control may stop working
- Addresses a connectivity issue that occurs when a previously paired Bluetooth device cannot be found

Captive Network Support
- Ability to set up your device while using a captive WiFi network such as those found at hotels, cafes and airports

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

With the RC now available, the visionOS 1.1 beta will likely be released to the public in less than a week.

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

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming watchOS 10.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the release of the fourth watchOS 10.4 beta. The RC is the finalized version of watchOS 10.4 that will see a public launch next week.

Apple Watch Faces watchOS 10 Feature Blue
To install the ‌watchOS 10.4‌ update, developers need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under "General" in Settings, and toggle on the watchOS 10 Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.

Once beta updates have been activated, watchOS 10.4 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.

watchOS 10.4 includes new emoji characters such as a lime, an edible brown mushroom, a phoenix, a broken chain, shaking head vertically (as in a "yes" nod), and shaking head horizontally (a "no" head shake). There is also a Setting to disable the Double Tap feature on Apple Watch when using Vision Pro, as the Double Tap gestures might be accidentally activated when controlling Vision Pro.

Apple's release notes for the update are below:

watchOS 10.4 includes new features, improvements, and bug fixes, including:
- Tap to Show Full Notification setting now allows you to double tap to expand the notification
- Using Apple Pay with Confirm with AssistiveTouch will require a passcode for additional security and will not support double clicking the side button
- Resolves an issue that causes some users to experience false touches on the display
- Fixes an issue that prevents contacts from syncing to Apple Watch for some users

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

watchOS 10.4 will likely see a public release in the near future alongside iOS 17.4.

Related Roundup: watchOS 26
Related Forum: Apple Watch

Apple today seeded the release candidate version of an upcoming tvOS 17.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming one week after the release of the fifth tvOS 17.4 beta. The RC is the final version of tvOS 17.4 that will be provided to the public as long as no bugs are found in the software.

apple tv 4k green
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 17.4 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.

tvOS software releases are usually minor in scale compared to other operating system updates, focusing primarily on smaller improvements rather than outward-facing changes.

Early tvOS 17.4 betas added support for Apple Music SharePlay on the ‌Apple TV‌, but the feature was removed in later betas and it is not clear if it is coming.

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

Instagram today announced several updates for its direct messaging feature, including message editing and pinned chats. Direct messages sent on Instagram can now be edited for up to 15 minutes after sending.

instagram dm editing option
To edit a message, long press on it and then choose the "Edit" option. Users will see that the content has been edited, and the feature brings Instagram in line with Facebook and with Apple's own iMessage editing feature.

Up to three chats will soon be able to pinned to the top of the message inbox, with support for both group messages and one on one conversations. Swipe left or tap and hold on a chat and choose the "pin" option to pin it to the top of the messaging interface.

Instagram added a new toggle for disabling read receipts, which can be done for all chats or just for certain chats. The account-wide setting can be turned on in the settings section by going to Messages and then story replies.

Along with these updates, Instagram introduced several new themes that can be activated on a per-chat basis, plus there is now an option to save favorite stickers in DMs for quicker access. Pressing and holding on a sticker allows it to be saved.

These new features are rolling out to Instagram users starting today, and it can take some time for the options to be available for everyone.

In 2024, brought the MacBook Air up to date with its M3 chip. The company reworked the lineup and its pricing, phasing out the M1 machine from 2020 and discontinuing the 15-inch M2 ‌MacBook Air‌ introduced in June 2023, so which model should you buy?

M2 MBA vs M3 MacBook Air Buyers Guide Feature
The 2024 MacBook Air is available in 13.6- and 15.3-inch display sizes just like its predecessor, with the smaller model starting at $1,099 and the larger model starting at $1,299. The 13.6-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ with the ‌M2‌ chip from 2022 remains in the lineup, now at a price of $999. This means that buyers have the choice between the 2022 ‌MacBook Air‌, its 2024 successor, and a big-screen variant of the 2024 model. It is also worth remembering that it is possible to shave at least $100 off the price of a new ‌MacBook Air‌ directly from Apple with education pricing.

Read on to find out about all of the differences between the ‌M2‌ and M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ models to help you decide which model is best for you, as well as if it may be worth upgrading.

M2 vs. M3 Chip

The main upgrade offered by the ‌2024 MacBook Air‌ models is the M3 chip. In benchmark tests, the M3 outperforms the ‌‌M2‌‌ by about 17% in single-core tasks and approximately 21% in multi-core tasks. In GPU performance measured by Metal benchmarks, the M3 exhibits a notable improvement of around 15% over the ‌‌M2‌‌.

‌M2‌ Chip M3 Chip
Based on A15 Bionic chip from iPhone 13 (2021) Based on A17 Pro chip from ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro (2023)
Enhanced 5nm node (N5P) 3nm node (N3B)
20 billion transistors 25 billion transistors
3.49 GHz CPU clock speed 4.05 GHz CPU clock speed
Neural Engine 15% faster Neural Engine
Support for AV1 decode
New GPU architecture
Dynamic Caching
Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
Hardware-accelerated mesh shading

The M3 chip introduced an all-new GPU architecture. This architecture includes Dynamic Caching, a breakthrough feature that optimizes GPU memory allocation and utilization, adapting in real-time to varying task demands. This enhancement not only boosts graphics performance for intensive applications but also bolsters the chip's overall energy efficiency. This is particularly beneficial for graphics-heavy tasks like advanced video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. It also features support for AV1 video decode to provide more efficient and higher-quality video from streaming services.

Despite similarities in the 16-core Neural Engine between the ‌‌M2‌‌ and M3, the M3's adoption of a ‌‌3nm‌‌ fabrication process leads to more efficient execution of machine learning and AI tasks. Additionally, the M3 maintains up to 24GB of unified memory, just like the ‌‌M2‌‌, but leverages the new process for more efficient memory bandwidth utilization.

One other notable difference between the ‌‌M2‌‌ and M3 chips is their energy efficiency. The ‌‌3nm‌‌ fabrication process enables the M3 to achieve higher performance without a proportional increase in power consumption, making the chip particularly appealing for laptop users who value a balance between power and battery life.

Overall, the M3 chip is a considerable upgrade from the ‌‌M2‌‌, distinguished by its higher transistor count, improved performance in CPU and GPU tasks, and superior energy efficiency. While the M3 offers clear advancements, the extent of its superiority does not necessitate an immediate upgrade for current ‌‌M2‌‌ users, especially if their existing workflows are still completed comfortably. For new buyers or those upgrading from older models, the M3's improvements in performance and efficiency will be much more pronounced.

Other Differences

There are a number of other notable differences between the two ‌MacBook Air‌ generations beyond their chips. While these upgrades are fairly small, they are worth bearing in mind when contemplating whether to get the latest model.

‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ (2022 and 2023) M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ (2024)
Available with 13.6-inch display only, 15.3-inch model discontinued Available with both 13.6- and 15.3-inch display size options
Support for one external display Support for up to two external displays when the lid is closed
Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes
Enhanced voice clarity in audio and video calls
Wi-Fi 6 support Wi-Fi 6E support
Anodization seal to reduce fingerprints with Midnight finish
Starts at $999 Starts at $1,099

Final Thoughts

Overall, the M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ is a minor upgrade over its predecessor, largely focusing on enhanced performance rather than new capabilities. Its main target audience is those who have an older ‌MacBook Air‌, such as an ‌M1‌ or Intel-based model, or no ‌MacBook Air‌ at all.

Unless you can leverage the specific advantages of the M3 chip and require maximum performance from its highly portable form factor, it is likely not worth buying the M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ over the ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ for most users. However, if future-proofing is a major priority because you tend to keep your computer for many years, the extra $100 to get the latest model will probably be warranted. The M3 model's support for two external displays may also justifiably swing your buying decision if you have multiple monitors.

If you plan to buy a new ‌MacBook Air‌ from Apple and want the larger, 15.3-inch model, then the latest M3 model is your only option as the ‌M2‌ 15.3-inch machine has now been discontinued. That being said, the ‌M2‌ 15.3-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ is still readily available second-hand, refurbished, and from third-party retailers for prices well below the $1,299 price of the latest model. If you want the larger model, it may be worth seeking out one of these deals on an ‌M2‌ model before opting for the latest M3 machine directly from Apple.

It is certainly not worth upgrading from the ‌M2‌ to the M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ for the overwhelming majority of customers. Upgrading from an ‌M2‌ 13-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ to an M3 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ may be more justifiable owing to the display size increase, but there is little that the latest generation meaningfully offers over its predecessor. It is also worth noting that in late 2024, Apple moved all ‌MacBook Air‌ models to 16GB of memory as standard.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Amazon today has Apple's Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro and fourth/fifth generation iPad Air at $179.99, down from $299.00. This is the first time we've tracked a deal on the keyboard in 2024, and it's a solid second-best price on the accessory.

Magic Keyboard Side Anlge RedNote: 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.

Specifically, the Magic Keyboard is compatible with the 11-inch iPad Pro (first, second, third, and fourth generations) and the iPad Air (fourth and fifth generations). Amazon only has the black color option at this $179.99 price tag, and it's currently the only retailer offering such a low price.

If you're shopping for an iPad to pair with the Magic Keyboard, Best Buy has every model of the 5th generation iPad Air on sale at an all-time low price right now. Prices start at $449.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $599.00. These are $150 off across the board, and also include best-ever prices on both cellular models.




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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple today began selling Belkin's new iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Apple TV 4K on its online store in the U.S. and other countries.

Belkin Apple TV MagSafe Mount
This accessory allows you to mount your iPhone to the top of your TV, or it can be placed on the stand below. Then, you can conveniently use your iPhone's rear camera for FaceTime video calls on any Apple TV 4K model running tvOS 17 or later.

Key features of the mount, as listed on Apple's online store:

Mount directly to your TV or display up to 4 inches (10.1 cm) in depth

Works as standalone mount on desktop or a TV stand

Tilt from –20 to +30 degrees to adjust to your environment

Easily flip iPhone orientation to stream or record in portrait or landscape

Keyhole mounts and mounting bracket included for added stability

Designed for Continuity Camera–supported apps

Belkin already offered a very similar version of this mount for use with the iMac and Apple's external displays, but it is currently listed as unavailable on Apple's online store. Apple continues to sell a version of the mount for MacBooks.

Priced at $49.95 in the U.S., the TV version of the mount ships in one business day.

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

Apple this morning announced new models of the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air, now with the M3 chip. With Apple moving onto the next generation of MacBook Air models, we're looking back at the original 13-inch M1 MacBook Air, which is at a great all-time low price on Best Buy.

M1 MacBook Air Deals Feature WarmNote: 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.

You can get the 256GB 13-inch M1 MacBook Air for $749.99, down from $999.99. Best Buy has this notebook in all three colors, and offers free two-day shipping to all customers. Although nearly four years old, this version of the MacBook Air still has an Apple silicon chip and should be perfect for anyone who wants to prioritize saving money over having the latest and greatest product.

With the launch of the new MacBook Air models, this M1 device from late 2020 has now been discontinued from Apple's official lineup. Additionally, Apple has discontinued the 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, so we'll likely be tracking last-chance deals on those notebooks soon. 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.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple and Hermès today released an all-new knitted "Tricot" Apple Watch band, available in four color options.

Hermès Tricot Single Tour Feature
Apple describes the Tricot Single Tour as "a knitted textile band that comfortably hugs the wrist like a glove." It is available as a single tour band only.

Patterned on 1930s-era Hermès gloves created for driving, sailing, and golf, the Tricot band takes what was old and makes it new again. The continuous textile knit comfortably hugs the wrist, imparting both a freedom of movement and a sense of élan.

Hermès already sells a number of "Tricot" luxury accessories such as neckties. Unlike its main selection Tricot accessories, which tend to be made of 100% silk, the Apple Watch Hermès Tricot Single Tour is made of polyamide yarn. Polyamide is waterproof and enables the band to be used when swimming, just like all of the other non-leather Apple Watch Hermès bands.

The Tricot Single Tour band is available in Bleu Jean, Jaune de Naples, Orange, and Beige de Weimar. It is only compatible with 38mm, 40mm, and 41mm Apple Watch models.

hermes tricot

The Tricot Single Tour replaces the both the single and double tour Apple Watch Hermès Bridon bands on the company's main Apple Watch band webpage. The Apple Watch Hermès Bridon bands are knitted just like the Tricot, suggesting that the new band could replace it when stock runs out.

The Bridon band is still available, but it may only be while stocks last as a result. Apple tends to allow discontinued Apple Watch Hermès bands to sell out over a longer period of time rather than outright de-listing them. The Navy/Gris/Ciel Bridon band also continues to be available directly from Hermès, but now on a separate webpage, just like many of the leather Apple Watch Hermès bands that Apple stopped selling in September last year.

Alongside its refresh of iPhone and Apple Watch band color options earlier today, Apple and Hermès added Bleu Céleste/Écru and Framboise/Écru Color options to the Hermès Toile H Single Tour band, Bleu Céleste/Bleu Jean and Jaune d'Or/Bleu Jean color options to the Hermès Twill Jump Single Tour and, and Blanc and Bleu Céleste color options to the Hermès Kilim Single Tour band.

The Apple Watch Hermès Tricot Single Tour band is now available to order for $349.

If you frequently work with external displays, it's worth noting that Apple's just-announced M3 MacBook Air models support two external displays – one more than the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the same M3 chip.

Apple MacBook Air 2 up hero 240304 feature
Launched last October, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip simultaneously supports one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.

In contrast, both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip support one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz, and two external displays with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz when the laptop lid is closed, also known as clamshell mode.

Given that the machines use identical chips, it could be that the additional external display support on the MacBook Airs has been made at the software level. If so, there would seem to be no reason that it could not be added to the M3 MacBook Pro in a future software update. However, it could also be a hardware-based change, and we might not know for sure until a teardown is performed on the new laptops.

The new M3-powered MacBook Air models start from $1,099 and can be pre-ordered on Apple's website, with availability beginning on Friday, March 8. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip starts at $1,599.

Related Roundups: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro
Related Forums: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro

Alongside the announcement of the new MacBook Air, Apple today refreshed the color options available with many of its iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands.

3 4 24 iPhone Case Refresh Feature
Apple's Silicone Case with MagSafe for ‌iPhone‌ is now available with new Soft Mint, Sunshine, Light Blue, and Pink color options.

3 4 24 Sport Band Refresh Feature

Many of the new Apple Watch band colors match up with the refreshed silicone cases, with the exception of Raspberry and Ocean Blue. The new Apple Watch band color options are as follows:

  • Sport Loop: Soft Mint and Ocean Blue.
  • Sport Band: Soft Mint, Sunshine, and Light Blue.
  • Braided Solo Loop: Sunshine, Light Blue, and Raspberry.
  • Solo Loop: Pink, Soft Mint, Ocean Blue.

All of the Apple Watch Hermès bands available directly from Apple also today received new color options:

  • Hermès Toile H Single Tour: Bleu Céleste/Écru and Framboise/Écru.
  • Hermès Twill Jump Single Tour: Bleu Céleste/Bleu Jean and Jaune d'Or/Bleu Jean.
  • Hermès Kilim Single Tour: Blanc and Bleu Céleste.

The refreshed lineup of accessories are available to order immediately.

Following the announcement of new M3 MacBook Air models, Apple has reduced the starting price of the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip by $100, putting it at under $1,000 for the first time.

m2 macbook air image blue e1666794320469
Apple originally launched the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip in June 2022 with a $1,199 starting price, but dropped the price to $1,099 in June 2023 when the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip was launched. The base configuration includes an 8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB of unified memory, and 256GB of internal storage.

Pre-orders of the new MacBook Air models with M3 chip start today, with orders arriving to customers on Friday, March 8. The laptops continue to be available in Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver with a starting price of $1,099. Apple today also discontinued the MacBook Air with M1 chip and the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Apple's new MacBook Air models with M3 chip include support for up to two external displays with the laptop lid closed.

Apple MacBook Air 2 up hero 240304
The previous generation MacBook Air models with M2 chip, the 13-inch model of which Apple still sells, only officially offer support for one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.

By contrast, the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models support one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz with the laptop lid open, and two external displays with up to 5K resolution at 60Hz with the lid closed.

Apple announced the two new MacBook Air models today. Pre-orders are now open on Apple's website, with the laptops set to launch on Friday, March 8. Apple today also discontinued the MacBook Air with M1 chip as well as the 15-inch MacBook Air with M2 chip.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Apple today discontinued the MacBook Air with the M1 chip, which launched in November 2020 as one of the first Apple silicon Macs.

macbook air m1 unboxing feature
In the U.S., the MacBook Air lineup now consists of the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip starting at $999, the 13-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starting at $1,099, and the 15-inch MacBook Air with the M3 chip starting at $1,299.

For more details about the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M3 chip, read our coverage of Apple's announcement.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

Apple today announced new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M3 chip, improved external display support, Wi-Fi 6E, and more.

Apple MacBook Air 2 up hero 240304
Apple says that the new ‌MacBook Air‌ is up to 60% faster than the M1 model and up to 13x faster than the fastest Intel-based ‌MacBook Air‌. With a faster and more efficient Neural Engine, Apple says that the ‌MacBook Air‌ continues to be "the best consumer laptop for AI." It also gains an AV1 decode engine to provide more efficient and higher-quality video from streaming services.

In addition to the M3 chip, the new ‌MacBook Air‌ offers Wi-Fi 6E, Voice Isolation and Wide Spectrum microphone modes, enhanced voice clarity in audio and video calls, and a more fingerprint-resistant finish with the Midnight color option. It also now supports up to two external displays when the laptop lid is closed, increasing from just a single external display on the previous Apple silicon models.

Pre-orders of the new ‌MacBook Air‌ start today, with orders arriving to customers on Friday, March 8. It continues to be available in Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver with a starting price of $1,099.

Related Roundup: MacBook Air
Related Forum: MacBook Air

The European Commission today fined Apple €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for anti-competitive conduct against rival music streaming services. In a response published on its website, Apple fiercely attacked the Commission's decision, as well as Spotify's behavior.

App Store vs EU Feature 2
The fine comes as the conclusion to a long-running investigation by the EU, triggered by a complaint from Spotify, into Apple's treatment of third-party music streaming services on the App Store. The Commission now says that Apple abused its dominant position in the market by forbidding music streaming apps to tell users about cheaper subscription prices outside the app.

The European Commission has fined Apple over €1.8 billion for abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps to iPhone and iPad users ('iOS users') through its App Store. In particular, the Commission found that Apple applied restrictions on app developers preventing them from informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside of the app ('anti-steering provisions'). This is illegal under EU antitrust rules.

In an extensive public response, Apple noted that while Spotify has a dominant, 56 percent share of Europe's music streaming market and a "large part of their success is due to the ‌App Store‌," the company does not pay anything to Apple because it refuses to sell subscriptions in its app. Apple listed a large number of services that it provides to Spotify for free, such as distribution, APIs, frameworks, TestFlight, App Review, and in-person engineering assistance. "But free isn't enough for Spotify," Apple says. "They also want to rewrite the rules of the ‌App Store‌ — in a way that advantages them even more."

Instead, Spotify wants to bend the rules in their favor by embedding subscription prices in their app without using the App Store's In-App Purchase system. They want to use Apple's tools and technologies, distribute on the App Store, and benefit from the trust we’ve built with users — and to pay Apple nothing for it.

Apple said that Spotify claimed in 2015 when it started working on the investigation with the European Commission that the "digital music market had stalled, and that Apple was holding competitors back." "Unfortunately for their case, Spotify continued to grow," Apple added.

Apple noted that three different related cases mounted against it by the European Commission over the past eight years consistently found no evidence of consumer harm and no evidence of anti-competitive behavior.

The reality is that European consumers have more choices than ever. Ironically, in the name of competition, today's decision just cements the dominant position of a successful European company that is the digital music market's runaway leader.

Apple also said that it is set to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) within days, alluding to the release of iOS 17.4, which includes a number of significant changes for users in Europe to meet the legislation's requirements. It believes that today's fine is "an effort by the Commission to enforce the DMA before the DMA becomes law," since it is "not grounded in existing competition law." Apple plans to appeal the decision.

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.

Apple likely plans to launch a new accessory this week rather than a major product, with stores currently planning for only a minor refresh, predicts Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

apple pencil 2 blue
The prediction follows a rumor we reported on over the weekend that Apple plans to announce new products with press releases on its website this week.

Apple stores are actually planning a larger refresh early next week that is more likely to be related to once of the larger rumored announcements, according to Gurman. These include new iPad Pro models with OLED displays, two new iPad Air models, and new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models.

Rumored accessories that we could see before then include at least one new Apple Pencil, and new color options for iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. A new Magic Keyboard for the ‌iPad Pro‌ with a larger trackpad is also said to be imminent, but Apple is unlikely to launch this prior to new ‌iPad Pro‌ models being announced.

One other outlying possibility is a new color option for the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus, although this has not been rumored and is only based on the timing of previous colorway releases. Also, a new ‌iPhone‌ color is a major product, not an accessory.


Gurman previously said he believes that Apple is not planning to hold a traditional event to unveil new products, and instead plans to announce them "on its website" and with a "series of online videos and marketing campaigns" at some point in March or April.