Apple has started testing iOS 16.6 internally, according to our website's analytics logs, which have proven to be a reliable indicator of upcoming software updates. iOS 16.6 will likely be one of the last updates in the iOS 16 software cycle.
It's still too early to know when the first beta of iOS 16.6 will be released, but the first betas of iOS 13.6, iOS 14.6, and iOS 15.6 were all made available to developers prior to WWDC over the last three years. WWDC is scheduled for June 5 through June 9 this year and is where Apple will announce iOS 17 and other new software.
iOS 16.6 will likely be a smaller update given that iOS 17 is on the horizon. With the Apple Card's savings account expected to launch next week, iMessage Contact Key Verification will be one of the only previously-announced iOS features that has yet to launch, but it is unclear exactly when the optional security setting will launch.
In the meantime, iOS 16.5 remains in beta testing. So far, only two notable changes have been discovered in the update, including the addition of a Sports tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording with Siri.
Apple has decided to make a last minute design update to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the two devices will not feature the unified volume button that has been rumored for the last several weeks, according to Unknownz21. Instead, the iPhone 15 Pro models will have a two-button design for the volume module, which will look similar to the two-button design on the iPhone 14 Pro models.
While Apple is planning to revert back to two buttons instead of the planned unified volume button, there will still be a change to the mute switch. Rather than a switch, Apple will use a physical button. Internally, this button has been referred to as the "ringer button" or the "action button," and rumors have suggested that it could be a customizable button that is similar to the Apple Watch Ultra Action button.
Up until earlier this week, Apple was still working on a unified, solid-state volume button that offered haptic feedback rather than a physical button mechanism. Apple abandoned the solid-state button design on Tuesday, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the change was due to "unresolved technical issues."
At the time, Kuo said that Apple would revert back to a "traditional physical button design," but it was not clear if Apple would continue to use the unified button that it had designed or if the company would swap back to a two-button design. Unknownz21's sources today learned that Apple will opt to revert to two buttons, delaying the unified button design until the iPhone 16 Pro.
Earlier today, MacRumors shared renders of what the iPhone 15 Pro models would have looked like with the unified volume button design. This is the design that Apple planned on using for most of the iPhone 15 Pro development period, and it is just this week that the change was made to shift back to the old design.
Unfortunately, we were working on these renders before we got the news about the solid-state button change, and we did not hear about Apple's revised plans for the buttons until after the renders were published. The renders we shared are now representative of the solid-state button design that Apple planned to use for the iPhone 15 Pro, which will not be the final design.
The renders offer a look at what the design might have been had Apple stuck with solid-state technology, and they feature the button design that Apple is likely to adopt for the iPhone 16 Pro models. Though delayed for now, Apple is continuing to work on haptic buttons, and the company is expected to implement the technology in next year's Pro iPhone models.
Apple will use standard mechanical buttons for both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, but as mentioned before, the mute button that is in the renders remains accurate. Apple is expected to use a mute button instead of a mute switch for the iPhone 15 Pro lineup. These design changes are able to be made because the devices are still in the Engineering Validation Test stage and have not reached final production.
Apple did create some iPhone 15 Pro models that have solid-state buttons and the volume button design that we shared, and these will be used internally for testing to ensure the technology is ready for the iPhone 16 lineup.
Renders, case makers' dummies, CADs, and other leaked information that has depicted a unified volume button is now out of date due to Apple's late design shift. Late stage design changes are unusual for Apple, but do happen when there are issues with a feature that can't be worked out in time for launch.
The AirPower, for example, was nixed entirely after Apple could not get it to work as intended. Back in 2011, there were widespread rumors of a teardrop design for the iPhone 5 that did not pan out after Apple went with a different design, and with the third-generation iPod touch, Apple added a camera during the design stages and then removed it from the final product.
There are a number of new features still rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models, such as a titanium frame, a faster A17 chip, periscope lens technology (iPhone 15 Pro Max only), thinner display bezels, and a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port.
Google today shared details on several optimizations that have been added to the Chrome browser on the Mac, which have made the browser "faster than ever" on Apple's Speedometer browser benchmark.
Google says that with the latest release of Chrome, the company went "deep under the hood" to find new opportunities to increase speed and efficiency. Google implemented improved HTML parsing for select CSS and JavaScript functions, and added more efficient pointer compression.
Optimizations were made to how pointers are compressed and decompressed, with Google avoiding compressing high-traffic fields. With the frequency of those operations, there was a notable impact on performance. Frequently accessed objects like JavaScript's "undefined" were also moved to the beginning of memory bases, which allows them to be accessed using faster machine code.
These changes have improved Chrome's speed on Apple's Speedometer 2.1 browser benchmark by 10 percent over the last three months. Google Chrome for Mac can be downloaded from the Google website.
Update: Newly obtained information confirms that Apple plans to revert to a two-button design for the iPhone 15 Pro models, rather than using the single unified volume button. The unified volume button was a design planned for the solid-state technology, and Apple is opting to use the older design now that solid-state buttons have been delayed.
Though Apple is using the prior two-button design for volume, the company still plans to replace the mute switch with a new mute button. The mute button could potentially be customizable, working similarly to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
The renders in this article represent the design that Apple planned to use prior to opting to eliminate solid-state buttons, featuring the design that Apple planned for during much of the iPhone 15 Pro development process. This is likely the design that Apple will use for the iPhone 16 Pro models, which are now expected to include the solid-state button technology instead of the iPhone 15 Pro models.
The original article is below.
With recent rumors indicating a last-minute change to the iPhone 15 Pro's feature set, what's in store for the device's volume buttons remains to be seen. We've heard multiple rumors that the iPhone 15 Pro models are set to adopt a new volume button and mute switch design, but emerging rumors about Apple's abandonment of solid-state button technology throw the design rumors into chaos.
As of right now, there is no indication that Apple will change its plans for a single, elongated volume button and a mute button instead of a mute switch, and we have an accurate look at what the buttons will look like provided there are no radical design shifts in store. Leaker Unknownz21 worked with MacRumors to share the actual design of the iPhone 15 Pro's volume and mute buttons, which haven't been seen before now.
We used iPhone 15 Pro information sourced from Unknownz21 to create images that depict the design of the volume, mute, and power buttons, including a view of the internal components. Note that these renders were created before the most recent solid-state rumors, there could be changes to the internal layout, but there is a good chance the external design will remain the same. In fact, Unknown21 has confirmed that the solid-state button design was still in development until very, very recently, and there is a chance that it hasn't been canceled at all.
Leaks to date have gotten the single volume rocker rumor right, but the design that Apple developed includes a split in the middle to designate the volume up and volume down sections of the button. With the middle split, the design looks similar to two separate buttons, but it is a notable departure from the current button design in which the volume up and volume down buttons are distinct.
Apple has not used this kind of unified button design since the iPhone 3GS in 2009, as the company swapped to two separate round volume up and down buttons with the iPhone 4, and ultimately transitioned to dual elongated buttons with the 2014 launch of the iPhone 6. It is worth highlighting that the single button design the middle separation has been in place since the early iPhone 15 Pro development period.
Apple initially planned to introduce the single volume button design alongside solid-state technology, but reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes solid-state buttons have been abandoned. There were "unresolved technical issues" that Apple was unable to address before mass production, so solid-state buttons will be delayed and ultimately introduced with a later version of the iPhone.
Solid-state technology is what Apple uses for the Mac's trackpad and the Home button on Touch ID iPhones. With this feature, the volume button on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would not have physically depressed, instead using haptic feedback to mimic the feel of a press. With haptic buttons delayed, Apple could instead use the single button design with standard physical buttons.
So far I haven’t seen anything to suggest a different exterior design for the buttons - if this is true then I think it’ll likely be more of an internal change, rather than something visible.
Currently, EVT units use the existing design - although changes are always possible 🤔 https://t.co/eK71637HRJ
— Unknownz21 🌈 (@URedditor) April 12, 2023
In his Medium post, Kuo said the buttons will have a "traditional physical button design," but he did not provide context on whether Apple would stick with the single volume button design change or revert to the same two button design that was used for the iPhone 14 models. There is now some added mystery surrounding what kind of volume button design we'll get for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, and there are arguments both for keeping the single button design and for reverting to the prior design. Unknownz21 believes that Apple will make minimal changes to the buttons at this point, and that while there could be added separation between the buttons, the design will not be the same as the iPhone 14 button design.
Given that there are other internal changes planned for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max to accommodate new camera technology (specifically in the case of the periscope lens for the Pro Max), it may not be easy for Apple to go back to the original volume button design. Additionally, there were rumors that Apple planned to replace the mute switch with a mute button, and that the button could serve as a multi-use Action button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Apple Watch Ultra Action button and the Side button on all Apple Watch models use physical button technology. They are not haptic or solid-state, so a case can be made that what works for the watch will work for the iPhone. Apple can retain the single volume button and the "Action" button even without a shift to haptic technology. Apple has been referring to the button as the "ringer button" or "action button" internally, which does indeed seem to suggest there could be a multi-function customizable button.
We have a detailed look at the module (codenamed "Bongo") that Apple designed for the volume button, mute button, and power button, created with information about the internal layout. While the renders still give a look at the potential external design that Apple will go with, it is likely that there are going to be internal changes to this design. Apple initially intended to add two additional Taptic Engines to the iPhone 15 Pro models to power the haptic buttons, but those will no longer be needed.
Unless Apple has last minute plans to abandon the mute switch to button transition and the elongated volume button in favor of the prior design, what we are sharing here today is a true-to-life depiction of what the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will look like. It is the most complete picture of the iPhone 15 Pro to date, and it is the design that Apple has conceptualized since the iPhone 15 Pro was in early design stages.
While the loss of solid-state button technology is a major disappointment for those who were looking forward to it, Apple has other notable design changes that are coming to the iPhone 15 Pro models. The device chassis will be made from titanium, which is the same material that Apple uses for the Apple Watch Ultra. Like the frame, the buttons will be made from titanium as well.
Titanium is stronger than aluminum and lighter weight than stainless steel, the material that Apple used for the iPhone 14 Pro. We are expecting a weight reduction for the iPhone 15 Pro compared to the iPhone 14 Pro just based on material update, but final weight will be dependent on the alloy that Apple uses and the internal layout changes.
Titanium has more of a brushed, matte finish than stainless steel, and the more subdued texture will be more resistant to fingerprints. Apple has also tested a shiny mirror finish for the iPhone 15 Pro frame, so there is a small chance that both shiny and matte options could be offered for some of the models. As titanium is stronger than stainless steel, the iPhone 15 Pro's frame could be more resistant to dents, dings, and bending, but it may be easier to scratch because the oxide layer is easily damaged.
In addition to a titanium frame, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will also have a design that slims down the bezels and deepens the curve at the corners of the device, so while it will look similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, it will be distinct. The bezels are notably smaller and will increase the available display area somewhat, but no changes are expected for the Dynamic Island.
Other iPhone 15 Pro features include TSMC's 3-nanometer A17 chip, a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, a periscope camera lens for the iPhone 15 Pro Max with expanded optical zoom, faster 5G, and Wi-Fi 6E.
Note that many new additions, including the planned unified volume button, the mute button, and the titanium frame, will be limited to the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and will not be available with the standard iPhone 15 models.
For more on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, we have a dedicated iPhone 15 Pro roundup that aggregates everything we've heard so far, and we also have a separate iPhone 15 roundup that gives a better idea of the differences between the Pro and non-Pro models.
Spotify today announced that it now offers a Lock Screen widget on the iPhone, allowing users to quickly access the app with a single tap. The widget is available with the latest version of the Spotify app released on the App Store earlier today.
Lock Screen widgets require iOS 16 or later. To add a widget, tap and hold the Lock Screen, tap on the Customize button, tap on the Lock Screen, tap on Add Widgets, select Spotify from the list that appears, and tap on the widget. For emphasis, the Spotify widget will only appear in the list if the app has been updated to the latest version.
While a Lock Screen widget is nice, Spotify has still yet to implement native support for the HomePod, meaning that Spotify cannot be fully controlled with Siri on the speaker like Apple Music can be. Spotify also lacks support for AirPlay 2, which launched in 2018 with less buffering, support for stereo-paired HomePods, and more.
Rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE have been circulating since just months after the current model launched in 2022. Below, we have recapped the latest rumors about the device, including potential features and release timing.
Unfortunately, there has been uncertainty surrounding the fourth-generation iPhone SE, with rumors conflicting about if or when the device might launch.
Yesterday, analyst Jeff Pu claimed that the fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem was delayed until 2025. Today, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo agreed that mass production of Apple's modem could begin in 2025 at the earliest, but he said the iPhone SE that Apple is using to test the modem is actually an internal prototype that the company does not plan to mass produce for release to the public. Based on Kuo's latest information, it is now unclear if a fourth-generation iPhone SE is still planned.
Kuo had previously claimed that the next iPhone SE would have a similar design as the standard iPhone 14 model released last year, suggesting that the device would have been equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display and Face ID.
The current iPhone SE was released in March 2022 with a 4.7-inch LCD display, Touch ID, 5G, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and the A15 Bionic chip. Priced starting at $429 in the U.S., it is one of Apple's more affordable iPhone models. Previous generations of the iPhone SE were released in 2020 and 2016, so the device has gone multiple years between each refresh, meaning that any new model is unlikely to launch until at least 2024.
All in all, fourth-generation iPhone SE rumors have been in an on-again, off-again state, so there is still uncertainty surrounding the device.
Amazon today has new deals on cases for the iPhone and iPad, including Magic Keyboard cases for the iPad Pro and 10.9-inch iPad. You can also get solid markdowns on clear, silicone, and leather cases for the iPhone 14 family of smartphones.
iPad Keyboards
Starting with the 11-inch iPad Pro Magic Keyboard, Amazon has this accessory for $229.00 in Black, down from $299.00. This is a second-best price on the 11-inch Magic Keyboard, and only Amazon has this price.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Additionally, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro Magic Keyboard is on sale for $299.99 on Amazon, down from $349.00. This is another second-best price for the Magic Keyboard, and for the 12.9-inch size only White is available.
Lastly, the 10.9-inch iPad Magic Keyboard Folio is down to $229.00, from its original price of $249.00. This accessory launched in 2022 alongside the new iPad, so we haven't seen as many discounts yet. Amazon's sale today is an all-time low price on the folio.
Other than iPad keyboard cases, Amazon also has a notable sale on nearly every official Apple case for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro lineup. You'll find up to 25 percent off Clear, Silicone, and Leather cases on Amazon, all of which we've collected below. These include some of the lowest prices we've ever tracked on these accessories.
Apple Card Savings will likely be available starting Monday, April 17, according to backend code on Apple's servers uncovered by @aaronp613. The code also suggests that an iPhone with iOS 16.3 or later will be required to use the feature.
Apple Card users will be able to open a high-yield savings account from Goldman Sachs in the Wallet app on their iPhone and start earning interest on their Daily Cash balance. Apple has yet to reveal what the account's interest rate will be, but Goldman Sachs' existing Marcus high-yield savings account currently has a 3.75% APY.
In addition to Daily Cash, users will be able to deposit their own funds into the savings account through a linked bank account, or from their Apple Cash balance. Users will be able to withdraw funds to a linked bank account at any time, with no fees.
To open a savings account in the Wallet app, users will tap on the Apple Card, tap on the circle with three dots at the top of the screen, tap Daily Cash, and select Set Up Savings. Once the account is set up, all Daily Cash received from that point on will be automatically deposited into it and start earning interest. If they prefer, users will still be able to have Daily Cash added to their Apple Cash balance instead at any time.
After re-examining the backend code, it seems like Apple Card Savings Accounts may go live on April 17
Additionally, it seems like the customized Chinese Apple Pay transit cards may go live on April 18 https://t.co/ljJxjqaIFy
— Aaron (@aaronp613) April 13, 2023
Apple Card provides 2% to 3% Daily Cash on purchases made with Apple Pay and 1% on purchases made with the physical card. Apple's credit card remains available in the U.S. only, meaning this savings account feature will only be available there.
Apple first announced the savings account in October and said it would be available in the coming months. It's likely that Apple Card Savings has faced delays, as the feature was initially listed in the iOS 16.1 Release Candidate notes, but it did not end up launching with that update and is still not available six months after being announced.
Apple has gradually expanded into financial services over the past few years. The launch of Apple Card Savings would follow last month's limited rollout of Apple Pay Later, a "buy now, pay later" service for financing purchases made with Apple Pay.
Ahead of the 2023 NAB Show that takes place from April 15 to April 19, Adobe has announced updates to some of its Creative Cloud apps, including Premiere Pro and After Effects.
Adobe says that the new Premiere Pro is the "fastest and most reliable version" to date with background auto save, system reset options, additional GPU acceleration, and more.
The update introduces an Adobe Sensei-powered Text-Based Video Editing option that is able to automatically analyze and transcribe clips so editors can copy and paste sentences in any order they want and see them appear that way on the timeline. Videos are essentially turned into searchable transcripts with specific words and phrases able to be matched for quicker video editing.
Automatic Tone Mapping and log color detection functionality lets editors mix and match HDR footage from different sources into the same SDR project without the need to use LUTs or manually balance footage to get consistent color.
Other new features include Sequence Locking for collaborative editing, presence indicators to see who is online, and Work While Offline to allow editors to work on collaborative projects offline and later publish changes without overwriting others' work.
As for After Effects, there's a new Properties Panel that provides quicker access to key animation settings. The panel is context-sensitive, and will automatically show users the most important controls based on selections. Adobe has also included performance optimizations such as a faster timeline layer selection and multi-frame rendering of shapes, along with new keyboard shortcuts for Selectable Track Mattes.
The latest versions of Premiere Pro and After effects, including beta versions of the Text-Based Editing and Automatic Tone Mapping, will be available starting in May 2023. More information can be found on Adobe's website.
Apple is considering integrating Siri's on-screen interface into the Dynamic Island on newer iPhones, according to an anonymous source who has been sharing details about alleged new features coming in iOS 17.
Currently, invoking Siri with a button press or using the "Hey Siri" spoken command causes an animated sphere to appear at the bottom of the screen. The sphere remains overlaid on the screen while the virtual assistant listens, and any details relevant to the request are displayed at either the top or bottom of the screen in the form of a card, with background content dimmed.
Moving the Siri UI to the Dynamic Island would likely allow onscreen content to stay in full view. Originally, the Siri interface would take over the entire screen whenever the user interacted with the virtual assistant, but Apple made this optional in iOS 14 when it adopted the current, more compact interface.
According to the anonymous tipster, Apple "may or may not go with the Dynamic Island version of Siri" that it is presently testing, although "many more" notifications are coming to the pill-shaped interface. Apple is expected to expand the Dynamic Island to all four iPhone 15 models this year. You can read more about other alleged improvements coming to iOS 17 in our previous coverage.
Apple today announced a "major acceleration" of its work to expand the use of recycled materials in its devices.
By 2025, Apple now aims to ensure that:
All Apple-designed batteries will use 100 percent recycled cobalt.
Magnets used in Apple devices will be made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements.
All Apple-designed printed circuit boards will use 100 percent recycled gold plating and 100 percent recycled tin soldering.
The accelerated time frame comes thanks to a large number of changes the company made in recent years. For example, Apple's use of recycled materials for printed circuit boards was spearheaded by an exclusively recycled supply chain for gold in the plating of the main logic board for iPhone 13. Since then, it has increased the use of circuitry made with recycled materials in the iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods Pro, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and HomePod. In 2022, a quarter of all cobalt found in Apple products came from recycled material, up from 13 percent in 2021, paving the way for the transition to 100 percent recycled cobalt by 2025.
In 2022, around 20 percent of all material shipped in Apple devices came from renewable or recycled sources. The company said that the change brings it closer to the aim of eventually making all products using only recycled and renewable materials and advances its goal to make every product carbon neutral by 2030.
Apple also flagged that its Material Recovery Lab in Austin, Texas have started using AR video projected directly onto work surfaces to show recycling partners how to disassemble devices. In addition, the company said that by 2025 it will completely eliminate plastics from its packaging. Following the adoption of fibre alternatives to screen films, wraps, and foam, 96 percent of Apple packaging is plastic-free. The company says it is now working to replace the labels, lamination, varnish, and other "small uses" that make up the remaining 4 percent.
Apple plans to let iPhone users in China customize their transit cards with illustrated designs in celebration of Earth Day on Saturday, April 22, according to details found in backend Apple Wallet code by Aaronp613.
Users who keep transit cards in the Wallet app of their iPhone will be able to customize the cards with unique "Made on iPad" designs, which will be available to download for free from new "card art mall" sections of the App Store for transit networks in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Suzhou, and Changsha.
The florid nature-themed illustrations allude to the use of trains and buses as alternative means of transport that can help reduce carbon emissions.
Apple has honored Earth Day in previous years with specially curated content in the App Store, as well as on Apple TV+, Apple Podcasts, and Apple Maps. This year, it also plans to launch a new Apple Watch activity challenge for Earth Day. To earn the Earth Day award, Apple Watch owners will need to do a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or more.
Apple is said to be in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand as the company continues to diversify its supply chain outside of China.
According to Nikkei Asia, suppliers involved in the talks already have established bases in Thailand for other clients, which has facilitated discussion surrounding the possible assembly and production of MacBook components and modules in the country.
"Ideally, Apple asked us to set up facilities in Vietnam for MacBooks, following in the footsteps of other Apple suppliers, but we offered an alternative option of building the product at our Thailand plants, which still have a massive space that can be reserved for the client," a senior executive at one of the suppliers told Nikkei Asia. "As MacBook assembly will begin in Vietnam first, we could support the components from our Thailand plants, too. ... It will only take two to three days of logistics and custom clearance."
Another supplier told Nikkei it is building new plants in Thailand for Apple, and construction of a new factory for MacBooks and other products will be completed this year. Apple has already been mass producing its Apple Watch in Thailand for more than a year, according to the outlet's sources.
Apple has expanded its supply chain beyond China over the past several years, with some production now occurring at factories in India and Vietnam. Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that the main production location outside of China for Apple's future MacBooks may be Thailand, as such diversification helps Apple to mitigate geopolitical tensions and avoid risks like U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports.
Apple still plans to launch augmented reality "Apple Glasses" by 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, provided it can finalize new metalens technology in the interim, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In his latest summary of surveys and predictions, Kuo says Apple is developing metalens technology to replace plastic lens covers in a range of devices, starting with iPads and iPhones.
Metalenses are a flat lens technology that use metasurfaces to focus light. In optical applications, they can take advantage of the flat surface and reduced thickness, compared to traditional, curved refractive lenses.
According to Kuo, metalens covers are set to enter mass production in 2024 for use in Apple's Face ID system for iPad Pro, then iPhone in 2025 or 2026. If development goes as planned, they would eventually be used in Apple's AR glasses, which will enter production in 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, says the analyst.
Looking further ahead, Kuo predicts that metalens covers could replace "lowest-end" plastic lenses in existing cameras between 2028 and 2030, assuming continuing linear progress in manufacturing and software algorithm development.
"Investors should be aware that over the next few years, metalens will gradually replace existing plastic lenses in 3D sensing applications," says the analyst, adding: "Glasses-type head-mounted display devices are the killer application for metalens."
This is the first time in a long while that Kuo has ventured to offer a launch timeframe for Apple Glasses. In March 2021, the analyst suggested Apple planned to release augmented reality glasses by 2025. That prediction was made in the context of a report about Apple potentially developing AR "contact lenses."
Earlier this year, Bloombergreported that Apple paused development on the augmented reality Apple Glasses that it planned to introduce after its mixed reality headset.
According to Bloomberg, some Apple employees do not believe that Apple will ever ship AR glasses, since most of Apple's AR/VR group is working on mixed reality headsets, the first of which is expected to debut as soon as this June at WWDC.
Apple appears to be gearing up to introduce the Daily Cash savings account feature for Apple Card users, as mentions of a Daily Cash Savings account have been found in backend Apple code by Aaronp613.
The appearance of the code indicates that Apple has furthered its work on the savings account, and that it will be introduced in the very near future. Prior to the March 28 launch of Apple Pay Later, references showed up in the code the day before, so there is a chance that the Apple Card savings account could launch as soon as this week.
Exclusive: Apple's Savings Account appears to be launching soon as it just showed up on the backend! pic.twitter.com/WqdL1tCcxQ
— Aaron (@aaronp613) April 12, 2023
The code contains the terms of service for the savings account, as well as images that Apple will likely use for the feature in the Wallet app and other locations. It mentions iOS 16.3, but it is not yet clear if iOS 16.3 will be required to sign up for and use an account.
Apple back in October announced plans to introduce a "high-yield" savings account for Apple Card users to store Daily Cash, with all Daily Cash earned automatically deposited into the account. Apple at the time said the savings account would be available "in the coming months," but there has not been an update since then.
Apple Card users can sign up for the savings account through Goldman Sachs, Apple's financial partner for the Apple Card. Like the Apple Card, the savings account will be managed using the Wallet app on iPhone or the Wallet section of the Settings app on the iPad.
While Daily Cash will be automatically deposited in the account once it is created, Apple Card users can opt to change where their Daily Cash is delivered in the future. There are also options for depositing additional money into the savings account through a linked bank account or through an Apple Cash balance. Funds can be withdrawn at any time with no fees or penalties.
Earlier today, an anonymous source who shared accurate information in the past revealed potential new features coming to the iPhone with iOS 17, including improvements to Search, the Dynamic Island, Control Center, and more. In addition, the source indicated that Apple is internally testing interactive widgets for the Home Screen and Today View, but they are unclear if this feature will make the final cut.
"Active widgets are in testing, but not confirmed by any means," the source said in a tweet. If made available to the public, the source said the interactive widgets would include one-tap buttons, sliders, and other dynamic content. The source shared additional alleged details about iOS 17 in a MacRumors Forums post.
Introduced with iOS 14, Home Screen widgets currently offer very limited functionality, as noted in Apple's developer documentation. "Widgets present read-only information and don’t support interactive elements such as scrolling elements or switches," says Apple. These limitations could be related to battery life considerations.
Last year, the same source leaked accurate details about the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro before the device was announced. However, given the source has yet to establish a long-term track record with Apple rumors, it remains to be seen if all of the latest details they have shared prove to be accurate this time around.
Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, and as usual, the first beta version should be made available to developers for testing later that day. The first public beta will likely be released in July.
Ahead of Apple unveiling iOS 17 at WWDC in June, an anonymous source who shared accurate information in the past has revealed potential new features coming with the update, including improvements to Search, the Dynamic Island, Control Center, and more.
In a post on the MacRumors Forums and on Twitter, the source indicated that search functionality will be "heavily improved" in iOS 17, but no specific details were provided. The built-in search tool on the iPhone helps to surface information on your device and on the web, with results and suggestions provided as you type. Starting with iOS 16, there is a dedicated "Search" button at the bottom of the Home Screen for easy access.
Apple is expected to expand the Dynamic Island to all four iPhone 15 models this year. On the software side, the source said the Dynamic Island will be able to "do a lot more" on iOS 17, without elaborating. Introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro last year, the Dynamic Island currently displays system alerts like low battery percentage and incoming phone calls, and Live Activities such as Uber rides and NBA scores.
As reported last week, the source reiterated that iOS 17 will include "major changes" to the Control Center's design and customizability. Control Center was introduced with iOS 7 nearly a decade ago and has looked largely the same since iOS 11.
The source added that iOS 17 will include new custom accessibility settings that will give users more control over the iPhone's user interface. This could relate to a hidden "Custom Accessibility Mode" that was discovered in the iOS 16.2 beta last year. The new mode would allow users to replace the typical Lock Screen and Home Screen with more accessible UI elements, remove the Dock, set much larger app icons, and more.
Other changes the source expects in iOS 17 include additional settings for notifications and the always-on display, more Focus filters, car key improvements in the Wallet app, updates to the Camera and Health apps, and a significant number of new ARKit frameworks, as Apple gears up to launch its long-rumored AR/VR headset later this year. The source said Apple is also considering allowing for interactive Home Screen widgets.
Overall, the source believes iOS 17 focuses on performance and stability improvements. As a result, they are adamant that the update will remain compatible with the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, contrary to a previous rumor.
We have elected to share this information since the same source leaked accurate details about the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro before the device was announced last year. However, given the source has yet to establish a long-term track record, it remains to be seen if all of these latest details will prove to be accurate.
Apple is expected to announce iOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5, and as usual, the first beta version should be made available to developers for testing later that day. The first public beta will likely be released in July.
Warner Bros. today announced plans to launch a new streaming service that will merge HBO Max and Discovery+ content. The HBO brand will be eliminated, and the streaming service will be called just "Max."
HBO has undergone several different rebranding efforts over the years, as there were previously HBO GO and HBO Now streaming services that were merged into HBO Max in 2020. The "Max" rebrand that drops the HBO name comes after a 2022 merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia. At the time of the merger, the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery company made it clear that HBO Max would eventually be combined with Discovery+, and rumors in December hinted at the "Max" naming.
Abandoning the HBO branding is a curious decision as the HBO Max streaming service is known for some very popular shows, such as Succession, Game of Thrones, Euphoria, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us. The Max streaming service will have three different price points available:
Max Ad-Lite: $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Includes 2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound quality. Supported by ads.
Max Ad Free: $15.99/month or $149.99/year. Includes 2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, 30 offline downloads, and 5.1 surround sound quality.
Max Ultimate Ad Free: $19.99/month or $199.99/year. Includes 4 concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, 100 offline downloads, and Dolby Atmos sound quality.
Warner Bros. says that existing HBO Max subscribers that subscribe through HBO will have access to Max at the same price as their HBO Max subscription, with more information available on the HBO Max website. Those who subscribe through a TV, mobile, or wireless provider will be informed of any price or plan changes.
"Max" is set to launch on May 23, and it will include HBO Max content and Discovery TV content such as HGTV, the Food Network, ID, TLC, and more. Alongside the launch of the service, Warner Bros. also announced a new Harry Potter television series as well as another Game of Thrones prequel show.
On some platforms, the HBO Max app will automatically be updated to the Max app, and on others, users will be prompted to download the Max app when attempting to open the HBO Max app. Discovery+ customers can sign up as new Max customers, as those subscriptions will not transition. Discovery+ will continue to be available as a standalone service.
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