MacRumors

Google today announced that it is introducing support for passkeys, providing an easier and more secure login method for Google accounts. Apple integrated passkeys into iOS with the launch of iOS 16, and it is also available in iPadOS 16.1 and later as well as macOS Ventura.

Passkeys are an industry standard developed by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium, so Google's passkey integration will work on Apple devices as well as on other devices that support the feature. As Google notes:

Last year — alongside FIDO Alliance, Apple and Microsoft — we announced we would begin work to support passkeys on our platform as an easier and more secure alternative to passwords. And today, ahead of World Password Day, we've begun rolling out support for passkeys across Google Accounts on all major platforms. They'll be an additional option that people can use to sign in, alongside passwords, 2-Step Verification (2SV), etc.

Passkeys are both easier to use and more secure than passwords because they let users sign in to apps and sites the same way they unlock their devices: With a fingerprint, a face scan or a screen lock PIN. Passkeys are also resistant to online attacks like phishing, making them more secure than things like SMS one-time codes.

To create a passkey, Google users can log in to their Google account and then choose the "Create a passkey" option. Passkeys on iOS and Mac devices sync with iCloud Keychain for security purposes, and logins are authenticated with Face ID or Touch ID. This protects you from being locked out of your account in case you lose your devices, and makes it easier for you to upgrade from one device to another.

Google says the switch to passkeys will take time, which is why traditional passwords and two-step verification will still work for Google Accounts.

Google is just one of several companies to implement support for passkeys in recent months, with other supporting apps and websites including PayPal, Best Buy, eBay, Dashlane, and Kayak.

Reddit's official iOS app has received an update that gives users the ability to more easily share content on the social discussion website with the help of rich link previews.

Previously, sharing a link to a Reddit post via a messaging service such as Apple's Messages app only displayed the URL address in the conversation thread, offering the recipient little idea of its contents.

By contrast, rich link previews display a visual preview of the post being linked to, including the subreddit name, total upvotes, and comments, providing the recipient with a clearer gist of the content they can expect to see if they decide to tap the link and visit the post.

In another update addition, it's now easier for people to share content in the Reddit app to Instagram, thanks to a new Instagram Stories button in the sharing options. The new button automatically generates a similar preview of the post that appears on Instagram.

Outlining the new sharing features in a blog post, Reddit also mentions a new "one-tap screenshot-sharing experience that allows users to share content without saving images to their device – meaning they can link back to the content rather than only sending a screenshot."

The new share options are accessible via a new custom share sheet which appears when Reddit app users tap the share icon under a post. The redditor's most used sharing channels are displayed at the top of the sheet to make the sharing process more convenient without having to leave the app.

Alongside the update, Reddit says it is also making sharing simpler for publishers by introducing a new toolbox that makes it easier to display Reddit content on their own platforms. Publishers can learn more by referring to Reddit's documentation.

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to transfer their chat history to another iPhone without using iCloud.

Currently, WhatsApp only lets ‌iPhone‌ users migrate their chat history and media to ‌‌another ‌iPhone‌ if they have created a Chat Backup which is uploaded to ‌iCloud‌.

With the new feature, called "Transfer Chats to ‌iPhone‌," users need only download WhatsApp on their new phone, register with the same number, and then use their old ‌iPhone‌ to scan a QR code shown on the new device to automatically transfer their chat history.

As noted by WaBetaInfo, the new built-in service offers a significant advantage to users limited to ‌iCloud‌'s 5GB of free storage who do not have the space available to back up their chat history on Apple's servers.

• How to End-to-End Encrypt Your WhatsApp Chat Backups in iCloud

The new chat transfer feature is currently available to some beta testers who have installed the latest version of WhatsApp beta for iOS from the TestFlight app. It is expected to roll out to even more people over the coming days, but it's not clear when the feature will appear for regular WhatsApp users.

News of the feature in testing follows parent company Meta's announcement last week that it is rolling out multi-device login support for more than one phone. The change means users will be able to log into the same WhatsApp account on up to four phones, instead of being limited to just one phone and multiple desktop devices.

With the new feature, said to be rolling out to all users within the coming weeks, users' messages will be synced across multiple devices including other phones. So even if one device is switched off, they can access the app on other devices.

The redesigned version of the Maps app that Apple has been rolling out worldwide since 2019 is now being tested in Taiwan, according to Apple Maps expert Justin O'Beirne. The refreshed look is not available to all Apple Maps users as of yet, and Apple has not officially announced it.

With the updated design, landmarks and buildings are shown in 3D, and green spaces, parks, trees, roads, and other areas are displayed in more detail and with more accuracy.

Apple's revamped map experience also provides iPhone, iPad, and Mac users with better navigation, turn-by-turn walking directions with augmented reality, and in general, a much more detailed and immersive Maps interface.

This design began rolling out in September 2018 in Northern California, and as of 2019, it was available across the United States. Apple has since expanded it to multiple other countries, most recently adding Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia.

O'Beirne expects the new ‌Apple Maps‌ design to be officially live in Taiwan in June.

Update: O'Beirne has updated his article to note that the new maps are also in testing for Hong Kong and Slovakia.

Apple will be adding the Thunderbolt Display and the first-generation iPad Air to its obsolete products list worldwide on May 31, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. Obsolete products are no longer eligible for repairs or other hardware service at Apple Stores or Apple Authorized Service Providers.

Introduced in 2011, the Thunderbolt Display featured a 27-inch screen, a 1440p resolution, a 720p camera, three USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port. The monitor was priced at $999 in the U.S. and was discontinued in 2016, resulting in years without an Apple-branded external display. Its modern day successor is the Studio Display, released alongside the Mac Studio last year.

The original iPad Air launched in 2013 and was also discontinued in 2016. The device was equipped with a 9.7-inch display and the A7 chip, and it was advertised as being 20% thinner, 28% lighter, and having 43% narrower display bezels compared to the previous iPad. Pricing started at $499 in the U.S. for the Wi-Fi-only model.

Apple classifies a product as technologically obsolete once more than seven years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale.

Apple today released the fourth beta of macOS Ventura 13.4 to developers, and it appears that there are some issues with content filtering apps like Little Snitch, Radio Silence, and others.

After installing the beta, some users on the MacRumors forums and on Twitter had problems with network connectivity, and managed to narrow it down to interference with firewall apps. MacRumors reader Grant, for example, saw his network cycling on and off repeatedly until he uninstalled Little Snitch.

Twitter user @aaronp613 had an issue with his Mac disconnecting after updating and he was able to fix it by turning off Radio Silence.

Mac users who are having problems with network connectivity after installing macOS Ventura 13.4 beta 4 should disable their network filtering apps. Those who are concerned about not being able to use the apps for the time being should avoid installing the latest beta for now.

Apple today introduced new 5E135 firmware for the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, the original AirPods Pro, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, and the AirPods Max, up from the 5E133 firmware that was released in April.

Apple does not offer immediately available release notes on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the AirPods‌, but the company does maintain a support document with release information.

There is no standard way to upgrade the ‌AirPods‌‌ software, but firmware is installed over-the-air while the ‌‌AirPods‌‌ are connected to an iOS device. Putting the ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting the ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌ to a power source, and then pairing the ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

You can check your ‌‌‌AirPods‌‌ or ‌‌‌‌‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ firmware by following these steps:

• Connect your ‌‌AirPods‌‌ or ‌‌‌‌‌‌AirPods Pro‌‌‌‌‌‌ to your iOS device.
• Open the Settings app.
• Tap General.
• Tap About.
• Tap ‌‌‌‌‌AirPods‌‌‌‌‌.
• Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."

If we find notable changes after the firmware updates are installed, we'll update this article, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes.

Apple today released new firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro. The Beats Fit Pro and ‌Powerbeats Pro‌ now feature firmware version 5B66, up from the prior 5B55 firmware that came out in November 2022.

Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the Beats Fit Pro and ‌Powerbeats Pro‌, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the firmware brings.

There's no standard way to upgrade the ‌Beats‌‌ software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the earbuds are connected to an iOS device. Putting the Beats‌‌‌‌‌ in the case, connecting them to a power source, and then pairing them‌‌‌‌‌ to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.

If we find notable changes after the firmware update is installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes rather than outward-facing changes.

Apple today released new firmware designed for the MagSafe Charger that is compatible with the iPhone 12 and later and the latest AirPods and Apple Watch models. The updated firmware is version 10M3761, up from the prior 10M1821 firmware. In the Settings app, you'll see a different version number than the firmware number, with the update displayed as version 258.0.0 (the prior firmware was 255.0.0).

The ‌MagSafe‌ Charger was initially released in the fall of 2020 alongside the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, and this is the fourth firmware update that Apple has provided since the accessory launched.

Because firmware updates are released quietly over the air, Apple does not provide release notes. We do not know what new features or bug fixes might be included in the software.

There is no clear method for updating a ‌‌MagSafe‌‌ charger's firmware, but it needs to be plugged in and connected to an Apple device for a firmware update to initiate. You can check your ‌‌MagSafe‌‌ Charger's firmware by following the instructions in our MagSafe Charger how to.

OWC this week has a collection of discounts on Thunderbolt docks and particularly steep markdowns on Atlas memory cards and adapters, many of which will last throughout the month of May. If you've never shopped at OWC before, the company is known for making memory accessories, USB-C hubs, Thunderbolt docks, and more, all built with Apple computers in mind.

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

Memory Cards and Adapters

OWC is currently running a 25 percent discount on its Atlas memory cards and adapters this week only, and you can stack this discount with our exclusive 20 percent promo code MACRUMORS on the cart page prior to checkout. With this you can get a total 45 percent discount on these accessories through Sunday.

We've listed a few of the memory cards on sale below, but be sure to check out OWC's website to find the full sale. The higher storage memory cards will find the best discounts during this event, with as much as $225 off these cards for this week only. Remember to enter the promo code MACRUMORS on the cart page prior to checkout to get the total 45 percent off.

OWC Atlas Pro SD V60 Memory Cards

• 64GB - $15.39, down from $27.99
• 128GB - $27.49, down from $49.99
• 256GB - $49.49, down from $89.99
• 512GB - $87.99, down from $159.99
• 1TB - $158.39, down from $287.99

OWC Atlas Ultra SD V90 Memory Cards

• 64GB - $41.24, down from $74.99
• 128GB - $76.99, down from $139.99
• 256GB - $142.99, down from $259.99
• 512GB - $274.99, down from $499.99

Thunderbolt Docks

The new sale has eight Thunderbolt and USB drive docks on sale, most of which will require you to add the accessory to your cart in order to see the discounted price. One of the highlights of the sale is the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock for $229.99, which is $50 in savings.

• USB-C Travel Dock - $49.99, down from $59.99
• USB Drive Dock - $99.00, down from $119.99
• Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock - $119.99, down from $129.99
• Thunderbolt Hub - $119.99, down from $129.99
• Thunderbolt Dock - $229.99, down from $249.99
• 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock - $229.99, down from $279.99
• Thunderbolt Go Dock - $329.99, down from $349.99
• Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock - $359.99, down from $379.99

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

Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the launch of the third betas.

Registered developers can opt in to the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to Software Update, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option and toggling on the iOS 16/iPadOS 16 Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

iOS 16.5 adds a Sports tab in the Apple News app, making it easier to access sports-focused content. You can choose to follow your favorite teams to get updates on a regular basis. The update also includes a new Siri option for starting a screen recording with a voice command, and multi-viewing options for sports content.

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of macOS Ventura 13.4 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming a week after the launch of the third beta.

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

macOS 13.4 adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from System Settings on the Mac, without the need to install a profile.

An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates, which means that it is no longer possible to use a developer profile not associated with a developer account to install the developer betas.

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming one week after the launch of the third watchOS 9.5 beta.

To install the watchOS 9.5 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.

Once installed, ‌watchOS 9.5 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 9.5 adds the simplified beta installation method that was first introduced in iOS 16.4. With the update, developers and public beta testers enrolled in Apple's respective programs can toggle on beta updates from the Software Update section of the Watch app on ‌iPhone‌.

An Apple ID associated with either a public beta account or a developer account is required to turn on beta updates.

Apple Pay, Apple Card, and Apple Cash are currently experiencing issues for some users, according to Apple's system status page.

The page notes that some users are experiencing unspecified issues with Apple Pay, while some Apple Card and Apple Cash features may not be available to some users right now. Apple ensures that purchases made with the Apple Card and Apple Cash will continue to be unaffected as it investigates the issues and works to implement a fix.

The issues began just before 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time today, according to the page. We'll update this story when the issues are marked as resolved.

The issues come on the same day as Apple Pay launched in a few additional countries, including Guatemala and El Salvador, according to @aaronp613. First launched in the U.S. in 2014, Apple Pay is now available in around 70 countries and regions.

Two other related features that recently launched are Apple Pay Later for financing purchases and Apple Card Savings for earning interest on Daily Cash.

Update: Apple says the issues have been resolved.

Amazon today has Apple's M2 MacBook Air on sale at up to $150 off select notebooks. The M2 MacBook Air debuted in June 2022 with a complete redesign compared to the previous generation.

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.

Starting with the 256GB M2 MacBook Air, this model has hit $1,049.00, down from the original price of $1,199.00. You'll find Space Gray, Starlight, and Silver available at this price on Amazon, and there's an estimated delivery date of May 4-8 for all colors.

You can also get the 512GB M2 MacBook Air on sale this week, priced at $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. Amazon only has Midnight on sale at this price, and you'll again find an estimated delivery date around May 8 for this computer.

Compared to past sales, today's deals are second-best prices on these MacBook Air models. We haven't tracked record low prices on the M2 MacBook Air since February, and those sales have been some of the only times we've seen all-time lows on these notebooks in 2023. If you're shopping for a MacBook Air this week, Amazon's markdowns are definitely solid options.

You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.

Uber Eats has started rolling out Live Activities support around the world, allowing iPhone users to easily track their order on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. The feature is available to a small percentage of users in the latest version of the Uber Eats app, and it will be available more widely within the next week or so.

Live Activities is an iOS 16 feature that allows iPhone users to stay on top of real-time events with a live-updating notification on the Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models. For Uber Eats, the feature makes it easier to track the live progress of a delivery at a glance without opening the app. Information shown includes the order status, ETA, driver's name and photo, and store's image.

Uber added Live Activities support to its main app for rides earlier this year. Uber Eats is a standalone app for delivery of food, groceries, and select other items, and its adoption of the feature will be very useful for tracking an order.

Other popular apps that support Live Activities include the NBA and MLB apps for basketball and baseball games, Flighty for flight tracking, Citymapper for public transit, ParkMobile for parking, and CARROT Weather for weather forecasts. Google Maps is also planning to support the feature for turn-by-turn directions in the coming months.

Microsoft is planning to launch a privacy-focused version of ChatGPT amid Apple's apparent lack of grip on emerging AI technologies, The Information reports.

Microsoft's Azure cloud server unit plans to offer a version of ChatGPT that runs on dedicated cloud servers where the data is kept separate from that of other customers later this quarter. Data on this isolated server will not communicate with the main ChatGPT system to preserve privacy. The service could cost as much as 10 times more than what customers currently pay to use ChatGPT.

The move seeks to appeal to businesses, such as banks, financial services, and healthcare institutions, who have avoided adopting ChatGPT out of fear that their employees could inadvertently give the chatbot sensitive proprietary information. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reported that Samsung has banned employee use of generative AI utilities like ChatGPT after the discovery that staff had uploaded sensitive source code to the platform. The company is said to be concerned that data transmitted to artificial intelligence platforms including Bing and Google Bard could end up being disclosed to other users.

OpenAI has already sold Morgan Stanley a private ChatGPT service that does not involve Microsoft. The bank's wealth management division is already using the service to allow employees to ask questions and analyze content in thousands of the bank's market research documents.

Microsoft salespeople are said to already be fielding inquiries from organizations about the forthcoming product. Many large customers, including banks, have existing contracts with Azure, which could prove advantageous in persuading them Microsoft will manage their data securely.

Last week, it emerged that Siri and Apple's AI efforts have been severely hamstrung by organizational dysfunction and a lack of ambition. Many Apple employees purportedly left the company because it was too slow to make decisions or too conservative in its approach to new AI technologies, including the large-language models that underpin chatbots like ChatGPT.

Microsoft's latest move seemingly leapfrogs Apple to offer a privacy-focused AI chatbot in a ringfenced environment. Apple's uncompromising stance on privacy and insistence on a high level of control over its products and services has reportedly created considerable challenges for enhancing ‌‌Siri‌ and the company's investment in AI technologies‌.

Apple has pushed for an increasing number of ‌Siri‌'s functions to be performed on-device and the company apparently prefers ‌its responses to be pre-written by a team of around 20 writers, rather than AI-generated, to maximize privacy and control. This has seemingly left the company out of the AI chatbot race, allowing Microsoft to flaunt Apple's preferred privacy credentials in the AI arena.