MacRumors

Apple's 2023 developer conference is now official, and it's taking place the week of June 5–9 as expected. As was the case last year, it will be a mostly virtual event with a small in-person component on keynote day for members of the press and select developers and students who win a random lottery.

This week also saw the release of iOS 16.4 and associated updates, as well as launches of Apple Music Classical and Apple Pay Later. Meanwhile, we heard fresh rumors about Apple's long-rumored AR/VR headset and the iPhone 15 lineup coming later this year, so read on for details on these stories and more!

Apple Announces WWDC 2023 Taking Place June 5 to 9

Mark your calendars! Apple this week announced that WWDC 2023 will be held from Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9. Sessions and labs will be available online, but there will also be an in-person component. Like last year, randomly selected developers and students will be able to attend a special day at Apple Park on the Monday to watch the keynote video, meet with some of Apple's teams, enjoy evening activities, and more.

At WWDC, Apple will announce the latest versions of its software platforms, including iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17. Apple's long-awaited AR/VR headset may also be unveiled at WWDC, and there could always be another surprise or two.

Apple Music Classical Now Available on App Store

Apple Music Classical is now available on the App Store in most countries around the world. The app features over five million classical music tracks and is free to use with a standard Apple Music subscription.

Apple first announced plans to launch a classical music app in 2021 after acquiring and shutting down Primephonic, a streaming service for classical music. Apple plans to release an Android version of the app soon.

Everything New in iOS 16.4

Following around six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 is now available to the public. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone, so be sure to check out the full list.

Apple has already released the first beta of iOS 16.5, which so far includes only a few minor changes, including a new "Sports" tab in the Apple News app and the ability to start a screen recording by asking Siri.

Apple Reportedly Demoed AR/VR Headset to Executives in Steve Jobs Theater

Apple's much-rumored AR/VR headset was reportedly demoed to the company's top executives during a presentation at Steve Jobs Theater last week, suggesting the device is getting closer to launching.

Apple is expected to unveil the headset at WWDC in June, although analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week said that mass production of the headset has been pushed back again, so he is not entirely certain about it being unveiled at WWDC.

iPhone 15 Pro Rumored to Feature Multi-Use Action Button Instead of Mute Switch

The upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models are rumored to feature a customizable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra.

The source claimed the Action button will replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included on every iPhone model since 2007. Like on the Apple Watch Ultra, users would be able to map the Action button to various system functions like turning on/off the flashlight. There may also be a sensitivity setting to allow the buttons to be used with cases and gloves.

Apple Pay Later Now Available on Limited Basis, Launching Widely in Coming Months

Apple this week announced that it will begin inviting "randomly selected users" to use a prerelease version of Apple Pay Later via the Wallet app and an email sent to their Apple ID. Apple Pay Later is available in the U.S. and requires iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4.

The "buy now, pay later" financing option will be expanded to all eligible iPhone users over the age of 18 in the U.S. in the "coming months," according to Apple.

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Hardware prototyping consultant Ken Pillonel has added wires and a USB-C connector to a set of AirPods, bypassing the need for its charging case.

Repair site iFixit has given all versions of the AirPods and AirPods Pro a score of zero out of 10 for repairability. They are not designed to be serviced or repaired because no internal components can be accessed without damage to the device, making them a disposable item, especially since their three batteries degrade over time.

Pillonel's latest tongue-in-cheek project to add wires to AirPods is designed to raise awareness about these repairability issues, encouraging consumers to think more about simply buying a non-consumable pair of wired earbuds rather than Apple's wireless offering.

Last year, Pillonel undertook a similar project to highlight repairability issues with Apple's lightning connector by adding one to a Samsung Galaxy A51. He is also responsible for several other innovative projects that have captured the Apple community's interest in recent years, including adding USB-C ports to AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the iPhone X.

Apple this week announced the official dates for the 34th annual Worldwide Developers Conference, with the annual WWDC keynote event set to take place on Monday, June 5. The keynote is where Apple unveils new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, and sometimes, we get hardware announcements.

Rumors this year suggest there are at least three new devices that are set to be unveiled in the middle of the year, and Apple could use WWDC to show them off.

15-inch MacBook Air

We've heard multiple rumors of a larger-screened 15.5-inch MacBook Air, which is supposed to launch by the summer. Set to be sold alongside a new version of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, a 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ would give customers looking for a larger-screened lightweight machine an option that isn't the MacBook Pro.

The 15.5-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ will be just slightly bigger than the old 15.4-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, and it will be sized in between the 14 and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models. We're expecting the 15.5-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ to look like a larger version of the 13.6-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ that was introduced last year, with no real notable design changes.

It's not entirely clear which chips the 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ will use because the timing is odd. It's late for Apple to use the M2 chips that first came out last year, but early for the debut of the M3. Kuo has said the new ‌MacBook Air‌ models will use ‌M2‌ and ‌M2‌ Pro chips, while 9to5Mac has said that it will use new M3 chips.

For more on the rumors about the 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌, we have a dedicated 15-inch MacBook Air guide.

Mac Pro

The Mac Pro is the last Mac that Apple needs to update to Apple silicon to eliminate all Intel chips. When the first Apple silicon chip was introduced in 2020, Apple said it would take a few years to complete the transition, and 2023 is the year that will happen.

We are expecting a new Mac Pro in 2023, with the machine set to feature the same general design as the existing ‌Mac Pro‌. It will use the same stainless steel frame and aluminum housing with easy access to the interior components.

The Apple silicon ‌Mac Pro‌ is expected to use an "‌M2‌ Ultra" chip with up to a 24-core CPU and up to a 76-core GPU, with support for at least 192GB RAM.

Right now, Apple silicon chips are limiting in terms of upgrades, which could affect the ‌Mac Pro‌. Apple silicon Macs do not have user-upgradeable RAM because the memory is tied to the motherboard, and the same goes for the GPU. The ‌Mac Pro‌ may not have a user upgradeable GPU or upgradeable RAM unless Apple makes some kind of unforeseen update to the way Apple silicon chips are built or implemented in the machine.

Rumors have suggested that the ‌Mac Pro‌ is coming in the first half of the year, and Apple has in the past used WWDC to unveil machines targeted at developers and designers, so there is a good possibility we'll see the ‌Mac Pro‌ revealed at Apple's event.

For more on what to expect from the ‌Mac Pro‌, we have a Mac Pro guide.

Mac Studio

Apple introduced the Mac Studio in March 2022, and the machine is something of a Mac mini and ‌Mac Pro‌ hybrid. It uses M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips and is in theory due for a refresh, but the fate of the Mac Studio is unclear with a new ‌Mac Pro‌ on the horizon.

A refreshed version of the ‌Mac Studio‌ would use ‌M2‌ Max and ‌M2‌ Ultra chips, the same chips rumored for the ‌Mac Pro‌. It is not clear how Apple would differentiate the ‌Mac Studio‌ and ‌Mac Pro‌ if both were using the same chip technology, so there may not be an ‌M2‌ series ‌Mac Studio‌.

As of now, there are no rumors of a new ‌Mac Studio‌, so it's not likely we'll see it at WWDC, but it's not impossible.

AR/VR Headset

Apple has pushed back the unveiling of its AR/VR "mixed" reality headset multiple times if rumors are to be believed, but we could finally see it shown off at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. Back in February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the device would get a WWDC introduction with shipping to come later in the year, but it's still not a sure thing.

Just this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple had pushed back mass production on the headset, which could mean that it won't make an appearance at WWDC. According to Kuo, Apple "isn't very optimistic" about whether the headset will be able to create an "iPhone moment," causing uncertainty around whether the headset will be previewed at WWDC.

A delay in mass production does not necessarily mean a delay in the unveiling as rumors have always indicated that Apple's plan is to show off the headset well ahead of when it launches, but a mixed reality headset at WWDC is no longer a sure thing as Apple could wait until later in the year to introduce it.

In terms of rumors, the AR/VR headset sounds a lot like the first-generation Apple Watch. It's an expensive device with limited functionality and limited consumer appeal, which Apple will improve upon with subsequent releases.

The first version of the mixed reality headset is rumored to be priced at around $3,000, and Apple does not expect it to sell well. Employees have expressed concern about the limited usefulness of the device, and Apple doesn't seem to have a tentpole app to sell it with. Apple is focusing heavily on communication and avatar development, but whether this will interest consumers remains to be seen.

Rumors indicate the headset will have some high-end technology with 4K micro OLED displays and more than a dozen cameras for tracking everything from facial expressions to hand gestures, but there are major downsides as well, such as the need to wear an external battery pack to power the device.

A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple has designed a hip-worn battery that will power the headset for approximately two hours before it needs to be recharged. Apple is said to have been aiming to create a comfortable, lightweight design with a sleek, curved visor with a mesh backing and an adjustable band.

Some Apple employees are reportedly concerned about the product and have questioned whether the device is a "solution in search of a problem" that isn't "driven by the same clarity" as other Apple products.

A full overview of everything we know about Apple's AR/VR headset can be found in our AR/VR headset roundup.

New Software

At WWDC, Apple will introduce iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10, plus if the headset is introduced, we could see the first version of xrOS, the software designed to run on the device.

Of these updates, iOS 17 always garners the most interest and it's generally the only software we hear about ahead of launch. iOS 17 is apparently aimed at adding some of the "most requested features" that users have been wanting, though there's no word on what these features might be.

There is no major "tentpole" addition like the Lock Screen overhaul in iOS 16, but it sounds like there could be some useful quality of life improvements. We do know that iOS 17 is expected to feature support for the AR/VR headset, major CarPlay updates, and support for sideloading apps in European countries.

More of what we've heard about iOS 17 can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.

WWDC Dates and Viewing Info

The Worldwide Developers Conference will start on Monday, June 5 and last through Friday, June 9. For non-developers, the keynote event on June 5 will be of the most interest.

The keynote event is likely to start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and it will be broadcast live on Apple's website, on the Apple TV, and on YouTube. MacRumors will have full coverage of Apple's announcements both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

The UK's Competition and Market Authority (CMA) will not be looking into Apple's policies on mobile browsers and cloud gaming services after Apple won an appeal that will force the UK regulators to drop the investigation, reports Reuters.

The CMA in November launched an investigation into the cloud gaming and mobile browser restrictions put in place by both Apple and Google, suggesting that the two companies were holding back innovation and increasing costs for web developers, cloud gaming service providers, and browser vendors.

"Many UK businesses and web developers tell us they feel that they are being held back by restrictions set by Apple and Google," said Sarah Cardell, interim chief executive of the CMA, at the time. The investigation was part of a larger examination of the "duopoly" of Apple and Google on mobile ecosystems that launched in 2021.

Apple in January filed an appeal with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) pointing out the CMA had missed key timing requirements, and thus should not be able to continue the investigation. The CMA was supposed to end its inquiry within 18 months, and there were deadlines that needed to be adhered to, but Apple said that the proper timeline wasn't followed.

The Appeal Tribunal agreed with Apple, and said that the CMA should have launched the market investigation at the same time that it published the duopoly report in June 2021. By not doing so, it "erred in law."

If the CMA had continued with its investigation, it would have been be able to ask Apple for in-depth information on its browser and cloud gaming practices, and ultimately could have forced Apple to change the way that it operates.

The CMA says that it is disappointed in the ruling and is considering an appeal.

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.

Hulu yesterday began rolling out an updated interface design on the Fire TV, Apple TV, Roku, and other compatible set-top boxes. The revamped look includes a vertical navigation sidebar on the left side of the display, making it easier to get to TV shows, movies, sports, saved content, settings, and more.

Hulu confirmed to TechCrunch that it has started providing the sidebar design to some users, and it will continue going out over the next few weeks. ‌Apple TV‌ users should start seeing it as of this week, though it will take some time for it to show up for everyone.

Pressing on the back button while using the Hulu app will open up the sidebar, offering up quicker access to navigation options. With the current non-updated interface, Hulu users need to scroll all the way to the top of the app to get to the top navigation bar.

Hulu is priced starting at $7.99 per month for the plan that is supplemented with ads, while the ad-free plan is priced at $12.99 per month. Hulu also offers Live TV options that are priced starting at $69.99 per month.

Apple plans to remove the Keynote Live feature in a future version of its Keynote app, according to a new support document. The feature allows for a presentation to be played over the internet in the Keynote app on the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Apple recommends using screen sharing to share a Keynote presentation in apps such as FaceTime, Zoom, and Webex, with steps outlined in the document.

Apple updated the Keynote app for both iOS and macOS this week with Apple Pencil hover support, the ability to export and send a copy of a presentation in a different format right from the Share menu, and various other improvements and bug fixes. Apple did not indicate exactly when the Keynote Live feature will be removed.

Deals this week centered around all-time low prices on Apple's newest AirPods, including the AirPods Pro 2 ($194.99) and AirPods 3 ($134.99), along with a few sales on MagSafe chargers and iPads. Additionally, Satechi's sitewide sale ends today and marks a great opportunity to save 20 percent on chargers, cables, docks, and more.

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

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $55 off AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3
• Where can I get it? Verizon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

We began the week with a collection of deals on the AirPods 3 from Verizon, which hit a new low price of $134.99 for the Lightning Charging Case model, down from $169.99. This was paired with a solid deal on the MagSafe Charging Case at $144.00, down from $179.00, both of which are still available, alongside an all-time low price on the AirPods Pro 2.

Satechi

• What's the deal? Take 20% off sitewide at Satechi
• Where can I get it? Satechi
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Over at Satechi, the retailer introduced a new Spring Sale that has 20 percent off sitewide when entering the code SPRING20 at checkout. Today is the last day of the sale, so if you want to save on Satechi's best charging accessories, be sure to browse the retailer before the code expires later today.

MagSafe Chargers

• What's the deal? Take 25% off MagSafe Chargers
• Where can I get it? Verizon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Verizon continues to offer the year's best prices across Apple's trio of MagSafe charging accessories, with 25 percent off these devices. You can get the MagSafe Charger for $29.99, down from $39.00. The MagSafe Duo Charger is down to $96.74, from $129.00; and the MagSafe Battery Pack is down to $74.24, from $99.00.

iPad and iPad mini

• What's the deal? Take up to $99 off 2021 iPad mini and iPad
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

A few iPad deals emerged this week as well, including rare discounts on the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad at $269.00, down from $329.00; and the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 for $399.99, down from $499.00. Both of these deals can be found on Amazon.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss WWDC 2023 and whether Apple's long-awaited mixed-reality headset will emerge at the event.

Earlier this week, Apple announced that 2023's WWDC will take place between June 5 and June 9. Apple is believed to have recently shown off the headset to its top 100 executives in a "polished, glitzy, and exciting" event at the Steve Jobs Theater ahead of the device's expected announcement at WWDC.

However, reports claim that Apple employees have serious concerns about many aspects of the headset, such as its price, weight, and usefulness – questioning if the device is "a solution in search of a problem." Most recently, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo corroborated many of these worries and reported that Apple has pushed back mass production of the headset yet again and cut shipment expectations for this year, casting doubt over whether it will appear at WWDC at all.

We also discuss Apple Music Classical, iOS 17, Apple Watch blood glucose monitoring, the rumored MacBook Air with an OLED display, and Apple TV+.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about iPadOS 17 and the next-generation iPad Pro with Christopher Lawley.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Frank McShan, David Lewis, Andru Edwards, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, Rene Ritchie, and Mark Gurman. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 have seen a consistent discount to $199.99 over the past few months, but Verizon today has introduced a new all-time low price on the headphones: $194.99, down from $249.99. This beats the previous record low price we tracked very briefly last holiday season, and only Verizon has the deal.

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.

You don't need to be a Verizon customer to get this deal, and Verizon offers free two-day shipping to most residents in the United States. There is also a free express pickup option for select stores and same day delivery for select areas as well.

Verizon has been the best place to get discounts on AirPods, so be sure to read our article from earlier in the week about the current best prices on other models, including AirPods 3. Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

General Motors (GM) will phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicles starting this year, shifting to a built-in infotainment system co-developed with Google (via Reuters).

GM owns Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC in the United States. It will stop offering Apple ‌CarPlay‌ and Android Auto starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, which goes on sale this summer. The company plans to continue offering Apple ‌CarPlay‌ and Android Auto in its combustion models, which are expected to be phased out by 2035 in favor of electric vehicles. Owners of existing GM cars that currently have Apple ‌CarPlay‌ and Android Auto will be able to continue using the systems.

GM has worked on infotainment software with Google since 2019 that tightly integrates with other vehicle systems such as navigation and GM's Super Cruise driver assistant. Future GM infotainment systems will offer applications such as Spotify and Audible, and iPhone users will still be able to listen to music and make phone calls using Bluetooth. EV buyers will also get access to Google Maps and Google Assistant at no extra cost for a period of eight years.

The move is expected to help the automaker gather more data about how consumers drive and accelerate a strategy to incentivize vehicle-related digital subscription services. Notably, GM was not included in Apple's list of automakers that plan to offer the next-generation CarPlay experience.

Today is World Backup Day, an annual event created to protect your devices from data loss and data theft by reminding you to back everything up to an external storage device. Of course, various retailers are marking the special day with deals on digital storage solutions, and we're rounding up the best sales below.

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

Samsung

Samsung has a few memory and storage solution offers that will last through this Sunday, April 2. The highlight of the sale is Samsung's 4TB Portable SSD T7 Shield for $269.99, down from $349.99. You can also get a 2TB model for $139.99 ($60 off) and 1TB model for $79.99 ($30 off).

If you need internal storage, Samsung's 2TB 980 PRO PCIe 2.0 NVMe SSD is available for $159.99, down from $249.99. There are also various storage capacities for this model, including 1TB for $79.99 ($60 off) and 500GB for $69.99 ($20 off).

The internal SSD is aimed for PC gaming, but it is also compatible with the PlayStation 5 as well. Users should note that this model does not come with a heatsink, and if they aim to use the SSD in the PS5 a heatsink will need to be purchased separately.

Lastly, Samsung's 2TB 870 QVO SATA III 2.5" SSD is on sale for $129.99, down from $149.99. You'll also find higher capacities like 8TB for $499.99, down from $549.99 during this event.

Adorama

Adorama has a sale dedicated to World Backup Day, including storage solutions from a variety of companies like SanDisk, WD, Seagate, LaCie, Sony, and more. These deals are expected to last for one day only, so be sure to check out our highlighted list below and then the full sale on Adorama soon.

• SanDisk 400GB Ultra UHS-1 microSDXC Memory Card - $28.99, down from $69.99
• SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable 2TB SSD - $174.99, down from $499.99
• LaCie Rugged 5TB External Hard Drive - $179.99, down from $189.99
• WD Elements 20TB Desktop External Hard Drive - $279.99, down from $549.99
• WD Black SN850X 4TB NVMe PCIe Internal SSD - $299.99, down from $699.99

B&H Photo

Similar to Adorama, B&H Photo has a special sale dedicated to World Backup Day going on right now. During the event, you can save on external drives, internal drives, NAS drives, USB flash drives, memory cards, docking stations, memory card readers, and much more.

Overall, you'll find many of the same deals from Adorama and Samsung mirrored at B&H Photo, particularly those products from brands like SanDisk and LaCie. You can again expect the sale prices to only last for one day, and B&H Photo also offers free two-day shipping to most United States residences.

• WD 2TB Portable Hard Drive - $61.99, down from $99.99
• Samsung 2TB T7 Portable SSD - $139.99, down from $179.99
• SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD - $139.99, down from $449.99
• Samsung 2TB T7 Portable SSD - $139.99, down from $179.99
• Samsung 2TB 980 PRO PCIe Internal SSD - $159.99, down from $249.99

Other Sales

• PNY - Save on flash drives and more on Amazon
• OWC - Save on computer storage and accessories

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.

Specialist jeweler De Billas Lux has caused a stir among timepiece collectors by offering a custom Apple Watch Ultra model with an anodized blue titanium case.

The Digital Crown is anodized in gold, and the Action button, while retaining an International Orange outline, has also been given an anodized blue finish. Inside the custom box is a gold-plated link bracelet to boot.

According to a video on its Watch Plating Pros YouTube channel, De Billas is able to create a range of unique colors for Apple Watch Ultra enthusiasts, however unfortunately it has not been able to achieve a black finish, which is one of its most requested colors.

Among its stall of prestigious brands like Rolex and Audemars Piguet, the Arizona-based jeweler is currently offering custom Apple Watch Ultra models for $1,499, with buyers paying an extra $700 on top of Apple's official $799 price for the ultra-premium finish.

Apple only offers the Apple Watch Ultra with a silver titanium finish, and there's no word on whether it will offer different finishes in a future update.

(Via iPhoneSoft.fr)

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users will be able to customize the sensitivity of the solid-state buttons on their device, thanks to a new sensitivity toggle in Settings. That's according to details provided by a hitherto reliable source that shared additional details on the MacRumors forums.

Earlier this week, the same anonymous tipster revealed that the iPhone 15 Pro models will use a new ultra-low energy chip allowing the new volume, power, and "Action" solid-state buttons to remain functional when the handset is powered off or out of battery.

Some iPhone users immediately raised concerns about how the new capacitive buttons will work properly when a case is fitted or when gloves are worn. In response, the tipster has revealed that iOS 17 will include a new toggle in Settings that will enable users to customize the sensitivity of the buttons to accommodate these different usage scenarios.

iPhone case makers typically receive design details about Apple's upcoming models ahead of launch that allows them to make tweaks for button positioning and other external changes. Combined with the new sensitivity setting, this should avoid any potential issues with the peculiarities of the new capacitive buttons, which will detect presses, holds, and respond to various levels of pressure via the use of a new Force Touch-style mechanism and Taptic Engine feedback.

In line with previous rumors, solid-state capacitive buttons are expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models, with the standard iPhone 15 models retaining the same traditional button mechanism as on the iPhone 14 series. The iPhone 15 Pro is also gaining a new customizable Action button in lieu of the mute switch, with a unified volume button replacing the separate up/down volume buttons.

The iPhone 15 series is expected to be announced in September, as per Apple's typical iPhone launch timeframe. For everything else we know about the new iPhone 15 series, check out our dedicated roundups using the links below.

Apple has been embroiled in a patent dispute with VirnetX for well over a decade, and the company today won an appeals verdict that could ultimately save it from having to pay VirnetX $502.8 million in patent infringement fees.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday confirmed a ruling by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office invalidating a pair of patents that VirnetX used in its patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, according to Reuters.

Apple in 2020 was ordered to pay VirnetX $503 million for infringing on VPN patents owned by VirnetX with the iPhone's VPN on demand feature. The two patents that have been invalidated were involved in that lawsuit, and now Apple might get the entire judgment vacated.

Apple appealed the $502.8 million award verdict after it was rendered, with both Apple and VirnetX presenting arguments in the appeal back in September. VirnetX attorney Jeff Lamken said at the time that if the court ultimately sided with the USPTO and invalidated the patents in the patent validity case, VirnetX could "have a big problem." He said that he did not think VirnetX would have an "enforceable judgment" in that situation, so this is potentially a major win for Apple.

With the patents now invalidated, VirnetX and Apple will again meet in court over the initial appeals case that Apple filed to determine whether Apple will need to pay up, and it's looking like the $502.8 million verdict will be thrown out.

Regardless of how this case plays out, Apple was forced to pay VirnetX $440 million for violating VirnetX's communications security patents with the FaceTime and iMessage features.

VirnetX is largely viewed a patent holding company or "patent troll" that does not offer actual products or services. It generates revenue by litigating technology companies that infringe on its patents, though it does also market its "War Room" software for authenticated meetings.

Netflix this week brought its more affordable ad-supported plan to the Apple TV, which means subscribers who have the cheaper plan can now watch content through their set-top boxes from Apple.

When Netflix launched its ad-supported plan back in November, it did not work on the ‌Apple TV‌. Netflix at the time said that support for the plan would be "coming soon," with access to Netflix on the ‌Apple TV‌ limited to the more expensive Basic, Standard, and Premium plans.

As noted by TechCrunch, a Reddit user noticed that the Basic with Ads plan was available on the latest version of the Netflix app on the ‌Apple TV‌, and Netflix confirmed that the ad-supported tier is now on tvOS.

The Netflix Basic with Ads plan is priced at $6.99 per month, $3 cheaper than the Basic $9.99 per month plan with no ads. The ads range in length from 15 to 30 seconds, and there are four to five minutes of ads per hour.

Apple today updated its Pages, Numbers, and Keynote apps for iPad with Apple Pencil hover support. Apple says this feature "makes it easy to navigate, write, sketch, and illustrate with greater precision" on the latest 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

The latest iPad Pro models can detect the second-generation Apple Pencil while it hovers up to 12mm above the display, allowing users to preview their drawing before they make it. And for the Scribble feature, which converts handwriting to text on the iPad, text fields automatically expand when the Apple Pencil is hovered over the screen.

Apple Pencil hover gained tilt and azimuth support with iPadOS 16.4, released earlier this week. Apple discussed the feature in a recent interview.

Pages, Numbers, and Keynote received a few other improvements on both iOS and macOS, including bug fixes and the ability to export and send a copy of a document, spreadsheet, or presentation in a different format from the Share menu. The updates are available for free on the App Store and Mac App Store.

Apple today released the first beta of macOS Ventura 13.4 to its public beta testing group, allowing the general public to try out the software ahead of its official launch. The macOS Ventura 13.4 public beta comes two days after Apple provided the software to developers.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13.4 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.

There is no word as of yet on what's included in macOS Ventura 13.4, and no notable new features were found in the developer beta.

Work on macOS Ventura is winding down as Apple prepares to shift its focus to macOS 14, the as-of-yet-unnamed next-generation version of macOS that we expect to see introduced this June at WWDC.

Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 updates to public beta testers, allowing non-developers to test out the software head of its official launch. The public betas come two days after Apple provided the betas to developers.

Those who have signed up their accounts for Apple's free beta testing program can enable the beta by opening up the Settings app, going to General, selecting Software Update, tapping on Beta Updates, and selecting the iOS 16 Public Beta option.

iOS 16.5 appears to be a relatively minor update, and few changes were found in the first developer beta. There is a new Sports tab located in the Apple News app, and Siri can now be asked to start a screen recording.

Development on iOS 16 is slowing down as Apple prepares for the upcoming June debut of iOS 17, the next-generation version of iOS.

Apple has also seeded a new public beta of watchOS 9.5 to public beta testers.