MacRumors

Target today highlighted recent expansions to its relationship with Apple, led by the growing number of "Apple at Target" locations with the dedicated Apple sales areas now available in over 150 Target stores.

target apple shop
Target says these Apple "shop-in-shops" feature Apple-trained Target Tech Consultants with twice the amount of space dedicated to Apple products compared to a typical Target store.

Ahead of the holiday shopping season, Target is also promoting extended trials of various Apple services for members of the retailer's free Target Circle loyalty program. Target Circle members can get a four-month free trial of Apple Fitness+, which Target says is the best trial offer available from any retailer.

"Apple Fitness+ is designed to be welcoming to all, no matter where you are on your fitness journey. Whether you're just getting started, trying something new or switching up your fitness routine, there are over 3,000 workouts and meditations to choose from, with new ones added each week, ranging from five to 45 minutes across 11 workout types and all led by our amazing team of motivating trainers," says Jay Blahnik, vice president of Fitness Technologies, Apple. "We look forward to bringing Fitness+ to even more people, and helping them lead a healthier day by being more active, through this collaboration with Target."

Beyond Fitness+, other Apple services will also be available under extended free trials for Target Circle members. Services such as Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and iCloud+ are currently available with three-month free trials for Target Circle members, but trials for select services will be extended to as long as five months as part of a holiday promotion starting next month and running through January 5.

Tag: Target

Amazon today has all-time low prices on Apple's 2022 M2 MacBook Air, starting at $1,049.00 for the 256GB model. This one is available in Silver and Space Gray, and both are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon today.

m2 macbook air image blueNote: 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.

Apple launched the redesigned MacBook Air this past July, and it comes with the new M2 chip, a 13.6-inch LCD display, MagSafe, and an entirely new design. For the 256GB model, Midnight and Starlight colors are available at $1,099.00, which is a decent second-best option as well.

Additionally, you can get the 512GB M2 MacBook Air at a discount, available for $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in all colors except Space Gray, and it's another record low price on the 2022 MacBook Air.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

iOS 16.1 was released to the public this week with support for Live Activities in third-party apps. However, Live Activities integration for select sports games via Apple's built-in TV app appears to have been pushed back to iOS 16.2.

iOS 16 Live Activities Sports MLB
Midway through the iOS 16.1 beta testing period, Live Activities integration in the TV app was disabled, but it has been reenabled in the first beta of iOS 16.2 seeded to developers this week. iOS 16.2 will likely be released to the public around December, so the sports feature should finally be available to all users later this year, as Apple promised.

The feature allows iPhone users to view live sports scores at a glance on the Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models.

During a Premier League match, for example, the Dynamic Island shows a live-updating scoreboard with the number of goals scored by each club. When long pressed, the Dynamic Island expands to show the time elapsed and play-by-play action. When an iPhone 14 Pro is locked, and on all other iPhone models, the score is shown on the Lock Screen.

To test the feature with an iPhone on the iOS 16.2 beta, open the TV app and tap on the "Follow" button for a supported game. Apple says the feature is available for MLB games for users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K., Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea, in addition to NBA and Premier League games for users in the U.S. and Canada only. The feature will likely be expanded to other sports leagues in the future.

In the meantime, some sports apps are offering Live Activities on iOS 16.1, such as Sports Alerts.

(Thanks, Mike Quinn and Youssef Salem!)

Related Forum: iOS 16

Starting today, the new 11-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and redesigned 10.9-inch iPad are available for pickup at select Apple Stores around the world, with no pre-order required. A wide range of size, color, and storage capacity options are available for each device at Apple Store locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other countries, but selection may become more limited throughout the day.

10th Gen iPad Feature Fanned Blue
To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com or in the Apple Store app, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP or postal code, choose an available Apple Store location, select a pickup date, and select a 15-minute check-in window. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.

While most Apple Stores appear to have adequate stock of the new iPad Pro and iPad models as of Wednesday morning, note that walk-in customers may be placed into a separate queue with lower priority upon arrival to the store, so arranging a pickup is recommended.

The new iPad Pro models received a minor spec bump, with new features including the M2 chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, new hover functionality for the Apple Pencil, ProRes video recording capability, Smart HDR 4, and Bluetooth 5.3. In the U.S., pricing continues to start at $799 for the 11-inch model and at $1,099 for the 12.9-inch model.

The redesigned 10th-generation iPad features a larger 10.9-inch display with slimmer bezels, flat edges, the A14 Bionic chip, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, a landscape-positioned FaceTime camera, 5G support on cellular models, Wi-Fi 6, new color options, and support for a new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio accessory. Pricing starts at $449 in the U.S., while the ninth-generation 10.2-inch iPad remains available for $329.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad Pro
Related Forum: iPad

Apple released iOS 16.1 earlier this week and introduced Live Activities – lingering interactive notifications that stay up to date, allowing you to keep an eye on things happening right from the Lock Screen. Since then, Apple has released the first iOS 16.2 beta to developers, and evidence has been found that Apple is working on a way for Live Activities to update more frequently.

ios 16 live activities feature
According to inactive code in iOS 16.2 beta 1 discovered by 9to5Mac, Apple will provide users with an option for "More Frequent Updates" for Live Activities, although the setting will also drain an iPhone battery faster, warns the following unearthed message:

More Frequent Updates

Allowing more frequent updates lets you see more real time information, but can drain your battery faster.

Despite the increased battery usage, the upcoming option in the Settings app is likely to be a welcome addition for users relying on third-party apps that use Live Activities to relay information about travel times, such as Flight tracking app Flighty.

Since the release of iOS 16.1, several third-party apps have been updated to support Live Activities on iPhone Lock Screens. The ‌Dynamic Island‌ component requires an ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ or ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ Max.

In addition to the additional Live Activities option, the first iOS 16.2 beta includes other extras including the new Freeform App, Stage Manager External Display Support, Accidental Emergency SOS Reports and More

At the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event, Apple's Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak talked about a wide range of topics, including USB-C on iPhone, why iPadOS still lacks a calculator app, iMessage on Android, and more.

craig jox wsj event
The EU is forcing many consumer electronic devices, including the ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods, to move to USB-C by the end of 2024. The new rule will directly impact Apple, which still uses the Lightning connector on the ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods. Speaking today at the event, Joswiak said Apple will "have to comply" with the new rule, indirectly confirming the ‌iPhone‌ will switch to USB-C in the future. Reports suggest Apple is testing USB-C on iPhone 15 models destined for release next fall.

Federighi and Joswiak spoke about the pace of innovation on the ‌iPhone‌, including whether or not smartphones have become boring and if the ‌iPhone‌ needs an update every year. "People are very excited by the new iPhones," Joswiak said, referencing new features on the iPhone 14 Pro, including the new 48-megapixel camera and Dynamic Island. "We always have a ton of stuff that we've got to get out," Federighi said. "We've been working on things for years and years, and there are a pipeline of things we believe that will better help our customers."

Speaking about why iPadOS still lacks a native calculator app, Joswiak said, "There are a ton of them. Go to the App Store." "I use third-party apps," he continued when pressed by the ‌Wall Street Journal‌'s Joanna Stern on what the two executives do when they want to calculate something on their iPads.

Federighi and Joswiak were also asked about the lack of iMessage on Android and Apple's reasoning behind keeping iMessage exclusive to Apple devices. Federighi was asked about an email he sent in 2013 where he said, "I'm concerned iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to ‌iPhone‌ families giving their kids Android phones."

"I'm not aware of it shipping," Federighi jokingly said in response to the question. "If we're going to enter a market and go down the road of building an application, we have to be in it in a way that's going to make a difference, that we'll have a lot of customers, and have a great experience," Federighi said.

"If we just shipped an app that really didn't get critical mass on other platforms, what it would have accomplished is it would have held us back in innovating in all the ways we want to innovate in Messages for our customers and wouldn't have accomplished much at all in any other way," Federighi explained. iMessage on Android seemed like a "throwaway" that "was not going to serve the world," he concluded.

During their interview, Federighi and Joswiak also spoke about Apple's transition to Apple silicon on the Mac, Apple's stance on privacy, and Apple's return to in-person work and the controversy around it. The full 35-minute interview can be watched through a replay of the live stream on the ‌Wall Street Journal‌'s Twitter account.

Apple's vice president of worldwide marketing, Greg Joswiak, today said that Apple will have to move to USB-C on iPhone and its remaining devices that still have a Lightning connector in order to comply with new EU rules.

iPhone 15 to Switch From Lightning to USB C in 2023 feature
Speaking at the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event, Joswiak said that Apple ultimately respects the decision made by the EU to mandate a common charger across consumer electronic devices. "We'll have to comply," Joswiak said, indirectly confirming Apple will move to USB-C in the future.

USB-C will have to be the common port across a wide range of consumer electronic devices, including the ‌iPhone‌ and AirPods, by the end of 2024, according to the rules put forward by the EU. Apple is reportedly testing iPhone 15 models with a USB-C port.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Apple today provided the first betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 to developers, introducing even more new features that have been promised for the iOS 16 update.

iOS 16
We've outlined all of the changes found in the iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 betas so far in this guide.

Freeform App

Apple debuted a new cross-platform Freeform app in iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1. Designed for collaboration, Freeform can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, saving links, and more.

freeform
Multiple people can work on the same Freeform document, with updates synced for all participants in real-time. Apple says that Freeform can be used for sketching projects, designing mood boards, and brainstorming ideas, with the app serving as a creative space.

Stage Manager External Display Support

With iPadOS 16.2, Stage Manager on M1 and M2 iPads can be used with external displays once again. This is functionality that Apple removed in the first version of iPadOS 16 in order to expand ‌Stage Manager‌ to A12X and A12Z iPad Pro models.

ipados 16 stage manager
With external display support, ‌Stage Manager‌ supports up to eight apps for multitasking purposes, rather than four. This functionality is limited to ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ iPads.

For the ‌M1‌ or ‌M2‌ capable iPads, there is also an option to drag and drop a window from the iPad to the external monitor that is connected to your device. Dragging a window from one device to another is new in the iOS 16.2 update.

New Home App Architecture

Paired with HomePod 16.2 software, iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 add support for an updated Home app architecture that comes following the addition of the Matter smart home standard.

home app architecture update 1
Apple says that the new Home app architecture will bring faster, more reliable performance in homes with many smart accessories, but it requires every device that accesses the home to be running the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2 betas, along with the ‌HomePod‌ 16.2 beta software.

Expanded 120Hz ProMotion Support

On devices that support ProMotion, Apple says that SwiftUI animated layout changes will support a 120Hz refresh rate, functionality that was previously missing.

Unintentional SOS Calls

Apple appears to be collecting data on accidental SOS calls with the update, and one user has reported an Apple inquiry about the call that collects system data.

Disable Wallpaper and Notifications for Always On Display

iOS 16.2 adds two toggles for disabling wallpaper and notifications when always on display is active. The feature makes for a simpler always on display interface that only shows the time and any widgets that are enabled.

always on display options

Battery Status Shortcut

There is a new Battery Status Shortcut available that provides information about the iPhone's battery and any charger that's connected.

Software Updates

Apple has made a small tweak to the Software Updates section of the Settings app, which is available under General. The text of the software version that's installed is now bolder, making it more apparent.

ios 16 2 software update bold

Lock Screen Sleep Widget

iOS 16.2 adds a Sleep widget to the Lock Screen, which draws from data stored in the Health app and collected by the Apple Watch or other sleep tracking devices. It provides information such as time spent in bed and sleep quality, with three variants available.

ios 16 2 sleep widget
A simple one tile widget shows the amount of time that you spent in bed, and two multi-tile options display either a bar chart that shows sleep quality or a larger widget that shows time in bed along with a visual representation. Tapping on the widget opens up the Sleep section of the Health app.

Lock Screen Medication Widget

In addition to a new Sleep widget, Apple has also added a Medications widget. There are two options, one that is a single pill icon and a second that lets you know when you need to take a medication. It will alert you if all your medications are logged or if you have no more medications for the day.

medication widget ios 16 2

5G in India

iOS 16.2 unlocks 5G service in India, and multiple carriers in the country are now supporting 5G speeds.

TV App Live Sports Scores

The iOS 16.2 beta re-adds Live Activities integration for select sports games for the built-in TV app on the ‌iPhone‌. Games can be tracked in real time on the Lock Screen or the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models.

iOS 16 Live Activities Sports MLB

TV App Updates

With the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 updates, Apple has tweaked the TV app. There's now a "Featured" section above the "Up Next" section, making it more difficult for users to get to the TV shows they want to watch.

ios 16 2 tv app redesign
The Featured section content replaces Up Next in the "Watch Now" tab of the Apple TV app, with featured TV shows and movies right at the top of the interface.

Weather App News

The Weather app now integrates with Apple News, displaying relevant Weather-related news information based on your region.

weather app news integration

Live Activities in the TV App

There is an option to get more frequent Live Activity updates from the TV app for following sports games. More frequent updates can result in faster battery drain, so you might want to disable it if you're concerned about battery life.

tv app live activity updates

Siri Silent Responses

In the Accessibility section of the Settings app, there is an option to set Siri to "Prefer Silent Responses" so that ‌Siri‌ will confirm requests on-device rather than out loud.

siri silent responses

ProMotion Lag Fix

The iOS 16.2 update appears to address long-running issues affecting the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro models with ProMotion. These devices can experience lagging and stuttering system animations when closing and switching between apps, and multiple reports from beta testers indicate the performance has been improved in the update.

Other New Features

Know of a new feature in iOS 16.2 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.

Alongside the launch of iOS 16.1, Apple updated its App Store Guidelines to clearly state that apps such as Facebook that offer "boosts" for posts and other ad content must use in-app purchases for these features. Facebook parent company Meta is not happy with Apple's guideline tweak, and in a statement to The Verge, said that Apple is creating policies to bolster its own business while undercutting others.

Facebook Feature

"Apple continues to evolve its policies to grow their own business while undercutting others in the digital economy. Apple previously said it didn't take a share of developer advertising revenue, and now apparently changed its mind. We remain committed to offering small businesses simple ways to run ads and grow their businesses on our apps."

Facebook allows companies and individuals to pay to "Boost" a post that is performing well, getting it in front of more potential viewers and customers. Prior to the guideline update, Apple said multiple times that digital content sold within apps must be sold through in-app purchases, but Facebook has not followed that rule.

When boosting a post in the Facebook app for iOS, in-app purchase is not required. A boosted post is paid for through a credit card, debit card, PayPal, or a bank account, which means Apple is not getting a cut of the money that businesses and advertisers pay to Facebook. Instagram also uses direct purchase, but other social media networks like Twitter and TikTok use in-app purchases for similar post boosting features.

Facebook and Instagram have used the same direct purchase option for boosts for years, and Apple has let Meta get away with it. The Wall Street Journal, in fact, detailed the private dispute between Apple and Meta over the issue back in August.

While Apple had rules surrounding digital purchases prior to the revamped guidelines, the new wording calls out boosted posts specifically, though the text is listed at the bottom of a rule about ad management apps that do not display ads themselves.

"Advertising Management Apps: Apps for the sole purpose of allowing advertisers (persons or companies that advertise a product, service, or event) to purchase and manage advertising campaigns across media types (television, outdoor, websites, apps, etc.) do not need to use in-app purchase. These apps are intended for campaign management purposes and do not display the advertisements themselves. Digital purchases for content that is experienced or consumed in an app, including buying advertisements to display in the same app (such as sales of "boosts" for posts in a social media app) must use in-app purchase."

An Apple spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that Apple previously had a clear guideline requiring digital goods and services to use in-app purchases, but there was no explanation on why Apple has tweaked the wording of the guideline, nor why Facebook has not been made to comply.

"For many years now, the App Store guidelines have been clear that the sale of digital goods and services within an app must use In-App Purchase. Boosting, which allows an individual or organization to pay to increase the reach of a post or profile, is a digital service -- so of course In-App Purchase is required. This has always been the case and there are many examples of apps that do it successfully."

It is unclear if the guideline changes implemented yesterday represent Apple taking a firmer stance against Facebook and Instagram, but if Apple does start taking a cut of boosted posts, Facebook will likely pass the added cost along to the individuals and businesses that use the boost feature.

When the new software updates were introduced way back in June, Apple demonstrated a new Freeform app that was in development. Freeform is now in the final stages of development, and the app is available in the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 betas.


Freeform is available cross-platform, but it works best on the iPad because of the Apple Pencil integration. At first glance, it looks similar to the Notes and Preview apps, offering up some of the same editing tools.

There's an interface with a grid where users can insert drawings, sticky notes, text boxes, shapes, photos, and videos, plus it supports links, PDFs, and other document types. There are all kinds of shapes to choose from, including animals, nature, food, geometry, symbols, arts, science, and people.

Text and shapes can be customized with different colors and styles, and there are quick access tools for edits like duplication and deletion. Undo and redo tools are available, and on the Mac, you can add photos, scanned documents, and sketches from your iOS device using Continuity features.

Multiple Freeform boards are supported, and Apple intends for Freeform to be used collaboratively. All of your boards can be shared with others, and all participants can update a board and add new features, with the changes shown in real-time. As of right now, the sharing features do not appear to be implemented.

Apple will continue to improve the Freeform experience over the course of the beta testing period, adding new features and new functionality.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Starting with macOS Ventura, released this week, the built-in Preview app on Mac no longer supports PostScript (.ps) and Encapsulated PostScript (.eps) files, according to a new Apple support document. Preview can still be used to open these files on macOS Monterey and earlier. Apple did not provide a reason for the change.

Adobe PostScript PS File
Apple recommends using other third-party Mac apps that can view or convert PostScript files. It also remains possible to print .ps and .eps files by dragging them into a Mac's printer queue with these steps on macOS Ventura, according to Apple:

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click Printers & Scanners in the sidebar.
2. Click the the name of your printer on the right.
3. Click the Printer Queue button to open the printer queue window.
4. Drag the .ps or .eps file into the printer queue window.

Developed by Adobe in the 1980s, the .ps and .eps file formats were once widely used for desktop publishing/printing purposes. PostScript was the basis of rendering on the NeXT operating system, and was mostly replaced by the PDF format in Mac OS X.

Related Forum: macOS Ventura

Apple today updated its Apple Support app with new functionality that makes it easier to make a reservation for service in an Apple retail location or from an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

apple support app
The update revamps the look of the reservation system, giving it improved organization for quicker access to devices, support tools, and more. The app now opens with a "Tell us what's happening" interface, so you can type in what you need to get to it quickly, and it has a tiled interface for your various devices rather than a list.

Recommended articles are provided that might be useful to you based on the products you own, and there are quick access tools for resetting a password and checking AppleCare coverage.

When booking a repair, there are new sorting and filtering capabilities for finding suitable repairs, with options that include Same-Day Repair, Appointments, and Distance. Apple's full notes for the update are below:

- It's easier than ever to access support tools and get help with all of your Apple products
- Booking a reservation has a fresh look and feel, including enhanced sorting and filtering capabilities
- Performance enhancements and bug fixes (edited)

The Apple Support app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Apple and Spotify are once again feuding as Spotify attempts to break into the audiobook market, reports The New York Times. Apple has reportedly rejected Spotify's latest app update three times in the last month.

Apple vs Spotify feature2
Over the years, Apple and Spotify have had a long running dispute over Apple's App Store policies, with multiple public conflicts over app and subscription fees and app rejections due to Spotify's attempts to skirt the up to 30 percent cut that Apple takes from purchases.

Apple says that Spotify is again trying to get around its ‌App Store‌ rules, and the Cupertino company claims that Spotify's audiobooks update is not in line with guidelines that cover how apps can communicate with users about purchasing options outside of the ‌App Store‌.

Apple last year agreed to an App Store rule change that allows developers to use communications like email to share information methods about payment options that are available outside of an iOS app, but Spotify is running into issues attempting to implement this feature. With the rule change, Spotify wanted to direct customers to buy books online to listen to in the app, rather than giving Apple a cut of its audiobook sales.

Apple apparently told Spotify that it can send customers emails about online purchases, but Spotify is not able to offer a button inside of the app to request emails. The feature was designed with Spotify's legal team involved, and Apple initially approved the update in September, but later reversed course, rejecting subsequent updates.

Spotify designed a nine-step process for purchasing an audiobook, which involved a customer tapping on an audiobook and seeing a screen with a lock over the play button. Pressing on the play button provided customers with a page where they could request information on how to buy a book through an email, and the email offered up a link to purchase the book.

An Apple spokesperson told MacRumors that Apple "has no issues" with reader apps like Spotify adding audiobook content, but Spotify did not follow Apple's guidelines around in-app communications directing users outside the app.

The App Store was designed to be a great business opportunity for developers, and we fully support initiatives to introduce new features in apps that provide lasting value for users. We have no issue with reader apps adding audiobook content to their apps, linking users out to websites to sign up for services, or communicating with customers externally about alternative purchase options. The Spotify app was rejected for not following the guidelines regarding including explicit in-app communications to direct users outside the app to make digital purchases. We provided them with clear guidance on how to resolve the issue, and approved their app after they made changes that brought it into compliance.

After the multiple rejections from Apple, Spotify released a version of the app that removes information about how to purchase an audiobook from the Spotify website, which Apple did approve. Spotify now informs users that there is no option to buy an audiobook in the app. "We know it's not ideal," says Spotify in the app text.

spotify audiobooks app
Spotify in 2019 filed a regulatory complaint with the European Union over Apple's ‌App Store‌ practices, and it maintains an anti-Apple "Time to Play Fair" website. Spotify has continued to meet with European regulators, but the case has not concluded as of yet. Spotify has also sided with Epic Games in the Epic Games v. Apple legal battle, and it participates in the "Coalition for App Fairness" alongside ‌Epic Games‌, Tile, and others who are unhappy with Apple's "anti-competitive" policies.

Tag: Spotify

The iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 betas introduce a new Home app architecture upgrade, which can be installed to upgrade performance. The architecture overhaul follows the addition of the Matter smart home standard in iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16.1.

home app architecture update
Apple ahead of the launch of iOS 16 promised a new architecture for the Home app, and said that it would be a separate update. Apple says that it brings faster, more reliable performance, especially for smart homes with a lot of smart accessories installed. Users will be able to communicate with and control connected accessories more efficiently from multiple devices at the same time with the Home app.

Updating the Home app architecture will require all Apple devices that access the home to be using the latest software, and those that aren't updated will not be able to access the HomeKit setup through the Home app. To install the architecture update, users will need to have a device running iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, or macOS Ventura 13.1, as well as the HomePod 16.2 software, which is available in a beta capacity to a limited number of testers.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.2 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one day after the launch of tvOS 16.1, an update that added support for Matter, iCloud Shared Photo Library, and more.

apple tv 4k design blue
Developers can download the tvOS 16.2 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.

tvOS updates are often minor in scale, focusing on internal bug fixes and improvements rather than notable outward-facing changes. There is no word as of yet what's included in the tvOS 16.2 update, but we'll update this article if we find anything new.

Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch.

Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.

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

As expected, Apple today announced that new ad placements are now available in the App Store, allowing developers to advertise their apps in more spots.

App Store Ads
Starting today, developers can now advertise their apps in the App Store's main Today tab and in a "You Might Also Like" section at the bottom of individual app listings in all countries except China. Ads are already beginning to appear in these places, and as usual, the ads have a blue background and an "Ad" icon so they can be identified.

"With new Today tab and product page ad placements, you can drive discovery of your app in more moments across the App Store — when customers first arrive, search for something specific, and browse apps to download," says Apple's announcement.

This marks the first time that developers are able to run ads in the Today tab, which until now has only displayed content handpicked from the App Store's editorial staff, without any paid placement. And with the "You Might Also Like" section, developers are now able to promote their apps at the bottom of other apps' pages.

In a tweet, legal expert Florian Mueller argued the "You Might Also Like" ads are "another means of increasing the effective app tax rate, forcing developers to buy ads on their own app pages in order to avoid that others steer customers away from there."

App Store ads were previously limited to search results based on keywords and the "Suggested" section of the Search tab. With ads in the Today tab and the "You Might Also Like" section, the App Store now offers four advertising options in total. Apple first announced plans to expand its App Store ad placement offerings in July.

In August, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple wanted to nearly triple its current advertising revenue to at least $10 billion per year in the future. Gurman said keyword-based search result ads are coming to the Apple Maps app starting next year.

With the macOS Ventura 13.1, iOS 16.2, and iPadOS 16.2 betas provided to developers today, Apple has introduced the first version of the Freeform app that was first introduced at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

freeform 1
Freeform is a digital canvas app that is designed to let iPhone, iPad, and Mac users work together collaboratively in realtime. Multiple people can contribute images, notes, scribbles, documents, web links, PDFs, and more, with content added visible to everyone.

Apple's Freeform app is designed to work with the Apple Pencil on ‌iPad‌, and it can be used with FaceTime for visual feedback between Freeform participants.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Prior to the release of iPadOS 16, Apple tweaked Stage Manager to remove a feature that allowed it to work with external displays, a move made to expand ‌Stage Manager‌ support to A12Z and A12X iPad Pro models.

ipados 16 stage manager
With the new beta of iPadOS 16.2 provided to developers today, Apple has re-enabled external display support on iPads that have an M1 or M2 chip. While ‌Stage Manager‌ is functional on older ‌iPad Pro‌ models without Apple silicon chips, these iPads will not be able to use ‌Stage Manager‌ with an external display.

External display support allows for up to eight apps to be used with ‌Stage Manager‌, rather than the four available on the iPad alone.

Related Forum: iOS 16