Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are now in the hands of customers, and one notable new tidbit that has come to light is that the MagSafe Charging Case can broadcast its charging status to the iOS Battery widget even when the AirPods are in your ears.
With other AirPods models, including the first-generation AirPods Pro, users have to place the earbuds in the Charging Case to get a reading of the battery status of the case itself. With AirPods Pro 2, the Battery widget will now show you the status of both the Charging Case and the AirPods, regardless of whether the earbuds are in the case.
The AirPods Pro 2 case includes a built-in U1 chip that enables Find My with Precision Finding so that it can be exactly located. It seems likely therefore that the U1 chip is enabling the Charging Case to broadcast its battery status over high-frequency Ultra Wideband, rather than having to rely on a Bluetooth connection via the AirPods.
Priced at $249, AirPods Pro 2 are available to order from Apple's website and to pick up at Apple Stores. Are you a new owner of AirPods Pro 2? Let us know what your initial impressions are in the comments.
Apple Watch Ultra orders are beginning to arrive to customers around the world. For customers who forgot to pre-order an Apple Watch Ultra or simply decided to wait, many configurations are now estimated for delivery in 3-4 weeks, but the good news is that same-day or next-day pickup is now available at select Apple Store locations.
A quick spot check of Apple's online store reveals that many Apple Watch Ultra models with the Alpine Loop or Ocean Band are available for in-store pickup today in countries such as the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., but Trail Loop models are much harder to find. In-store availability will likely deplete quickly as the day goes on.
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.
A few Apple Watch Ultra models may also be available for walk-in customers at Apple Store locations with enough inventory, but your mileage may vary. Walk-in customers may be placed into a separate queue with lower priority upon arrival to the store.
The second-generation AirPods Pro are also available for Apple Store pickup starting today.
Popular climbing app Redpoint has been updated for Apple Watch Ultra, bringing Action Button support into the mix for all climbing disciplines.
As a fitness tracker for bouldering and climbing, Redpoint tracks climbing routes and altitudes using the barometric sensor in your Apple Watch or iPhone, generating an automatic logbook of your ascents.
The app comes with full Apple HealthKit integration so all climbing activity contributes to closing your rings, and the app supports a variety of grading scales for bouldering, top rope, sport climbing, trad climbing, via ferrata, deep water soloing (psicobloc), and aid climbing.
For Apple Watch Ultra, the Redpoint functionalities automatically assigned to the Action Button include starting a new climbing workout, logging the difficulty of a route, and logging the tick type of a route, allowing climbers to interact with the watch without getting climbing chalk on the screen.
Redpoint is a free app to download on the App Store and offers monthly ($4.99), three-month ($10.99), and one-year ($29.99) Redpoint Pro subscription plans via in-app purchases. Users can also purchase a Lifetime Unlock IAP for $139.99.
Apple on Friday launched the new Apple Watch Ultra, a larger, more advanced smartwatch aimed at athletes, explorers, swimmers, and extreme sports enthusiasts. The Apple Watch Ultra costs $799 and comes in a silver titanium casing and is available with three different bands including Trail, Alpine, and Ocean.
Strong sales of iPhone 14 Pro models could see Apple stabilize its market share for high-end handsets at 60%, if the enthusiastic consumer response continues through the year.
According to DigiTimes, so far this year Apple's market share for high-end handsets with unit prices of over $500 has reached 55% in off season and 60% in peak season, but iPhone 14 Pro sales could see its peak season share become the norm if they maintain their current momentum.
Apple has reportedly asked its primary iPhone assembler Foxconn to shift some iPhone 14 production capacity to the Pro models to meet strong demand, while DigiTimes reports that component makers in Apple's supply chain have not received order cuts for any model, although they may have been told to slightly adjust the shipment ratios for different devices.
On Apple's website, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in several configurations remain estimated to be shipped out in weeks. By contrast, iPhone 14 models have seen lukewarm sales, with the devices remaining available to order from Apple's website with no delay and readily available at stores.
The real indicator of demand for iPhone 14 Pro will be the sales performance in the first month following the initial wave of pre-ordered models, according to DigiTimes. Last year's iPhone 13 Pro models were said to have registered "outstanding" long-tail sales after the first wave of pre-orders, signaling that Pro models have become mainstream upgrades for iPhone users thanks to their strong spec upgrades.
By contrast, the iPhone 14 features the same design and display as the iPhone 13, and is powered by the same chip as the iPhone 13 Pro, plus has newer camera features. Meanwhile the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus is a larger version with a bigger battery, replacing the not-so-popular "mini" sizes from the iPhone 12 and 13 lineups.
Apple Watch Ultra comes with a built-in Night Mode that puts a red filter on the display. Keep reading to learn how to use it.
To optimize for evening conditions, Apple Watch Ultra features a Night Mode that turns the interface red and removes retina-altering blue light from the display to ease strain on your eyes in the dark.
On other Apple Watch models, if you look at your watch or accidentally tilt your wrist in the dark, it can impact your night vision. Night Mode on Apple Watch Ultra protects night vision, which can be crucial for explorers and astronomers.
Also it just looks cool in the dark. Here's how to turn it on.
Long press on your watch face to enter the watch face gallery.
If the Wayfinder or Modular Ultra watch face isn't already in your gallery, then add one of them to your collection by swiping all the way to the right and pressing the big + button. (These two faces are specially made for Apple Watch Ultra and feature the exclusive Night Mode.)
In the watch face gallery, tap the Edit button on the Wayfinder or Modular Ultra face.
Swipe to the Night Mode option.
Turn the Digital Crown to choose from Auto, On, or Off. (If you set Night Mode to Auto, it will be activated in poor lighting conditions.)
Press the Digital Crown to return to the watch face.
Note that Night Mode only works when the Wayfinder or Modular Ultra watch face is being used – it's an exclusive feature for these two faces and cannot be enabled when any other watch face is displayed.
If you ever become lost, injured, or have some other emergency situation and want to draw attention to your location, Apple Watch Ultra includes an 86-decibel siren that you can use.
The siren uses a unique sound signature that incorporates two distinct alternating patterns, which can repeat for several hours. The first pattern suggests distress, while the second mimics the universally recognized SOS pattern, and the siren can be heard up to 600 feet or 180 meters away.
As such, it's pretty loud, so don't turn it on in enclosed environments or hold your watch close to your ears when the Siren is sounding.
How to Turn on Siren on Apple Watch Ultra
You can turn on the Siren using the Action button or the side button.
Using the Action Button:
Press and hold the Action button until the Siren slider appears.
Drag the Siren slider to start a countdown.
After the countdown, the Siren starts.
Alternatively, you can press and hold the Action button to start the countdown, then continue holding the Action button until Siren starts. If you don't want the Siren going off using this continual hold action, go to Settings -> Action Button, and switch off the toggle next to Hold to Turn On.
Using the Side Button
Press and hold the Side button until the Siren slider appears.
Drag the Siren slider to start a countdown.
After the countdown, the Siren starts.
How to Cancel the Siren on Apple Watch Ultra
You can cancel the Siren during the countdown. If you're holding the Action button, simply release it to cancel. If you initiated the countdown by dragging the Siren slider, cover the watch display with the palm of your hand for at least three seconds to cancel.
To cancel the Siren while it's sounding, simply tap the central Stop button in the Siren app.
How to Disable the Siren Action Button Function
If you're concerned about the possibility of accidentally activating the Siren via a long press of the Action button, you can disable the function. Here's how.
Launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
Tap Action Button.
Scroll down and under "Siren" toggle off the switch next to Hold to Turn On.
Once that's done, holding down the Action button won't activate the Siren. Note that you can still activate the Siren by way of the Action Button, but now you have to hold the button and then swipe across the Siren slider, making it much harder to unintentionally sound the alert.
All Apple Watch models running watchOS 7 or later include a Battery Health feature called Optimized Battery Charging that extends the total battery life of your Apple Watch by learning from your habits and waiting to finish charging all the way up until you need your Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Ultra can last up to 36 hours on a single charge – the longest battery life of any Apple Watch – and to extend battery life even further, Apple Watch Ultra offers even more intelligent battery charge optimization with something called Optimized Charge Limit.
On by default when you set up your Apple Watch, Optimized Charge Limit use on-device machine learning to analyze your daily usage and determine when to charge to an optimized limit and when to allow a full charge. The feature changes dynamically depending on how you use your Apple Watch Ultra. For example, based on usage patterns, your watch might charge to 100% on some days, and less on others.
When Optimized Charge Limit is active, an open charge ring is displayed when you connect your Apple Watch Ultra to its charger. It's possible to charge your watch beyond the optimized limit by following the steps below.
How to Charge Apple Watch Ultra Beyond the Optimized Charge Limit
Make sure that your Apple Watch Ultra is connected to its charger.
Tap the watch display to wake the charging screen, then tap the circle with the green or yellow charging icon.
Tap Charge to Full Now.
How to Disable Optimized Charge Limit
If you want your Apple Watch Ultra to fully charge every time its placed on the charge, disable Optimized Battery Charging by following these simple steps.
Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
Scroll down and tap Battery.
Tap Battery Health.
Toggle off the switch next to Optimized Charge Limit.
Choose Turn Off Until Tomorrow or Turn Off.
Help Optimized Charging Identify Locations
Optimized charging is designed to activate only in locations where you spend the most time, such as your home and place of work. The feature doesn't turn on when your usage habits are more variable, such as when you travel.
To help your Apple Watch Ultra identify situations where Optimized Charge Limit shouldn't be used, turn on the following location settings in the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra:
Privacy -> Location Services -> Location Services
Privacy > Location Services > System Services > System Customization
Apple Watch Ultra features a customizable Action button on the left side of the case that is capable of performing a variety of functions. This article explains what it can do, and how you can configure it.
Apart from activating the Siren, the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra can be customized to perform a number of functions, offering quick access to them without you having to tap through various screens.
When you first set up your Apple Watch Ultra, you'll be invited to assign one of the following functions to it:
Workout
Stopwatch
Waypoint
Backtrack
Dive
Flashlight
Shortcut
None
You can customize your selection further, depending on the app or function chosen. If you chose the Workout app, for example, pressing the Action button once will open the Workout app, but you can also assign the "First Press" function within the app to start a specific workout.
But that's not all. When you've started the activity, you can then press again to perform a secondary function, such as marking segments or laps in a track workout, or switching from cycling to running in a triathlon. Again though, what function this is will depend on the current activity.
How to Map Functions to the Action Button
Once your Apple Watch Ultra is set up, you can re-assign functions to the Action button via a new menu right on your wrist, like so.
On Apple Watch Ultra, launch the Settings app.
Scroll down and tap Action Button.
Tap the menu under "Action" and select one of the following options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut.
Tap the arrow in the left-hand corner to go back to Action Button settings.
Tap the menu under "App" if it appears, then select an app to perform the action. Some actions, such as Flashlight, don't show the App option.
Tap the arrow to go back.
Tap the menu under "First Press" if it appears, then select an action. Some features allow different actions to happen on the first and second press of the button.
Tips appear on the screen under "Gestures" explaining how the Action button works with the settings that you've assigned to it. For example, tips for an outdoor walk show you that pressing the Action button once starts a workout, and pressing the Action button and the side button at the same time pauses the workout.
Configuring the Action Button via iPhone
You can also use the iOS Watch app to configure what the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra does.
Tap the My Watch tab if it's not already selected.
Tap Action Button.
Under "Action," tap the currently selected action to change it.
Select from one of the following options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut.
Tap Action Button to go back to the previous menu.
Tap the menu under "App" if it appears, then select an app to perform the action. Some actions, such as Flashlight, don't show the App option.
Tap the arrow to go back.
Tap the menu under "First Press" if it appears, then select an action. Some features allow different actions to happen on the first and second press of the button.
Note that tips on the screen under "Gestures" explaining how the Action button works with the settings that you've assigned to it.
Note that if you want to pause the current action, you can press and hold both the Action and Side buttons at the same time. Try to avoid pressing the Side button or the Digital Crown accidentally when you press the Action button. Your Apple Watch will do whatever is assigned to the Action button if you happen to press another button at the same time, unless a button combination is configured.
The National Football League today announced a new partnership with Apple Music for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The multi-year partnership will see Apple Music replacing Pepsi as the primary sponsor for the show, with Apple Music offering "exclusive details and sneak peeks" leading up to the shows.
"We are proud to welcome Apple Music to the NFL family as our new partner for the iconic Super Bowl Halftime Show," said Nana-Yaw Asamoah, SVP of Partner Strategy for the NFL. "We couldn't think of a more appropriate partner for the world's most-watched musical performance than Apple Music, a service that entertains, inspires, and motivates millions of people around the world through the intersection of music and technology." [...]
"Music and sports hold a special place in our hearts, so we're very excited Apple Music will be part of music and football's biggest stage," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. "We're looking forward to even more epic performances next year and beyond with the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show."
The NFL notes that over 120 million viewers watched the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in February, featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.
It's already September 23 in Australia and New Zealand, aka AirPods Pro and Apple Watch Ultra launch day. Customers in these two countries who preordered the AirPods Pro 2 or an Apple Watch Ultra are beginning to receive their new devices.
We will soon start seeing the first hands-on pictures of the AirPods Pro 2 and Apple Watch Ultra from Australians and New Zealanders who are getting their deliveries, with photos appearing on social media sites along with first impressions.
With no Apple retail stores in New Zealand, Australian customers will be the first who are able to pick up the AirPods Pro 2 or Apple Watch Ultra at an Apple Store, and Apple is expected to have some stock for walk-in purchases. Availability in Australia typically gives us an idea of what we can expect from other stores worldwide.
In the United States, the Apple Watch Ultra is sold out until mid-October, and other countries are seeing similar delays. The AirPods Pro 2 are more readily available and should not be too hard to obtain from a store on launch day. Orders placed now on the website will deliver by next week.
Following New Zealand and Australia, sales and deliveries of the Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2 will kick off in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and finally, North America. Apple retail stores will be opening at their regular time right around 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. for device sales.
Have a new Apple Watch Ultra or the AirPods Pro 2? Make sure to share pictures and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Apple today explained why the new silicone ear tips for the second-generation AirPods Pro are not officially compatible with the original AirPods Pro.
In an updated support document, Apple said the original AirPods Pro ear tips have "noticeably denser mesh" than the second-generation ear tips. Apple did not provide any additional details, but the mesh density could result in acoustical differences.
"Ear tips have been designed specifically for their AirPods Pro generation, to deliver the highest-fidelity audio experience," the support document says. "As a result, use the ear tips that come with your AirPods Pro. AirPods Pro (1st generation) ear tips have noticeably denser mesh than AirPods Pro (2nd generation) ear tips."
Despite the mesh differences, the second-generation ear tips do fit the original AirPods Pro, so they are still physically compatible.
The mesh on the original AirPods Pro ear tips
The second-generation ear tips are available in a new XS option, while the original ear tips remain available in small, medium, and large only. Both generations of ear tips are available on Apple's online store in sets of two for $7.99 in the United States.
The new AirPods Pro will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores over the next day. The first reviews of the new AirPods Pro were shared earlier today, providing a closer look at improvements to sound quality, active noise cancellation, battery life, and more. The second-generation AirPods Pro remain priced at $249.
Update:The Verge's Chris Welch tested both generations of ear tips with the new AirPods Pro and did not notice any obvious sound differences:
Could a looser mesh pattern really make any difference to sound quality? If it's there, it's extremely subtle. Swapping back and forth between the first- and second-gen tips on the latest AirPods Pro, I didn't notice any immediate or obvious sound changes. Noise cancellation also remained just as effective with both pairs. Maybe lab testing equipment can reveal some differences between the tips, but your ears will probably have a harder time at it.
With the official launch of the Apple Watch Ultra looming, Apple has shared a support document on the new Depth app that's exclusive to the device. The Depth app is designed to be used for recreational diving, providing information on water temperature, current depth, maximum depth, and more. The Apple Watch Ultra can be used for dives up to 40 meters deep (130 feet).
Apple warns that the Depth app is not a dive computer and it cannot provide decompression stop information or gas analysis. In situations where failure of the Apple Watch Ultra could lead to death or personal injury, Apple suggests using a secondary depth gauge and timer. Apple further recommends that the Apple Watch Ultra only be used by trained divers following safety protocols and diving with a buddy.
The support document walks through how to use the Depth app, which can be set to auto launch whenever the Apple Watch Ultra is submerged in water that is one meter deep or more. When the Depth app launches, the Apple Watch Ultra will turn on Water Lock to prevent screen activation, and a session can be ended with a press and hold on the Digital Crown.
The Depth app will provide a consolidated dive summary at the end of a dive session, letting users know the length of the dive, the water temperature range, and maximum depth.
Apple has also provided a new support document that outlines everything the new Compass app can do, highlighting how to use the Backtrack and Waypoint features, plus there is information on the recommended temperature range for various Apple Watch Ultra activities.
If you've been holding out on getting an Apple Card, Apple is offering a referral program right now that will net you $100 in Daily Cash if you sign up and then make a purchase within 7 days.
You can get the cash reward by signing up through this link, which leads to the Apple Card application website. Apple is letting current Apple Card owners know about the promotion and suggesting that they pass the word along to friends.
You probably know this already, but we love having you as an Apple Card customer. Right now, for a very limited time, you can help your friends earn $100 Daily Cash. If you refer Apple Card to a friend and they open a new Apple Card by September 30th, we'll give them $100 Daily Cash if they also make their first purchase within 7 days.
The promotion is valid through September 30, and accounts opened after that deadline will not qualify. Apple Card owners who refer their friends do not receive any kind of reward.
Apple today released iOS 16.0.2, addressing a number of bugs that iPhone 14 owners have been experiencing since the new devices launched. iOS 16.0.2 comes two weeks after the launch of iOS 16, and it follows iOS 16.0.1, an update made available to iPhone 14 owners on launch day. The update is available for all iPhones that are capable of running iOS 16.
The iOS 16.0.2 update can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
According to Apple's release notes, iOS 16.0.2 addresses bugs a number of bugs that have been impacting the iPhone 14 models and other iPhones running iOS 16. It addresses an issue that could cause the camera to vibrate and shake in third-party camera apps, it fixes a bug that led to repeated copy and paste popups, and it resolves a problem causing the display to appear black during setup.
It also fixes an issue that caused some iPhone X, XR, and iPhone 11 models with replaced displays to become unresponsive after updating to iOS 16. Apple's release notes for the update are below:
- This update provides bug fixes and important security updates for your iPhone including the following: - Camera may vibrate and cause blurry photos when shooting with some third-party apps on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max - Display may appear completely black during device setup - Copy and paste between apps may cause a permission prompt to appear more than expected - VoiceOver may be unavailable after rebooting - Addresses an issue where touch input was unresponsive on some iPhone X, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11 displays after being serviced
All of these bugs were found shortly after the new iPhones launched. The camera vibration issue is one of the more serious bugs as it causes the rear camera to shake uncontrollably when filming video in apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. The stock Camera app is not affected, and until now, there was no workaround or fix.
As for the copy and paste bug, Apple confirmed that it was not normal behavior last week. Apps are not supposed to ask for permission to access the clipboard with every single paste attempt, and the issue has already been addressed in the iOS 16.1 beta.
Apple today released new firmware designed for the second-generation AirPods Pro, which means the new AirPods will have a day one firmware update available at launch. The 5A377 firmware is now available for new AirPods Pro owners, up from the 5A374 firmware they ship with.
Apple has not provided information on what's included in refreshed firmware updates for the AirPods, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the new firmware brings.
There is no standard way to upgrade the AirPods software, but firmware is generally 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 learn about any notable changes in the firmware update, we'll share details, but the software likely offers performance improvements and minor bug fixes.
Apple today released watchOS 9.0.1, a minor update to the watchOS 9 operating system that debuted in September. watchOS 9.0.1 is available for the Apple Watch Ultra, and it will be a day one update for those who are receiving an Apple Watch Ultra tomorrow.
Apple Watch Ultra owners can download the update by opening up the Apple Watch app on the iPhone and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
According to Apple's release notes, the update addresses an issue that could cause audio to be distorted during phone calls when using the speakers.
Customers who preordered the Apple Watch Ultra on launch day will be receiving their orders tomorrow, and Apple retail stores will also likely have stock available.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus feature a more repair-friendly design with a removable back glass panel, allowing customers to more easily make aftermarket modifications to the device. Already, someone has modded an iPhone 14 with a transparent back glass panel that reveals various components inside the device.
The transparent back glass reveals the battery, wireless charging coil, logic board, Taptic Engine, internal side of the Lightning connector, and more. The modded iPhone 14 even has a custom rear camera housing with a frosted finish.
The photo of the modded iPhone 14 was shared today by a fewTwitter accounts, but we have yet to pinpoint the original source.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are the first models with easily removable back glass since the iPhone 4S. It is likely that many colorful and transparent back glass panels will emerge for hobbyists over time, just like in the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S days. Back in 2011, someone even modded the iPhone 4 to feature a glowing Apple logo on the back.
One potential obstacle to aftermarket mods is that Apple requires technicians to complete "System Configuration" after replacing the back glass on iPhone 14 models, according to internal documentation obtained by MacRumors. It's not clear yet what happens if this software calibration process is avoided — possibilities could range from a simple non-genuine part warning in iOS to functionality like wireless charging being impacted.
iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max do not feature a removable back glass panel.
A copycat version of the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island has arrived on Android's Google Play Store in the form of an app called "dynamicSpot."
The app, still in beta, offers customers several different experiences at the top of their smartphones. In its current form, dynamicSpot offers playback control for songs, timers, battery status, and more features coming soon, according to the app's description. dynamicSpot also offers customization features not available on Apple's Dynamic Island.
With dynamicSpot you can easily get the iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island feature on your device! dynamicSpot gives you Dynamic Island mini multitasking feature, making it easier to access recent notifications or phone status changes. Just tap on the little black popup to open the displayed app, long press the popup to expand it and view more details. iPhone's Dynamic Island is not customizable, but dynamicSpot is! You can change interaction settings, select when to show or hide the popup or which apps should appear.
iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island
Instead of leaving the pill-shaped area at the top of the display unused, Apple decided to create new experiences for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max users. Dynamic Island displays various types of information and controls to users, including Now Playing, timers, and other system-wide alerts such as AirPods connecting. Chinese smartphone maker realme indirectly called Apple's Dynamic Island "quite appealing" as it looks to crowdsource ideas to replicate it.
