MacRumors

In another early Prime Day discount, we're tracking the return of an all-time low price on Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, available for $299.00, down from $329.00. This sale is only on the Space Gray color option.

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.

This is the best deal we've ever tracked on the 10.2-inch 2021 iPad, and it's been months since we saw this price. As with all Prime Day deals, this sale isn't expected to last long, so head to Amazon soon if you're interested.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Alongside the first iOS 16 public beta, Apple today also released a HomePod Software 16 update that is available to public beta testers. This marks the first time that Apple has provided a ‌HomePod‌ beta to its public beta testing group.

The ‌HomePod‌ Software 16 update can be downloaded from Apple's beta site after installing the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 software updates. From there, users will need to go to the Home app, select the Settings option, and choose Software Update.

‌HomePod‌ users with the iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 update can then enroll their HomePod mini in the beta program. According to the public beta website, the ‌HomePod‌ Software 16 beta is only available for the ‌HomePod mini‌ and it cannot be downloaded on the larger ‌HomePod‌.

Apple today seeded the first beta of macOS Ventura to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to test the new macOS Ventura operating system ahead of its release.

Public beta testers can download the macOS 13 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.

macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new multi-tasking option for focusing on a task while having other apps waiting in the wings. ‌Stage Manager‌ puts your main app front and center, tucking your other apps to the side for quick access.

Continuity Camera allows you to use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, offering much better camera quality than the built-in Mac camera. Apple is building special stands to hold the ‌iPhone‌ with a Mac, and there are neat features like Desk View, which uses the Ultra Wide lens.

Handoff now works with FaceTime so you can answer calls on the Mac and then transfer them over to another device, and Messages is gaining undo, edit, and mark as unread features. SharePlay now works in Messages in addition to ‌FaceTime‌, and the Mail app has been overhauled. Search is more relevant, emails can be scheduled, and there's even an option to undo an email for up to 10 seconds after it's sent.

Apple brought the Weather and Clock apps to the Mac, redesigned System Preferences and renamed it System Settings, and added support for Shared Tab Groups. Passwords are being replaced with more secure Passkeys in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, and there are updates to Spotlight, Visual Lookup, Live Text, and more.

There are a ton of other features in macOS Ventura, and we have a full rundown available in our dedicated macOS Ventura roundup.

Apple today seeded the first betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to public beta testers, opening up the iOS 16 beta testing process to the general public for the first time since the Worldwide Developers Conference. Developers have already had three betas, and the first public beta coincides with the third developer beta.

Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS 15 updates over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.

iOS 16 brings an overhauled Lock Screen with customizable wallpapers, time, and widgets, plus notifications have been updated to roll in from the bottom of the display. Multiple Lock Screens are supported and can be linked with Focus modes.

The Messages app supports editing and deleting messages as well as marking messages unread. SharePlay is no longer limited to FaceTime, so Messages can be used for communication between people sharing content with one another. ‌FaceTime‌ calls can be handed off from one device to another, and the Health app gains a new Medications feature for tracking the vitamins and medicine that you take.

Apple is replacing passwords with Passkeys, and Safari now supports Shared Tab Groups for collaborating. In the Mail app, you can schedule emails, cancel sending, and receive follow-up reminders, and the Maps app supports multi-stop routing.

iCloud Shared Photo Library offers a convenient way to share a photos with family members, and Apple Pay Later will let users pay for ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases in fee-free installments. For the iPad, iPadOS 16 brings a Weather app and a new multi-tasking system called Stage Manager, but it's only for iPads with Apple silicon chips.

There are tons more features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, with a full rundown available in our dedicated roundups.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to experience the new watch software ahead of its fall release.

The watchOS 9 update can be downloaded after upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 16. After installing iOS 16, the proper watchOS 8 profile from Apple's beta software website must also be installed.

The software can be accessed by going to General > Software Update in the Apple Watch app on ‌iPhone‌. To update, ‌Apple Watch‌ needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌.

watchOS 9 expands the sleep tracking feature to add sleep stages, allowing the watch to track when users are in REM Core, or Deep sleep, plus it supports a Medications app for managing and getting reminders for medications, vitamins, and supplements.

There are four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, and the ECG app supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.

Custom workouts have been added to the Workout app, and there are fitness improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Other new features include a CallKit API that allows VOIP calls to be answered on Apple Watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the Apple Watch with an ‌‌iPhone‌‌, Quick Actions for doing more with a double pinch gesture, and updates to the Reminders and Calendar apps.

More on everything that's new in the watchOS 9 update can be found in our dedicated watchOS 9 roundup.

Apple today seeded the first beta of tvOS 16 to its public beta testing group, allowing members of the public to download and test the new update on Apple TV HD and ‌Apple TV‌ 4K models.

Public beta testers can download the tvOS 16 beta update by opening up the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌, navigating to the Software Updates section under "System," and then toggling on "Get public Beta Updates" after signing up to beta test on Apple's public beta website.

tvOS 16 adds cross-device connectivity, which will let developers integrate ‌Apple TV‌ apps with iPhone and iPad apps to unlock new experiences on the ‌Apple TV‌. Multiple user profiles have also been improved through a shared keychain feature that cuts down on logins.

Game controller support has been expanded to the Nintendo Joy-Cons and Nintendo Pro Controller, and HDR10+ support is available in the ‌Apple TV‌ app. In the future, the ‌Apple TV‌ will support Matter, an upcoming smart home standard that will improve interoperability between accessories from different companies.

tvOS 16 is set to come out this fall, and it will go through several rounds of beta testing before launch.

Apple today seeded revised versions of the third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers for testing purposes, with the updates coming a week Apple released the third developer betas. The beta revision comes alongside the first public betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, and it features a version number of 20A5312j.

Registered developers can download the iOS and iPadOS 16 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the betas will be available over the air.

iOS 16 introduces a revamped Lock Screen that offers a new level of personalization and customization through widgets, a notification redesign, and adjustable fonts and colors for the time. Multiple Lock Screens are supported, similar to watch faces, and can be associated with Focus modes.

Focus is easier to set up than before and more customizable, with Focus filters available to cut out distracting content within apps. The Messages app now features tools for editing a iMessage, unsending an iMessage, and marking messages as unread, plus it supports SharePlay, much like FaceTime.

The Mail app has improved search and tools that include undo send, schedule send, and follow up so you can get a reminder to check up on an email if you haven't gotten a response. Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working to replace passwords with Passkeys, a more biometrically secure way to log in to accounts.

iCloud Photo Library allows users to more easily share photos with family members, and Live Text is supported in video. There's a neat new feature for lifting the subject from a background with a tap, which is part of Visual Lookup.

Dictation has improved, Maps now supports multi-stop routing, Apple Pay Later lets you split up purchase payments, and the Home app has been entirely overhauled with a new look. On the iPad, the update adds a new Stage Manager feature for more Mac-like multitasking, but it's limited to M1 iPads.

There are tons of other new features in iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, with a full rundown on everything available in our dedicated roundup.

Early Prime Day deals continue today, and now Amazon has Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe for $169.99, down from $249.00. The last time we saw the AirPods Pro at this low of a price was in December 2021, so this makes Amazon's deal today the best price of the year so far on the AirPods Pro.

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

This model of the AirPods Pro includes the MagSafe Charging Case. The AirPods Pro are in stock today, with delivery as soon as July 13 for most places in the United States with Prime shipping.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Apple is expected to release the first public beta of iOS 16 for the iPhone this week, allowing anyone to test the software update for free.

In a tweet last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iOS 16 public beta should be released during the week of July 11. Gurman said the public beta is expected to correspond with the third developer beta of iOS 16 released last week.

It's unclear which day of the week the iOS 16 public beta will be released. Given that embargoed reviews of the new MacBook Air are expected to be published on Thursday, it is possible that Apple will opt to release the iOS 16 public beta by Wednesday at the latest to spread out the news. Last year, the iOS 15 public beta was released on a Wednesday.

Apple typically releases new betas shortly after 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, which is 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time or 6:00 p.m. in the U.K.

At WWDC last month, Apple announced that public betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9, and tvOS 16 would be released in July. Apple will also be releasing a public beta of HomePod software version 16, which is based on tvOS.

To get ready for the iOS 16 public beta, sign up for the free Apple Beta Software Program directly on an iPhone. The program lets you install a custom profile on your device that will enable you to install the beta over the air via Settings > Software Update when released. Public beta testers can provide feedback to Apple using the Feedback Assistant app.

While the iOS 16 beta has been relatively stable, it is still a beta, so you may encounter bugs, incompatible apps, reduced battery life, and other issues. Think carefully before deciding to install the public beta on an iPhone that you rely on for daily use.

iOS 16 is compatible with the iPhone 8 and newer. The software update, which should be released to all users in September, introduces a customizable Lock screen, the ability to edit or unsend iMessages, and many other new features.

Update: Apple has released the iOS 16 public beta.

Update July 12: Amazon has discounted the Apple TV even further for Prime members, dropping the 32GB model to $109.00 and the 64GB model to $129.00, savings of $70 off the regular retail price. Original article is below.

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Joining the early influx of deals on Apple products during Amazon Prime Day is now the Apple TV 4K, which has hit the best-ever price of $119.99, down from $179.00. This is the 32GB 2021 model with the new Siri Remote.

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

Compared to previous sales, this is about $30 cheaper and overall it's the lowest price we've ever tracked on the 2021 Apple TV 4K. As with all Prime Day deals, this one won't last long, so be sure to head to Amazon soon if you're interested.

Additionally, the 64GB Apple TV 4K is on sale for $139.99, down from $199.00, which is another best-ever price. Both models are currently in stock, but that might not last long.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

The Information's Wayne Ma today published an in-depth report reflecting on Apple's struggles to build a self-driving electric vehicle, including technical challenges and several leadership changes since the project began around eight years ago.

Notably, the report reveals some interesting details about the physical appearance of the so-called "Apple Car." The latest design of the vehicle is said to feature four seats that face inward, allowing passengers to have face-to-face conversations with one another, along with a curved ceiling that resembles the roof on a Volkswagen Beetle.

The report claims that Apple's designers are also experimenting with a trunk compartment that rises for easy access, and then automatically lowers when not in use. Likewise, the designers are said to have discussed large seat-back screens that rise and lower.

Apple's former design chief Jony Ive has remained involved with the project as a consultant, according to the report. Ive, who left Apple in 2019 to start independent design firm LoveFrom, apparently advised the Apple Car team that they "should lean into the weirdness of the vehicle's design and not try to hide its sensors."

As previously reported, The Information says Apple is aiming to gain exemptions from the U.S.'s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to release a vehicle without a steering wheel and brake pedal. Interestingly, the report claims that Apple has even discussed allowing passengers to lie flat and sleep in the vehicle.

As the Apple Car slowly inches towards launching, Apple is now discussing how to disguise the latest prototype of the vehicle during testing in the public, according to the report. However, the vehicle is likely years away from release.

Amazon Prime Day doesn't officially kick off until tomorrow, July 12, but that hasn't stopped early deals from appearing today. For starters, we're tracking a new all-time low price on the Apple Watch Series 7.

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 can get the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 in all colors for $279.00, down from $399.00. At $120 off this is a new all-time low price, and now the lowest entry-level deal price we've ever seen on the Series 7.

If you're looking for the bigger model, there's another record low price on the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7, available for $314.00 in two colors, down from $429.00.

Remember that you'll need an Amazon Prime membership to get Prime Day deals. You can sign up for Prime if you don't have it yet on Amazon.

Check out our article on The Best Apple Deals for Amazon Prime Day to stay up to date with this summer's big shopping event.

Apple has asked Samsung Display to develop micro OLED panels in an effort to diversify its supply ahead of next year's launch of its widely rumored AR/VR glasses, claims a new report.

According to The Elec, Samsung Display has received requests from several of its customers to start developing the microdisplays, including Apple, Meta, and its parent company, Samsung.

Samsung Display is said to have avoided developing the panels so far because of their expected low profitability, but micro LED appears set to become a key technology in the nascent AR/VR headset market as multiple companies gear up to launch rival products.

Micro OLED displays are built directly onto chip wafers rather than a glass substrate, which results in displays that are thinner, smaller, and more power efficient. They allow for pixel sizes in the range of four to 20 micrometers, compared to 40 to 300 micrometers with standard OLED panels, plus they have a faster microseconds response time, making them ideal for AR/VR applications.

Rumors suggest Apple's AR/VR headset will have two to three displays, with at least two being high-resolution 4K micro OLED displays with up to 3,000 pixels per inch. Sony is expected to supply the display modules that Apple will use, although today's report claims LG Display is also in the running to supply Apple with micro LED panels next year.

Samsung Display will reportedly supply a conventional OLED panel for the device, perhaps for peripheral vision where a lower resolution would be acceptable. Samsung Display will then attempt to supply micro LED panels for the second-generation device.

Apple's first headset is expected to be unveiled at a special event in January 2023, while the follow-up device, likely featuring a more high-end configuration and a new affordable option, is expected to launch in 2025, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple's rumored high-end Apple Watch model for extreme sports could cost around $999 – the same starting price as the current iPhone 13 Pro – according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman compares the rumored premium watch to the current 45mm titanium Apple Watch Edition, which starts at $849.

Given that the new high-end Apple Watch will pack in a slightly larger display, new sensors and higher-end materials, I wouldn’t be surprised if it starts closer to $900 to $999, the starting price of an iPhone 13 Pro. We're only a couple months away from finding out exactly where Apple lands.

Gurman compares the Garmin-esque Apple Watch model to what he believes will be its biggest rival, the already-leaked Samsung Watch Pro 5, which is expected to be announced next month. Samsung's "Pro" version will have a slightly larger display and battery than standard models, as well as a titanium case and a more rugged design. However, the most costly version, the 44mm model with LTE, is expected to be around half the price of Apple's rumored watch.

Aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who experience more extreme conditions during exercise, the new tier of Apple Watch will feature LTE, a larger screen, and a metal casing that's better able to stand up to abuse. Gurman offers a few possible names for the new device – Apple Watch Extreme, Apple Watch Max, Apple Watch Explorer Edition – but the journalist speculates that the model will adopt the 'Pro' moniker in line with its other higher price-point products.

The display will measure in at almost two inches diagonally, which is larger than the 1.9-inch diagonal screen size of the current Apple Watch Series 7 and the planned Apple Watch Series 8. It is also expected to include a more shatter-resistant screen and have a larger battery to accommodate longer workout times.

The sport-focused version of the Apple Watch will be sold alongside the standard ‌Apple Watch Series 8‌ planned for later this year and the Apple Watch SE, which is also expected to see a refresh in 2022.

Apple plans to launch its second-generation AR/VR headset in the first half of 2025, likely featuring a more high-end configuration and a new affordable option, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.

Writing in his Medium blog, Kuo said the following:

The second-generation Apple AR/VR may have high-end and more-affordable models, which will launch in 1H25, and component suppliers will start shipping in 2H24. Apple AR/MR shipments may reach 10 million units as soon as 2025 or 2026, thanks to the second-generation Apple AR/MR product segmentation strategy and ecosystem.

Apple has not yet released its first AR/MR headset but plans to hold a special event to showcase the product during January of 2023, Kuo has previously reported. Apple's first headset is set to be an expensive product, costing upwards of $3,000. A new affordable option would help Apple make its headset more mainstream and increase overall shipments to 10 million by 2025 or 2026, according to the analyst.

Learn more about Apple's first AR/MR headset with our comprehensive roundup.

Apple will be adding the first 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar to its vintage products list on July 31, the company said in an internal memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week.

The first MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar were released in October 2016 as part of a complete redesign of the MacBook Pro. Other new features included a thinner and lighter chassis, the much-maligned butterfly keyboard, Touch ID, a larger trackpad, and the removal of all ports except for Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack.

Apple removed the Touch Bar from the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but it is still available on the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The memo, obtained by MacRumors, indicates that the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and several other devices will also be classified as vintage at the end of the month. The full list of devices that will become vintage as of July 31 is outlined below:

• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt Ports)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt Ports)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
• MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2016)
• iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
• iMac (27-inch, Retina 5K, Late 2015)
• iPad Pro (9.7-inch, Wi-Fi)
• iPad Pro (9.7-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular)

Apple classifies a device as "vintage" after five years have passed since Apple last distributed the device for sale. The first MacBook Pro models with the Touch Bar were discontinued in June 2017, so the five-year mark has recently passed.

Until mid-2018, vintage products were ineligible for Apple-approved repairs, but Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers are now able to repair devices for up to two years after they are classified as vintage, subject to parts availability.

Apple will also be adding the original iPad mini released in 2012 to its obsolete products list on July 31, according to the memo. Apple classifies a device as "obsolete" after seven years have passed since Apple last distributed the device for sale, and obsolete devices are no longer eligible for repairs from Apple, except where permitted by law.

In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said an expanded Low Power Mode is still in development for the Apple Watch and on track for release around the same time as the public release of watchOS 9 later this year.

While the Apple Watch already features a Power Reserve mode that displays only the time on the screen to preserve battery life, Gurman said the expanded Low Power Mode would allow for use of apps and other features in a low-power state. Gurman first reported that the feature was in development in April, but Apple did not announce the feature when previewing watchOS 9 at its developers conference WWDC in June.

Gurman believes that Apple could announce the new Low Power Mode at a later date, much like the new Lockdown Mode for iOS 16 was announced after WWDC. watchOS 9 is expected to be released in September alongside the launch of the Apple Watch Series 8, a new Apple Watch SE, and a new rugged/extreme version of the Apple Watch.

Gurman has previously claimed that the Low Power Mode could be a "hardware-exclusive feature," suggesting that it may be limited to the Apple Watch Series 8 and potentially other new models. In his newsletter today, Gurman opined that Low Power Mode may work hand-in-hand with some of the rugged Apple Watch's new features.

Today marks the third anniversary of Apple discontinuing the 12-inch MacBook. The portable notebook was removed from Apple's online store on July 9, 2019 alongside refreshes to the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro on the same day.

Introduced in March 2015, the 12-inch MacBook featured a thin and light design that weighed just two pounds, and it was also Apple's first fanless notebook. Pricing started at $1,299, with the original model's standard specs including a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor, integrated Intel HD Graphics 5300, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

Key design aspects of the 12-inch MacBook included a single USB-C port for charging and data transfer, a then-new Force Touch trackpad, and a terraced battery design that allowed for a larger battery to fit inside the notebook's thin chassis.

"Apple has reinvented the notebook with the new MacBook," said Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller, in a March 2015 press release. "Every component of the MacBook reveals a new innovation. From its fanless design, ultra-thin Retina display and full-size keyboard that's 34 percent thinner, to its all-new Force Touch trackpad, versatile USB-C port and breakthrough terraced battery design, the new MacBook is the future of the notebook."

Unfortunately, the 12-inch MacBook was also the first MacBook model to feature Apple's infamous butterfly switch keyboard design, which is prone to failure and was eventually dropped from the entire MacBook lineup after years of complaints.

Apple last updated the 12-inch MacBook in June 2017, with the notebook having gone over two years without a hardware refresh before being discontinued.

In hindsight, it is clear that the 12-inch MacBook was hampered by the thermal constraints of Intel processors, with the notebook's thin and light design more appropriate for performant yet power efficient Apple silicon chips. Last month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was considering launching an all-new 12-inch notebook by 2024, but it is unclear if the notebook would be branded as a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro. While the 12-inch MacBook was a low-end notebook, Apple also offered a higher-end 12-inch PowerBook G4 in the mid-2000s, prior to the original MacBook Pro being released.