Relay FM co-founder Stephen Hackett this week launched a new Kickstarter campaign for his 2023 Apple History Calendar, which highlights notable Apple software announcements over the years and features custom photos of Apple products each month.
"These dates cover everything from Apple's earliest software to the latest and greatest versions of macOS, iOS, iPadOS and more," wrote Hackett, in a post on his Apple-focused blog 512 Pixels. "The calendar also includes a wide range of first-party software titles from iLife and iWork to things like Cyberdog and Rhapsody."
The custom wall calendar measures 20 inches by 13 inches when hanging on a wall with a thumbtack or pin. Each month features a custom photo of an Apple product or accessory shot by Hackett, such as a wheel for the Mac Pro tower shot at Apple Park.
Kickstarter backers who pledge $32 or more will receive the wall calendar and some extra perks. Hackett says the calendars will be printed in and shipped worldwide from his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, with estimated delivery in November 2022. More details are available on the Kickstarter page for the project.
Hackett is a well-known Apple podcaster and blogger and successfully launched a similar 2022 Apple Hardware Calendar on Kickstarter last year.
Stage Manager on iPadOS 16 is now optimized for iPhone apps on the iPad, letting users use apps made for the smaller iPhone screen as individual windows on M1-powered iPads while using Stage Manager.
With the release of iPadOS 16 beta 3, Apple is now allowing iPhone apps to run as individual windows in Stage Manager. This means popular iPhone apps that have no iPad app, such as Instagram, can achieve a semi-normal user experience thanks to the new multitasking interface.
Stage Manager is one of the biggest new features for iPadOS 16, letting users have overlapping app windows. Stage Manager on iPadOS 16 is only available on the latest iPad Air and the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros with M1. Apple says that only iPads with the power of M1 can run Stage Manager.
iPadOS 16, alongside iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9, will be released to the public this fall.
Following the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote in June, Apple provided developers with a beta firmware for several AirPods models, including the second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. Apple today updated that firmware, with the version number going from 5A5282d to 5A304a.
The updated AirPods firmware is limited to developers, who can download the software from the More Downloads page on the Apple developer website. Installing the beta requires an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods.
Developers are required to pair the AirPods with an iPhone, connect the iPhone to a Mac with a Lightning cable, launch Xcode 14 beta on the Mac, navigate to Settings → Developer, and choose Pre-Release Beta Firmware under the AirPods Testing section. Subsequent updates are delivered over the air once the pre-release testing option is enabled.
According to Apple, the beta firmware includes improvements to Automatic Switching as well as bug and stability fixes. The software will eventually come to all AirPods after testing is finished, and it could see a release this fall alongside iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9.
Apple is working on an "extreme sports" version of the Apple Watch that will feature a larger screen and a metal casing that's better able to stand up to abuse, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who experience more extreme conditions when wearing their Apple Watches, the new device will be Apple's biggest to date. 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 will have approximately 7 percent more screen area than the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7, and a display resolution of 410 x 502 pixels. Gurman speculates that Apple may use the extra display area to provide more fitness metrics on the Apple Watch face at one time.
There is no word on what Apple will call this new watch, but it will include improved impact resistance and protection in the form of a metal material that is stronger than aluminum. It will include a more shatter-resistant screen and it's also going to 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. Aside from a larger body and more durable casing, the Apple Watch sport edition will function the same as other Apple Watches and will get the same features coming to the Series 8.
Rumors suggest the Apple Watch Series 8 will feature an S8 chip that's similar to the S7 and the S6 before that, along with an updated low power mode and new health features that would let it monitor temperature. For more on everything coming to the Apple Watch Series 8, we have a dedicated Apple Watch Series 8 guide.
Apple today seeded the third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to developers for testing purposes, and as expected, the betas refine some of the features that Apple has added in iOS 16, and there are also some new additions. Everything new in the third beta of iOS 16 is outlined below.
AFib History
Apple in iOS 16 and watchOS 9 is adding an AFib History feature for those who have atrial fibrillation, with the aim of tracking how long a person is in atrial fibrillation and how often. In iOS 16 beta 3, the AFib History section has been added to the Health app, and the AFib feature is activated in watchOS 9 beta 3. For now, AFib History is limited to those in the United States.
iCloud Shared Photo Library
The third beta of iOS 16 introduces support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, which is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with friends and family members. You can invite up to five people to share a photo library with you, and all participants can add, delete, and edit images.
Lockdown Mode
Added as an extreme security measure, Lockdown Mode is available in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. It is an optional security feature that is aimed at protecting a small number of high-profile users who are at risk of targeted cyberattacks from state-sponsored spyware.
Lockdown Mode is aimed at journalists, activists, government employees, and others who might be targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks. It is not for the everyday user, and it restricts many iPhone features. In Messages, for example, attachments other than images are blocked, and in FaceTime, calls from people you have not previously contacted are blocked.
Complex web technologies and browsing features are blocked in web browsers, shared albums are removed from the Photos app, wired connections are blocked, and configuration profiles cannot be installed. More on Lockdown Mode can be found in our article outlining the feature.
Lock Screen Time Font
There are now 12 fonts to choose from for the time on the customizable iOS 16 Lock Screen, including one option that is thinner than prior fonts, and another that is a thicker version of the previously available serif font.
Calendar Lock Screen Widget
For privacy purposes, the Calendar Lock Screen widget no longer provides details on the next upcoming event while the iPhone is locked. It blurs out the information until the iPhone is unlocked by its owner.
Reminders
Theres a new "Include Due Today" option in the Settings section of the Reminders app. It is designed to include both overdue and due today items in the badge count, rather than just due today items.
Earth Lock Screen Wallpaper
With the Earth Lock Screen wallpaper, widgets will no longer block the view of the earth. The earth image moves down when widgets are used, and up if there are no widgets placed. In prior versions of the beta, widgets overlapped.
iOS Version Interface Update
In the Settings app under About > iOS Version, if you tap on the version number, the interface has been updated. It's simpler and is no longer a pop-up card, plus it no longer links to Apple's security website.
Clownfish Wallpaper
Some iOS 16 users who installed the third beta are seeing a Clownfish wallpaper option. This wallpaper was on the original iPhone when it was introduced by Steve Jobs in 2007, but it has never officially launched. It is not showing up for everyone, but it could be added as a wallpaper option in a future beta.
Some users appear to be seeing a new Clownfish wallpaper in iOS 16 beta 3. This is the wallpaper Steve Jobs used when the original iPhone was announced in 2007 — but it never actually ever shipped with any iPhone. Here we are 15 years later. https://t.co/OLTvb1KVJG
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) July 6, 2022
Stage Manager
On the iPad, there is a new splash screen for the Stage Manager feature. There are also new tutorials for walking you through how to use it, along with an updated multitasking menu with improved labeling.
iCloud Splash Screen
When choosing an iCloud+ subscription option, there's a new splash screen that explains the features.
Virtual Card Support
iOS 16 adds support for virtual cards for shopping using Safari. Some banks and card providers allow customers to generate virtual card numbers (similar to how Apple Card works) to use online to avoid having their credit card details stolen. Safari in iOS 16 will support this feature based on code in the beta.
Other New Features
Know of a new feature in iOS 16 beta 3 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.
Today we're tracking a pair of sitewide sales that you can find on Nomad and ZAGG, offering up to 30 percent off popular accessories like wireless chargers, Siri Remote cases, MagSafe-compatible car vent mounts, and much more.
Nomad
Nomad today kicked off a sale in celebration of its ten year anniversary, offering shoppers a chance to save 30 percent sitewide through July 15. You won't need any code for this sale as all markdowns will be automatically applied at the checkout screen.
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Nomad sells a wide variety of accessories for Apple products, including a new Leather Cover for the Siri Remote, which has a spot to secure an AirTag. You'll also find MagSafe-compatible wireless chargers, waterproof Apple Watch bands, USB-C power adapters, and more.
At ZAGG, you can still get 25 percent off sitewide during its Fourth of July sale event, which the company has extended until tonight at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time. During this sale, you can get 25 percent off up to three products sitewide on ZAGG's website.
This excludes any products that have already been discounted. You won't need any coupon codes for this sale as all discounts will be automatically applied at the checkout screen.
Under this sale, you can save across Mophie's brand of popular charging accessories. This includes its best wireless chargers, portable chargers, and battery cases for iPhone and other smartphones.
With the third betas of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura that went out to developers this morning, Apple has added support for iCloud Shared Photo Library, a new feature that was not in the initial betas.
iCloud Shared Photo Library is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with your family members, and after installing iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or macOS Ventura, it can be set up in the Settings app. Under Photos, scroll down to "Shared Library" and tap it.
From there, tap on "Start Setup" to add participants you want to share with. You can invite up to five other people, and all participants can add, edit, or delete content from the shared library. You can add any five people, including people who you do not have a Family Sharing setup with.
After selecting people to share with, you can opt to move your photos to the Shared Library. You can move all your photos and videos, photos that include select people or that are from a select date, or you can choose photos manually.
Once your photos are added, you can preview the library before it's shared, and then officially invite participants using the Messages app or a shared link. All participants will have access to all photos that are uploaded to the shared library.
To prevent accidentally shared photos, there are smart setup rules that can be implemented. You can opt to share all past photos or just photos from a specific start date. You can also choose to share photos that have only specific people, such as your family members.
Photos can be added to the Shared Library automatically, but there are also options to share based on Bluetooth proximity. Sharing suggestions will continue to pop up in For You as well.
With a new toggle in the Camera app you can upload all photos you take to the Shared Library automatically, so if you're out on vacation with your family, everyone can see vacation photos as soon as they're snapped.
Shared photos will show up in Memories, Featured Photos, and the Photos widget, similar to standard iCloud Library images.
Apple today seeded the third beta of macOS 13 Ventura, the next-generation version of the Mac operating system that's set to launch this fall. The third beta comes two weeks after Apple provided the second beta to developers.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new feature that lets Mac users focus on a task while keeping other apps at the ready for easy swapping between tasks. The update adds Continuity Camera, which is designed to let you use the iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. It supports Center Stage, Desk View (for showing off your desk), and Studio Light.
Handoff is now available for FaceTime so you can transfer calls between iPhone, iPad, and Mac at will, and Messages supports features for marking an iMessage as unread, unsending an iMessage, and marking as unread. SharePlay also now works in the Messages app.
The Mail app supports scheduling and undoing emails for up to 10 seconds after they're sent, and there are now Weather and Clock apps that are available on the Mac. System Preferences has been renamed System Settings, and it features an iOS-like design.
Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working on Passkeys, a next-generation credential that replaces the password. There are updates to Spotlight, Photo Library has new features, and Metal 3 is included in macOS Ventura for better graphics in games.
The third beta of macOS Ventura reintroduces trackpad gesture videos in the macOS settings app. You can see the videos under the "Trackpad" section, and it demos options like tap to click, secondary click, and more.
For everything new in macOS Ventura, we have a dedicated roundup that goes through all of the features. macOS Ventura is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to make a public beta available in July.
Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the updates coming two weeks after Apple released the second developer beta.
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. Given that this is an early beta that could have bugs, it is best to install iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 on a secondary device.
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.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta coming two weeks after Apple unveiled the update at WWDC and provided the second beta to developers.
To install watchOS 9, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, watchOS 8 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 9 introduces four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, plus it includes updates to some existing watch faces and complications. The ECG app now supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.
The sleep tracking feature now includes sleep stages, letting the Apple Watch track when users are in REM, Core, or Deep sleep, and Apple has added a Medications app. The Medications app lets users manage and track their medications, vitamins, and supplements, with reminders when it's time to take them.
Updates to the Workout app add custom workouts and improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Fitness+ workouts now support streaming to certain third-party TVs for those who don't have an Apple TV, and notifications have been redesigned to be less obtrusive when the watch's screen is active.
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.
watchOS 9 is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to provide a public beta later this summer ahead of the software's fall launch alongside new Apple Watch models.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 16 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming two weeks after Apple seeded the second beta of tvOS 16 to developers.
Developers can download the new tvOS 16 beta by downloading a profile onto the Apple TV using Xcode.
tvOS 16 enables cross-device connectivity, a feature that allows developers to integrate Apple TV apps with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps to unlock new experiences on the TV. Apple has also improved how multiple user profiles work in tvOS 16 by adding a shared keychain, so users won't need to sign in and choose their profile when launching an Apple TV app.
Game controller support has been expanded to the Nintendo Joy-Cons and Pro Controller, and HDR10+ support is available in the tvOS 16 Apple TV app. With tvOS 16, the Apple TV will support Matter, an upcoming standard that will improve interoperability between smart home accessories from different companies.
tvOS 16 is limited to developers right now, but Apple will provide a public beta of the software to public beta testers in July.
Apple today announced a new Lockdown Mode coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. Apple says the optional security feature is designed to protect the "very small number" of users who may be at risk of "highly targeted cyberattacks" from private companies developing state-sponsored spyware, such as journalists, activists, and government employees.
Apple says Lockdown Mode is enabled in the third beta versions of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura released today, and the feature will be available to all users when the software updates are released later this year. While the feature is aimed at users who are targets of cyberattacks, it appears that it can be enabled by any user.
Lockdown Mode is turned off by default and can be enabled in the Privacy & Security section of the Settings or System Settings app. After being turned on, Lockdown Mode can be turned off at any time in the same section of the Settings app. Enabling or disabling Lockdown Mode requires restarting the device and entering the device's passcode.
When enabled, Apple says Lockdown Mode provides an "extreme" level of security by strictly limiting or disabling the functionality of features, apps, and websites. At launch, Lockdown Mode will include the following protections:
In the Messages app, most message attachment types other than images are blocked, and some features like link previews are unavailable.
Incoming FaceTime calls from people you have not previously called are blocked. Incoming invitations for other Apple services from people you have not previously invited are also blocked.
Some complex web technologies and browsing features, including just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode. This protection applies to Safari and all other web browsers using WebKit across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Shared albums will be removed from the Photos app, and new shared album invitations will be blocked.
When a device is locked, wired connections with other devices/accessories are blocked.
Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll into mobile device management (MDM), while Lockdown Mode is turned on.
Apple said it will continue to add new protections to Lockdown Mode over time. Apple has added a new category to its Security Bounty program to reward researchers who find Lockdown Mode bypasses and help improve its protections, with bounties to be doubled for qualifying findings in Lockdown Mode, up to a maximum of $2 million.
"Lockdown Mode is a groundbreaking capability that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks," said Ivan Krstić, Apple's head of security engineering, in a press release shared today. "While the vast majority of users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are."
Apple also announced it is making a $10 million grant to the Ford Foundation's Dignity and Justice Fund to support organizations that investigate, expose, and prevent highly targeted cyberattacks. Apple said it will also be donating any damages awarded from its lawsuit filed against NSO Group, creator of the spyware Pegasus.
Last year, Apple began notifying users who may have been targeted by state-sponsored attackers via email and iMessage notifications.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
A wide range of refurbished Mac Studio models with the M1 Max or M1 Ultra chips are available, including custom configurations with upgraded specs. Pricing starts at $1,799 for the base model with an M1 Max chip (10-core CPU and 24-core GPU), 32GB of unified memory, and a 512GB SSD, compared to $1,999 for the equivalent brand new model.
In our view, refurbished Macs sold by Apple are virtually indistinguishable from brand new models, so this is a decent opportunity to secure a Mac Studio with a discount and faster delivery. Apple says every certified refurbished Mac is thoroughly cleaned, tested, and repackaged in a new box with a power cord and manuals.
Apple's refurbished products are covered by Apple's standard one-year warranty and 14-day return policy, and are eligible for AppleCare+ coverage. AppleCare+ for the Mac Studio is priced at $169 or $59.99 per year on a rolling basis.
Apple first released the Mac Studio in March 2022. On the back of the computer, connectivity options include four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, one 10-Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones. On the front, there is an SD card slot, along with two USB-C ports for M1 Max models or two Thunderbolt 4 ports for M1 Ultra models.
This post has been updated to reflect availability of additional refurbished Mac Studio configurations.
Amazon has introduced a few markdowns on Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro family this week, including an all-time low price on the 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro.
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.
14-inch MacBook Pro
Starting with the 14-inch MacBook Pro, you can get the 8-Core M1 Pro/512GB model for $1,799.00 in Silver, down from $1,999.00. This is a solid second-best price on the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and there's a slight shipping delay with estimated delivery of around July 22.
For a higher-end model, the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. This is another second-best price on the MacBook Pro, and stock is available in both colors at this price.
16-inch MacBook Pro
For the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro, we're tracking an all-time low price on the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB model, priced at $2,449.00, down from $2,699.00. At $250 off, this is the best price you'll find online for this version of the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro.
On the lower end, the 10-Core M1 Pro/512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.00, down from $2,499.00. This one is available in both colors, with Silver running low on stock as of writing.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Apple today announced that the new MacBook Air equipped with the M2 chip will be available to order starting Friday, July 8 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple said deliveries to customers and in-store availability will begin Friday, July 15.
MacRumorsexclusively reported that Apple planned to launch the new MacBook Air on July 15, and the date has now been confirmed by Apple. Customers will be able to order the MacBook Air via Apple.com or the Apple Store app.
The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a slightly larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, flatter edges, and new Starlight and Midnight color options. The notebook features MagSafe charging, an upgraded 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones, four speakers, and more.
Apple says the M2 chip has up to an 18% faster CPU, up to a 35% faster GPU, and up to a 40% faster Neural Engine compared to the M1 chip. With the M2 chip, the MacBook Air can be configured with up to 24GB of unified memory, whereas the M1 chip supports a maximum 16GB of memory. The notebook is available with up to a 2TB SSD.
Pricing for the new MacBook Air starts at $1,199 in the United States. The previous-generation MacBook Air with the M1 chip remains available for $999.
Apple is expected to make its latest A16 processor exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 14 lineup, and that diversification strategy is set to become an annual trend in future iPhone series, according to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Earlier this year, Kuo said only the iPhone 14 Pro models will feature an A16 chip, with the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max models to remain equipped with an A15 chip.
The prediction was intriguing for two reasons. First, Apple has always used the same chip across iPhone models in the same series. Second, the last time Apple re-used a previous-generation processor in a new iPhone was the original iPhone and the iPhone 3G, both of which used identical 412MHz ARM 11 chips.
Despite the recent lack of precedent, well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman later agreed with Kuo's expectation, suggesting that "beyond trying to make the Pro stand out," ongoing chip shortages may have contributed to Apple's decision to limit its upcoming chip to the iPhone 14 Pro models.
However, Kuo now claims chip shortages are less of a factor guiding Apple's thinking, and that the plan to make newer, faster chips exclusive to Pro iPhone models is part of a longer-term diversification strategy that will apply to next year's iPhone 15 series and future iPhones beyond 2023.
Writing in his Medium blog, Kuo again claims that the latest A16 chip will be exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models, "significantly boosting the shipment proportion of new iPhone high-end models in 2H22 to 55-60% (vs. 40–50% in the past)," with high-end component suppliers of the rear camera also standing to benefit. In line with this strategy:
The latest processor chip will be exclusive to iPhone high-end models in the future, so a high shipment proportion of iPhone high-end models will be the norm, favoring high-end camera component suppliers.
As explained, this would differ from Apple's longstanding strategy of equipping all flagship iPhones with the same chip. For example, the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max are all equipped with the same A15 chip. But it would provide Apple with another key unique selling point for its higher-end iPhone models and could drive sales by as much as 20%, according to Kuo.
As for next year's iPhone 15 series, the strategy also adds some more clarity to how the various models will differentiate. Apple is expected to continue to offer four models – the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Max, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max – while the pill-and-hole cutout for the front-facing cameras, expected to debut only in iPhone 14 Pro models this year, will expand to the entire iPhone 15 lineup.
In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro models would exclusively feature an "A17" chip, possibly built on TSMC's next-generation 3-nanometer node. This 3nm chip technology is expected to increase processing performance by 10 to 15 percent, while also reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent. Standard iPhone 15 models therefore will presumably retain the A16 chip that is expected to feature exclusively in this year's iPhone 14 Pro models.
If Kuo's analysis is correct, expect Apple's nascent chip strategy to be mirrored in many more annual iPhone cycles to come.
Apple today released new firmware for the Siri Remote designed for the Apple TV, updating the software from version 9M6772 to 10M1103. The software is for the redesigned Siri Remote that was released in May 2021, aka the gray remote with the updated interface. In the Apple TV settings, the new firmware will display as 0x0070, up from 0x0061.
There is no word on what's new with the Apple TV Siri Remote, but it likely includes minor bug fixes and performance improvements. Apple regularly provides firmware updates for its hardware products, though the company does not typically provide details on what's been refreshed.
Apple also does not provide details on how to update the Siri Remote, but the software will be installed over the air automatically through the Apple TV. The updated Siri Remote is available with the latest-generation Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models, plus it is sold on a standalone basis.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new update coming over a week after the release of the fourth macOS Monterey 12.5 beta.
Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
There's no word yet on what new features or changes might be included in macOS Monterey 12.5, and nothing new was found in the first four betas. It's likely this update focuses on bug fixes and other minor improvements to the operating system.
macOS Monterey 12.5 could be one of the final updates to the macOS Monterey website as Apple is now shifting its focus to macOS Ventura, the next-generation Mac operating system coming this fall.
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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.
