MacRumors

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

1. Make sure that your Apple Watch Ultra is connected to its charger.
2. Tap the watch display to wake the charging screen, then tap the circle with the green or yellow charging icon.
3. 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.

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Tap Battery Health.
4. Toggle off the switch next to Optimized Charge Limit.
5. 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
• Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations > Significant Locations

The location information for this feature remains on your watch and none of it is sent to Apple.

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:

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.

1. On Apple Watch Ultra, launch the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Action Button.
3. Tap the menu under "Action" and select one of the following options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut.
   
   

4. Tap the arrow in the left-hand corner to go back to Action Button settings.
5. 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.
6. Tap the arrow to go back.
7. 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.

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab if it's not already selected.
3. Tap Action Button.
4. Under "Action," tap the currently selected action to change it.
5. Select from one of the following options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut.
6. Tap Action Button to go back to the previous menu.
7. 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.
8. Tap the arrow to go back.
9. 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.

Super Bowl LVII will be played on February 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona.

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 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 is already working on iOS 16.1, which will be released alongside iPadOS 16.1 sometime in October.

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 few Twitter 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.

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.

We're tracking quite a few discounts across Apple's 2021 MacBook Pro lineup, with up to $399 off both 14-inch and 16-inch models. All of the deals below can be found on Amazon, and many of them require you to head to the checkout screen before you will see the discounted price.

14-inch MacBook Pro

For the 14-inch MacBook Pro, only the 10-core M1 Pro/1TB SSD model is on sale at $2,099.99, down from $2,499.00. This is the best price we've ever tracked on this model of the 14-inch MacBook 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 time around, Amazon does have a checkout coupon for these MacBook Pro sales. This means that you won't see the sale price until you add the notebook to your cart, then head to the checkout screen. There, you'll get an automatic discount worth $99.01 applied to the order.

16-inch MacBook Pro

Secondly, you can get the 10-Core M1 Pro/512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,099.99, down from $2,499.00. This one is available in Space Gray and Silver, and you won't see the deal price until you head to the checkout screen.

On the higher end, the 10-Core M1 Pro/1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.99, down from $2,699.00. This is another record low price on the 2021 MacBook Pro, and it's available in Silver and Space Gray.

If you're looking for an M1 Max model, Amazon is offering a discount on the 10-Core M1 Max/1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro. You can get this model for $3,099.00, down from $3,499.00. Both colors are on sale at this price (Silver requires you to head to checkout to see the price), and this is another all-time low price for the MacBook Pro.

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 is reportedly scaling back production of the new iPhone 14 due to seemingly low demand for the latest iPhone, which features the same design as last year's ‌iPhone‌ and a one-year-old chip.

According to supply chain employees who spoke to ITHome, Foxconn, who is Apple's largest supplier, has been instructed to dismantle at least five production lines that were previously making the ‌iPhone 14‌ in Zhengzhou, China. Based on the report, it's unclear if this includes just the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone 14‌ or also the larger 6.7-inch ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus.

The new revelation comes after Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said this week that Apple is ramping up production for the iPhone 14 Pro, which has seen high demand. Kuo added that Apple is moving production resources away from the ‌iPhone 14‌ and into the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro to keep up.

On Apple's website, the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max in several configurations remain estimated to be shipped out in weeks, while the ‌iPhone 14‌ remains available with no delay. The ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus, arriving to customers on Friday, October 7, faces no delay on Apple's website.

Compared to the ‌iPhone‌ 13, the ‌iPhone 14‌ features the same design and display but is powered by the same chip as the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and has newer camera features. The 6.7-inch ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌ Plus is a larger version with a bigger battery, replacing the previous "mini" size from the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and 13 lineups.

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 23. In advance, the first reviews of the wireless headphones have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.

Priced at $249, the second-generation AirPods Pro feature improved audio quality, longer battery life, and up to 2x as much noise cancellation compared to the original AirPods Pro. They also feature swipe-based volume control, an improved built-in skin-detect sensor that more accurately turns on or off audio playback, and a new XS ear tip option.

The new AirPods Pro come with an updated charging case with a built-in speaker and U1 chip for Find My support with Precision Finding, an opening to attach a lanyard for carrying convenience, and IPX4-rated water and sweat resistance. In addition to Lightning and MagSafe, the case can now be charged with an Apple Watch charger.

We have rounded up both written and video reviews of the new AirPods Pro below.

Written Reviews

The Verge's Chris Welch said there are "substantial" improvements to active noise cancellation:

But Apple has made substantial gains with its active noise cancellation. The company says, on average, the new implementation is “up to” two times as effective as the original AirPods Pro. And while I lack any scientific measurement tools, that claim doesn't seem unrealistic. At our office, I recently moved desks and now sit near an air vent that emits a persistent whir. The original AirPods Pro leave a trace of that in noise-canceling mode, but it's completely hushed and imperceptible with the second-gen pair. I can still hear chatting co-workers if they walk directly next to my desk, but at most times, the AirPods Pro grant me plenty of serenity. I've also observed legitimate improvements when commuting on the subway, and less overall street noise makes its way through when traversing Brooklyn day to day.

Welch also noticed improved sound quality overall:

Let's dig right into sound quality. Apple completely redesigned the amplifier and driver in the AirPods Pro, and while those drivers are the same 11-millimeter size as what's in the third-gen AirPods, they sound superior and deliver the cleanest, most dynamic output of any AirPods to date.

Engadget's Billy Steele achieved around six hours of battery life as advertised:

During my tests, I managed six hours and fifteen minutes of use with a mix of noise cancellation, transparency mode and calls. That's more than the previous generation (4.5 hours) and it's on par with most of the competition these days. Sure, some companies offer 10-plus hours on a charge, but the average is around five to seven for the noise-canceling products I've tested. More battery life would always be nice, but the six or seven hours Apple musters is enough to get you through the workday if you take a short break.

Gizmodo's Andrew Liszewski said the new swipe-based volume control feature is a welcomed upgrade, but can be "a little finicky" on occasion:

It's a welcome upgrade, but unfortunately one that I found a little finicky to make work. It occasionally required a couple of swipes before anything happened.

As someone who generally hates having to touch my earbuds while I'm wearing them (it inevitably dislodges them a little) I will probably continue to stick to using Siri voice commands for volume adjustments or track skipping (the one thing Siri does very well).

MobileSyrup's Patrick O'Rourke said swipe-based volume control is his favorite new AirPods Pro feature, providing for a more convenient listening experience:

In my experience, the new AirPods Pro volume touch controls are extremely responsive and work with subtle changes. If you, for example, only want to lower or raise the volume by a notch or two, you can do that with a brief swipe. The controls are also marked with a slight clicking noise, indicating they're active and working. I didn't run into any accidental presses during my several days with the AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen), even while long-pressing on the stem to toggle Active Noise Cancellation on/off or double-pressing to jump between songs.

On-device touch volume controls are by far my favourite new AirPods Pro feature. The convenience and ease of use of shifting volume levels directly on the AirPods Pro (2nd-Gen) without the need to take out my iPhone, really can't be understated.

O'Rourke added that iOS 16's Personalized Spatial Audio feature is not very noticeable:

In theory, I like the idea of audio being tuned specifically to the shape of your ear, but in practice, it doesn't make much of a difference. It's also worth noting that while I really like Spatial Audio when watching movies or TV shows on platforms like Apple TV+, I find it hit or miss with music, especially when a track wasn't originally recorded with the technology in mind and has been remastered.

WIRED's Parker Hall said the charging case's new built-in speaker "rings quite loudly" to assist with Find My location tracking, but he wishes the case had a USB-C port for wired charging instead of the usual Lightning connector:

Need to find the case via Apple's Find My app? Now you can, and it rings quite loudly. It also makes a little jingle when it starts charging. Speaking of, you can wireless charge as usual (the case supports MagSafe too), but it's a shame to see Apple still relying on the Lightning port instead of USB-C.

Video Reviews

Meta is facing a new proposed class action lawsuit that accuses it of tracking and collecting the personal data of iPhone users, despite features and policies made by Apple which are meant to stop that same type of tracking.

In August, it was revealed that with the Facebook and Instagram apps, Meta can track all of a user's key taps, keyboard inputs, and more, when using the in-app browser. When a user clicks on a link on Instagram, for example, Meta can monitor their interactions, text selections, and even text input, such as passwords and private credit card details within that website.

This practice of tracking users is a direct violation of Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) policy, which requires apps to ask for user consent before tracking them across apps and websites owned by other companies.

Filed on Wednesday in San Francisco federal court, a new lawsuit accuses Meta of this violation, as reported by Bloomberg Law. The proposed class action lawsuit accuses Meta of violating Apple's ATT framework and state and federal laws by collecting user data without user consent within its Facebook and Instagram apps.

In most apps on the ‌iPhone‌, developers use Apple's Safari to open links within their apps. Meta, however, has developed a custom-made in-app browser based on Apple's WebKit framework for Instagram and Facebook. Meta's browser allows it to inject a tracking JavaScript code named "Meta Pixel" into all links and websites shown.

The lawsuit accuses Meta of using the in-app browser on Facebook and Instagram as a way to circumvent rules enforced by Apple to prevent unwanted tracking of users. "This allows Meta to intercept, monitor, and record its users' interactions and communications with third parties, providing data to Meta that it aggregates, analyzes, and uses to boost its advertising revenue," the lawsuit says, according to Bloomberg Law.

Since its introduction in June 2021, Meta has been a vocal opposer of Apple's ATT policy, claiming it would hurt small businesses that rely on personalized ads.

Meta claimed in a full-page newspaper ad that Apple was hurting the ability of small businesses to grow, since if users opt-out of tracking, they're less likely to see ads personalized and recommended for them. Apple's ATT framework has had an impact on Meta's business as it's expected to lose $10 billion in revenue this year alone.

Update: A Meta spokesperson has provided MacRumors with the following statement:

These allegations are without merit and we will defend ourselves vigorously. We have designed our in-app browser to respect users' privacy choices, including how data may be used for ads.

At its "Far out" event in 2022, Apple announced the second-generation Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 8. The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is a low-cost option that still offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years, while the Apple Watch Series 8 offers a more feature-rich experience with additional health monitoring capabilities.

Both the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ and the Apple Watch Series 8 feature the S8 chip, Crash Detection, water resistance, an optical heart sensor, up to 18 hours of battery life, and more, but there are significant differences between the two devices.

The aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 starts at $399, while the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is much more competitively priced at just $249. So what exactly do you get by spending the additional $150 and is it worth it? Our comparison helps to answer the question of which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.

Key Differences

‌Apple Watch SE‌ (second-generation)	Apple Watch Series 8
Aluminum casing	Aluminum or stainless steel casing
Ion-X glass front	Ion-X glass (aluminum) or sapphire crystal (stainless steel) front
Color-matched nylon composite back case	Ceramic back case
44mm or 40mm case size	45mm or 41 mm case size with edge-to-edge display (nearly 20% more display area than ‌Apple Watch SE‌)
Retina display	Always-On Retina display
324 by 394 pixels with 759 sq mm display area (40mm) and 368 by 448 pixels with 977 sq mm display area (44mm)	352 by 430 pixels with 904 sq mm display area (41mm) or 396 by 484 pixels with 1143 sq mm display area (45mm)
Second-generation optical heart sensor	Third-generation optical heart sensor
–	Blood oxygen sensor and Blood Oxygen app
–	Electrical heart sensor and ECG app
–	Temperature sensing
Cycle tracking	Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
–	U1 chip
–	Fast charging
Available in Midnight, Starlight, and Silver	Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and PRODUCT(RED) (aluminum) or Silver, Graphite, or Gold (stainless steel)
Starts at $249	Starts at $399 (aluminum) or $699 (stainless steel)

The Apple Watch Series 8 is a minor improvement over the previous Series 7 model, offering Crash Detection and body temperature sensing. Yet compared to the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, the Apple Watch Series 8 is a considerably more feature-rich device with advanced capabilities.

With its larger display, advanced health monitoring features, and range of colors and finishes, the Apple Watch Series 8 will be the model of choice for those who want more out of their smartwatch. If you feel that the always-on display, additional health monitoring features, or fast charging would be particularly useful to you, or simply like a specific casing and color combination not available with the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, the Apple Watch Series 8 will be the best model for you.

If you are on a budget and are not particularly attracted to the additional features of the Series 8, the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is still a very compelling option. As it shares so many features with the Apple Watch Series 8, in most cases you should probably choose the more inexpensive model, unless you particularly value features such as the larger, always-on display or advanced health monitoring and can justify the added cost.

The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ is an ideal device for children and senior citizens who do not have an iPhone thanks to Family Setup, but it is also the go-to model for most customers who are new to the Apple Watch and those who are upgrading from a Series 3 or older due to its competitive pricing and generous feature set, allowing users to get an unconstrained Apple Watch experience at a low cost.

Apple will move 25% of its entire iPhone production line to India by 2025 as it looks to diversify its supply chain, JP Morgan analysts said (via Reuters).

Apple currently produces some ‌iPhone‌ models in India, including the iPhone 13 and soon the iPhone 14. Apple's supply chain remains highly concentrated in China, but the company has made efforts to move suppliers and production lines elsewhere.

JP Morgan analysts believe that by late 2022, 5% of ‌iPhone 14‌ production will be moved to India, with a significant shift taking place three years later. In addition to moving 25% of ‌iPhone‌ production to India by 2025, the analysts expect Apple to move 25% of other product lines outside of China, including AirPods, Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad.

Apple suppliers, including Foxconn, have invested heavily in India with supply chain infrastructure, factories, and training, for the last several years. Apple is expected to begin production of ‌iPhone 14‌ models in India in the coming weeks, but the company's high priority on secrecy has reportedly complicated plans.