MacRumors

Apple has introduced several improvements to Focus modes in iOS 16, and one of them is the ability to link a custom Lock Screen to a particular Focus mode. With the wealth of personalization options that can now be applied to Lock Screens, this means you can customize them specifically to better reflect your focus.

One of the great things about iOS 16 is that it allows you to make Lock Screens more informative or functional, and then switch to your preferred one when you need to. For example, when you're at the office you might have a Lock Screen featuring work-focused widgets and a family photo. Or in the evening when you're winding down before bed, you might prefer a minimal Lock Screen with fewer widgets and a soothing sunset wallpaper.

The great thing is that by linking a Lock Screen to a Focus mode, you can make the switch to your custom Lock Screen happen automatically at a set time, or even a set location. As the image above shows, you can link Lock Screens to existing Focus modes by tapping the Focus button that appears in the Lock Screen gallery, which is accessed from your iPhone's currently active Lock Screen with a long press.

You can also select a Lock Screen in the course of creating a new Focus mode in Settings. Here's how it works in iOS 16.

Creating a Scheduled Focus With a Custom Lock Screen

In this example, we've already customized a Lock Screen that we want to become active when the work day is done, and now we're going to create a Focus mode to link it to by following the steps below.

1. On iPhone, go to Settings -> Focus, and tap the + icon in the top-right corner of the screen to create a new Focus.
2. Tap Custom in the next screen, proceed to give your Focus a name and related icon, then tap Next.
   
   

3. Set any notification silence options for people and apps when your Focus is active, then under "Customize Screens," choose the Lock Screen option.
4. Create a New Lock Screen from the gallery, or Choose From Existing Lock Screens.
5. With your Lock Screen linked, tap Add Automation under "Turn on Automatically."
   
   

6. In the New Automation screen, select Time.
7. Toggle on Schedule and choose the time that you want your Focus to become active and on which days of the week.
   
   

With your new Focus mode now scheduled, your associated Lock Screen will also become active at the same time.

Starting with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and tvOS 16, apps using Apple's video player are able to offer a native playback speed menu. The feature is optional for developers, however, so the functionality may not be available in some apps.

Apple's default playback speed options are 0.5×, 1.0×, 1.25×, 1.5×, and 2.0×, but developers are able to modify the list of speeds.

In supported iPhone and iPad apps, the playback speed menu can be reached by tapping the icon with three dots surrounded by a circle. In supported Mac apps, the menu can be found by clicking on "»" and selecting Playback Speed. In supported Apple TV apps, there is a new timer icon for playback speed to the left of the subtitles icon.

For developers, Apple says all apps using the new iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS SDKs will get this playback speed functionality automatically with no additional changes required. Developers wishing to disable the menu entirely can make use of new APIs added to AVPlayer, with more details available in this WWDC 2022 session video.

Some apps using a custom video player on iOS like YouTube already offer playback speed control, as do some Apple apps like the Developer app.

iPadOS 16, Apple's operating system that runs on the iPad, is getting almost all of the great features coming to iOS 16, but there are also iPad-specific additions that make the ‌iPad‌ more Mac-like than ever. In our latest YouTube video, we show off the five best features coming to the ‌iPad‌ this fall.

• Stage Manager - Stage Manager is a new multitasking interface that's also available on the Mac in macOS Ventura. ‌Stage Manager‌ supports multiple windows that are resizable, and it is a much different experience than the standard Split View. Your main app is front and center and others are right off to the left for easy access, plus you can group apps together and overlap windows for more control over your workspace. ‌Stage Manager‌ is unfortunately limited to the ‌iPad‌ models with an M1 chip.
• External Display Support - iPadOS 16 brings full external display support to the iPad Pro with ‌M1‌ chip, allowing that ‌iPad‌ to drive a display with up to 6K resolution. You can use a single external display with the ‌M1‌ ‌iPad Pro‌ running iPadOS 16.
• New Display Modes - For pros who need color accuracy, the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with Liquid Retina XDR display can provide reference color for popular color standards and video formats. The ‌iPad Pro‌ is able to serve as a secondary reference display for the Mac using Sidecar.
• Weather app - The Weather app has finally come to the ‌iPad‌, and it's pretty much identical to the iOS 16 Weather app. It can take advantage of the larger display of the ‌iPad‌ to provide more modules on one screen, and you can tap into any weather module to get additional information.
• Freeform app - Later this year, Apple will launch a new Freeform app that's designed to be a collaborative canvas for working on projects with others. It supports real-time collaboration and can be used for brainstorming, outlining new projects, and more. It supports Apple Pencil for a digital whiteboard experience, and it works with SharePlay in FaceTime and Messages.

What are your favorite iPadOS 16 features? Let us know in the comments.

Following the WWDC 2022 keynote event on Monday, Apple published iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura Preview pages outlining all of the new features. All three sites listed "HDR10+" support for the Apple TV app as an upcoming feature, but now that mention has been removed.

Apple this morning updated the iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura "All New Features" pages to scrub any mention of HDR10+ support for the ‌Apple TV‌ app. Here's what it said:

HDR10+ support
The latest generation of high dynamic range technology is now supported in the Apple TV app.

The removal of the HDR10+ mention from all three sites suggests that the feature is not coming to any version of the TV app after all. There is a chance that Apple could re-add this as a feature in the future, but for now, it looks like those who were anticipating the HDR10+ support feature will not be getting it in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.

Apple today released macOS Big Sur 11.6.7, a minor update to the macOS Big Sur operating system that preceded the current macOS Monterey release. The update is being made available to those with Macs that are still running the Big Sur operating system.

The new ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌macOS Big Sur‌‌‌‌‌‌ 11.6.7 update can be downloaded to all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.

According to Apple's release notes, the update addresses an issue that could cause Mail and apps like Microsoft Outlook to be unable to open attachments if the app required to open the file is already running.

Apple is working on a 15-inch MacBook Air that could be released as early as next spring, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ would be close to the size of the larger-screened 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it would be Apple's largest ‌MacBook Air‌ to date. The current 2022 ‌MacBook Air‌ has the biggest display Apple has released so far at 13.6 inches.

The 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ would use the same design as the current 13.6-inch model, which eliminated the tapered frame that the ‌MacBook Air‌ used for years.

Alongside the 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌, Apple is working on a smaller 12-inch machine as well, though the naming of the tinier machine is unclear. Apple has not offered a 12-inch notebook since the 12-inch Retina MacBook that has since been discontinued.

The 15-inch ‌MacBook Air‌ could be released in early 2023 at a planned spring event, and the 12-inch MacBook could come at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

High-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models equipped with M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips are in the works and could launch at the end of 2022, though Gurman warns that the release date could be pushed back until 2023.

The ‌M2‌ Max chip will feature a 12-core CPU and up to a 38-core GPU, up from the 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU in the current M1 Max. Apple is also already developing M3 chips for machines that will come out further in the future.

Finally, Apple is developing new 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models that are also expected to use the M-series chips, and these new iPads are planned for later in 2022.

Apple and Major League Baseball today announced the July schedule for "Friday Night Baseball," with all of the games available to watch for free on Apple TV+ without a subscription. Assigned broadcasters for each game will be announced on a weekly basis.

"Friday Night Baseball" games and additional content, including live pregame and postgame shows, can be watched in the Apple TV app across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD boxes, select Xbox and PlayStation consoles, select smart TVs, on the web at tv.apple.com, and elsewhere. "Friday Night Baseball" can be watched in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the UK.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, July 1
Texas Rangers at New York Mets
7 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Angels at Houston Astros
8 p.m. ET

Friday, July 8
Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers
8 p.m. ET

Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners
10 p.m. ET

Friday, July 15
Pittsburgh Pirates at Colorado Rockies
8:30 p.m. ET

Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres
9:30 p.m. ET

Friday, July 22
Chicago Cubs at Philadelphia Phillies
7 p.m. ET

Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox
8 p.m. ET

Friday, July 29
Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays
7 p.m. ET

Chicago Cubs at San Francisco Giants
10 p.m. ET

"Friday Night Baseball" debuted on Apple TV+ in April and will continue throughout the 2022 regular season, with no subscription required for a limited time.

Apple is reportedly developing an iPad Pro with a 14.1-inch mini-LED display, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young.

On Twitter, Young claimed that this larger ‌iPad Pro‌ model will feature a mini-LED display and ProMotion like the current 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌:

The rumor was first shared yesterday by the hit-and-miss Twitter leaker known as "Majin Bu," who said that Apple is developing a 14.1-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ model with the M2 chip, configured with 512GB of storage and 16GB of memory as standard:

Majin Bu also mentioned other upcoming ‌iPad Pro‌ models, saying that "no major changes" are expected for the 11-inch model, while the 12.9-inch model may feature slimmer bezels around the display. As mentioned by Majin Bu, new iPadOS 16 features such as Stage Manager and Display Zoom suggest that there is a clearer use case for an ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ with an even larger display.

Young now seems to have supported Majin Bu's rumor about the existence of a 14.1-inch ‌iPad Pro‌. Young has revealed a wide range of accurate insights into Apple's plans, such as the iPhone 13 Pro's ProMotion display, the display size and bezels of the sixth-generation iPad mini, the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro's mini-LED displays with ProMotion, the ‌M2‌ MacBook Air's display size, and more, so his comments are worth taking seriously.

While Majin Bu suggested that new ‌iPad Pro‌ models could be unveiled at an Apple event in October or November this year, Young was unsure of launch timing, saying that early 2023 "may be more likely."

The first report about even larger ‌iPad Pro‌ models came from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year. In the first edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said Apple was exploring iPads with larger displays:

I'm told that Apple has engineers and designers exploring larger iPads that could hit stores a couple of years down the road at the earliest. They're unlikely for next year—with Apple's attention on a redesigned iPad Pro in the current sizes for 2022—and it's possible they never come at all. But a big iPad would be the perfect device for many people, including me, and would continue to blur the lines between tablet and laptop.

The latest rumor about a 14.1-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ from Majin Bu and Young, in addition to Gurman's previous comments, suggest that an even larger ‌iPad Pro‌ model is more likely to emerge than previously thought and could arrive sooner rather than later. More immediately, Apple is expected to launch new ‌iPad Pro‌ models with wireless charging.

Sonos has kicked off a sale on summer-ready speakers, offering 20 percent off its best portable speakers for a limited time. This event includes the Sonos Roam and Sonos Move, as well as various sets with other speakers and sound bars.

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.

The focus on the sale is Sonos' popular portable speakers Roam and Move. The Roam is down to $143.20 ($34.80 off) and the Move is down to $319.20 ($79.80 off) during this event. Discounts on the Sonos website are few and far between, so now's a great time to save on the speakers directly from the retailer. You don't need any coupon code as these deals have been automatically applied.

Portable Speakers

• Roam - $143.20, down from $179.00 ($35.80 off)
• Move - $319.20, down from $399.00 ($79.80 off)
• Adventure Set (2x Roam) - $286.40, down from $358.00 ($71.60 off)
• Roam Charging Set - $192.20, down from $228.00 ($35.80 off)
• Portable Set (Move + Roam) - $462.40, down from $578.00 ($115.60 off)
• Indoor/Outdoor Set (Move + One) - $538.20, down from $618.00 ($79.80 off)

Sound Bars

• 2 Room Set (Ray + Roam) - $422.20, down from $458.00 ($35.80 off)
• 2 Room Set (Arc + Move) - $1,218.20, down from $1,298.00 ($79.80 off)

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple reseller and service provider Simply Mac is shutting down effective immediately after nearly sixteen years of business, the company announced internally.

In a letter to employees today, obtained by MacRumors from multiple sources, Simply Mac CEO Rein Voigt said the company is shutting down its operations and terminating all employees effective immediately in anticipation of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the United States, which will result in complete liquidation of the company.

"Since our acquisition of Simply Mac from GameStop on September 25, 2019, we have worked hard as a team to grow our company to be North America's preeminent Apple Partner and provide our customers with transformational experiences that drive long-term loyalty," said Voigt, in the letter to employees. "However, we could not have possibly foreseen that on December 12, 2019 in Wuhan, China a world-wide pandemic would start and ultimately cause us to layoff half our workforce and close many of our stores."

Voigt said that Simply Mac's financial performance "never met our expectations" since the former GameStop subsidiary was acquired by Cool Holdings, Inc. in 2019. Due to "funding constraints," Voigt added that Simply Mac was "unable to adequately stock our stores with inventory or stay current with our financial obligations."

Voigt added that Simply Mac will be unable to pay employees tomorrow or in the future, and noted that all employees will receive a notice from the bankruptcy court in due course and have an opportunity to submit a claim, according to the letter.

As of January 2022, Simply Mac operated 53 retail stores across the United States. Many of Simply Mac's stores were located in cities that lacked an Apple Store, providing residents with a local alternative for Apple products and repairs.

Today we're tracking a few deals on Apple's iPad lineup, including the 10.2-inch iPad and 8.3-inch iPad mini. The deals reach up to $90 off these tablets.

iPad mini

Every color of the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 (except Starlight) is on sale for $409.00 on Amazon, down from $499.00. This price is about $10 higher than the all-time low sale on this tablet, but that sale has been rare and this is still a solid second-best offer.

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.

You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini at a second-best price of $549.00 in Pink and Space Gray, down from $649.00. A few of the iPad mini tablets have slightly delayed shipping estimates, but as of writing none are longer than a week.

10.2-inch iPad

Secondly, Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad for $309.00, down from $329.00. Similar to the 64GB iPad mini, this deal is about $10 higher than the best price we've ever tracked on the iPad, so it's a solid second-best discount.

Additionally, the 256GB Wi-Fi model is on sale for $429.00, down from $479.00. Both Silver and Space Gray are available at this price, and in stock with delivery estimated for as soon as next week. This is an all-time low price on this version of the iPad.

For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

In iOS 16, Apple has overhauled the iPhone Lock Screen to make it a lot more customizable, and one of the most welcome changes is the ability to add information-rich widgets to the Lock Screen for the first time.

Lock Screen Widgets have been the sole preserve of Android phones for a few years now, so it's good to see that they will finally come to iPhones later this year when iOS 16 is released in the fall.

As it stands, widgets provide updates from your apps that you can conveniently check at a glance, without having to unlock your ‌iPhone‌ to access the Home Screen, but they're minimally interactive insofar as tapping on a widget will likely only open its associated app.

Below is a list of all the available stock ‌Widgets‌ that Apple has included in the first iOS 16 beta, divided into those which can be added above or below the digital clock.

Widgets You Can Add Above the Time

You can insert a widget alongside the date above the digital clock on the Lock Screen. The list below includes the stock app widget options available to you. Many of these widgets display a single data point, using alphanumeric text and symbols.

• Calendar - day of the week, date, month / next event
• Clock - city time zone / next alarm
• Fitness - activity stats (move calories, exercise minutes, stand hours)
• Reminders - due today
• Stocks - single stock with up/down symbol
• Weather - moon events, sun events, conditions, location, rain, air quality, UV index, wind

Widgets You Can Add Below the Time

Directly below the digital clock there is a larger oblong space where you can place widgets horizontally next to each other. You can insert up to four square symbol-based widgets, or up to two rectangular widgets with more information, or alternatively a combination of two square widgets and one rectangular widget.

Batteries

The Batteries widget comes in both square and rectangular versions showing the ‌iPhone‌'s battery status. Connect AirPods and their battery is shown instead.

Oddly, if you use two battery widgets they will display the battery level for the same device, rather than showing AirPods in one and ‌iPhone‌ in the other. Hopefully this is a kink that will be worked out in the beta testing phase.

Calendar

The Calendar widget comes in three formats. You can track the current date as a square widget (although why you'd want to is unclear since the date is always displayed above the time). You can also track the next upcoming event's time or use a larger widget to show both the event name and its time.

Clock

Three clock widgets let you view a clock for a city to check the time at that location, and these come in one rectangular and two square varieties. There's also a world clock to view the time in up to three cities around the world, and two versions that display the next alarm.

Fitness

One Fitness widget displays the Activity rings graphic, while a larger readout shows your Activity ring stats (move, exercise, stand).

Home

For the Home app, two widgets display any indoor climate sensors, one displays any lights and switches, and another informs you of any security issues. You can also monitor a specific security accessory, or view a home summary (security, climate, and lights).

News

A single larger widget provides today's top news story.

Reminders

A single larger widget offers quick access to one of your reminders lists, and displays the next due reminder.

Stocks

One smaller and one larger widget let you view price quotes and track performance a symbol throughout the day. There's also a larger widget that displays three stocks.

Weather

Eight optional weather widgets to see moon events, sun events, conditions, location, rain, air quality, UV index, and wind. Only the current weather conditions and moon events come in the larger widget format.

More Widgets to Come

This widgets list shouldn't be treated as comprehensive, as Apple may add more or tweak existing ones before the public release of iOS 16 in the fall. Also, developers will be able to create widgets for third-party apps using Apple's new WidgetKit API, so expect plenty more Lock Screen widgets to come.

Amazon is discounting Apple's AirTag lineup today, offering one of the first notable markdowns on the AirTag 1-Pack of 2022. This one is available for $24.00, down from $29.00 and it's in stock right now.

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 an all-time low price on the AirTag 1-Pack on Amazon, and it's a bit of a rare discount as we have traditionally tracked deals on the 4-Pack more often over the past few months. Amazon gives an estimated delivery date of June 11-13 for most places in the United States if ordered today.

If you do want the AirTag 4-Pack, it's still available at $89.00 on Amazon, down from $99.00. This is a second-best price on the accessory, and there's a slight shipping delay of around four days right now on Amazon.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

In iOS 16, Apple has enhanced its Visual Look Up capability for photos by making it possible to isolate the subject of a picture from its background so that you can copy it to the clipboard for use elsewhere or share it in another app.

Indeed, its ease of use is likely to make performing painstaking subject isolation actions in image editing apps a thing of the past. Here's how it works.

1. Launch Photos and select an image from your library containing a well-defined subject.
2. Press and hold on the subject until it ripples and a white glow flows around its outline.
3. In the popup menu that appears, tap Copy to send the isolated subject to the clipboard for pasting elsewhere, or tap Share... to access the standard sharing options in the Action menu and send it on its way.
   
   

4. Alternatively, press and hold the subject to lift it from the background. Now, without taking your finger off the screen, use another finger to exit the ‌Photos‌ app and launch Messages, Mail, Notes, or another app that accepts images.
5. Now drag and let go of the subject to place it where you want in the input field.
   

That's all there is to it. You can even use it in paused frames in videos. The feature works not just in ‌Photos‌, but also in screenshots and the Quick Look feature in the Files app.

As mentioned, the feature uses advanced machine learning and image analysis, therefore it is only available on phones with the A12 Bionic or newer chip. The A12 Bionic processor debuted in 2018 in the iPhone XS, ‌iPhone‌ XS Max, and the ‌iPhone‌ XR, so you need to be using one of these iPhones or a later model for it to work. iOS 16 is expected to be released in the fall.

This week, Apple held a jam-packed WWDC keynote where it announced iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9, the next-generation of Apple silicon with M2, a new redesigned MacBook Air, and a revamped 13-inch MacBook Pro.

As is typical with all of Apple's events, there were rumors and leaks about what Apple would announce. While many of the rumors and reports did end up becoming true, a few didn't turn out to be accurate. Below we've rounded up which rumors and reports nailed it and which unfortunately didn't.

Wrong: Colorful MacBook Air With White Bezels

In May 2021, Apple leaker Jon Prosser shared renders showing a MacBook Air with white bezels, a white keyboard, and a lineup of bright, vibrant colors. Those renders also depicted one USB-C port on one side, which turned out to not be the case.

The new MacBook Air features a MagSafe 3 connector and two USB-C ports on the left side, with a headphone jack on the right. The new MacBook Air features a notch like the MacBook Pro but features black bezels and a black keyboard.

Unlike the rumors, which were debunked by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman before Monday's keynote, the new MacBook Air only comes in four muted colors. The new MacBook features the M2 chip and starts at $1199 with pre-orders next month.

Right: 13-inch MacBook Pro With No New Design

The same leaker who accurately claimed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros would feature a notch also accurately provided details on the revamped 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The source said the revamped low-end Macbook Pro would feature the same design as previous models, with the only change being the M2 Apple silicon chip. The source did, however, claim the laptop would launch in March.

Wrong: Improved Low Power Mode for watchOS 9

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that watchOS 9 would include an expanded version of Low Power Mode that lets users use the watch with reduced battery life usage.

The Apple Watch currently has a Power Reserve mode which restricts the Apple Watch functionality to only show the time. At least in the first watchOS 9 beta, a Low Power Mode reported by Gurman does not exist. Apple may add the feature to watchOS 9 later this fall, but exclusive to the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8.

Right: iOS 16 Lock Screen Changes, Apple Pay Later, and More

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman accurately reported that Apple would be planning major changes for the iOS lock screen, letting users add widgets, change the font and color, and new dynamic wallpapers.

Bloomberg also accurately reported on Apple Pay Later and its development last year, which will launch this fall.

Right: macOS Ventura and iPadOS 16 Changes

While macOS "Ventura" was not on our list of possible options for macOS 13, there were several rumors that did turn out to be accurate about Apple's upcoming macOS release.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that System Preferences, now renamed System Settings, would be getting a redesign that's more in line with iOS. Gurman also reported that stock system apps such as Mail, Notes, Reminders, Safari, and Messages would be getting updates.

Perhaps the most accurate rumor pre-WWDC was Bloomberg reporting on Apple's plan to revamp multitasking on the iPad and make it more Mac-like. With the M1 iPad Air and M1 iPad Pro, Apple has introduced Stage Manager, which allows multiple apps to be open at once in windows.

Wrong: Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR 2 Preview

Not originating from any credible sources, there was initial speculation and chatter circulating online that Apple would announce its Apple silicon Mac Pro and an accompanying update to the Pro Display XDR at this year's WWDC.

Apple previewed the current Intel-based Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR at WWDC 2019, adding to the belief a repeat could happen this year. That did not happen, as Apple instead announced its next-generation "M2" Apple silicon chip and a new MacBook Air and low-end MacBook Pro.

Following the WWDC 2022 keynote this week, Apple has released a new beta firmware for several AirPods models, including the second-generation AirPods, third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. Apple says the beta firmware includes improvements to Automatic Switching and various bug and stability fixes. The new beta firmware has a version number 5.0 and build number 5A5282d, up from 4.4 and 4E71.

Apple says AirPods beta firmware enables development of AirPods-related features on iOS and macOS and allows Apple to debug issues. Apple did not provide any additional details about specific improvements being made to Automatic Switching in the latest beta.

Apple Developer Program members can access the beta firmware on the More Downloads page of Apple's developer website, complete with installation instructions. The beta firmware does not appear to be available for the first-generation AirPods.

To install the beta firmware, Apple says developers need an iPhone running the iOS 16 beta, a Mac running the macOS Ventura beta, Xcode 14 beta, and supported AirPods. Developers must 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.

Apple says it may take up to 24 hours for the beta firmware to be received and installed on AirPods. Once installed, Apple says the beta firmware will continue to run on the AirPods until an updated non-beta software version is released. Any additional beta software updates will be automatically received in the interim.

(Thanks, Robert Bentley!)

Back in August 2021, Apple agreed to pay $100 million and make changes to the App Store to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against it by developers. Judge Yvonne-Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the case, said yesterday that she plans to approve the settlement, but she raised concerns about the amount that attorneys are planning to charge.

As outlined by Law360, Rogers said that she wants more data on the "math" behind the $27 million attorney fee requested, and how much that fee will reduce claims by small developers. She asked for a mathematical breakdown of how much less each class member would receive if she awarded $25 million in attorney fees instead of $27 million.

Rogers said that for some developers, the difference could be significant, which is why she wants to "see the numbers." Apple back in March pointed out that the $27 million fee is higher than the 25 percent benchmark set by the Ninth Circuit Court.

Apple is calling the settlement the Small Developer Assistance Fund, and it began accepting developer claims in January. Developers had until May 20 to submit a claim through the website, and Apple provided several reminders. Developers were able to claim between $250 and $30,000 based on their historic ‌App Store‌ participation.

There were approximately 67,000 eligible developers. Developers who earned less than $100 will receive the minimum payment of $250, while those who earned more than $1 million will be entitled to a higher-end payment. Minimum payments are subject to change based on the number of total claims.

The settlement stems from a 2019 lawsuit where group of iOS developers accused Apple of using its ‌App Store‌ monopoly to impose "profit-killing" commissions. The developers were unhappy with Apple's 30 percent cut of ‌App Store‌ sales, an issue that was addressed with the App Store Small Business Program that dropped the commission that small developers have to pay to 15 percent.

In addition to paying a $100 settlement fee, Apple agreed to allow developers to use communications like email to share information about payment methods available outside of the ‌App Store‌, plus Apple expanded the number of price points available to developers for subscriptions.

Apple also pledged to maintain the ‌‌App Store‌‌ Small Business Program and ‌‌App Store‌‌ search, making no changes for at least three years, with the company also creating an annual transparency report based on ‌‌App Store‌‌ data covering app rejections, apps removed from the ‌‌App Store‌‌, search information, and more.

The Small Developer Assistance Fund website says that it plans to distribute funds to developers who submitted a "timely and valid claim" as soon as possible.

(Thanks, Yashar!)