MacRumors

Epic Games has successfully forced Google to change its Play Store business model following the conclusion of a 2020 antitrust lawsuit. A U.S. judge today decided that the Google Play Store has an illegal monopoly, and Google has been ordered make multiple changes as a result, reports Reuters.

Google will need to allow Android users to download rival app stores like the ‌Epic Games‌ Store from within Google Play, plus it is required to allow third-party app stores to distribute Google Play apps, unless developers opt out of providing their apps through the alternative app stores.

Further, Google can no longer require developers to use Google Pay Billing for apps that are sold through the Google Play Store, which means that app developers will be able to offer alternative payment methods that do not give Google a cut of app sales.

Developers will also be able to link to alternative installation options in their apps, and will be able to let customers know about other ways to make purchases. Google is prohibited from offering carriers and device makers a financial incentive to preinstall the Play Store, and it is not able to offer developers money to launch their apps exclusively on the Play Store.

Google can, however, charge a fee for "reasonable measures" that are implemented to preserve user safety and security related to apps and app stores downloaded through Google Play.

‌Epic Games‌ sued Google alongside Apple back in 2020, but the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Google lawsuit went differently from the ‌Epic Games‌ v. Apple lawsuit. While Apple won and was not declared a monopolist, Google lost to ‌Epic Games‌. Late last year, a nine-member jury ruled in Epic Games' favor, and said that Google had abused its power by charging developers unreasonable fees and operating an app store monopoly. While Google said that changes to the Play Store would be a hardship due to the time and money required, the judge overseeing the case was not swayed.

Google has to keep these changes in place for three years, starting on November 1, 2024. In a blog post, Google confirmed that it plans to appeal the ‌Epic Games‌ verdict, and it plans to ask the court to stay the ruling until the appeal plays out. Gogole believes the proposed changes would put consumer privacy and security at risk, make it harder for developers to promote their apps, and reduce competition on devices.

Google says that while the changes will satisfy ‌Epic Games‌, the unintended consequences will "harm American consumers, developers and device makers." Google's blog post further explains the reasons why it will appeal.

Google is also facing another ‌Epic Games‌ lawsuit, which was filed last week. ‌Epic Games‌ accused Google and Samsung of colluding to prevent sideloading on Galaxy devices through the Auto Blocker safety feature, though ‌Epic Games‌ CEO Tim Sweeney has confirmed that there is as of now no proof that the two companies worked together to limit sideloading on Samsung smartphones.

With the sixth beta of iOS 18.1 and the fourth beta of watchOS 11.1, Apple has finally added support for sleep apnea on iPhones that have been running the iOS 18.1 beta since before the Apple Watch Series 10 launched.

Sleep apnea alerts were introduced with iOS 18 and watchOS 11 on the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, but those running iOS 18.1 and watchOS 11.1 never got the ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌watchOS 11‌ updates that added the feature, which means it has been missing for many beta testers until now.

If you've been running the iOS 18.1 and watchOS 11.1 betas and haven't been able to use the sleep apnea alert feature, it will be available after updating. Note that this is only relevant to people who did not previously have sleep apnea available in the beta.

After updating, you will need to set up sleep apnea notifications, which can be done in the Health app. You will need to answer questions about your age and whether you've previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea in order to turn the feature on.

Before you receive a sleep apnea notification if you have the feature, the Apple Watch will need to collect 10 days of Breathing Disturbance data.

Apple today provided developers with the sixth beta of an upcoming macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta, with the new update coming two weeks after Apple released the fifth beta.

Registered developers can opt-in to the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ beta through the Software Update section of the System Settings app. An Apple ID associated with an Apple Developer account is required to get the beta.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1 introduces the first Apple Intelligence features, adding support for Writing Tools, new Siri features, Smart Replies in Mail and Messages, Priority messages in the Mail app, Memory Movie and Clean Up in Photos, and more.

The update does not include Image Playground, Genmoji, or more advanced ‌Siri‌ functionality.

Using Apple Intelligence features requires a Mac that has an Apple silicon chip.

Apple today provided developers with the sixth betas of iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 to continue testing Apple Intelligence features. The fifth betas come two weeks after Apple seeded the fifth iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 betas.

The updates can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. Note that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features still an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 to run.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ includes Writing Tools that are available wherever text can be selected and edited, and it can be used for spell checking, fixing grammar, rewriting with a new tone, and summarizing text.

Siri has a new design with a subtle glow around the display, and there is a Type to ‌Siri‌ feature so you don't have to speak to ‌Siri‌. ‌Siri‌ can follow along if you stumble over your words, and can maintain context between requests. Safari can summarize articles, and there's a new Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode.

Smart replies are available in Messages and Mail, plus the Mail app surfaces time sensitive messages and puts them at the top of your inbox. Photos has a Memory Movie feature for creating slideshows based on text descriptions, and you can record, transcribe, and summarize phone calls. Transcription and summarization are also available for any audio recording.

More on all of the features that are available in the betas right now can be found in our Apple Intelligence guide. Image Playground, Genmoji, and other new ‌Siri‌ features have not yet been implemented.

The update also includes phone call recording and transcription on all devices, plus it adds the option to take spatial photos on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models.

Apple's latest operating system updates iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15 Sequoia bring a notable enhancement for gamers: official support for wired Xbox controllers.

Previously, Apple devices supported wireless Xbox and PlayStation controllers via Bluetooth, but when it came to wired connections, only PlayStation controllers were compatible. This update marks a step forward in broadening gaming accessory support across Apple’s ecosystem.

As noted by Apple engineer (and one of the key contributors to the original Xbox) Nat Brown back in June, Xbox uses a custom USB protocol for its wired controllers, and with its latest operating system updates, Apple now directly supports the protocol to allow for native wired Xbox controller connections.

Connecting to Apple Devices with Lightning Ports

If you're using an iOS device with a Lightning port—such as older iPhones or iPads—you'll need a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter to connect your wired Xbox controller. This requirement mirrors the setup process for wired PlayStation controllers on these devices. The adapter facilitates the necessary USB connection, ensuring your controller communicates effectively with your device.

Connecting to Apple Devices with USB-C Ports

Simply plug the controller in using a USB-C to USB-C cable to establish the wired connection.

What to Expect When Connecting

Upon connecting your wired Xbox controller:

• On iOS 18 and iPadOS 18: The wired Xbox controller does not appear in the Bluetooth settings since it's connected via USB, not Bluetooth.
• On macOS 15 Sequoia: Upon initial connection, macOS presents an accessory permissions dialog asking the user: "Do you want to connect Microsoft Controller to this Mac?" The controller appears as "Controller" in the Game Controller settings pane, displaying the Xbox logo next to it. However, the "Identify" feature doesn't function with the wired Xbox controller—the controller doesn't vibrate when prompted.

Despite the minor hiccup with the "Identify" feature on macOS, the controller functions as expected within games and applications that support game controllers.

Support for wired Xbox controllers on Apple's platforms is a welcome addition for gamers who prefer the reliability and low-latency of a wired connection or own wired-only Xbox controllers. By accommodating a wider range of controllers, Apple's move aligns with the growing trend of cross-platform gaming and the increasing popularity of game streaming services, where controller support is critical for an optimal experience.

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming visionOS 2.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming a week after Apple seeded the third visionOS 2.1 beta.

Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app on their device, going to the Software Update Section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

There's no word yet on what's included in visionOS 2.1, but there are visionOS 2 features that Apple has not yet released, such as the option to use a larger ultrawide screen for the Mac Virtual Display and support for Multiview for MLS and MLB games.

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming watchOS 11.1 update to developers for testing purposes. The fourth beta comes a week after Apple released the third watchOS 11.1 beta.

To install the ‌‌watchOS 11‌.1 update, developers need to open the Apple Watch app, go to the Software Update section under "General" in Settings, and toggle on the ‌‌watchOS 11‌‌ Developer Beta. An Apple ID linked to a developer account is required.

Once beta updates have been activated, ‌‌watchOS 11‌‌.1 can be downloaded under the same Software Update section. To install software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life and it must be placed on an Apple Watch charger.

It's not yet clear what new features are included in the watchOS 11.1 update at this time, as the update primarily focuses on Apple Intelligence, and ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are not available on watchOS.

Apple today shared a trailer for Submerged, its first scripted film designed for the Apple Immersive Video experience on the Vision Pro headset.

Announced back in July, Submerged is a short film that's set in World War II, and it follows a group of sailors that are struggling to survive a deadly torpedo attack. It was created by Austrian filmmaker Edward Berger, who directed 2022 movie All Quiet on the Western Front.

Apple has not provided details on the length of Submerged, but most Apple Immersive Video content is on the shorter side. Apple has been regularly adding Immersive Video to the Vision Pro since the device came out last February. The immersive content is in 3D, and is meant to make the viewer feel like they are part of the scene.

Apple Immersive Video content can be viewed in the Apple TV app in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and the U.S. Users in China can watch the content through the Migu Video and Tencent Video apps.

Submerged is set to premiere on the Vision Pro on Thursday, October 10.

Ahead of the holiday season, Apple is sharing iPhone 16 ads highlighting the new functionality in an effort to entice customers to upgrade to the latest models. Today's ad focuses on the 4K 120 frames per second Dolby Vision video recording feature that is exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max.

The minute-long ad shows several slow motion shots, including a wind storm, an astronaut floating in space, an arrow flying through the air, a car crash, and more. The spot ends with the tagline "Hollywood in your pocket."

An option to capture cinematic slow motion video at 4K 120fps is one of the major new features that sets the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models apart from the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ models. When recording video using the new 120fps mode, there is an option in the Photos app to change the frame rate later, so you can select from 60, 48, 30, or 24 fps in post processing.

Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is in development, according to a recent report.

Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag.

Timing

A new AirTag is one of many new products that Apple aims to announce in the first half of 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

From his Power On newsletter on Sunday:

I expect Apple to kick off 2025 with several other new devices in the first half of the year:

- 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with M4 (J613 and J615).
- Revamped iPhone SE (V59).
- Refreshed 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models (J607 and J637).
- New Magic Keyboards for the updated iPad Air line (R307 and R308).
- An upgraded AirTag item finder accessory (B589).

He did not provide any specific details about the new AirTag in the newsletter.

In October 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been postponed from the fourth quarter of 2024 until some point in 2025, but he did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans. Kuo and Gurman are thus in agreement that a new AirTag is coming next year.

Features

Gurman previously said the new AirTag would feature an upgraded chip with improved location tracking. If so, the AirTag could be updated with the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all iPhone 15 models last year.

Kuo believes the new AirTag will have some kind of integration with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he has not shared any specific details.

No design changes have been rumored for the AirTag so far. Read our AirTag 2 guide for more.

Prime Day deals are continuing today with a match of the all-time low prices on both the 9th and 10th generation iPad. For more early Prime Day deals, check out our dedicated post with discounts on AirPods, MacBooks, and more.

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.

For the iPads, you can get the 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad for $199.99 in both colors, down from $329.00. This is a match of the record low price on this version of the 2021 tablet, and it's a deal we haven't seen in a few weeks.

Moving to the newer models, Amazon has the 64GB Wi-Fi 10th generation iPad for $299.00 in every color, down from $349.00. You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $447.00, down from $499.00. Both of these deals represent best-ever prices on the 10th generation iPad.

Cellular models are also seeing all-time low prices during Prime Day. The 64GB Cellular 10th generation iPad has hit $449.00 ($50 off), while the 256GB Cellular model is available for $598.00 ($51 off).

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Saturday marked the 13th anniversary of Steve Jobs passing away at the age of 56, following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. He died just one day after Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller unveiled the iPhone 4S and Siri.

Apple CEO Tim Cook once again paid tribute to Jobs on the day.

"Steve showed us that the future isn't something you wait for—it's something you build," said Cook, in a social media post on Saturday. "His memory lives on in the hearts of innovators and dreamers everywhere—at Apple and beyond."

Cook also reflected on Jobs while opening Apple's first-ever event at Steve Jobs Theater in September 2017.

"There is not a day that goes by that we don't think about him," said Cook.

At that event, Apple unveiled the iPhone X, which was a major update to the smartphone that Jobs had famously unveiled in 2007.

The Steve Jobs Archive website contains a collection of quotes, videos, and emails from Jobs, and offers fellowships to young creators to follow in his footsteps. In addition, Apple still has a "Remembering Steve" page on its website with condolences shared by customers around the world following his death in 2011.

Apple today started selling refurbished second-generation HomePod units in Canada for the first time since the speaker was released in January 2023. The refurbished units are priced at $339 in Canada, down from $399 brand new.

Apple began selling refurbished HomePod 2 units in the U.S. and many other countries just over a year ago, so it took a while for availability to expand to Canada.

Apple says its refurbished HomePods undergo full functionality testing, and they are inspected, cleaned, and repackaged in a plain white box with the power cord and documentation. The refurbished HomePods are covered by Apple's limited one-year warranty policy, and they are eligible for extended AppleCare+ coverage.

The second-generation HomePod has a similar design as the original HomePod that was discontinued in 2021, but with a larger backlit touch surface, two fewer tweeters, two fewer microphones, an indoor temperature and humidity sensor, and a few other changes. For more details about the speaker, read our HomePod roundup.

Apple has yet to release a third-generation HomePod, so this is still the newest model.

Prime Day doesn't officially start until tomorrow, October 8, but we've been tracking early deals for a few days now. To kick off the week, Amazon is now also providing two all-time low prices on the M2 MacBook Air.

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.

Starting with the 256GB 13-inch M2 MacBook Air, you can get this model for $749.00 in three colors, down from $999.00. For more storage, Amazon has the 512GB model of the same computer for $949.00, down from $1,199.00.

Although Apple updated the MacBook Air back in March, it kept these 13-inch M2 models around as a low-cost option for customers. This means that the M2 MacBook Air should be perfect for anyone who doesn't care about owning newest generation notebook, but would rather save money while still getting a reliable computer.

Be sure to visit our early Prime Day deals post for a deeper dive into all the discounts already available for the event. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Apple's new Vitals app for watchOS 11 appears to be impressing some users with its ability to detect potential illness days before symptoms manifest, according to recent reports on Reddit.

The Apple Watch app, which analyzes key health metrics measured during sleep over the last seven days, appears to be providing early warnings of impending sickness for at least some Apple Watch wearers ahead of time. It's available on Apple Watch Series 8 and newer models, including the Apple Watch Ultra series, as long as the devices are running ‌watchOS 11‌.

One Reddit user, RCG21, shared their experience with the new feature:

"I started using Vitals when it first came out on the beta and since then I've gotten sick about twice. Both times it knew a couple days in advance and I hadn't felt anything wrong."

Vitals can be viewed on the Apple Watch in the Vitals app, or in the Vitals section of the Health app on iPhone, where it displays metrics such as heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels. It establishes a typical range for each user over time and notifies them when metrics fall outside this range.

Another user, dalethomas81, posted a screenshot of their Vitals data, stating, "Woke up today feeling off. Now as the evening is setting in, I am feeling that old familiar feeling in my head. I'm sick." The image showed multiple metrics falling outside the typical range days before the user reported feeling ill.

Some users also reported the app detecting outliers associated with vaccines in their system before they experienced associated symptoms. TizianosBoy said:

"My watch knew I wasn't 100% after my COVID and flu jabs as all three vitals (Wrist Temperature, Heart Rate and Respiratory Rate) were outliers and that's how I knew I was not well, amazing tbh."

While many users praised the feature's accuracy, experiences varied. At least one user in the thread mentioned that the app didn't detect their illness in advance, suggesting that individual results may differ.

Despite signs that Vitals is picking up illnesses before users present symptoms, it's worth emphasizing that Apple says the app is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Bear in mind that the ability to measure blood oxygen is not available on Apple Watch units sold by Apple in the United States after January 18, 2024, due to a legal ruling that found Apple violated Masimo's pulse oximetry patents with the feature.

An alleged unboxing video for an unannounced 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip was uploaded to YouTube today by Russian channel Wylsacom. The video was later linked to on social media platform X by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

It is possible that this is the same MacBook Pro box shown in photos that were shared by leaker ShrimpApplePro in late September, as he claimed that this MacBook Pro unit was apparently being sold in a private Facebook group at the time.

While we cannot confirm the authenticity of this leak, the box reveals four potential upgrades for what seems to be the base model 14-inch MacBook Pro:

• 25% faster M4 chip: The box lists this 14-inch MacBook Pro as having an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU, whereas the current model has the M3 chip with an 8-core CPU. An alleged Geekbench 6 benchmark result shared by the YouTube channel behind this leak suggests that the M4 chip will be up to 25% faster than the M3 chip. Apple already introduced the M4 chip in the iPad Pro in May, and it indeed has up to a 10-core CPU and up to 25% faster performance compared to the M3 chip.
  

• 16GB of RAM: It was previously rumored that 16GB of RAM could become the minimum for all future Macs, and the alleged packaging indeed suggests that the next 14-inch MacBook Pro would start with 16GB of RAM, unless it is somehow a built-to-order configuration that will be offered on Apple's online store.
• Three Thunderbolt 4 ports: The box suggests the base 14-inch MacBook Pro will have three Thunderbolt 4 ports, up from two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the current model.
• Space Black: The box suggests that Space Black would become a color option for the base 14-inch MacBook Pro, whereas it is currently exclusive to models configured with the M3 Pro or M3 Max chip.

Here is a screenshot of the box from the video:

Gurman today said he expects Apple to announce the first Macs with M4 chips in late October, and release at least some of them on Friday, November 1.

Here is the video, which could be removed from YouTube at any point:

Early deals for Prime Big Deal Days are flowing in this weekend, and now include the AirPods Max (Lightning) for $399.00 in every color, down from $549.00. This if the first time in a few weeks that we've seen the 2020 AirPods Max drop this low, and overall this is just about $5 higher when compared to their all-time low price.

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 deal is available in all five colors: Green, Pink, Silver, Sky Blue, and Space Gray. All colors have had the sale applied automatically with the exception of Pink, which does require an on-page coupon in order to see the final sale price at checkout.

If you're looking for the new USB-C models of the AirPods Max, there aren't any steep discounts seen yet on Amazon. However, you can save a small amount of money on select models, starting at $534.99 for the Purple AirPods Max.

We've been tracking all of the best early deals for Prime Big Deal Days in our dedicated article, and it includes even more AirPods deals. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.