MacRumors

Amazon today has the Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00, down from the regular price of $129.00. This is a new record low price for the accessory, beating the previous sale price by about $10.

apple pencil prime dayNote: 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 discount is part of Amazon's early access deals for Prime Big Deal Days, which officially begins on October 8. We've been tracking early deals for the event this weekend, and it also includes discounts on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, and more.

The Apple Pencil Pro launched in May alongside the new 2024 iPad lineup, introducing new gestures and capabilities into the stylus. The Apple Pencil Pro is compatible with the M4 iPad Pro and the M2 iPad Air, and marks the first update to the Apple Pencil since the Apple Pencil 2 in 2018.

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple will announce several new M4 Mac models around the end of October, with the company planning to launch at least some of them as soon as Friday, November 1, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

M4 Real Feature Red
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple will launch a new M4 version of its low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, as well as higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.

Desktop Macs are not being left out of the refresh, either. Gurman reports that Apple is planning to unveil a redesigned Mac mini with both M4 and M4 Pro chip options. Additionally, the iMac is set to receive an update, with Apple's all-in-one desktop finally transitioning to the M4 chip.

A refreshed iPad mini is also reportedly on the horizon, with a potential release date in early November. This would mark the first update to Apple's smallest tablet since its redesign in 2021.

Looking further ahead, Gurman outlined Apple's hardware plans for the first half of 2025. The company is expected to introduce M4-powered 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, a new iPhone SE with Apple Intelligence, updated 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air models with accompanying new Magic Keyboards, and a refreshed AirTag.

Mac power users may need to wait a bit longer for high-end desktop updates. While new Mac Studio and Mac Pro models with M4 chips are in development, Gurman says they are slated for later releases. The Mac Studio is anticipated around mid-2025, with the Mac Pro following towards the end of the year.

Related Roundups: iMac, iPad mini, MacBook Pro, Mac mini
Related Forums: iMac, iPad, MacBook Pro, Mac mini

Apple intends to launch iOS 18.1 with the first set of much-anticipated Apple Intelligence features on October 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Generic iOS 18
Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says the release date is arriving this month later than initially expected, as Apple is reportedly taking extra time to ensure a smooth rollout and prepare its AI cloud servers for the increased traffic.

The update will bring the first wave of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 owners. Among the initial features are enhanced writing tools for rewriting, summarizing, and proofreading text, as well as a new Siri user interface. Users can also expect notification summaries for various apps, including Messages and Mail, and a new "Clean Up" tool in the Photos app that can remove unwanted elements from images using generative AI.

However, some of the more advanced Apple Intelligence features will be rolled out in subsequent updates. iOS 18.2, expected in December, will introduce ChatGPT support, Image Playground, and Genmoji for custom emoji creation. The full overhaul of Siri, which promises more precise app control and personalized responses, is slated for early 2025.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

It's hard to believe we're already into October with the iPhone 16 launch behind us, but there's lots more still to come from Apple this year on both the hardware and software fronts.

top stories 5oct2024
We're still expecting a number of Mac and perhaps some iPad updates in the very near future, while Apple Intelligence features are set to begin rolling out with iOS 18.1 and related operating system updates. The train never really stops rolling though, as we're also looking ahead to a new iPhone SE and other updates in early 2025, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.1

iOS 18.1 is still in beta, but it's coming to all users later this month and will bring a number of new features and improvements including the first Apple Intelligence capabilities for owners of the latest iPhone models. Other tweaks include fresh functionality for the Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 lineup and a much-desired ability to reset a customized Control Center layout.

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18
macOS Sequoia 15.1 is also on the way, and we've put together a similar overview of what you can expect to see in that update, likewise headlined by Apple Intelligence features.

What to Expect From an Apple Event in October: iPad Mini 7, Redesigned Mac Mini, and More

With Apple's annual iPhone and Apple Watch event now in the rear-view mirror, we're still awaiting some updates to the Mac lineup.

October Event Thumb 3
We're expecting some sort of event this month where we're likely to see several M4-based Macs including a redesigned Mac mini, as well as a new iPad mini and perhaps a few other things.

Apple Releases iOS 18.0.1 With Touch Screen Bug Fix and More

Ahead of the larger iOS 18.1 update coming later this month, Apple this week released an iOS 18.0.1 update with fixes for a number of bugs including touchscreen issues on the latest iPhone 16 models, camera freezes, and Messages app crashes.

Generic iOS 18
Also of note, iPadOS 18.0.1 finally allows owners of M4 iPad Pro models to update to iOS 18 once again after Apple pulled the original release over two weeks ago due to device bricking issues.

AirPods 4 With ANC vs. AirPods Pro 2

Apple last month released the AirPods 4, and one version of the new earbuds has Active Noise Cancellation included. ANC means the ‌AirPods 4‌ have a feature set that rivals the AirPods Pro 2, so we thought we'd compare the two for those undecided on which to get.

AirPods 4 vs Pro 2 Thumb 1
You're not going to get the same level of ANC with the ‌AirPods 4‌ that you get with the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 because there's no sealing mechanism to block out noise, but the ‌AirPods 4‌ still perform impressively well.

iPhone SE With Apple Intelligence, New iPad Air, and More Reportedly Launching 'Early Next Year'

Looking beyond the new Macs coming later this year, early 2025 is expected to see the debut of several other new Apple products including a fourth-generation iPhone SE, updated iPad Air models, and more, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1
The next iPhone SE is expected to be a notable upgrade, moving from the legacy iPhone 8-style design with Touch ID Home button and large display bezels to an iPhone 14-like design with an OLED display and Face ID.

Apple May Launch First iPad-Like Smart Home Accessory Next Year

Following a report last week from 9to5Mac indicating that Apple's rumored iPad-like smart display for the home could feature a "squarish" display with a launch targeted for next spring, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed that this is a simpler device than the one equipped with a robotic arm which has also been rumored.

iPad iOS 16 WP Display Feature eric edit
This simpler device arriving as soon as next spring would run a new "homeOS" platform capable of running Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, and be "optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information."

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

A jury for the U.S. District Court for Western Texas on Friday found that the Secure Enclave built into modern Apple devices does not infringe four user verification patents owned by the company "Identity Security LLC," according to Bloomberg Law.

Beyond iPhone 13 Better Blue Face ID
Apple introduced the Secure Enclave in 2013 in the iPhone 5s, the first iPhone with Touch ID, and it is now used in all iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and HomePod models. Apple says the Secure Enclave is a secure subsystem within its chips that is designed to keep sensitive user data secure, including Touch ID and Face ID data.

Identity Security LLC had sued Apple for patent infringement in 2021. It is not immediately clear if the company plans to appeal the jury's verdict.

NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition is now available in Apple Arcade on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, and the latest version of the game offers many new features.

NBA 2K25 Apple Arcade
Here's what's new in NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, according to its App Store description:

• Outdoor streetball courts and indoor courts, complete quests to earn rewards for your MyPLAYER like, shoes, outfits, tattoos, and more!

• Ability to recruit NBA Legends to join your streetball squad and challenge players from across the globe in PvP Ranked Matches via Connection Games! Climb the Game Center Leaderboard and show the world who's boss!

• An all-new badge system to mold your MyPLAYER into an NBA legend. Explore The Neighborhood and complete quests to earn badge points to enhance offensive and defensive stats!

• Revamped Greatest Mode: relive career-defining moments and unlock a whole new lineup of NBA Superstars throughout the 2024-2025 NBA Season!

• Make sure to log in throughout the year for limited-time quests and unique rewards!

Accessible through the App Store, Apple Arcade is a subscription-based service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, all free of ads and in-app purchases. The service received its first price increase last year, with U.S. pricing rising from $4.99 to $6.99 per month.

Now that it's been two weeks since the iPhone 16 models were released, we've been able to spend enough time with the new devices to share a more in-depth review on their performance, battery life, feature set, and more.


We've been testing the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, but the gap between the Pro models and the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ models is narrower than usual this year. The Action button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, and upcoming Apple Intelligence features are available across the lineup, which leaves fewer features to set the two iPhone tiers apart and justify the cost of the Pro upgrade.

You do get the 120Hz ProMotion display, the 5x Telephoto lens, upgraded 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and slightly bigger displays with the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and Pro Max, but many people are going to be happy with the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ models.

Camera Control is kind of a love it or hate it feature that takes some time to get familiar with. It makes opening the camera and snapping a photo much quicker, but getting used to adjusting settings with the button rather than the display takes a good amount of time to get used to. On the bigger iPhones, it's difficult to use the button one-handed, especially in portrait mode.

Macro mode images are better and Photographic Styles and the customization that comes with them are great, but there isn't a lot of additional improvement to be seen with the cameras for photo taking. For videos, there's a 4K 120fps mode that can be adjusted later, and a new Audio Mix feature for adjusting video sound.

The A18 Pro chip is fast, but so was the A17 Pro from last year, and you're not going to notice a difference in performance if you're coming from an ‌iPhone‌ released in the last couple of years. The benefit of the A18 Pro is support for both current and future ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features coming in the next few years. The first ‌Apple Intelligence‌ options will be released in October, and while those won't necessarily stress the chip, future image generation capabilities could take advantage of the additional power you get with the A18 Pro.

Battery life has increased for all ‌iPhone 16‌ models, and there is a noticeable difference in battery life with the Pro Max that many users will notice day-to-day depending on workload compared to older iPhones.

If you got a new ‌iPhone 16‌, let us know what you think of it now that a couple of weeks have passed.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro

Apple's only retail store in Northern Ireland is moving, but rest assured that the new location will be in close proximity to the current one.

Apple Logo
Apple has announced that its store at the Victoria Square shopping center in Belfast will be permanently closed starting Tuesday, October 15. The company is opening a new store in the nearby Corn Market area on Friday, October 18.

MacRumors reader Chris Ball shared a photo of Apple's new store in Belfast earlier this week, but the company's logo remained covered at the time. Ball said the store is located on High Street in the city's central shopping district.

New Apple Store Belfast
Apple's website indicates that the new store will have an Apple Pickup station for in-store pickup of online orders, and a Genius Bar for technical support and repairs. The store will also host free Today at Apple creative sessions.

Amazon is hosting another Prime Day event this year, called Amazon Prime Big Deal Days and offering shoppers the first chance to save on holiday shopping from a major retailer. Similar to the first Prime Day, it will last for two days (October 8-9) and you can already find a large selection of early deals across Amazon's storefront, covering savings on tech, clothing, video games, groceries, and much, much more.

Prime Big Deal Days Hero 3Note: 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 our coverage, we're focusing entirely on Apple and Apple-related discounts that can be purchased during this 48-hour event on Amazon. As of today, this includes deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook Air.

As is typical for Prime Day deals, these markdowns are very time sensitive, so sales listed below may disappear fast, and new ones may appear even faster. With this in mind, we'll keep this article updated throughout the event, and keep an eye on the MacRumors front page as we'll be posting particularly great deals in separate articles this week.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Amazon Prime Big Deal Days requires you to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the discounts. Amazon Prime offers a one month free trial, and otherwise costs $14.99 per month or $139.00 per year.

AirPods

airpods prime day

Starting with AirPods, you'll find a wide selection of solid deals across the AirPods lineup on Amazon during Prime Day. This includes a $10 discount on the new AirPods 4 at $119.00, as well as a low $129.99 price on the AirPods 3.




Apple Watch

apple watch prime day

SE

Apple's 40mm GPS Apple Watch SE is available for $189.00 today on Amazon, down from $249.00. This is a second-best price on the wearable. This deal is available in all three aluminum color options, and only Amazon has the discount.


You can also get the 44mm GPS Apple Watch SE on sale right now, available for $219.00 on Amazon, down from $279.00. This is another second-best price on the Apple Watch SE for Prime Day.

Ultra 2

Amazon has further discounted the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Black this week. You can get a few models of the Black Titanium watch for $734.89, down from $799.00. This beats the sale price we tracked last week by about $15, and marks a new all-time low price for the Black Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The models on sale include the Black Titanium Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (S) and the Black Titanium Case with Dark Green Alpine Loop (M).

M4 iPad Pro

ipad pro prime day
For the newest M4 iPad Pros, Amazon is offering up to $200 off select models of both the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro. Deals are primarily focused on Wi-Fi models, but you can find a few cellular tablets on sale at this time as well.

11-Inch

13-Inch

M3 MacBook Pro

macbook pro prime day

The cheapest M3 MacBook Pro model you'll find right now is on the 14-inch M3 Pro 512GB model, priced at $1,299.00. That's a $300 discount and the best price we've ever tracked, but you can also find a few other solid markdowns on more 14-inch MacBook Pros and 16-inch MacBook Pros at Amazon.

14-inch

16-inch

Apple Pencil

apple pencil prime day

Apple Pencil deals include low prices on the Apple Pencil 2 at $99.00 and Apple Pencil Pro at $116.00.



Magic Keyboard

magic keyboard prime day

You can get the 11-inch Magic Keyboard in Black for $274.99, down from $299.00. This is an all-time low price on the accessory.

Amazon also has the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro Magic Keyboard on sale, available for $322.00 in Black and $325.99 in White, down from $349.00. These are also record low prices on the Magic Keyboard, and you'll find similar delivery estimates of early October for these models.

MagSafe Charger

magsafe charger prime day

Amazon recently introduced a few deals on Apple's new lineup of MagSafe Chargers, including the 1-meter model for $34.50 and 2-meter model for $44.00. Although these discounts represent just a few dollars in savings, they are the first notable sales on the 2024 MagSafe Chargers and the best deals you'll find online right now.


The new MagSafe Chargers provide overall faster charging speeds with compatible iPhone models. When paired with a 30W power adapter, iPhone 16 models can charge at up to 25W wirelessly over MagSafe, which is 10W faster than a regular non-MagSafe Qi2 wireless charger.

Apple Studio Display

studio display prime day

Amazon has $249 off the Apple Studio Display for Prime Day, starting at $1,349.00 for the standard glass option. For this model, this is a solid second-best price on the monitor.

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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

The Action button, introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models and now featured on all iPhone 16 models, offers users a customizable hardware button for quick access to various functions. With iOS 18, Apple has expanded its capabilities to include Control Center functions, which could potentially increase its utility for many users.

iOS 18 Control Center Toggles for Action Button Feature
Despite its versatility, user adoption of the Action button has been mixed. For example, in April 2024 a MacRumors survey of iPhone 15 Pro users revealed that while some found the button a "game changer," particularly for activating custom Shortcuts, over half of respondents often forgot the button is even there. The most common uses among those who did use it included activating the camera or flashlight – functions already accessible via the default Lock screen.

However, the new ability to assign Control Center functions to the Action button may change its reception, and could address common criticisms about its limited usefulness. By providing quick access to frequently used Control Center settings, it may solve the "out of sight, out of mind" problem and make the Action button more integral to your daily iPhone use. For those looking to give the Action button another chance or maximize its potential, here's how to set it up:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap Action Button.
  3. Swipe through the available actions until you reach Controls.
  4. Tap the chevrons next to "Choose a Control."
  5. Scroll through the Control Center options or use the search bar at the top to find a specific control.
  6. Tap on the desired control to assign it to the Action button.

settings

Some of the Control Center functions you can assign include Dark Mode, Airplane Mode, Cellular Data, Personal Hotspot, Quick Note, and Scan Code. Third-party app controls may also be available, depending on the apps installed on your device. Here's a full list of what's available:

  • Calculator
  • Stopwatch
  • Alarm
  • Home
  • Timer
  • Dark Mode
  • Airplane Mode
  • Cellular Data

  • Personal Hotspot
  • Open Music
  • Quick Note
  • Remote
  • Scan Code
  • Wallet
  • Tap to Cash
  • Ping My Watch

Looking at the above list, you may have noticed that not all Control Center toggles are available as Action button controls. For example, while you can assign cellular data control, Wi-Fi control is not an option. Weirdly, neither is Orientation Lock or Low Power Mode. Whether Apple plans to rectify these omissions in a future software update remains unclear. Regardless, you can still use Shortcuts to activate the missing functions.

Once you've set up your preferred Control Center function out of those that are available, you can activate it by pressing and holding the Action button. This provides a convenient way to toggle features or access tools without navigating through menus or opening the Control Center.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro lineup Action button 230912
While some users may still find it challenging to incorporate the Action button into their daily usage, experimenting with different Control Center functions could help dial in just the right amount of muscle memory that reminds you it's there.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

Apple today shared a video ad that highlights the new Camera Control on the latest iPhone 16 models, offering a quick look at the button in action.


While the ad is for the iPhone 16 Pro, the Camera Control is available on all four iPhone 16 models. The button provides quick access to the iPhone's camera, and you can press or swipe on it to adjust functions like zoom, depth of field, and more. In addition, an iOS 18 software update coming later this year will enable the Camera Control to automatically lock focus and exposure on a subject with a light press.

All four iPhone 16 models launched in the U.S. and many other countries on September 20.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

Following the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 10 and watchOS 11's new sleep apnea detection feature last month, Apple executives Jeff Williams, Dr. Sumbul Desai, and Jay Blahnik sat down for an interview with The Independent's David Phelan. The discussion is focused on the Apple Watch's health features.

watchos 11 vitals
Williams, who leads the Apple Watch engineering teams, said that Apple was inspired to add more health features to the Apple Watch after CEO Tim Cook received emails from customers who said the Apple Watch potentially saved their lives.

"So, we realized, wow, we have this opportunity – and even more, a responsibility," said Williams. "So, we began to look for opportunities. That's when we started pulling on threads and adding additional sensors and features like irregular rhythm, atrial fibrillation alerts, and all the way through to something like sleep apnea."

Williams added that his own sleep apnea diagnosis and subsequent usage of a CPAP machine to treat the condition provided him with "a new lease of life."

"It was less about pushing any personal agendas – we don't really do that at Apple – but it certainly helps to have experience in terms of being able to reinforce and encourage the team that there's such an opportunity to help people," said Williams. "Everybody in the team is just really inspired by this mission of trying to help people with their health."

Dr. Desai suggested that watchOS 11's new Vitals app that analyzes important health metrics during sleep could eventually work during the daytime too:

"If we could push, over time, to get that type of information during the day, well, we always pull on the thread to see what else we can do," she said.

Blahnik, who leads the teams behind Apple Fitness+ and other fitness technologies at Apple, emphasized the Apple Watch's utility for health and fitness.

"It's easy to forget, but 10 years ago, you didn't really know how far you were running unless you happened to have measured the distance in your car, say," he said. "GPS on the wrist was not a common thing. How measuring your activity adds up to something over your life and your longevity is a big deal."

The full interview can be read at The Independent.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Taiwanese company Novatek has announced plans to begin mass production of OLED displays with TDDI (touch and display driver integration) technology as early as the second quarter of 2025, supply chain publication DigiTimes reported today.

iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 2
The report states that Apple is "expected" to be one of Novatek's first customers, although this claim appears to be speculative.

"While industry insiders remain tight-lipped about potential end customers, speculation suggests that Novatek's proposed shipping schedule could align with the next-generation iPhone displays in 2025," the report says. If this speculation proves to be accurate, at least some iPhone 17 models could adopt the technology next year.

Given that TDDI technology would allow for Apple devices to have thinner OLED displays, through integration of the touch and display driver layers, the technology seems particularly fitting for the rumored ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air."

It remains to be seen if Apple actually moves forward with adopting this technology. The report further speculated that Apple might first use it in lower-volume products compared to the iPhone, such as future iPad and Apple Watch models, and the technology would also be suitable for a long-rumored foldable iPhone or iPad.

Related Roundup: iPhone 17

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through the latest rumors surrounding Apple's "Home Accessory" product, which could launch as soon as next year.


Apple's work on an iPad-like smart home display product has been reported for over a year. It is expected to serve as a smart home hub with features adopted from the ‌iPad‌, HomePod, and the Apple TV, such as video playback and AirPlay. Apple's backend code suggests it will feature the A18 chip and run a variant of tvOS like the ‌HomePod‌, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says it will support Apple Intelligence and run Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, with an interface "optimized for controlling home appliances and quickly seeing information."

The latest rumors suggest that it could have a "squarish display" to distinguish it from the ‌iPad‌, along with a built-in camera for FaceTime, detecting hand gestures, and determining different users for personalized requests. The new device could launch as soon as next year. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.


If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about first impressions of the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

Apple's chip manufacturer TSMC and chip packaging company Amkor on Thursday announced that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on chip production, packaging, and testing in Arizona.

apple silicon feature joeblue
In a press release, the two companies said that the close proximity of their facilities in Arizona will speed up the overall chip manufacturing process:

Under the agreement, TSMC will contract turnkey advanced packaging and test services from Amkor in their planned facility in Peoria, Arizona. TSMC will leverage these services to support its customers, particularly those using TSMC's advanced wafer fabrication facilities in Phoenix. The close collaboration and proximity of TSMC's front-end fab and Amkor's back-end facility will accelerate overall product cycle times.

Apple last year confirmed that Amkor would package Apple silicon chips produced at a nearby TSMC facility, as part of a shared desire to expand U.S. manufacturing. Tech journalist Tim Culpan recently reported that the TSMC facility had started small-scale production of the A16 chip, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro models two years ago. The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models also use the A16 chip.

Apple said Amkor would invest approximately $2 billion in the project, and said it would employ more than 2,000 people upon completion.

"Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we'll continue to expand our investment here in the United States," said Apple's operations chief Jeff Williams, in a press release last November. "Apple silicon has unlocked new levels of performance for our users, enabling them to do things they could never do before, and we are thrilled that Apple silicon will soon be produced and packaged in Arizona."

This partnership comes a little over two years after the U.S. government passed the CHIPS and Science Act, which provides funding to corporations, including TSMC and Amkor, to increase U.S. semiconductor research and manufacturing.

In addition to several bug fixes, the iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 updates released on Thursday include a few security patches for the iPhone and iPad.

Generic iOS 18
In a support document, Apple says iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 address security vulnerabilities involving the built-in Messages and Passwords apps.

Here are the full details from Apple:

Media Session
Available for: iPhone 16 (all models)

Impact: Audio messages in Messages may be able to capture a few seconds of audio before the microphone indicator is activated

Description: This issue was addressed with improved checks.

CVE-2024-44207: Michael Jimenez and an anonymous researcher

Passwords
Available for: iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

Impact: A user's saved passwords may be read aloud by VoiceOver

Description: A logic issue was addressed with improved validation.

CVE-2024-44204: Bistrit Dahal

To install the update, open the Settings app and select General → Software Update.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to tag other people in their Status updates, further enhancing the platform's Instagram Stories-like functionality. The addition aims to make it easier for users to connect with friends and family on the popular messaging app.

whatsapp status user tagging
The new tagging feature enables users to mention up to five other WhatsApp accounts in their Status updates. When tagged, these users will receive a private notification and have the option to reshare the Status on their own account. WhatsApp says it has built in privacy controls, allowing users to tag someone without explicitly displaying their name in the Status.

In addition to tagging, WhatsApp is also introducing a "like" feature for Status updates. Similar to Instagram Stories, users can now react to their friends' Status posts with a single tap, providing a quick way to acknowledge the content without sending a full message.

"WhatsApp Status is the best way to stay connected with friends and family and now we're making it even better," the Meta-owned company said in a blog post. "With status likes, private mentions and the ability to reshare a status you're mentioned in, we're making it easier to reach the people who matter most."

The Status updates come on the heels of new video call effects, including filters and custom backgrounds, that were announced by WhatsApp earlier this week.

The effects allow users to apply 10 different filters and choose from 10 background options during video calls. Both the Status tagging feature and the new video call effects are rolling out to all WhatsApp users globally over the coming weeks.

Spotify has announced a new feature called Offline Backup, designed to give Premium subscribers an additional way to listen to music offline without manually downloading playlists. Rolling out globally this week, the feature aims to address situations where users find themselves without an internet connection and haven't prepared their offline music library in advance.

spotify offline backup
Offline Backup works by automatically creating a personalized playlist using tracks that have been recently streamed or queued, leveraging the cached content already stored on the user's device. Spotify says this approach allows listeners to access a selection of their favorite music without consuming extra data or storage space.

The new feature promises flexibility by allowing users to filter and sort songs within the Offline Backup playlist by artist, mood, and genre. Spotify says the playlist will evolve over time based on listening habits, ensuring fresh content is always available.

The development of Offline Backup followed successful user testing conducted last year, and the feature is now being made available to Premium subscribers on both Android and iOS platforms, including compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

To access Offline Backup, users need to ensure they have listened to more than five songs recently and have enabled offline listening in their Spotify app settings. The playlist will appear automatically in the Home feed when the device is offline.

Spotify recommends that users add the Offline Backup playlist to their library for quick access. Those unable to find the feature are advised to check that their Spotify app is updated to the latest version.

Tag: Spotify