Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, joined by Apple's senior vice president of marketing, Greg Joswiak, have talked at length about iOS 16's lock screen redesign, iPadOS 16's and macOS Ventura's new "Stage Manager" feature, gaming on the Mac, and more with Daring Fireball's John Gruber.
In this year's WWDC installment of The Talk Show, taped live from Apple Park at Apple's new developer center, the two top executives discussed the latest software announcements, including the new suite of customization features coming to the iPhone lock screen. Federighi said that Apple wanted to offer users the ability to make their lock screen truly theirs.
During the 90-minute conversation, Federighi addressed recent controversy that has arisen following macOS Ventura's introduction of the redesigned System Preferences, now renamed System Settings. One aspect of the redesign that has gotten noted on Twitter is the removal of videos that demo macOS trackpad gestures. Federighi confirmed during the interview that those videos are coming back in a "new experience" in a future macOS Ventura beta.
Federighi said that despite what some may think, macOS Ventura's redesign of System Setting was not largely inspired by iOS. Federighi instead said that team's main goal was consistency for users, saying System Settings on macOS Ventura is a "great interface."
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Thursday reported that Apple is considering launching an all-new 12-inch notebook at the end of 2023 or in early 2024. Gurman said it is unclear if the 12-inch model would be a low-end MacBook or a higher-end MacBook Pro.
Twitter user "Majin Bu" has since claimed that the model will be a new 12-inch MacBook Pro that may be equipped with Apple's next-generation M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. In the MacBook Pro, Gurman said the M2 Max will feature a 12-core CPU and up to a 38-core GPU, while the M1 Max maxes out with a 10-core CPU and a 32-core GPU.
Apple has released both lower-end and higher-end 12-inch notebooks in the past. At the low end, Apple introduced an ultra-thin 12-inch MacBook that weighed just two pounds in 2015, but the notebook was discontinued in 2019. And at the higher end, Apple offered a 12-inch PowerBook G4 in the mid-2000s, prior to the original MacBook Pro.
In any case, Apple silicon chips deliver impressive performance per watt, paving the way for Apple to introduce ultra-portable, high-performance MacBooks without the thermal constraints of Intel processors that the company used over the last decade and a half.
Majin Bu has a hit-or-miss track record with Apple rumors, but he has gained some credibility recently after tweeting that Apple was planning a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro. The rumor has since been backed by very reliable display industry consultant Ross Young, who tweeted that his supply chain sources have confirmed that Apple is indeed planning a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display that could launch in 2023.
According to what my resource reported, Apple is working on a new 12-inch MacBook Pro that will be released in 2023. We do not know the processor yet but it is supposed to be equipped with M2 Pro and M2 Max, this suggests that it could join to the new 14 and 16 inch lineup. pic.twitter.com/e5T6Xu0p3C
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) June 10, 2022
Father's Day falls on Sunday, June 19, in the United States this year, and with just over a week before the holiday we're tracking notable discounts from various Apple-related accessory companies. These include a chance to save on Sonos speakers, iPhone 13, iPad keyboards, and other products that could make good gifts for Father's Day.
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.
All of the deals listed in this article have already begun, and most of them will last until Sunday, June 19, unless otherwise stated. You'll find discounts from Brydge, AT&T, OtterBox, eBay, Belkin, and more. With nine days to go until Father's Day, most orders placed today should make it in time for the 19th.
FINIS Smart Goggle
The FINIS Smart Goggle is a pair of swim goggles equipped with a small display inside and sensors that track your swims and keep you up to date on your swimming metrics, even when you're in the middle of a swim. Our readers can get 20 percent off these goggles with the code MACRUMORS, knocking the price of the accessory down to $159.20, from $199.00.
For a limited time, when you order the FINIS Smart Goggle kit you'll also get a second pair of goggles compatible with the system for free. You can find out more about the FINIS Smart Goggle by checking out our review on the accessory.
Sonos
Sonos is taking 20 percent off its portable speakers and sound bars this week, including deals on the Sonos Roam and Sonos 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. We've listed every product in the sale below, and you won't need to worry about discount codes as each sale has been automatically applied.
Our exclusive deal on Flexibits Premium remains ongoing through Father's Day, allowing you the chance to get 75 percent off your first year of the subscription service, which grants access to popular apps Fantastical and Cardhop. The subscription supports apps across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS.
You can get the deal by following this link to Flexibits' website, and clicking on the header to redeem 75 percent off your next purchase. You'll need to create a Flexibits account and begin a 14 day free trial of Flexibits Premium, either for an Individual or Family Plan, and the 75 percent off sale will be applied to either option.
AT&T
Similar to Mother's Day, AT&T is offering a deal for Father's Day that has up to $700 off the iPhone 13 for new and existing customers. You'll need to buy the iPhone on a qualifying installment agreement and trade in an eligible smartphone within 30 days of activation.
Afterwards, you'll get up to $700 in bill credits with smartphone trade-in value of $95 or higher, and up to $350 in bill credits with smartphone trade-in value of $35 to $94. Credits will start within three bill cycles.
There are a few other ongoing deals happening this month on AT&T, including the iPhone 12 mini for less than $9 per month and the fourth generation iPad Air for $300 off. Head to AT&T's deals page to see all of these offers before they expire.
Brydge
Brydge is hosting a sale on its iPad keyboards and the MacBook Vertical Dock this week. This event covers keyboards for the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, and includes leather folios and sleeves for iPads.
eBay is taking 15 percent off select storefronts for Father's Day when the code TECHGIFTSFORDAD is used at checkout. You'll be able to save on tools, tech accessories and products, clothing, sporting goods, and kitchen appliances.
You can browse all of the storefronts and items in the sale by heading to eBay's website. The coupon code is good for two uses and is capped at a maximum value of $100. This sale will only last until June 12.
Other Sales
Adorama - Save on external SSD, headphones, monitors, and more.
B&H Photo - Save on photography equipment, drones, computer storage, and more.
Belkin - Save on wireless chargers, surge protectors, and more.
The UK's competition watchdog seeks to "remedy" Apple's restrictions on browser engines in iOS and cloud gaming through the App Store via a high-level regulatory process, the organization announced today.
The announcement comes upon the publication of the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) year-long study into Apple and Google's mobile ecosystems, which finds that Apple and Google have an "effective duopoly" on mobile ecosystems that allows them to "exercise a stranglehold over these markets," including on operating systems, app stores, and web browsers. "Without interventions," the press release claims, "both companies are likely to maintain, and even strengthen, their grip over the sector, further restricting competition and limiting incentives for innovators."
The report identifies "a range of potential interventions" that could be taken to address the raised issues, but the CMA has specifically looked at ways to take "immediately targeted actions" using its current powers, including launching a wide-reaching "market investigation reference" into mobile browser engines and cloud gaming.
The study sets out concerns that Apple's ban on alternative browser engines on iOS and iPadOS "severely limits the potential for rival browsers to differentiate themselves from Safari (for example, on features such as speed and functionality) and limits Apple's incentives to invest in its browser engine." It also highlights that Apple's browser engine restriction "seriously inhibits the capability of web apps," which is said to be "depriving consumers and businesses of the full benefits of this innovative technology," and the "key advantage" that Apple and Google gain from selling devices with their own browser app pre-installed.
Overall, the evidence we have seen does not suggest that the WebKit restriction is justified by security concerns. We note that Apple benefits financially from weakening competition in browsers via the browser engine ban.
Meanwhile, in recent submissions to the United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla have all explicitly condemned Apple's WebKit restriction.
The CMA's report also criticizes Apple's restrictions on cloud gaming services on the App Store. "Gaming apps are a key source of revenue for Apple and cloud gaming could pose a real threat to Apple's strong position in-app distribution. By preventing this sector from growing, Apple risks causing mobile users to miss out on the full benefits of cloud gaming," the study claims.
The CMA's proposal for a market investigation reference looks to determine what specific remedial actions can be taken to improve competition with regard to browser engines and cloud gaming on Apple platforms, potentially including orders that require Apple to make material changes to its practices. The study into mobile ecosystems is intended to serve as a basis for negotiating undertakings and imposing orders.
Market investigations are a high-level process through which the CMA can request extensive information from companies to draw conclusions and implement legally binding remedies. Market investigation references are seldom used since they are resource-intensive and impose a significant burden on companies, especially amid the threat of structural disinvestments and stringent behavioral solutions.
Separately, the CMA continues to examine Apple's App Store terms and conditions in a competition law investigation that started in March 2021, and the UK government is empowering its Digital Markets Unit with statutory powers to penalize companies that do not meet its rules with considerable fines.
Apple's ecosystem is increasingly coming under intense scrutiny by governments around the world, including in the United States, Japan, South Korea, the European Union, and more, with a clear appetite from global regulators to explore requirements around issues like app store policies, app sideloading, and interoperability amid concerns about competition.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple is taking extra steps with iOS and iPadOS 16 to encourage those testing the company's latest software to submit bugs and issues they experience so they can be fixed ahead of the software's launch this fall.
Apple this week announced iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS Ventura, each major updates for their respective platforms. None of the updates will be available to the general public until later this fall, but over the summer, members of Apple's developer program will test and run the software on their devices. The testing is meant to help developers prepare their apps for the updates and allows Apple to fix and receive feedback on the updates before they ship to millions of customers.
As the software are pre-release software, they are typically filled with bugs and issues. Beta testers can submit issues they find using the Feedback app that comes pre-installed. The process of submitting bugs and feedback is, however, sometimes complicated, and beta testers don't always submit issues they encounter. The lack of feedback makes it harder for Apple to identify and patch bugs before the software launches, but Apple is hoping to change that this year.
Starting with iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 beta 1 released this week, if an iPhone or iPad experiences a crash, reboot, or serious system-wide bug, the system will automatically prompt the beta tester to submit the issue to Apple, including any relevant logs that could be used by Apple's engineer in fixing the problem.
Ahead of WWDC this week, Apple also shared tips on how to submit effective bug reports. Apple's tips include making sure beta testers report bugs as soon as they happen, making sure the reports are concise and detailed enough to allow Apple to reproduce the issue, and ensuring any relevant screenshots or screen recordings of the problem are filed, if applicable.
Apple has over the years come under increased scrutiny from users over buggy and unstable software updates. iOS 15, the current version of iOS, was plagued by issues when it launched in September 2021.
With a slate of new software updates coming this fall, Apple is clearly hoping the new pop-up and advisory to developers will help it find and address issues before the updates launch, resulting in a more stable experience for customers. Members of the public will have a chance to test iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9 later next month.
The Glasgow Times today reports that employees at Apple's Buchanan Street store in Scotland are about to become the first branch in the United Kingdom to unionize.
Staff at Apple Glasgow are said to have filed for Voluntary Union Recognition with Apple after joining the country's general workers union, GMB Scotland. They claim low wages, lack of pay transparency, and unfair shift patterns have pushed them to make the move.
An Apple worker, who asked to remain anonymous, told the paper: "In the UK Apple have staff forums, but these are continually shown to be ineffectual and feedback is ignored. It is a one-way conversation.
"We need our own representatives and a proper voice to change things. People are suffering with the cost-of-living crisis. We need a pay rise, pay transparency and a voice," they added.
There has reportedly been frustration over recent changes to scheduling resulting in workers struggling to find a work-life balance. Store staff in Glasgow also said they earn around £12 ($15) an hour and will demand a pay rise should union recognition be received.
Responding to news of the move by staff at Apple Glasgow, an Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying:
"We are fortunate to have incredible retail team members and we deeply value everything they bring to Apple.
"We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits, including private healthcare, enhanced parental leaves, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits for every team member."
The news follows similar moves by Apple retail employees in the United States. Apple retail locations in Washington State, New York City, and Maryland are organizing and taking steps toward unionization. Employees want higher pay, more vacation time, better retirement options, and other benefits.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
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.
On iPhone, go to Settings -> Focus, and tap the + icon in the top-right corner of the screen to create a new Focus.
Tap Custom in the next screen, proceed to give your Focus a name and related icon, then tap Next.
Set any notification silence options for people and apps when your Focus is active, then under "Customize Screens," choose the Lock Screen option.
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.
Apple this week announced several new Apple TV+ projects that are in the works with high-profile actors attached. Colin Farrell, known for movies like "In Bruges" and "The Batman," is set to star in a new Apple TV+ series called "Sugar."
The show is described as a "genre-bending series" from Mark Protosevich, who has worked on "The Cell," "I Am Legend," and "Thor," but little else is known about it at this time. Farrell has done little television with the exception of "True Detective" in 2015.
Apple Original Films has also landed a high-profile Formula One racing movie that's set to star Brad Pitt. Pitt will play a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie driver against the titans of the sport. The untitled Formula One racing film is set to be directed by Joseph Kosinski, who also directed "Top Gun: Maverick."
While the new Brad Pitt movie and Colin Farrell show will not be coming out for some time, Apple does have some new content set to launch in June and July. "Loot," coming on June 24, is a workplace comedy starring Maya Rudolph.
Rudolph will play Molly Novak, a billionaire who has private jets, a sprawling mansion, and everything else she desires. After her husband of 20 years betrays her, she spirals publicly, making tabloid headlines. Her charity foundation pleads with her to stop generating bad press, and helps to set her on a better path.
"Black Bird," coming on July 8, is a six-episode psychologial thriller adapted from a true crime memoir. In the series, high school football hero, policeman's son, and drug dealer Jimmy Keene is sentenced to 10 years in prison, with an opportunity to shorten his sentence. He is given the option to enter a maximum security prison for the criminally insane to befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall. Keene must get a confession from Hall and find out where the bodies of several young girls are buried.
Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month, but Apple provides a one-time three month free trial with the purchase of a new Apple device. Apple TV+ is eligible for Family Sharing, and up to six people can share an account.
You can keep up to date with all of the Apple TV+ shows and movies that are coming up and that have been released through our dedicated Apple TV+ guide.
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:
Confirmed the 14.1" iPad Pro is being developed with our supply chain sources. It will have MiniLEDs and ProMotion. Not sure of the timing, but early 2023 may be more likely.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) June 9, 2022
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:
According to my resource, Apple is developing a new 14.1-inch iPad M2 with 512GB and 16GB of base memory. The new M2 line is expected to include a new 11-inch model with no major changes, a new 12.9 model with reduced bezels and this new 14.1 iPad #Apple#AppleRumor
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) June 8, 2022
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
