Apple today seeded the third beta of macOS Ventura to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to test the new macOS Ventura operating system ahead of its release. The third beta comes two weeks after the second public beta and it corresponds with the fifth developer beta.
Public beta testers can download the macOS 13 Ventura update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.
macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new multi-tasking option for focusing on a task while having other apps waiting in the wings. Stage Manager puts your main app front and center, tucking your other apps to the side for quick access.
Continuity Camera allows you to use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac, offering much better camera quality than the built-in Mac camera. Apple is building special stands to hold the iPhone with a Mac, and there are neat features like Desk View, which uses the Ultra Wide lens.
Handoff now works with FaceTime so you can answer calls on the Mac and then transfer them over to another device, and Messages is gaining undo, edit, and mark as unread features. SharePlay now works in Messages in addition to FaceTime, and the Mail app has been overhauled. Search is more relevant, emails can be scheduled, and there's even an option to undo an email for up to 10 seconds after it's sent.
Apple brought the Weather and Clock apps to the Mac, redesigned System Preferences and renamed it System Settings, and added support for Shared Tab Groups. Passwords are being replaced with more secure Passkeys in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura, and there are updates to Spotlight, Visual Lookup, Live Text, and more.
There are a ton of other features in macOS Ventura, and we have a full rundown available in our dedicated macOS Ventura roundup.
Apple today seeded the third betas of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 to public beta testers, opening up the iOS 16 beta testing process to the general public. Today's beta comes two weeks after the second public beta, and it corresponds with the fifth developer beta.
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's free beta testing program can download the second iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 betas over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website.
iOS 16 brings an overhauled Lock Screen with customizable wallpapers, time, and widgets, plus notifications have been updated to roll in from the bottom of the display. Multiple Lock Screens are supported and can be linked with Focus modes.
The Messages app supports editing and deleting messages as well as marking messages unread. SharePlay is no longer limited to FaceTime, so Messages can be used for communication between people sharing content with one another. FaceTime calls can be handed off from one device to another, and the Health app gains a new Medications feature for tracking the vitamins and medicine that you take.
Apple is replacing passwords with Passkeys, and Safari now supports Shared Tab Groups for collaborating. In the Mail app, you can schedule emails, cancel sending, and receive follow-up reminders, and the Maps app supports multi-stop routing.
iCloud Shared Photo Library offers a convenient way to share a photos with family members, and Apple Pay Later will let users pay for Apple Pay purchases in fee-free installments. For the iPad, iPadOS 16 brings a Weather app and a new multi-tasking system called Stage Manager, but it's only for iPads with Apple silicon chips.
The fifth developer beta of iOS 16 added the battery percentage back to the status bar on iPhones that have a notch, plus it introduced new sounds for locating an iPhone via Find My or the Apple Watch, a mini visualizer for the Lock Screen Music player, and more, with full details on what's in the update available in our guide.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 9 update to its public beta testing group, allowing non-developers to experience the new watch software ahead of its fall release. The new beta comes two weeks after the second beta, and it corresponds to the fifth developer beta.
The watchOS 9 update can be downloaded after upgrading your iPhone to the public beta version of iOS 16. After installing iOS 16, the proper watchOS 9 profile from Apple's beta software website must also be installed.
The software can be accessed by going to General > Software Update in the Apple Watch app on iPhone. To update, Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.
watchOS 9 expands the sleep tracking feature to add sleep stages, allowing the watch to track when users are in REM Core, or Deep sleep, plus it supports a Medications app for managing and getting reminders for medications, vitamins, and supplements.
There are four new watch faces, including Lunar, Playtime, Metropolitan, and Astronomy, and the ECG app supports AFib History for tracking how long a person has been in atrial fibrillation.
Custom workouts have been added to the Workout app, and there are fitness improvements for runners, triathletes, and swimmers. Other new features include a CallKit API that allows VOIP calls to be answered on Apple Watch, Apple Watch Mirroring for controlling the Apple Watch with an iPhone, Quick Actions for doing more with a double pinch gesture, and updates to the Reminders and Calendar apps.
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Satechi
Starting with Satechi, you can get 20 percent off sitewide with the code B2S20. This sale will run through August 14.
Satechi is known for its wireless chargers, USB-C hubs, keyboards, cables, and other accessories, many of which are compatible with Apple products like the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, iMac, and iPhone. Satechi has a hub showcasing all of its newest products to give you an idea of what can be bought with the discount, but remember that the B2S20 code will work sitewide.
Next, Anker has a wide collection of "Power Deals" on its website this week. You'll find a "copy code" button on the product page of each accessory, and by clicking this you can automatically copy the code to paste it into the discount code box on the checkout page.
There are a wide variety of products on sale during Anker's event, including wall chargers, portable batteries, MagSafe-compatible chargers, wireless chargers, power strips, USB-C cables, and more. Be sure to check out the landing page for the sale to see all of the markdowns.
Das Keyboard
At Das Keyboard, you can get 20 percent off the 4C TKL and 4Q keyboards through August 10. The 4C TKL Keyboard is priced at $111.20, down from $139.00. It features PBT keycaps, Cherry MX Brown switches, and a 2-port USB hub.
The 4Q Keyboard is priced at $159.20, down from $199.00. This one is only compatible with Windows and Ubuntu, and features Cherry MX RGB brown mechanical key switches, a durable aluminum panel, and a two-port USB hub.
ZAGG
Finally, ZAGG is offering a BOGO free on smartphone cases for back to school season. You can buy any smartphone or tablet case and get the second one free. You'll need to add both cases to your cart and afterwards the promo will automatically activate.
To browse the full list of protective cases that you can get during this event, head to ZAGG's website. You'll find cases for iPhone 13 devices as well as Android smartphones. Shoppers should note that this sale excludes all keyboards and keyboard case style products.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
The popularity of the Apple Card caused Apple partner Goldman Sachs to struggle to deal with customer service issues, according to a new report from CNBC. The problems have in part led to a Goldman Sachs investigation by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
Goldman Sachs was subject to more disputed transactions than it had anticipated, with customers seeking chargebacks for products and services. When a customer asks for a chargeback, Goldman Sachs must follow regulations to reach a resolution within an acceptable timeline, and apparently failed at doing that. A source that spoke to CNBC said that customers were provided with conflicting information or were subject to long wait times.
Apple Card business created long queues that needed to be cleared out, and Goldman Sachs was unprepared. There was no streamlined process in place for resolving customer complaints.
The bank hadn't initially accounted for what insiders deemed "edge cases," or situations that break from the norm among the vast majority of transactions, they said.
"We were making the case that we have a seamless way to dispute transactions," the source said. "But we got no credit for the front end, and we had some failures on the back end."
The CFPB is now examining how Goldman Sachs handled customer refunds, billing error resolution, refunds, reporting to credit bureaus, and more. Regulators are looking into customer complaints from the past several years, many related to attempted chargebacks. Goldman Sachs has now devoted more resources to automating additional parts of the chargeback process, and it is cooperating with the CFPB inquiry.
Apple is rumored to be working on an upgraded "pro" version of the Apple Watch that will be sold alongside the Apple Watch Series 8 models. The Apple Watch Pro will feature a different design, a larger size, and a more expensive price tag.
This guide aggregates everything we know about the Apple Watch Pro, which is expected to launch in September alongside the Apple Watch Series 8 and the new iPhone 14 models.
Design
While the standard Apple Watch Series 8 models are not going to get a design update, we are expecting a new look for the Apple Watch Pro. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has indicated that the Apple Watch Pro will feature a design that is an "evolution of the current rectangular shape."
There were 2021 rumors about a flat-edged design for the Apple Watch, but no such device ever materialized. The flat-edged design is not expected to be used for the Apple Watch Pro, and so it's not going to look like those Apple Watch Series 7 mockups that we saw ahead of the Series 7 launch.
CAD images of the Apple Watch Pro indicate that it will feature a flat screen, a revamped Digital Crown, and a button on the left hand side of the watch.
Durability
The Apple Watch Pro has also been described as a "rugged" Apple Watch that's aimed at those who do extreme sports. It will feature a casing that is more durable and better able to hold up to abuse, with the device targeted toward athletes, hikers, and others who expose their watches to more extreme conditions.
The titanium Apple Watch Series 7 models
In addition to being larger, the display will also be made from a shatter-resistant material that will provide more durability.
Casing Material
Apple is planning to use a new titanium metal alloy that is stronger than aluminum and better able to hold up to extreme use.
Physical Buttons
The Apple Watch Pro is expected to feature physical buttons that will be able to be used for workout-related functions, with a new button on the left side. The button may be able to be programmed by the user, and it could be set to do things like launch an app, launch a workout, and more.
Size
The Apple Watch Pro will be larger than the current 41mm and 45mm sizes. In fact, Gurman has said that it will be a "good bit bigger" than the current Apple Watch models and in fact so large that it may only appeal to a "subset of customers." Japanese site Mac Otakara has said that the Apple Watch Pro will feature a 47mm case size, making it 2mm larger than the current largest 45mm Apple Watch model.
The display is expected to measure in at two inches diagonally, which will provide seven percent more screen area than the 1.9-inch diagonal screen size of the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 and the Series 8, as that device will feature the same casing as the Series 7. Other rumors have said the Apple Watch Pro could be as large as 49mm.
It is said to feature a display resolution of 410 x 502 pixels, and the extra display area could potentially be used to display extra fitness metrics on a single screen.
Band Compatibility
The Apple Watch Pro is expected to be compatible with older Apple Watch bands, but the fit might not be as seamless as it is with existing watches due to the size of the wearable.
New Bands
Apple may create special fitness-focused bands for the Apple Watch Pro, with the bands expected to play into the extreme sports theme of the device.
Battery Life
As the Apple Watch Pro will be larger, it will likely fit a larger battery inside to accommodate longer workout times. With a rumored low-power mode that is coming to Series 8 models, the Apple Watch Pro could even last for multiple days before needing to be recharged.
Health Features
Aside from a larger, more durable casing, the Apple Watch Pro is expected to offer the same functionality as the Apple Watch Series 8, so it will get all of the features rumored for the Series 8.
The Apple Watch Series 8 models are rumored to be gaining a temperature sensor that will allow them to be able to determine whether a user has a higher than normal body temperature. The temperature sensor is unlikely to feature an exact temperature reading, but it will be able to show fluctuations.
Because the Apple Watch will be using skin temperature, it will not be as accurate as a thermometer that is able to monitor core body temperature. At launch, Apple is likely to use this for fertility planning and monitoring.
Other Possible Features
Rumors have indicated that the next-generation Apple Watch and iPhone models could include a car crash detection feature that would use the accelerometer to detect accidents when they occur by measuring a spike in gravitational force. When a crash is detected, the Apple Watch could automatically call emergency services.
Apple is working on an S8 chip for the Apple Watch Series 8 models, but current information suggests that it won't offer much in the way of performance improvements over the S7 in the Apple Watch Series 7. There have also been rumors of updates to activity tracking, though specifics are not available at this time.
Price
With a larger body and a titanium casing, the Apple Watch Pro will not be cheap. It is expected to be priced around $900 to $999, which would make it more expensive than the current titanium Apple Watch Edition, which is available for $849.
Apple will sell the Apple Watch Pro alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, which is expected to retain the same price points as the Series 7. It is not yet clear if the Apple Watch Pro will be replacing the current Apple Watch Edition models, which are made from titanium.
Launch Date
Apple is holding a "Far Out" event on Wednesday, September 7, where it is expected to unveil the rumored Apple Watch Pro.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about the Apple Watch Pro know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple plans to begin listing new features and changes in AirPods firmware updates in a forthcoming support document on its website.
In the fifth developer beta of iOS 16, navigating to Settings → General → About → AirPods and tapping on Firmware Version leads to a new page indicating that AirPods firmware details are available at support.apple.com, complete with a link to a support document that will likely be published by the time iOS 16 is publicly released in September.
The new AirPods support document will likely be similar to one that Apple published for AirTag firmware updates earlier this year.
The new AirPods firmware version screen in iOS 16 beta 5 via Reddit
As noted on Reddit, the new Firmware Version page displays the firmware version for both AirPods and the charging cases. The latest firmware version for AirPods was released in May and is listed as "4E71" in the Settings app. There is still no manual way to update the firmware on AirPods, with updates installing automatically.
Google's Android team today launched a new "Get the Message" website that again calls on Apple to adopt Rich Communication Services or RCS for the Messages app. Google has been pushing Apple to adopt RCS for months now, with no response from Apple.
RCS is designed to replace the current SMS messaging standard. It offers support for higher resolution photos and videos, audio messages, bigger file sizes, improved encryption, emoji reactions, more reliable group chats, and more.
The "Get the Message" website is aimed at addressing the "green/blue bubbles" issue between iPhone and Android users along with problems in cross-platform messaging such as low quality photos and videos, issues with group chat, end-to-end encryption, read receipts, and typing indicators, pointing out that these issues could be addressed if Apple adopted RCS. "It's time for Apple to fix texting," reads the website.
It's not about the color of the bubbles. It's the tiny photos and videos, no texting over wifi and no read receipts. Apple creates these problems when we text each other from iPhones and Android phones, but does nothing to fix it.
The website says that iPhones downgrade photos and videos from Android users, prevent people from leaving group chats with Android users, stop iPhone users from texting Android phones over WiFi, make messages from Android users difficult to read, and leave messages between iOS and Android users unencrypted. The site encourages people to help Apple get the message through tweets, plus it highlights news articles about Android/iPhone communications.
Alongside the website, the Android team has also provided a blog post that explains the how Rich Communication Services works and why text conversations between iPhone and Android users sometimes experience issues. The blog post says that group chats "feel outdated" because iPhones are still using SMS and MMS for conversations.
iPhones still rely on SMS and MMS for conversations with Android users, which is why your group chats feel so outdated. Think of it like this: If you have two groups of people who use different spoken languages, they can communicate effectively in their respective languages to other people who speak their language, but they can't talk to each other. And when they try to talk to one another, they have to act out what they're saying, as though they're playing charades. Now think of RCS as a magic translator that helps multiple groups speak fluently -- but every group has to use the translator, and if one doesn't, they're each going to need to use motions again.
RCS could "connect all smartphone users" and bring a "secure, modern messaging experience" to everyone," according to Google's blog post. The article echos several prior Google attempts to get Apple to acknowledge RCS, all of which have been unsuccessful.
As of mid-2021, Google and all major carriers have swapped over to RCS, but Google has not been able to convince Apple to adopt the standard. Senior vice president of Android Hiroshi Lockheimer has been tweeting about RCS and Apple's lack of support for months now, and Google has even resorted to sarcastic explainer videos.
There continues to be no word on when Apple might adopt Rich Communication Services, nor information on whether Apple is considering it.
Apple's Beats brand today is announcing a collaboration with Kim Kardashian for three new colors of Beats Fit Pro wireless earbuds. The three new neutral colors will be available online at Apple.com/kim starting next Tuesday, August 16, and via select Apple Store locations and authorized resellers as of the following day.
Images of the new Beats Fit Pro colors were discovered late last month, but they are being released under different names than were seen in the image files: Moon (light), Dune (medium) and Earth (deep).
"I wanted to break away from the idea that headphones have to be colorful to make a statement," said Kim Kardashian. "This collaboration is special because it allows you to blend in or stand out, and Beats is known for creating products that showcase individuality."
Beats Fit Pro have been well-received since their original launch late last year, with users citing a comfortable fit thanks to flexible wingtips and multiple sizes of silicone ear tips. The earbuds also offer Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode, spatial audio support, and an H1 chip for one-tap pairing, "Hey Siri" support, and automatic switching among Apple devices.
Alongside the launch of the new colors, Beats is also debuting a new "Beats x Kim" ad campaign.
"Kim brought her signature minimalist style to the first-ever Beats Fit Pro custom headphones," said Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Services. "We're excited to offer Beats' most innovative headphones in a whole new, gorgeous color palette to music fans and fashion lovers alike."
The new Beats Fit Pro colors will be available from Apple's online stores in the US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and Japan, with Amazon also carrying them in the US and Canada. They will be priced at $199.99, the same as other Beats Fit Pro colors.
Apple Store locations carrying the new colors will be limited to The Grove, Tower Theatre, and Third Street Promenande in the Los Angeles Area, Fifth Avenue and SoHo in New York City, Aventura in Miami, Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Regent Street in London, Champs-Élysées in Paris, and Kurfürstendamm in Berlin.
Authorized resellers will include SSENSE in Canada, Selfridges in the UK, Galeries Lafayette in France, Zalando in Germany and Switzerland, David Jones in Australia, and Crawford and WeChat in China.
Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro may still have a Lightning charging case, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a tweet today, Kuo predicted that Apple will switch to a USB-C charging case for all AirPods models in 2023.
AirPods charging case modded with a USB-C port by Ken Pillonel
Kuo said the new AirPods Pro will be released later this year. Several new features have been rumored for the earbuds, including an upgrade to the H1 chip that powers features like active noise cancellation, support for Apple Lossless audio playback, updated motion sensors for expanded fitness tracking capabilities, a new charging case that can emit a sound when lost, a skin-detect sensor for improved in-ear detection, and more.
Apple reportedly tested a more compact design for the new AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems that drop below the earbuds, similar to Apple's Beats Studio Buds, but recent rumors suggest the earbuds will not have any significant design changes.
I predict Apple will launch USB-C-capable charging cases for all AirPods models in 2023. However, the charging case of the new AirPods Pro 2 launched in 2H22 may still support Lightning.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 9, 2022
Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for designing Steve Jobs' iconic black mock turtleneck sweater and an unused Apple employee uniform, has died at the age of 84, his company has announced (via Reuters).
Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Miyake built a prolific global high fashion brand and developed a unique relationship with late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Jobs was impressed by Sony's corporate uniform, something the company had imposed since 1946 to encourage a professional look and forge a bond with colleagues.
In 1981, for its 35th anniversary, Sony commissioned Miyake to design a jacket to add to the uniform. The futuristic taupe rip-stop nylon jacket featured unzip-able sleeves that allowed it to convert into a vest and had no lapels.
Miyake Design Studio Sony Uniform Vest (image via Grailed)
Jobs apparently admired Miyake's jacket for Sony and asked him to design a similar vest for Apple employees. Miyake's jacket for Apple hit a stumbling block when Jobs returned with samples and pitched the idea of an Apple corporate uniform to employees in Cupertino, California. "Oh, man, did I get booed off the stage," Jobs told Isaacson. "Everybody hated the idea."
Issey Miyake Inc. Homme Plissé Black Mock Turtleneck (image via Grailed)
Jobs went on to opt for a uniform for himself to reduce decision fatigue and form a visual identity, deciding upon Levi's 501 jeans and New Balance 991 sneakers. He asked Miyake to supply him with a large number of black turtleneck sweaters, on sale from Issey Miyake Inc. at the time for $175. "He made me like a hundred of them," Jobs told Isaacson, adding, "I have enough to last for the rest of my life."
Sales of the black mock turtleneck spiked after Jobs' death in 2011 before it was retired from the fashion brand's clothing line in 2017. A revised version of the sweater returned later that year for $270.
Miyake died of liver cancer on Friday and a private funeral has reportedly already taken place.
AgileBits today announced the release of 1Password 8 for iOS and Android, completing the rollout of the new version and bringing parity to the desktop and mobile apps.
1Password 8 for mobile takes into account customer feedback gathered during the early access launches earlier this year, and includes a new customizable home screen.
Users can personalize the home screen in several ways, such as by highlighting favorites, reordering sections, viewing recently created items, pinning specific fields from a login, and adding quick actions.
First seen in 1Password 8 for desktop, the new Watchtower dashboard has also made it to mobile. The dashboard is designed to provide actionable alerts and a holistic view of security risks and vulnerabilities, with a view to making it easy for 1Password admins and users to protect themselves by quickly identifying and updating weak passwords, inactive 2FA and compromised passwords that put them at risk.
An updated always-on navigation bar also allows users to quickly access the home screen, search for items, and open Watchtower or app settings. It also includes new item icons, typography, detailed views for items and vaults, and more.
1Password 8 for iOS is available to download on the App Store. A subscription is required, with individual pricing set at $3.99 per month for unlimited access across several platforms, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, and others. A 30-day free trial is available.
Apple's 24-inch iMac (8-Core GPU, 256GB) has dropped to $1,349.99 on Amazon today, down from $1,499.00. This sale is available in three colors, which are all in stock and ready to ship: Yellow, Orange, and Purple.
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 deal price will not appear until you add the iMac to your cart and head to the checkout screen, at which time Amazon will apply a $100 coupon to the order. Compared to previous sales, this is a match of the all-time low price on this model.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
You can keep track of ongoing sales on Apple's iMac line by visiting our Best iMac Deals guide. There, we keep track of the best iMac offers from Amazon, Adorama, B&H Photo, and other retailers, so be sure to check back often if you're shopping for an iMac for the first time, or thinking of upgrading.
Apple is to again be investigated by South Korea's telecommunications regulator, alongside Google and One Store, over suspected violations of in-app payment rules.
In a statement (via Reuters), the Korea Communications Commissions (KCC) said that it conducted an inspection of Apple, Google, and One Store since May 17 to determine if they have violated in-app payment laws, and concluded that all three companies may have done so. Such contraventions could include unfairly delaying the review of mobile content, or refusing, delaying, restricting, deleting, or blocking the registration, renewal, or inspection of mobile content that uses third-party payment methods.
If the new probe discovers malpractice, the KCC may issue correction orders and impose fines up to as high as two percent of the average annual revenue from relevant business practices, but there is as yet little detail on the specific violations of the law the regulator suspects may have occurred.
In January, Apple announced that it would comply with a new South Korean law that bans app store operators from requiring developers to use their own in-app purchase systems. In late June, the change came into effect, enabling developers to offer alternative payment systems in South Korea.
It is unclear exactly why Apple is under investigation, given that it now allows developers to offer third-party payment systems on the South Korean App Store. One explanation could be that the KCC deems Apple to have taken too long to comply with the change in the law, since it came into effect in March, but Apple only began informing developers that they could use third-party payment systems in late June.
Intel, AMD, and Nvidia are all reportedly bracing for a possible decline in shipments as well as a possible drop in revenue for the remainder of 2022 while the Mac is expected to continue to grow in popularity.
Citing industry sources, DigiTimesreports that Intel, AMD, and Nvidia have revised and lowered their own expectations for how many chips and products they'll ship in 2022 and their revenue goals.
Apple is the only company that's expected to see continued momentum for its Mac, such as the new M2MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the report says.
Intel has lowered its revenue goals for 2022 by roughly $11 billion and expects PC chip shipments to drop 10% compared to 2021 due to lower demand. AMD expects its shipments to drop between 14% and 16% in 2022, compared to a 7%-9% drop it was originally expecting.
Specific laptop makers are also bracing for a rough 2022 and early 2023. Companies such as Dell, Acer, HP, and Asustek Computer have all cut their expectations and projections for shipments and revenue.
Apple, on the other hand, is expecting to ship around 29 million MacBooks in 2022, an estimate higher than in the past three years, according to DigiTimes.
Apple has nearly completed its transition away from Intel processors in the Mac to its own custom-made Apple silicon chips. The company most recently announced the all-new M2 chip, promising 1.4 times faster performance than its M1 counterpart and up to 15 times faster than an Intel-powered model.
Apple has so far announced the M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max, M1 Ultra, and M2 chips for its Mac lineup. The highest-end Mac Pro and a low-end Mac mini are the only Macs that remain in Apple's lineup with Intel processors. Both are expected to be replaced as soon as this fall.
Apple is on a mission to get rid of traditional passwords for good, and a step towards that future is something called "Passkeys." Passkeys aim to entirely replace passwords in both apps and on the web and instead use either your finger or face as the password.
Passkeys are part of iOS 16 and macOS Ventura but also work on non-Apple devices and platforms such as Android and Windows. Apple's goal with Passkeys is to eliminate the need for users to ever type out, remember, or use a password again.
There are two scenarios for Passkeys: when you're using an Apple device and when you're on a Windows or Android device.
On an Apple Device
When you go to a website on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 or a Mac on macOS Ventura that supports Passkeys, the website will not prompt you to enter a password as you may expect it to. Instead, you'll simply be asked to authenticate with Touch ID or Face ID.
On a Windows or Android Device
On non-Apple devices, when you go to a website that supports Passkeys, you'll be asked to scan a QR code with your iPhone and then proceed to use Touch ID or Face ID as your actual password.
Passkeys will be more widely supported by apps and websites when iOS 16 and macOS Ventura are released to all users this fall, but there are already some websites that support Passkeys. Here are just a few apps and websites that are starting to roll out support:
eBay
Best Buy
Cloudflare
Microsoft
Nvidia
PayPal
Carnival
In an interview earlier this month, Apple's director of platform product marketing Kurt Knight said, "This isn't a future dream to replace passwords. This is something that's going to be a road to completely replace passwords, and it's starting now."
Passkeys is just one of several new changes and features coming to iOS 16 and macOS Ventura which you can learn about in our respective roundups.
WhatsApp is rolling out two new privacy updates this month, including the ability to adjust the visibility of your "Last Seen" status on a contact-by-contact basis, and a way to silently leave group chats without all members of the group being notified when you do.
As regular WhatsApp users will know, the "Last Seen" status of a contact sits atop the conversation thread, informing you when that contact last opened and was active on the app.
Currently, you can disable your "Last Seen" status so that other contacts can't see when you were last online, but the setting's options are limited to "Everyone," "My Contacts," and "Nobody," and there's no way to make exceptions for individual contacts.
But that's about to change. In the Privacy settings, WhatsApp is adding the option "My Contacts Except..." which will let you select specific contacts so that they don't see when the last time was that you were active on the messaging network.
The second privacy update is coming to group chats, or more specifically when you leave them. Traditionally, when someone leaves a group chat, WhatsApp announces their exit to the entire group, making the act of leaving very public and potentially awkward.
WhatsApp officially allows up to 256 people to join a single chat group, so these announcements can also lead to a lot of coming and going during a conversation, which can cause a distraction to other members.
To ameliorate the situation going forward, when you leave a group chat, only the administrators of the group are notified. When a group member opts out, a dialog appears that says "Only you and group admins will be notified that you left the group."
Looking ahead, another privacy feature on its way to the massively popular messaging platform is a way to block users from taking screenshots of "view once" messages. Unlike disappearing messages, view once messages don't get deleted after a specific time limit, but instead go away after the recipient has seen it once.
The idea is that by blocking screenshots, recipients won't so easily be able to save or share sensitive information with other users. WhatsApp is still testing this feature, but says it will start rolling out to users soon.
Apple this week brought back one of the most highly requested features from iOS users since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017: the ability to see your battery percentage directly in the status bar.
Ever since the launch of the iPhone X with the notch, Apple has not allowed users to show their battery percentage directly in the status bar, forcing them to swipe down into Control Center to glance at their current battery level.
When Low Power Mode is enabled, the battery glyph and the percentage turn yellow, and when low on battery, it turns red. When charging your iPhone, it turns green. The battery percentage is visible in the status bar across the system, including on the Lock Screen.
All flagship iPhones since the iPhone X have had a notch, yet not all customers with notched iPhones will gain this new feature.
Here is the list of iPhones that will gain the ability to display the battery percentage directly in the status bar:
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XS
iPhone X
All other iPhones, including the smaller iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 11, and the iPhone XR, do not have the battery percentage option. As iOS 16 is still in beta testing, Apple may decide to expand the list to include other iPhones in the future so we'll have to wait and see.
While it's not entirely clear why Apple has chosen to limit the availability of this feature, it may be due to space constraints on the smaller displays.
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Miyake Design Studio Sony Uniform Vest (image via 
Issey Miyake Inc. Homme Plissé Black Mock Turtleneck (image via 
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.
