MacRumors

Apple AirTag tracking devices with deactivated speakers have been spotted on eBay and Etsy, raising privacy concerns about the risks of removing one of the ‌AirTag‌'s safeguards, PCMag reports.

The modified AirTags, dubbed "Silent AirTags," have had their internal speaker removed so that they are no longer able to emit a sound to highlight their presence. The Silent ‌AirTag‌ looks identical to a normal ‌AirTag‌, other than a small hole cut below the device's battery to disconnect the speaker.

The Etsy merchant behind one of the product listings, which offered the Silent ‌AirTag‌ for $77.50, recently took the item off sale and told PCMag:

The intent of this modification was to cater to the several requests of buyers interested in my other AirTag product who were interested in fitting an AirTag to their bikes, pets and power tools. These requests led me to listing it as a product on Etsy, albeit without a great deal of traction. The vast majority of sales shown on my Etsy profile are from sales on my modified slim AirTag, designed to unobtrusively fit inside a purse or wallet.

AirTags are a prohibited item on Etsy, and the listing would have been removed had the seller not already removed it themselves. An eBay seller behind a similar listing said that the purpose of the Silent ‌AirTag‌ was to ensure that "it doesn't keep beeping when away from you," such as "if left in car or bike or with a family member." The Silent ‌AirTag‌ purportedly also "reduces the chance of a thief being notified of its hidden location." At the current time, ‌an AirTags begins emitting a sound between eight and 24 hours after being separated from their owner to flag its location.

While the motives behind the Silent ‌AirTag‌ appear to be innocent, their sale has alarmed some privacy advocates online. Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, tweeted about her concern for the "secondary market for modified AirTags with the speaker disabled for 'stealth mode'," and noted:

Any item that works for the purpose of catching a thief in this manner is also a perfect tool for stalking. That is why Apple advertises them as tools for tracking lost items and not stolen ones.

AirTags have been increasingly linked to criminal activity in recent months, including vehicle thefts and stalking cases. While AirTags automatically alert iPhone users, as well as Android users with the Tracker Detect app installed, when an unknown tracker is traveling with them via a notification, the speaker is the ‌AirTag‌'s only anti-stalking mitigation that works automatically and does not depend on the tracked person having a phone.

In addition to releasing the Tracker Detect app for Android, Apple has also shared a Personal Safety User Guide, added the ability to scan for nearby trackers, and updated the ‌AirTag‌'s firmware with shorter intervals between emitted sounds. Despite these measures, the ‌AirTag‌'s anti-stalking safeguards have been criticized for being insufficient.

Earlier this week, MacRumors reported on a OneDrive for Mac update that has caused upset among users of the cloud storage service, partly due to alleged bugs it has introduced but mainly because the new version no longer allows users to opt out of its cloud-based Files On-Demand feature, which was previously an optional setting.

In an update to its original blog post introducing this aspect of its new "Files On-Demand Experience," Microsoft has now responded to these concerns by explaining that the first version of Files On-Demand is built on several pieces of technology that are now deprecated by Apple in macOS 12.3, currently still in beta.

Apple is deprecating the kernel extensions originally used by OneDrive's syncing features, so the Mac client is now using Apple's File Provider extensions instead. On the question of whether this has introduced a technical reason for why Files On-Demand must always be enabled, Microsoft touts the benefits of OneDrive's new dependency on Apple's File Provider platform, including the resolution of compatibility issues, and how that has factored into its controversial decision to enforce its Files On-Demand feature:

Files On-Demand has been available on Windows since 2017, and on macOS since 2018. In that time, we've progressed from the feature being opt-in only to being on by default for all users and have closely monitored how many users turn off Files On-Demand. Only a very small number of users disable Files On-Demand on both platforms, and there are two main reasons for that.

When Files On-Demand first shipped on Windows, some applications didn't work well with the way we stored files, or with anti-virus or other security software that was installed. Over time, we've fixed most of these problems. On macOS, we took a similarly cautious approach, but the application compatibility landscape is quite different and, in some ways, less complex. Still, there were a few cases where, due to the technology stack we were using on macOS, it made sense for certain users to disable Files On-Demand to preserve compatibility. With the File Provider platform, these problems have gone away, so application compatibility issues on macOS should be much less likely to occur. If you find something different with your setup, please reach out to your support contact so we can diagnose the issue.

Despite its rationale for enforcing Files On-Demand, Microsoft acknowledges that keeping all content locally on devices is "an important scenario for a small set of users," and says the best way to do this is to select Always Keep on This Device to mark content as pinned. "If you want all files synced on your device, you should pin the OneDrive folder," says Microsoft.

Users can do this by browsing to their OneDrive in Finder, changing the view to Icons view, and then right-clicking the blank space between icons and selecting Always Keep on This Device. "We're actively looking at ways to make this easier to configure on both macOS and Windows," adds Microsoft.

In addition, Microsoft offers an explanation for why some users have experienced slowdowns when browsing folders in OneDrive:

"To save space and system resources, the File Provider platform doesn't actually create the files OneDrive is managing until the first time you need them. The first time you open a OneDrive folder, macOS will create them on-demand. This can sometimes take a moment.

"To avoid this delay, you can force the system to pre-create all of these files and folders for you without downloading your content. To do this, open a Terminal window and type "ls -alR ~/OneDrive" (or the path to your OneDrive). This will ensure all of your files and folders are created, but not downloaded, before you browse.

"Finally, it is important to note that beginning in macOS 12.3, File Provider is the only Files On-Demand solution that is supported on macOS. Our prior solution is no longer supported."

Microsoft says it is aware of users experiencing issues with AutoSave when using the App Store version of the OneDrive app and it is actively working to resolve the issue in the next few days.

In the meantime, users who can't wait until then can move to the Standalone build of OneDrive by unlinking their account, uninstalling the ‌App Store‌ version, and reinstalling the Standalone version [Direct Link].

Are you happy with Microsoft's explanation for enforcing the Files On-Demand setting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Update 2/4/22: Microsoft recently updated the blog to confirm the AutoSave issue has been fixed: "The fix for AutoSave for the ‌App Store‌ version was released in the Store today. It is fixed with 22.002.0201.0005."

Apple is rolling out new product pages for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro that provide a simplified overview of each device's key features.

The new product pages went live in late January and as of today are prominently linked to from the top menu bar on the iPhone page of Apple's website in the United States, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, and several other countries. Due to browser caching, some users may not see the new product pages immediately.

The new product pages are shorter than the original ones, with customers able to click or tap a plus sign next to each feature for additional details.

Apple is still using its original iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro product pages in some countries, such as Canada, and the older pages can still be accessed with direct links for now in countries that have switched to the new "Key Features" pages.

(Thanks, @AppleSWUpdates!)

A federal judge in the U.S. has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit that accused Apple of misleading customers about the iPhone's water resistance (via Reuters).

Apple has extensively advertised the water resistance of the ‌iPhone‌ in its marketing campaigns since the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 7, including the claim that some models can survive depths of up to four meters for 30 minutes.

Two plaintiffs from New York and one from South Carolina brought a lawsuit against Apple in the Southern District of New York for "false and misleading" misrepresentations that purportedly allowed the company to charge "twice as much" for iPhones than the cost of "average smartphones."

Now, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote has ruled that while the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that Apple's advertising could mislead some customers, they did not demonstrate that their iPhones were damaged by "liquid contact" Apple promised they could withstand. The judge also found no evidence of fraud, citing a lack of proof that Apple consciously intended to overstate its water-resistance claims for commercial gain.

It was also ruled that there was insufficient evidence that the plaintiffs relied on fraudulent marketing statements when choosing to buy their iPhones. A lawyer representing the plaintiffs said that his clients were disappointed with the verdict, and there has not yet been a decision about whether to appeal.

Although this case has been dismissed, an Italian judge in late 2020 fined Apple $12 million for misleading customers about the iPhone's water resistance. The ruling explained that Apple did not suitably clarify that its water-resistance claims are only true under specific conditions, such as during controlled laboratory tests with the use of static and pure water, and not in the normal conditions of use by consumers. The regulator also ruled that it was inappropriate for Apple to highlight water resistance as a feature, while at the same time refusing to provide post-sales warranty assistance if the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ models in question suffer water damage.

Apple's ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineups feature the best water resistance rating on an ‌iPhone‌ to date with an IP68 rating. This means that the devices can withstand water up to a depth of six meters (19.7 feet) for up to 30 minutes. The IP68 water resistance rating means that the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 can hold up against splashes, rain, and accidental water exposure, but intentional water exposure should still be avoided if possible.

According to Apple, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can deteriorate over time as a result of normal wear. Apple's warranty does not cover liquid damage, so it is best to exercise caution when it comes to liquid exposure.

Woot today has Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case for $179.99, down from $249.00. These are in new condition and not refurbished, and include a one year Apple Manufacturer Limited Warranty.

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.

Woot's deal is about $20 below the current price of the AirPods Pro with MagSafe at Amazon and other retailers. This sale will last for one day only, and Amazon Prime members can get the usual free standard shipping options.

We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.

Apple's plans to allow developers to use third-party alternative payments methods within their apps in South Korea "lacks concrete detail," according to South Korea's Communications Commission (KCC).

In August, South Korea passed a law that bans app store operators from requiring developers to use their in-app purchase systems. Last month, Apple submitted its compliance plans to the KCC that would allow apps in Apple's South Korean App Store to use third-party payment methods within their apps. Apple's plans include that the company will still take a commission for all purchases made, even those made with third-party alternative payment methods, but specific details were not shared.

Now, ahead of the law being finalized and enacted, South Korea's KCC says Apple's submitted plan "lacks concrete detail," reports Reuters. KCC is unhappy that both Apple and Google still plan to charge a commission on purchases made with third-party payment methods, arguing that such a commission will entice developers to stay with the app stores' respective, default payment process.

"As a result of any policy, if app developers find it realistically difficult to use an alternative payment system and resort to using the dominant app store operator's payment system, it would not fit the law's purpose," the official said, adding that this stance would likely be reflected in the final ordinance."

A similar series of events have taken place in The Netherlands, one of several countries looking into Apple's ‌App Store‌. Dating apps in The Netherlands will soon be allowed to use third-party alternative payment methods. Apple's plans to comply with the law in The Netherlands have been criticized for being inadequate in addressing concerns, leading to a fine of 5 million euros per week up to a maximum of 50 million euros until Apple complies.

"We look forward to working with the KCC and our developer community on a solution that benefits our Korean users," Apple had previously said in a statement about the law in South Korea. "Our work will always be guided by keeping the ‌App Store‌ a safe and trusted place for our users to download the apps they love," the company added.

CARROT Weather, the award-winning app known for its funny and sarcastic weather information, has received a major update that adds new map styles, individual radar stations, and more.

Rebuilt from the ground up, the new weather maps in version 5.5 focus on readability and fast-loading of map layers, according to app creator Brian Mueller.

There are six map styles to choose from, and users can toggle between a 3D globe and a 2D map, thereby providing "support for both Round and Flat Earthers," notes Mueller.

CARROT premium users can now view individual U.S. radar stations, which update more frequently and show a lot more detail than the mosaic that covers the entire country. Premium users can also see up to 48 hours into the future with map layers like precipitation, temperature, wind, and more.

Elsewhere, map presets group relevant map layers together, so users can quickly switch between them without having to turn several layers off and on, and users can now zoom in to display radar, zoom out to display a short-term forecast, and zoom even further out to display an extended forecast. Zooming also automatically adjusts layer opacity and animation speeds.

Lastly, for Premium Ultra users, there's an all-new Inspector Tool that can be enabled to display the exact values of map data, so there's no need to scrutinize a map legend to work out storm strength, for instance.

CARROT Weather can be downloaded from the App Store for free, and there is an optional $4.99 per month premium tier that unlocks new weather data sources, notifications, customization, widgets, and Apple Watch complications. An Ultra premium tier is also available with even more features. [Direct Link]

Facebook has said measures being taken by Apple on iOS that make it harder for platforms and apps to track users across other apps and websites will cost its business $10 billion in 2022.

Facebook yesterday reported $33.67 billion in revenue, and while higher than expected, earnings per share were shy of analyst expectations. Facebook, renamed to Meta, also offered lower guidance for the first quarter of 2022, saying it would be expecting around $27 to $29 billion in revenue, short of $30 billion expectations (via CNBC).

As it has done in the past, Facebook shifted blame for its weaker performance during the past quarter onto steps being taken by Apple to improve user privacy. Most notably, Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) framework, which requires apps to ask users for permission before tracking them across other apps and websites, is negatively impacting Facebook's business, the company's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, claimed during the earnings call.

First, ads. Like others in our industry, we’ve faced headwinds as a result of Apple’s iOS changes. As we described last quarter, Apple created two challenges for advertisers. One is that the accuracy of our ads targeting decreased, which increased the cost of driving outcomes. The other is that measuring those outcomes became more difficult.

The impacts of Apple's privacy measures will represent more significant challenges to Facebook's business in the next quarter, according to Facebook's chief financial officer, David Wehner. "And we believe the impact of iOS overall as a headwind on our business in 2022 is on the order of $10 billion, so it's a pretty significant headwind for our business," said Wehner.

Wehner also went on to accuse Apple of favoring Google in its privacy policy. Wehner said that ATT exempts browsers from asking users for permission to track them across other apps and websites, therefore allowing browsers like Chrome to be more effective in tracking users for personalized ad purposes.

Wehner accused Apple of favoring Google's Ad Search since "Apple continues to take billions of dollars a year from Google Search ads, [so] incentive clearly exists for this policy discrepancy to continue."

And if you look at it, we believe those restrictions from Apple are designed in a way that carves out browsers from the tracking prompts Apple requires for apps. And so what that means is that search ads could have access to far more third-party data for measurement and optimization purposes than app-based ad platforms like ours.

So when it comes to using data, you can think of it -- that it's not really apples-to apples for us. And as a result, we believe Google's search ads business could have benefited relative to services like ours that face a different set of restrictions from Apple. And given that Apple continues to take billions of dollars a year from Google Search ads, the incentive clearly exists for this policy discrepancy to continue.

Daily active users (DAUs) also took a hit in the past quarter, with Facebook reporting for the first time on record a drop in the number of daily users using its platform. DAUs stood at 1.93 billion in the final quarter of 2021, lower than 1.95 billion from the previous quarter. Still, Wehner said during the company's earnings call that DAUs were up 5% year-over-year.

We estimate that approximately 2.8 billion people used at least one of our Family of Apps on a daily basis in December, and that approximately 3.6 billion people used at least one on a monthly basis. Facebook daily active users were 1.93 billion, up 5% or 84 million compared to last year. DAUs represented approximately 66% of the 2.91 billion monthly active users in December. MAUs grew by 115 million or 4% compared to last year.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously shifted his outlook on Apple's ATT framework, initially saying it would hurt Facebook but later saying it could benefit the company in the long term.

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will on Thursday consider the Open App Markets Act, an antitrust bill that would allow for sideloading and alternate app stores.

Ahead of the meeting, Apple's head of government affairs in the Americas Tim Powderly sent a letter to committee members, urging them to reject the bill, reports Bloomberg. Powderly repeated a privacy and security argument that Apple executives have made many times before about the dangers of sideloading.

Sideloading would enable bad actors to evade Apple's privacy and security protections by distributing apps without critical privacy and security checks. These provisions would allow malware, scams and data-exploitation to proliferate.

He also said that Apple is "deeply concerned" that the legislation in its current form would also "make it easier for big social media platforms to avoid the pro-consumer practices of Apple's App Store."

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee already discussed the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, another antitrust bill introduced in June 2021, which Apple also spoke out against. Despite Apple's protests, the bill was approved and will move on to the Senate floor for a vote. It is likely that the Open App Markets Act will join it.

For many people, Face ID has been frustrating to use for the past two years because it doesn't work with a face mask, but that's changing in iOS 15.4, an update that's currently available to developers and public beta testers.

iOS 15.4 adds Face ID with a Mask, letting you unlock your iPhone with Face ID even when your face is covered, so Face ID is as convenient with a mask as it is without one.

How Face ID With a Mask Works

With the lower half of your face covered by a mask, Face ID scans your eye area to authenticate your identity. According to Apple, Face ID with a mask recognizes the "unique features" around the eye area rather than looking at the entire face when you're wearing a mask.

Face ID when wearing a mask works just like Face ID without a mask. You swipe up on the ‌iPhone‌'s display and it unlocks with a Face ID scan. Face ID with a mask also works interchangeably with standard Face ID, so your phone works in the same way when you're wearing a mask and when you're not.

Face ID with a mask is identical to standard Face ID in almost every way, but there are a few additional setup steps to go through, and it does not work with sunglasses. There are also a few more limitations with unlocking angles because Face ID with a Mask needs to clearly see your eyes before it will unlock.

Face ID with a Mask Setup

When you update to iOS 15.4, there's a built-in Face ID with a Mask setup process that you'll be prompted to complete. It's identical to the original Face ID setup process, and you'll be asked to complete a 3D facial scan.

If you skip this process, you can also toggle it on later. Open up the Settings app, tap on Face ID & Passcode, authenticate with a passcode, and toggle on the "Use Face ID With a Mask" option.

If you wear glasses, you'll need to go through a secondary setup process.

Adding Glasses

Because Face ID with a Mask uses a scan of the eye area, glasses that you wear need to be added on an individual basis. If you wear multiple pairs of glasses, you'll need to do a scan for each one.

To go through the process of adding your glasses, Open up the Settings app, tap on Face ID & Passcode, authenticate with a passcode, and tap "Add Glasses."

From there, you'll need to put on your glasses and complete an additional Face ID scan, which is identical to any other Face ID scan where you rotate your head in a circle to scan from multiple angles.

No Sunglasses Support

While standard Face ID works when you're wearing most sunglasses, that's not the case with Face ID with a Mask. Face ID with a Mask requires direct eye contact to work, and sunglasses obscure the eyes.

If you are wearing a mask and sunglasses at the same time, you can still unlock your ‌iPhone‌ with your Apple Watch using the Apple Watch unlocking feature. You will need to remove either the mask or the sunglasses to authenticate Apple Pay purchases and log in to apps that use Face ID.

Face ID with a Mask Authentication

When wearing a mask, Face ID works the same as Face ID without a mask. You can unlock your ‌iPhone‌, authenticate ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases, and use Face ID in lieu of a passcode for third-party apps. This is in stark contrast to the "Unlock With Apple Watch" feature that Apple added to iOS 14.5 last year and cannot authenticate transactions.

Device Limitations

Face ID with a Mask is only available on the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and ‌iPhone‌ 13 models. It's compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 12, iPhone 12 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, ‌iPhone‌ 13, ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max.

It does not work with earlier iPhones and it does not work with the iPad. Apple has not made it clear if there is a hardware limitation preventing the Face ID mask unlock from working with earlier versions of the ‌iPhone‌.

Security Implications

Apple says that Face ID is "most accurate" when it's set up for full-face recognition only, but it is not clear if there are security implications with a partial facial analysis.

In testing, we have not been able to get an ‌iPhone‌ to unlock by someone else wearing a mask, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen, especially in families where there may be similarities between the area around the eyes.

Apple has not provided in-depth information on just how the Face ID with a Mask feature works in comparison to regular Face ID, but Apple has not explicitly said that it's less secure.

Face ID Apple Watch Unlock

Face ID with a Mask does not replace the pre-existing Unlock with Apple Watch feature, and the two can be used together, but the ‌iPhone‌ does default to Face ID with a mask, unless you're wearing a mask and sunglasses at the same time. If you have a mask and sunglasses on, you can use the Apple Watch unlocking feature with Face ID to unlock your ‌iPhone‌.

Unlock with Apple Watch was previously the only option available for unlocking the ‌iPhone‌ while wearing a mask, but it is more limited and it does not work with third-party apps or ‌Apple Pay‌ purchases. It continues to be the only option for those who have an ‌iPhone‌ 11 or earlier or those who want to wear a mask and sunglasses at the same time.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Face ID with a Mask or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

The Google One app for iPhone and iPad appears to have mysteriously disappeared from the App Store this morning, and it is no longer available for download.

As noted on Reddit, attempting to download the Google One app in the United States and Canada pops up an error message that says "App Not Available."

It is not clear why the app has been removed from the ‌App Store‌ at this time, and we've asked both Google and Apple for an explanation.

The app's disappearance comes just a day after Google brought its Google One VPN service to ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌ users. The VPN functionality is available as part of Google One Premium, priced at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Update: The Google One app is once again available for download from the ‌App Store‌. There is no word on why it was temporarily missing.

While much of Apple's product lineup is up to date right now, a handful of devices and accessories have not received hardware updates in recent years.

Below, we have put together a list of five products that Apple sells that have not been updated in over two years, aside from new software features. The list excludes previous-generation products like the iPhone 11 and Apple Watch Series 3.

iPod touch

Apple last updated the iPod touch in May 2019 with an A10 chip and a new 256GB storage option, making it nearly three years old.

The seventh-generation iPod touch retained the same design as the sixth-generation model, including a 4-inch Retina display, a Home button without Touch ID, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Lightning connector, and a single speaker and microphone. The device is available in six colors, including Space Gray, Silver, Pink, Blue, Gold, and (PRODUCT)RED.

Apple redesigned its website last year and no longer prominently advertises the iPod touch's product page, but the device remains available for purchase. There haven't been any concrete rumors about Apple working on a new iPod touch, so it remains to be seen if the device will ever be updated again or if it will be discontinued eventually.

Magic Mouse 2

Introduced in October 2015, the second-generation Magic Mouse for the Mac is over six years old. The mouse has received no hardware updates over that time, but it does come with a woven USB-C to Lightning cable in the box now. When purchased with a 24-inch iMac, the Magic Mouse 2 is also available in several new matching colors.

The Magic Mouse 2 is infamous for having a Lightning connector on its bottom side, which prevents the mouse from being used while charging.

Apple Pencil 2

Released alongside a new iPad Pro in October 2018, the second-generation Apple Pencil will soon be three and a half years old.

A key feature of the second-generation Apple Pencil over the original is that it can be magnetically attached to the third-generation iPad Pro or newer for wireless charging. Users can also switch between drawing tools and brushes within apps like Notes by double tapping on the second-generation Apple Pencil's built-in touch sensor.

High-end Mac mini

While lower-end Mac mini configurations were updated with Apple's custom-designed M1 chip in November 2020, higher-end configurations with Intel processors have not been updated since October 2018, beyond Apple reshuffling storage capacities.

Rumors suggest that Apple plans to release new high-end Mac mini configurations powered by its M1 Pro and M1 Max chips later this year.

AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro launched in October 2019, making them nearly two and a half years old.

According to oft-accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to launch second-generation AirPods Pro in the fourth quarter of 2022, which runs from October through December of the year. Kuo expects the new AirPods Pro to feature an upgraded wireless chip, support lossless audio, and have a new charging case that can emit a sound to be found.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu have previously reported that Apple has tested a more compact design for the second-generation AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems that drop below the earbuds. If this ends up being the final design, the new AirPods Pro could look similar to Apple's Beats Studio Buds released last year.

Apple Watch Series 7 deals have continued on Amazon this week, offering up to $50 off nearly every model of the 41mm and 45mm Apple Watch Series 7. Every model is shipped and sold directly by Amazon, with stock available for shipping today for most devices.

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.

41mm GPS Aluminum

The 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 is available for $349.99, down from $399.00 in numerous colors and bands. We've seen this version of the Series 7 go down another $10 in previous sales, but those offers only had one or two colors at a discount. Today's sale has nearly every 41mm GPS Aluminum model at a solid second-best price.

• (Product)Red with (Product)Red Sport Band - $349.99, down from $399.00
• Green with Clover Sport Band - $349.99, down from $399.00
• Starlight with Starlight Sport Band - $349.99, down from $399.00
• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $349.99, down from $399.00

45mm GPS Aluminum

Additionally, the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 is on sale for $379.99, down from $429.00. Just like the 41mm option, we have seen a steeper discount in the past on just one color, but Amazon's sale today has a wide array of color options at a solid $50 off.

• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $379.99, down from $429.00
• Starlight with Starlight Sport Band - $379.99, down from $429.00
• (Product)Red with (Product)Red Sport Band - $379.99, down from $429.00
• Blue with Abyss Blue Sport Band - $379.99, down from $429.00
• Green with Clover Sport Band - $379.99, down from $429.00

41mm Cellular Aluminum

Cellular options are also on sale this week on Amazon, but there aren't quite as many discounts on 41mm cellular models. For these devices, you'll find two markdowns on Amazon, including the Blue Aluminum and Midnight Aluminum versions of the Apple Watch Series 7.

• Blue with Abyss Blue Sport Band - $449.00, down from $499.00
• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $449.00, down from $499.00

45mm Cellular Aluminum

There are more 45mm cellular Series 7 models on sale, but the discount isn't quite as steep as other models. You'll save $30 on these devices, with Amazon offering a second-best price on the 45mm cellular versions of the new Apple Watch.

• Green with Clover Sport Band - $499.00, down from $529.00
• Blue with Abyss Blue Sport Band - $499.99, down from $529.00
• Midnight with Midnight Sport Band - $499.99, down from $529.00
• Starlight with Starlight Sport Band - $499.00, down from $529.00

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

Telegram has updated its iPhone and iPad app with several new features, including new easy-to-make video stickers, better reactions, interactive emoji, improved navigation between chats, and other additions and improvements.

Telegram's video stickers have proven a popular feature on the chat platform, and in the latest version of the app, support has been added for stickers converted from regular videos.

This means creating detailed animated stickers no longer requires specialized software such as Adobe Illustrator if users want to make their own. For interested creators, Telegram has a video sticker manual with all the details.

Version 8.5.1 of the app also brings improved message reactions. Users can now press and hold a reaction to send a larger reaction, and reactions are now synchronized, so recipients see the animations in real time. In addition, reactions now have a read status.

There are also five new reactions that can optionally be sent as interactive emoji with synchronized fullscreen effects. They include smiling face with three hearts, mind-blown face, thinking face, swearing face, and hands clapping.

Meanwhile, navigating through chats in Telegram has been improved. When jumping through unread channels or moving between chats, users can now press and hold the "Back" button to return to a specific chat via a popup menu. Opening chats from forwarded messages, links, usernames, profiles, and so on also adds them to the menu.

Elsewhere, Telegram developers have improved call quality, added support for translation to Instant View pages (and bios on iOS), added the option to send silent messages from the sharing menu, and included new animations when tapping icons in the tab bar.

Telegram version 8.5.1 is available now on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

WhatsApp's plan to bring iMessage-style message reactions to the massively popular chat platform appears to be entering its final stages, based on new screenshots shared by WABetaInfo.

WhatsApp has been working on message reactions – or "Tapbacks" in Apple Messages parlance – for some time, with evidence of their development first coming to light last summer.

The feature gives messaging app users a quick and easy way to respond to a message (a thumbs-up or thumbs-down in iMessage, for example) without having to type out a lengthier text-based reply.

Early hints that message reactions are coming to WhatsApp suggested the functionality and appearance of the feature hadn't been properly fleshed out, but the latest images give users a better idea of how they're likely to work.

Similar to Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp users will see a row of emoji just above a message, although it's not immediately clear from the pictures whether this is after a long press or the tap of a new button.

The six emoji currently present include thumbs up, heart, face with tears of joy, face with open mouth, crying face, and folded hands. When a reaction is chosen, it appears in a smaller profile below the message.

Notably, Facebook Messenger includes a plus button in its reaction options to access a full emoji picker, but currently this doesn't appear in the WhatsApp screenshots and it's not known if one will be added in time.

According to WABetainfo, WhatsApp plans to bring the message reactions to WhatsApp on both iOS and Android, possibly in an upcoming beta before being rolled out to the general public. The app specialist also adds that reactions will be end-to-end encrypted, just like messages shared over the platform.

A man has been sentenced to 26 months time served in prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud Apple out of more than $1 million by tricking the company into replacing hundreds of fake iPhones with authentic handsets through its warranty program.

Haiteng Wu, 32, a Chinese engineering post-graduate residing in McLean, Virginia, immigrated to the United States in 2013 and secured lawful employment, before embarking on the roughly three-and-a-half-year-long scheme to defraud Apple.

As part of the scheme, Wu and other conspirators received multiple packages containing hundreds of inoperable, counterfeit iPhones from partners in Hong Kong. The phones contained spoofed IMEI numbers and serial numbers that corresponded with authentic in-warranty iPhones.

Using fake names, the conspirators then returned the inauthentic phones to Apple, claiming the "iPhones" no longer worked and should be replaced under warranty. Apple replaced the fake handsets with authentic iPhones, and Wu then shipped back the fraudulently obtained devices to conspirators overseas, including Hong Kong.

Wu recruited others, including his wife, Jiahong Cai, and Teang Liu to participate in the conspiracy, and also procured fake identification documents, used aliases, and opened multiple commercial mail receiving agency mailboxes.

In total, Wu acknowledged defrauding Apple out of nearly $1 million and intending to defraud the company out of even more money. Wu and his conspirators were arrested in December 2019, and Wu has been in custody since.

Wu pleaded guilty in May 2020 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. On Tuesday, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan sentenced Wu to the time he had already served in custody and ordered him to pay $987,000 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgement.

Like her husband, Cai pleaded guilty to mail fraud, and the judge sentenced her to over five months time served following her guilty plea. Liu also pleaded guilty to the same offense and will be sentenced next month. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

This isn't the first time Apple has been duped into replacing hundreds of fake iPhones with authentic handsets through its warranty program. In 2019, Chinese engineering student Quan Jiang was sentenced to three years and one month of imprisonment by a US district judge after he was found guilty of scamming Apple in the same manner, also to the tune of $1 million.

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's Macs and iPads include support for two separate features called Sidecar and Universal Control that allow the devices to be used together, but in different ways.

In this guide, we'll go over everything you need to know about Universal Control and how it differs from the Sidecar feature that's been available since 2019.

What is Universal Control?

As of iPadOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3, both currently in beta, Apple has introduced support for Universal Control, the long-awaited feature that's designed to allow multiple Macs and iPads to be controlled with a single mouse and keyboard.

With Universal Control, you can use the same cursor and keyboard on any nearby Mac or ‌iPad that's signed into your iCloud account, and it works between multiple Macs and between multiple Macs and iPads positioned within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other.

How is Universal Control Different from Sidecar?

With Universal Control, if you have a Mac and an ‌iPad‌ next to each other, or even multiple Macs and iPads, you can use the keyboard and cursor on one device across all of them. So, for example, if you have a MacBook Pro and an iPad on your desk, the MacBook Pro's trackpad can be used over on the ‌iPad‌ just by swiping across, and the Mac's keyboard will become the iPad's input device. The same is also true of the ‌iPad‌ if you have a keyboard attached to it.

Sidecar works quite differently. Announced in 2019 as part of macOS Catalina, Sidecar is designed to let you use an iPad as a secondary display for your Mac. Up to one iPad can be used to either mirror the content on your Mac's display or turn it into a secondary display for extra screen real estate in macOS. Universal Control does not extend your Mac's display to the iPad, so if you want your Mac's content displayed on the iPad, you'll need to use Sidecar.

Note that while Universal Control lets you use your Mac's keyboard and trackpad to navigate your iPad, it functions over two different operating systems – macOS and iPadOS – so some quirks are to be expected. For example, if you drag a photo from Mac to iPad, you first need to open the Photos app in iOS to transfer it across – it can't be placed on the Home screen.

In contrast, Sidecar is designed as a secondary Mac display, so it works like any other secondary display you might use with your Mac to bring greater desktop screen space to macOS. Using Sidecar, you can drag windows from the Mac to the ‌iPad‌ and vice versa, and interact with both using your Mac's trackpad.

Notable Features and Limitations

Universal Control doesn't require any complicated setup and works pretty much automatically, although there are a few controls you can adjust and you can also disable it completely. In the current beta, for example, you can disable the function that lets your Mac's cursor connect to a nearby Mac or iPad by pushing against the edge of the display. You can also stop your Mac from automatically reconnecting to any nearby Mac or iPad you've previously connected to.

Note that Universal Control requires at least one Mac to use. For example, you can't just use it between two iPads. However, you can use Universal Control between Macs, with no iPads involved. Apart from the at-least-one-Mac caveat, there doesn't appear to be a limit to how many devices you can control using just the one keyboard and trackpad/mouse. Universal Control is limited to mouse/trackpad and keyboard support. You can't, for example, use an Apple Pencil with Universal Control.

With Sidecar, you can use an Apple Pencil (first or second generation depending on your ‌iPad‌) as a mouse alternative for clicking, selecting, and other on-screen macOS control tasks. Think of the ‌Apple Pencil‌ as a mouse or trackpad when using it with Sidecar.

In apps like Photoshop and Illustrator, the ‌Apple Pencil‌ does even more. You can draw right in Photoshop or other similar Mac apps, which transforms the ‌iPad‌ into a graphics tablet for your Mac, not unlike a Wacom graphics tablet.

Sidecar also optionally adds a Touch Bar to the bottom of the ‌iPad‌, which is the same as the Touch Bar on the Touch Bar MacBook Pro models. Even if your Mac doesn't naturally have a Touch Bar, these Touch Bar controls can be displayed on the iPad screen.

Should I Use Sidecar or Universal Control?

Should you use Sidecar or Universal Control on your Macs and iPads? The question really comes down to your personal use case.

If you'd like to extend your macOS desktop space to your iPad's screen, and you don't intend to use iPadOS, then the simple answer is to use Sidecar. If you want to use your iPad and Apple Pencil to draw or illustrate something that you're working on in a Mac app, then Sidecar is the option to take.

If you want to control multiple Macs and iPads with the same input devices, and you're happy to live with some interoperability limitations between macOS and iPadOS (drag-and-drop, for example) then Universal Control is the ideal solution.

Can I Use Universal Control and Sidecar at the Same Time?

Provided you have enough iPads and Macs, you can actually use Sidecar and Universal Control at the same time and enjoy the best of both worlds.

• How to Use Universal Control and Sidecar Simultaneously in macOS 12.3

For example, you could connect your Mac to one iPad via Sidecar for some extra macOS screen space, and on the other side of your Mac you could control a second iPad or Mac using the Mac's keyboard and trackpad.

How to Use Sidecar and Universal Control

For full instructions on how to set up and use Sidecar and Universal Control, including device compatibility information for the two features, be sure to check out our dedicated guides by following the above hyperlinks.

Apple today released watchOS 8.4.1, a minor update to the watchOS 8 operating system that launched in September. watchOS 8.4.1 comes a week after the release of watchOS 8.4, an update that added a fix for an ongoing charging issue.

‌‌watchOS ‌8.4.1 can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌‌‌.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, watchOS 8.4.1 introduces unspecified fixes for the Apple Watch Series 4 and later. There is no additional information available on the new software, but if we find out what's addressed, we'll update this article.