MacRumors

Apple appears to have recently updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID.

If you receive an App Store or Apple Store gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that was previously visible in the ‌App Store‌ and ‌Apple Store‌ apps. As of today, the Apple Account balance can also be added to a new card in the Wallet app.

To add the card, open up the Wallet app and under "Available Cards," tap on "Add Apple Account." As long as you have an Apple Account balance, you'll be able to add the card.

Once added, you can view your Apple Account balance right from the Wallet app and use it to purchase Apple products, apps, games, and music. It works in the same way as any other card in the Wallet app when at an ‌Apple Store‌. The Apple Account Card replaces the iTunes Pass that used to be available quite some time ago.

The Apple Account Card can be added on devices running iOS 15.5 or later.

(Thanks, Jacob!)

On the first day of the Worldwide Developers Conference, a select number of developers will travel to Apple Park in Cupertino, California to experience a special viewing event at Apple's ring-shaped campus.

The June 6 event will include a viewing of the WWDC keynote and the Platforms State of the Union as previously announced, but attendees have also been informed about what the rest of the day will hold.

Developers will be able to check in to the ‌Apple Park‌ Visitor Center at 7:00 a.m., and from there, Apple will hold an open house at the new Apple Developer Center, which little is known about. At 8:00 a.m., Apple will serve breakfast at Caffe Macs, and then there will be a keynote viewing at 10:00 a.m.

After the keynote, developers will eat lunch at noon, and then the Platforms State of the Union will kick off at 1:00 p.m. From there, developers can choose three separate tours.

There's a tour of the ‌Apple Park‌ Hills, the Fitness Center Area, and Caffe Macs. All three tours take place at 2:30 p.m., so developers must choose to attend one, and Apple says that space is limited. After that, the day will wrap up with the Apple Design Awards at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

Developers were informed yesterday that attendees must test negative for COVID the day before and that N95 masks would be required in all indoor areas. Apple is requiring developers to follow its health and safety protocols, which take into account the latest guidance from public health authorities.

All developers had a chance to apply to attend the ‌Apple Park‌ viewing event, and Apple selected attendees using a lottery system. Attendance is free, but developers will need to pay for travel and accommodations in Cupertino.

Apple is not hosting a full in-person WWDC event, and the keynote and the rest of the conference will be digital. The viewing party is the sole in-person component of WWDC 2022.

Sony earlier this week came out with the WH-1000XM5 headphones, which we already checked out, and the LinkBuds S, a set of noise canceling earbuds that are similar to the AirPods Pro. In our latest YouTube video, we pit the ‌AirPods Pro‌ against the LinkBuds S to see how Sony's new earbuds offering measures up.

Priced at $199, the LinkBuds S are $50 cheaper than the ‌AirPods Pro‌, but it's worth noting that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ are often on sale and can be purchased for $197 from Amazon right now. That puts the LinkBuds S and the ‌AirPods Pro‌ at about the same price point, though it's likely the LinkBuds S will also be available at a discount later this year.

Like the ‌AirPods Pro‌, the LinkBuds S have a silicone tip that goes in the ear, and you can choose the size that fits best. They're just about as comfortable as the ‌AirPods Pro‌ thanks to the design similarities.

When it comes to sound quality, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ and the LinkBuds S have a lot in common. Both sound similar, but it is nice that the LinkBuds S have EQ adjustments available through the Sony app, something the ‌AirPods Pro‌ don't offer. Out of the box, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ have the better sound profile, but the LinkBuds S can be adjusted to your preferences.

The LinkBuds S are bass heavy at their default settings, but it's fixable, so that gives them a customization edge over the ‌AirPods Pro‌.

As for noise canceling, both the ‌AirPods Pro‌ and the LinkBuds S are about the same. They're both solid at blocking out ambient noise, and it's hard to say whether one is better than the other. The exception is Transparency mode, because the ‌AirPods Pro‌ have a higher-quality transparency mode so ambient sound is clearer and more natural, but Sony again has customizability in the form of an option to adjust the level of the ambient sound in the app.

The Sony LinkBuds S offer up to six hours of playback plus an additional 14 hours through the charging case, but the ‌AirPods Pro‌ exceed that a bit with up to 24 hours of total listening time.

Both of these are solid earbud options and are equivalent in a lot of ways. If you want more customization, the LinkBuds S have the edge, but in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods always win out because of features like fast switching and automatic pairing.

Make sure to watch our full ‌AirPods Pro‌ vs. Sony LinkBuds S video up above to get a complete overview of the differences between the two sets of earbuds.

Epic Games and Apple are continuing with their legal dispute, and today, ‌Epic Games‌ filed its Appeal Reply and Cross-Appeal Response Brief, following Apple's appeal filing back in March.

In the filing, ‌Epic Games‌ reiterates many of the same arguments that it made during the trial. The company believes that the district court "reached the wrong answer" and made "multiple legal errors." Apple, says Epic, is ignoring these errors and "employing diversion" to distract the appeals court.

Responding to Apple's claim that sideloading or alternate app stores would compromise the security of the iPhone, ‌Epic Games‌ again points toward the Mac, where apps can be downloaded outside of the Mac App Store. Epic believes the only consequence of support for alternate app stores would be Apple having to "compete for its customers."

Apple also asserts that the relief Epic seeks will compromise the security of the iPhone. But that is untrue. The operating system Apple uses in its Mac computers ("macOS") does not include the challenged restraints found in the iPhone operating system ("iOS"), and Apple consistently touts the Mac's security. Apple also permits multiple alternative payment solutions in the App Store for apps selling physical goods, confirming that the requirement to use Apple's in-app payment solution, IAP, for digital goods serves no procompetitive goal. If Epic prevails, the App Store would not be dismantled. No customer would ever be required to use any of the things Apple complains about--an alternative app store, direct downloads for app distribution, or an alternative payment solution. The difference is that Apple would have to compete for its customers.

The rest of the briefing dismantles Apple's own appeal and points out alleged errors made by both Apple and the court. It can be read in full over on Scribd, for those who are interested.

Going forward, additional briefs will be submitted by Apple and ‌Epic Games‌ before the court decides to set a date to hear the arguments. Apple is expecting a decision by summer 2023 at the earliest, so we will be continuing to hear about the dispute between Apple and ‌Epic Games‌ for another year at a minimum.

Apple has zero intention of reinstating the ‌Epic Games‌ developer account until the legal battle has been settled, so Fortnite will not be returning to the App Store. There are, however, alternatives, as Fortnite can be played on the browser on the ‌iPhone‌ or the iPad through Fortnite support on Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming platform or GeForce NOW.

A few weeks after Apple announced it is discontinuing the iPod touch, the company has started to remove the device from its website in some countries.

It is no longer possible to access the iPod touch's product page on Apple's website in countries such as Canada, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, and many others. The page is still live in some countries, including the United States, but inventory is either sold out or very limited.

Apple had already relegated the iPod touch to the footer of its website following a redesign last year, and the device being removed entirely now in some countries signals that the end is near for the last iPod model in Apple's history.

It may still be possible to find the iPod touch at select Apple Store and Apple Authorized Reseller locations while supplies last, but inventory is very limited by this point. The seventh-generation iPod touch was released in May 2019 and features a 4-inch Retina display, an A10 chip, and a classic Home button without Touch ID.

First introduced in October 2001, the iPod is one of Apple's most iconic products, but the device's discontinuation became inevitable given the wide array of Apple products that can play music, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod mini, and more.

"The spirit of iPod lives on," Apple's marketing chief Greg Joswiak said earlier this month.

(Thanks, exDeveloper and Thomas GS!)

Swedish furniture and accessory store Ikea today announced the upcoming launch of the Dirigera smart hub, which supports Matter. Matter is a universal smart home automation connectivity standard that is being adopted by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, and other manufacturers. It promises smart home interoperability, and is just beginning to roll out this year.

The Dirigera is an upgrade from the existing Trådfri gateway, and is built to handle more product segments. It features a revamped onboarding experience, along with personalization options that include different scenes and pre-set functions for smart products. The hub will work with Ikea smart products, and as it it supports Matter, it will also work with other devices that have Matter integration.

The Matter smart home standard has been delayed until fall 2022, but Apple plans to support it, so Apple HomeKit devices should be compatible with Ikea's hub.

Ikea is planning to deploy a newly updated Ikea Home smart app alongside the Dirigera, and the app is meant to be easier to navigate and more user friendly for those who are new to the smart home experience.

The Dirigera and the revamped Ikea app are set to launch in October 2022.

Ember this week expanded its lineup of temperature-controlled mugs with a new 6-ounce Ember Cup designed for espresso-based drinks such as cappuccinos, cortados, and flat whites. Ember Cup pricing starts at $99.95 in the United States, making it the cheapest option in the Ember lineup, but it is also quite small.

With a built-in battery, the Ember Cup keeps your coffee or other hot beverage at your desired drinking temperature for up to 90 minutes, or for as long as necessary when placed on the included charging coaster. The cup can be connected to an iPhone via Bluetooth, allowing it to be controlled with the Ember app to set your preferred temperature between 120°F and 145°F, preset temperatures based on drink type, and more.

When used without a smartphone, the Ember Cup keeps beverages at 135°F by default. A smart LED on the bottom of the cup indicates when the beverage has reached the desired temperature, which is then maintained by the cup.

While the Ember Cup is the most affordable Ember model today, it is worth noting that the original Ember Mug used to start at $79.95 when we reviewed it several years ago. Ember Mug pricing has since increased to $129.95 for the 10-ounce option and to $149.95 for the 14-ounce option. There is also an Ember Travel Mug available for $199.95.

Ember Cup can be ordered through Ember's website, with a black model available for $99.95 and a copper model available for $129.95. Apple also sells Ember Mugs through its online store, but it does not yet carry the Ember Cup.

Apple today released a new 15.5.1 update for the HomePod and the HomePod mini, with the new software coming a week and a half after the launch of the 15.5 software for the HomePod.

According to Apple's release notes, the 15.5.1 ‌HomePod‌ update addresses an issue that could cause music to stop playing after a short time.

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app by following the instructions in our HomePod‌‌ update how to.

Amazon is marking down a wide variety of 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models this week, with prices starting as low as $749.00 for the 11-inch tablet. You'll find the full list of sales below, all of which can be found on Amazon.

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.

12.9-inch iPad Pro

Highlights in this sale include the tablets with higher storage that are seeing new all-time low prices, like the 2TB Cellular 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $1,949.99 ($449 off). At this much of a discount, the 2TB Cellular 12.9-inch iPad Pro is now the same price as the 2TB Wi-Fi model, so this is a great time to buy the cellular device.

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $999.00, down from $1,099.00 ($100 off)
• 256GB Wi-Fi - $1,099.00, down from $1,199.00 ($100 off)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $1,299.99, down from $1,399.00 ($99 off)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,949.99, down from $2,199.00 ($249 off, lowest ever)
• 2TB Cellular - $1,949.99, down from $2,399.00 ($449 off, lowest ever)

For a few of these tablets, shoppers should note that there are delayed shipping estimates and dwindling stock, so be sure to check out the deals soon if you're interested.

11-inch iPad Pro

We're tracking a few more deals on the smaller tablet compared to those on the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro. You can save on every Wi-Fi model, with a few lowest ever prices offering as much as $199 off the tablet. One cellular device is on sale at a record low price as well, offering $149 off the 2TB 11-inch iPad Pro.

• 128GB Wi-Fi - $749.00, down from $799.00 ($50 off)
• 256GB Wi-Fi - $799.99, down from $899.00 ($99 off, lowest ever)
• 512GB Wi-Fi - $999.99, down from $1,099.00 ($99 off)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00 ($199 off, lowest ever)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,699.99, down from $1,899.00 ($199 off)
• 2TB Cellular - $1,949.99, down from $2,099.00 ($149 off, lowest ever)

Apple introduced these tablets in April 2021, and they feature a faster M1 chip, a Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display on the 12.9-inch model, 5G connectivity, and an all-screen design with an edge-to-edge display that does not include a Home button.

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.

Apple today released tvOS 15.5.1, a minor update to the tvOS operating system that first launched in September 2021. tvOS 15.5.1 comes about 10 days after the launch of tvOS 15.5.

tvOS 15.5.1 can be downloaded over the air on the Apple TV through the Settings app by going to System > Software Update. ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 15.5.1 automatically.

Apple's tvOS updates are typically more minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes.

Apple does not offer detailed release notes for its tvOS updates, but the company does offer some tvOS information through the tvOS support document. According to the support document, the update addresses an issue where music could stop playing after a short time.

As multiple Apple Stores in the United States work toward unionization, Apple's head of retail Deirdre O'Brien is aiming to thwart employee efforts through an anti-union video that was sent out to retail stores today.

Bloomberg shared details on the video, with O'Brien telling employees that unionization could slow workplace progress and could result in a soured relationship between Apple and its employees.

"It is your right to join a union - and it is equally your right not to join a union," O'Brien said in the video. She said that employees should "consult a wide range of people and sources" to have a full understanding of what it would mean to "work at Apple under a collective bargaining agreement."

O'Brien said that union organizations do not have an understanding of how Apple runs and may not be committed to employees as Apple is.

"We have a relationship that is based on an open and collaborative and direct engagement, which I feel could fundamentally change if a store is represented by a union under a collective bargaining agreement," she said. "And I worry about what it would mean to put another organization in the middle of our relationship. An organization that doesn't have a deep understanding of Apple or our business, and most importantly, one that I do not believe shares our commitment to you."

She explained that implementing raises, bonuses, and other new benefits could take longer under a union situation, referencing bonuses that were provided to retail employees during the pandemic. A union would potentially limit Apple's ability to implement "immediate, widespread changes," and it could "make it harder for [Apple] to act swiftly to address things" that employees bring up.

Apple retail locations in Washington State, New York City, Maryland, and Atlanta 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 long been rumored to be planning an electric vehicle, but the team working on the project has reportedly faced many struggles over the years, including development challenges and the loss of some key employees.

One of the latest departures is CJ Moore, who has left Apple to join autonomous vehicle technology company Luminar. In a press release shared by Bloomberg, Luminar said Moore will lead the company's global software development team. Moore had served as a director of autonomous systems at Apple since August, after working on autopilot software at Tesla for nearly seven years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The so-called "Apple Car" team has seen several departures and hires as turnover continues. Apple's director of machine learning Ian Goodfellow recently moved to Google, for example, while longtime Ford engineer Desi Ujkashevic joined Apple.

In late 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple was aiming to develop an electric vehicle with full self-driving functionality that does not require human intervention, with the project being led by Apple executive Kevin Lynch. Gurman said Apple's ideal car would have no steering wheel and pedals for a hands-off driving experience. Apple's vehicle is expected to launch around 2025 at the earliest.

Leaker Jon Prosser today shared ostensibly accurate renders of the iPhone 14 Pro, providing the most accurate look yet at what the device could look like when it launches later this year.

In the latest video on YouTube channel Front Page Tech, Prosser revealed renders of the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro made by Apple concept graphic designer Ian Zelbo, highlighting a range of specific design changes rumored to come to this year's high-end ‌iPhone‌ model.

The renders mirror a broad variety of plausible design rumors from reputable sources, including CAD renders and specific dimensions, leaked schematics, images of accessory production molds, early cases, and other information.

The front of the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro is believed to feature a centered pill-shaped and circular True Depth camera array in place of the notch and slimmer bezels around the display, resulting in a significantly different look for the front of the device. There is also said to be slightly larger display that partially adds to the device's height.

The most striking change at the back of the device is a substantially larger rear camera array, which contains a new 48MP camera system with a 57 percent larger sensor and 8K video recording capability. The larger camera plateau is naturally more noticeable on the 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro than it is on the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max.

The renders also depict the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro's corners with larger radii for a more rounded appearance. Apple may have been compelled to change the corner radius of the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro because of its larger rear camera array.

The rear camera arrays of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max broadly matched the corner radius of each device's frame, but when Apple increased the size of the camera arrays with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max, neither device matched its corners. While the difference between the ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max's camera arrays are minor, the difference between the ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro is significant.

It seems plausible that with another increase in size this year, the incongruence between the curves of the camera plateau, lenses, and corners of the stainless steel frame itself became too severe on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, leading Apple to amend the design. The new, larger corner radii still do not exactly match the rounded corners of the rear camera array plateau, but are significantly closer. This correction bears noticeable changes on the front of the device.

The renders also focus on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 lineup's rumored purple color, with Prosser corroborating a previous report that claimed the ‌iPhone‌ 14 will headline with a "unique" purple color option. There are also depictions of the expected Graphite, Silver, and Gold color options for the "Pro" models.

Prosser recently shared renders of one of the new Apple Watch models set to launch this year, showing a new design with a flat display, but it is not known whether they relate to the Apple Watch Series 8, the second-generation Apple Watch SE, or the new Apple Watch "Explorer Edition" with enhanced durability.

Maryland residents can now add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age. The feature first launched in Arizona back in March.

When the feature launched in Arizona, Apple said additional U.S. states would offer driver's licenses and state IDs in the Wallet app soon, including Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Ohio, as well as the territory of Puerto Rico. Apple also previously announced that Georgia, Connecticut, Iowa, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Utah planned to offer the feature to residents, but it is unclear when each state plans to roll out the functionality.

To add an ID to the iPhone, Maryland residents can tap the "+" button in the top-right corner of the Wallet app and follow the on-screen instructions.

The feature is available in the U.S. only and requires an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 15.4 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 8.4 or later. Apple has yet to indicate whether the feature will launch in additional countries in the future.

For now, IDs in the Wallet app can only be presented at select TSA checkpoints at select U.S. airports, with Apple advising travelers to check TSA checkpoint signage to confirm availability. Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration said residents must continue to carry their physical driver's license or ID card with them, and noted that law enforcement will not accept Maryland driver's licenses or IDs in the Wallet app at this time.

After a driver's license or ID has been added to the Wallet app, users can simply tap their iPhone or Apple Watch on an identity reader at a TSA checkpoint, without taking out their physical card. Users will see a prompt on their device displaying the specific information being requested by the TSA, and only after authorizing with Face ID or Touch ID is the requested identity information released from their device, according to Apple.

Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to a TSA officer to present their mobile driver's license or ID, according to Apple.

Apple said the feature is designed with privacy and security in mind. When adding an ID to the Wallet app, users are required to take a photo of their face, which will be securely provided to the issuing state for verification. Users are also prompted to complete a series of facial and head movements during the setup process.

Apple-owned Beats today introduced new limited-edition Studio Buds designed in collaboration with Amsterdam-based, African-inspired fashion brand Daily Paper.

In a tweet, Beats said the custom Studio Buds are inspired by Daily Paper's spring/summer 2022 clothing collection, which celebrates hip-hop culture from the 1970s to 1990s. The earbuds have a white, black, and red color scheme with Daily Paper branding.

The limited-edition Studio Buds will be available to order this Thursday, May 26, but Beats did not provide any specific availability information. Pricing was also not disclosed, but the standard Studio Buds retail for $149.99 in the United States, and limited-edition Beats typically retail for the same price as standard Beats.

Beats Studio Buds launched in June 2021, with standard color options including white, pink, gray, blue, black, and red. The wireless earbuds feature a compact round design without any "stems" dropping below the ears, active noise cancellation with up to five hours of listening time per charge, hands-free "Hey Siri" support, IPX4-rated sweat and water resistance, Find My support, and a USB-C wired charging case.

Apple in February unveiled a new "Tap to Pay on iPhone" feature that will allow compatible iPhones to accept payments via Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets, with no additional hardware required.

Apple began testing the feature at its Apple Park Visitor Center earlier this month, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has tweeted that the feature will begin rolling out to Apple Stores across the United States starting today, allowing customers to try it out. The feature might not be available at every Apple Store immediately.

Apple said the feature would launch in the U.S. later this year, but the company has yet to share a specific launch timeframe. The feature will allow small businesses and merchants to accept contactless payments through supported iOS apps using an iPhone XS or newer. At checkout, the merchant will simply prompt the customer to hold their own iPhone or Apple Watch, contactless credit or debit card, or other digital wallet near the merchant's iPhone, and the payment will be securely completed using NFC technology.

Currently, merchants that accept contactless payments on an iPhone must rely on additional hardware like the Square Reader, which comes in various models that work wirelessly or connect to an iPhone's Lightning connector or headphone jack.