As Apple reportedly plans to switch the iPhone 15 and a number of its accessories to USB-C in the coming years, the upcoming second-generation AirPods Pro charging case will continue to feature a Lightning port, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.
The upcoming AirPods Pro will not, however, mark the start of the transition towards USB-C for the AirPods line. "I predict the charging case of AirPods Pro 2 will still support Lightning, not USB-C," Kuo said in a tweet. All of Apple's AirPods, including the high-end $550 AirPods Max, feature a Lightning connector for charging.
The second-generation AirPods Pro will be the first update to the AirPods Pro since their launch in 2019. The new models are expected to feature a new design that gets rid of the stem for an all-ear design, similar to the Beats Fit Pro. Health tracking capabilities, as well as an improved charging case and audio quality, are also expected. For everything we know about the upcoming AirPods Pro, see our guide.
Following the May 16 launch of iOS 15.5, Apple has stopped signing iOS 15.4.1, the previously available version of iOS that came out in late March. Because iOS 15.4.1 is no longer being signed, it is not possible to downgrade to that version of iOS after installing iOS 15.5.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date, so it is not unusual that iOS 15.4.1 is no longer being signed.
iOS 15.4.1 was a minor update that addressed an issue that could cause the iPhone's battery to drain more quickly following the iOS 15.4 launch. It also addressed an AppleAVD issue that could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, which Apple said was actively exploited.
iOS 15.5 added an Apple Cash feature for requesting and sending money, along with new features for Podcasts and a fix for an issue with home automations. It also included several security updates, and those who have not already upgraded to iOS 15.5 should do so for that reason.
Popular Reddit client Apollo today received a notable update that overhauls the notification experience. The app now features custom subreddit watchers that provide alerts when content you're interested in is posted, plus it supports alerts for trending posts in your preferred subreddits.
For those who often use the Reddit Remind Me bots, Apollo now has an option to schedule a notification for a post you want to revisit for an update. The app includes a rebuilt inbox notifications experience, plus there are customizable notification sounds.
In addition, there are 10 new icons to choose from, plus a number of other smaller tweaks and bug fixes. The entire set of notes for the update are available below.
- Brand new, completely redesigned notification experience - Introducing custom subreddit watchers. Incredibly powerful, you can now create filters and have Apollo watch for interesting content in your favorite subreddits, and get a notification as soon as a matching post exists. So you'll never again miss out on a fascinating discussion about your favorite character Mark in your favorite TV show subreddit, or about PS5 or Xbox sightings in your city's subreddit, or about the squirrels being posted in r/aww. It's so unbelievably handy. - Trending subreddit posts. With a tap you can turn on trending post notifications for subreddits of your choosing, so when a post in your favorite subreddit does super well, Apollo will send you a little notification to brighten your day - Remind Me In... tired of summoning "remind me bots" in comments? Apollo can now easily schedule a notification for a post you want an update on, so you can know to come back when OP posts the juicy update they promised - Completely rebuilt inbox notifications (post replies, comment replies, messages, mentions) - Probably the best set of icons ever added to Apollo. An absurdly talented crew of designers created some of Apollo's best icons for this update, and guess what, there's like literally 10 of them, ready to make your home screen shine - A bunch of new custom notification sounds. You can even have A-P-O-L-L-O being typed on a mechanical keyboard as your notification sound! - Added Video Deblurinator feature/setting which helps with videos not appearing blurry for the first few seconds - Added option to hide media controls by default when opening media viewer - Improved album/gallery loading speed - On profiles can sort user comments and post by time period now - Greatly improved efficiency with enormous images - Added option to paste Reddit URL into Search tab search bar to open that link - Fixed issue where users could be sorted incorrectly in subreddits list - Option to share watchers via a URL - Can long-press on Search tab to quickly go to the search bar - Can long-press on Posts tab to quickly jump to the Jump Bar - Tweaked Apollo logo for Safari extension - Fixed bug where it looked like you could edit the text of what you were replying to - Playback speed options for YouTube videos using API - Fixed bug where sometimes titles weren't selectable in Select Mode - Added option to completely hide blocked users - Fixed missing "Open in YouTube" setting - Fixed Markdown formatting for long lists of subreddits in comments - Added pretty icons for long-pressing notification actions - Underscores can italicize/bold in Markdown editor now - Fixed bug with favorited users - Fixed bug where some URLs wouldn't open properly - Fixed linking of some strange subreddit shortlinks - Fixed bug where underscores in links could load weirdly in Apollo - Fixed Open in Apollo redirect loop - Improved some icons in comment composer - Fixed weird animation when upvoting a comment with a Wikipedia link - Fixed bug where custom gestures and Markdown tables could conflict - Fixed bug where some table-heavy posts could crash (mostly in r/LeagueOfLegends) - Keyboard opens faster when commenting - Fixed bug with Face ID/Touch ID - Fixed bug where the pulsing "live sort" icon for comments would stop animating - Fixed bug with some Reddit shortlinks - A ton of other small little improvements
Apollo is free to download from the App Store, but more functionality can be unlocked through Apollo Pro or Apollo Ultra purchases. Apollo Pro is priced at $4.99 as a one time purchase, and Apollo Ultra is priced starting at $0.99 per month.
Apple today started sending out additional invites to developers who applied to attend the Worldwide Developers Conference viewing event at Apple Park, filling the spots of previous invitees who did not respond or who were unable to attend.
The viewing event is set to take place on Monday, June 6, and developers who are invited can attend an all-day Apple Park experience that will include a viewing party for both the WWDC keynote and the Platforms State of the Union discussion.
Developers will also be able to explore the all new Developer Center that Apple built at the Apple Park campus, which will be a special experience as no one knows much about it at this point in time.
Apple took applications for the viewing event through Wednesday, May 11, and informed developers about their status on Thursday, May 12. Developers were required to RSVP by May 18, and clearly there were some chosen who were unable to attend.
The event is limited to a small number of developers, with attendees selected using a lottery system. All members of the Apple Developer Program and Apple Developer Enterprise Program were initially invited to apply, and while the event is free, those picked must travel to Cupertino, California and secure accommodations.
There was some concern that Apple might cancel the viewing party event because of a rise in COVID cases that necessitated pushing back the full return of corporate employees to Apple Park, but that Apple is inviting additional developers suggests canceling is not in the cards at this time.
The Worldwide Developers Conference is an online event with the exception of the small viewing party. The keynote is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, June 6.
Apple is one of several companies that have held talks with Electronic Arts (EA) about a potential purchase, according to a new report from Puck.
EA has spoken to several "potential suitors," including Apple, Amazon, and Disney as it looks for a merger arrangement. Apple and the other companies declined to comment, and the status of the talks is not known at this time, but Apple does have an interest in gaming due to its Apple Arcade service.
Disney was a first pick for EA, and the gaming company approached Disney in March to establish a "more meaningful relationship" than licensing deals, but Disney decided not to pursue a purchase. EA also spoke with NBCUniversal and was close to a deal, but the talks dissolved due to disagreements over pricing and structure. EA CEO Andrew Wilson wants to remain at the head of the company following a merger, which could cause issues should Apple opt to purchase the company.
EA is a major game publisher and is known for gaming franchises that include "The Sims," "Battlefield," "Apex Legends," "SimCity," "DragonAge," "FIFA," and more.
There have been some questionable rumors about Apple aiming to compete in the AAA gaming space, releasing titles that rival those available on PlayStation and Xbox consoles, but so far the company has stuck to simpler games designed for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Since 2019, Apple has offered the $4.99 per month Apple Arcade gaming service, which has been steadily growing with new titles on a monthly basis. An EA acquisition could give Apple access to a higher caliber of game and a number of highly popular gaming franchises, but it remains to be seen if Apple is serious about getting into gaming in a bigger way.
There is a notable amount of consolidation going on in the gaming world right now, with Microsoft recently purchasing Activision Blizzard for nearly $70 billion, and Sony purchasing Bungie for $3.6 billion.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has made the list of TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2022, earning a spot in the "Titans" category. TIME shares this list every year, showcasing the most influential celebrities, executives, actors, musicians, and more.
Tim Cook has made the list many times in the past, including just last year. In 2022 he's featured in the "Titans" category, and other categories include "Artists," "Innovators," "Leaders," "Icons," and "Pioneers."
Tim Cook's profile on the list was written by Laurene Powell Jobs, who celebrated Cook's tenure as Apple's CEO and the "compassion and discipline" he shows as the head of the company.
Apple is Tim Cook’s life’s work, and in this work, Tim displays mastery. Tim has demonstrated more range in his leadership of one of the world’s largest companies than any contemporary CEO. Since Apple’s products and policies affect the very character of contemporary life, Tim’s job demands not only business wisdom but also philosophical wisdom. The intense pressure of setting and executing Apple’s progression with deep precision, and of taking responsibility for the company’s effects on society, is almost unimaginable. Yet Tim does it with compassion and discipline, turning to nature to replenish his spirit. In the summer he can be found hiking in our national parks, buoyed by the majesty of the mountains.
After more than a decade at the helm, Tim has carved out a place as not only one of the world’s most admired CEOs but an exemplar of moral leadership, technological imagination, environmental stewardship, and humanitarianism. To paraphrase a famous speech by Theodore Roosevelt: Tim strives valiantly, dares greatly, and spends himself in a grand cause.
Other notable people on the TIME 100 list this year include Simu Liu, Zoë Kravitz, Michelle Yeoh, Zendaya, Amanda Seyfried, Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, and Quinta Brunson. You can see the full list on TIME's website.
Today we're tracking a collection of discounts on Apple's charging accessories, including the MagSafe Charger, MagSafe Duo Charger, and MagSafe Battery Pack. All of these deals 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.
Starting with the MagSafe Charger, Amazon has this device for $34.00, down from $39.00. Compared to previous discounts this is about $7 higher than the all-time low price, but it's one of the first times in 2022 that we've seen the accessory be discounted at all, so if you've been waiting for a deal of any kind now's the time to snag the MagSafe Charger.
Next, you can get the MagSafe Battery Pack for $86.99, down from $99.00. While this is a second-best price, we haven't seen record low deals on this accessory since the 2021 holiday season, so anyone looking to buy one right now should look at Amazon's deal.
The MagSafe Duo Charger is also on sale on Amazon this week, available for $114.97, down from $129.00. This is another second-best price for an accessory that hasn't seen all-time low discounts for a few months now, and only Amazon has any sort of notable markdown.
The iPhone 14 will feature a more expensive "high-end" front-facing camera with autofocus, partly made in South Korea for the first time, ET News reports.
Apple reportedly ousted a Chinese candidate to choose LG Innotek, a South Korean company, to supply the iPhone 14's front-facing camera alongside Japan's Sharp. The company is said to have originally planned to switch to LG for the iPhone 15's front-facing camera, but moved the plan forward to this year.
The change is said to be down to Apple reclassifying the front-facing camera as a "high-end" component and quality concerns with Chinese suppliers. The new front-facing camera is said to cost almost three times more than camera units in previous iPhone models.
The report echoed a previous rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that claimed the iPhone 14's front-facing camera would support autofocus for the first time. Kuo said that all four of the iPhone 14 models, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max, will feature an upgraded front-facing camera with autofocus and a wider ƒ/1.9 aperture.
A wider aperture would allow more light to pass through the lens and reach the front camera's sensor on the iPhone 14 models, resulting in enhanced image quality. Kuo said these camera upgrades could provide a better depth-of-field effect for Portrait mode photos and videos, while autofocus can improve focus during FaceTime and Zoom video calls. By comparison, the front camera on all of the iPhone 13 models has a fixed focus and a smaller ƒ/2.2 aperture.
LG Innotek is now said to be preparing for mass production of the iPhone 14's front camera ahead of the device's release in September.
You can get the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro/10-core CPU/1TB SSD for $2,249.99 today on Amazon, down from $2,499.00. This sale is available in Silver and Space Gray, but Silver is offering faster shipping. This sale price will not be reflected until you head to the checkout screen.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
To date, this is the best price we've ever tracked on this model of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, beating the previous record low by about $50. Shipping estimates have dipped into June for some customers, but given that the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro notebooks have low stock at most retailers, this is still a decent shipping estimate for an all-time low deal.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Apple earlier this year sent a "Network Adapter" to the FCC for approval, an unearthed filing has revealed, although suggestions that it could be an AirPort successor or other unannounced networking product for consumer use are likely wide of the mark.
Consumer networking products from Apple's discontinued AirPort range
Whenever a company designs a device for use in the United States that uses radio frequencies like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, it must get FCC regulatory approval. According to documents shared by the FCC, Apple sent a "Network Adapter" with the model number A2657 to the agency on January 22, with the following description.
A2657 is a network adapter. It has an integral battery, two gigabit ethernet ports, USB-C connector and antenna. The device supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n radio, Bluetooth radio, and NFC. The network adapter comes with 32 GB memory storage and 1.5 GB RAM.
The device is intended to be connected to a host computer and receive its power through a USB-A port during normal use.
The documents suggest that the device runs "19F47" firmware, which matches an early internal version of iOS 15.5, suggesting it is powered by Apple silicon. The FCC tested the device by connecting it to an iMac, but other than that, no other details are given, and Apple has requested a non-disclosure agreement that runs until November 2022.
The filing doesn't include any images of the device either, but there are some telltale signs in the description that it is unlikely to relate to a forthcoming consumer product.
For one, the device appears to lack support for the 802.11ac wireless networking standard. Also known as Wi-Fi 5, 802.11ac was announced in 2014 and has been superseded by Wi-Fi 6, which is already supported in newer iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks.
Secondly, the device only uses the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band, whereas most modern commercial routers and consumer Apple devices support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with the 5GHz spectrum usually offering the best performance. For example, the discontinued sixth-generation AirPort Extreme base station operated on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands.
Lastly, the device is "intended to receive its power through a USB-A port during normal use." Apple has replaced USB-A with USB-C connectivity on all of its MacBooks and iMacs, and the idea that it would launch a consumer device with a legacy port as a primary connector is unrealistic.
Apple officially ended development on its AirPort line of products in 2018, and the company has since sold third-party routers. Apple has many FCC-certified devices that are solely intended for internal use, and this filing very likely relates to another device that falls into that category.
WhatsApp is set to end support for iOS 10 and iOS 11 versions of Apple's mobile operating system, requiring all users to be running at least iOS 12 after October 24, 2022.
That means iOS 10 and iOS 11 users – who will mainly be iPhone 5 and iPhone 5C owners – will no longer be able to use the encrypted chat service after the specified date.
WhatsApp already states on its Help Center that it currently provides official support iOS 12 or newer, so presumably iPhone models like the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6s will remain fully supported for the foreseeable future.
Users who intend to upgrade their iPhone and use the app after the above date can back up their WhatsApp chats to iCloud, and restore their chat history to a newer, supported device. You can find instructions on how to do so here.
Apple has silently increased the price of its Apple Music subscription for college students in several countries, with the company emailing students informing them their subscription would be slightly increasing in price moving forward.
The price change is not widespread and, based on MacRumors' findings, will impact Apple Music student subscribers in but not limited to Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, India, South Africa, Indonesia, Israel, and Kenya.
"Thank you for subscribing to Apple Music. We wanted to let you know about an upcoming change to this subscription," reads an email from Apple to Apple Music student subscribers. "Apple is raising the price of this subscription from USD 1.49 per month to USD 1.99 per month," an email from Apple read to a customer in South Africa.
Apple offers students a discounted price of Apple Music compared to the company's regular individual plan. In the United States, Apple Music is offered for $4.99 per month for college students, compared to the standard $9.99 per month offer. Customers can also get Apple Music bundled with Apple One, which offers several Apple services starting at $14.95 per month.
With around four months to go before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 14 lineup, the overwhelming majority of rumors related to the new devices so far have focused on the iPhone 14 Pro, rather than the standard iPhone 14 – leading to questions about how different the iPhone 14 will actually be from its predecessor, the iPhone 13.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are expected to headline with features such as thinner bezels and a "pill and hole-punch" TrueDepth camera array design in place of the notch, but the standard iPhone 14 models are believed to lack these upgrades. For the first time, the standard iPhone models are also expected to miss out on Apple's latest chip, with the "A16" reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro only. According to rumors so far, the standard iPhone 14 models will forgo a range of new features exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models, including:
Other, less likely rumors about the potential of a titanium chassis and a vapor chamber thermal system also focus on the iPhone 14 Pro models. As such, it looks like Apple is planning to continue its trend of increasingly differentiating its Pro and non-Pro iPhone models, where many new, high-end features debut on the Pro models, before trickling down to the non-Pro models at a later date. For example, the standard iPhone 15 models are rumored to feature the iPhone 14 Pro's pill and hole-punch TrueDepth camera array design.
With this in mind, what upgrades and features are the standard iPhone 14 models expected to offer later this year?
The "iPhone 14 Max" is expected to sit above the iPhone 14 in the lineup and feature a 6.7-inch display like the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max. In the same way that the "mini" iPhones in recent years have offered all of the same features as the standard iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, the iPhone 14 Max is expected to offer all of the same features as the standard iPhone 14 but with a significantly bigger display.
While there will reportedly be no "iPhone 14 mini," the iPhone 14 Max will provide an option for users who want a new iPhone with a larger display, but do not need "Pro" features like a ProMotion display and the telephoto camera. As one of the most noticeable visual changes in the iPhone lineup this year, the iPhone 14 Max could take center stage in the iPhone 14's marketing.
50% More Memory
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that all of the iPhone 14 models will feature 6GB of memory, with the standard iPhone 14 models having LPDDR 4X memory and the iPhone 14 Pro models having LPDDR 5 memory.
Currently, the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 feature 4GB of memory, while the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max already feature 6GB of memory. These amounts are unchanged from the iPhone 12 lineup. Though Kuo suggested that all iPhone 14 models will feature 6GB of memory, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max's LPDDR 5 memory will be up to one and a half times faster and up to 30 percent more power efficient.
50 percent more memory in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max could enable it to keep more apps and browser tabs open in the background for faster resumption, provide developers with more headroom to build powerful, memory-hungry apps, and make the devices more future-proof in years to come.
The iPhone 14's 5G RF chip is said to be fabricated with TSMC's 6nm process, providing a physically smaller chip with lower power consumption. The 6nm RF process enables the chip to use less power on both sub-6GHz and mmWave 5G bands while still providing a high level of performance.
As well as being more efficient, shrinking the large RF transceiver component inside the iPhone is expected to free up physical space. Each additional square millimeter of volume that is reclaimed is said to create more room for a larger battery. Together, the improved efficiency and miniaturization of the iPhone 14's RF chip are believed to result in better overall battery life.
Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity
All iPhone 14 models are expected to support Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates, extended into the 6 GHz band. The additional spectrum provides more airspace beyond existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, resulting in increased bandwidth and less interference.
Emergency Satellite Features
With a feature that was initially rumored for the iPhone 13 lineup, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 modem in the iPhone 14 lineup is expected to facilitate a number of satellite-based emergency features to allow users to send messages in emergency situations and report major emergencies in locations where there is no cellular coverage.
Specifically, Emergency Message via satellite will allow users to text emergency services and contacts using a satellite network when there is no cellular or WiFi signal available. It will purportedly be a new communications protocol alongside SMS and iMessage, will show gray message bubbles, and message length will be restricted. Another feature will let users report major emergencies like plane crashes and fires using satellite communication.
These features are still in development and are rumored to launch in 2022 at the earliest, but other estimates have placed the feature more firmly with the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 lineup.
The iPhone 13 Pro introduced a new ƒ/1.8, 6P (six-element lens) Ultra Wide camera with autofocus. This year, this improved ƒ/1.8 Ultra Wide camera is rumored to trickle down to both of the standard iPhone 14 models.
Front Camera Improvements
Alongside enhancements to the rear camera system, the iPhone 14's front-facing camera is rumored to feature more significant improvements.
Specifically, all four iPhone 14 models will likely feature an upgraded front camera system with autofocus and a wider ƒ/1.9 aperture. By comparison, the front camera on all iPhone 13 models has fixed focus and an ƒ/2.2 aperture.
The wider aperture would allow more light to pass through the lens and reach the sensor. Kuo has said that these camera upgrades could result in an improved depth-of-field effect for Portrait mode photos and videos, while autofocus can strengthen focus during FaceTime and Zoom video calls.
Assuming that rumors about the black and white options for the iPhone 14 actually refer to Midnight and Starlight, the new color lineup would mean the discontinuation of the iPhone 13's Pink and Green. Excluding mid-cycle color additions, such as Green and Alpine Green for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro earlier this year, the information suggests that the iPhone 14 will launch with the same number of color options as its predecessors.
As in recent years where the same polychrome colors across generations have been updated, the iPhone 14's blue and red color options are likely to be refreshed shades compared to the iPhone 13 models. Nevertheless, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro's selection of color options could look fairly similar to those of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, but will likely be trumpeted with the re-introduction of a purple shade.
A purple color option for the iPhone 14 seems plausible given that Apple introduced a Purple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini in a mid-cycle refresh in April last year to a positive response from customers, and the 24-inch iMac, sixth-generation iPad mini, and fifth-generation iPad Air are all available in Purple.
We're just about two weeks out from WWDC, and Apple is wrapping up work on the current major operating system versions with some final updates and getting ready to preview the next major ones.
Meanwhile, rumors are circulating about Apple shifting to USB-C for not only future iPhone models but also its ecosystem of accessories that currently relies on Lightning, while Apple's AR/VR headset and more appear to be getting closer to launching, so read on for details on these stories and more!
Apple Releases iOS 15.5 With Wallet and Podcast Updates
We've put together a list of everything new in iOS 15.5, including updates to Apple's Wallet and Podcasts app, Communication Safety in the Messages app expanding to more countries, and more.
With past releases, including iOS 15, the first public beta corresponded with the second developer beta, but Gurman suggested that Apple may be running behind schedule with the iOS 16 public beta this year. As always, Apple's plans are still fluid and subject to change.
Apple Previews iOS 16 Accessibility Features Like Apple Watch Mirroring
The new accessibility features include Door Detection, Apple Watch Mirroring, new VoiceOver languages, Live Captions on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and more.
AirPods, MagSafe Battery Pack, and Other Apple Accessories Also Rumored to Switch to USB-C
Apple has also ramped up development of the software that runs on the headset, with the platform expected to be called "realityOS," or "rOS" for short, per Gurman's report. The headset is expected to be released in 2023.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Sony this week came out with an updated version of its popular over-ear noise canceling headphones, so we picked up a pair to compare them to the AirPods Max to see which headphones are better and whether it's worth buying the $400 WH-1000XM5 from Sony over Apple's $549 AirPods Max.
First of all, the AirPods Max win out when it comes to naming. WH-1000XM4 was a mouthful, and WH-1000XM5 is no better. Sony is not great at naming its TVs, headphones, and other devices, so Apple gets the edge there.
Compared to the aforementioned WH-1000XM4, the WH-1000XM5 headphones have an updated design, but the AirPods Max still have the classier, higher-end look. The WH-1000XM5 features a plastic body and the headphones are not as premium as the AirPods Max, which is likely what accounts for some of the price difference. The AirPods Max are aluminum and come in a range of colors, while the WH-1000XM5 headphones come in a "silver" cream color and black.
The headphones do not fold down like the prior version and are slightly less portable, but Sony does offer them with a much better case option than the AirPods Max "bra" case. In terms of weight, the WH-1000XM5 headphones feel light on the head and are comfortable to wear, even for longer periods of time.
There are swipe and touch gestures that control playback functionality, similar to the WH-1000XM4, but connecting the WH-1000XM5 to an Apple device is not quite as convenient as Apple's quick pairing method with the AirPods Max. AirPods Max also support automatic device switching, spatial audio, and other features.
Both the WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max have Active Noise Cancelation (ANC), and Sony has stepped up the ANC in this version. There are dual QN1 chips (compared to a single QN1 chip in the WH-1000XM4), and it makes a difference. In our testing, the AirPods Max and the WH-1000XM5 both performed well at blocking out ambient noise, but the WH-1000XM5 did just a bit better. The WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max also offer a transparency feature to let you hear what's going on around you, but transparency works best on the AirPods Max.
As for sound quality, the WH-1000XM5 headphones have smaller drivers than the WH-1000XM4 and a different sound profile that brings them more in line with the AirPods Max. Both sets of headphones offer depth, clarity, and low muddling at lower frequencies, and the sound is definitely improved over the WH-1000XM4. It's improved enough that it's difficult to say whether the AirPods Max or WH-1000XM5 headphones offer better sound, so in this category, it's a tie.
The WH-1000XM5 headphones offer up to 30 hours of battery life, which is 10 more hours than the AirPods Max, and that's worth considering. The AirPods Max are supposed to last for 20 hours, but generally do not with ANC turned on. Sony's headphones have an actual power button, which is handy for not wasting battery, plus the headphones come with more customization options for ANC, gestures, and sound.
All in all, unless you like the design of the AirPods Max and the unique feature set that the headphones offer for Apple device users, the WH-1000XM5 headphones from Sony are worth considering as a more affordable alternative.
Warped Kart Racers, a kart racing game that supports up to eight players at a time, is now available on Apple Arcade. The game features popular characters from 20th Television animated shows, including Peter Griffin from "Family Guy," Hank Hill from "King of the Hill," Stan Smith from "American Dad" and Terry from "Solar Opposites."
There are 20 TV characters to play in total in solo battles or races with friends. Races take place in iconic locations from the television shows, with 16 maps drawn from fan-favorite episodes.
In addition to playing multiplayer with friends, Apple Arcade users can also go through the extensive single player campaign to unlock new characters and levels.
Warped Kart Racers is the only new game on Apple Arcade this week, but there are new updates for existing games that include Disney Melee Mania, Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure, Simon's Cat, Zen Pinball Party, and more.
Apple Arcade is priced at $4.99 per month, and it includes more than 200 new and original gaming titles. All of the games are free to play with no additional in-app purchases or payments required. Up to six family members can share a single Apple Arcade subscription through Apple's Family Sharing features.
Apple is working on an updated version of the HomePod that could come in the fourth quarter of 2022 or the first quarter of 2023, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Kuo says that there "may not be much innovation in hardware design" for the new HomePod, and there is no word on what size the device will be and if it will be a HomePod mini successor or a larger speaker.
Apple would release a new version of HomePod in 4Q22-1Q23, and there may not be much innovation in hardware design. Smart speakers are undoubtedly one of the essential elements of the home ecosystem, but I think Apple is still figuring out how to succeed in this market.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 20, 2022
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously said that Apple is considering a new version of the HomePod that would be sized between the original HomePod and the HomePod mini, and it is possible that this is the speaker that Kuo is talking about.
Such a speaker would perhaps replace the now-discontinued HomePod, and it would be more expensive than the HomePod mini but less expensive than the larger HomePod.
Gurman also believes that Apple is working on speakers that are equipped with screens and cameras to compete with devices like the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show, but those devices are not expected to be launching in the near future. In addition, Apple is exploring a device that is an iPad connected to a HomePod via a robotic arm so that the camera can follow a user around the room, and it is testing versions of the Apple TV that are combined with a HomePod.
Apple now plans to release a new 27-inch display with mini-LED backlighting in October due to the Shanghai lockdown, which has resulted in production of the display being delayed, according to display industry consultant Ross Young.
In a tweet, Young said Apple is in the process of moving production of the display from Quanta Computer to a different supplier and/or location, resulting in a delay. Young said it is now looking like the display will be released in October, whereas he previously claimed the display was on track for a June release, around Apple's developer conference WWDC.
Mini-LED backlighting would pave the way for the display to feature ProMotion with a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. This could result in the display essentially being a "Studio Display Pro," but it's unclear if Apple would use that branding. Additional details are still unknown, including pricing. The existing Studio Display starts at $1,599.
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