MacRumors

Samsung today announced the launch of the T7 Shield, the newest addition to its T7 portable SSD lineup. The T7 Shield is designed to be Samsung's most damage-proof SSD, with improved durability for use both indoors and outdoors.

The T7 Shield features an IP65 water resistant aluminum casing that is able to hold up to rain and dust, plus it offers crush resistance and protection from drops up to 9.8 feet high.

A rubberized exterior encases the aluminum to keep the SSD safe, and because it is the size of a business card, it is ideal for use when traveling. It comes in black, beige, and blue.

The T7 Shield features read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000MB/s, which Samsung says is more than 1.9x faster than SATA-based portable SSDs.

According to Samsung, the T7 Shield is compatible with PCs, laptops, mobile devices, game consoles, and more. It is priced at $160 for 1TB and $290 for 2TB, and it is available from Samsung's website.

Worldwide App Store downloads grew 2.4 percent to hit 8.6 billion in the first quarter of 2022, according to data shared today by Sensor Tower (via TechCrunch). Between the ‌App Store‌ and the Google Play store, there were 36.9 billion total app downloads, an increase of 1.4 percent.

As there are far more Android users than iPhone users, there were a much higher number of apps downloaded on Android devices, with Google Play downloads hitting 28.3 billion during the quarter.

TikTok was the most downloaded app on the ‌iPhone‌ and the iPad worldwide, surpassing 70 million ‌App Store‌ downloads. YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook were the other top downloaded apps, which is unchanged from the year-ago quarter.

TikTok has been downloaded more than 3.5 billion times since its launch, and it is the first non-Meta app to hit that milestone. In fact, since the beginning of 2018, no app has surpassed TikTok in downloads, according to Sensor Tower.

As for games, Subway Surfers, Wordle (the original from 2016), Coloring Match, PUBG Mobile, and Roblox were the most downloaded apps. Subway Surfer had more than 15 million downloads during the quarter.

Sensor Tower's full report on the state of the ‌App Store‌ in Q1 2022 can be found on the company's website. [PDF]

Apple today released new beta firmware for the Studio Display, which is available to Studio Display users who have the macOS Monterey 12.4 beta installed on their Macs. The updated firmware includes a fix for the webcam, so we thought we'd take a quick look to see the tweaks in action.

Prior to the launch of the Studio Display, reviewers noticed that the webcam was not performing as expected. It was described as washed out, grainy, noisy, and overall, poor quality.

After these complaints came out, Apple said that it "discovered an issue where the system is not behaving as expected," promising a fix in a future software update. That fix is out today, and Apple says that it has tuned the camera, improving noise reduction, contrast, and framing.

In practice, if you watch our video up above, there are noticeable quality updates, but the difference is subtle. Colors are not as pale, there's improved contrast, and the overall look is a bit more vibrant. Depending on lighting, there isn't a huge difference in sharpness, but the changes seem to be an overall net improvement.

Six Colors' Jason Snell shared a set of photos and a video that also demonstrate the differences between the new firmware and old firmware, and there is a clear change to the framing. There is less zoom both when using Center Stage and when not using the feature, which means video capture is overall less cropped.

Overall, Apple's changes seem to be for the better, though those hoping for something dramatic may be disappointed. Skin tones are improved as is overall color, and there appears to be an improvement in contrast along with less de-noising for more clarity, but ultimately this is still the same 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, so Apple is limited to software tweaks.

For now, Studio Display owners will need the macOS Monterey 12.4 beta to see the 15.5 firmware update, but it will be more widely available when the new version of Monterey sees a public release. The beta is currently available to both developers and public beta testers.

What do you think of the firmware update? Let us know in the comments.

Apple has slowed down on filling technical support or "Genius" roles at some of its retail stores, according to a report from Bloomberg. Employees at some locations have been informed that Genius positions will not be filled after the departures of people who previously filled those roles.

Bloomberg cites reports from several retail workers, who have suggested that Apple's lack of hiring could be for cost-cutting reasons or to decrease the number of employees at stores that are no longer seeing the same number of customers after the pandemic.

Apple has not laid off any workers nor is there an overall hiring freeze, but Apple has allegedly retracted verbal job offers for Genius roles in some situations in addition to halting hiring.

Despite these reports, there are still Genius roles advertised on Apple's website, and Apple has declined to comment on the situation.

Apple today released a new firmware update designed for the AirTag item trackers. The update has a build number of 1A301 (firmware version 1.0.301), up from 1A291.

There's no word on what new features the firmware might add at this point in time as Apple has not provided release notes.

It is not possible to force an ‌AirTag‌ update, as it's something that's done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your ‌AirTag‌ in range of your ‌‌iPhone‌‌, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current ‌AirTag‌ firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.

It is worth noting that Apple plans to provide this firmware on a rolling basis, so not everyone is going to see it right away. 1% of ‌AirTag‌ users will receive it today, 10% on May 3, 25% on May 9, and it will go fully live to everyone on May 13.

This staggered release timeline allows Apple to make sure the firmware update is working as intended before it is provided to all users.

Alongside betas of iOS 15.5, iPadOS 15.5, and macOS Monterey 12.4, Apple today released a beta version of new 15.5 firmware designed for the Studio Display.

Apple in March promised a firmware fix for the Studio Display to address an issue with the webcam, and according to an Apple spokesperson that spoke to The Verge, the firmware beta released today does indeed fix the webcam problem.

The Studio Display is equipped with a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera that supports Center Stage, but Studio Display reviewers and owners have discovered that the camera consistently produces grainy, washed-out images, which Apple has said is the result of an issue causing the system to not behave as expected. The firmware brings updated "camera tuning, improved noise reduction, contrast, and framing."

All Studio Display models are able to receive over-the-air firmware updates, but this firmware update is limited to Macs that are running the macOS Monterey 12.4 beta at the current time. After installing the macOS 12.4 beta, Studio Display owners can go to System Preferences > Software Update to install the firmware.

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new update coming a week after the release of the second macOS Monterey 12.4 beta.

Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and after the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.

According to Apple's release notes, Universal Control in the new iPadOS 15.5 and macOS Monterey 12.4 updates is not compatible with machines running macOS 12.3 or iPadOS 15.4, so Apple suggests that as a workaround, users should update their ‌Universal Control‌ devices to the new betas.

We don't yet know if there are any other features in macOS Monterey 12.4, and nothing new was discovered in the first two betas.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming one week following the release of the second betas.

Developers can download iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 through the Apple Developer Center or over the air after the proper profile has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.

iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 are minor updates compared to prior iOS 15 point releases, and there are a limited number of changes. Apple may be releasing an Apple Classical app at some point in the near future and there are references to it in the beta, but it is not yet available. Apple is using the iOS 15.5 update to lay the groundwork for functionality that will let developers of "reader" apps add a link to an external website for the purpose of signing up for and managing accounts outside of the App Store.

There are also minor changes to Apple Pay Cash, with Apple adding Request and Send options, and Apple is making some changes to the iTunes Pass that used to be available in the Wallet app. We have a complete list of changes in our iOS 15.5 guide.

Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 8.6 beta to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming a week after the release of the second beta.

To install ‌‌‌watchOS 8‌‌‌.6, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center. Once installed, ‌‌‌watchOS 8.6 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.

To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it must be placed on the charger, and it needs to be in range of the ‌‌‌‌iPhone‌‌‌‌.

We don't yet know what's included in the watchOS 8.6 update, and no new features have been discovered in the beta so far.

Apple is unlikely to have seen a significant financial benefit from App Tracking Transparency since the privacy feature launched last year, according to Kinshuk Jerath, Professor of Business in the Marketing Division at Columbia Business School.

In an Apple-commissioned report, Jerath said claims that billions of advertising dollars moved from companies like Meta to Apple due to the introduction of App Tracking Transparency are "speculative" and "lack supporting evidence."

Jerath provided three reasons for his opinion:

• Apple's Search Ads business is a small part of the overall mobile advertising market
• Growth in Apple's Search Ads business predated the introduction of App Tracking Transparency and is likely driven in part by other factors, such as continued overall growth of mobile ads and app install ads and the expansion of the Search Ads business to China in July 2021
• Apple provides a prompt during the iOS setup process that enables users to turn off Personalized Ads on their device

In October 2021, the Financial Times reported that App Tracking Transparency had resulted in a "windfall" for Apple's advertising business. The report claimed that Apple's share of the mobile app advertising market tripled in the six months after the feature was introduced. Apple said the feature was designed to protect users and not to advantage the company.

Apple did not provide any internal figures to support the report's findings.

Google today followed in Apple's footsteps and launched a version of privacy labels for its own apps, with the aim of providing Google Play users with more information about the data that the apps they download are collecting.

First announced back in May 2021, Google's "Data safety" section will require developers to provide information about how their apps collect, share, and secure user data. Developers will need to offer up the following data:

• Whether the developer is collecting data and for what purpose.
• Whether the developer is sharing data with third parties.
• The app's security practices, like encryption of data in transit and whether users can ask for data to be deleted.
• Whether a qualifying app has committed to following Google Play's Families Policy to better protect children in the Play store.
• Whether the developer has validated their security practices against a global security standard (more specifically, the MASVS).

Users will be able to determine whether the app needs the data to function or if the data collection is an optional feature that can be turned off.

Google says that Data safety information will be available starting today, and all developers will be required to complete this section for their apps by July 20.

Apple is expanding its presence in Ireland with a new product testing center, the Irish Examiner reports, alongside opening a new office in North Carolina.

Apple will open a new product testing center in Cork, Ireland, in what will be the first facility of its kind to test Apple devices in Europe. At the site, Apple engineers and technicians will use a range of equipment, including electron microscopes and CT scanners, to test products with the aim of improving durability and performance.

The testing center is located nearby to Apple's campus at Hollyhill, and was previously used to store hard disks, manuals, and documentation. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Apple's vice president of European Operations Cathy Kearney said the new test facility was "a natural evolution from all the investments in recent years" in Cork:

The focus of this facility is to ensure the best product, durability and performance, and the lab team here will be testing and analysing Apple's entire range of products. This facility is the first of its kind in Europe and we are delighted to have it here in Cork.

The new testing facility in Cork follows the establishment of an Apple team in Ireland dedicated to researching artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Meanwhile, WRAL reports that Apple is planning to spend $19.3 million to renovate the seven-floor MetLife Building 3 in Cary, North Carolina. The location is a temporary space ahead of the opening of a new, $1 billion Apple campus in the state. Apple is in the process of recruiting a range of technical staff, developers, and engineers for the new office, according to Cary Chamber of Commerce President Mark Lawson.

Apple today hit back at a report from the Japanese government indicating that the company could be hit with new regulation to ensure fair competition in the smartphone operating system market, The Japan Times reports.

The Japanese government's interim report expressed concern over Apple and Google's control of the smartphone operating system market, particularly with regards to pre-installed browser apps, and warned that their policies can damage app providers and businesses. It proposed the introduction of new rules to ban companies from limiting the ability of users to make decisions about how they want to use their devices, with the added benefit of enhancing competition in the market.

The report also took issue with the 15 to 30 percent commission that developers have to pay to Apple for apps and in-app purchases, and the fact that they can only distribute through Apple's own App Store. As a result, it called for OS providers to allow users to be able to utilize third-party app stores and for companies to disclose thorough information about their systems.

The proposed changes aim to "realize fair and equal competition," according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. Apple said in a statement "We respectfully disagree with a number of conclusions" in the Japanese government's report, and that it is facing "intense competition in every segment." Apple added that it will continue to "engage constructively with the Japanese government."

Rick VanMeter, Executive Director of the Coalition for App Fairness, commented:

With this interim report, Japan joins the growing chorus of regulators and policymakers that are putting Big Tech gatekeepers on notice for their anticompetitive practices. The report makes it clear that developers and consumers thrive when there is competition in the app ecosystem. We strongly agree with these findings and look forward to engaging with Japanese regulators and policymakers as they work to bolster innovation and allow for a free and fair mobile app marketplace.

The Japanese government will reportedly gather opinions from the public and hold further discussions before compiling a final report on the matter. Even more invasive challenges to Apple's platforms and services are underway in the European Union, where the proposed Digital Markets Act looks to force major changes to the ‌App Store‌, Messages, FaceTime, third-party browsers, and Siri.

Amazon this week has introduced a slate of deals on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with markdowns hitting every configuration of the 2021 tablet. You'll find the full list of sales below, with prices reaching as much as $399 off these 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.

Highlights in this sale include the tablets with higher storage that are seeing new all-time low prices, like the 1TB Wi-Fi 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $1,599.99 ($199 off) and the 2TB Cellular 12.9-inch iPad Pro for $1,999.99 ($399 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.

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

• 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)
• 1TB Wi-Fi - $1,599.99, down from $1,799.00 ($199 off, lowest ever)
• 2TB Wi-Fi - $1,999.99, down from $2,199.00 ($199 off, lowest ever)
• 128GB Cellular - $1,149.99, down from $1,299.00 ($149 off, lowest ever)
• 256GB Cellular - $1,249.99, down from $1,399.00 ($149 off, lowest ever)
• 512GB Cellular - $1,499.99, down from $1,599.00 ($99 off, lowest ever)
• 1TB Cellular - $1,799.99, down from $1,999.00 ($199 off, lowest ever)
• 2TB Cellular - $1,999.99, down from $2,399.00 ($399 off, lowest ever)

Apple introduced these tablets in April 2021, and they feature a faster M1 chip, a Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display, 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.

Blizzard's newest Diablo game, Diablo Immortal, is set to launch on the iPhone and iPad on June 2, the company announced today.

First announced in 2018, Diablo Immortal is a full-fledged action RPG that's set in the Diablo Universe and that's been developed from the ground up for mobile devices, though it will also be available on PCs.

The game supports cross-play and cross-progression, and when it launches on June 2, it will be available in a beta capacity on PCs as well as being available on the ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and Android devices.

Diablo Immortal players will be able to choose from six Diablo classes including Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, and Wizard, and will then be able to journey through right zones and the city of Westmarch.

Familiar Diablo characters, such as Deckard Cain, will be present in the storyline, and players will complete an expansive quest to collect the shattered pieces of the Worldstone before the forces of the Burning Hells can gather. The questline takes place between the events of Diablo II and Diablo III.

Players will share a world with others and can team up with up to eight people to take on group challenges and fight raid bosses. Up to 150 people can form a clan to earn clan achievements.

There's also a faction-based PvP system where players can work together to fight in an ongoing war. The top player on the server will earn the Eternal Crown and will become the leader of the Immortals, forced to defend their reign across a series of modes.

Diablo Immortal is a free to play title with Blizzard monetizing the game through in-app purchases, though the company says the "core game experience" will always be free. More information about the game can be found on Blizzard's website.

Last week, we compared the Apple Studio Display to the much cheaper and feature rich Samsung M8 Display, and the comparison was popular with MacRumors readers, so we thought we'd pit the Studio Display against yet another competing option, Dell's UltraSharp 27-inch "U2723QE" 4K USB-C Hub Monitor.

Priced at $655 on sale, Dell's 27-inch UltraSharp display is the same size as the Studio Display, but it's 4K rather than 5K and it maxes out at 400 nits brightness rather than 600, so the HDR isn't as good, nor is the color accuracy.

It has a simple design that's not up to par with the design of the Studio Display, but it does come with several USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as an HDMI port and a DisplayPort. It also supports 90W power delivery, so it's going to work with any of Apple's notebooks, though it won't charge the 16-inch machines at full speed.

We go into much more depth on the Dell 27-inch UltraSharp Display and the Studio Display in our video up above, so make sure to check that out for a definitive answer on whether the Studio Display is worth the premium over the more affordable Dell monitor.