MacRumors

With the launch of iOS 15, Apple changed Siri functionality and removed features that were heavily relied on by low vision and blind iPhone users. ‌Siri‌ commands that provide details on phone calls, voice mails, and sending emails are no longer working, and Apple has yet to fix the issue.

We first shared details on this problem in September, shortly after the launch of iOS 15. Prior to the launch of the update, low vision users were able to ask ‌Siri‌ to play voicemails, check call history, check recent calls, and more, commands that no longer work.

We have received ongoing complaints from ‌‌iPhone‌‌ users who are missing this key ‌‌Siri‌‌ functionality, or their relatives who are attempting to help them navigate the changes. The ‌‌Siri‌‌ feature removals have also been documented on the AppleVis forums for blind and low vision users of Apple products, and complaints have continued to pile up on the Apple Support Communities. One user explains the issue:

Siri is 'unable' to read missed calls or call last missed call all of a sudden. i use this feature everyday due to visual impairment and since this morning siri has replied with "i cant help with that" when asking for missed calls, call last missed call etc. i rely on this feature heavily and suddenly siri is unable to do this. please can someone help. no settings have been changed and others iphones are having the same issue too.

Asking ‌Siri‌ to provide details on recent phone calls or voicemails now results in the following response: "I can't help with that, but you can ask me to open the Phone app." Asking about email results in a similar response about ‌‌Siri‌‌ being unable to help.

MacRumors reader Joshua got in touch with us and explained that the change makes the ‌iPhone‌ almost unusable for his mother, and he's frustrated with Apple's lack of help.

For many fully blind people (like my blind mom) this makes their phone almost unusable, because they can't ask Siri who has called, and they can't ask Siri if they have voicemail. (Their official "workaround" for voicemail, in fact, is calling the old-school carrier voicemail number, to check your voicemail over the phone.)

Joshua got in contact with Accessibility Support and received a non-answer about calling in to be added to the official engineering report as an "affected user" and to fill out Feedback Assistant, but he said he previously submitted a Radar and got no response. Other users on the Apple Support Communities are becoming increasingly upset with Apple. From user Maboc:

Not understanding how Apple cannot have this resolved by now. Taking away a critical functionality for the disabled, the inability for sight impaired to now check for missed calls and messages via Siri and no response or action does not speak well for this Support Community or Apple itself. We purchased a new iPhone 13 for my aging, sight impaired mother at the recommendation of the School for the Blind. Apple being a leader in the Accessibility feature field. Can no-one offer a timeline for a fix out there? HELLO APPLE???!!!???

We asked Apple when a fix might be coming or if the removal of the ‌Siri‌ functionality was intentional back in September, but we never heard back. Apple's lack of effort to address this issue for blind and low vision users is disappointing from a company that is usually on the forefront of accessibility.

Update: It appears that Apple is going to be addressing these ‌Siri‌ issues in the iOS 15.2 update, which is available to developers and public beta testers at this time. In iOS 15.2, the missing call, email, and voicemail ‌Siri‌ features have been reintroduced and are functional.

The SD card reader slot on the new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models is not functioning as expected with some SD cards, according to multiple reports on the MacRumors forums.

In a long complaint thread, MacRumors readers have detailed the issues that they're having with some SD cards, and there seems to be little consistency between reports and affected SD cards. Some SD cards crash and can't be accessed, while some have unusually slow transfer speeds. MacRumors reader Wildc^t explains the issue:

Same issues with 14" M1 Pro. Just seems to be super flakey and inconsistent. Half the time it'll recognize the card successfully (though it takes anywhere from 30s to 1m) and half the time it'll throw an error. These are all Sandisk Ultra cards, both XC and HC, that were formatted in my camera. I tried reformatting them w/ the MBP and that didn't seem to make a difference. All my cards work as expected in my 3 other USB card readers.

In some situations, there's just an error message when attempting to use the SD card, sometimes Finder crashes, and sometimes the SD card takes many minutes to be accesible. From MacRumors reader 2Stepfan:

It's very frustrating. I was hoping that import from SD card including preview of images would be quick on my new 14" MBP. I have a fairly new 64GB SD card which had been working fine. But Photos on the MBP using the internal SD card slot takes minutes to show photos and sometimes crashes half way through. Sometimes the Finder crashes too.

Based on the thread, formatting does not appear to be the issue, though it could be a factor. There also does not seem to be a common thread between which cards work and which do not, but multiple users have reported that using an SD card reader over USB-C works when the SD card slot does not. From MacRumors reader wilberforce:

I tried many cards, and could find no pattern of brand, size, type, format, age. Seems to be completely random. The only thing that is consistent is that if a card works, it always works, and if a card does not work properly it never works properly. Reformatting, even to all other possible formats, makes no difference. Sandisk, Sony, Samsung, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, UHS-I, UHS-II, micro-SD, FAT32, exFAT, makes no difference. 100% of my cards work perfectly via a dongle.

Some readers who have contacted Apple have been told that the company is aware of the issue and that a fix is coming in a future software update, but it is not clear if this is a hardware issue or a software issue. Some users who had problems replaced their MacBook Pro and did not continue to have issues, so it's not known exactly what might be going on.

Many of the reports are about older SD cards and there may be a particular issue with some 128GB cards, but for the most part, complaints are all over the place in terms of SD card brand, speed, and capacity.

One user reported that the macOS Monterey 12.1 beta had fixed the issue, but another person on Reddit said that the most recent beta did not address it, so we also don't know if macOS Monterey 12.1 might have a fix.

Those affected who are unable to use their SD cards with the SD card slot can access their cards by using an SD card reader dongle, which is not an ideal solution but at least provides a way to get SD card content onto an M1 Pro or M1 Max Mac.

Location tracking service Life360 has been selling the precise location data of tens of millions of its users, according to a new report shared by The Markup.

Life360 bills itself as a "family safety platform" app that is meant to allow family members to keep tabs on one another with tracking software that's installed on smartphones, and there are both Android and iPhone apps.

The software is used by 33 million people around the world, and apparently, Life360 is selling location data from both children and adults to a dozen data brokers that then provide the data to other third parties. Two former Life360 employees said that Life360 is one of the largest sources of data in the industry, expressing concern for how the data is used and the lack of safeguards to prevent misuse.

The employees said that Life360 does not take precautions to ensure that location histories cannot be traced back to individuals. The most obvious user identifying information is removed, but Life360 does not aggregate data or reduce precision to preserve privacy.

Life360 CEO Chris Hulls told The Markup that data is an "important part of the business model" that allows Life360's core services to be offered for free.

"We have no means to confirm or deny the accuracy" of whether Life360 is among the largest sources of data for the industry, Life360 founder and CEO Chris Hulls said in an emailed response to questions from The Markup. "We see data as an important part of our business model that allows us to keep the core Life360 services free for the majority of our users, including features that have improved driver safety and saved numerous lives."

An engineer who worked for X-Mode, a location data provider, said that the raw location data received from Life360 was one of its "most valuable offerings" because of the "sheer volume and precision of the data." Life360 has sold data to X-Mode, Cuebiq, Arity, Safegraph, and others that provide location data to other services. Life360 discloses some of the data sharing in its privacy policy, but there are companies that it does not list.

Data partners are only publicly disclosed when partners request transparency or there's "a particular reason to do so," Hulls said. He did confirm that X-Mode buys data from Life360 and that it is one of "approximately one dozen data partners." Hulls added that the company would be supportive of legislation that would require public disclosure of such partners.

Some of the data providers only use aggregated location information sourced from Life360. Cuebiq, for example, users aggregated data to track COVID-19 "mobility trends" with the CDC. X-Mode has provided the Life360 data to the U.S. Department of Defense, and SafeGraph has also provided it to the CDC.

Life360 does make it clear in the fine print of its privacy policy that data is sold, but people may not be aware of how the data is distributed after it's provided to data brokers. "Families probably would not like the slogan, 'You can watch where your kids are, and so can anyone who buys this information,'" Duke Tech Policy Lab fellow Justin Sherman told The Markup. There is also an opt-out feature, but not all users may be aware of it.

Life360 is an app that's primarily used by parents to track their children and teenagers, and it has raised privacy concerns for its invasiveness. Life360 has said that it does not share the location data of users under 13, but data from children over 13 and adults is fair game.

Tile, a company that makes Bluetooth-based trackers that compete with Apple's AirTags, is being acquired by Life360 in a deal that's worth $205 million. Life360 says that Tile will allow it to provide an "all-encompassing solution" for locating pets, people, and things with the Tile purchase, a claim that is alarming given the privacy concerns raised in today's report.

More information on Life360's user tracking and how the data is used can be found in The Markup's full report.

Update: According to Life360 CEO Chris Hulls, there was "significant misinformation" in the article published by The Markup. Hulls points specifically to a quote that the site shared that did not offer a complete picture of what was said in the interview. Where Life360 was asked about whether it was among the largest sources of data for the industry, The Markup shared the following: "We have no means to confirm or deny the accuracy" of whether Life360 is among the largest sources of data for the industry.

Hulls provided the full quote, which is as follows:

"We have no means to confirm or deny the accuracy of that statement. However, the vast majority of mobile applications - including some which are many times larger than Life360 - collect, use, and share data in various ways. Our level of participation in the ecosystem is likely commensurate with the size of our user base. As The Markup itself has reported, there are almost two billion devices that are connected to the mobile phone location data market. Based on this data, at maximum, with approximately 30 million active users, we account for a very small portion of the overall market.

Similarly, from a revenue perspective, we are almost certainly one of the smaller companies involved in the broader industry as the market is estimated to be over $10 billion and we generate approximately $20 million."

The United States Justice Department is investigating Apple for antitrust issues, and Roblox is an area of interest for prosecutors attempting to put together a case, reports The Information.

Investigators are looking for situations where Apple is unevenly enforcing rules for app developers, and Roblox is an area of interest because of the way the app works. Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows its users to play and program games that can be played with others.

Roblox users can create a variety mini games that can be accessed within the main Roblox app, and during the Epic v. Apple trial, Epic argued that Apple had given Roblox a "free pass" while preventing other apps from doing something similar.

Epic Games equated Roblox to the ‌Epic Games‌ Store, an app that would serve as a third-party alternative to the App Store, offering users access to games without paying Apple's fees. As Epic offers access to major games created by other developers, it's not quite the same as the Roblox games created by Roblox users, but the Roblox app is now in the spotlight.

After coming up in the Epic v. Apple trial, Roblox altered its website to clarify that it offers "experiences" instead of "games," a change made after ‌App Store‌ executive Trystan Kosmynka explained that Roblox did not violate ‌App Store‌ rules because Apple did not view Roblox content "as a game." Kosmynka said that the "experiences" within Roblox were similar to "the experiences in Minecraft," another game where users can build mini game-like content.

The Department of Justice has been taking a look at details brought up by the Epic v. Apple trial and recently asked Roblox and other developers to clarify the difference between a game and an experience. Roblox has been asked to explain why it changed the language on its website.

Apple Arcade appears to be a topic of interest as well, with investigators asking developers whether the ‌Apple Arcade‌ game store has made it more difficult for developers to compete with Apple. The DoJ is also looking into complaints that Apple has restricted location access for third-party apps while still allowing its own apps and services full access to location data.

Back in October, the DoJ accelerated its antitrust probe into Apple, and it is likely that Apple will be facing an antitrust lawsuit. The DoJ is still gathering information at this time, and it's not clear when Apple could face a legal battle.

The ‌App Store‌ is undergoing some changes at the current time that will impact any antitrust investigation. Apple has already agreed to allow developers to use communication methods like email to advertise payment options available outside of iOS apps, and Apple may be forced to make even more drastic ‌App Store‌ updates this week.

In the Epic v. Apple ruling, the judge overseeing the case ordered Apple to stop restricting developers from including "in their apps and their metadata buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms." Apple asked for more time to implement the changes, but was denied. The issue has been kicked over to a the Ninth Circuit appeals court, and if Apple does not get a stay by December 9, the company will need to comply with the original ruling.

With the iOS 15.1 update that launched in late October, Apple added SharePlay, a feature that's designed to let you do more over FaceTime. Using SharePlay, you can watch movies, listen to music, and use apps with friends and family, and we thought we'd give it a try to see how it works.

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The first step with any SharePlay experience is to start ‌FaceTime‌. You can use SharePlay with one person or with multiple people, but everyone needs to have a device running iOS 15.1. SharePlay is also coming to the Mac in macOS Monterey 12.1, but the update is still in beta at this time.

In a ‌FaceTime‌ call, just swipe out of the ‌FaceTime‌ interface and open any app that supports SharePlay, like Apple Music or Apple TV. From there, select a song or a TV show/movie to share with others, and you'll see a prompt to initiate the SharePlay experience.

Each person on the ‌FaceTime‌ call will also see a prompt to join SharePlay, and once all parties have agreed, content is synced between everyone on the call. With apps that include media, such as ‌Apple TV‌, participants have control over media playback so anyone can play or pause the content, with everyone seeing the action.

Volume and closed captioning are controlled individually, and SharePlay is designed to lower the volume of what's playing when someone speaks so you don't miss any commentary. With apps like ‌Apple Music‌, everyone can change the song that's playing or add something to the queue.

It's worth noting that whichever content that's being SharePlayed, each person needs to have access. With ‌Apple TV‌, for example, users need to be subscribed, and the same goes for ‌Apple Music‌. If you try to play a movie that you own from iTunes, the person on the other end needs to own the movie too or it won't work.

Third-party apps support SharePlay too, and we found that one of the best experiences was with TikTok. After opening up the app and initiating the SharePlay experience, all parties involved can scroll through TikTok and watch the same videos with one another.

Again, each person needs to own the app in question for the SharePlay experience. We tried Spotify, but each person on the call needs to be a Spotify premium subscriber to listen together, which is not always an ideal experience. In situations where everyone on the call doesn't own the same media, the content will play for who does own it, and others are able to remain on the ‌FaceTime‌ call to continue to chat.

Twitch, Spotify, TikTok, Apollo, and other apps all support SharePlay, and Apple has said apps like Disney+ and Hulu will work with it too, but we couldn't get these to activate in our testing so support is not yet implemented. Netflix, YouTube, and other apps that might be popular to use with SharePlay also don't have support at this time. We have a dedicated list of apps that work with SharePlay for those interested.

SharePlay can also be used for screen sharing purposes, which is great if you need to help someone with a device issue or if you want to plan something with multiple people. For Apple Fitness+ users, SharePlay allows for group workouts, which is great for long distance workouts together. In our testing, SharePlay was a little bit choppy in just one of our test calls, but overall worked well, and it was definitely processor intensive, so expect battery drain when using the feature.

If you have an ‌Apple TV‌ or another AirPlay compatible device, SharePlay can be AirPlayed to your TV so you can watch content on a bigger screen while remaining on a ‌FaceTime‌ call.

Have you tried out SharePlay? Let us know what you think in the comments.

We're already just over two weeks away from the Christmas holiday, so in an effort to aid in any last-minute holiday shopping we've accumulated a list of exclusive sales from companies like Nomad, Twelve South, Nimble, Satechi, and more. These sales offer the perfect chance to do some online Christmas shopping before it's too late for items to arrive before the 25th.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In total, you'll find exclusive offers from Satechi, Nomad, Twelve South, Pad & Quill, and Nimble. These exclusive deals run the gamut of Apple accessories, and you can shop for iPhone cases, MacBook sleeves, Apple Watch bands, screen protectors, leather bags, and much more. We also have an exclusive software sale this year, thanks to a partnership with 1Password.

Each sale has a different end date, and shipping will vary from site-to-site, so be sure to read on for more information. Most brands are still offering delivery for Christmas, as long as you place orders soon. Every sale below is exclusive to our readers, and will require a coupon code, which you can find listed below as well.

Nomad

• What's the deal? Save 20% off sitewide with MACRUMORS21
• How long does it last? It ends on December 13
• What do they sell? iPhone 13 cases, AirPods cases, MagSafe-compatible accessories

Over at Nomad, you can get 20 percent off sitewide with our exclusive code MACRUMORS21. This sale will last through December 13, and most things on Nomad's website are in stock and ready to ship for Christmas.

Nomad offers a variety of high-quality accessories for Apple products, like the Base Station Pro wireless charger, Rugged Folio for iPad Pro, Rugged Case for iPhone 12, Rugged Case for AirPods Pro, and even a variety of straps for the Apple Watch.

Twelve South

• What's the deal? Save 20% off your order with MacRumors20
• How long does it last? It ends on December 25
• What do they sell? Accessories tailored for Apple products like iPhone Qi chargers and MacBook stands

At Twelve South, you can get 20 percent off your entire order with the promo code MacRumors20. This promo code will last through December 25 for users in the United States.

Twelve South has numerous accessories that are specifically made for Apple products, like AirSnap for AirPods, HiRise Wireless for iPhone, and BookBook Vol. 2 for iPad Pro. You can browse for some holiday shopping ideas of your own on Twelve South's website.

Pad & Quill

• What's the deal? Save 20% sitewide with MR20 OR save 30% on any Apple Watch leather band with MR30AW
• How long does it last? It ends on December 25
• What do they sell? Well-known for quality leather accessories including iPhone and iPad cases, Apple Watch bands, wallets

At Pad & Quill, our readers have a chance to save on Apple accessories all the way through Christmas day. With our exclusive discount code you can save 20 percent sitewide on Pad & Quill, including accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and MacBook. To gain access to this sale, enter the code MR20 at checkout.

Additionally, we have a second discount with Pad & Quill this year, which is taking 30 percent off any Apple Watch leather band with the code MR30AW at checkout. Pad & Quill's leather bands range in price from $79.95 to $129.95, so you can save big this season with our exclusive deal, which will also last through Christmas Day.

Shoppers should note that only one of these coupon codes can be used per order, so they can not be stacked.

Nimble

• What's the deal? Save 30 percent sitewide with MACRUMORS30
• How long does it last? It ends on December 14
• What do they sell? Eco-friendly portable chargers, wireless chargers, iPhone cases

Eco-friendly brand Nimble is offering our readers 30 percent off sitewide this holiday season with the exclusive promo code MACRUMORS30. With this promotion you can save on Nimble's portable chargers, wireless chargers, iPhone cases, and more.

Nimble's products are made from highly sustainable materials and come inside plastic-free packaging. The company also runs a one-for-one tech recovery project, placing a disposable bag with every product it sells. In these bags, customers can send back their old or unused tech so that it can be recycled responsibly.

In terms of shipping, Nimble offers free two-day shipping and returns, so be sure to browse the retailer's website soon to place your order with enough time before Christmas.

Satechi

• What's the deal? Get 25% off sitewide with MAC25 (some exclusions apply)
• How long does it last? It ends on December 13
• What do they sell? USB-C hubs, MagSafe-compatible chargers, keyboards

Satechi is well known for its large collection of charging products, and with our exclusive code you can take 25 percent off sitewide. The company sells portable batteries, USB-C hubs, wireless chargers that are compatible with MagSafe, and more. The exclusive code has a few exclusions on select new and upcoming products, but otherwise will work on any product sitewide.

1Password

• What's the deal? Get 50% off first year of 1Password Families (new customers only)
• How long does it last? It ends on December 31

Popular password management service 1Password is offering our readers a chance to get their first full year of 1Password Families at half the price. This offer is only available to new customers, and no promo code is needed. You can simply find the offer waiting for new customers to create an account on this landing page.

ZAGG

• What's the deal? Save 30 percent on one item sitewide with MACRUMORS30
• How long does it last? It ends on December 10
• What do they sell? Mophie's best power banks, iPhone battery cases, wireless chargers

On ZAGG's website, you can get 30 percent off a single item, including from ZAGG itself, Mophie, and HALO. This sale has discounts on screen protectors, portable batteries, battery cases, charging cables, and more.

To get the discount, head to ZAGG's website, browse for an item, add it to your bag, and when you do you'll notice a pop-up on the right where you can view your bag. Here you can enter the promo code MACRUMORS30 and click apply to see the 30 percent discount taken off the most expensive item in your cart.

For more of the best Apple-related sales and bargains, head to our full Deals Roundup.

HYPER today announced the HyperDrive "DUO PRO," a 7-in-2 USB-C hub designed specifically for Apple's latest high-end MacBook Pro models, launching on Indiegogo with the first shipments set to go out in January.

The HyperDrive DUO PRO features a Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 port capable of data transfer at 40Gbps, 100W PD, and 6K 60Hz video, an HDMI port with support for 4K 60Hz displays, a 5Gbps USB-A port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a 5Gbps USB-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a 104MB/s MicroSD card reader. To maintain a slim design, the Gigabit Ethernet port is retractable.

The hub is available in Space Gray and Silver to match the finish of the ‌MacBook Pro‌'s chassis. While it has been designed for the new 14- and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models to match their side profile and avoid interfering with the MagSafe charging port, the DUO PRO also works with any MacBook from 2016 to 2020. With a universal USB-C adapter, the DUO PRO is also compatible with any Chromebooks, PCs, and iPads that have a USB-C port.

The DUO PRO has extended USB-C connectors that allow the hub to work with protective MacBook cases, and an optional adapter allows it to sit flush against MacBooks without a case. The DUO PRO also features HYPER's Magnetic Grip to allow it to securely attach to the MacBook.

The HyperDrive DUO PRO 7-in-2 USB-C Hub is available for backing on Indiegogo now. Early backers will be able to get the DUO PRO hub for $49.99, which is half of the final retail price.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with HYPER. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In celebration of Computer Science Education Week, Apple today announced it has launched a new program that will allow tens of thousands of students at Boys & Girls Clubs in more than a dozen U.S. cities to learn how to code.

Using iPads donated by Apple, students at select Boys & Girls Clubs will be able to access Apple's free Everyone Can Code curriculum alongside educators, allowing them to learn the basics of app design and development with Apple's programming language Swift.

Apple said the program will initially launch at Boys & Girls Clubs in 10 regions, including Atlanta, Austin, the Washington D.C. metro area, Miami-Dade County, Wake County, the San Francisco Bay Area, and others. Programming is already available at clubs in Atlantic City, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, and Newark, New Jersey.

"At Apple, we believe education is a force for equity, and that all learners should have the opportunity to explore and develop coding skills for their future," said Lisa Jackson, Apple's vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.

Amazon today has Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case for $169.99 and delivery before Christmas Day, down from an original price of $249.00. This is $10 off from the rock bottom $159.99 price tag we tracked on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and still a great deal for anyone shopping this holiday season.

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.

There's also a possibility it could be your last chance to get the AirPods Pro with MagSafe at a notably discounted price and delivered in time for the holidays. Free delivery on Amazon currently gives a December 17 - 18 date, so although the AirPods Pro aren't technically in stock now, you can order them now at this discounted price and still get them before the end of the month.

Otherwise, the most consistent deal we've been tracking on AirPods post-Black Friday has been on the AirPods 3, available for $149.99 on Amazon, down from $179.00. You'll see this price tag at checkout after a $19.99 coupon is automatically applied, and Amazon is also currently guaranteeing a delivery date around December 11.

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.

Update: The AirPods Pro deal has now expired.

Apple is undertaking legal action in Russia to prevent developers from promoting alternative payment methods for in-app purchases that bypass the company's payment system, RT reports.

Apple's lawsuit attempts to challenge Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) and the request it made to the company in August to "stop abuse in the market." The FAS's request would allow developers to inform users about alternative payment options for in-app purchases, but Apple is seeking to have this withdrawn by judicial review.

The FAS's demand was based on the fact that some users and developers had notified it that some in-app purchases were cheaper outside the App Store due to skirting Apple's 15 to 30 percent commission, but this is not allowed to be highlighted in apps due to Apple's rules.

Apple was given a deadline of September 30 to allow developers to promote alternative payment methods and was cautioned that a failure to abide by the request could result in a fine based on the company's revenue in Russia. In October, the FAS initiated proceedings against Apple for non-compliance.

The development is Apple's latest point of contention in Russia. In March, Apple was forced to comply with a request from the Russian government to show users a list of government-approved apps to download during initial device setup, and in April, the company was fined $12 million for violating anti-monopoly rules with the ‌App Store‌.

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 rumored augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) headset will focus on gaming, media consumption, and communication, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Gurman, who often reveals accurate insights into Apple's plans, outlined the broad use-cases that users can expect from the company's mixed reality headset in his weekly "Power On" newsletter.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently explained that Apple is preparing to position its headset to be capable of replacing the iPhone in 10 years, but Gurman today clarified that the first-generation version of the device will not be a Mac, iPhone or iPad replacement from the start.

Instead, Gurman believes that the headset will focus on three "killer" features: gaming, media consumption, and communication.

Gaming should be a strong focus of the machine, especially given that it will have multiple processors, a fan, extremely high resolution displays and its own App Store. Look for Apple to position the device as a dream for game developers. Next, media consumption. I expect Apple to work with media partners to create content that can be watched in VR on the device. Third, communications. Look for Animojis and a VR FaceTime-like experience to be the new-age Zoom.

A large number of details about the headset's hardware and specifications have now been reported, with the device rumored to feature a lightweight design, two main processors, two 4K micro LED displays, 15 optical modules, eye-tracking, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and more. Apple has filed a number of patents related to the device's potential software and while it is expected to feature a see-through AR mode, the anticipated software features Gurman outlined today are among the limited number of rumors around the device's functionality.

With Apple's mixed reality headset now "approaching liftoff," according to Morgan Stanley analysts, Kuo believes that the device will begin mass production in the second quarter of 2022 and launch in the fourth quarter of 2022. For more information about the Apple's AR and VR plans, see our detailed roundup that outlines everything rumors and leaks say we can expect.

Apple is preparing to update three of its iPad models in 2022, including the entry-level ‌iPad‌, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman reiterated Apple's plans to release a new ‌iPad Pro‌ in 2022, featuring a new design and wireless charging, and clarified the company's intention to release new versions of the entry-level ‌iPad‌ and ‌iPad Air‌.

The entry-level ‌iPad‌ received a moderate update this year, adding the A13 chip, True Tone, and a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage for video calls. Apple has released new versions of the entry-level ‌iPad‌ every year since 2017, often with minor specification and chip upgrades to maintain the device's low price, so a new version for 2022 is in line with previous years. That being said, there is as yet no indication of what the tenth-generation ‌iPad‌ could feature.

Initial rumors suggested that this year's entry-level ‌iPad‌ would feature a thinner design in a chassis similar to the iPad Air 3 and larger display, but this failed to materialize with the device's launch in the fall. It is not beyond the realm of possibility to speculate that this design could instead be headed for the tenth-generation version of the ‌iPad‌.

While there were initially multiple rumors of an iPad Air with a Samsung OLED display for 2022, this device was reportedly canceled and it appears that the next ‌iPad Air‌ will stick with LCD technology.

Other rumors about the fifth-generation ‌iPad Air‌ have been scant, but it seems highly likely that it will at least be brought up to spec with the iPad mini. The iPad mini features the A15 Bionic chip, 5G connectivity, and Center Stage. All of these aspects debuted in Apple devices after the fourth-generation ‌iPad Air‌'s introduction in September 2020, but with the ‌iPad Air‌ now being without an update for over a year, Gurman's report reaffirms the future of the device in the ‌iPad‌ lineup.

Gurman also shared details about Apple's Mac and Apple Watch launch plans for 2022 in this week's newsletter.

Apple is planning an entire revamp of its Apple Watch lineup for 2022, including an update to the Apple Watch SE and a new Apple Watch with a rugged design aimed at sports athletes, according to respected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.

Writing in the latest installment of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said that for 2022, alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple is planning an update to the ‌Apple Watch SE‌. The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ was released in September 2020 and has since served as a mid-level option for customers. The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ features the same design as the Apple Watch Series 6 but lacks advanced features such as an always-on display, blood oxygen sensor, and ECG functionality.

Apple typically doesn't update its "SE" devices, such as the iPhone SE, for several years. Given that Apple didn't announce an update this year, a new model can presumably be expected for 2022. Gurman didn't say what can be expected from the new ‌Apple Watch SE‌, but it may include a slightly tweaked design and health features more in parity with higher-end models.

Alongside an update to the existing ‌Apple Watch SE‌, Apple is planning an entirely new Apple Watch aimed at sports athletes. Bloomberg had previously reported that Apple recently considered launching a rugged version of the Apple Watch with bolstered durability. The new Apple Watch, according to Gurman, will feature a "ruggedized" design that may feature a case that's more resistant to scratches, dents, falls, and more.

Before its official unveiling, rumors and reports confidently suggested that the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature a flat-edged design. Those rumors failed to come true, and the Apple Watch Series 7 turned out to feature a more curved design. Those rumors, instead, may have been referring to the "rugged" Apple Watch allegedly in the works, however, that remains purely speculative.

Apple currently partners with Nike for special Apple Watch Series 7 and SE models that feature a unique watch face and come paired with special watch bands. Those models feature the same design and durability as the standard Apple Watch.

The current Apple Watch lineup features the Apple Watch Series 7, the ‌Apple Watch SE‌, and the Apple Watch Series 3 from 2017. Apple is now rumored to be planning to expand the lineup to more customer demographics in 2022, such as athletes who may have so far decided against purchasing an Apple Watch due to its durability.

Apple is working on five new Macs for launch in 2022, including a new version of the entry-level MacBook Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that he expects Apple to launch five new Macs in 2022, including:

• A high-end iMac with Apple silicon to sit above the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ in the lineup
• A significant MacBook Air revamp featuring the "M2" chip and a new design
• An updated Mac mini
• A new version of the entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌
• A new Mac Pro with Apple silicon

While there have been a large number of rumors around Apple's iMac, MacBook Air, Mac mini, and Mac Pro updates, Gurman's mention of a new entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ stands out. He previously mentioned that a next-generation entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ would contain the same ‌M2‌ chip as the next-generation ‌MacBook Air‌, featuring the same number of CPU cores as the M1 chip, up to 10 graphics cores, and improved performance, but this is the first time that the machine has been mentioned in over half a year.

The introduction of Apple's latest high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, which feature larger displays, scrapped the Touch Bar, and added more ports, seems to have left the entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ in something of an odd position in the Mac lineup, leading to speculation that it could be discontinued and replaced with a high-end version of the ‌MacBook Air‌, but Gurman's reaffirmation suggests that a new entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ is still on the way for 2022.

Details about the new machine are unclear, but there are significant questions around how the new entry-level ‌MacBook Pro‌ will take the middle ground between the new ‌M2‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ and the current high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌, and whether aspects such as the Touch Bar will remain.

Refreshes of the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ and high-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ were noticeably absent from Gurman's list of expectations for 2022. While these machines were updated this year, their absence from Gurman's list could add clout to the theory that Apple is not planning to update its Apple silicon Macs annually.

Beyond the Mac, Gurman mentioned that he also expects to see an iPhone SE with 5G, new AirPods Pro earbuds, and the introduction of Apple's first mixed augmented and virtual reality headset in 2022.

The rush of Black Friday deals has passed, and while there's likely still some holiday shopping to be done, attention is also turning back to rumors with a look ahead to what we can expect in 2022.

Rumors this week included the next iPhone SE reportedly coming early next year and a multi-device charger similar to Apple's canceled AirPower, while we also took a look at what we might see for a redesigned MacBook Air next year. Read on for details on these stories and more!

New iPhone SE Reportedly on Track for Release Early Next Year

As the holiday season gets underway, things have been relatively quiet in the world of Apple, but we are starting to hear some rumors about products that we can expect to launch in 2022, including a third-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of the year.

According to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce, a key new feature of this iPhone SE will be support for 5G networks, while the device is also expected to be equipped with an A15 chip like iPhone 13 models.

The current iPhone SE was released in April 2020 and features a similar design as the iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID home button, and thick bezels. The new iPhone SE is expected to remain the most affordable iPhone model in Apple's lineup.

Apple Still Working on AirPower-Like Charger, Also Long-Range Wireless Charging and Reverse Charging

While it has been nearly three years since Apple announced that its AirPower wireless charging mat was canceled due to quality issues, rumors have suggested Apple is still working on a similar accessory.

The latest word came from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who believes that Apple still intends to create a wireless charging accessory that could charge multiple devices like an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once.

macOS Monterey: 40 Tips, Tricks, and Features You Might Have Missed

Apple released macOS Monterey in late October with several new features like AirPlay to Mac and Live Text, and others coming soon, including SharePlay for FaceTime and Universal Control.

This week, we shared a helpful list of 40 tips, tricks, and features that are worth checking out in macOS Monterey, including some lesser-known settings that are available in apps and across the operating system.

Five Features to Look Forward to in the 2022 MacBook Air

While the latest MacBook Air is already a fan favorite thanks to the impressive performance of the M1 chip, rumors suggest that a new version of the notebook is already in development with an even faster Apple silicon chip and a significant redesign.

In addition to our MacBook Air roundup, we've put together a list of five features to look forward to in the 2022 MacBook Air based on everything that we've heard so far.

How to See 'Spotify Wrapped' for Apple Music

Towards the end of each year, streaming music service Spotify provides a "Spotify Wrapped" recap of each user's listening habits and favorite songs. Spotify Wrapped is a highly anticipated year-end feature that Spotify users love, and Apple Music listeners may be wondering how to get their own "Wrapped" rundown.

The closest equivalent to "Spotify Wrapped" for Apple Music subscribers is "Apple Music Replay," and we've shared step-by-step instructions on how to access this feature.

Apple Introduces New MacBook Upgrade Program for Business Partners

Apple has launched a new MacBook Upgrade Program that allows small business partners in the U.S. to finance MacBook Air and MacBook Pro purchases, with monthly payments starting at $30 per month.

Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program, this program is not available to consumers at this time. For small businesses, make sure to read our coverage of the program for additional details, including how to sign up.

MacRumors Newsletter

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

In a new interview, two Apple executives have discussed Apple's wide range of Apple Watch band options for customers, how they're designed, and their thinking behind them.

Evans Hankey, Apple's vice president of industrial design, and Stan Ng, Apple's vice president of product marketing, recently spoke to HYPEBEAST about Apple Watch bands.

Apple has a wide range of Apple Watch bands for customers to choose from, and the design of the Apple Watch allows them to quickly change their bands as they please, a typically hard thing to do with traditional watches.

When considering the ability for users to change their watch face, the watchband style and color, and the material of the Apple Watch casing itself, Hankey said customers have "an unbelievable number of potential combinations, well into the thousands" of styles to use.

One hallmark character of the Apple Watch is that bands from previous years have, so far, been compatible with the newest model in the same size. For example, with the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple increased the case sizes to 41mm and 45mm, and yet, watch bands for 40mm and 44mm Apple Watch models remain compatible.

Hankey said that backward compatibility remains a top priority for the Apple Watch team.

Since the first Apple Watch to today's Series 7, the interchangeability of the band has been a cornerstone of the product. Between the band style and color, the material of the Watch housing, and which Watch face you've selected and customized, the system affords an unbelievable number of potential combinations, well into the thousands. Each time we have refined the Apple Watch's design, we have pushed ourselves to maintain backward compatibility, which has been no small feat as the display has grown over the years.

For us, the band is not at all about technology — each band expresses our love for materials, craft, and the process of making. 

Apple Watch bands themselves include no technology, but their design plays an important role in making sure that functionality of the Apple Watch doesn't get interrupted. Ng said that Apple Watch bands feature "innovations" to ensure they're comfortable, and don't ruin the Apple Watch experience.

For example, the velcro tabs on the Sport Loops, magnets on the Milanese Loop and Leather Link, and nine sizes of Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop make it easy to adjust or find the right band size for a perfect fit.

This ensures the watch is comfortable to wear — not too snug and not too loose — while also enabling features like all-day heart rate tracking, blood oxygen readings, and on-wrist detection that allow you to use Apple Pay or unlock your iPhone securely without authenticating every time.

Apple designs its own set of bands, but it also works with high-end luxury brand Hermès. Ng said that Apple's collaboration with Hermès is unique since both companies have an obsession over details, craftsmanship, and storytelling. In the remainder of the interview, the executives go into more detail about some popular Apple Watch bands, such as the Braided Solo Loop, Leather Link, and Milanese Loop. The full interview can be read here.

With the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple introduced a new fast charging feature that allows the latest Apple Watch models to charge up to 33 percent faster than prior-generation models, but it requires new hardware.

To take advantage of fast charging, Apple Watch Series 7 owners need an updated charging puck that supports the fast charge feature, which means all existing chargers from both Apple and third-party companies are out of date and won't offer the fastest charging speeds when paired with a Series 7. To address this, Belkin in November launched the Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with MagSafe, which is equipped with a new fast charge Apple Watch puck.

Priced at $150, the Boost Charge Pro is a multi-device charger, so it also features a 15W wireless charging pad for the iPhone 12 and 13 models (limited to 12W for the iPhone 12 mini and ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini), and a secondary Qi-based wireless charging spot for the AirPods and AirPods Pro.

For some time, Belkin's multi-device chargers have featured an upright charging position for the ‌iPhone‌ with other devices accommodated below or at the other side, but this new model is flat.

On the right, there's an Apple Watch charging puck that can be used flat or popped up for Night Stand mode, along with a flat MagSafe charging pad on the left. In the middle, there's a circular indent where the AirPods are meant to be positioned.

In terms of the amount of desk space that this design takes up, I'm not a fan. My ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max needs to be positioned in a portrait orientation to charge, so there needs to be space both above the charger and below the charger to fit the phone. With an upright charging pad design, the ‌iPhone‌ is up out of the way and the charging pad can go at the back of my desk (which is up against the wall), but with this flat design, it needs to be more in the middle of my desk to have room for the ‌iPhone‌.

With all three charging spots in a row, the Boost Charge Pro measures in at nine inches long and a little over three inches wide. That size won't matter on a good sized desk with a lot of room, but if you have a smaller, more compact space like I do, this design might not be ideal. Belkin says that this design is meant to be more packable, but it's too thick and heavy for that purpose, in my opinion.

In terms of build quality, the Boost Charge Pro Wireless Charging Pad has a premium feel with a solid weight that keeps it on the desk when using the ‌MagSafe‌ charger with an ‌iPhone‌, and it's made from a soft touch material that comes in either black or white. The Apple Watch charging puck and ‌MagSafe‌ charger are white, and there are chrome accents for both. As you might notice in my photos, with the black model, it picks up lint and dust, and it's difficult to get off because of the texture.

There's an LED light on the charger for the AirPods charging spot, but Belkin relies on the Apple Watch and ‌iPhone‌ screens to confirm charging for the other devices because they're both magnetic chargers with more simple alignment.

I tested the ‌MagSafe‌ charging speed with an ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max, and it was as fast as a standard ‌MagSafe‌ charger. The same goes for the Apple Watch Series 7 charging puck - it charged at the same faster speed as the Apple Watch charging puck that shipped with the watch. The middle spot is limited to 5W charging.

Though designed for ‌MagSafe‌ iPhones and the latest Apple Watch, the Boost Charge Pro is compatible older iPhones and Apple Watch models. You won't get faster charging speeds with an older Apple Watch and with the ‌MagSafe‌ charger, non-MagSafe iPhones will max out at 7.5W, but it works. You can also squeeze another ‌iPhone‌ into that middle charging spot too.

Belkin ships the Boost Charge Pro with a power adapter that has a barrel plug rather than something more universal like USB-C, but that's typical of these 3-in-1 Belkin chargers. I do wish Belkin would adopt USB-C, and I also wish we could get more variance in naming to keep the different charging options straight.

Belkin's last wireless charger was also the Boost Charge Pro, so don't get this new Wireless Charging Pad with ‌MagSafe‌ version confused with the prior Boost Charge Pro Wireless Charger with MagSafe if you're looking to buy.

Bottom Line

If you have the budget and the desk space for the Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad, it's potentially worth picking up to get the fastest wireless charging speeds for the newest ‌iPhone‌ and the Apple Watch.

Most people can get by with older, slower charging options, but the Boost Charge Pro may be of particular interest to Apple Watch Series 7 users who wear their Apple Watches to bed. Faster charging can be a real quality of life improvement if you want to get to sleep but need to charge up your Apple Watch to have enough juice to get through the night.

Just about 10 minutes of charging provides sufficient battery life for an eight hour sleeping period, which is convenient. Of course, there is the option of the charging puck that came with the Apple Watch, but for those who prefer a single-cable charging solution and want fast charging, the Boost Charge Pro is the only available option right now.

How to Buy

The Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad can be pre-ordered from the Belkin website for $150. It will ship in December or January.

Note: Belkin provided MacRumors with a 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Belkin. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Apple Watch accessory company Southern Straps to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Black or Brown Leather Band compatible with all Apple Watch models.

Priced at $129, Southern Straps' Leather Bands are made from full grain Horween leather and hand sewn in California. Each band is vegetable dyed for rich color that will develop a unique patina with use over time.

Each Apple Watch band is stitched with a durable waxed cord material that ensures the band will hold up to daily use for years to come. Southern Straps Leather Bands come with a two-year warranty.

The Leather Bands are available in two sizes. The smallest size is designed to work with 39, 40, and 41mm Apple Watch models, while the larger size is compatible with the 42, 44, and 45mm Apple Watch models.

According to Southern Straps, the bands are designed to fit nearly all wrist sizes and can accommodate wrists sized 14cm to 25cm in circumference. Bands can be ordered in black, silver, or gold hardware to match some of the Apple Watch finishes.

For those interested, Southern Straps also offers a range of affordable, high-quality nylon Apple Watch bands that are available in multiple striped designs and colors.

We have five Leather Bands from Southern Straps to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (December 3) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 10. The winners will be chosen randomly on December 10 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.