iOS 14 is now installed on 90 percent of iPhones that were introduced in the last four years, according to updated iOS 14 adoption rate numbers shared by Apple.
Eight percent of iPhones introduced in the last four years run iOS 13, while two percent continue to run an earlier version of iOS.
85 percent of all iPhones (including those older than four years) are running iOS 14, with eight percent still on iOS 13 and seven percent running an earlier version of iOS. This category includes devices that are not able to run iOS 14.
As for iPadOS, 91 percent of all iPads introduced in the last four years are running iPadOS 14, and 79 percent of all devices have the iOS 14 update installed. As with iPhones, iPads in the "all devices" category may not be able to run iOS 14, and indeed, 12 percent of tablets in this category have iOS 12 or earlier installed while nine percent run iOS 13.
Apple previously shared updated iOS 14 installation numbers in February. At that time, 86 percent of iPhones introduced in the last four years had iOS 14 installed, and 80 percent of all iPhones ran iOS 14, so iOS 14 adoption rates have seen decent growth with the release of iOS 14.5.
The updated iOS 14 adoption numbers come just ahead of the 32nd annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which will see the debut of iOS 15 and iPadOS 15. Apple's focus will shift from iOS 14 to iOS 15 following WWDC, as the company will be refining and updating the new operating system ahead of its fall launch.
We're just three days away from Apple's annual developers conference, WWDC, but rumors are still divided as to whether new MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon will be announced at Apple's opening keynote on Monday.
Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty weighed in on the matter in a research note shared with MacRumors today, claiming it's "likely" that Apple will announce at least one new MacBook model powered by Apple silicon at WWDC.
"In the last 12 months, Apple has introduced not only new Macs (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13", and the Mac Mini) with M1, but also a high end 12.9" iPad Pro with the M1 chip," wrote Huberty. "We expect this momentum to continue into WWDC 2021, and based on our checks, we believe it's likely Apple launches a new MacBook featuring in-house designed silicon."
Huberty said there is potential for the new MacBook to feature the so-called "M2" chip, and if so, she assumes that shipments to customers would begin in the second half of 2021. This notebook would very likely be a new high-end MacBook Pro, with Apple rumored to be planning redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, but Huberty did not specify.
One possibility is that the new MacBook Pro models will be announced at WWDC, but not ship until several weeks later. This would be in line with the new iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV models, which did not begin arriving to customers until May 21, just over one month after being announced at Apple's Spring Loaded event on April 20.
The new MacBook Pro models are each expected to feature a brighter mini-LED display, an improved iteration of the M1 chip, and a new design with a flatter top and bottom. The notebooks are also expected to regain some ports that Apple removed from the MacBook Pro in 2016, including an HDMI port, SD card slot, and a magnetic charging port. Rumors also suggest the Touch Bar will be retired in favor of physical Fn keys.
Amazon and B&H Photo today have every color of Apple's AirPods Max headphones priced at $519.99, down from $549.00. For many colors of the AirPods Max, this is the best price that we've ever tracked across all Apple retailers.
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.
On Amazon, all models of the AirPods Max are in stock and ready to ship today, and they're all sold directly by Amazon. B&H Photo is offering free expedited shipping for most orders in the United States, and its sale prices will end on June 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
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. You can also keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Apple has today announced "Who Are You, Charlie Brown?," a new documentary that takes a look at the origins of Peanuts and its creator Charles M. Schulz.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? celebrates Schulz and the global popularity of Peanuts using an interweaved animated story that follows Charlie Brown as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? comes from Imagine Documentaries and is narrated by Lupita Nyong'o. The special is set to feature interviews with friends, family, cartoonists, and notable fans of the iconic comic strip to create a portrait of the creator of Peanuts and his legacy. Jean Schulz, Drew Barrymore, Al Roker, Kevin Smith, Paul Feig, Noah Schnapp, and more will participate in the documentary.
Who Are You, Charlie Brown? debuts exclusively on Apple TV+ on June 25.
The Great Courses Signature Collection is the latest video subscription service to be made available through Apple TV Channels.
Previously only available through Amazon and Roku, The Great Courses Signature Collection offers access to over 200 of The Great Courses' latest video courses taught by leading U.S. professors. Categories include history, better living, science and mathematics, and literature and learning.
Apple introduced the Channels feature in early 2019, providing a way for Apple TV users to subscribe to standalone services directly in the TV app. There is a growing selection of Channels available, including CBS All Access, Showtime, Epix, Starz, Cinemax, AMC+, and more.
The Great Courses Signature Collection is available now in the U.S. via the Apple TV app, Amazon Prime Video, and Roku for $7.99 per month. There is also a seven-day free trial available to try the service out.
Mercedes-Benz has announced that Apple Music integration is coming to its MBUX infotainment system, starting with C-Class, S-Class, and EQS models.
Apple Music will integrate directly into Mercedes-Benz's MBUX infotainment system. Users simply need to link their online "Mercedes me" account to their vehicle, and then Apple Music subscribers will have access to its full library of more than 75 million songs, curated playlists, radio stations, and more.
Drivers can make requests using the "Hey Mercedes" voice command or tap on the display to play songs, albums, playlists, or radio stations.
Apple Music integration will be available in MBUX to new C-Class and S-Class owners starting this month, and to EQS owners later this summer. Existing C-Class and S-Class owners with the latest generation of MBUX will also be able to get Apple Music integration via an over-the-air update later this year.
Mercedes-Benz follows other automakers such as Porsche in adding Apple Music integration, totally separate to Apple CarPlay, directly in vehicle infotainment systems. Other new Apple-integrated features, such as time-synced lyrics and Apple Podcasts, also began to emerge on vehicles late last year.
The long-rumored and highly anticipated redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple silicon will enter its phase of mass production in the first quarter of next year, according to industry sources cited in a paywalled DigiTimes report.
According to the report, the smaller 14-inch MacBook Pro will enter "volume production" in the fourth quarter of this year, while the larger 16-inch model is aimed at the first quarter of next year. However, despite mass production for the laptops starting later in the year and next year, DigiTimes still reports that Apple will announce them in the second half of 2021.
Apple plans to release two miniLED-backlit MacBook Pro products - a 14-inch and a 16-inch - in the second half of 2021, noted the sources.
Judging from the supply of miniLED backlighting applications, volume production of the 14-inch MacBook Pro is likely to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the 16-inch model will start in the first quarter of 2022, said the sources.
The scenario described by DigiTimes is reminiscent of the launch of the new M1iPad Pro. The new iPad was announced in April but didn't begin shipping until the second half of May. Even then supply continues to remains tight, with some customers having to wait until July.
Bloomberg'sMark Gurman has previously noted that Apple could be planning to announce the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro as soon as early this summer. Apple will be holding its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 7, and ahead of the conference, some tenuous reports have suggested the MacBook Pros could be announced; however, those claims have yet to be backed up by reliable sources.
Android users, later this year, will have the ability to opt-out of tracking across apps on Android devices, limiting the ability for apps to access their unique advertising ID, Google announced in a support page update (via Bloomberg).
The new change, in theory, is similar to Apple's recently launched ATT, or App Tracking Transparency framework; however, it differs in direct implementation. On iOS 14.5 or later, when users first open an app, a prompt is shown with the options "Ask App not to track" or "Allow." According to Google, users won't see a pop-up for each app, nor will they have granular controls over each individual app's ability to access their IDFA.
Instead, according to the support document, a new toggle within Android settings will let users opt-out completely of all tracking, for all apps.
As part of Google Play services update in late 2021, the advertising ID will be removed when a user opts out of personalization using advertising ID in Android Settings. Any attempts to access the identifier will receive a string of zeros instead of the identifier
Initial reports suggested that Google was hesitant to implement a framework similar to Apple's due to concerns over the impact it would have on its advertising business. In the weeks and months leading up to Apple's ATT launch, which was first previewed at the company's developers conference last year, Facebook and other companies voiced concerns that the new privacy-focused change would hurt their bottom line.
Google says the new change, which will come as part of an update to its Google Play services, will be rolled out in phases starting later this year and "will expand to affect apps running on devices that support Google Play in early 2022."
Apple is continuing to work on a future wireless charger that would function similarly to the now-abandoned AirPower, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In a report outlining Apple's wireless charging ambitions, Gurman says that Apple is "still exploring" a wireless charger that would charge multiple devices like an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once.
Apple first announced the AirPower in September 2017 alongside the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and iPhone X, and said that the charging product would launch sometime in 2018. No AirPower materialized in 2018 and after months of rumors of development issues, Apple canceled the project in March 2019.
The AirPower failed because Apple engineers were unable to solve multiple bugs affecting the device, including interference problems and issues with overheating. In 2020 alongside the iPhone 12, Apple instead unveiled MagSafe, a magnetic wireless charging alternative.
Since the AirPower was canceled, there have been persistent rumors that Apple is still working on some kind of charging mat, but most have been nebulous. Gurman's report is the clearest hint we've had yet that some kind of AirPower-like device could still come out in the future.
In addition to a wireless charger that's similar to the AirPower, Apple is also said to be "internally investigating" alternative wireless charging methods that can work over greater distances. Work on long range charging is in the early stages, though, and it's likely to be several years before we see any kind of new long-range wireless charging technology from Apple.
Apple is working on a revamped version of the iPad mini that will feature the first design update the smaller-sized tablet has seen in six years, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The updated iPad mini will feature narrower screen bezels, with Apple also testing a design that does away with the Home button. We've heard several prior rumors about Apple's work on a new version of the iPad mini, which could feature a display that measures in at 8.5 to 9 inches, a notable increase from the current 7.9-inch display.
Images of an iPad mini dummy model even leaked earlier this year, though it is not clear if that dummy model was accurate as it did feature a Home button.
In addition to a new iPad mini, Apple is also working on a thinner version of the low-cost entry-level iPad that's aimed at students, with both the iPad mini and the new low-cost iPad planned for "as early as the end of this year."
Bloomberg's report also highlighted a new iPad Pro coming in 2022 that could feature MagSafe wireless charging capabilities as well as the ability to reverse charge other wireless devices.
Apple is developing a new iPad Pro that will feature wireless charging capabilities, reports Bloomberg. The upcoming iPad Pro will debut in 2022, following the updated M1 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models that launched in May 2021.
For the new iPad Pro, Apple is testing a glass back instead of an aluminum enclosure, which would allow for the wireless charging capabilities. Apple first implemented wireless charging with the glass-backed iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in 2017, and every flagship iPhone since then has supported wireless charging.
Current iPads still charge over USB-C or Lightning, but enabling wireless charging would bring the iPhone and iPad closer in functionality. Work on the new iPad Pro is still in the early stages, and Bloomberg warns that Apple's plans could change or be canceled before next year.
Most wireless chargers are sized for the iPhone, so a wireless charging feature for the iPad might require specialized charging options, but Apple is rumored to be planning to use MagSafe if it does indeed opt for wireless charging for the iPad Pro. Wireless charging will likely be slower than charging through the USB-C/Thunderbolt port, which is expected.
Apple is also working on reverse wireless charging for the new iPad Pro, which would allow users to charge their iPhones, AirPods, and other accessories by laying them on the back of the iPad. There were rumors that the iPhone 11 would feature bilateral wireless charging, but it didn't ultimately happen. Bloomberg says that Apple did indeed explore the feature for the iPhone, however.
Along with MagSafe charging for the iPad and reverse wireless charging capabilities, Apple is still working on a future wireless charging solution that works similarly to the abandoned AirPower charger, but it's not clear if and when such a product might launch. For further in the future, Apple is investigating long-range wireless charging methods that work at greater distances than a standard inductive charging solution.
Apple's 32nd Worldwide Developers Conference will be a digital-only event much like WWDC 2020, with developers worldwide able to participate for free. WWDC is aimed at and designed for developers who create apps for Apple's platforms, but Apple always holds a keynote event that's of interest to the general public.
Apple's keynote event will take place on Monday, June 7, and it will provide us with our first look at new software that's coming this fall. Apple will unveil iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8, tvOS 15, and possibly new MacBook Pro models.
You can watch Apple's WWDC 2021 Keynote live as it happens using one of the methods outlined in our guide. The stream for the event starts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time from Apple Park in Cupertino, California. For reference, here's when the event will begin based on other time zones in the United States and around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii -- 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska -- 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona -- 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada -- 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado -- 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas -- 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada -- 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada -- 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -- 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom -- 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France -- 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa -- 7:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia -- 8:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland -- 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey -- 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India -- 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia -- 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China -- 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore -- 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia -- 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong -- 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea -- 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan -- 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia -- 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia -- 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand -- 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
Watch the Keynote on YouTube
Watching the WWDC keynote on YouTube may be one of the quickest and easiest ways to catch the event because YouTube is generally available on most devices, including TV sets and consoles.
The YouTube live stream above will be accessible on June 7 when the event kicks off.
Watch the Keynote on Mac, iPhone or iPad
You can watch the WWDC keynote on any Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using Apple's native Safari browser. iOS devices must be running iOS 10 or later, and Macs need to be running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later to access the stream.
You can watch the WWDC keynote via Apple's TV app on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, with the link in the TV app becoming available a few days before the event begins.
Open the TV app on your chosen device.
Scroll down the Watch Now category and select WWDC 2021. Alternatively, type "WWDC" into the Search field and select WWDC 2021 from the results.
Click Play.
The app may tell you to tune in at your local time to watch the event live prior to when the WWDC keynote begins.
Watch the Keynote on a Windows PC
If you don't have an Apple device handy, you can still watch the WWDC 2021 keynote on a PC running Windows 10. Open Microsoft Edge browser and follow this link to the WWDC 2021 Livestream.
While Apple offers no guarantees, other platforms may also be able to access the WWDC 2021 keynote using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC codecs/extensions must be installed).
Watch in the Apple Developer App or Developer Website
For those unable to watch the live stream, or who prefer to read a text version of the announcements, we'll have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, so make sure to follow.
Like most Apple products, AirTags are able to be updated with new software over the air, with Apple able to push new firmware when required.
Apple in June 2021 released the first AirTags firmware update with anti-stalking security enhancements that decreased the intervals in which an AirTag separated from its owner will play a sound. Additional firmware updates have been released since that time.
Tap on the AirTag that you want to check in the list.
In this view, tap on the name of the AirTag to see the current firmware version.
The AirTags launched with firmware version 1.0.225, and Apple has rolled out updated firmware versions every few months since, usually on a staggered basis.
There is no way to force an AirTag update, as it's something that's done over the air through your iPhone. To ensure the update happens, you can make sure that the AirTag is in range of your iPhone, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device.
Apple now considers the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display to be a "vintage" product because it has been close to five years since it was last offered for sale.
The Thunderbolt Display was today added to Apple's list of vintage and obsolete products, which are part of a support document on obtaining service for an Apple product after a warranty expires. Products are considered vintage when it’s between five and seven years since Apple stopped distributing them for sale.
Apple introduced the Thunderbolt Display in 2011, but never shipped updated models. It was discontinued on June 23, 2016, with no successor to follow. Apple in 2017 debuted LG UltraFine displays made in partnership with LG, but for many years, there was no Apple-designed display available.
That changed with the release of the Pro Display XDR, which accompanied the 2019 Mac Pro. At $5,000, the Pro Display XDR is not a replacement for the more affordable $999 Thunderbolt Display, but there are rumors suggesting Apple is developing a lower-priced Apple-branded external monitor.
There is no word on when a new display might be released, and as of January 2021, work on the new display was said to be in the early stages. To cut down on pricing, the rumored display is said to feature a screen geared for consumer use without the top-tier brightness and contrast.
Now that it's on the vintage list, the Thunderbolt Display may not be eligible for repair in some states and countries. Apple previously refused to offer repairs for products on the vintage list entirely, but as of 2019, select vintage products are eligible for service. Repairs are primarily available for vintage iPhones and Macs, however, so it is not clear if the Thunderbolt Display will be eligible.
In addition to adding the Thunderbolt Display to the vintage list, Apple has also included the original iPad Air, which was first released in 2013 and discontinued in 2016, and the 27-inch Apple Cinema Display, discontinued in 2014. The 2013 11 and 13-inch MacBook Pro models were moved from the vintage list to the obsolete list, which means repairs are no longer available.
Former Apple design chief Jony Ive has recruited at least four of his former Apple colleagues to his "LoveFrom" design firm, reports The Information.
Former Apple employees now working for Ive include Wan Si, Chris Wilson, Patch Kessler, and Jeff Tiller. All four worked in Ive's group at Apple and now list LoveFrom as an employer on LinkedIn.
Wan worked on app icons, buttons, and home screens as part of Apple's human interface team, which Wilson was also a part of. Wilson helped design the iCloud icon and the Apple Watch user interface. Tiller worked on administrative matters on the design team, while Kessler worked on the Force Touch trackpad for the MacBook before leaving Apple in 2017.
Ive left Apple to begin LoveFrom in 2019, but the design firm has kept a low profile. There is no website and it is unclear how many employees work for Ive.
At the time that Ive left Apple, Apple said that Ive would continue to work with the company on exclusive projects, with Apple to serve as one of LoveFrom's clients. Ive was, for example, involved with the creation of the 2021 iMac. LoveFrom has also worked with companies like Airbnb.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Malala Yousafzai recently sat down for an interview as part of British Vogue's Conversation series, where the two talked about life after COVID, Yousafzai's and Apple's activism, the importance of education and learning to code, and more.
Apple has partnered with the Malala Fund to support girls' education, helping the organization by assisting with technology, curriculum, and research into policy changes needed to help girls everywhere attend school and complete their education, and this partnership is a key point in the interview.
The two also discuss Yousafzai's multiyear Apple TV+ partnership, which will involve inspiring dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation, and children's shows, as well as Yousafzai's personal efforts to learn to code. "Everyone should learn to code," said Cook. "It's the only global language."
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 is enhancing AirTags security to prevent stalking using the Bluetooth devices, Apple told CNET today. Apple is already sending out over-the-air updates to AirTags that will shorten the amount of time before an unknown AirTag alerts you if it is in your possession.
At the current time, AirTags play a sound after three days of being away from their owner. After the update, AirTags will begin playing at a random time in a window after eight hours and within 24 hours.
Apple is also working to create an app for Android devices that will let them detect an unknown AirTag or Find My network-enabled item that is found to be traveling with them, which will prevent AirTags from being used to stalk Android users.
AirTags are designed to play a sound when away from their owner and will also alert iPhone owners if there's an unknown tag nearby, but Apple has been criticized because it's anti-stalking measures do not go far enough. The Washington Post's Geoffrey Fowler in May penned an article that outlined how AirTags could be used for covert stalking, and one of his main criticisms was the lack of alerts for iPhone users.
His other critique was that the three-day sound timer on AirTags resets whenever it's near the owner's phone, potentially allowing for spousal abuse and stalking, so Apple is working to address both of these issues.
The Android app will be released later this year, and the sound updates for AirTags will be automatically applied when an AirTag is near an iPhone.
Apple has put iMessage at the center of its promotional materials for WWDC next week, hinting that the company's popular messaging service could be seeing substantial upgrades.
iMessage appears to be a central theme in the marketing for this year's WWDC. For example, the placeholder for WWDC's live stream on YouTube, which is already live, features iMessage bubbles, Tapback, and iMessage's full-screen laser effect. Similarly, the Twitter hashflag to promote WWDC this year is an iMessage thumbs-up Tapback bubble.
The iMessage stickers and official WWDC attire and pins for this year also features iMessage bubbles, Tapback reactions, and emojis, but this is not necessarily uncommon for Apple's yearly conference-related outerwear.
Reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman had previously reported that iOS 15 will feature improvements to iMessage, which appears to mirror the theme from Apple's promotional materials. Specifically, Gurman explained that there will be new options for automatic replies, statuses, and notifications:
There will also be an option to set automatic replies to messages depending on their status. That will be an improvement over the current auto-reply feature, which is only currently available while driving. Apple has added some unique notifications features such as Do Not Disturb and Sleep Mode, but this will mark the first time the company offers a systemwide feature for changing notifications depending on a user’s status.
The company is also working on upgrades to iMessage with the eventual goal of acting as more of a social network and better competing with Facebook Inc.'s WhatsApp. Those changes are still early in development and could come later, the people said.
The changes are reportedly in line with a broader strategy to make iMessage more of a social network that can better compete with WhatsApp.
Last year, MacRumors found evidence that Apple was internally testing the ability to retract sent messages, typing indicators in group chats, the ability to mark the last message of a conversation as unread after opening it, and an expansion of the "/me" command for sharing status updates, a feature that has been available on the Mac since the iChat days. Apple has also patented a number of as-yet unreleased iMessage features, such as the ability to edit sent messages.
The extent of the upgrades to iMessage at this year's WWDC are not yet clear, but given the wealth of evidence that iMessage has a significant role to play in this year's WWDC and a flurry of rumors around new messaging features, some kind of update seems to be highly likely.
WWDC 2021 begins next Monday, June 7 with a Keynote at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple is expected to unveil major new software updates, including iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS 12, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15. See our WWDC 2021 roundup for more information.
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