Things are definitely starting to heat up as we head toward Apple's first media event of 2022, and it looks like we may now have a date! We should be getting a few product introductions at the event, but there's lots more coming later in the year.
Also this week, we took a closer look at the new Universal Control feature that's in beta right now, comparing it to the existing Sidecar feature that lets you extend your Mac's desktop to a nearby iPad. Make sure to read on below for details on these stories and more from the past week!
New Low-Cost iPhone SE 5G and iPad Air Coming at Virtual Event Scheduled for March 8
Apple is planning to unveil an updated version of the iPhone SE with 5G and a new iPad Air at an event that's set to take place in March, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is said to be targeting Tuesday, March 8 for the iPhone SE event.
At least one new Mac with Apple-designed chips could be introduced at the event, and prior rumors have suggested that this might be the Mac mini. iOS 15.4 may also be tied to the March event and the new devices, so we can expect to see the update launch in the first half of March.
Mini-LED iMac Pro to Launch in Mid-2022, Not Expected at Spring Event
Apple is widely rumored to be working on a replacement for the 27-inch iMac that is powered by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and it is possible that it will have iMac Pro branding.
Display industry consultant Ross Young this week said that he no longer expects Apple to release the iMac Pro in the spring and that he now believes an August or September launch is more likely. The current Intel-based 27-inch iMac was released in August 2020.
The new iMac Pro is expected to feature a similar design as the 24-inch iMac, a ProMotion display, and more. Check out our guide covering everything we know about the new iMac Pro for more details.
Universal Control vs. Sidecar: What's the Difference?
Macs and iPads include support for two separate features called Sidecar and Universal Control that allow the devices to be used together, but in different ways, as we demonstrated in a recent video.
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Redesigned iMac Pro, New AirPods Pro, and More Expected to Launch This Year
The second-generation AirPods Pro are rumored to have several new features and will launch in the fourth quarter of 2022, which runs from October through December, according to oft-accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Three New iOS Features Expected for iPhones Later This Year
Apple finally enabled Universal Control in the macOS 12.3 and iPadOS 15.4 betas seeded last week, but there are still at least three other features expected to be added to future iOS versions later this year, including support for driver's licenses in the Wallet app.
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.
Apple is planning to unveil an updated version of the iPhone SE with 5G and a new iPad Air at an event that's set to take place in March, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is said to be targeting Tuesday, March 8 for the iPhone SE event.
As we have heard several times before, the new iPhone SE will look similar to the 2020 version that's modeled after the iPhone 8, but it will feature a faster A-series chip, likely the A15, and 5G technology. It is also expected to include an improved camera.
The iPad Air will also feature an updated A-series chip and 5G connectivity, but it too is expected to feature no major design changes. At least one new Mac with Apple-designed chips could be introduced at the event, and prior rumors have suggested that this might be the Mac mini.
iOS 15.4 may be tied to the March event and the new devices, so we can expect to see the update launch in the first half of March.
The March event is expected to be digital-only rather than in person, similar to the events we've had for the last two years. It will be followed later this year by WWDC, where Apple will introduce new software, and several keynote events later in the year.
As Gurman has said previously, Apple has a wide range of product updates coming this fall, including new iPhones, refreshed AirPods Pro, new Apple Watch Series 8 and SE models, a refreshed MacBook Air, a new iMac, and a Mac Pro.
Priced starting at $359, the Tech Folio Brief is a compact carry-all that's perfect for Apple's MacBooks, iPads, and other accessories. The Tech Folio is available in 14 and 16-inch sizes, with the 14-inch size ideal for Apple's 13 and 14-inch MacBook Pro models and the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pros, while the 16-inch size is designed for the 15 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
WaterField Designs makes a whole range of bags that are packed with pockets and storage space, and the Tech Folio is no exception. It's divided into sections that can hold all kinds of things.
The padded briefcase section is deep enough to hold two laptops, a water bottle, documents, and other accessories. It can be zipped down halfway so it's easy to get at what's inside, and if you want to lock up the contents, there's a double zipper that fits a small lock. When not filled with a laptop, the sides collapse in for a slimmer look.
Along with the briefcase section, there's a tech section with multiple pockets for holding cables, power adapters, mice, battery packs, AirPods and other earbuds, plus other items you might need. This section zips open flat for easier access.
The Tech Folio is available in ballistic nylon or waxed canvas with full grain leather accents. The 14-inch version is 6.5 inches wide, 10.5 inches tall, and it has a 15.65 liter capacity. The 16-inch version measures in at 15.75 inches wide, 11.5 inches high, and it has a capacity of 19.29 liters.
WaterField Designs has lots of other accessories, and the Tech Folio can be ordered with matching Leather Cord Organizer Clips. As the name suggests, the clips are designed to hold cables and cords to keep them wrangled while inside your bag. The clips are priced at $15 and come in a set of four, with color options that include blue, black, chocolate, and crimson leather.
The Tech Folio in the giveaway will come with the matching cord clips and also a compatible Tech Pocket, which is an accessory pouch that can be used on its own or in another bag. Priced starting at $49, the Tech Pocket is sized to hold dongles, adapters, earbuds, an iPhone, and more.
It has an easy access magnetic closure that keeps items secure but provides quick access, plus it features a soft, plush lining to keep your gear from getting scratched and a zippered front pocket for things like keys.
One winner will receive a Tech Folio, Tech Pocket, and Cord Clips from WaterField Designs. 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 MacRumorsFacebook 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 (February 4) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 11. The winner will be chosen randomly on February 11 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
Since launching in 2015, Apple Music has offered a three-month free trial to first-time subscribers, but the trial period has now been reduced.
Starting this week, Apple Music offers a shorter one-month free trial to first-time subscribers in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, and other countries. The change was first spotted by Japanese blog Mac Otakara.
Apple Music pricing remains unchanged, with an individual plan available for $9.99 per month in the United States after the one-month trial period.
For comparison, rival streaming music service Spotify typically offers a one-month free trial for its Premium tier, but it is currently offering a two-month trial as a limited time promotion in the United States and select other countries. Spotify is also offering a three-month free trial to first-time customers who sign up through PayPal.
Apple Music continues to offer a six-month free trial to customers who purchase eligible AirPods, Beats, or HomePod models for a limited time.
Apple suppliers have started production of a new fifth-generation iPad Air and third-generation iPhone SE, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara.
Citing reliable sources in China, the report claims that the new iPhone SE will retain the same chassis design as the current model released in 2020, and the device will apparently continue to lack support for MagSafe accessories. Key features of the new iPhone SE are expected to include a faster A15 Bionic chip and 5G support.
Mac Otakara previously reported that the new iPad Air will have similar features as the new iPad mini, including an A15 Bionic chip, a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide front camera with Center Stage support, 5G support for cellular models, and Quad-LED True Tone flash.
That report said the new iPad Air will have the same overall design as the current model, including a single-lens rear camera. Released in October 2020, the current iPad Air features a 10.9-inch display with slim bezels, a Touch ID power button, and a USB-C port, with color options including Space Gray, Silver, Green, Rose Gold, and Sky Blue.
Both the new iPad Air and iPhone SE models are expected to be announced this spring, with an Apple Event possible in March or April.
Apple and its supplier Broadcom today convinced a U.S. appeals court to reject a jury verdict that required them to pay $1.1 billion for infringing on Wi-Fi patents that belong to the California Institute of Technology (via Reuters).
In 2016, Caltech accused Apple and Broadcom of infringing on its patents related to the Wi-Fi technology used in many Apple devices. Caltech's patents, granted between 2006 and 2012, are highly technical and relate to IRA/LDPC codes that utilize simpler encoding and decoding circuitry for improved data transmission rates and performance. The technologies are implemented in both the 802.11n and 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards used by many Apple products.
In the court filing with the U.S. District Court for Central California, Caltech accused Apple of selling various iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, along with other Wi-Fi products, that incorporate these IRA/LDPC encoders and/or decoders and thereby infringe upon four of Caltech's patents. Broadcom, as one of Apple's main suppliers of Wi-Fi chips, was also named in the complaint. At the time, Apple used Broadcom chips in the Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad, as well as the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit today declared that the $1.1 billion award, which is one of the largest in U.S. history for a patent dispute, was not justified and ordered a new trial. The new damages trial will only reconsider Caltech's awarded sum, rather than revisiting the patent infringement itself.
Twitter is globally expanding its testing of a new "dislike" or thumbs down button for tweets, which is designed to let people downvote replies on the social media platform.
The company announced the global expansion of the test on Thursday, saying it had "learned a lot" about the downvoting option in its initial limited testing:
We learned a lot about the types of replies you don't find relevant and we're expanding this test –– more of you on web and soon iOS and Android will have the option to use reply downvoting.
Twitter says early tests showed the reason most users clicked the down arrow was because the reply was perceived as offensive, or because they perceived it as not relevant, or both. Twitter also said those testing the feature agree that "it improves the quality of the conversations on Twitter."
It's worth noting that the dislike button is only visible to the person who is viewing tweets – it is not a publicly available metric or visible to the author of the tweet. Twitter says that it is an internal tool that is designed to help Twitter understand what people think is valuable to a conversation.
Apple says it will take 27% commission on purchases made in dating apps through third-party payment options in the Netherlands, in compliance with a Dutch regulatory ruling.
In an update on its developer support site, Apple said it would collect 27% commission instead of its usual 30% on transactions made in dating apps that use alternative payment methods. Apple says the decreased commission excludes the value for collection and remittance of taxes that the company carries out.
Consistent with the ACM's order, dating apps that are granted an entitlement to link out or use a third-party in-app payment provider will pay Apple a commission on transactions. Apple will charge a 27% commission on the price paid by the user, net of value-added taxes. This is a reduced rate that excludes value related to payment processing and related activities. Developers will be responsible for the collection and remittance of any applicable taxes, such as the Netherlands' value-added tax (VAT), for sales processed by a third-party payment provider.
The details follow Apple's announcement last month that it will comply with a Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) ruling that compels the company to allow third-party payment services to pay for in-app purchases in dating apps.
Apple has warned that it will not be directly aware of purchases made using alternative methods, and will not be able to assist users with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other issues that it usually takes care of as part of its own in-app payments system.
As a result, developers who use the new entitlements will have to take on these additional responsibilities, and will be required to provide Apple with a monthly record of each sale of digital goods and content through the App Store within 15 calendar days of the end of Apple's fiscal month.
Apple's concessions came following a December ruling from the ACM that, by restricting dating apps from using third-party payment methods, Apple is engaging in an "abuse of market power." The ACM threatened to fine Apple up to a maximum of 50 million euros per week ($57 million) if it did not allow dating apps to offer alternative payment options.
Despite agreeing to offer the entitlements, Apple is still appealing the ACM ruling, which it argues is not in the best interests of App Store users. Apple says it is "concerned these changes could compromise the user experience, and create new threats to user privacy and data security."
Amazon is increasing its Prime membership subscription prices in the U.S., the company has revealed in its Q4 2021 earnings results.
According to the company, the fee for a Prime subscription is set to increase for the first time in four years, rising to $15 per month (up from $13), or $139 per year (up from $119).
The price hike, representing an almost 17% increase, will go into effect for new customers starting February 18, 2022, while current members will see their plans go up after March 25, 2022.
Amazon says the increase will pay for the "continued expansion" of Prime perks, along with higher employee salaries and more expensive shipping costs. Amazon hasn't said whether the Prime price change will apply in other countries.
An Amazon Prime subscription includes "free" one-day shipping on purchases made on Amazon, access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and other Amazon digital platforms and services.
As noted by Engadget, Amazon's recent Prime Video spends are also likely to have been a factor, with the upcoming first season of the new "The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power" series reportedly expected to cost $465 million. Amazon last year also acquired Hollywood studio MGM for $8.5 billion.
Amazon's net profit jumped nearly 57% in 2021 to $33.4 billion, due in part to the lingering effects of the global health crisis, which has had a positive effect on Amazon's core shopping business. Amazon stock jumped 13% in pre-market trading on Friday following its strong fourth-quarter earnings.
Apple today shared a new support document outlining a warning symbol that can show up on the MacBook Pro with Liquid Retina XDR Display or the Pro Display XDR when the screen is running too hot, leading to brightness being diminished.
Apple explains that a caution symbol in the menu bar or Display menu in Control Center on a 2021 MacBook Pro or an Apple Pro Display XDR means the display is in low power mode and "using limited brightness."
This situation can occur if the ambient temperature of the room is high and if bright content has been playing for an extended period of time. Apple offer several solutions for those who see the warning, including lowering the temperature of the room and temporarily putting a Mac to sleep to allow it to cool.
On MacBook Pro with Liquid Retina XDR display, quit any apps that could be consuming significant system resources.
Use the Apple XDR Display or Pro Display XDR reference mode unless your current workflow requires a specific reference mode.
Lower the ambient temperature of the room.
Close or hide any windows with HDR content.
Choose Apple menu > Sleep to put your Mac to sleep. Let your display cool down for 5-10 minutes, then press any key on the keyboard to wake your Mac.
Apple says that users who see this problem continually when the ambient temperature of the room is under 77 degrees Fahrenheit should contact Apple Support for help.
iOS 15.4 and macOS Monterey 12.3 introduce Universal Control, a long-awaited feature that Apple first previewed at the 2021 Worldwide Developers Conference.
Universal Control is designed to allow you to control multiple Macs and iPads with a single trackpad/mouse and keyboard, and this Universal Control guide covers the ins and outs of the feature and answers all the questions you might have about how it works.
What is Universal Control?
Universal Control streamlines multi-device workspaces by allowing you to use the same peripherals across multiple Macs and iPads.
With Universal Control, you can use your main Mac's trackpad and keyboard to control additional Macs and/or iPads nearby, so you don't need a desk cluttered up with more than one set of input devices.
How Does Universal Control Work?
Universal Control is a system-level feature that is designed to work automatically when a Mac running macOS Monterey 12.3 or later is paired with another Mac also with macOS 12.3 or an iPad running iPadOS 15.4. There is no setup for Universal Control - it works right after updating to the latest operating system updates.
To use Universal Control, sign into a Mac and an iPad or another Mac with the same Apple ID and then place them near each other. From there, use the trackpad on one of your devices to navigate the cursor to the screen of your other device. It should pop right over from one display to the next.
Let's say you have a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro. You can set the iPad Pro up next to your MacBook Pro and then use the MacBook Pro's keyboard and trackpad to navigate and type on the iPad. If your iPad has an attached keyboard and input device, such as the Magic Keyboard, it can be used to control the Mac.
Each individual device will still be running its respective operating system (macOS on the Mac and iPadOS on the iPad) but you won't need to bring in an extra keyboard or mouse if you want to work with multiple devices side by side.
If you're having trouble getting Universal Control working, make sure to restart both of your devices after installing the updates.
What are the Universal Control System Requirements?
Universal Control requires iPadOS 15.4 on an iPad and macOS Monterey 12.3 on a Mac. It is compatible with the following devices:
All devices must be signed into the same iCloud account, and two-factor authentication must be enabled. Bluetooth, WiFi, and Handoff must be enabled for wireless use, and the devices must be within 30 feet of one another. The iPad and Mac may not share a cellular and internet connection (so the Mac can't be tethered to the iPad), and over USB, the Mac must be trusted on the iPad. All machines must also use the same WiFi network, and a VPN cannot be enabled. If you use a VPN, it needs to be turned off for Universal Control to function.
Macs and iPads need to be within 30 feet of one another for Universal Control to work, and all devices where you want to use the feature need to be signed into the same Apple ID account. It will not work across devices signed into separate Apple ID accounts.
What Can I Do With Universal Control?
In addition to simply navigating around two or more devices with the same cursor, you can also use a single keyboard to type into text input fields, such as in Notes or Safari, effectively allowing you to use a single set of peripherals with all of your Apple devices.
You can also drag and drop files between two devices, but note that if you're using an iPad and a Mac, you need to have an app open that's compatible with the file type. If you want to drag a photo from the Mac to the iPad, for example, make sure you open up the Photos app on the iPad first. Or if you have a document you want to move, open up the Files app on the iPad.
Dragging something from the iPad to the Mac is simpler because the Mac's desktop supports different file types, unlike the iPad's Home Screen. macOS gestures like three-finger swipe between pages are compatible on the iPad as well, since these are features supported by the Magic Keyboard.
Some multitouch gestures like Mission Control are not available on an iPad, and some are a little bit different. If you open up an app on the iPad and then want to exit out using the Mac's trackpad, you can use a three-finger swipe to do so. Alternatively, with a mouse, you can mouse down over the dock to bring it up to swap apps.
You can copy and paste content from one device to another using one keyboard as long as it's an app that supports text input, but this feature does not yet appear to be working properly with apps like Safari. Features like copy/paste will likely see some refinement during the beta testing process.
Can Universal Control Be Customized or Disabled?
If you go to System Preferences -> Displays -> Universal Control, you can find some customization options for Universal Control, two of which are already turned on.
Allow your cursor and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad - This setting toggles Universal Control on or off. If you don't want to use Universal Control, uncheck this box. It is turned on by default when you upgrade to macOS Monterey 12.3.
Push through the edge of a display to connect to a nearby Mac or iPad - Also enabled by default, this setting lets your Mac automatically connect to a nearby Mac or iPad by pushing the trackpad or mouse cursor to the edge of the display toward the other device.
Automatically reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad - This setting is not enabled by default, but it is designed to allow your Mac to reconnect to any nearby Mac or iPad without having to push the cursor over toward the secondary device.
The Displays section of the Mac's System Preferences can also be useful if you want to rearrange how your devices are laid out to make sure Universal Control is operating as intended. If your iPad is to the left of your Mac, for example, you'll want to make sure the Displays section shows that arrangement so your Mac's cursor can pop over to the iPad's display when you pop it off of the left edge of the Mac's screen.
On the iPad, if you go to Settings -> General -> AirPlay & Handoff, you can toggle off "Cursor and Keyboard" if you don't want to use Universal Control.
How Does Universal Control Compare to Sidecar?
Universal Control allows input devices like keyboards and trackpads to be shared across devices, while Sidecar is designed to allow you to mirror or extend your Mac's display to the iPad.
Sidecar is the feature you need if you want to use macOS across both your Mac and your connected iPad, while Universal Control is ideal if you simply want to share a mouse and keyboard between two or more devices. With Universal Control, your iPad will continue to use iPadOS and it will not display the same macOS interface that you'll see when using Sidecar.
Sidecar and Universal Control are separate features, but you can use them in tandem. For example, you can connect your Mac to one iPad via Sidecar for some extra macOS screen space, and on the other side of your Mac you could control a second iPad or Mac using your main Mac's keyboard and trackpad. You can even enable Sidecar and Universal Control on the same iPad, allowing you to swipe up on the Sidecar "app" to reveal your iPad's Home Screen with active mouse/trackpad support and Sidecar minimized in the Dock.
We have a full explainer on the differences between Sidecar and Universal control in our comprehensive Sidecar vs. Universal Control guide.
Does Universal Control Work With Third-Party Mice and Keyboards?
Yes. You do not need Apple peripherals for Universal Control to work. If you have a mouse from a company like Logitech, for example, it can be used with Universal Control across devices as long as it is connected to one of them. The same goes for third-party keyboards. It is worth noting, however, that some specialized mouse controls may not work on the iPad.
Does Universal Control Work With Apple Pencil?
No. Universal Control does not work with the Apple Pencil. Input and control are limited to connected trackpads, mice, and keyboards. A single mouse/trackpad and a single keyboard can be used to control multiple iPads and Macs.
Does Universal Control Work Between Two Macs?
Yes, Universal Control works between two or more Macs running macOS Monterey 12.3, even if there is no iPad. It can be used solely with the Mac.
Does Universal Control Work Between Two iPads with no Mac?
No. Though Universal Control can be used with two or more Macs and no iPad, at least one Mac is required for use on the iPad.
Two iPads without a Mac cannot take advantage of Universal Control, but if at least one Mac is in the mix, you can use the feature with multiple iPads.
Is Universal Control Available for iPhone?
No. Universal Control is a feature that is designed only for the Mac and the iPad. There is no option for controlling an iPhone with a Mac or iPad's mouse/trackpad and keyboard.
Does Universal Control Work With PCs or Android Smartphones?
No. As a feature that's linked to an Apple ID, Universal Control is only available on Apple devices. It can only be used on Macs and iPads running the appropriate software.
Does Universal Control Work on Intel Macs?
Yes. Universal Control is compatible with Macs that have Apple silicon chips and Macs that have Intel chips, as long as macOS Monterey 12.3 is supported.
Universal Control Troubleshooting
If you're having trouble getting Universal Control to work on your devices, we have a detailed troubleshooting guide that can help you figure out what's going wrong.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about Universal Control or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today approved the bipartisan Open App Markets Act, an antitrust bill that would allow for alternative app stores and alternative in-app payment systems on the iPhone. The bill will now head to the Senate floor for a vote.
Apple had urged the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to reject the bill, arguing that sideloading would pose privacy and security risks for customers.
"Sideloading would enable bad actors to evade Apple's privacy and security protections by distributing apps without critical privacy and security checks. These provisions would allow malware, scams and data-exploitation to proliferate," said Apple's government affairs head Tim Powderly in a letter sent to the Committee earlier this week.
Last month, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee approved the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, another antitrust bill that would allow sideloading and which Apple spoke out against, citing the same privacy and security risks.
The passage of the Open App Markets Act out of the Senate Judiciary committee brings us one step closer to having this legislation signed into law. This bill will let people download apps directly from outside companies rather than being forced to go through official app stores.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) February 3, 2022
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.
MacRumors and Brydge have partnered up this week with a sale that is taking 20 percent off a selection of Brydge's best iPad-compatible keyboards, as well as the retailer's MacBook Vertical Dock. This sale is for United States residents only and will run through February 17. You'll need to use the code MACRUMORS20 to see the discounts.
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.
In total there are four iPad keyboards on sale, including those compatible with the iPad, iPad Air, 11-inch iPad Pro, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The MacBook Vertical Dock is available for the 13-inch MacBook Air (2018 and later), 13-inch MacBook Pro (2016 and later), and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019 only). The 15-inch MacBook Pro version is excluded from this sale.
Brydge's keyboards feature multi-touch trackpads, a magnetic SnapFit case, Bluetooth, drop protection, and in some cases adjustable backlit keys. They also all include Brydge's "Instant On" feature, which instantly connects the keyboard to the iPad so you can get back to typing faster.
The MacBook Vertical Dock is an accessory built to reduce clutter on your desk by housing and charging a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air in a vertical position. Remember that these deals will expire on February 17, so you have a few weeks to save on Brydge's keyboard with our exclusive code.
If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Apple AirTag tracking devices with deactivated speakers have been spotted on eBay and Etsy, raising privacy concerns about the risks of removing one of the AirTag's safeguards, PCMag reports.
The modified AirTags, dubbed "Silent AirTags," have had their internal speaker removed so that they are no longer able to emit a sound to highlight their presence. The Silent AirTag looks identical to a normal AirTag, other than a small hole cut below the device's battery to disconnect the speaker.
The Etsy merchant behind one of the product listings, which offered the Silent AirTag for $77.50, recently took the item off sale and told PCMag:
The intent of this modification was to cater to the several requests of buyers interested in my other AirTag product who were interested in fitting an AirTag to their bikes, pets and power tools. These requests led me to listing it as a product on Etsy, albeit without a great deal of traction. The vast majority of sales shown on my Etsy profile are from sales on my modified slim AirTag, designed to unobtrusively fit inside a purse or wallet.
AirTags are a prohibited item on Etsy, and the listing would have been removed had the seller not already removed it themselves. An eBay seller behind a similar listing said that the purpose of the Silent AirTag was to ensure that "it doesn't keep beeping when away from you," such as "if left in car or bike or with a family member." The Silent AirTag purportedly also "reduces the chance of a thief being notified of its hidden location." At the current time, an AirTags begins emitting a sound between eight and 24 hours after being separated from their owner to flag its location.
While the motives behind the Silent AirTag appear to be innocent, their sale has alarmed some privacy advocates online. Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, tweeted about her concern for the "secondary market for modified AirTags with the speaker disabled for 'stealth mode'," and noted:
Any item that works for the purpose of catching a thief in this manner is also a perfect tool for stalking. That is why Apple advertises them as tools for tracking lost items and not stolen ones.
AirTags have been increasingly linked to criminal activity in recent months, including vehicle thefts and stalking cases. While AirTags automatically alert iPhone users, as well as Android users with the Tracker Detect app installed, when an unknown tracker is traveling with them via a notification, the speaker is the AirTag's only anti-stalking mitigation that works automatically and does not depend on the tracked person having a phone.
Earlier this week, MacRumorsreported on a OneDrive for Mac update that has caused upset among users of the cloud storage service, partly due to alleged bugs it has introduced but mainly because the new version no longer allows users to opt out of its cloud-based Files On-Demand feature, which was previously an optional setting.
In an update to its original blog post introducing this aspect of its new "Files On-Demand Experience," Microsoft has now responded to these concerns by explaining that the first version of Files On-Demand is built on several pieces of technology that are now deprecated by Apple in macOS 12.3, currently still in beta.
Apple is deprecating the kernel extensions originally used by OneDrive's syncing features, so the Mac client is now using Apple's File Provider extensions instead. On the question of whether this has introduced a technical reason for why Files On-Demand must always be enabled, Microsoft touts the benefits of OneDrive's new dependency on Apple's File Provider platform, including the resolution of compatibility issues, and how that has factored into its controversial decision to enforce its Files On-Demand feature:
Files On-Demand has been available on Windows since 2017, and on macOS since 2018. In that time, we've progressed from the feature being opt-in only to being on by default for all users and have closely monitored how many users turn off Files On-Demand. Only a very small number of users disable Files On-Demand on both platforms, and there are two main reasons for that.
When Files On-Demand first shipped on Windows, some applications didn't work well with the way we stored files, or with anti-virus or other security software that was installed. Over time, we've fixed most of these problems. On macOS, we took a similarly cautious approach, but the application compatibility landscape is quite different and, in some ways, less complex. Still, there were a few cases where, due to the technology stack we were using on macOS, it made sense for certain users to disable Files On-Demand to preserve compatibility. With the File Provider platform, these problems have gone away, so application compatibility issues on macOS should be much less likely to occur. If you find something different with your setup, please reach out to your support contact so we can diagnose the issue.
Despite its rationale for enforcing Files On-Demand, Microsoft acknowledges that keeping all content locally on devices is "an important scenario for a small set of users," and says the best way to do this is to select Always Keep on This Device to mark content as pinned. "If you want all files synced on your device, you should pin the OneDrive folder," says Microsoft.
Users can do this by browsing to their OneDrive in Finder, changing the view to Icons view, and then right-clicking the blank space between icons and selecting Always Keep on This Device. "We're actively looking at ways to make this easier to configure on both macOS and Windows," adds Microsoft.
In addition, Microsoft offers an explanation for why some users have experienced slowdowns when browsing folders in OneDrive:
"To save space and system resources, the File Provider platform doesn't actually create the files OneDrive is managing until the first time you need them. The first time you open a OneDrive folder, macOS will create them on-demand. This can sometimes take a moment.
"To avoid this delay, you can force the system to pre-create all of these files and folders for you without downloading your content. To do this, open a Terminal window and type "ls -alR ~/OneDrive" (or the path to your OneDrive). This will ensure all of your files and folders are created, but not downloaded, before you browse.
"Finally, it is important to note that beginning in macOS 12.3, File Provider is the only Files On-Demand solution that is supported on macOS. Our prior solution is no longer supported."
Microsoft says it is aware of users experiencing issues with AutoSave when using the App Store version of the OneDrive app and it is actively working to resolve the issue in the next few days.
In the meantime, users who can't wait until then can move to the Standalone build of OneDrive by unlinking their account, uninstalling the App Store version, and reinstalling the Standalone version [Direct Link].
Are you happy with Microsoft's explanation for enforcing the Files On-Demand setting? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Update 2/4/22: Microsoft recently updated the blog to confirm the AutoSave issue has been fixed: "The fix for AutoSave for the App Store version was released in the Store today. It is fixed with 22.002.0201.0005."
The new product pages went live in late January and as of today are prominently linked to from the top menu bar on the iPhone page of Apple's website in the United States, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, and several other countries. Due to browser caching, some users may not see the new product pages immediately.
The new product pages are shorter than the original ones, with customers able to click or tap a plus sign next to each feature for additional details.
Apple is still using its original iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro product pages in some countries, such as Canada, and the older pages can still be accessed with direct links for now in countries that have switched to the new "Key Features" pages.
A federal judge in the U.S. has dismissed a proposed class-action lawsuit that accused Apple of misleading customers about the iPhone's water resistance (via Reuters).
Apple has extensively advertised the water resistance of the iPhone in its marketing campaigns since the launch of the iPhone 7, including the claim that some models can survive depths of up to four meters for 30 minutes.
Two plaintiffs from New York and one from South Carolina brought a lawsuit against Apple in the Southern District of New York for "false and misleading" misrepresentations that purportedly allowed the company to charge "twice as much" for iPhones than the cost of "average smartphones."
Now, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote has ruled that while the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that Apple's advertising could mislead some customers, they did not demonstrate that their iPhones were damaged by "liquid contact" Apple promised they could withstand. The judge also found no evidence of fraud, citing a lack of proof that Apple consciously intended to overstate its water-resistance claims for commercial gain.
It was also ruled that there was insufficient evidence that the plaintiffs relied on fraudulent marketing statements when choosing to buy their iPhones. A lawyer representing the plaintiffs said that his clients were disappointed with the verdict, and there has not yet been a decision about whether to appeal.
Although this case has been dismissed, an Italian judge in late 2020 fined Apple $12 million for misleading customers about the iPhone's water resistance. The ruling explained that Apple did not suitably clarify that its water-resistance claims are only true under specific conditions, such as during controlled laboratory tests with the use of static and pure water, and not in the normal conditions of use by consumers. The regulator also ruled that it was inappropriate for Apple to highlight water resistance as a feature, while at the same time refusing to provide post-sales warranty assistance if the iPhone models in question suffer water damage.
Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lineups feature the best water resistance rating on an iPhone to date with an IP68 rating. This means that the devices can withstand water up to a depth of six meters (19.7 feet) for up to 30 minutes. The IP68 water resistance rating means that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 can hold up against splashes, rain, and accidental water exposure, but intentional water exposure should still be avoided if possible.
According to Apple, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can deteriorate over time as a result of normal wear. Apple's warranty does not cover liquid damage, so it is best to exercise caution when it comes to liquid exposure.
Woot today has Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case for $179.99, down from $249.00. These are in new condition and not refurbished, and include a one year Apple Manufacturer Limited Warranty.
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.
Woot's deal is about $20 below the current price of the AirPods Pro with MagSafe at Amazon and other retailers. This sale will last for one day only, and Amazon Prime members can get the usual free standard shipping options.
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.
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.
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.
