MacRumors

Last week, OWC knocked the price of the popular 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock down to $99.99, from its original price of $279.99, and this deal is still around this weekend. This is a match of the all-time low price on the accessory, and the sale is set to end Sunday night.

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

Besides this dock, you'll find a large collection of accessories on sale for back to school on OWC, including USB-C hubs, external drives and enclosures, and internal memory upgrade kits for Mac.

In regards to the 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock, this accessory features two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, one Mini DisplayPort port, one gigabit Ethernet port, one S/PDIF digital audio output port, and one 3.5mm stereo audio input/output port. There are also two memory card slots for microSD and SD cards.

All of the devices listed below are in new condition at OWC, although the retailer does provide various item condition options for anyone who might want to save money by purchasing open box items. Be sure to visit OWC's sale landing page to browse the full sale, which also features deals on cables, Mac accessories, keyboards, and headphones.

Docks and Hubs

• Atlas Dual SD Card Reader - $79.99, down from $89.99
• Thunderbolt Mini Dock - $109.99, down from $129.99
• Thunderbolt Hub - $139.99, down from $149.99
• 14-Port Thunderbolt Dock - $99.99, down from $279.99
• Thunderbolt Go Dock - $299.99, down from $349.99

External Drives and Enclosures

• 4TB Mercury Elite Pro External Storage - $124.99, down from $199.99
• 8TB Mercury Elite Pro RAID External Storage - $198.99, down from $394.99

Memory

• 32GB Memory Upgrade Kit - $74.74, down from $89.98
• 64GB Memory Upgrade Kit - $148.99, down from $179.96

Miscellaneous

• 2M USB-C to USB-C Charging Cable - $2.99, down from $14.99
• Matias Wireless Multi-Pairing Keyboard - $47.99, down from $69.00

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

iOS 18 is an update designed for the iPhone, but it adds several new features to the AirPods Pro 2, Apple's latest earbuds. The new capabilities require ‌iOS 18‌, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia and a firmware update that will be released when Apple releases its new software this fall.

This guide highlights all of the changes that are coming to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2.

Head Gestures

If you've ever been in a situation where you needed to confirm a Siri request or decline a call without using a voice command or your hands, there's a solution coming.

Head gestures are a new form of ‌AirPods Pro‌ control that will let you nod your head up and down or shake it back and forth to decline a call or interact with ‌Siri‌. When you get a call, you can essentially shake your head no to decline it or nod yes to accept it.

When you're responding to ‌Siri‌ for controlling notifications and incoming or outgoing messages, you can use the same gestures for yes and no without having to speak.

Voice Isolation

With Voice Isolation, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ can cut down on loud background sounds when you're on a phone call, allowing the person you're speaking with to hear you more clearly.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ will use machine learning to detect and isolate ambient noise such as wind, cars nearby, people speaking, and more, blocking out the sound and prioritizing your voice. Voice Isolation is a feature coming to both the original ‌AirPods Pro‌ and the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2.

Better Adaptive Audio Controls

Adaptive Noise Control is designed to adjust Active Noise Cancellation and the sound you hear in response to the ambient noise in your environment. Adaptive Audio has been an all or nothing setting, but with ‌iOS 18‌, there are more granular controls for tweaking the feature to allow for more or less noise to come through.

Personalized Spatial Audio for Gaming

Personalized Spatial Audio is a feature that already exists for movies, TV shows, and music. It uses the TrueDepth camera on your ‌iPhone‌ to scan your face and ears, developing a personal profile that customizes Spatial Audio just for you.

With ‌iOS 18‌, Apple is expanding Personalized Spatial Audio to gaming, with the aim of delivering more immersive sound for gameplay. Game developers can incorporate spatial audio in their games as part of this change. Personalized Spatial Audio for Gaming is actually coming to the ‌AirPods Pro‌, AirPods Max, and the third-generation AirPods.

Voice Quality in Games

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 feature voice quality improvements for in-game chat and streaming, along with dynamic head tracking and support for 16-bit 48kHz audio in games.

Lower Latency

According to Apple, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ provide the best wireless audio latency ever for mobile gaming, thanks to improvements coming in ‌iOS 18‌. Improved latency means that you'll see little to no delay when taking an action in the game and hearing the resulting sound, making for a more responsive experience.

Other AirPods Models

Many of these features are limited to the latest ‌AirPods Pro‌ models. Head gestures and Voice Isolation won't be available on devices other than the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, but Personalized Spatial Audio for gaming will be more widely accessible.

Read More

Much more on all of the new features that Apple added in ‌iOS 18‌ can be found in our iOS 18 roundup.

T-Mobile customers have filed a lawsuit [PDF] against the carrier, alleging that it failed to honor a guarantee not to raise the prices of select cellular plans.

The lawsuit, first spotted by Wired, claims that back in 2017, T-Mobile advertised several of its plans with a price lock, but then went on to increase prices starting in May 2024.

"T-Mobile ONE customers keep their price until THEY decide to change it. T-Mobile will never change the price you pay for your T-Mobile ONE plan," T-Mobile said in a press release in January 2017. T-Mobile ONE was priced at $40 per line for a family of four with AutoPay enabled, and T-Mobile made similar pricing promises for other plans, including the Simple Choice Plan, Magenta, Magenta Max, Magenta 55+, and Magenta Amplified options.

T-Mobile raised prices by $2 to $5 per line for the legacy plans, and while there was a price promise, fine print did give the company an out. T-Mobile released an FAQ that said if prices did increase, T-Mobile customers could cancel and get their final bill paid, a policy applicable for accounts activated between January 2017 and April 28, 2022.

The lawsuit claims that T-Mobile's FAQ wording is "contrary to the language" provided at the time that T-Mobile customers signed up for their legacy plans, and as such, T-Mobile has "breached its agreement" with customers and caused them monetary injury.

T-Mobile is being accused of making false or misleading statements, deceiving customers, and intentionally concealing plans to raise rates. Plaintiffs are seeking class action status for the suit, an injunction preventing T-Mobile from raising prices, restitution for "all amounts" T-Mobile earned from its misconduct, refunds for the additional money paid after price increases, and additional damages for injuries suffered.

This week's best deals include huge savings on Samsung's popular monitors, 40 percent off Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps for new subscribers, and more. In terms of Apple devices, the best all-around deal this week is on the M3 iMac, which is seeing $150 discounts on multiple models.

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.

Samsung

• What's the deal? Save on Samsung monitors
• Where can I get it? Samsung
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Samsung kicked off a new "Black Friday in July" sale this week, and it includes matches of the best prices of the year on popular monitors like the Smart Monitor M80D and ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor.

Adobe

• What's the deal? Take 40% off Adobe Creative Cloud
• Where can I get it? Adobe
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Adobe this week brought back a notable discount on the Adobe Creative Cloud All Apps subscription, allowing new users to get 40 percent off for a limited time.

Charging Accessories

• What's the deal? Save on accessories from Anker, Eufy, and Jackery
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Anker, Eufy, and Jackery are hosting a large collection of discounts on Amazon this week, with great deals on portable batteries, power stations, Bluetooth trackers, and more. We've collected a few notable discounts below, but be sure to visit our original article for the full list.

• Eufy SmartTrack Link 2 Pack - $29.88, down from $35.99
• Eufy SmartTrack Link 4 Pack - $48.99 for Prime members, down from $69.99
• Jackery Explorer 100 Plus with Solar Panel - $199.99 with on-page coupon, down from $229.00
• Jackery Solar Generator 240 with Mini Solar Panel - $249.00, down from $349.00
• Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station - $549.00 with on-page coupon, down from $999.00
• Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station V2 - $599.00, down from $799.00
• Jackery Explorer 2000 PRO Power Station - $999.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00
• Anker Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light - $104.99 for Prime members, down from $149.99

iMac

• What's the deal? Take $150 off M3 iMacs
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Prime Day prices are still around on the M3 iMac, starting at $1,149.00 for the 8-core/256GB computer. You'll find $150 off multiple models of the M3 iMac on Amazon right now, and every one is seeing a match of its all-time low price.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Apple today seeded new fourth betas of upcoming iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a few days after Apple initially released the betas. It is not clear what is different with the original beta 4 software (build (22A5316j) and the new beta 4 software (build (22A5316k), but the update is available to all developers.

Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app, going to the Software Update section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the ‌‌iOS 18‌/‌iPadOS 18‌‌ Developer Beta setting. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta.

‌iOS 18‌ introduces Apple Intelligence, a set of AI features that are built deeply into the operating system. ‌Apple Intelligence‌ won't be coming until later in the beta testing process, but it includes features for refining and editing writing, generating images and emoji, and most notably, improving Siri and search. ‌Siri‌ is gaining a better understanding of natural language, improved contextual awareness, and the personal assistant will integrate with ChatGPT to answer more complex queries.

‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models and iPads with an M-series chip, but there are a number of other features that are coming. Apple is allowing users to rearrange Home screen apps to have open spaces, plus there's a dark mode for app icons and tinting options.

The Control Center is customizable and third-party developers can add controls for their apps, with the Lock Screen Flashlight and Camera icons able to be replaced or removed. Messages is gaining Rich Communication Services support to improve conversations with Android users, the option to schedule texts to be sent later, new text effects, messages over satellite when there's no cellular, and the option to use any emoji for Tapback responses.

There's a dedicated Passwords app for logins, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes, and there's now an option to lock and hide apps, which means they can't be opened without secondary Face ID or Touch ID authentication even when your phone is unlocked.

Safari has a highlights feature that summarizes articles and surfaces key information on websites, the Photos app interface has been overhauled, and there's a new Tap to Cash feature for privately and securely transferring money using Apple Cash. Other features include equation solving and voice memo transcription in Notes, a game mode for improving game performance, and an option to respond to ‌Siri‌ on AirPods with head gestures.

‌iOS 18‌ is only available to registered developers at the current time, but Apple plans to make a public beta later this month. ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌ will see a public launch this fall.

Social network X (formerly Twitter) recently activated a setting that gives it permission to train Grok AI on user tweets. All X users are opted in by default, with X failing to notify customers about the change.

The hidden setting gives X permission to use all posts, interactions, inputs, and results for "training and fine-turning" Elon Musk's Grok AI model.

To continuously improve your experience, we may utilize your X posts as well as your user interactions, inputs and results with Grok for training and fine-tuning purposes. This also means that your interactions, inputs, and results may also be shared with our service provider xAI for these purposes. Learn more

While X turned the setting on for all users by default, it can be turned off on the website. Here's how:

1. Open up X using a web browser on a Mac or PC and log in.
2. Click on More.
3. Choose Settings and privacy.
4. Click on Privacy and safety.
5. Click on Grok.
6. Uncheck the setting that allows Grok to use your content.

This privacy setting is not available through the X app, so it must be disabled using the desktop version of X, though an option to turn it off on mobile devices is supposedly coming soon.

Turning on a data collection feature surreptitiously and automatically opting in users without their consent is underhanded, and many X users are not happy with the social network's decision.

Sometime in the last month, X updated its Help Center to change the wording around Grok. It previously said that "user interactions, inputs, and results" would be used for Grok training, but now the wording also includes X posts.

June 27 wording:

To continually improve the AI system and provide a better user experience, we may utilize user interactions, inputs and results for training and fine-tuning purposes. This means that when you interact with Grok, your interactions, inputs and results may be used to train and enhance the system's performance.

Today's wording:

To continuously improve your experience, we may utilize your X posts as well as your user interactions, inputs and results with Grok for training and fine-tuning purposes. This also means that when you interact with Grok, your interactions, inputs and results may be used to train and enhance the system's performance.

Grok has previously been able to access "real-time public X posts" to respond to user queries, but it is not clear if X posts were being used for training. The opt-out toggle seems to have been enabled around May, so it's possible that's when user posts were first used for improving the chatbot.

X says that user interactions with the chatbot and X posts are used for the following:

• Enhance Grok's understanding of human language and communication.
• Improve Grok's ability to provide accurate, relevant, and engaging responses.
• Develop Grok's sense of humor and wit to make interactions more enjoyable.
• Ensure Grok remains politically unbiased and provides balanced answers.

Elon Musk claimed earlier this week that Grok was being trained on "the most powerful AI training cluster in the world." Grok is currently available to X premium subscribers.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with GRID Studio to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 256GB 13-inch M3 MacBook Air from Apple. For those unfamiliar with GRID Studio, it is a company that creates clever art for Apple fans by disassembling old iPhones and Apple products.

GRID Studio's pieces feature a deconstructed Apple product with the components displayed and labeled underneath a glass frame. There are multiple options, so you can choose your favorite classic iPhone.

The GRID 1 is one of GRID Studio's most popular options because it features the first ‌iPhone‌ that Apple released. Priced at $400, the GRID 1 includes the iconic curved shell from the original ‌iPhone‌, which is displayed alongside components like the home button, power button, headphone socket, speaker, logic board, ear piece, circuit board, and more.

Each component is labeled so you know what's what, and there are also interesting and useful tidbits about the original ‌iPhone‌ included. Note that because these pieces are made from old, recycled iPhones, there may be a bit of wear and tear.

The $199 GRID 3G features Apple's second-generation ‌iPhone‌, which came out in 2008. The ‌iPhone‌ 3G was similar in design to the original ‌iPhone‌, but it had a black or white polycarbonate chassis instead of aluminum. It was notable because it was the first ‌iPhone‌ that included GPS and 3G data connectivity, an upgrade over 2G.

The $139 GRID 4 showcases yet another classic ‌iPhone‌, the ‌iPhone‌ 4. Released in 2010, the ‌iPhone‌ 4 marked the first redesign to the ‌iPhone‌ since its 2007 launch. The design included a stainless steel frame with squared-off edges, and it's a look that Apple re-adopted starting with the ‌iPhone‌ 12.

The ‌iPhone‌ 4 had Apple's first Retina Display and the first front-facing camera with accompanying FaceTime videochatting service. It was equipped with the A4 chip and a gyroscopic sensor, with all of these components included in the GRID piece.

GRID Studio has plenty of other options, including multiple iPhones, A-series chips, iPads, and even MacBooks. GRID Studio is running a promotion right now, so MacRumors reader can use the promo code MG15 to get a 15 percent discount off of anything on the site through August 2.

We have a 13-inch M3 ‌MacBook Air‌ for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, 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 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 (July 26) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 2. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after August 2 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.

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss all of the latest rumors about the iPhone 17 "Slim" – a whole new kind of iPhone coming next year.

The ‌iPhone 17‌ "Slim" is expected to sit above the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro Max in 2025's ‌iPhone‌ lineup with a starting price of approximately $1,299. The main selling point is said to be its all-new design touting a super-thin aluminium-titanium chassis and a relocated rear camera that could feature a variable aperture for the first time. It is expected to have a 6.6-inch display and Apple's custom 5G modem, and it may also feature up to 2TB of storage. Despite its high price point, the device is rumored to contain lower-end specifications than the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro models, such as a single rear camera, a standard A19 chip, and 8GB of memory.

We also discuss the iPhone 16 Pro's rumored Rose color option that looks set to replace Blue Titanium, Apple's progress on a clamshell foldable iPhone, and the fourth-generation iPhone SE, which is apparently set to hit mass production in October. The new low-cost ‌iPhone‌ is expected to feature an ‌iPhone‌ 14-like design with an OLED display and Face ID, a USB-C port, a single rear 48-megapixel camera, Apple's custom 5G modem, and the Action button.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips:

You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about revisiting the Apple Vision Pro and first impressions of the iOS 18 public beta.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.

For the first time in years, Apple has fallen out of the top five smartphone vendors in China, ranking sixth in the second quarter of 2024.

Data from Canalys, a market research firm, shows that Apple's iPhone shipments in China declined by 6.7% year-on-year. This drop has been attributed to fierce competition from domestic brands such as Huawei, Vivo, Oppo, Honor, and Xiaomi. Huawei, in particular, has seen a resurgence in the high-end smartphone market, fueled by advanced chips produced entirely in China.

Canalys reported that the overall Chinese smartphone market experienced a 10% year-on-year growth in the second quarter of 2024, with shipments exceeding 70 million units. Vivo reclaimed the number one spot by shipping 13.1 million units, capturing a 19% market share. Oppo followed with 11.3 million units, Honor with 10.7 million units, and Huawei with 10.6 million units. Xiaomi re-entered the top five with a 17% year-on-year increase, shipping 10 million units. In contrast, Apple's shipments dropped to 9.7 million units, representing a 14% market share.

The increased competition and market dynamics in China have posed significant challenges for Apple. The company's market share decreased from 16% in the previous year to 14%, pushing it from third to sixth place. Despite promotional efforts, including significant discounts of up to 23%, Apple has struggled to maintain its market position. The competitive landscape has been further complicated by the overall growth of local vendors, which have benefited from their localized supply chains and strong brand loyalty among Chinese consumers.

Apple's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams recently visited China, meeting with officials in Beijing and Shenzhen to reinforce Apple's commitment to the Chinese market. Canalys analyst Lucas Zhong emphasized the importance of the company localizing Apple Intelligence for China within the next year to regain market share. The anticipated release of the iPhone 16 lineup later this year is also expected to drive demand and potentially improve Apple's market position.

Apple has reduced iPhone prices in India for the first time following a cut in import duties and is considering assembling iPads in the country for the first time.

As noted by TechCrunch, Apple has lowered the prices of its ‌iPhone‌ models in India by 3-4% after the Indian government reduced import duties on smartphones from 20% to 15% in its annual budget on July 23. This price reduction marks the first time Apple has decreased prices on its Pro models in India, with the cuts ranging from 300 rupees ($3.60) for models like the ‌iPhone‌ 13, 14, and 15, to up to 6,000 rupees ($71.70) for the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max.

In parallel with these price adjustments, Foxconn, Apple's main contract manufacturer, is reportedly exploring the possibility of assembling iPads at its facility in Tamil Nadu, India, according to The Economic Times. This would mark a significant expansion from Foxconn's current focus on ‌iPhone‌ production in India and reflects confidence in India's growing supply chain capabilities, aligning with Apple's broader strategy to diversify its manufacturing base away from China. Discussions between Foxconn and the Indian government have apparently already taken place.

The reduction in import duties is part of India's broader economic strategy to boost local manufacturing and integrate more deeply into the global electronics supply chain. By lowering the cost of high-end smartphones like the ‌iPhone‌, the Indian government aims to make these devices more accessible to a larger segment of the population. This also supports Apple's ongoing efforts to expand its footprint in the Indian market, which has become increasingly important as growth in more established markets like China has slowed.

Apple's assembly operations in India have seen significant growth in recent years. Currently, about 14% of all iPhones are produced in India, a number that is expected to increase as Foxconn and other partners expand their facilities in the country. Foxconn has already invested heavily in new manufacturing plants in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the prospect of iPad assembly in India could see Apple's presence in the country increase even further.

Apple has committed to a set of voluntary AI safeguards established by President Joe Biden's administration, joining other tech giants in a move to ensure responsible AI development (via Bloomberg).

Apple is now part of the a group of influential technology companies agreeing to the Biden administration's voluntary safeguards for artificial intelligence. The safeguards, announced by the White House last year as part of an Executive Order, aim to guide the development of AI systems, ensuring they are tested for discriminatory tendencies, security vulnerabilities, and potential national security risks.

The principles outlined in the guidelines call for companies to share the results of AI system tests with governments, civil society, and academia. This level of transparency is intended to foster an environment of accountability and peer review, promoting the development of safer and more reliable AI technologies. The safeguards Apple and other tech companies have agreed to also include commitments to test their AI systems for biases and security concerns.

Although these guidelines are not legally binding, they signify a collective effort by the tech industry to self-regulate and mitigate the potential risks associated with AI technologies. The executive order signed by President Biden last year also requires AI systems to undergo testing before being eligible for federal procurement.

Apple's participation in the initiative coincides with its plans to introduce its own cohesive AI system and deep integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Apple Intelligence will be supported by the iPhone 15 Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max, as well as all upcoming iPhone 16 models. For the Mac and iPad, all devices equipped with M-series Apple silicon chips will support ‌Apple Intelligence‌.

While ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is not yet available in beta for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or macOS Sequoia, the company has pledged to release some features in beta soon, with a public release expected by the end of the year. Further enhancements, including an overhaul to Siri that leverages in-app actions and personal context, are anticipated to roll out in the spring of 2025.

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 doesn't typically focus much on the Calculator app, but with iOS 18, it's getting a notable overhaul and some surprising integration with the Notes app.

This guide walks through everything that's new with the Calculator in ‌iOS 18‌ (and iPadOS 18).

Math Notes

The biggest change to the Calculator app is the addition of Math Notes, a feature that's basically an integration between the Calculator and the Notes app.

Math Notes lets you type equations in the Notes app and have them solved automatically when you put in an equals sign. So you can do things like calculate how much everyone owes for a group trip, or split up a dinner bill.

You can do more complex equations too, defining variables and then using those definitions for your calculations. If you write dinner = $57 and movies = $24 in a note, for example, you can then type in "dinner + movies" and add an equals sign and get the total, with the Math Notes feature understanding what you're referencing.

In Math Notes, your equations are solved automatically wherever you put in an equals sign, as that signals to Apple that you want to solve what you've typed.

Math Notes is technically a Notes app feature, but you can in fact start a Math Note in the Calculator app, and use it right there without having to swap over to Notes.

1. Open up the Calculator app.
2. Tap on the calculator symbol at the bottom left of the app.
3. Select Math Notes.
4. Tap on the new note symbol at the bottom right of the display.
5. Start your calculations.

You can do this same thing directly in the Notes app with any existing or new note. It's all the same feature, just accessed from different places.

If you're in a Math Note in the Calculator app and you want to get back to the standard calculator interface, just tap again on the calculator icon and choose the Basic or Scientific option.

Apple says that Math Notes is available for math written using Western Arabic numerals and common mathematical symbols, or typed using Arabic (Eastern & Western) and Devanagari numerals and common mathematical symbols.

Math Notes on iPad

With ‌iPadOS 18‌, Math Notes works in the same way, but there is an added bonus - you can use the Apple Pencil. Once you start a Math Note from the Calculator app or the Notes app, you can write your equations by hand and have them solved in the exact same way.

Math Notes Everywhere

You can in fact get Math Notes results almost anywhere in the operating system. If you type an equation into search, for example, you'll get a result, and the same goes for apps like Messages.

Unit Conversion

When using Math Notes, you can do unit conversions. Just type in what you want to convert, and you'll get the result automatically. For example, if you type in 10 kilograms to pounds in the Math Notes interface in the Calculator app, the result is automatically generated.

Unit conversions work in search, Messages, Notes, the Calculator app, and more.

Calculation History

If you open up the Calculator app and tap on the three lines at the upper left of the interface, you can see a history of all of the calculations you have entered into the app. Apple only saves calculations done with the Basic or Scientific calculators here, and Math Notes are saved in the Notes app.

You can long press on any of the calculations to copy either the expression or the result, and if you swipe, you can delete them from the list. You can also tap on the Edit button to select several expressions to delete, or use the Delete All option from this menu to clear out the app.

Portrait Orientation

There is now an option to use the scientific calculator in portrait orientation, so you don't need to turn your iPhone to landscape orientation to get to it anymore.

Read More

Additional information on new features that Apple has added in ‌iOS 18‌ can be found in our iOS 18 roundup.

Apple rival Epic Games today announced plans to bring Fortnite to alternative app store AltStore in the European Union, which will mean the popular game will soon be available to download on iPhones and iPads.

Created by developer Riley Testut, AltStore PAL was one of the first alternative app stores on iOS when it launched back in April. AltStore PAL is available in the European Union, where Apple supports sideloading to comply with Digital Markets Act.

AltStore is an open-source app that distributes Testut's popular Delta game emulator as well as apps from other independent developers. Distributing apps through AltStore is free of charge, so ‌Epic Games‌ will not need to pay a fee to Testut, but Apple will collect an 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee (CTF) from ‌Epic Games‌ after Fortnite receives more than one million annual first installs.

Customers who install AltStore must also pay 1.50 euros per year, a fee that is required because of Apple's CTF. Apple charges Testut 0.50 euros each time AltStore is installed.

Along with bringing Fortnite to AltStore, ‌Epic Games‌ said that it will bring Fortnite to other mobile stores that "give all developers a great deal," while also "ending distribution partnerships with mobile stores that serve as rent collectors." ‌Epic Games‌ said that it will be removing Fortnite and other Epic titles from the Samsung Galaxy Store to protest Samsung's "anticompetitive decision to block side-loading by default" on Samsung devices.

‌Epic Games‌ also reiterated plans to bring its ‌Epic Games‌ Store to iOS in the European Union. Epic will charge a store fee of 12 percent for payments that it processes, and 0 percent on third-party payments.

Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable.

The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all ‌iCloud‌ users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning ‌iCloud‌ Private Relay off, while others are seeing slow loading times.

We'll update this article when the outage has been resolved.

OpenAI today introduced SearchGPT, a prototype of AI search features that are designed to provide "fast and timely answers" combined with "clear and relevant sources."

SearchGPT is available to a small group of users and publishers at the current time, with OpenAI seeking feedback on the product. The prototype is temporary at the current time, but "best" of the features will be integrated into ChatGPT in the future.

OpenAI designed SearchGPT to pair conversational capabilities with real-time information with the web, which the company says can make it faster and easier to find what you're looking for. SearchGPT is able to respond to questions with up-to-date information from the web. SearchGPT is able to answer follow-up questions in a conversational manner, with shared context included with each additional query.

OpenAI says that it is committed to a "thriving ecosystem of publishers and creators" and that it wants to help users discover publisher sites. Responses that SearchGPT provides have in-line, named attribution and links so users are aware where information is coming from, plus there's a sidebar with additional source links.

Publishers are able to manage how they appear in SearchGPT, but OpenAI says that SearchGPT is "about search" and separate from training generative AI models. Sites can be surfaced in search results even if they've opted out of generative AI training.

Those interested in testing out SearchGPT can join OpenAI's waitlist.

Sonos CEO Patrick Spence today penned a blog post on the Sonos website apologizing for the controversial Sonos app redesign and promising ongoing updates throughout the year.

Spence said that improving the app for customers is the company's number one priority, and he explained that addressing bugs that came up in the new app delayed the introduction of additional features.

We know that too many of you have experienced significant problems with our new app which rolled out on May 7, and I want to begin by personally apologizing for disappointing you. There isn't an employee at Sonos who isn't pained by having let you down, and I assure you that fixing the app for all of our customers and partners has been and continues to be our number one priority.

Spence shared an outline of future feature plans, with Sonos planning to push updates on a bi-weekly basis. Alarms are set to be addressed in September, with edit mode for playlists and the queue coming in September or October.

July and August:

• Improving the stability when adding new products
• Implementing Music Library configuration, browse, search, and play

August and September:

• Improving Volume responsiveness
• User interface improvements based on customer feedback
• Improving overall system stability and error handling

September:

• Improving Alarm consistency and reliability

September and October:

• Restoring edit mode for Playlists and the Queue
• Improving functionality in settings

Spence says that Sonos is working hard to earn back customer trust through the continual app improvements.

Sonos in May released its redesigned app with customizable home screen and a more personalized listening service. Sonos customers quickly found that the app lacked several key features, and suffered from multiple bugs. Complaints across social media called the app a "step back" for removing playlist management, alarms, and other features.

Amazon today has a large collection of discounts from Anker, Eufy, and Jackery, including a wide array of wall chargers, Bluetooth trackers, and other USB-C accessories. Some of these deals will require you to clip an on-page coupon then head to the checkout screen before you see the final sale price, and some require a Prime membership.

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.

Eufy's main discount is on the SmartTrack Link 4 Pack for $48.99 with a Prime membership, down from $69.99. This tracking accessory is compatible with Apple's Find My app, so you can get left behind notifications and many other Find My features when you add it to the app.

Switching to the Anker deals, you can get the 24,000 mAh Prime Power Bank with Smart Digital Display for $109.99, down from $129.99. If you need a bigger battery, you can get the Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light for $104.99 with a Prime membership, down from $149.99.

Finally, for the Jackery deals you'll find an array of portable power stations on sale this week, including the Explorer 100 Plus with Solar Panel for $199.99 with an on-page coupon, down from $229.99. This is a miniature-sized portable power station that can fit in the palm of your hand and weighs just 2.13 lbs, while featuring a 31,000 mAh capacity and 128W output.

Eufy

• SmartTrack Link 2 Pack - $29.88, down from $35.99
• SmartTrack Link 4 Pack - $48.99 for Prime members, down from $69.99

Jackery

• Explorer 100 Plus with Solar Panel - $199.99 with on-page coupon, down from $229.00
• Solar Generator 240 with Mini Solar Panel - $249.00, down from $349.00
• Explorer 1000 Power Station - $549.00 with on-page coupon, down from $999.00
• Explorer 1000 Power Station V2 - $599.00, down from $799.00
• Explorer 2000 PRO Power Station - $999.00 with on-page coupon, down from $1,899.00

Anker

Portable Batteries

• Nano Power Bank with Built-In USB-C Cable - $35.99, down from $49.99
• Prime Power Bank 20,000 mAh with 100W Charging Base - $149.99 for Prime members, down from $184.99

Power Stations

• MagGo 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station - $79.99 with on-page coupon, down from $99.99
• MagGo 3-in-1 Folding Charging Station - $87.99 for Prime members, down from $109.99
• Portable Power Station with Smart Display + Retractable Light - $104.99 for Prime members, down from $149.99
• 3-in-1 MagSafe Charging Cube - $129.99, down from $149.99
• SOLIX F2000 Portable Power Station - $1,299.00 for Prime members, down from $1,999.00

Wall Chargers

• 20W USB-C Charger - $13.99, down from $16.99
• 100W 3-Port USB-C Charger - $49.99, down from $74.99
• 6-in-1 Nano Charging Station - $49.49 with on-page coupon, down from $65.99
• Prime 67W 3-Port Charger - $59.99, down from $65.99

Hubs

• 4-Port USB-C Hub - $15.99, down from $19.99
• 10-in-1 USB-C Hub - $45.99 for Prime members, down from $149.99

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 is set to open a new applied research lab in Shenzhen, China, focusing on enhancing the quality and reliability of its flagship products (via Shenzhen Daily).

The new lab in Shenzhen is expected to boost Apple's research capabilities, focusing on reliability and quality testing for key products. The new facility will focus on testing new materials and production techniques, ensuring that products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro can withstand extreme conditions, from intense physical activity to harsh temperatures. The lab's readiness comes at a crucial time as Apple ramps up production for its iPhone 16 lineup, which is widely expected to launch in the fall.

The choice of Shenzhen is significant due to its proximity to many of Apple's suppliers. Apple first announced plans for the new lab in March. Despite diversifying its production capacity to other countries like Vietnam and India, China remains a key manufacturing hub for Apple. The new Shenzhen facility is part of a broader expansion, which includes research and development centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou. Apple has invested over 1 billion yuan (approximately $138 million) in these facilities.

Bloomberg reports that Apple's Chief Operating Officer, Jeff Williams, recently visited Shenzhen to discuss investment and collaboration plans. He reportedly emphasized the critical role Shenzhen plays in Apple's market strategy. Williams' visit to China also included meetings with senior Chinese officials in Beijing, a visit to an Apple Store in the Wangfujing shopping district, watching a film shot on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a meeting with entertainment company Migu, which showcased its app developed for the ‌Apple Vision Pro‌.