Apple has been found to be in breach of EU competition law with Apple Music, according to the preliminary findings of the European Commission. The charges relate to a two-year-old antitrust dispute initiated by Spotify.
The European Commission was expected to bring charges against Apple over concerns that its App Store rules break EU competition law this week, and ahead of a formal verdict, Margrethe Vestager, the EU's digital competition chief tweeted the preliminary findings of the commission:
Our preliminary conclusion: @Apple is in breach of EU competition law. @AppleMusic compete with other music streaming services. But @Apple charges high commission fees on rivals in the App store & forbids them to inform of alternative subscription options. Consumers losing out.
— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) April 30, 2021
In 2019, Spotify filed a complaint with the European Commission, alleging that Apple enforces App Store rules that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience," accusing the company of "acting as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers."
Spotify highlighted that Apple's 30 percent commission on App Store purchases, including in-app subscriptions, forces the music streaming service to charge existing subscribers $12.99 per month for its Premium plan on the App Store, just to collect the $9.99 per month it usually charges.
Spotify argues this gives Apple an unfair advantage because it's unable to compete with Apple Music's standard $9.99 per month price within the App Store.
If Spotify chooses not to collect payments via the App Store, Apple purportedly "applies a series of technical and experience-limiting restrictions" on the company. It was also said that Apple was "locking Spotify and other competitors out of Apple services such as Siri, HomePod, and Apple Watch," thereby making Apple Music a more attractive option for subscribers.
The EU is expected to issue Apple with a charge sheet before the summer. It is not yet known what exactly the EU's sanctions could involve, but it has been suggested that Apple could be forced to pay a fine or make changes to its App Store business model in Europe to foster greater competition.
The Spotify antitrust case is one of several opened by the European Commission into Apple's business practices in June last year. Apple has denied allegations of anti-competitive behavior, and said at the time of Spotify's complaint that its rival was using "its financial motivations in misleading rhetoric."
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 has shared considerable information regarding the safety mechanisms in place within its Find My network and AirTags, that prevent unwanted tracking. One of the biggest measures is the ability of an iPhone to detect if an unknown AirTag has been following a person for a period of time. In the unfortunate event that does occur, the iPhone can display an alert.
AirTag is joining an already crowded market, with Tile and other companies that have already produced item trackers for the last couple of years. So the challenges Apple faced with developing AirTag aren't entirely new. However, Apple's entry into a market typically leads to increased scrutiny over the real-world implications of the products and services.
Since their announcement earlier this month, Apple has played a fine balancing act in being transparent about the mechanisms in place within AirTags and the Find My network while ensuring not enough information is public for possible stalkers to find ways to exploit the system. Apple has publicly said that a user's iPhone can detect if an AirTag, unassociated with that iPhone, is found to be tracking it over an "extended period of time."
Apple hasn't gone into further detail until now. In a statement to Fast Company, regarding concerns about how AirTags could be used for unwanted tracking, Apple says that the iPhone alert for an unknown AirTag will be triggered once a user arrives at either their home address or a location the iPhone has learned to be frequently visited.
Apple has built some protections into this system. If you are an iPhone user, for instance, and someone has placed an AirTag on your person, your phone will eventually alert you that an AirTag that isn’t yours has been found “moving with you.” Apple didn’t clarify how quickly or often this alert will arrive, but it did share that it will occur when you arrive at your home (the address stored in your Apple “Me” card) or at certain other locations that your phone has learned you frequent over time. Apple declined to disclose further specifics, citing the interest of public safety.
While not entirely clear based on the statement and report, if a user is, for example, traveling and not at their typical home address, the iPhone will still likely send an alert after a certain period of time, which has yet to be disclosed. The home address trigger, described by Fast Company, is likely not the first metric the iPhone will use to alert a user, but rather a safeguard in place in case the "extended period of time" has elapsed without an alert.
AirTags, alongside the purple-colored iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12, will begin arriving to most customers today. It's certainly possible that Apple could provide more specifics on the iPhone alert, especially regarding the trigger for when a user arrives home. For example, if a stalker was tracking an iPhone user with an AirTag, and they're only alerted to the fact when they arrive home, the stalker would presumably already have their home location, based on the report from Fast Company.
We've reached out to Apple for more clarity around the alert and home address trigger and will update this post if we hear back.
The next major update for Windows 10 later this year will include improved support for Apple's line of AirPods and other Bluetooth headphones and earbud speakers.
In a blog post, Microsoft says it is planning to add support for AAC, or Advanced Audio Coding for Bluetooth devices, which will offer improved audio quality for AirPods, iTunes, and Apple Music users. Windows currently only supports SBC codec and aptX for Bluetooth devices.
Enjoy premium audio streaming quality wirelessly on your Bluetooth headphones and speakers with AAC codec. Short for Advanced Audio Codec, AAC is a lossy codec that delivers high quality audio streaming in smaller files – great for listening to music online.
Alongside AAC support, the Windows 10 update will make it easier to select Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and earbuds from the Windows bar. As Microsoft describes:
No more clicking through multiple audio endpoints to make your Bluetooth headset's voice and mic work properly. We now only expose one audio endpoint in the UI and will switch to the correct one automatically for you for a seamless experience. Listening to Spotify and then have to hop onto a Teams call? You can also now directly control the volume of your headset
The new features, accompanied with bug fixes and improvements, will be available to all Windows 10 users later this year. However, members of the Windows Insider program can receive a beta with the new additions with the latest build.
In April 2021, Apple updated its popular iPad Pro lineup, introducing the M1 chip, a Liquid Retina XDR display, a Thunderbolt port, and more. Since the iPad Air saw a major update in September last year, both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro now share similar designs and an increasingly close feature set. Despite their appearances, the iPad Air and iPad Pro are still very different devices intended for different user bases.
Should you consider purchasing the iPad Air to save money, or do you need the high-end features of the iPad Pro? Our guide answers the question of how to decide which of these two iPads is best for you.
Comparing the iPad Air and iPad Pro
The iPad Air and iPad Pro share a number of key features, such as design, rear Wide camera, and a USB-C port:
Similarities
Industrial design with flat edges
Liquid Retina display with 264 ppi, full lamination, oleophobic and anti-reflective coating, P3 Wide Color, and True Tone
ƒ/1.8 12MP Wide rear camera, with digital zoom up to 5x and Smart HDR 3 for photos
4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, 1080p HD video recording at 60 fps, 3x video zoom, slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps, time-lapse video with stabilization
Apple's specification breakdown shows that the two iPads share a number of important features. Even so, there are an even larger number of meaningful differences between the iPad Air and iPad Pro that are worth highlighting, including their displays, authentication technologies, processors, and camera setups.
11-inch or 12.9-inch display, with 120Hz ProMotion technology
Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display on 12.9-inch model with 1,000 nits max full-screen brightness and 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR)
600 nits max brightness (typical)
M1 chip with next-generation Neural Engine
8GB or 16GB of RAM
ƒ/1.8 12MP Wide and ƒ/2.4 10MP Ultra Wide cameras with LiDAR scanner
True Tone flash
Digital zoom up to 5x and 2x optical zoom out
Video zoom up to 3x and 2x optical zoom out
Extended dynamic range for video up to 30 fps
Audio zoom
ƒ/2.4 12MP TrueDepth camera with Ultra Wide camera with 2x optical zoom out, Portrait Mode, and Portrait Lighting
1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps
Center Stage video calls
Animoji and Memoji
Stereo recording
Four speaker audio
5G cellular connectivity
USB‑C connector with support for Thunderbolt / USB 4
Up to 2TB storage
Available in Silver and Space Gray
Price starting at $799
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see what exactly both iPads have to offer.
Design
Both the iPad Air and the iPad Pro use Apple's most recent product design language, also seen on the iPhone 12 and the iMac, featuring industrial squared-off edges.
The 10.9-inch iPad Air is almost exactly the same size as the 11-inch iPad Pro, despite having a smaller display, resulting in it having slightly thicker bezels.
Although the design of the two iPad models is similar, the iPad Air is available in a wider range of colors. The iPad Air is available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue, while the iPad Pro is only available in Silver and Space Gray.
Authentication
A key area of difference between the iPad Air and iPad Pro is authentication. The iPad Air features Touch ID, while the iPad Pro features Face ID.
The iPad Air has a Touch ID fingerprint scanner embedded in the iPad's top button. The iPad Pro's Face ID is facilitated by the TrueDepth camera array in the top bezel.
Unlocking is something that may be used dozens of times every day, so it is important to choose your preferred method of authentication if you feel particularly strongly about it. That being said, both Touch ID and Face ID are now extremely refined technologies that work well, and most users will likely be happy with whichever they have.
Displays
Display Sizes
The iPad Air features a 10.9-inch display, while the iPad Pro has the option of either an 11-inch display or a 12.9-inch display.
The difference in screen size between the 10.9-inch iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro is virtually negligible. These models are around half a pound lighter than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and will be best for users focused on portability and easy handheld use.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro, on the other hand, is best for users who are intending to use their iPad more like a laptop, likely on a table or with a keyboard accessory such as the Magic Keyboard. In particular, multitasking is a much better experience on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's large display.
Display Technologies
Both the iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro feature Liquid Retina LED displays with 264 ppi, full lamination, an oleophobic and anti-reflective coating, P3 Wide Color, and True Tone.
The 11-inch iPad Pro can get 100 nits brighter than the iPad Air and features ProMotion technology for up to 120Hz refresh rates.
The biggest advancement in display technology comes to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. This model has all of the display features included with its smaller sibling, including 120Hz ProMotion, but uses a fundamentally different underlying display technology: mini-LED.
Apple calls the 12.9-inch iPad Pro's mini-LED screen a "Liquid Retina XDR display." Mini-LED allows the 12.9-inch iPad Pro to reach up to 1,000 nits full-screen brightness, 1,600 nits peak brightness, and a 1 million-to-1 contrast ratio. The display can reflect what can be seen in the real world by capturing the brightest highlights and subtle details in even the darkest images, allowing users to view and edit true-to-life HDR and Dolby Vision content, which is especially important to creative professionals, including photographers, videographers, and filmmakers.
The iPad Air's Liquid Retina display will be sufficient for the vast majority of users, but some may prefer the responsiveness of ProMotion of the iPad Pro for tasks such as gaming. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro's high-end Liquid Retina XDR display, on the other hand, is best for users who consume a lot of HDR content, those who are creative professionals, or those who want the best possible display.
A14 Bionic vs. M1 Chip
The iPad Air features the A14 Bionic chip used in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPad Pro contains the same M1 chip used in the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and 24-inch iMac.
The A14 Bionic features six cores and the M1 chip has eight cores. The A14 has two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, while the M1 has two additional high-performance cores. The M1 also has eight GPU cores, which is double that of the A14. The M1 has a maximum clock speed of 3.20GHz and the A14 has a maximum clock speed of 3.10GHz.
The A14 has 11.8 billion transistors, while the M1 has 16 billion transistors. Both chips are fabricated using a 5nm process and contain Apple's most advanced 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning.
The M1 in the iPad Pro performs similarly to the MacBook Air, which is also a passively cooled mobile device with the M1 chip. The M1 in the MacBook Air achieves a Geekbench single-core score of 1700, while the iPad Air with the A14 achieves 1585. In multi-core, the MacBook Air has a score of 7374, while the A14 in the iPad Air has a score of 4213.
Even though the M1 outperforms the A14, particularly where it can take advantage of its extra cores, both chips are among Apple's latest custom silicon chips. The A14 is more of a mobile processor, as shown by its presence in the iPhone 12, while the M1 is a laptop to desktop-class processor, as shown by its presence in Apple's latest Mac computers.
Only users with an intensely demanding workflow will need the extra power the M1 in the iPad Pro offers over the A14 in the iPad Air. For example, photographers working with large images, graphic designers, and video editors may be able to take advantage of the M1's extra power. For the vast majority of users, the A14 Bionic will be more than sufficient and is a very capable chip in its own right.
Storage
The iPad Air offers the option of either 64GB or 256GB storage, while the iPad Pro offers 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. The maximum 256GB of storage in the iPad Air will be enough for many users, but for those power users who intend to store a large amount of data on their iPad, the option is available with the iPad Pro.
Memory
The iPad Air has 4GB of RAM, while the iPad Pro has either 8GB or 16GB, just like Macs with the M1 chip. iPad Pro configurations with either 1TB or 2TB of storage contain 16GB of RAM, while all other storage configurations contain 8GB of RAM.
4GB in the iPad Air will be adequate for casual users, but 8GB will be defter at handling multiple windows of the same application and a range of intense background tasks.
Ultimately, iPadOS is excellent at memory management and it is questionable how far apps can take advantage of extra memory, so it is unlikely that the amount of RAM in your iPad will be important in most cases.
Cameras
Rear Cameras
A major area of difference between the two iPad models is their camera setups. The iPad Air features a single ƒ/1.8 12MP Wide camera. The iPad Pro has the same ƒ/1.8 12MP Wide camera as the iPad Air, but also adds a ƒ/2.4 10MP Ultra Wide camera and a LiDAR scanner.
As well as being able to zoom in digitally five times, the iPad Pro can also optically zoom out up to two times, thanks to its Ultra Wide lens. The iPad Pro has extended dynamic range when recording video up to 30 fps, and also features a True Tone flash.
LiDAR allows the iPad Pro to measure the distance to surrounding objects up to five meters away, operating at the photon level at nano-second speed. This makes the iPad Pro capable of a "new class" of improved AR experiences with better motion capture, understanding of the environment, and people occlusion.
Users who like to use their iPad as a large viewfinder for photography or heavy users of AR will appreciate the iPad Pro's more advanced camera setup, but for the majority of users who do not use the iPad's rear camera very often, the iPad Air's single Wide camera is more than good enough.
Front Cameras
The iPad Air has a front-facing ƒ/2.2 7MP FaceTime HD camera, while the iPad Pro has a considerably better ƒ/2.4 12MP TrueDepth camera. In addition, the iPad Pro has a front-facing Ultra Wide camera with 2x optical zoom out, Portrait Mode, and Portrait Lighting, as well as Animoji and Memoji. The iPad Pro can also record video with the front-facing camera at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps.
The iPad Pro has a new feature called "Center Stage" for video calls with the front-facing camera. Center Stage uses the iPad Pro's larger field of view on the machine learning capabilities of M1 to recognize and keep users centered in the frame. As users move around, Center Stage automatically pans to keep them in the shot. When others join in, the camera detects them too, and smoothly zooms out to fit everyone into the view.
If your iPad will be your main device for video calls, there are clear advantages to getting the iPad Pro. While the iPad Air's front-facing camera is sufficient for FaceTime calls, the better specifications of the iPad Pro's front-facing camera and useful software additions like Center Stage make for a much better device for video calls. Nevertheless, the $200 added cost of buying the iPad Pro is probably not worth improved video calls alone.
Speakers and Microphones
The iPad Air has two-speaker audio in landscape mode, while the iPad Pro has wider four-speaker audio. If you use your iPad for consuming lots of music and videos with the built-in speakers, the iPad Pro will deliver a slightly better experience.
The iPad Pro can record audio in stereo and features "studio-quality" mics, which may be important for some users who record music or lectures using their iPad. Even so, the iPad Air has a proficient speaker and microphone setup that will be sufficient for most users.
Wireless Connectivity
In terms of wireless connectivity, both iPads feature Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 The iPad Air supports a 4G LTE cellular connection, while the iPad Pro supports 5G, which is considerably faster. If you need an iPad with a cellular connection, this may be a good reason to invest in the iPad Pro.
Ports
The iPad Air features a standard USB-C port, while the iPad Pro features a Thunderbolt port. USB-C on the iPad Air can transfer at a speed of 10Gb/s, while Thunderbolt supports speeds of up to 40Gb/s. As well as being considerably faster, Thunderbolt opens up the potential for compatibility with a much broader range of Thunderbolt-only accessories such as external hard drives and monitors. Thunderbolt also is backward-compatible with USB-C, so the two ports look identical.
Even though Thunderbolt is much faster than the iPad Air's standard USB-C port, most users likely do not have Thunderbolt accessories that can take advantage of these speeds. For this reason, the iPad Air is again the best option for most people in terms of port options.
Accessories
Both the iPad Air and iPad Pro support accessories such as the Apple Pencil 2, as well as Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio and Magic Keyboard. Since they both support the same accessories, there is no reason to buy one model over the other when it comes to the likes of keyboards or trackpads.
Nevertheless, it should be considered that accessories such as the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard have to be purchased separately from the iPad, so will push up the overall price. Therefore, if the iPad Pro, which starts at $799 for the 64GB 11-inch model, is already moving out of your price range and you want an accessory such as the $299 Magic Keyboard, you may need to opt for the iPad Air, which starts at $599, to bring down the overall cost.
Other iPad Options
If the iPad Air is too expensive at $599, you may want to consider the eighth-generation iPad, which has a much lower price tag of $329. This iPad has a 10.2-inch display, the A12 chip, and is compatible with accessories such as the Apple Smart Keyboard and the first-generation Apple Pencil.
While it lacks the all-screen design of the iPad Air, USB-C, and 4K video recording, the eighth-generation iPad is an excellent low-cost alternative to the mid to high-end iPads.
Moreover, if you are looking for the smallest, most portable iPad, you should consider the iPad mini, which features a smaller 7.9-inch display and the A12 chip, for $399.
Final thoughts
Overall, the iPad Air is the better option for the majority of users, simply on the basis of value for money. For most people, the additional $200+ needed to buy the iPad Pro will not be justified to get a better camera system, more memory, and a 120Hz display.
Some iPad Pro features, such as LiDAR, the Ultra-Wide camera, large storage configurations, and Thunderbolt, will only be practically useful to a small niche of iPad users. Most users will never use some of these high-end features.
Professionals who have a clear use case for needing larger amounts of RAM and storage, Thunderbolt, mini-LED for HDR content, and the added performance of the M1 chip will benefit from buying the iPad Pro.
Prosumers will also enjoy features such as 120Hz ProMotion for smoother scrolling and gaming, deeper blacks and more vivid colors with the mini-LED display, Center Stage, and LiDAR for AR experiences, even if they are not necessary, and those who want a larger 12.9-inch display will need to go with the higher-end iPad Pro model.
Prosumers and professionals who want the iPad to replace their laptop or computer should likely choose the 12.9-inch iPad Pro if they are pairing it with the Magic Keyboard due to the added screen space for multiple applications. In addition, cellular iPad users have good reason to buy the iPad Pro for to its 5G connectivity.
Beyond these individual circumstances, the iPad Air is the best option and will be more than ample for most users' needs. With the iPad Air, users can get the latest all-screen design, a fast, capable processor, practical features like USB-C, and compatibility with the latest Apple accessories.
It's April 30, aka AirTags launch day, and customers who purchased AirTags or a purple iPhone 12 from Apple when orders went live last week are now beginning to receive their new devices.
Apple fans in Australia and New Zealand are always the first to get their hands on new devices due to time zone differences, and are now sharing photos and first impressions on social media networks.
There are no Apple Stores in New Zealand, but Apple Stores in Australia have both the single AirTag and the four-pack in stock, so customers will be able to walk in and make a purchase.
This bodes well for in-store AirTag availability in the rest of the world, and those who were unable to preorder and don't want to wait until May can likely pick up AirTags at their local retail stores.
AirTags ordered for in-store pickup will not be able to be engraved, as engraving is not done in stores. Engraved AirTags are only available from Apple and are backordered until June.
Some customers in the United States began receiving AirTags early yesterday as retailers like Best Buy shipped earlier than expected, but customers in New Zealand and Australia will be getting the first engraved AirTags direct from Apple.
Following New Zealand and Australia, AirTags sales and deliveries will begin in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and more, with the North America launch coming last.
If you're in Australia and New Zealand and received your AirTags already, make sure to share photos below and let us know what you think as we'll be putting together a list of first impressions if we can get enough opinions on AirTags from MacRumors readers.
Apple today announced that the App Store is now offering search suggestions, a new feature that's designed to make it easy to locate exactly what you're looking for when seeking out a new app or game.
You'll see search suggestions when you start typing in a new search term. So, for example, if you type in "Game," you'll see specific categories you can add such as "puzzle," "multiplayer," "kids," "offline," and other options.
When you tap one, such as "puzzle," you can drill down even further with options like "jigsaw" or "word," so you can find specific kinds of content even if you don't know exactly what you're looking for.
🗣 Introducing search suggestions on the App Store!
Select (or deselect) multiple suggestions to refine your search so you can find even more amazing apps and games.
Search suggestions roll out today starting with the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. pic.twitter.com/viaZHlCZMb
— App Store (@AppStore) April 29, 2021
Search suggestions were previously available for some users as part of a test, but Apple says the feature is rolling out today in the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
The new 12.9-inch M1iPad Pro is 0.5mm thicker than the previous-generation version, which has led to fears that it won't be compatible with the older Magic Keyboard. Apple is offering a new Magic Keyboard that offers a perfect fit, but Apple says you can still use your existing 2020 Magic Keyboard with a 2021 iPad Pro.
In a Magic Keyboard support document, Apple says the first-generation Magic Keyboard is "functionally compatible" with the fifth-generation iPad Pro, but due to the thickness of the tablet, it's "possible" the keyboard won't precisely fit when closed.
The first generation of the Magic Keyboard (A1998) is functionally compatible with the new iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation) with Liquid Retina XDR display. Due to the slightly thicker dimensions of this new iPad Pro, it's possible that the Magic Keyboard may not precisely fit when closed, especially when screen protectors are applied.
Apple says that the fit issue will be exacerbated if a screen protector is put on the iPad Pro, but it sounds like iPad Pro owners who have a Magic Keyboard already and don't want to shell out another $349 for an updated version can continue to use their existing keyboards.
We'll find out more about how the older Magic Keyboard fits the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro when the iPad Pros are released or when reviews come out. Note that this issue only impacts the 12.9-inch model as the 11-inch iPad Pro is the same size and is fully compatible with the original Magic Keyboard.
For those who are concerned about the slight fit issue, Apple has a new version of the Magic Keyboard available for the 2021 iPad Pro, which comes in white for the first time in addition to black.
In iOS 14.5, Apple added a much-requested feature to the Reminders app that arguably should have been there from the get-to: The ability to print your reminders lists.
It's unclear why Apple left it so late to bring a printing option to its native reminders app, but what matters is that it's finally available.
Now you can make hard copies of your reminders to use as a backup, for convenience, or simply to experience the pleasure of ticking off to-dos with a real pen.
The following steps show you how to get printing in Reminders.
Launch the Reminders app and using the main menu, select a reminders list or create a new one by tapping New Reminder.
With your reminders list completed, tap the More icon (three dots in a circle) in the top-right corner of the screen.
Tap Print in the dropdown menu.
Using the options, select the printer you want to use and the number of copies you want to print, and toggle the switch to select mono or color printing.
If you're happy with the preview and chosen options, tap Print in the top-right corner of the screen.
Bonus tip: iOS 14.5 introduces a new option to sort lists in Reminders by Due Date, Creation Date, Priority, or Title. You can access the Sort By option by tapping the same More icon you used to reveal the print option.
Apple has made no mention of Find My integration for the Siri Remote designed for the second-generation Apple TV 4K, but Siri responses to certain requests about the remote suggest that Apple could perhaps have such a feature in the works, or at the least, might have considered adding it.
If you ask Siri to "Find my Siri remote," "Find my Apple TV remote," or even just "Find my remote," Siri will provide the following response: "You don't have any Siri Remotes linked to your iCloud account." The curious Siri response was first found by 9to5Mac. If you ask about another item that might perhaps have Find My integration with an AirTag, such as keys or a wallet, Siri says "You don't have any items set up in the Find My app."
If you ask about a device with no Find My integration like the Apple Pencil, Siri says "That type of device can't be set up in the Find My app, so I'm not able to find it for you." The new remote response is limited to iOS 14.5, and Siri does not understand the same request on devices running earlier versions of iOS, but there is one notable caveat here -- a MacRumors reader has pointed out that Siri will also sometimes give a similar response when asked to "Find My AirPower," but other Apple devices don't seem to give the same answer.
Prior to the launch of the revamped Apple TV 4K, there were rumors from Bloomberg suggesting the remote designed for the device would indeed have Find My integration to allow it to be found should it be lost in the house. When introducing the Apple TV 4K and the new remote, though, Apple did not make any mention of Find My integration, nor is it anywhere on Apple's site or press materials related to the new devices. The remote also does not have a U1 chip like the AirTags for close-proximity location purposes.
It's possible that some kind of Find My integration is coming in the future, or that it's a feature that was considered for the Siri Remote and later scrapped, but it's not clear either way. We should find out more when the Siri Remote is available, or if Apple removes the Siri response from iOS.
In iOS 14.5, Apple introduced two new Siri voices that are available in English, and also added a setup selection option that lets new users choose their preferred Siri voice rather than defaulting to a female voice in the United States.
The new voices, which Apple says add more diversity in speech sound and pattern, run voice recordings through Apple's Neural Engine to make them flow more organically through phrases generated on the fly, so you should find that they sound more natural.
If you've updated your iPhone or iPad to iOS 14.5/iPadOS 14.5, you can still change the Siri voice after setup to work out which one you prefer. The following steps show you how it's done.
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Siri & Search.
Tap Siri Voice.
Select a Siri "Variety" (previously called "Accent"), then choose a Voice from the selection available. A checkmark will appear next to your selection once the voice has been downloaded from Apple's servers.
Note that that number of Voice options available depends on the Variety that you choose. For example, American offers the most with four voices, whereas the Australian, British, Indian, Irish, and South African options offer two.
If you have a Mac that's updated to macOS 11.3, you can find the same options in System Preferences under the Siri preference pane. For more helpful articles covering the new features in iOS 14.5, be sure to check out our dedicated guide.
Amazon today is offering Apple's AirPods Max for $532.32, down from $549.00. While not a particularly steep discount, this is among the best prices we've now tracked for the AirPods Max. Both the Silver and Space Gray colors are available at this price and ready to ship today directly from Amazon.
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.
If you prefer one of the other colors, the Green, Sky Blue, and Pink AirPods Max are in stock on Amazon right now, at the regular price of $549.00. In the United States, Amazon free two-day delivery should arrive around May 4, which still beats the current May 7-14 estimate for the AirPods Max on Apple's website.
Although it doesn't have any discounts, Verizon also has stock of every AirPods Max color today and ready to ship out with free two-day shipping. 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.
Pricing on refurbished Series 6 models starts at $339, a $60 discount off of the regular price, and pricing on the SE starts at $239, which is $40 off of the standard price.
These entry-level prices are for the aluminum 40mm models with GPS, with pricing going up for the 44mm models and for stainless steel or for cellular connectivity. The lowest discount is $40 for the aluminum SE models and the highest discount is $100 for the Series 6 stainless steel models.
Third-party resellers often offer better discounts on the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 6, so it's also worth keeping an eye on our deals roundup to find discounts.
Apple has a range of different finishes and band options in stock, including at least one Nike model. The contents of the refurbished store fluctuate based on what people have sent in for repair and replacement.
Additional models may be added in the future, so those looking for a specific Apple Watch Series 6 or SE configuration should check back regularly.
All refurbished Apple Watch models are inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged with a new box, new manuals, and new accessories, including an Apple Watch charging puck and power adapter.
Refurbished Apple Watches come with a standard one-year warranty that can be extended with AppleCare+ for Apple Watch.
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9 this year, and ahead of the holiday we're tracking quite a few deals and offers from major Apple accessory companies. If you're planning on purchasing a gift for someone, we recommend looking at the below deals as soon as possible, considering shipping estimates vary for every company.
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.
Belkin
The first sale can be found at Belkin, which is offering 20 percent off when you bundle a screen protector with select wireless chargers. You'll need to use the code MOM2021 at checkout to see this discount.
You can find the full list of wireless chargers and screen protectors for this sale on Belkin's website. They include the Boost Charge line of wireless chargers (starting at $27.99) and the Screen Force Tempered Glass screen protectors (starting at $19.99).
JBL
JBL has a few offers across its Bluetooth speaker range, including customizable options that let you choose a photo to place on the speaker. These options ship within five to seven business days.
You can get the JBL Flip 5 for $129.95, down from $149.95; and the JBL Charge 4 for $169.95, down from $219.95.
If you opt not to customize the speakers, you'll find cheaper prices on each speaker. The Flip 5 is $99.95 and the Charge 4 is $129.95 without customizable designs. More Mother's Day ideas and sales can be found on JBL's website, including a few Bluetooth headphones.
Moment
Moment has a wide assortment of discounts across its brands this week in its Mother's Day Gift Shop, including deals on tote bags, backpacks, wireless chargers, Apple Watch straps, and more. Moment is promising arrival by Mother's Day in the United States if you order by May 5.
Casely
Casely is offering 30 percent off sitewide when using the code MOM at checkout. Casely offers a large selection of unique and colorful iPhone cases that are perfect for gift giving.
Casely's cases come in a wide variety of colorful designs and patterns, as well as multiple types. There's the "Classic" at $25, "Bold" with more protection at $35, "Bold + MagSafe" at $45, and "Power 2.0" battery case at $75. You can save on all of these versions with the new coupon code.
eBay
eBay has an extra 15 percent off coupon this Mother's Day season, eligible for certified refurbished products from top brands. You can shop for the items on eBay, then enter the code PICKCR4MOM before it expires May 2.
eBay is highlighting products like iRobot Roomba vacuums, Bluetooth headphones, coffee makers, and more in its new sale. Remember that all of the products are certified refurbished, and that the discount will cap out at a maximum $100 off, but it can be used twice.
ZAGG/Mophie
ZAGG is offering 25 percent off up to three products across its brands this week (excluding items already on sale). The offer will be applied automatically in your cart, and it expires April 29 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time.
ZAGG's brands include Mophie, Invisible Shield, Braven, gear4, HALO, and iFrogz. Across these companies, you can find wireless chargers, screen protectors, Bluetooth accessories, phone sanitizers, battery packs, and much more.
Aura Digital Frames
Aura's popular digital picture frames are seeing a few discounts this Mother's Day on Amazon. The centerpiece of the sale is the Carver Frame for $169.00, down from $199.00 in White Chalk and Charcoal. You can check out Aura's Amazon storefront for more deals.
On Best Buy, you can buy the Mason Frame for $179.99, down from $199.99 in Graphite and White Quartz. There's also the Sawyer Frame for $249.99, down from $299.99 in Shale and Mica.
Other Sales
Twelve South - Save on Twelve South's best products like AirSnap Pro and BookBook cases
Adorama - Save on digital picture frames, smart watches, and more.
Spotify today announced a redesign coming to "Your library" for users on iOS and Android with the aim of making it easier to locate and find songs, podcasts, and more thanks to dynamic filters, a new Grid view, and more.
Spotify says these changes will be rolling out to all users on iOS and Android in the coming weeks, so not everyone will see them immediately. Two of the most striking changes coming to the "Your Library" interface is the introduction of "Dynamic Filters." These new filters work in an almost "tap and go" fashion, where tapping specific filters such as Downloaded, Albums, etc... will automatically update which filters are presented according to the content within your library.
New dynamic filters to help you browse that collection. Choose between album, artist, playlist, or podcast to see the audio you’ve saved that matches. Then, if you’re on the go, simply tap the Downloaded filter to view all your content available offline* at once.
"Your Library" is also getting a new Grid view that visualizes album, playlist, and podcast cover art with large tiles. Spotify is also adding the ability for users to pin up to four different playlists, albums, or podcast shows to the top of their library for quick and easy access.
More control and easier access to what you listen to most. Choose up to four playlists, albums, or podcast shows to keep pinned for instant access so you can quickly dive back into that work playlist or sleep podcast. Simply swipe right on these items to see the “pin” option.
While all the changes will be available to paying and non-paying Spotify users, the “Downloaded” filter will require a premium subscription.
Earlier today, Apple posted a Newsroom update reminding customers that the new 24-inch iMac, the M1-powered iPad Pro, and the updated Apple TV 4K will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow. Apple has said these new devices will be available in the second half of May, but now, it may have quietly confirmed a specific date.
Spotted first by Jason Aten on Twitter, and confirmed by MacRumors, Apple's Newsroom update on its UK and Australian website has confirmed that the new devices will be available on May 21. Metadata within the Newsroom update says, "The all-new iMac, iPad Pro, Apple TV 4K, purple iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, and AirTag arrive in stores and on doorsteps around the world May 21."
While the metadata says the new iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV will start arriving on May 21, the description is incorrect in saying that AirTags and the purple iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 will also be arriving on the same day. AirTags and the newly colored iPhone 12 became available for pre-order last week and will begin arriving to most customers tomorrow, Friday, April 30.
Update 8:01 a.m.: Apple has updated the metadata on its press release pages to remove the references to May 21. The description now reads: "The all-new iMac, iPad Pro, and Apple TV 4K arrive in stores and on doorsteps around the world in the second half of May. iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini in purple and AirTag are available now."
In spite of redesigning its Podcasts app with iOS 14.5, long-standing bugs within the app persist, and hundreds of reports from users across Twitter and Reddit are complaining about a range of new usability problems.
Apple's iOS 14.5 update, accompanied by iPadOS 14.5 and macOS Big Sur 11.3 brought a major overhaul of the Podcasts app, including a new design, a re-thought system of "following" shows instead of "subscribing," a new centralized location to change new episode notifications, in-app paid podcast subscriptions for the first time, and more.
Apple's Podcasts app has been infamous among some podcast enthusiasts for its range of long-standing bugs and purported unreliability. Such bugs have included skipping playback, inaccurate timestamps, skewed UI elements, and unresponsive scrolling.
One of the most bemoaned aspects of Apple's Podcasts app has been its issues with syncing, where users have found that the app fails to sync episodes added to a library, individual podcast settings, and listened to episodes across devices.
Apple sometimes gets an unfairly bad rap for its cloud services—iCloud Photo Library and iCloud Drive both work well—but whatever they’re doing to sync podcast state across devices is an unmitigated disaster and has been for years.
— Jim Wong (@james_d_wong) April 29, 2021
How many updates do Apple need to release for Podcasts to make the thing sync between devices? What’s the point of putting it on Apple Watch, iPad , iPhone, TV etc if none of it ever bloody syncs? How is it everyone can seem to add sync to stuff like this apart from Apple?!
— Andy (@AndyNicolaides) April 15, 2021
Such problems have supported the rise of some third-party podcast apps such as Overcast, Pocketcasts, and other apps without these repetitious bugs.
Some users hoped that the overhaul of Podcasts in iOS 14.5 would put an end to these long-suffered problems, but the updated app introduces design changes that have irked some users, in addition to the previous bugs that have not been resolved.
After the iOS 14.5 update, the Apple Podcasts app is now an active obstacle to listening to podcasts. 🤦♂️
— Velma Dinkley (@marlapropism) April 28, 2021
The new iOS 14.5 Podcasts app is a serious regression. They’ve removed most of the features to bring it down to par with the awful Spotify player.
— Ryan Poole (@rmp135) April 27, 2021
The biggest change that has aroused users' ire is related to Apple's re-thought system of following Podcasts, which has replaced subscribing and adding episodes to the library.
With Apple Podcasts on iOS 14.5, all episodes of a show are now displayed by default, bringing Podcasts in line with Apple's other content services, which gives the appearance of hundreds of episodes stretching back years being added to the library.
Updated to iOS 14.5 and the Podcasts app got a facelift!
It also reset all my download preferences to download every episode ever of every podcast I subscribe to. 🤦🏻♀️
— teenerd ☂︎ (@tinaburnell) April 28, 2021
iOS 14.5 Podcast app brought all old episodes that I did not listen, either deliberately or because of timing, back to the feed. So annoying 🤦🏻♂️ ugh.
— N Koh 🐝 (@nakgon_co) April 26, 2021
Some users are reporting that having hundreds of old episodes added to their device is also using massive amounts of mobile data.
It is no longer possible to delete or remove individual episodes from the library, leaving users with the only option of selecting "Hide Played Episodes" and then manually marking every unwanted episode as played individually, one by one.
Users will have to continue marking every episode of a podcast that they do not want to listen to as played in order to remove it from view. This is especially troublesome when listening to podcast episodes in "oldest to newest" order.
So Apple Podcasts app in ios 14.5: i want to hide already played episodes and you didn’t bring over the list of episodes i’ve heard from ios 14.4 so now i have to go through hundreds of episodes and mark each one as played and there’s no bulk way to do that. nice. @AppleSupport
— John Martinetto (@bigjohn) April 27, 2021
Apple has changed the way that the Podcasts library works in iOS 14.5. The "library" side of podcasts that users now see is effectively the direct view of feeds, with all episodes on display, rather than what they have chosen to add, remove, or subscribe to based on rules. Since Apple has changed the library in this way in iOS 14.5, removing the ability to delete or remove episodes, there is even greater level of confusion among users about how to remove or delete the hundreds of newly-appeared episodes.
How do you delete played podcasts on ios 14.5 😭😭 plz help. I’m going crazy.
— Kath (@Kath_146) April 27, 2021
I'll pay you a thousand dollars if you can tell me how to delete a podcast with the new iOS update. Sweet merciful lord of christ.
— Paul West is Vaccinated (@PaulMWest) April 26, 2021
Some users have criticized the change as a significant oversight because most listeners do not want every unplayed episode of every podcast they follow in their library.
The new system is fine for listening to podcasts like watching a TV show, with podcasts such as Apple's "The Line," where users need to start from the first-ever episode and listen in chronological order, never skipping an episode. But for many types of podcasts, such as news podcasts, where it is pointless to listen to older episodes and users may want to sometimes skip an episode, it is actively obstructive.
While some users have misconstrued these design changes as bugs, separate issues such as a bug preventing episode limits from working correctly have only exacerbated complaints.
Other, more simple design changes in iOS 14.5's Podcasts app have also met the wrath of users. Apple has removed the "recently updated" tab and the ability to see how many unplayed episodes there are per show. Podcasts are also now sorted by the order in which they were originally followed by default, even though it is possible to sort by recently updated within the Shows tab.
@AppleSupport Updated to iOS 14.5. Apple Podcasts has lost ‘recently updated’ making the app a complete mess
— Professor Popcorn (@profpopcorn) April 27, 2021
In Apple’s infinite wisdom, the Podcast app in iOS 14.5 now sorts by date subscribed by default.
— Chris O'Brien (@bigdweeb) April 26, 2021
I'll probably be switching to something else unless I can find a way to quickly view all the podcasts I follow and when they were last updated like you used to be able to do easily in the "library" tab.
— Justin Yarbrough (@FatElvis04) April 26, 2021
iOS 14.5 bummer. They removed the Episodes list from Podcasts and no longer show how many unplayed ones there are for each show in the Shows view.
— A T L W X (@atlwx) April 26, 2021
Yet there are also reportedly a number of newly-reported defects that join the pre-existing spate of bugs, such as crashing and long library load times.
Updated to iOS 14.5 and now my podcast app says “updating library” for 10 minutes now @AppleSupport
— LOCAL TEEN (@localteenmicah) April 27, 2021
Some users are reporting that their custom Podcast Stations are now virtually defunct, with Stations failing to aggregate the selected episodes correctly, while others are reporting an inability to find unplayed episodes in the new design and problems loading new episodes.
Literally can’t find my unplayed podcasts in iOS 14.5. Not sure what Apple were thinking with the Shows changes in Podcasts but it’s a car crash of UX.
— Rich Paul (@richpaul) April 27, 2021
@AppleSupport Since iOS 14.5 latest version podcasts does not load new episodes, some are missing at all.
— Léon Dekkers (@LeonDekkers) April 22, 2021
These complaints about the new design and reports of new bugs come alongside many of the pre-existing problems with marking as played and syncing.
@AppleSupport - Podcast app on iOS 14.5 has a TON of episodes across MULTIPLE podcasts that now show as not played. Worse still, I just finished marking a bunch played for one podcast and now it isn’t syncing to my iPad even though sync is enabled.
— A T L W X (@atlwx) April 26, 2021
There are countless complaints about the new Podcasts app on various social media platforms and MacRumors editors have also been subjected to many of the same problems that are being reported.
The best thing that users affected by the issues in the Podcasts app can do is share feedback with Apple or report a concern directly in the Podcasts app itself.
Apple today reminded customers that the brand-new redesigned 24-inch iMac, the M1-powered iPad Pro, and the updated, more powerful Apple TV 4K will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow, Friday, April 30, and will begin shipping in the second half of May.
In its Newsroom update, Apple didn't disclose when the new devices would specifically begin shipping to customers next month. However, UK retailer John Lewis has indicated that the new iPad Pros and iMac could be arriving at customers on May 21.
Apple today also didn't disclose what time pre-orders would officially open on its online Apple Store. However, as noted by MacRumors editor Joe Rossignol, pre-orders are likely to begin at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time given the time zone difference for countries such as New Zealand, where Apple says pre-orders open on May 1.
Based on that, we've put together this list of corresponding times around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii — 2:00 a.m. HST
Anchorage, Alaska — 4:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 5:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 5:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 5:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 6:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 7:00 a.m. CDT
New York, New York — 8:00 a.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 8:00 a.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 9:00 a.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 9:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 1:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 2:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 2:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 2:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia — 3:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland — 3:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 3:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 4:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 5:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 7:00 p.m. WIB
Shanghai, China — 8:00 p.m. CST
Singapore — 8:00 p.m. SGT
Perth, Australia — 8:00 p.m. AWST
Hong Kong — 8:00 p.m. HKT
Seoul, South Korea — 9:00 p.m. KST
Tokyo, Japan — 9:00 p.m. JST
Adelaide, Australia — 9:30 p.m. ACST
Sydney, Australia — 10:00 p.m.
Auckland, New Zealand — 12:00 midnight NZST next day
The new 24-inch iMac features the first redesign of the Mac desktop computer since 2012. The iMac includes a new, thinner design and comes in multiple vibrant colors. It is also the first iMac that features an Apple silicon chip, first debuted in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini in November.
The new M1 chip is also making its way to the new iPad Pro, offering a "massive leap in performance" alongside a new 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display. In addition, the updated Apple TV 4K includes a more powerful A12 Bionic processor with a redesigned Apple TV remote, which is available for purchase for older Apple TV models.
Today we're tracking a pair of deals on Amazon that introduce new all-time low prices on Apple's M1 MacBook Air and M1 MacBook Pro. Note that both sale prices will only appear after an automatic coupon is applied at the checkout screen.
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.
M1 MacBook Air
Amazon has the M1 MacBook Air (512GB) for $1,099.99, down from $1,249.00. This sale price will be seen at the checkout screen after an automatic coupon worth $49.01 is applied to your cart, and it's only available in Gold.
This is a new all-time low price on the 512GB M1 MacBook Air, beating the previous sale price by about $50. As of writing, stock is delayed until early in May, but you can lock in the best-ever price now to secure the deal.
M1 MacBook Pro
Secondly, you can get Apple's 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro (512GB) for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This sale price will be seen at the checkout screen after an automatic coupon worth $49.01 is applied to your cart, and it's available in both Silver and Space Gray.
With this deal, Amazon is introducing the best price that we've tracked yet on this model of the M1 MacBook Pro. The average sale is typically around $1,349.00, so this is $50 better than the previous sale and $199 below the original price tag.
You can find the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our new "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.
In iOS 14.5, Apple added a much-requested feature to the Reminders app that arguably should have been there from the get-to: The ability to print your reminders lists.
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.
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.
