With the calendar flipping over to July, public betas of iOS 18 and related operating system updates are right around the corner, so we're continuing to take a look at what changes and features users can expect to see.


Other Apple news and rumors this week included several iconic devices being added to Apple's list of "vintage" products, a leak from Apple's servers pointing to work on a rumored "Home Accessory" separate from the Apple TV and HomePod, and a rumor about which other products may gain support for Apple Intelligence features, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

iOS 18: 10 New Home Screen and Lock Screen Features

iOS 18 features a more customizable Home Screen, with dark and tinted options for app icons, the ability to place app icons anywhere on the grid, and more. In addition, the Flashlight and Camera shortcuts at the bottom of the Lock Screen can now be assigned to other actions.


To learn more, check out our list of 10 new Home Screen and Lock Screen features on iOS 18. The update is compatible with the iPhone XS and newer, and it is in developer beta now ahead of a public beta later this month and a full release likely in September.

Apple Says iPhone X, HomePod, and Original AirPods Now 'Vintage'

Apple added three more significant devices to its vintage products list this week, including the iPhone X, the first-generation HomePod, and the original AirPods.


Apple considers a product to be "vintage" once five years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale. Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers can continue to offer repairs for vintage products for up to two years, but only if the necessary parts remain available.

Leak Confirms Apple's Work On 'Home Accessory'

An unreleased device with the identifier "HomeAccessory17,1" has been spotted in code on Apple's servers, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris.


This leak follows reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that said Apple was developing a new version of the HomePod with a built-in display. Like existing HomePods, the new model is expected to run a variant of tvOS.

Gurman: Apple Intelligence Coming to Vision Pro, But Not HomePod

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this week said that the Apple Intelligence suite of AI features will be available on the Vision Pro headset in the future, but unfortunately not on existing HomePod models.


It is believed that existing HomePods lack sufficient RAM to power Apple Intelligence features smoothly, but it is possible that the features will be available on the rumored HomePod with a display in the future.

The MacRumors Show: Luke Miani Talks Apple Watch X

YouTuber and podcaster Luke Miani joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to discuss the latest rumors about the upcoming Apple Watch "Series X."


The Apple Watch Series X, coming ten years after the Apple Watch was originally announced alongside the iPhone 6, was initially rumored to be a major overhaul of the device. Now, it looks like the upgrade will be more minor than expected, focusing on new casing and display sizes, but with a design that continues to be effectively the same, so Dan, Hartley, and Luke delve into the conflicting rumors.

Kuo: New AirPods to Feature Cameras for Enhanced Spatial Experiences

Apple plans to mass produce new AirPods with at least one built-in infrared camera by 2026, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


Kuo said the infrared cameras could allow for future AirPods to feature in-air gesture controls, and enhanced compatibility with the Vision Pro headset. For example, he said when a user looks in a certain direction, spatial audio could be optimized accordingly.

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This article, "Top Stories: iOS 18 Beta Features, Apple Intelligence for Vision Pro, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is moving right along on iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and other new operating systems that were unveiled at WWDC earlier this month, releasing the second developer betas of the updates this week with a number of new changes and additions. Public betas will follow sometime next month ahead of a full public release in the fall.


Other news and rumors this week included international availability of the Vision Pro headset, upcoming expansion of support for third-party display and battery replacement parts for iPhones, the debut of a revamped Beats Pill speaker, and more, so read on below for all the details!

Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 2

Apple this week seeded the second betas of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and more to developers for testing. A handful of changes have been discovered on the iPhone in the second iOS 18 beta, as outlined in our list of everything new.


The first public beta of iOS 18 will be released at some point in July, according to Apple. However, anyone with a free Apple developer account is able to install the developer beta, as a $99/year Apple Developer Program membership is no longer required for this purpose. As always, make sure to back up your device before installing beta software.

Apple Vision Pro Launches in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore

Availability of Apple Vision Pro has expanded beyond the United States for the first time, with the headset now availabile in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Pre-orders have also gone live in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom ahead of a July 12 launch in those countries.


During WWDC earlier this month, Apple announced visionOS 2, the first major update to the Vision Pro's operating system. visionOS 2 includes several new features and changes, including a redesigned Photos app with SharePlay support, the ability to turn existing 2D photos into spatial photos, a larger ultra-wide version of Mac Virtual Display that is equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side, plus support for a physical mouse.

Apple Says iPhones Will Better Support Third-Party Displays and Batteries Later This Year

Apple this week published a lengthy whitepaper that highlights the company's approach to device repairability and longevity. In the document, Apple revealed that iPhones will better support third-party displays and batteries later in 2024.


More specifically, Apple said third-party iPhone displays will support True Tone, while battery health metrics will be visible when a third-party battery is installed. However, Apple said it cannot guarantee that the features will work properly.

Beats Pill Speaker Makes a Comeback With Improved Sound, Water Resistance, and Lower Price

Over two and a half years after Apple discontinued the Beats Pill, the company has brought the portable Bluetooth speaker back to life.


The new Beats Pill features improved sound, water resistance, a lower $149.99 price, an optional lanyard, Find My support, and other enhancements compared to the previous version. The speaker comes in three colors, and is available to order now on Apple's online store.

iOS 18 to Bring These 5 New Features to AirPods Pro

The upcoming iOS 18 update for the iPhone includes five notable new features for the AirPods Pro, with more details outlined in our list.


One particular feature that Apple showed off during its WWDC 2024 keynote was hands-free Siri interactions. With the second-generation AirPods Pro and iOS 18, you can gently nod your head "yes" or gently shake your head "no" to accept or decline an incoming call, without having to speak.

iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 60+ Upgrades to Expect

While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have yet to be announced, there are already many new features and changes rumored for the devices.


If you still have a three-year-old iPhone 13 Pro model, and will be considering upgrading to an iPhone 16 Pro model when they are released later this year, read our in-depth iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro guide. In it, we outline over 60 changes to expect if you upgrade.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!
This article, "Top Stories: iOS 18 Beta 2, Apple Vision Pro International Launch, New Beats Speaker, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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