In June, Apple discontinued its year-old buy-now, pay-later service called Apple Pay Later, which let qualifying customers split a purchase made with Apple Pay into four equal payments over six weeks, with no interest or fees. Instead, Apple said customers in the U.S. would be able to apply for loans from buy-now, pay-later company Affirm when they check out with Apple Pay, starting with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.


Alongside the release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 today, Affirm has officially announced its financing partnership with Apple and shared more details. Starting today, qualifying Apple Pay users in the U.S. can use Affirm to split eligible purchases into biweekly or monthly payments "for as low as 0% APR," according to the press release.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 users can select "Other Cards & Pay Later Options" when checking out with Apple Pay, choose Affirm, and complete an eligibility check with no credit score impact. Approved customers can then choose a payment plan.

Via: 9to5Mac
This article, "iOS 18 Now Offers Financing via Affirm After 'Apple Pay Later' Discontinued" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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As previously announced, iOS 18 includes a new accessibility feature called Music Haptics. When this feature is turned on, the iPhone's Taptic Engine will tap and vibrate to match the audio of a song playing in Apple Music, Apple Music Classical, Shazam, and supported third-party apps when the device is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.


Apple says that Music Haptics provides a new way for anyone to experience music on the iPhone, including listeners who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Apple first announced Music Haptics when it previewed iOS 18's new accessibility features in May, and the feature is now available globally with iOS 18's release today. Starting today, Apple Music has a new section dedicated to Music Haptics, with new playlists available called Haptics Beats, Haptics Bass, Haptics Vibrations, and Haptics Hits.

Music Haptics is supported on the iPhone 12 series and later, excluding the third-generation iPhone SE, on iOS 18 and later. The feature can be turned on in the Settings app under Accessibility → Music Haptics.
This article, "Apple Music Adds Playlists for iOS 18's New 'Music Haptics' Feature" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, the new operating system updates for the iPhone and iPad. As with all of Apple's software updates, ‌iOS 18‌ and ‌iPadOS 18‌ are available for free.


Apple's new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Note that it can take a few minutes for the updates to propagate to all users due to high demand.

If you have iOS 17, you can download ‌iOS 18‌. It is available on the ‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ XS, iPhone SE 2, and newer. As for the ‌iPad‌, ‌iPadOS 18‌ runs on the third-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro and later, all 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models, the third-generation iPad Air and later, the seventh-generation ‌iPad‌ and later, and the fifth-generation iPad mini and later. Apple has also released an iOS 17.7 update for those still running ‌iOS 17‌.

While you wait for ‌iOS 18‌ or ‌iPadOS 18‌ to download, you might want to take a look at our iOS 18 roundup and our iPadOS 18 roundup, both of which go into depth on all of the new features that are included.

‌iOS 18‌ adds new customization options for the Home Screen, with the option to arrange apps and widgets with open spaces and add new tints to app icons. Control Center has been entirely overhauled with support for multiple pages, third-party controls, and the option to put controls on the Lock Screen and activate them with the Action Button.

The Messages app supports scheduling texts, and Tapback works with any emoji. There are new text effects you can add to words and phrases, and formatting like bold and italic is available. You can also use Messages via satellite when you don't have a connection, and for texting your Android friends, RCS makes for a much better messaging experience.

Apple added an all-new Passwords app for login management, and Phone calls can be recorded to the Notes app with a new call recording feature. Notes can also do transcriptions of audio recordings.

Safari supports Highlights for showing you what's most important on a webpage and Distraction Control for removing annoying elements, the Photos app has been overhauled with a unified look and new customization options through Collections, and the Maps app has support for topographic maps, trail networks, and creating custom walking and hiking routes.

You can lock any app with Face ID or Touch ID, and hide them too. Tap to Cash provides an easier way to send money to other ‌iPhone‌ users in person, and there are several new features for the AirPods Pro. Many of these features are also available on the ‌iPad‌, plus there are some iPad-specific additions like new tab bars for apps and automatic handwriting improvements.

There are, of course, numerous Apple Intelligence features that are coming like Writing Tools, Genmoji, Image Playground, notification summaries, and tons more, but those features are not included in this release. Apple's full notes for the update are below.

Home Screen
- Flexible arrangement to place app icons and widgets in any open position on the Home Screen, such as along the bottom or off to the side, to create the ideal layout for each page
- Dark icons give your Home Screen look a darker aesthetic, and can automatically adjust when your iPhone enters Dark Mode, or always appear dark
- Color tinting lets you apply any color to app icons and widgets or have iOS suggest a color that complements your wallpaper
- Larger icons allow you to make all the app icons and widgets on your screen appear larger, removing the name underneath

Photos
- Photos app redesign features the biggest update ever with a simplified layout that puts everything into a single view
- Collections automatically organize your library by helpful topics that you can browse in a collage, grid, as a memory, or on a map
- Customization options let you reorder, add, and remove Collections rows, and add just the items you want to Pinned Collections to keep within easy reach
- Groups in People and Pets include photos of your favorite people or pets who frequently appear together
- Trips automatically organizes your travels into collections so you can relive each trip
- Recent Days lets you view your recent photos organized by day without clutter like screenshots
- Filter button in the grid helps you reduce clutter by filtering to specific media types, your favorites, or by hiding screenshots from the view
- Video speed control lets you slow down high frame rate video content with in and out points
- Utilities includes additional helpful collections like Documents, Receipts, QR codes, and more, and items you've recently edited, viewed, and shared
- Recovered album in Utilities surfaces images that are on your device but were not previously visible due to database corruption in a locked album

Messages
- Messages via satellite lets you message friends and family when you are without cellular or Wi-Fi connection by connecting to a satellite in space (iPhone 14 and later)
- Text effects bring your conversations to life by visually amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji in iMessage with dynamic, animated effects like explode, ripple, and nod
- Text formatting lets you add bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough to any letter, word, or phrase in iMessage
- Emoji and sticker Tapbacks allow you to react to a message using any emoji or sticker, giving you access to the Tapbacks you and your friends send the most with just a swipe
- Send Later enables you to compose a message now and schedule it to send later
- RCS messaging support includes delivery and read receipts, higher resolution photos and videos for messaging people without an iPhone and requires carrier support

Control Center
- Redesigned Control Center features convenient groups of controls, the ability to arrange controls just the way you want, and support for controls from third-party apps
- Groups of controls can be accessed by continuously swiping from the right edge, including your most used controls, Home controls, Media Playback and Connectivity, with the option to build out entirely new groups too
- Controls gallery displays the full set of available controls, including controls from third-party apps, that you can add right into the group you choose
- Resizable controls let you drag from the lower right of a control from within Control Center

Lock Screen
- Custom Lock Screen controls let you choose controls from the controls gallery from your favorite apps
- Action button can be customized with controls from the controls gallery (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- Font options allow you to customize the time with 12 numeral scripts in Arabic, Arabic Indic, Bangla, Devanagari, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Malayalam, Meitei, Odia, Ol Chiki, and Telugu

Safari
- Distraction Control helps you hide items on a webpage that you find disruptive to your browsing
- Highlights surface key information from the webpage you're visiting with summaries, locations, and more
- Redesigned Reader offers even more ways to enjoy articles with a streamlined view of the article you're reading, a summary, and a table of contents for longer articles

Passwords
- Passwords app lets you see all your credentials for websites and apps in one place, making it even easier to access your passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes
- Verification codes for two factor authentication can be set up right in Passwords so you can easily copy them or autofill them into Safari without opening an authenticator app
- Secure syncing ensures your accounts saved in Passwords sync seamlessly with iCloud with end-to-end encryption so you can access them on your other devices
- Windows support through the iCloud Passwords app so you can access your passwords on Windows devices

Maps
- Topographic maps display features like trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest
- Hikes are available across all U.S. national parks and can be saved to your device to access while offline
- Custom walking and hiking routes can be created with just a few taps for hikes in the park, regular exercise routines in your neighborhood, walking tours while on vacation, and more
- Places Library combines all your saved places, guides, and hiking routes into one location for easy access

Gaming
- Game Mode minimizes background activity to sustain the highest frame rates and dramatically improves responsiveness with wireless accessories like game controllers and AirPods

Wallet
- Tap to Cash lets you exchange Apple Cash quickly and privately, without sharing phone numbers or email addresses, just by holding your phones together
- New pass designs have a beautiful new look and great new features, including a new event guide with helpful information about the venue and smart recommendations from your favorite Apple apps
- New ways to pay with installments and rewards on supported credit and debit cards when you check out with Apple Pay online and in apps

Journal
- State of mind can be logged right from within Journal, and emotions or mood logged in the Health app are included in Journaling Suggestions
- Insights view shows your writing streaks, a calendar, and other fun stats that help you track your journaling goals
- Search lets you easily find past entries, and the ability to sort shows your entries in your preferred order
- Widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen show your current streak or writing prompts that change throughout the day, so you can reflect on what's going on in the moment

Phone
- Recent calls search helps you find previous calls, voicemails and contacts using phone numbers, names, or even a word transcribed from a voicemail
- Keypad search helps you quickly find and call existing contacts by typing in their number or name on the alphanumeric keypad
- Automatic mic mode picks the right mic mode for you, toggling between Voice Isolation, Wide Spectrum, and Standard mode depending on your environment

Privacy
- Locked apps let you protect your sensitive apps and the information inside them by requiring Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode to open them and hiding the content from search, notifications, and other places across the system
- Hidden apps have the same protections as locked apps, plus they are placed in a new hidden apps folder that is locked, and you won't receive notifications or calls from the app
- Improved Contacts permission empower you to choose which contacts to share with an app
- Improved Bluetooth pairing lets developers offer a seamless pairing experience, while protecting your privacy

AirPods
- Hands-free Siri Interactions let you respond to Siri announcements with AirPods by simply nodding your head 'yes' or shaking your head 'no'
- Voice Isolation on AirPods Pro provides clearer call quality for those you are speaking with, even in windy conditions or places with loud background noise
- Personalized Spatial Audio for gaming with AirPods puts you in the middle of the action with sound that surrounds you combined with a new API for developers that makes it easier than ever to enable

Apple TV app
- InSight delivers real-time information for every live-action Apple TV+ movies and shows that complements what you're watching onscreen
- Enhance Dialogue enables you to hear what's being said onscreen more clearly, especially when loud effects or music is playing
- More dynamic Subtitles automatically appear at just the right times, like when the content language doesn't match your device language, when you mute the audio, or when you skip back while watching a program

Notes
- Audio recordings can be started right from inside a note, and kept with related comments, checklists, and documents
- Live transcriptions show as you record audio, and transcripts are fully searchable so you can always find what you need (iPhone 12 and later)
- Math in Notes let you enter expressions and equations in your note to have them solve instantly
- Collapsible sections help you simplify and hide text in long notes; just tap next to a section header to lighten up your most text-heavy notes
- Highlight text in your note with a choice of five colors allows you to make your text standout

Accessibility
- Eye Tracking makes it possible for people to control iPhone with just their eyes (iPhone 12 and later and iPhone SE (3rd generation))
- Music Haptics syncs the iPhone Taptic Engine with the rhythm of songs so those who are deaf or hard of hearing can enjoy the Apple Music catalog (iPhone 14 and later)
- Vocal Shortcuts help people with severe atypical speech record custom utterances that trigger specific actions
- Vehicle Motion Cues can help reduce motion sickness for passengers in moving vehicles by placing dots on the screen that move with the vehicle without interfering with content

This release also includes other features and improvements:
- Emergency SOS Live Video enables you to share streaming video and recorded media during emergency calls with participating US emergency operators (iPhone 14 and later)
- Math Notes in Calculator let you evaluate expressions, assign variables and even create graphs on iPhone
- Calendar lets you create, view, edit and complete reminders alongside with your events
- Recently Deleted list in Reminders lets you view and retrieve deleted reminders
- Screen sharing in SharePlay lets you tap and draw on someone's screen or ask for permission to remotely control their iPhone and take actions yourself
- Scenes in Freeform allow you to organize your content into sections, then save, label and order them as you like
- Redesigned Fitness+ makes it easy to find personalized recommendations, or search for something specific
- Guest access in Home app lets you provide visitors with date and time- based access to locks, garage doors, and alarm systems
- Electricity usage and rate plan information in Home app are displayed for eligible customers when connecting their utility account, starting with Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California
- Repair Assistant prompts you to configure the genuine Apple parts replaced on your device after a repair (iPhone 12 and later)

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For more information, please visit this website:
https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-18

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all iPhone models. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/100100

More Information and Discussion

You can find a full list of what's new in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in our comprehensive feature roundups. You can also chat about all of the new features in our iOS 18 forum and our iPadOS 18 forum.
This article, "Apple Releases iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 With Home Screen Customization, App Locking, Passwords App, Messages Updates and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released macOS 15 Sequoia, the latest version of the operating system designed to run on the Mac. macOS Sequoia is a free update that can be downloaded on the 2018 and later MacBook Pro, 2020 and later MacBook Air, 2018 and later Mac mini, all Mac Studio models, 2019 and later iMac, and the ‌iMac‌ Pro.


Mac users can download the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. While you're installing ‌macOS Sequoia‌, take a look at our macOS Sequoia roundup to get an in-depth overview of all of the new features. Apple has also released macOS 13.7 and 14.7 updates for those unable to upgrade to Sequoia.

‌macOS Sequoia‌ features iPhone Mirroring, which allows you to control and monitor your ‌iPhone‌ right from your Mac. You can use your ‌iPhone‌'s apps and get your ‌iPhone‌'s notifications all while your ‌iPhone‌ is tucked away and locked.


Window tiling has been improved to make it easier to arrange multiple windows on your Mac's display, and there are new keyboard and menu shortcuts for organizing your windows. In Safari, Highlights will now show you the information you want most from websites, and there's a new Viewer mode for watching videos without distractions.


The Messages app supports new text effects, scheduling, and Tapbacks with any emoji, while the Notes app has Math Notes integration for solving equations automatically. Apple Maps supports hiking trails and lets you create your own custom routes, there are new features for the AirPods Pro 2, and Apple added a dedicated Passwords app for managing your iCloud passwords and logins.


There are Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, and more coming to ‌macOS Sequoia‌, but these updates are not included in the first release of the new software and be rolled out starting later this year. Apple's full release notes for macOS 15 Sequoia are below.

macOS Sequoia introduces new features to help you be more productive and creative on Mac. With the latest Continuity feature, iPhone Mirroring, you can access your entire iPhone on Mac. It's easy to tile windows to quickly create your ideal workspace, and you can even see what you're about to share while presenting with Presenter Overlay. A big update to Safari features Distraction Control, Highlights, and a redesigned Reader, making it easy to get things done while you browse the web. macOS Sequoia also brings text effects and emoji Tapbacks to Messages, Math Notes to Calculator, the ability to plan a hike in Maps, and so much more.

iPhone Mirroring
- iPhone Mirroring lets you access and control your iPhone on Mac, giving you a convenient way to browse your Home Screen, launch iPhone apps, and interact with them on Mac
- Keyboard and trackpad support enables you to type and use Multi-Touch gestures to swipe through apps on your Home Screen, pinch to zoom, and scroll in apps
- iPhone Notifications on Mac allow you to view and take action on notifications from iPhone right on your Mac

Easier window tiling
- Tiled window enhancements make it easier to arrange windows by dragging them to the screen's edge to place them side-by-side or in corners on your desktop
- Keyboard and menu shortcuts can be used to arrange windows into tiled positions even faster

Safari
- Distraction Control helps you hide items on a webpage that you find disruptive to your browsing
- Highlights surface key information from the webpage you're visiting with summaries, locations, and more
- Redesigned Reader offers even more ways to enjoy articles with a streamlined view of the article you're reading, a summary, and a table of contents for longer articles
- Viewer lets you watch videos without distractions, and automatically moves videos into Picture-in-Picture when you click away from the page

Passwords
- Passwords app lets you see all your credentials for websites and apps in one place, making it even easier to access your passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes
- Verification codes can be set up right in Passwords so you can easily copy them or autofill them into Safari without even having to open the app
- Secure syncing ensures your accounts saved in Passwords sync seamlessly with iCloud with end-to-end encryption so you can access them on your other devices
- Windows support through the iCloud Passwords app so you can access your passwords on Windows devices

Video Conferencing
- Presenter Overlay lets you preview your screen before sharing it in video calls
- Play preview gives you a preview of where your content and presenter notes will be when you click Play in Keynote
- Background replacement allows you to upload your own photo or choose from several built-in options to use as your video call background

Messages
- Text effects bring your conversations to life by visually amplifying any letter, word, phrase, or emoji in iMessage with dynamic, animated effects like explode, ripple, and nod
- Text formatting lets you add bold, underline, italics, and strikethrough to any letter, word, or phrase in iMessage
- Emoji and sticker Tapbacks let you react to a message using any emoji or sticker, giving you access to the Tapbacks you and your friends send the most with just a swipe
- Send Later lets you compose a message now and schedule it to send later

Maps
- Topographic maps display features like trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest
- Hikes are available across all U.S. national parks and can be saved to your device to access while offline
- Custom walking and hiking routes can be created for hikes in the park, regular exercise routines in your neighborhood, walking tours while on vacation, and more
- Places Library combines all your saved places, guides, and hiking routes into one location for easy access

Notes
- Audio recordings can be started right from inside a note, and kept with related comments, checklists, and documents
- Live transcriptions show as you record audio, and transcripts are fully searchable so you can always find what you need
- Math in Notes let you enter expressions in your note to have them solve instantly
- Collapsible sections help you simplify and hide text in long notes; just click next to a section header to lighten up your most text-heavy notes
- Highlight text in your note with a choice of five colors allows you to make your text standout

Photos
- Collections automatically organize your library by helpful topics in the sidebar, like Days, Trips, People & Pets, and Featured Photos
- Groups in People & Pets include photos of your favorite people or pets who frequently appear together
- Video speed control lets you slow down high frame rate video content with in and out points
- Utilities includes additional helpful collections like Documents, Receipts, and more, and items you've recently edited, viewed, and shared
- Recovered album in Utilities surfaces images that are on your device but were not previously visible due to database corruption in a locked album

Apple TV app
- Subtitles automatically appear at just the right times, like when the content language doesn't match your device language, when you mute the audio, or when you skip back while watching a program

AirPods
- Hands-free Siri Interactions let you respond to Siri announcements with AirPods by simply nodding your head 'yes' or shaking your head 'no'
- Voice Isolation on AirPods Pro provides clearer call quality for those you are speaking with, even in windy conditions or places with loud background noise
- Personalized Spatial Audio for gaming with AirPods puts you in the middle of the action with sound that surrounds you combined with a new API for developers that makes it easier than ever to enable

This release also includes other features and improvements:
- Updated basic and scientific calculators in Calculator app can now solve expressions, convert units, and access a history of past calculations
- Reminders in Calendar lets you create, view, edit and complete reminders alongside your meetings and appointments
- Recently Deleted list in Reminders lets you view and retrieve deleted reminders
- Scenes in Freeform allow you to organize your content into sections, then save, label and order them as you like
- Feels Like temperature in Weather app is displayed prominently near the actual temperature when they differ significantly
- Guest access in Home app lets you provide visitors with date and time- based access to locks, garage doors, and alarm systems
- Electricity usage and rate plan information in Home app are displayed for eligible customers when connecting their utility account, starting with Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California
- Accessibility Vocal Shortcuts help people with severe atypical speech record custom utterances that trigger specific actions on Mac

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices.
For more information, please visit this website: https://www.apple.com/macos/macos-sequoia
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100

Get More Info

For a deeper look at all of the new features in ‌macOS Sequoia‌, we have a dedicated macOS Sequoia roundup, plus a macOS Sequoia forum for discussing the changes.
This article, "Apple Launches macOS Sequoia With iPhone Mirroring, Passwords App, Window Tiling Updates and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released watchOS 11, the latest version of the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. ‌watchOS 11‌ is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2.


‌watchOS 11‌ can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 18 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

‌watchOS 11‌ overhauls the Smart Stack that you can get to by turning the Digital Crown. There are new widgets like Shazam and Photos, plus the Apple Watch now supports interactive widgets and Live Activities.

The Messages Check In feature is now available on the Apple Watch, so you can check in when going to the gym or heading out on a nighttime run, allowing a family member or friend to get a notification when your workout ends to make sure you get back home safely.

A new Vitals app provides context about key health metrics measured during sleep, including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and blood oxygen, providing a daily report on whether everything is in a typical range. Training Load is available for athletes preparing for an event like a marathon, and the Workout app supports more workout types.

The Fitness app has customizable activity rings that can be changed on a per-day basis, so you can set higher goals on weekdays or weekends, for example. You can also now pause your streak for rest days or due to an illness or injury, providing a way to avoid ruining a long Activity streak when you're sick or need a break.

Apple added the Translate app to the Apple Watch so you can get translations right on your wrist, plus there's a Translate app widget. Apple Maps has hikes for all U.S. national parks, and you can create your own walking and hiking routes. Apple's full release notes for ‌watchOS 11‌ are below.

watchOS 11 brings powerful health and fitness insights, along with even more personalization, intelligence, and ways to stay connected, to the world's most popular watch. It has new experiences that provide deeper insights into your daily health status and help you understand the impact of your workouts over time. watchOS 11 uses the power of machine learning to help you easily create the perfect Photos watch face and the Smart Stack becomes even more intelligent and capable with suggested widgets, interactive widgets, and Live Activities. To further support your fitness journey, you can now adjust your Activity ring goals by day of the week or even pause them for a rest day. watchOS 11 also includes Check In, the Translate app, new ways to support you during pregnancy, sleep apnea notifications, and more.

Fitness
- Track the impact that the intensity, based on effort ratings, and the duration of your workouts have on your body over time with training load
- Review estimated effort ratings automatically provided after completing popular cardio workouts, including running, cycling, swimming, hiking and more
- See how your effort is categorized into one of four Effort labels: Easy, Moderate, Hard, and All Out and modify to match your perception of the effort required to complete the workout
- Include distance as an in-session metric for a wider variety of sports in the Workout app including Soccer and American Football, and route maps have been added to additional outdoor workouts like Outdoor Rowing and Cross Country Skiing
- Create Custom Workouts for Pool Swim workouts with support for sets of work and recovery
- View the time left in your current interval and prepare for your next interval with a Up Next workout view in Custom Workouts
- Customize your Activity rings goals by the day of the week in the Activity app
- Pause your Activity rings for a rest day, week, month, or more without affecting your award streak
- Personalize the Summary tab in the Fitness app on iPhone with metrics that are most important to you like step distance, step count, running power, and more

Translate
- Dictate phrases and have them automatically translated and played out loud with support for 20 languages
- Easily access the Translate app with the widget in the Smart Stack which will intelligently be added when traveling to a location where the language is different than your Apple Watch
- See the pronunciation of languages using the Latin alphabet, to help make your interactions more conversational for Mandarin (CN simplified), Japanese, and Korean
- Download languages to access offline translation without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection (Available on Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2)

Tides
- Review tide data for over 115,000 beaches and 5,000 surf spots worldwide including high and low tides, rising and falling tides, tide height and direction in new Tides app
- Discover beaches near your location with detailed map views or search for a beach by name
- Customize your watch face with tide complications to show the current tide information for your favorite surf spot or the closest beach

Smart Stack
- View timely information in the Smart Stack with suggested widgets that will automatically appear intelligently using signals like time and date, location, wake-up and bedtime, and more to determine priority
- View up-to-date information from apps to see the progress of an activity, event, or task at a glance with Live Activities
- Interact with an app right from a widget in the Smart Stack

Watch Faces
- Create a dynamic Photos watch face using image categories like People, Pets, Cities, or Nature to intelligently curate the best photos from your iPhone based on aesthetics, composition, and facial expressions
- Visualize the passing of time with the Flux watch face which uses dynamic typography and color to fill the face from the bottom to the top as seconds count up
- See how the Reflections watch face reflects light with a metallic sunburst dial that changes in response to the movement of your wrist)
- Customize how time is displayed on Apple Watch with one of nine major Indian scripts (Bengali, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Malayalam, Meitei, Odia, Ol Chiki, Telugu) and three new languages (Burmese, Khmer, Urdu) available on select watch faces (Astronomy, California, Memoji, Modular, Modular Duo, Modular Compact, Utility, World Time, and X-Large)

Sleep Apnea Notifications
- Receive possible sleep apnea notification when breathing disturbance data shows consistent signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea over a 30 day period (Available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later and Apple Watch Ultra 2)
- Estimate interruptions in respiratory pattern during sleep with Breathing Disturbances metric which is classified as Elevated or Not Elevated
- Review sharable report for richer conversations with healthcare providers after receiving a sleep apnea notification
- Support for users 18 years or older without a previous diagnosis of sleep apnea

Other features:
- Start a Check In from Messages, Workout controls, or the Smart Stack to automatically alert friend or family member when you reach your destination, after a pre-determined time, or when your workout ends
- Use Maps on Apple Watch to view custom walking and hiking routes downloaded to your iPhone and access turn-by-turn directions for your route even when offline
- View relevant information about your tickets, like directions to parking, or show start times, with updates to tickets in Wallet
- Scroll through any app like Messages, Mail, or Weather, using the double tap gesture (Available on Apple Watch Series 9 and later and Apple Watch Ultra 2)
- Use Tap to Cash to send money to someone by simply bringing your Apple Watch near their iPhone or Apple Watch (US only) (Available on Apple Watch Series 7 and later, Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), and all Apple Watch Ultra models)
- Unlock your door on approach with UWB home keys without having to move Apple Watch close to the lock. Available on Apple Watch models with UWB
- Browse personalized recommendations and discover new workouts and meditations with a simple navigation system that includes; For You, Explore, Library and Search
- Review current gestational age and log symptoms experienced during pregnancy in Cycle Tracking when you log a pregnancy in the Health app on iPhone
- Access additional controls with Remote including volume, power, Siri hold-to-talk, and more

Some features may not be available for all countries or all areas, for more information visit:
https://www.apple.com/watchos/feature-availability/
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/100100

More information on the new features in ‌watchOS 11‌ can be found in our comprehensive watchOS 11 roundup.
This article, "Apple Releases watchOS 11 With Revamped Smart Stack, Vitals App, Activity Breaks and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released visionOS 2, the newest version of the visionOS operating system that launched alongside the Vision Pro back in February.


‌visionOS 2‌ can be downloaded on all Vision Pro headsets by navigating to the Settings app, selecting the General section, and choosing the Software Update option. To install an update, the Vision Pro headset needs to be removed, and there is a software progress bar available on the front EyeSight display.

Apple's ‌visionOS 2‌ update allows users to create 3D spatial photos from 2D images, taking advantage of depth information and machine learning to add natural-looking depth and dimension.

The Home View can now be customized and apps can be moved around, and Apple added a new Bora Bora Environment. Environments have also been updated so that you can see your Magic Keyboard or MacBook keyboard while you're immersed, so it's easier to type, plus you can use them with Safari when watching web-based videos.

Personas have more accurate skin tones and more vibrant clothing color options, plus hand movement animations have been updated to be more fluid and natural. For controlling the Vision Pro, there are new pinch and rotate gestures for getting to the Home View, accessing Control Center, controlling volume, and checking battery level.

You can now use a mouse with the Vision Pro, and Apple improved Guest Mode so the most recent guest's hand and eye data is saved for 30 days for easier access without repeat setups.

Later this year, ‌visionOS 2‌ will support a larger ultrawide view for a connected Mac, and support for Multiview for MLS and MLB games. Apple's full release notes for ‌visionOS 2‌ are below.

Photos
- Create a spatial photo from past memories with just the tap of a button
- Share your favorite moments over FaceTime with others who use an Apple Vision Pro with SharePlay for Photos
- Find and enjoy your most precious memories in the redesigned Photos app with Collections, including Featured Spatial Photos
- Trim videos in your Photos library

Home View
- Personalize your Home View by rearranging apps, including those from the Compatible Apps folder
- Start a FaceTime call, send texts, or look up contact information easier with improved People View

Input
- Use new hand gestures for easy access to Home View, see the time, control volume, check the battery level, and open Control Center
- Input text quickly in Messages with Look to Dictate by simply looking at the microphone icon
- Navigate Apple Vision Pro using your favorite Bluetooth mouse
- See your Magic Keyboard or MacBook keyboard in an immersive experience with Keyboard Awareness

Safari
- Immerse yourself in panoramas that wrap around you just like in the Photos app
- Watch web videos from sites such as YouTube.com, Netflix.com and more with a massive screen, including glow and reflection
- Ask Siri to read content on Safari web pages
- Access your most important information quickly with pinned tabs
- Separate browsing topics like work, personal, or school using Profiles

Guest User
- Save your most recent guest's eye and hand data up to 30 days so they can skip setup and get right back into Apple Vision Pro

Travel Mode
- Use Travel Mode on trains to work privately, multitask with multiple apps, and watch your favorite shows on your long commute

Environments
- Explore a new beach Environment, Bora Bora

Persona
- Create Personas with more accurate skin tones, fluid and natural hand movements with effects, improved vibrant clothing colors, and more eyewear choices
- Choose from a variety of backgrounds including your own photos during FaceTime or third‑party video calls

Mindfulness
- Meditate to visual animations that follow your breathing

Privacy
- Turn on Communication Safety which includes protections for sensitive videos and photos that children may receive or attempt to send
- Blur sensitive photos and videos you've received with Sensitive Content Warning

Accessibility
- Use Live Captions for real‑time transcriptions of speech, audio, and video content including FaceTime calls
- Anchor Apple Immersive Video closed captions wherever you like in your space
- Pair Made for iPhone cochlear implant devices
- Invert colors to easily see what's in your view by changing how content is displayed
- Automatically dim video content that depicts flashing or strobing lights
- Reduce the transparency of an object to make it easier to see or read

This release also includes other features and improvements:
- Use Apple Vision Pro as an AirPlay receiver to mirror content from any nearby iPhone or iPad on the same wireless network
- Watch Apple Immersive Video in a new windowed view alongside other apps
- Edit playlists together and join the ultimate sing-along sessions using Sing in Apple Music
- Use Quick Look to anchor objects to a horizontal surface and preview them

Some features may not be available for all regions. For more information, please visit this website:
https://www.apple.com/visionos/visionos-2
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
https://support.apple.com/100100

More information on the new features that are in ‌visionOS 2‌ can be found in our comprehensive visionOS 2 roundup.
This article, "Apple Releases visionOS 2 With 2D Spatial Photos Feature, Persona Updates, Improved Guest Mode and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today released tvOS 18, the newest version of the tvOS operating system that runs on the Apple TV 4K and ‌Apple TV‌ HD models.


tvOS 18 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 18 automatically.

The tvOS 18 update adds InSight, an Apple TV+ feature that's like Amazon X-ray. It offers information about actors, characters, and music from ‌Apple TV+‌ movies and shows in real-time. On the iPhone, the ‌Apple TV‌ Remote feature includes InSight information.

Enhance Dialogue is getting better with machine learning and computational audio improvements, plus it now works with HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices. If you have a projector, you can now use it with tvOS 18.

There's an option for Live Captions for FaceTime calls, and Apple added new screen saver options, including Portraits, TV and Movies, and Snoopy.

This article, "Apple Releases tvOS 18 With InSight, New Screen Savers and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple today released new HomePod Software 18 that's designed for the ‌HomePod‌ and HomePod mini.


The ‌HomePod‌ Software 18 adds the option to choose a Home Hub rather than having HomeKit select one automatically, a useful feature for people with multiple HomePods and Apple TV models.

There is a new SharePlay feature, allowing multiple people to share control of what's playing on a ‌HomePod‌ through Apple Music. To use the feature, bring an iPhone close to another ‌iPhone‌ to add songs to a playlist and control playback.

AirPlay now supports Spatial Audio, providing an immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos when using ‌AirPlay‌ to stream audio from an ‌iPhone‌ or iPad to the ‌HomePod‌. Apple's release notes:

Software version 18 introduces SharePlay so you can share control of your Apple Music playlist on iPhone or iPad and guests can contribute to what’s playing on HomePod. This update also includes bug fixes and stability improvements.

HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.
This article, "Apple Releases HomePod Software 18" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today updated its free Sports app for the iPhone with several new features and changes, including Live Activities support.


The latest version of the Apple Sports app on iOS 18 and watchOS 11 introduces Live Activities support for all teams and leagues available within the app. This feature enables live scores and play-by-play information on the iPhone's Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island on newer models, and on the Apple Watch starting with watchOS 11.

Apple previously said Live Activities are no longer available in the Apple TV app on iOS 18.

Apple Sports provides scores and more for the following leagues:

• NFL


• NCAAF


• MLS


• MLB


• NBA


• WNBA


• NCAA basketball (men's and women's)


• NHL


• NWSL


• Premier League


• Bundesliga


• LaLiga


• Liga MX


• Ligue 1


• Serie A

Here's what else is new in Apple Sports version 2.0, including a new drop-down menu and search page, according to Apple's release notes:

• Added a new drop-down menu that makes it faster and easier to jump between your leagues and a new search page to browse the ones you want to check in on.
• With new optimizations for the WNBA and MLB playoffs, Apple Sports is the best place to stay up to speed all postseason.
• Follow live as last year's MLS and Liga MX champions compete for Campeones Cup.

Apple Sports is a free app available in the App Store.
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MacRumors readers have a chance to get 20 percent off a collection of Anker's best chargers, power banks, cables, hubs, and docks this week. In order to get this deal, head to Anker's website and add an accessory to your cart, then enter the code akmacrumors20ch at checkout to see the discount.

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

Our exclusive 20 percent off code works on most accessories sitewide, including Anker's new line of MagSafe-compatible products. Anker does have an offer running to buy two MagGo accessories and get 15 percent off your order, but if you enter our code at checkout you'll be able to override that discount and get a better deal.



We've collected all of the MagGo accessories compatible with our code below, but don't forget that the code works with even more devices sitewide on Anker's website. This also includes Anker's new brand of Prime chargers, which launched last month and include high-capacity portable batteries, USB-C charging stations, and more.

There are some exclusions to the code, including Anker's portable power stations from the SOLIX brand. If you're shopping for those generators, our post from last week has a list of power stations on sale at Amazon from Jackery and Anker.

Prime Chargers

• Prime USB-C to USB-C Cable - $28.00, down from $34.99


• Prime Charger (200W, 6 Ports) - $64.00, down from $79.99


• Prime Charger (100W, 3 Ports) - $68.00, down from $84.99


• Prime Power Bank - $72.00, down from $89.99


• Prime Charging Station (8-in-1) - $124.00, down from $164.99


• Prime Power Bank 27,650 mAh - $136.00, down from $179.99


• Prime Charging Docking Station (14-in-1) - $184.00, down from $249.99

Wireless Chargers

• MagGo 3-in-1 Foldable Wireless Charging Station - $72.00, down from $89.99


• MagGo Wireless Charger Stand - $28.80, down from $35.99


• MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand - $40.00, down from $49.99


• MagGo 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Dock Stand - $40.00, down from $49.99

Power Banks

• MagGo Power Bank 10,000 mAh - $56.00, down from $69.99


• MagGo Power Bank for Apple Watch - $64.00, down from $79.99

Accessories

• MagGo Magnetic Case with Stand - $26.40, down from $32.99


• MagGo USB-C Adapter - $28.00, down from $34.99


• Easy Fit Screen Protector - $25.60, down from $31.99

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
This article, "Anker Offers MacRumors Readers 20% Off Collection of Chargers, Hubs, Batteries, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The first AirPods 4 reviews surfaced today, providing us with a closer look at Apple's latest earbuds before they launch on Friday.


There are two types of AirPods 4, including ones with active noise cancellation for $179 and those without active noise cancellation for $129. As discovered last week, the pairing button and charging status light are now hidden on both AirPods 4 charging cases, and some of the review videos offer a quick demonstration of these changes.

Marques Brownlee showed the new capacitive button starting at the 3:48 mark of his video:



Dave Lee touched on the button starting at the 3:20 mark of his video:



As noted in both reviews, both AirPods 4 charging cases no longer support MagSafe. This means that while the cases can be wirelessly charged, they lack magnets for a precise locked-in position or use with upright charging stands. There is one exception: the cases can still be magnetically attached to the Apple Watch's charging puck.

Read our full AirPods 4 review roundup to learn more about the earbuds.
This article, "AirPods 4 Review Videos Show Hidden Pairing Button, Lack of MagSafe" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today published clearance of sleep apnea detection on newer Apple Watch models, as reported by TechCrunch.


Sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder in which a person's breathing repeatedly stops and starts while they sleep.

Apple last week announced that sleep apnea detection would be available on the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the U.S. and more than 150 other countries and regions later this month. Apple's fine print says the feature is intended to detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea for people 18 years old or older who have not already been diagnosed with sleep apnea.

The sleep apnea detection feature uses the Apple Watch's accelerometer to "monitor small movements at the wrist that are associated with interruptions in normal respiratory patterns," according to Apple. If these disturbances occur frequently over multiple nights, they may be associated with sleep apnea, according to Apple.

Apple Watch users can view their nightly Breathing Disturbances in the Health app on the iPhone, with disturbances classified as "elevated" or "not elevated."

Apple says the feature was developed using "advanced machine learning" and an "extensive data set of clinical-grade sleep apnea tests," and then validated in a "clinical study."

Apple Watch Series 10 launches on Friday.
This article, "Apple Watch's Sleep Apnea Detection Feature Receives FDA Clearance" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Various media outlets and YouTube channels today shared their first impressions of the AirPods 4, reviewing the changes Apple has made to enhance comfort, sound, and functionality.


The ‌AirPods 4‌ introduce a more refined design, improved sound quality, and, for the first time, optional active noise cancellation (ANC). Priced at $129 for the standard model and $179 for the ANC version, the ‌AirPods 4‌ revamp the lineup at two different price points and bridge the gap between Apple's entry-level wireless earbuds and the AirPods Pro.

The ‌AirPods 4‌ are now available for pre-order, with in-store availability starting on Friday, September 20.

Design

The ‌AirPods 4‌ feature a more refined design. The earbuds have a slightly narrower shape for a more secure fit and Apple claims they're designed to fit a wider range of ear shapes. The charging case is also 10% smaller. Despite these tweaks, the ‌AirPods 4‌ retain their signature open-ear design, which means they may still feel less secure compared to models with in-ear tips like the ‌AirPods Pro‌. Engadget's Billy Steele writes:

The revised shape does indeed lead to a better fit for my ears. The AirPods 4 are more comfortable and stay in place better than their predecessor. I never once felt like they were going to fall out when I was moving around, unless I turned my head completely to the side to lay down. Open-fit earbuds typically don't feel the most secure in my ears, but these do, and one less worry contributed to a better overall experience wearing them. Of course, the most secure fit remains with the AirPods Pro.

Sound Quality

The ‌AirPods 4‌ deliver improved sound performance with an 11mm low-distortion driver and a high dynamic range amplifier. Apple has apparently fine-tuned the audio experience by redesigning the driver's positioning to direct sound more precisely into the ear, reducing internal reflections and enhancing clarity. Reviewers claim that bass is richer, highs are crisper, and overall instrument separation is better compared to the AirPods 3. CNET's David Carnoy:

Apple has upgraded both buds with a new acoustic architecture and amp. Also, it's slightly changed the angle of how the drivers are pointed into your ears, which is supposed to improve sound quality. The combo of the new drivers and the upgraded H2 chip's processing power for Apple's Adaptive EQ -- a feature that optimizes audio quality on the fly as the position of the buds changes ever so slightly in your ears -- gives the AirPods 4 better sound than the AirPods 3. And needless to say, because these are open earbuds, the sound does have an open quality to it.

Overall, the sound is a little cleaner (improved treble), and you get a bit more bass, so there's a touch more depth and fullness to whatever you're listening to. They're still a notch below the AirPods Pro 2's, but they're close, and these are easily among the best-sounding open earbuds out there. You're still not going to get as much bass as you do with the AirPods Pro 2, but the gap has narrowed. I didn't feel as if I was making much of a sound quality sacrifice compared with the AirPods Pro 2, at least when I was listening in a quiet room.

Digital Trends's Caleb Denison:

The AirPods 4 do sound better than the previous generation. And the AirPods 4 with ANC sound even better by nature of the fact that they so successfully remove outside sounds from the sonic canvas… They do indeed have prodigious bass with a significant amount of punch. Vocals were open, clear, uncongested… When an earbud is too sharp, you'll hear it with the consonant T on a lot of recordings, and I didn't get that.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

‌AirPods 4‌ bring ANC to the standard AirPods lineup for the first time, and while it's not as powerful as the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, the ANC in the ‌AirPods 4‌ is said to be surprisingly effective for an open-ear design. It excels at reducing lower-frequency noises like engine hums and general city commotion, allowing users to enjoy music at lower volumes without the need for complete ear sealing. However, it does struggle with higher-frequency sounds and may not offer complete silence in very noisy environments. Digital Trends's Caleb Denison writes:

For an earbud that offers far inferior passive noise isolation compared to one with an eartip that seals up your ear, this is straight-up astounding. The ANC in the AirPods Pro is more effective, but if you can't do eartips, I don't think there's better noise-canceling available in an open design like this.

CNN's Mike Andronico:

The AirPods 4 have done a shockingly good job dampening noise. From quieting the hordes of chatty journalists at Apple's recent California launch event to putting up a strong fight against the New York City subway… More difficult-to-muffle noise such as piercing construction drills made me miss the tight seal of my AirPods Pro, but the AirPods 4 largely proved to be a good Pro substitute when it comes to drowning out the chaos.

Videos

This article, "AirPods 4 Reviews: 'An Almost-Perfect AirPods Pro Alternative'" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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It's that time of year again. Apple is about to release iOS 18, which promises to bring a range of new features and improvements to iPhones worldwide. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and the company is expected to release it sometime today – Monday, September 16.


Based on past releases, the update is likely to drop at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To give iPhone users globally an idea of when iOS 18 should available as an over-the-air update, below we've compiled a list of time zone conversions for several countries. This list isn't exhaustive, so please verify the exact time for your specific location, and bear in mind that there could always be a delay as Apple prepares its servers for rollout.

Be Prepared to Wait

When iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 become available as an over-the-air update, make sure your device is fully charged before you start the process over Wi-Fi, as it may take some time to complete. To check that the update is available, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update, and wait a moment for your device to contact Apple's servers. If you're in no rush, you can wait for iOS 18 to be delivered to your iPhone when you next plug it into your computer.

• 20 New Things Your iPhone Can Do With iOS 18


• Will My iPhone Run iOS 18?


• How to Get Your iPhone Ready for iOS 18

On that note, a word of caution: During the initial rollout of major software updates like iOS 18, Apple users may experience slower download speeds and sluggish performance when trying to update their devices. This is largely due to the high demand on Apple's servers, as millions of users worldwide attempt to download the update simultaneously.

The surge in traffic can overwhelm network capacity, leading to delays in downloading or installing the update. To avoid these potential issues, you may want to wait a day or two before installing the update, allowing server congestion to subside and ensuring a smoother upgrade experience.
This article, "Here's When iOS 18 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's latest iPhone operating system, iOS 18, brings a host of new features and improvements to iPhones new and old. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and the company is expected to release it sometime on Monday, September 16, likely at around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time/1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, based on past releases. Keep reading to learn if Apple's upcoming mobile operating system will run on your particular iPhone model.


iOS 18 is compatible with the iPhone XR, and therefore also the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models with the same A12 Bionic chip.

In other words, iOS 18 is compatible with the same iPhone models as iOS 17:

iPadOS 18 drops support for iPad models with the A10X Fusion chip, therefore iPadOS 18 is compatible with the following iPad models:

Note that iOS 18 will come pre-installed on new iPhone 16 models when they launch on Friday, September 20. If you're unsure which iPhone or ‌iPad‌ model you have, go to Settings -> General -> About, and you'll find the Model Name listed there.

• How to Get Your iPhone Ready for iOS 18

For a detailed rundown of everything we expect in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup by clicking the tag at the bottom of this article.

Apple Intelligence Features

While iOS 18 brings numerous improvements at launch, Apple has also announced several AI-powered features under the banner of Apple Intelligence, which will be released in future updates.

Among these upcoming additions is an AI-powered writing assistant that can help you rewrite text in different styles, proofread your writing, and generate summaries of longer content. A new Image Playground app will allow you to create and edit AI-generated images based on text descriptions or existing photos.

Siri is set to receive a significant upgrade, gaining the ability to understand personal context from your emails, messages, and photos, providing more accurate and personalized responses. Additionally, Apple plans to introduce AI-powered features in the Photos app, including a "Clean Up" tool to remove unwanted elements from your pictures.

The first set of these Apple Intelligence features, while not available in the initial version of iOS 18, should arrive when iOS 18.1 is released in October, with a roll out continuing in iOS 18.2 in December, and beyond.

• Here Are All the Devices That Support Apple Intelligence

It's important to note that Apple Intelligence features require different device compatibility requirements compared to the initial version of iOS 18. For all the devices that support Apple Intelligence, check out our dedicated article on the topic.
This article, "iOS 18 Release Is Today – Check That Your iPhone Supports It" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said demand for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max has been "lower than expected" since the devices became available to pre-order in the U.S. and dozens of other countries on Friday. Kuo said his data is based on a "supply chain survey" and shipping estimates listed on Apple's online store.


Kuo estimated that sales of all four iPhone 16 models reached about 37 million units in the first weekend after Apple began accepting pre-orders, which is down nearly 13% compared to first-weekend sales of the iPhone 15 series last year. The analyst said a key factor for the decline is the lower demand for the Pro models, with first-weekend sales of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max estimated to be down 27% and 16%, respectively, compared to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max sales during the equivalent period last year.

The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have seen higher demand than the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus during the first weekend of sales, but this has not been enough to offset the lower demand for the Pro models, according to Kuo.

Kuo said a major reason for the iPhone 16 Pro models having lower-than-expected demand is that Apple Intelligence will not be available on the devices when they launch on Friday. Instead, the first Apple Intelligence features are rolling out with iOS 18.1 in October. In addition, the analyst said the iPhone is facing "intense competition" in China.
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You can get Apple's 64GB Wi-Fi 9th generation iPad for the all-time low price of $199.99 this weekend on Best Buy, down from $329.99. This deal is part of Best Buy's ongoing three day sale, which will end later tonight. We've already covered other discounts in the sale, including savings on M2 iPad Pro, M4 iPad Pro, and MacBook Pro.

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

Best Buy has nearly every model of the 9th generation iPad on sale right now, including the 256GB Wi-Fi model and the 64GB cellular model. All of these devices are being discounted by $130 and represent all-time low prices for each tablet. Amazon does have matching prices, but only for the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad.




The 64GB cellular iPad is on sale for $329.99. Just like the Wi-Fi iPads, this deal represents a $130 discount on this model. Although these iPads are a few years old at this point, today's ultra-low prices should make them perfect for anyone looking for a simple and cheap iPad for daily Internet browsing.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
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Following over three months of beta testing, iOS 18 will finally be widely released to the public this Monday, September 16. The update should be available to install starting at around 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time) in the Settings app under General → Software Update on the iPhone XS and newer.


Below, we have highlighted eight key new features included in iOS 18, and Apple shared a complete list of new features and changes last week.

Note that Apple Intelligence features are not coming until iOS 18.1 and later.

Customizable Home Screen

iOS 18 allows you to place app icons anywhere on the Home Screen grid, and there are new "Dark" and "Tinted" customization options for recoloring app icons. You can also set app icons to appear larger, without text labels below them.

Redesigned Control Center

Control Center has been redesigned on iOS 18. Like the Home Screen, it is now more customizable, allowing you to rearrange and resize controls across multiple pages. You can easily add more controls from the all-new controls gallery.

iMessage Enhancements

iMessage received a wide range of new features on iOS 18, including the ability to use any emoji as a Tapback reaction, text effects like "Shake" and "Explode," formatting options like bold and underline, the ability to schedule messages to be sent later, RCS support for improved messaging with Android devices, and more.

Redesigned Photos App

Apple says the Photos app received its biggest redesign ever on iOS 18, with tabs removed in favor of an all-in-one layout. The changes have been controversial, leading Apple to tweak the app's design throughout the iOS 18 beta testing period.

Locks Apps Behind Face ID

iOS 18 introduces the ability to lock any app behind Face ID, Touch ID, or an iPhone's passcode for privacy and security purposes. In addition, you can now hide an app, which moves it to a hidden apps folder that is locked.

Passwords App

iOS 18 includes an all-new Passwords app that surfaces many features previously available through the iCloud Keychain in the Settings app. The app makes it easier to manage passwords, passkeys, two-factor authentication codes, and more.

Distraction Control

Built into Safari, the new Distraction Control feature can be used to hide some website elements, such as newsletter sign-up forms and cookie permission prompts. However, Apple says the feature is not designed to be an ad blocker. If you hide an ad banner, it will become visible again if and when the content of the ad refreshes.

Game Mode

First introduced on the Mac, Game Mode is now available on the iPhone. Apple says Game Mode "minimizes background activity to sustain consistently high frame rates" during gameplay, "dramatically reduces" audio latency with AirPods, and makes wireless game controllers "incredibly responsive."

Read our iOS 18 roundup to learn about even more features.
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Apple has increased its out-of-warranty battery replacement fee for iPhone 16 Pro models, according to its iPhone repair and service page.


Apple Stores can replace the battery inside an iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max for $119 in the U.S., which is up from $99 for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is a 20% increase to the fee, which includes the cost of a new battery and service by an Apple Store. The fee may vary at third-party Apple Authorized Service Providers.

The fee remains $99 for the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

Customers with AppleCare+ can still get an iPhone 16 Pro battery replaced for free, but only if the battery retains less than 80% of its original capacity.

Apple says all four iPhone 16 models are equipped with larger batteries, and all of the devices received an internal redesign for improved heat dissipation, according to the company. A metal enclosure was rumored for at least some iPhone 16 batteries, but we are still waiting for teardowns to get a proper look inside of the devices.

Apple had already increased its battery replacement fee from $69 to $99 starting with all four iPhone 14 models, so this is the second increase in recent years.

A comparison of Apple's current iPhone battery replacement fees in the U.S.:

• iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: $119


• iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: $99


• All four iPhone 15 models: $99


• All four iPhone 14 models: $99


• All four iPhone 13 models: $89

iPhone 16 models can be pre-ordered now and launch on Friday.

Thanks, Jacob Harvey!
This article, "Apple Charging 20% More to Replace Batteries in iPhone 16 Pro Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Remember the "unapologetically" plastic iPhone 5c from 2013? The next version of the lower-cost Apple Watch SE might look similar.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said a new Apple Watch SE with a plastic casing "remains in development" ahead of a potential release next year. Apple has apparently faced some "cost and quality challenges" with the shift from aluminum to plastic, but he believes the project is still moving forward.

An even more affordable Apple Watch SE with a colorful plastic design could be appealing to parents who are looking to purchase an Apple Watch for their children. In the U.S., the current Apple Watch SE from 2022 starts at $249.

The next Apple Watch SE is also likely to offer a new chip with faster performance.
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Apple will likely hold another event in October this year to announce new Macs and iPads. If so, it would be the fourth time in the last five years that Apple has held an event in October. Last year, Apple held a virtual event on Monday, October 30 to announce new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M3 series of chips.


In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that Apple plans to announce the first M4 Macs and new lower-end iPads at its next event "in the coming weeks." He expects the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini to be updated with the M4 series of chips this year, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro throughout 2025. He said some of the first M4 Macs are already shipping from factories.

Gurman expects the following products to be updated at Apple's next event, which he previously said would take place in October.

MacBook Pro

Apple plans to announce updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips at its next event, according to Gurman. No design changes have been rumored for the laptops this year, with improvements such as an OLED display and thinner design not expected until 2026 at the earliest.

Apple last redesigned the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in 2021, and the latest models with M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips were released last October.

iMac

Apple also plans to update the iMac with the M4 chip at the event, according to Gurman.

Will the Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad trio of accessories for the iMac finally switch from Lightning to USB-C this year?

Mac mini

Gurman expects the Mac mini to be updated with M4 and M4 Pro chips at the event, and he previously said the desktop computer will be redesigned to become nearly as small as an Apple TV. The new Mac mini will apparently lack USB-A ports.

iPad mini

Gurman previously said he expects a seventh-generation iPad mini to be unveiled at the event.

Rumored features for the next iPad mini include a faster chip, upgraded front and rear cameras, a fix for "jelly scrolling" screen tearing in portrait orientation, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, and new color options.

Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said the next iPad mini would enter mass production in the second half of 2024, so there is agreement from multiple credible sources about the device being updated later this year.

Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more.

Entry-level iPad

Gurman today said "new, lower-end iPads" plural will be unveiled at the event, so there may be an iPad 11 too.
This article, "M4 Macs, New iPad Mini, and iPad 11 Expected at Upcoming Apple Event" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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One of the busiest weeks of the year for Apple news has drawn to a close following Monday's event that saw the unveiling of new iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods models and Friday's start of iPhone pre-orders in dozens of countries around the world.


Read on below for the biggest announcements of this week as we take a brief break ahead of a flood of software updates early next week and all of the new hardware making its way into customers' hands a few days later!

Everything Apple Announced at Monday's Event in 13 Minutes

Apple's "It's Glowtime" event on Monday was a ~100-minute whirlwind of announcements, but we've condensed it down to a 13-minute highlight reel to give you a quick way to catch up on everything.


We've also pulled together all of our news coverage from the big day in one place, so make sure to check it out and read up on your favorite Apple products that got some fresh updates.

Apple Announces iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with Larger Displays, New Camera Control, and More

Apple on Monday announced the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max—its latest flagship smartphones—featuring larger displays, an all-new Camera Control button, and the A18 Pro chip.


The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ has a 6.3-inch display, while the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max features a 6.9-inch display—the biggest iPhone display ever. The borders around the display are the thinnest of any Apple device, while the titanium frame now features a new blasted finish and comes in a refreshed selection of color options: a darker Black Titanium, brighter White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and a new Desert Titanium.

Apple Announces iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus With Action Button, Camera Control, and More

Apple also announced the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus, with a key new feature being the Camera Control on the side of the devices. As rumored, the Camera Control is positioned below the power button, and you can control various features in the Camera app by pressing or swiping on it.


Other features include the Action button introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year, a "big boost" in battery life, brighter and more durable screens, Wi-Fi 7 support, and an A18 chip with up to a twice as fast 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence. The devices have color-infused back glass, with vibrant Ultramarine, Teal, Pink, White, and Black finishes available.

Apple Announces Thinner Apple Watch Series 10 With Bigger Screen Than Ultra

Apple at its event announced the Apple Watch Series 10, featuring a wide-angle OLED display that is larger than the Apple Watch Ultra's, with the company describing the new Series 10 as the "biggest display and thinnest design ever."


The Series 10 is 9.7 mm thick, which is nearly 10% thinner than Series 9, and it weighs 20% less than the Stainless Steel Series 9. The Aluminum cases also weigh up to 10% less, while the Series 10 also comes in Grade 5 titanium, replacing stainless steel.

While we didn't get updated Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch SE models, we did get a new black finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, as well as an Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 2. Apple also introduced a new Titanium Milanese Loop for both colors of the Ultra.

Apple Unveils AirPods 4 With Two Models Featuring Improved Fit, USB-C, and More

As expected, Apple introduced two AirPods 4 models on Monday, a base model at $129 to replace the AirPods 2 and a higher-end model with Active Noise Cancellation and a case that supports wireless charging and features a speaker for Find My capabilities.


Apple also revealed updated AirPods Max headphones at the event, but the only changes are new colors and a move from Lightning to USB-C for charging and connectivity. No other hardware updates are included.

iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11 and More Launching on September 16

With all of Apple's new hardware set to become available on Friday, September 20, the company is sticking to tradition and releasing its major new operating system versions a few days earlier.


iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and more will all be available on Monday, September 16. It's important to note, however, that Apple Intelligence features will not be coming in this round of updates and will instead start rolling out in follow-on updates likely targeted for late October.

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: Apple Event Recap With iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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