Apple Maps in iOS 18 has been significantly upgraded, offering hikers and outdoor enthusiasts new ways to plan adventures. Here's how to prepare for a hike in Apple Maps.


The updates to iOS 18's Maps app make it an invaluable tool for planning hikes and outdoor activities. With detailed mapping, real-time data, and a wealth of user-generated content, Maps provides a comprehensive solution for outdoor enthusiasts.

Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a beginner, iOS 18 Maps ensures that your next adventure is well-planned and enjoyable. And since Apple added the ability to download maps offline with iOS 17, hikers can feel safe without an internet connection.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The original HomePod is now a "vintage" item according to Apple, making it the first from the smart speaker range to be given the designation.


Apple's support pages has a list of products that Apple deems to be vintage or obsolete, depending on how long they have been on the market. For support purposes, vintage items can still be eligible for servicing by Apple, but obsolete products are not.

Typically, if Apple has stopped distributing the product for more than five years, it's considered vintage. After seven years, it's obsolete.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple has reportedly increased its chip order with TSMC, one that apparently puts both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models on the A18 chip.


The introduction of Apple Intelligence at WWDC may have helped increase the demand for the iPhone 16. However, it seems that Apple may also be changing its chip strategy to match.

According to sources of CTEE, Apple has upped its chip order from partner TSMC. With the increased order in place, Apple is supposedly preparing to sell between 90 million and 100 million units of the iPhone 16.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple is on the second round of developer betas for its current-gen operation systems, including iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, tvOS 17.6, watchOS 10.6, macOS Sonoma, and visionOS 1.3.


Developers taking part in Apple's beta program can secure the new builds through the Apple Developer Center or more directly by updating their iPhone or iPad already running the betas via the Settings app. Public beta versions usually arrive a short time after the developer versions, and public participants can sign up through the Apple Beta Software Program website.

The betas are all for current-gen versions of Apple's operating systems, including iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, tvOS 17.6, watchOS 10.6, and macOS Sonoma 14.6. The Apple Vision Pro also gets a beta for visionOS 1.3.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

July deals are here and Amazon has the lowest price on Apple's latest 16-inch MacBook Pro thanks to a $300 price drop.

Apple's follow-up to the Apple Vision Pro could improve upon an already pretty solid design. Here's what's been rumored about Apple's continued pushes into Spatial Computing.


Since the launch of the Apple Vision Pro at WWDC 2023 and the release of the headset in February 2024, Apple has enjoyed some success with its headset. It's been celebrated for its design and how it can help in industries such as medical care.

However, as a $3,500 mixed-reality headset that's still in its first generation, it has also struggled a bit to secure sales.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

On this episode of the HomeKit Insider Podcast, we talk about new devices for the week, including the launch of the GE Cync under cabinet lights, a universal remote, and an IR repeater.


After first being shown at CES 2024, GE Cync is launching its under cabinet lights. These new features are slim, Wi-Fi enabled, and support the full color spectrum.

The GE Sync also supports Matter, making it compatible with Apple Home. They come in 18-inch, 20-inch, and 24-inch sizes plus round pucks to fit a variety of cabinets.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

First there was Spaces, then Stage Manager, now there's Window Tiling. All try solving the issue of Mac window management — yet all are hidden. Here's where they are and what they do on macOS Sequoia.


It's possible that you've never had to think about window management on a Mac. It's more likely that you have faced multiple apps and open documents, that you've struggled to find the one you want, but you had no reason to know there's even a term for this.

As well as the term window management, though, there are three distinctly different systems for making it simpler to find what you need, and to concentrate on your work. That's three systems from Apple — there are many third-party apps too.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A new report claims that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the first iPhones to use Samsung's M14 OLED display panels, which improves brightness while extending longevity.


Previous rumors regarding the screens on the iPhone 16 Pro have included some claims about brightness. For instance, one in September 2023 said Apple would use a Micro Lens Array, which reflects more OLED light forward.

Now according to South Korea's ETNews, the two Pro models in the iPhone 16 range will use Samsung's latest displays. Known as M14 screens, they are OLED models that use 14 unspecified high-performance materials.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

For unknown reasons, the deadline for iPhone 7 users to apply to be included in Apple's class action settlement has been extended, but there are still stringent conditions, and time is again running out.


Having initially set a deadline of June 3, 2023, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California has revised the date to July 3, 2024. It's not clear why the change was made, or quite when, but nothing else has altered so the same conditions apply.

Specifically, the only people who can apply are those who have already been sent a postcard by the settlement administrator.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Good news for European Union "Fortnite" fans — Epic Games is planning to relaunch the game on its own iPhone app store.


The company has posted a status update on X.com updating its followers. Epic has now submitted both the Epic Games Store and the updated Fortnite app to Apple for its required notarization process.

The company has protested nearly every part of Apple's procedures for setting up alternative app stores and submitting apps thus far. However, it has decided to follow the required rules for now, in hopes of returning its game to iOS users.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

In the latest from the Apple crime blotter, thieves steal an iPhone and then threatened the owner, an iPad theft led to hit-and-run, still no reports of Apple Vision Pro crime, and AirTags are still popular with carjackers and thieves.


The social media influencer known as "Meatball," who filmed a spell of looting at the Apple Store and other Center City Philadelphia businesses in September of 2023, has pled guilty to charges of riot with the intent to commit a felony and criminal use of a communication facility, Fox 29 reported.

The woman who filmed people stealing from the Walnut Street Apple Store and later realizing that the stolen iPhones were bricked, has been sentenced to five years of probation for each charge, in addition to 150 hours of community service and a $10,000 fine.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple is considering a paid future for aspects of its Apple Intelligence service that would expand to a subscription model for additional features and more AI partners.


The introduction of Apple Intelligence has offered a wealth of AI features at no cost for owners of the top iPhone 15 models. However, as Apple Intelligence expands to more services and more partners, a subscription model for some offerings could be ahead.

A new report from Bloomberg has speculated that Apple intends to charge extra for future additional capabilities within Apple Intelligence. This expansion would follow the model — and could even be part of — the existing iCloud+ service.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A new report says that Apple has formally begun work on the OS updates planned for late 2025, including macOS, iOS, watchOS, and visionOS.


In a typical move, Apple is wrapping up its foundational work on 2024's forthcoming software releases, and focusing on the year ahead. Betas for iOS and iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, and macOS 15 Sequoia are already in the hands of developers now.

Those OS updates, already teased during the WWDC conference, will be out in the fall of 2024. According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple's engineers have started turning engineering attention to the releases for late 2025, including iOS 19, watchOS 12, macOS 16, and visionOS 3.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

The roll-out of Apple Intelligence in the fall is passing over the Apple Vision Pro — but a report on Sunday claims that it could arrive on the existing hardware as soon as 2025.


Apple Intelligence is arriving in test in the next few weeks. It will ship to for everybody with a compatible device in the fall, with iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and iOS 18.

Not on that list at present is the Apple Vision Pro. But, a new report on Sunday from Bloomberg discusses the possibility of it arriving on Apple's headset.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Apple probably won't be changing the design of its MacBook Pro for a few more years, as the company continues to increase the longevity of its products.


Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are iconic in the world of notebooks. But, when consumers look for new features and designs to justify upgrades, Apple is pretty much sticking to what it already has.

The MacBook Pro uses a form factor that was introduced by Apple in 2021, making it three years old. According to Bloomberg estimates on Sunday, the next major refresh of the design may not happen until 2025 or 2026.


Rumor Score: 🤯 Likely


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple is planning to release AirPods with infra-red camera modules that detect when a user turns their head, and so automatically adjust Apple Vision Pro audio output to match.


Apple Vision Pro comes with built-in Audio Pods that provide very good audio output for casual listening. For anything more, you should use AirPods and according to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is working on making those work better with the Apple Vision Pro.



Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A new rumor suggests that Apple has reached out to more manufacturers of small OLED-on-Silicon panels to gear up for another mixed reality headset alongside the Apple Vision Pro.


Currently, Sony supplies the OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) panels used in the current Apple Vision Pro. The Elec, which covers Chinese industrial trends, says that Apple has sent a request for information to both Samsung and LG for possible panels.

According to the report, Sony will continue providing screens for the Apple Vision Pro, but has no plans to increase production capacity. It is thought that Sony provides Apple with up to 900,000 such panels per year.


Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Month-end June steals on iPads and the OWC Thunderbolt Hub are going on now, with discounts of up to 59% off.


Kicking off the weekend sale is the OWC Thunderbolt Hub that's on sale for $117.76, down from $139.99. The Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) host port provides up to 60W of power for your MacBook, while three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port allows you to connect a variety of peripherals.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider

The immensely popular Hoyoverse is expanding in "Zenless Zone Zero," with the highly anticipated title coming to iPhone on Independence Day.


Zenless Zone Zero is by the Genshin Impact Creators. It has an anime style, and is described by the creators as an "urban fantasy action role-playing game."

The title is the latest entrant in the Hoyoverse, where the modern day is under assault from a supernatural disaster. Gameplay is in a squad-based 3D world, with action and role-play elements.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Now through July 4th, save 20% on select tech at eBay, including Apple AirPods, MagSafe chargers, iPads and more, with the holiday coupon.

The Apple Ring has been the subject of occasional rumors for close to two decades. Here are the essential rumors and Apple's published research topics about the smart jewelry.


Apple's wearable in its product catalog is the Apple Watch, and it has helped it capitalize in the smartwatch market. But there's always a group of customers who would rather wear something else instead of a watch.

The seeming answer to that is a smart ring, and Apple's not the only one seemingly in the field. The Oura ring has been around for years, offering biological monitoring while being worn around a finger.


Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums