In celebration of Earth Day right around the corner, and as we previously reported, Apple has today launched a special 10% discount offer on various products. All you have to do is bring your old tech to an Apple Store, give it to Apple for recycling, and you’ll earn the discount.

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With tariffs creating rollercoaster rides of price uncertainty, two telecoms companies are trying to bring a little certainty to our budgeting in the form of fixed-price deals …

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If you’re having problems with Spotify this morning, you’re not alone. An ongoing Spotify outage appears to be impacting a number of users this morning.

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Apple today launched an Earth Day promotion that offers customers 10% off eligible Apple accessories when they recycle eligible devices at participating Apple Stores. The offer is available from today through May 16 in many countries, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, and others.


Keep in mind that this promotion seems to be geared towards devices that are not eligible for trade-in credit at Apple Stores. The idea is that you can help the planet by bringing in old electronics to Apple for free recycling, as has long been possible, but now with the added bonus of receiving 10% off an accessory for a limited time.

The offer is available at physical Apple Store locations only. Each customer may recycle up to five eligible devices for a promotional discount on eligible accessories. Recycling of the eligible device and purchase of an eligible accessory must be completed in the same transaction. Full terms and conditions can be found on Apple's website.

Eligible devices for recycling, according to Apple:

• AirPods


• AirPort


• AirTag


• Apple TV


• Computers


• Displays


• Hard Drives & Storage


• Headphones & Speakers


• HomePod


• Mice & Keyboards


• Networking


• Printers & Scanners


• Smartphones


• Tablets


• Watches


• iPod

Accessories eligible for the 10% discount:

• AirPods 4


• AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation


• AirTag (1-pack)


• AirTag (4-pack)


• Apple Pencil


• Apple TV 4K


• HomePod mini


• Apple Watch bands


• Apple-branded adapters, cables, and chargers


• Apple-branded iPhone and iPad cases


• Magic Mouse


• Magic Trackpad


• Magic Keyboard (excluding the iPad version)

While a 10% discount is not massive, Apple rarely offers direct savings on its products beyond its annual Back to School and Black Friday events.

Earth Day is on Tuesday, April 22.
This article, "Apple Launches 2025 Earth Day Promotion With Discounted Accessories" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has highlighted comments from award-winning filmmakers pointing to the benefits of shooting on iPhone – from speed and flexibility, to the sheer accessibility of the device.

One of them says the ability of anyone with an iPhone to create a credible short film means that we’re now “living in the age of democracy in filmmaking” …

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Apple has seemingly changed the marketing strategy for the iPhone 16 lineup and other products amid the delay in releasing key Apple Intelligence features.


The global marketing campaign for the ‌iPhone 16‌ and iPhone 16 Pro centered around the tagline "Hello, ‌Apple Intelligence‌." The company now seems to have universally changed this to "Built for ‌Apple Intelligence‌," often in a smaller font. The alteration seems to be a subtle acknowledgment that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ isn't ready, moving emphasis from ‌Apple Intelligence‌ in the present to support in the future.



The change also extends to the iPad and Mac, which also carried the "Hello, ‌Apple Intelligence‌" tagline. They too now simply say "Built for ‌Apple Intelligence‌." Meanwhile, some people have noticed a growing number of ‌iPhone 16‌ marketing materials such as billboards with no reference to Apple Intelligence at all.

Apple has been hit with multiple class action lawsuits over its delayed Apple Intelligence features. They allege that Apple violated false advertising and unfair competition laws by marketing features that are still not available. Plaintiffs claim they never would have purchased or been willing to pay as much for an ‌iPhone 16‌ had they known that Apple's marketing surrounding the features was false and misleading.

Apple first previewed ‌Apple Intelligence‌ during its WWDC 2024 keynote last June, including personalized Siri, which it said would be rolling out over the course of the following year. That gave Apple until WWDC 2025 this June to roll out the ‌Siri‌ features, but last month the company announced that it needed more time and anticipated rolling out the features at some point "in the coming year" from then. The debacle has become the subject of intense criticism.

The features were initially expected to launch in iOS 18.4, but they are now expected to arrive at some point during the iOS 19 cycle. Many well-connected Apple reporters and observers believe the features will not be available until 2026. The New York Times still believes that they will be released in the fall.
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While the end of the wait for a foldable iPhone appears to be in sight, there’s uncertainty over Apple’s plans for the outer and inner displays of what’s being colloquially referred to as the iPhone Fold.

A new report adds weight the the suggestion that there will be no Dynamic Island on the outer display, Apple instead opting for a single punch-hole for the front-facing camera, with Touch ID used to unlock the device …

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Apple, along with other tech companies, relies on the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program to identify and track security flaws in its software. This critical cybersecurity resource now faces an uncertain future, after federal funding was today abruptly cut off.


In response to the crisis, a coalition of longtime CVE Board members announced today the formation of the CVE Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued operation of the vulnerability identification system.

"CVE, as a cornerstone of the global cybersecurity ecosystem, is too important to be vulnerable itself," said Kent Landfield, an officer of the newly formed Foundation. "Cybersecurity professionals around the globe rely on CVE identifiers and data as part of their daily work—from security tools and advisories to threat intelligence and response. Without CVE, defenders are at a massive disadvantage against global cyber threats."

The CVE program provides a standardized system for identifying and cataloging security vulnerabilities across all software and hardware, including Apple's macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and other products. When security researchers discover flaws, they're assigned unique CVE identifiers that allow companies like Apple to coordinate patches and updates.

MITRE Corporation, which has managed the program under contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that government funding expired on April 16. Reuters reports that the expiry may be linked to the federal government undergoing a radical downsizing driven in part by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which is exposed to the downsizing, stated it is "urgently working to mitigate impact," as the sudden funding gap threatened to disrupt vulnerability management worldwide.

Security experts warned that without CVE, cybersecurity efforts would face "total chaos" as the common language used to communicate about vulnerabilities would effectively disappear. One researcher compared it to "suddenly deleting all dictionaries."

The newly established CVE Foundation aims to transition the program to a dedicated non-profit model that isn't dependent on a single government sponsor. The Foundation's organizers revealed they had been preparing for this possibility for the past year.

"For the international cybersecurity community, this move represents an opportunity to establish governance that reflects the global nature of today's threat landscape," the Foundation stated in its announcement.

The funding cut also affects the related Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) program, which helps companies like Apple identify potential security issues before they become vulnerabilities.

The CVE Foundation is expected to release more details about its structure and funding plans in the coming days. Apple and other major tech companies will likely play a significant role in supporting it as a critical part of cybersecurity infrastructure.
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The CVE security program used to track vulnerabilities in both hardware and software has had its federal funding removed with immediate effect. Apple is one of a number of tech giants who rely on the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program to identify security flaws in their products.

Update: CVE board members have responded by announcing a new non-profit known as the CVE Foundation, intended to continue the work – more at the end …

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Anthropic, makers of the Claude AI chatbot, are close to launching a new voice assistant to rival OpenAI's similar option for interacting with ChatGPT, according to Bloomberg.


Unless plans change, the new "voice mode" feature could be released as soon as this month – nearly a year after OpenAI began rolling out its own equivalent to users.

The feature, which will be available in the Claude iOS app and likely elsehwhere, reportedly includes three voices named Airy, Mellow, and British-accented Buttery.

Anthropic has previously said it is working on a voice mode for Claude, but it has not officially revealed a planned launch window or any other details. The feature was discovered in Anthropic's code by app researcher M1Astra.

Anthropic recently launched a new feature for its Claude AI assistant called "Research," aimed at providing thorough, citation-supported answers by drawing from online sources and corporate customer data. The tool is Anthropic's answer to OpenAI's Deep Research, which debuted earlier this year.

In addition, Claude is gaining support for Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs, enabling users to query and interact with their Google Workspace content for more efficient task and information management.
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Further details have emerged about the camera system on Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, informally dubbed the "iPhone Fold."


Expected to launch next year, Apple's book-style foldable is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch crease-free internal display and a 5.5-inch external screen. According to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the device will include a dual-lens rear camera along with front-facing cameras usable in both folded and unfolded states, ensuring comprehensive camera functionality in any configuration.

While previous reports noted that the unfolded state will utilize an under-screen camera (USC), there was less information about the front camera in the folded state – until now.

According to Korean news aggregator yeux1122, citing an unknown Weibo-based source, Apple has opted for a hole-punch front-facing camera on the outer display. The design is said to be "almost identical to current foldables" on the market, such as Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold (pictured below). The blog also cited previously revealed information on the display sizes and screen resolutions.

It remains unclear whether the hole-punch will be visible during active use or encased in a smaller Dynamic Island, but Face ID is not expected to be part of the equation. Instead, Apple is believed to have integrated Touch ID into the side button, in order to conserve internal space for other components.


Kuo says final hardware specifications will be locked in during the second quarter of this year (April 1 - June 30), suggesting some elements are still subject to change. However, analyst Jeff Pu claims the device has already entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at Foxconn – a critical stage in Apple's product development cycle – indicating that key specs may already be finalized.

• Foldable iPhone Expected Next Year: All the Rumored Features So Far

Mass production is reportedly scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026, with a release expected late next year. The first-generation foldable iPhone is expected to carry a price tag between $2,000 and $2,300. A second-generation model is reportedly already in the pipeline, with mass production planned for the second half of 2027.
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Every gaming platform has its own app for managing games, such as Apple’s Game Center, for example. But for those who have multiple consoles, GamePal is a great companion app that helps players keep track of their entire game library.

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Ahead of when new versions of iOS come out, MacRumors forum members and readers often create wishlists for features they're hoping to see, and this year is no exception. Over on our forums, there are a couple wishlists of features that users have been contributing to since last June.


We've rounded up a few of the features that have been suggested. Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments here or go visit the wishlist thread.

Apps

• Custom password for locking Passwords app.


• Option to add attachments in the Passwords app.


• Option to snooze emails.


• Swipe gesture to delete iMessage attachments.


• Account balance and transaction history for all cards in Wallet app.


• Food logging in the Health app.


• Dark Mode icons for web apps.


• Toggle to force camera to use Ultrawide or Telephoto lens in low light.

Home Screen/Lock Screen

• Weather wallpaper for Lock Screen, Dynamic Wallpaper for Home Screen.


• Option to pick an icon for an app.


• Support for split screen apps.


• Option to turn off or speed up Face ID animations.


• Universal notification center that syncs between multiple devices.


• Opacity setting for widgets.


• More rows of icons on larger phones.

Other

• Separate volume toggles for music, system sounds, and phone calls.


• Custom Focus mode status options.


• Lock rotation options on a per-app basis.


• Battery status widget for all devices signed into an Apple Account.


• Sandboxed kids mode with apps for kids.


• One combined user interface for Spotlight and Type to Siri.


• Number row for stock keyboard.

Read More

Check out our full iOS 19 wishlist thread over on the forums for more suggestions that users have made.

What's Rumored for iOS 19

iOS 19 is rumored to be getting a major design update with visuals inspired by visionOS. It could have a floating, glossy look with a focus on transparency, along with simplified navigation and a reimagining of icons, buttons, and menu bars.

More Apple Intelligence features are in the works, including the updates to ‌Siri‌ that we were supposed to get in iOS 18. We have a list of all the ‌iOS 19‌ rumors so far in our iOS 19 roundup.
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Finding the perfect spot to use a projector isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to portable projectors and outdoor environments. That’s why XGIMI recently launched its own portable outdoor screen for projectors.

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Nanoleaf today announced the launch of the Pegboard Desk Dock, a desktop light that's also able to hold accessories and serve as a dock for peripherals like a keyboard and a mouse thanks to added USB-A and USB-C ports.


The Pegboard Desk Dock works with the Nanoleaf Desktop app, so it is able to change the color of the light to match the content on your Mac's display, making it ideal for gaming, watching movies, and similar activities. Like other Nanoleaf products, the Pegboard Desk Dock supports millions of colors, and can be set to different scenes, including those that respond to music.

Because the Pegboard Desk Dock is meant to work specifically with a Mac or PC using a physical connection, it does not connect to HomeKit like other Nanoleaf products, nor does it work with the Nanoleaf mobile app. Instead, it connects to a computer over USB-C. There's a built-in USB-C cable that needs to connect to a USB-C port on a Mac or a Mac's attached display, like the Studio Display.

Once connected, the Pegboard Desk Dock can be paired to the Nanoleaf Desktop app. More than one Dock can be paired to a Mac at once, but both need to be plugged into separate USB-C ports, or, alternatively, one can plug into the other. To power two, the host Dock's PD port needs to be connected to a power adapter via a USB-C cable, neither of which are included. You'll also need to plug in for higher powered peripherals like webcams and keyboards with RGB lighting.


The Nanoleaf Desktop app can be used to set colors and animated scenes where the lights will cycle through different colors using patterns. There is also the option to have the lights change based on what's on the display of your computer, which is a neat effect. Turning on this option requires Screen Mirroring to be enabled, and for that, the Nanoleaf app requires Screen and System Audio Recording capabilities.

While the Nanoleaf Desktop app itself is slow and somewhat laggy, the Screen Mirroring feature that actually displays the colors on the Pegboard Desk Dock works well with no latency. The Screen Mirroring option matches the color of the main window that you have active, so it's best for full screen games and entertainment. It's similar to light strips that change color based on what's on a display, but it is more versatile. Because the lights aren't designed to illuminate behind a display, the Pegboard Desk Dock works for setups where your desk is not in front of a wall.

An Orchestrator section of the app changes the light based on the audio of an app that's selected like Apple Music, and a Scenescapes feature plays sound and light for an immersive experience. There are scenes like aquarium, beach, at sea, fireplace, and rainfall. Orchestrator and Scenescapes are only available with one option without a Nanoleaf Desktop subscription.

The Nanoleaf Desktop app costs $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year. It's not needed to play scenes, change colors, or use Screen Mirroring, but it is needed for full Orchestrator and Scenescape access. When Screen Mirroring isn't on, there are user-created scenes to choose from, and these scenes provide one-click access to tons of color and motion options. There's plenty to access without a subscription.


The Pegboard Desk Dock is two-sided, so the light can be seen from either side. One side has the "pegboard" of the name, while the other is a plain, diffused LED. There are four hooks that can be attached to the pegboard side of the dock, and the size is ideal for game controllers or other similar objects.

There are two USB-C ports at the back of the Pegboard Desk Dock, another USB-C port on the side, and a USB-A port on the opposite side, so multiple peripherals can be connected. Aside from the built-in cable, there's a cable extender if extra length is needed to reach a Mac. The light portion of the dock pops out of the base, which makes it easy to swap designs.

Each light is 50 lumens, and the dock side is not too bright when it's next to a display, but the other side can be a little hard to look at if the colors aren't muted down somewhat. Given that these aren't super bright, they're best used for ambient lighting in a dim room.

The Pegboard Desk Dock can be purchased from the Nanoleaf website for $60, with a two-pack available for $100.
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In an extremely high-profile legal case, Meta is currently trying to fend off antitrust claims so the FTC doesn’t break it up. And today as part of its prepared defense, the company sought to use Apple’s Messages app as evidence that it’s not a monopoly.

Update 4/16 9:45 a.m. ET: Removed references to previously redacted info at Meta’s request.

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OpenAI is developing a social network that's focused on ChatGPT's image generation features, reports The Verge. OpenAI is reportedly testing a prototype version of an image generator with a social feed, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has been asking people for feedback on the project.


It's not clear if OpenAI will integrate its social network into ChatGPT or launch it as a standalone app, and there's also a chance that the app doesn't make it out of the prototyping phase.

Facebook parent company Meta is also planning for a social feed for its standalone AI assistant app, which would pit OpenAI's social AI app against Meta's social AI app. OpenAI would also need to compete with X (formerly Twitter), as X already integrates with the Grok chatbot. Grok's integration with X apparently has "made everyone jealous," especially the way that "people create viral tweets by getting it to say something stupid."

By developing a social network, OpenAI would have access to real-time data to further train its models. Meta and X both already have real-time social feeds to use for training purposes and for surfacing real-time information to answer queries.
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Portable multi-device chargers are popular accessories for frequent travelers, offering the ability to keep your iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and in some cases other devices charged up while away from home. Alogic's recently launched Roam 21,000mAh 6-in-1 Power Bank takes things a step further, pairing all of these chargers with an integrated battery to help charge your devices even while away from fixed power.


I've been testing out the Roam for a few weeks, including on a week-long multi-stop trip around the U.S., and I've found it to be a handy travel companion that gets the job done with a few sacrifices.

The Roam is essentially a fairly large 21,000 mAh (77 Wh) power bank equipped with a variety of charging surfaces, ports, and even an integrated USB-C cable to help charge whatever devices you're bringing with you on the road.

The whole thing folds down to a relatively compact rectangular body, but when you're ready to use it, the Qi2 magnetic phone charging pad and the Apple Watch charging puck swing up for optimal positioning while also revealing a recessed Qi charging surface for charging your AirPods. If you need to charge more devices like an iPad and/or a Mac, there's a short integrated USB-C cable that tucks in along the side of the Roam, plus a pair of USB-C ports on the rear.


The body of the Roam is primarily a matte black plastic that does pick up a few fingerprints over time, with a band of aluminum around the edges.

As noted, the phone charger on the Roam is a MagSafe-compatible Qi2 charger, and it supports up to 15 watts of charging power for most of Apple's recent iPhones. That's not quite as fast as the 25-watt MagSafe support introduced on the iPhone 16 series, but it's plenty sufficient. In my testing, the Roam was able to boost an iPhone 16 Pro Max battery by 50% in under an hour, similar to what I've seen with other Qi2 chargers. The folding pad works at any angle from completely flat against the body of the Roam to up to almost 90 degrees, and it remains solidly in position thanks to hinge tension, making it convenient to set up your phone to charge in either vertical or horizontal orientation, with StandBy mode supported.


The AirPods charging surface is revealed once the Qi2 pad is raised, and it's a simple 5-watt Qi charging pad without magnetic alignment, but it works fine for keeping wireless charging-capable AirPods cases charged up.

The Apple Watch charging puck swings up at the rear of the Roam, and it's a matte black color that blends in nicely with the rest of the Roam's surface, a pleasant deviation from the typical white Apple Watch charging pucks that tend to stand out visually. The puck's design supports Nightstand mode for the Apple Watch, but its placement behind the Qi2 charger means you probably won't be able to see it while charging multiple devices. The ‌iPhone‌'s larger-screen StandBy functionality is better for nighttime use anyway.


One potentially significant drawback for the Apple Watch charger is that it is NOT a fast charger and offers only 2-watt charging. As a result, my Apple Watch Ultra 2's battery only increased by around 25% in an hour on the charger, when a fast charger should be able to deliver around 80% charge in that amount of time. It's a non-issue if you want to leave your watch on the charger overnight, but if you're someone like me who likes to wear their watch overnight and usually tries to get a a quick charge in before bedtime, the Roam won't be able to deliver on that front.


For charging other devices, the Roam features an integrated ~5-inch USB-C cable supporting up to 100 watts of charging power, as well as two USB-C ports on the rear, one of which supports up to 100 watts and the other supporting up to 18 watts. It's worth noting that the Roam can deliver a maximum of 100 watts of simultaneous output, so you'll only be able to max out those 100-watt USB-C options if you have nothing else connected to the power bank, but you can still get a decent amount of power out of them even with other devices charging.


The Roam supports up to 65 watts of input charging through either the integrated cable or the 100-watt USB-C port, and it took about 90 minutes to recharge the Roam from 25% to 90% before things slowed a bit as it approached a full charge, reaching 97% after 120 minutes. Passthrough charging of other devices is supported if you are charging the Roam through the 100-watt USB-C port, but not if you're using the integrated cable.

To help you keep tabs on charging state, the Roam features a small LCD on the side that shows the current level of the Roam's internal battery, as well as some small green icons to provide information about charging input and output. There is also a power button on the rear of the Roam to help you turn it on and off and activate passthrough charging, but the bank also turns off automatically after a period of non-use to help limit battery drain.


With its 21,000 mAh battery that checks in at 77 Wh, the Roam is comfortably under the limit for carrying it on an airplane, though that internal battery does still bring some heft with it. The Roam checks in at 606 grams or around 1.3 pounds.

That's a decent amount of weight, but not unreasonably so to toss in a bag, backpack, or carry-on suitcase. Alongside everything else I was carrying in my backpack on my trip, the Roam's weight wasn't noticeable, but if I'd been traveling lighter it certainly would have made a difference. It measures in at 158 mm (6.2 inches) x 82 mm (3.2 inches) x 35 mm (1.4 inches), so it's roughly the footprint of a Pro Max phone but substantially thicker and nearly three times as heavy.

That bulk and weight is the price you pay to be able to have a fair amount of battery power with you, but just how much does that 21,000 mAh actually get you? Alogic says you should be able to charge an ‌iPhone 16‌ four times from the Roam, and that seems pretty much in line with my observation of around three times for an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max's battery is only 4,685 mAh, so in theory you should be able to charge it four times from the Roam, but due to inefficiencies in power storage and transfer you won't get quite that much out of it. An Apple Watch and AirPods obviously don't require much juice to recharge, but if you're looking to charge bigger items like an ‌iPad‌ or MacBook from the Roam, you're going to start running out of power pretty quickly.

You might be able to get a full charge of a 13-inch MacBook Air out of it, but a 15-inch model would definitely be pushing it and any MacBook Pro would come up short, and that doesn't even account for charging your ‌iPhone‌ and any other devices from the Roam.


So while the Roam would be plenty adequate for a weekend trip off the grid with your smaller devices, it's not going to be sufficient to keep an entire set of Apple portable products up and running for more than a single additional charge, if that. While it would be great to be able to keep an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, MacBook, Apple Watch, and AirPods charged up for days' worth of use, the shortfall is simply the reality of how much power our devices need and the calculated tradeoffs of size and weight required to carry extra juice for them. As long as you're aware of the limitations and keep your expectations in line, the Roam can be a solid travel companion to keep your devices going when you don't have ready access to fixed power.

The other consideration worth keeping in mind is that the handy features of the Roam do add bulk, weight, and cost to the overall package. If you want a barebones power bank in the same capacity range, you can certainly find options that are much cheaper, a bit smaller, and on the order of half the weight, but you will need cables for each of your devices and potentially not be able to charge as many devices simultaneously as you can with the Roam. The Roam is a premium product offering convenience and travel simplicity, but if you're willing to pay a bit more and carry some additional weight around, it may be worth the tradeoffs.

The Roam 21,000mAh 6-in-1 Power Bank is available from Alogic's website and is normally priced at $197.99, but an Easter sale currently knocks 20% off, bringing it down to $158.39.

Note: Alogic provided MacRumors with the Roam power bank for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Alogic. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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We just had the most feature-packed Apple software year I can remember. But per rumors ahead of WWDC, 2025 is shaping up to quite a banner year for upgrades too, including with watchOS 12 adding Apple Intelligence features.

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As is tradition, Apple’s annual earth day activity challenge for users will be taking place next week, on April 22nd. You can earn a special award in your Fitness app for completing the challenge.

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Apple will launch its next Apple Watch activity challenge on Tuesday, April 22 in celebration of Earth Day.


To complete the challenge, Apple Watch owners will be required to complete a workout that lasts for 30 minutes or longer, with the activity recorded through the Workout app or an app that adds information to the Health app.

On April 22, celebrate Earth Day and win this award with any workout of 30 minutes or more. Try to get outside for it!

Apple Watch owners who earn the award will unlock an award in the Fitness app, plus they will get a series of animated stickers that can be used in the Messages and FaceTime apps.








The April Earth Day challenge comes just before Apple's special Close Your Rings Day award on April 24, which is being offered to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch.

Apple Watch users who close all three of their Activity rings on April 24 will earn 10 animated stickers and a digital award, plus Apple retail locations are offering a special physical pin while supplies last. The special Close Your Rings Day stickers are below.






















The pin will be available at Apple Stores on April 24 on a first come, first serve basis.
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Today Apple updated its list of vintage and obsolete products, and the latest additions include the end of an era for the Intel Mac mini.

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Apple today seeded the first public betas of upcoming iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, and macOS Sequoia 15.5 updates, allowing the public to test the updates ahead of when they see an official launch. The public betas come a day after Apple provided the second betas to developers.


Public beta testers can download the updates from the Settings app on each device after opting into the beta through Apple's public beta testing website.

iOS 18.5 and ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.5 are relatively minor updates, and few new features have been discovered. The iOS Mail app has options for toggling off Contact Photos and Group by Sender for a look that's more like the iOS 17 Mail app, and there are some minor changes to how AppleCare info is displayed.

Apple has also released public betas of watchOS 11.5 and tvOS 18.5.

The software likely focuses on bug fixes and security improvements that are not outward facing. We're expecting Apple to release iOS 18.5, iPadOS 18.5, ‌macOS Sequoia‌ 15.5, and the other software updates sometime in May.
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Apple has just debuted new public betas across its lineup of software platforms. Public betas are now available for macOS Sequoia 15.5, iPadOS 18.5, tvOS 18.5, and more.

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Apple released iOS 18.4 to all users a couple weeks ago, but didn’t have a public version of the iOS 18.5 developer beta. Now, however, a new public beta cycle has officially kicked off: iOS 18.5 public beta 1 is now available. Here’s what’s new.

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Following images and audio, Google is bringing video generation powered by its Veo 2 model to the Gemini app if you’re an Advanced subscriber.

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According to leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone will cost between $2100 and $2300, placing it slightly higher than .

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Apple today updated its vintage products list to add the 2018 Mac mini and the iPhone 6s, devices that will get more limited service and repairs now that they are considered vintage.


The ‌iPhone‌ 6s initially launched in 2015, but Apple kept it around as a low-cost device until 2018, which is why it is only now being added to the vintage list. The ‌iPhone‌ 6s had Apple's A9 chip, and it was equipped with a strengthened aluminum chassis to fix the ‌iPhone‌ 6 "bendgate" design flaw. It was also the first ‌iPhone‌ with 3D Touch, and the last flagship ‌iPhone‌ with a headphone jack.

The 2018 ‌Mac mini‌ came out before Apple transitioned to Apple silicon, and it was actually the last ‌Mac mini‌ that had Intel chips inside. It was equipped with Intel's "Coffee Lake" chipset with 4-core and 6-core options, plus it had Intel UHD Graphics 630.

A device is considered "vintage" five years after it was last distributed for sale. For vintage products, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs) are still able to offer repairs, but only if the required parts are available.

At the seven year mark after a device's last date of sale, it is considered "obsolete." Apple Stores and AASPs generally do not repair products that are obsolete, and parts are no longer provided by Apple.
This article, "Apple Says These Products Are Now Vintage" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Notion Mail just launched, a brand new productivity tool from the Notion team that aims to upgrade your email with AI and provide a clean, clutter-free interface.

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OpenAI may before long become much more than the ChatGPT company, as per a new report, the company is apparently working on creating its own social network.

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Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will likely cost around 10% more than Samsung's rival device, according to a known Weibo leaker.


According to a new post from the Weibo user known as "Instant Digital," Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ will likely cost between $2,100 and $2,300—just a little more than Samsung's high-end foldable.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 starts at $1,899.99, while the Galaxy Z Flip6 starts at $1,219.99. Apple's first foldable ‌iPhone‌ is expected to have a book-like design that folds horizontally, just like the Z Fold. The rumored pricing would make Apple's foldable around $200–$400 more expensive than Samsung's equivalent offering.

For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at $1,199, but when configured with 1TB of storage that increases to $1,599. This means that Apple's first foldable will still be around $1,000 more expensive than the current flagship ‌iPhone‌.

There are a growing number of insightful reports about Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone; it is now expected to launch as soon as next year.

Instant Digital has a mixed track record for Apple rumors, but has provided some strikingly accurate information, such as the imminent launch of 2023's Yellow iPhone 14, the frosted back glass of the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus, the Apple Watch Series 9 as a minor refresh, spatial video capture on the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, the latest iPad Air and iPad Pro's landscape front-facing camera, the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌'s nano-texture display option, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s battery capacities, and continued Apple Watch band compatibility through the Apple Watch Series 10. As a result, their reports are worth taking seriously.
This article, "Foldable iPhone to Cost ~$1,000 More Than Today's Pro Max" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, Apple plans to launch an in-store promotion that offers customers 10% off select Apple accessories when they bring in old electronics for free recycling, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Apple has long offered to recycle older devices, cables, cases, and accessories for free, as part of its environmental initiatives. Starting this Wednesday, customers who recycle electronics that are not eligible for trade-in credit at an Apple Store will temporarily qualify for up to $20 off select Apple accessories, including the AirTag, AirPods, Apple Pencil, Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, and the Magic Mouse/Trackpad/Keyboard trio for Macs.

Apple even accepts certain electronics from other brands for free recycling, so it will be interesting to see what qualifies for this promotion.

The promotion will run for one month, according to Gurman. It is unclear if the offer will be available in the U.S. only, or in multiple countries.

While a 10% discount is not significant, Apple rarely offers direct savings on its products beyond its annual Back to School and Black Friday events.
This article, "Apple Stores to Offer 10% Off Accessories When You Recycle Electronics" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside the launch of Arc’s new metal Pulse case for AirPods Pro 2, the ongoing Best Buy Spring Sale, and this deal on Apple gift cards, we are kicking things off with Apple Watch Ultra 2 today. Alongside some notable open-box offers with over $160 in savings, we also spotted a relatively rare chance to save on the black Apple Watch Ultra 2 with the matching Titanium Milanese Loop as well as a chance to score a deal on Apple’s all-black 2024 Milanese Loop on its own. From there it’s over to some of the first opportunities to save some cash on iPhone 16 Pro at up to $175 off alongside the new M4 MacBook Air at up to $99 off. All of that and more awaits below in today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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Apple TV+ recently started teasing its summer lineup, including new seasons on the way for some of its biggest hits. Today, Apple has also announced a brand new show coming soon: Smoke, from the creative team behind one of its best reviewed series ever.

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Best Buy this week kicked off a new Spring Sale, including major discounts on computers, TVs, headphones, smartphones, video games, LEGO sets, and much more. This also includes a collection of Apple product discounts on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad 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.

In terms of Apple products, Best Buy is offering a huge collection of discounts on the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro. You'll find nearly every Wi-Fi and cellular model on sale at Best Buy during this event, with as much as $200 off these tablets.



Most of the deals shared below are available to all shoppers, but some do require a My Best Buy Plus/Total membership. These start at $49.99/year for My Best Buy Plus, and grant access to exclusive discounts and more.

Apple

• 13-inch M2 MacBook Air (256GB) - $799.00 ($200 off)


• 11-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB Wi-Fi) - $899.00 ($100 off)


• 13-inch M4 iPad Pro (256GB Wi-Fi) - $1,099.00 ($200 off)


• 15-inch M3 MacBook Air (256GB) - $1,049.00 ($250 off)


• 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro (24GB/512GB) - $1,749.00 for members ($250 off)

TVs

• 65-inch LG LED 4K Smart TV - $349.99 ($250 off)


• 75-inch Insignia LED 4K Smart Fire TV - $399.99 ($200 off)


• 85-inch Samsung QLED 4K Smart TV - $999.99 ($700 off)


• 55-inch Samsung The Frame QLED 4K TV - $1,199.99 ($300 off)


• 75-inch Sony Bravia LED 4K Smart TV - $1,199.99 ($500 off)


• 65-inch LG OLED 4K UHD Smart TV - $1,399.99 ($300 off)


• 65-inch Sony Bravia OLED 4K Smart TV - $1,799.99 ($500 off)

Headphones

• Skullcandy Crusher Over-the-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones - $129.99 ($100 off)


• Sony WF1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds - $179.99 for members ($120 off)


• Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Wireless Earbuds - $209.99 ($40 off)


• Bose Ultra Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds - $229.00 ($70 off)


• Sony WH1000XM4 Noise-Cancelling Headphones - $249.99 ($100 off)


• Sony WH1000XM5 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones - $329.99 ($70 off)

Laptops

• HP Touch Screen Laptop - $349.99 ($230 off)


• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim - $499.99 ($250 off)


• Alienware x16 Gaming Laptop - $1,799.99 ($900 off)

LEGO

• Lotus Flowers - $10.49 ($4.50 off)


• Roses Botanical Collection - $11.99 ($3 off)


• Creator 3-in-1 Retro Camera - $15.99 ($4 off)


• Animal Crossing Bunnie's Outdoor Activities - $15.99 ($4 off)


• Creator 3-in-1 Flatbed Truck with Helicopter - $15.99 ($4 off)


• Creator 3-in-1 Flowers in Water Can - $23.99 ($6 off)


• Creator 3-in-1 Space Astronaut - $43.99 ($11 off)

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Best Buy's Spring Sale Includes Big Discounts on iPad Pro, TVs, Headphones, and Much More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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AirTag, and more, when the buyer recycles an item that otherwise would not be eligible for trade-in credit.

He says the scheme will be officially announced tomorrow, and run for a month. It sounds like this promotion is timed to commemorate Earth Day, which is officially held on 22 April this year.

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As rumored, Apple’s Beats brand is making a foray into another new product category: USB-C cables. The company has announced its “first-ever collection of reinforced charging cables in an assortment of lengths and colors.” Pricing starts at $18.99 for a single cable, and they’re available to order today.

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The first iOS 19 beta is less than two months away, and there are already a handful of new features that are expected with the update.


Apple should release the first iOS 19 beta to developers immediately following the WWDC 2025 keynote, which is scheduled for Monday, June 9. Following beta testing, the update should be released to the general public in September.

Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors so far.

New Design With Floating Tab Bar

iOS 19 is expected to introduce a new design that looks more like the visionOS operating system on the Apple Vision Pro headset.


According to Front Page Tech's Jon Prosser, iOS 19 will have a glass-like appearance, with added translucency for menus, buttons, and other user interface elements. He also expects rounder app icons, and a new floating tab bar in Apple apps.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also expects iOS 19 to have a visionOS-like design, and he believes the design changes will be the biggest since iOS 7.

End-to-End Encryption for RCS

Last month, Apple said that it plans to add support for end-to-end encrypted RCS messages to the Messages app in future iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS software updates. That likely means iOS 19, macOS 16, and other corresponding updates.


Apple promising end-to-end encryption for RCS messages indirectly confirms that it will be adopting the RCS Universal Profile 3.0 specification, which also includes several iMessage-like enhancements that were originally introduced in version 2.7 of the specification. iOS 18 supports RCS Universal Profile 2.4.

Here are five new capabilities to expect for RCS conversations on iOS 19:

• End-to-end encryption, which will prevent Apple and any other third party from being able to read messages and attachments while they are being sent between devices


• In-line replies


• Edit messages


• Unsend messages


• Full-fledged Tapback support for RCS messages, ensuring they always work

iMessage conversations with blue bubbles have supported end-to-end encryption by default since iOS 5. In addition, iMessage has supported in-line replies since iOS 14, while the options to edit and unsend iMessages were introduced with iOS 16.

Apple has not indicated which iOS version will upgrade RCS, but iOS 19 or a follow-up update like iOS 19.1 or iOS 19.2 seems like a safe bet.

Live Translate With AirPods

At least some AirPods models will be getting a new live translation feature with iOS 19 and an accompanying firmware update, according to Gurman.


Here is how that feature will work, according to his report last month:

The capability will work like this: If an English speaker is hearing someone talk in Spanish, the iPhone will translate the speech and relay it to the user's AirPods in English. The English speaker's words, meanwhile, will be translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone.

Google already offers a similar Live Translate feature.

He also said iOS 19 will have bolstered translation capabilities, which likely means improvements are coming to the Apple Translate app.

Revamped Health App With Coaching Feature

A revamped Health app is expected to debut as early as iOS 19.4 next year.


Apple plans to offer a new AI-powered health coaching feature that offers personalized health recommendations, according to Gurman. The information provided by the coaching feature would be accompanied by videos from health experts that inform users about various health conditions and ways to make lifestyle improvements. For example, if the Apple Watch tracks poor heart-rate trends, a video could explain the risks of heart disease.

Food tracking will be another big part of the revamped Health app, which could compete with the MyFitnessPal app, according to Gurman.

Personalized Siri

Apple recently delayed the more personalized version of Siri that it previewed at WWDC last year. The company said it anticipates rolling out the Siri upgrades at some point "in the coming year," so the features could launch as part of iOS 19 later this year, although they could also arrive as part of a later update, such as iOS 19.1 through iOS 19.4.


Whenever they launch, the Siri upgrades will include understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, during its WWDC 2024 keynote, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

The more personalized Siri features will require an iPhone model that supports Apple Intelligence, so you will need an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPhone 17 model launching later this year.

EU Changes

The European Commission last month announced a long list of changes that Apple is legally required to implement in future iOS 19 and iOS 20 updates.


The announcement clarifies interoperability requirements that Apple is required to adhere to in the EU, under the Digital Markets Act, which has been fully enforced since March 2024. The changes will further open up the iPhone and its technologies to competing companies and devices, and Apple is not happy about it.

Here are some of the key requirements:

• Third-party smartwatches must be able to display and interact with iOS notifications by the end of 2025, which likely means iOS 19.2 or earlier.


• Apple must make its automatic audio switching feature available to third-party headphones by June 1, 2026, which likely means iOS 19.4 or earlier. This is the feature that allows most AirPods and select Beats to automatically switch connection between Apple devices, such as a Mac and an iPhone.


• Apple must make changes to iOS that allow for third parties to offer equivalent AirDrop alternatives by June 1, 2026.


• Apple must make changes to iOS that allow for third parties to offer equivalent AirPlay alternatives by iOS 20, or the end of 2026. iOS 20 is expected to be released to the general public in September 2026.

The entire list of changes can be found on the European Commission's website.

Compatibility

According to a reliable source of iOS-related information, iOS 19 will be compatible with the iPhone 11 series and newer.

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Read our iOS 19 roundup for more details about the upcoming software update.
This article, "iOS 19 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Control Center has experienced a lot of changes since iOS 18 launched last fall, including a handful of additions in the recent iOS 18.4 update. But there’s one new feature that quickly became my go-to, and it’s consistently been my most used Control Center toggle ever since.

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