Today is Independence Day in the United States, and many Americans will be gathering to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with friends and family. If you are headed to a backyard BBQ, we have a fun iPhone party trick to share with you.


If you have a compatible iPhone model with a LiDAR Scanner (see the list below), you can measure a person's height in Apple's built-in Measure app.

Steps

1. Open the Measure app.


2. Make sure the person is visible on your iPhone's screen from head to toe.


3. Wait a moment, and a line should appear at the top of the person's head with their height measurement.


4. To take a photo of the measurement, tap the shutter button (white circle in the bottom-right corner).

You can save and share the photo of the person with their height measurement if you prefer.

Tips

• The app measures a person's height from the ground to the top of their head or hair. However, if the person is wearing a hat, the height measurement will be from the ground to the top of the hat.


• You can also measure a person's seated height.


• You can switch between imperial (feet and inches) and metric (centimeters) in the Settings app under Measure → Measure Units.

Compatible iPhones

The feature requires an iPhone model with a LiDAR Scanner:

• iPhone 12 Pro


• iPhone 12 Pro Max


• iPhone 13 Pro


• iPhone 13 Pro Max


• iPhone 14 Pro


• iPhone 14 Pro Max


• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max

The feature is not available on any other iPhone models.
This article, "Try This Fourth of July Party Trick on Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has announced that it will share earnings results for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year on Thursday, July 31. Apple's earnings reports are typically released at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, shortly after the stock market has closed in New York.


Apple's CEO Tim Cook and CFO Kevan Parekh will discuss the results on a live-streamed conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time that day. While the call is primarily intended for Apple shareholders and Wall Street analysts, anyone can listen live for free on Apple's Investor Relations website, with no registration required.

The call should last around one hour. Cook and Parekh will read their prepared remarks, and then they will take questions from analysts.

If you miss the call, a recording will be available for replay on the page later in the day.

Apple's fiscal third quarter ran from March 30 through June 28. Apple did not launch any new devices during that period, but it did release a few accessories, such as a new Pride Edition band for the Apple Watch and Beats charging cables. Apple also held its annual developers conference WWDC from June 9 through June 13.

Analysts may press Apple about tariffs, as well as intensifying regulatory scrutiny that Apple is facing in many regions, including the U.S. and Europe.
This article, "Here's How to Listen to Apple's Upcoming Earnings Call With Tim Cook" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple in recent years has considered competing with Amazon Web Services (AWS), according to The Information's Aaron Tilley.


In a paywalled report today, Tilley said that Apple was actively discussing the idea into the first half of 2024, but he does not know whether the talks have continued. A supposed key backer of the idea, Michael Abbott, left Apple in 2023.

Apple's potential cloud service would allow developers to rent servers powered by the M-series chips used in Macs. A service like this allows developers to power cloud-based app features without purchasing and maintaining their own servers.

According to the report, some Apple executives believed that the power efficiency of M-series chips would make its cloud service more affordable for developers compared to AWS and other similar platforms. This belief is apparently backed by Apple's own use of the servers for the likes of Apple Music and Apple Wallet.

If such a service were ever to launch, perhaps it would have iCloud branding, and it would help to boost Apple's services revenue.
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AppleInsider's Marko Zivkovic today shared a list of alleged identifiers for future Mac models, which should roll out over the next year or so.


The report does not reveal anything too surprising, but it does serve as further evidence that Apple is seemingly working on new models of every Mac, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.

Apple is expected to release new MacBook Pro models with M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips later this year. Just like in 2024, the report suggests that updated Mac mini and iMac models with M5 chips could launch at the same time.

The next MacBook Air and Mac Studio models are expected to launch next year, and an updated Mac Pro desktop tower allegedly remains in development, but it is not entirely clear if it will be released later this year or next year.

No major design changes have been rumored for any of Apple's next Macs. Later next year, though, the MacBook Pro models with the M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max chips are expected to feature OLED displays and a thinner design.

The chart below provides a summary of the identifiers, and the upcoming Mac models that they may correspond with, according to AppleInsider.

Identifier	Potential Model
J873s	Mac mini (M5 Pro)
J833ct	iMac (M5)
J714c	14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max)
J714s	14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)
J716c	16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max)
J716s	16-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro)
J775c	Mac Studio
J775d	Mac Studio
J813	15-inch MacBook Air (M5)
J815	13-inch MacBook Air (M5)
K114c	14-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Max)
K114s	14-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Pro)
K116c	16-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Max)
K116s	16-inch MacBook Pro (M6 Pro)
J704	Mac Pro
J804	Mac Pro
J700	MacBook (A18 Pro)?

This article, "Apple's Upcoming Macs Listed in New Report" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Four more games were added to Apple Arcade today, including a new Angry Birds title.


Angry Birds Bounce is a new take on the iconic Angry Birds game, which has received more than a billion downloads over the years. The new edition combines classic Angry Birds slingshot gameplay with arcade-style brick-breaker mechanics.

Here is how Apple describes Angry Birds Bounce:

Join Red, Chuck, Bomb, and the rest of the gang on a brand-new adventure. Angry Birds Bounce combines the classic charm of Angry Birds with an innovative arcade brick-breaker twist. When the pigs take over their islands, the birds must bounce back — literally — combining into powerful flocks and launching themselves to defeat an army of piggies and reclaim their home. With strategic rogue-lite gameplay, each level is a new challenge where players will master precision shots, unlock exciting power-ups, and build unique combos during each run.

The other three games added to Apple Arcade today:

• Kingdom Rush 5: Alliance TD+


• Suika Game+


• Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets+

More details about those games were outlined in Apple's announcement last month.

Apple Arcade is a subscription service that provides access to hundreds of games across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. All of the games are free of ads and in-app purchases. In the U.S., Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month, and it is bundled with other Apple services in all Apple One plans.

Apple Arcade can be accessed through the App Store and the new Apple Games app.
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Apple has announced that it will be opening an all-new store at the Grand Front shopping complex in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday, July 26.


To celebrate the occasion, Apple has shared a wallpaper for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

This will be Apple's first store in Umeda, a busy mixed-use district of Osaka with two major train stations, shops, restaurants, and more.

Apple has another store in Osaka, in the Shinsaibashi district.
This article, "Apple Celebrates All-New Store With iPhone, iPad, and Mac Wallpaper" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support.


In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you send text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable. This feature will work without an iPhone, he said.

Gurman also expects the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to support a special version of 5G for smartwatches. The existing Ultra models support LTE.

Last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 received a black titanium case option, but otherwise the Ultra model has not received any hardware upgrades since 2023.

Other likely upgrades for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 include an S10 chip or newer, faster charging, and a wide-angle OLED display that is brighter when viewed from an angle and offers a higher refresh rate for the always-on display mode. All of these improvements were already introduced on the Apple Watch Series 10 last year.

In March, Gurman said Apple was still experiencing issues with a planned blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch, so it is unclear if that will be ready in time for the Ultra 3, which should launch in a little over two months from now.


This article, "Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects an all-new, more-affordable MacBook model powered by an iPhone chip to launch next year.


Below, we recap rumors and other possibilities for this new MacBook.

Chip

The new MacBook will be equipped with the A18 Pro chip, according to Kuo. If so, it would be the first Mac to ever use an A-series chip from an iPhone. (In 2020, Apple did briefly offer developers a Mac mini with the iPad Pro's A12Z chip, to help them prepare for the Mac's transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon).

Introduced in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max last year, the A18 Pro chip has a 6-core CPU, a 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

Unsurprisingly, the A18 Pro chip is around 40% slower than Apple's latest M4 chip. As noted by Jason Snell on Six Colors, however, the chip's multi-core CPU performance is nearly identical to the M1 chip in the 2020 MacBook Air, and the A18 Pro chip even outperforms the M1 chip for graphics. That matters for pricing — see below.

Pricing

Kuo said the new MacBook will be a "more-affordable" model, but he did not provide an exact price point. The current 13-inch MacBook Air starts at $999 in the U.S., so the new MacBook would likely have a starting price of between $699 and $899.

As mentioned above, the A18 Pro chip's performance is similar to the M1 chip in the 2020 MacBook Air, which Apple still sells for $649 through Walmart. Given this MacBook Air model is nearly five years old, it will be discontinued at some point, and the MacBook with an A18 Pro chip could effectively be its replacement sold directly by Apple.

Specs

As noted by Stephen Hackett on 512 Pixels, the A18 Pro chip lacks Thunderbolt support, so the new MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports. They would look the same as Thunderbolt ports, but data transfer speeds would be limited to up to 10 Gb/s, and the new MacBook might natively support only a single external display.

iPhones with the A18 Pro chip have only 8GB of RAM, whereas all current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models start with at least 16GB of RAM.

No other specs have been reported yet, but obviously a lower-priced MacBook will have other limitations compared to MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.

Design

While this rumor may fuel hopes that Apple is planning to relaunch the discontinued 12-inch MacBook, Kuo said the new MacBook will be equipped with an approximately 13-inch display, matching the smaller MacBook Air.

Still, the new MacBook could have a lot in common with the old 12-inch MacBook in spirit, including an ultra-thin and lightweight design.

Kuo said potential color options for the new MacBook include silver, blue, pink, and yellow, so the laptop could come in bright and fun colors, like the iMac.

Release Date

While he did not provide an exact release date, Kuo expects the more-affordable MacBook to enter mass production towards the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, or early in the first quarter of 2026. He said that shipments of the new MacBook will begin at some point in 2026, so the laptop should be available at some point next year.

Ever since the Mac lineup transitioned from Intel processors to Apple silicon, it has felt somewhat inevitable that Apple would relaunch its plain "MacBook" model. Arm architecture paves the way for an iPhone chip to be used in a Mac, and Apple no longer has to worry about the power efficiency constraints of Intel processors, allowing for the return of a super compact, ultra-thin, and lightweight MacBook for everyday customers.
This article, "What to Expect From Apple's Rumored New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The first MacBook Pro models with OLED displays are still expected to launch next year.


Omdia analyst Linda Lin reiterated the 2026 timeframe for the first MacBook models with OLED displays in a recent research note. While she did not mention the MacBook Pro specifically, it is widely expected that OLED displays will debut in the higher-end MacBook Pro models before the lower-end MacBook Air models.

When the MacBook Pro switches from mini-LED to OLED display technology, benefits will include increased brightness, higher contrast ratio with deeper blacks, improved power efficiency for longer battery life, and more.

Overall, the MacBook Pro is expected to receive its first major redesign since 2021 next year, with rumored changes including an OLED display and a thinner design. Apple will also be on to the M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max chips by then.

In December 2024, Omdia intriguingly claimed that next year's MacBook Pro models will have a hole-punch camera at the top of the screen, instead of a notch. It is unclear if this rumor was accurate, or if that change remains on Apple's roadmap.

If you are considering purchasing a new MacBook Pro, it might be best to hold off until next year if you are able to wait. Apple will likely update the MacBook Pro line with the M5 series of chips later this year, but not much is expected beyond that spec bump. The more significant changes mentioned above should arrive by October 2026.
This article, "MacBook Pro With OLED Display Expected Next Year — Without a Notch?" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design.


The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a complete circle, but the new layout has an opening in it.


Majin Bu and Sonny Dickson said the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models will be positioned lower than it is on current iPhone models, as a result of a much larger camera bump, and the new MagSafe design would ensure that the logo remains fully visible when these devices are covered by an updated MagSafe case.

iPhone case manufacturing sources told Majin Bu that existing MagSafe accessories will remain compatible with the iPhone 17 Pro models, so it appears that this change would be purely aesthetic, with no functional improvement. However, it has been separately rumored that the iPhone 17 Pro models could offer at least slightly faster MagSafe charging speeds than previous models with a future version of Apple's MagSafe Charger.
This article, "iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads.


As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already connected to the hotel's network.

A captive Wi-Fi network is the type that requires you to fill out a web form before gaining access. They are commonly found at hotels, gyms, coffee shops, airports, and some other public places. With this new feature, which likely extends to macOS 26 too, it will be quicker and easier to connect multiple Apple devices to these networks.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to report that Apple was planning this feature, which was not mentioned during the WWDC 2025 keynote last month. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris later discovered references to it within the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta. It was believed that the feature was not functional yet, but evidently it is. According to an earlier post, it seems that Weinbach had installed the second iOS 26 developer beta.

iOS 26 will likely be released in September, bringing this handy option to the masses.


This article, "iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles.


There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below.

CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot afford a $250,000 luxury vehicle, the software system will eventually be available in more affordable vehicles.


Apple said "many" other automakers around the world plan to offer CarPlay Ultra over the next year and beyond, including Korean brands Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.

Earlier this week, Porsche also reaffirmed its commitment to CarPlay Ultra.

Apple first previewed the next generation ‌of CarPlay‌ all the way back at WWDC 2022, and at the time it shared a long list of automakers that were committed to offering the software system. The list is more than three years old, and it is not entirely accurate anymore.

The list was as follows:

• Acura


• Audi


• Ford


• Honda


• Infiniti


• Jaguar


• Land Rover


• Lincoln


• Mercedes-Benz


• Nissan


• Polestar


• Porsche


• Renault


• Volvo

According to a report this week from the Financial Times, there are at least five automakers on that list that have since confirmed that they have no plans to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, Renault, and Volvo.

All in all, here is where things stand currently.

Currently Offers CarPlay Ultra

• Aston Martin

Will Offer CarPlay Ultra

• Hyundai


• Kia


• Genesis


• Porsche

Won't Offer CarPlay Ultra

• Audi


• BMW


• Mercedes-Benz


• Polestar


• Renault


• Volvo

General Motors controversially ditched the regular version of CarPlay in its new electric vehicles, so it is likely to pass on CarPlay Ultra too. That means vehicles from brands like Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC are unlikely to offer CarPlay Ultra.

Maybe

• Honda


• Acura


• Ford


• Lincoln


• Nissan


• Infiniti


• Jaguar


• Land Rover

Unknown

• Toyota


• Lexus


• Chrysler


• Dodge


• Jeep


• RAM


• Volkswagen

This article, "Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple really wants you to know that F1: The Movie is now playing in theaters everywhere.


The company has promoted its Brad Pitt racing film with advertisements across at least six iPhone apps leading up to today's wide release, including the App Store, Apple Wallet, Apple Sports, Apple Podcasts, iTunes Store, and of course the Apple TV app.

While it is fair game for Apple to promote the film in most of those apps, many iPhone users were unhappy about Apple's Wallet app notification promoting a discounted ticket offer. As noted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber, Apple has effectively convinced us to move the contents of our physical wallets to the iPhone, and now Apple has turned around and used the app as an advertising mechanism without permission.


As for the Apple Sports app, Apple's services chief Eddy Cue said that the company created the app to "give sports fans what they want," with a focus on simplicity. The last thing that most sports fans want to see is even more ads.


Based on early box office results and positive reviews, it looks like F1: The Movie has the potential to be a summer blockbuster, and likely Apple's most successful film ever. Apple has a hit on its hands, but it has seemingly gone a step or two too far with pushing the film on its customers. Hopefully, this is not the new norm.
This article, "F1 Movie Now Out, In Case You Missed Apple's Ads All Over Your iPhone" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The next iPad Pro models could have even thinner bezels around the screen.


In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital claimed that the bezels on future iPad Pro models could be as thin as those on Samsung's Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra tablet, although they said the iPad Pro will not have a notch.

Instant Digital has more than 1.4 million followers on Weibo, and the account has accurately leaked Apple information before, such as the Yellow finish for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2's Titanium Milanese Loop. However, like most sources, the account does not have a perfect track record.

Earlier this week, we covered a report that said Apple is considering using LG's chip-on-film (CoF) technology for future iPad Pro displays. This would allow for display drivers to be positioned closer to the screen, which could allow for thinner bezels.


The bezels on the latest iPad Pro models with the M4 chip are already slightly thinner compared to the previous-generation models with the M2 chip, but it is believed that the reduction would be even more significant on the next iPad Pro models.

Instant Digital did hedge their claim by saying that the ultra-thin bezels might not necessarily be ready in time for the next iPad Pro models.

Last year, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPad Pro models with an M5 chip would enter mass production in the second half of 2025. The current iPad Pro models with the M4 chip launched in May 2024, and Apple typically updates the iPad Pro on a roughly 18-month cycle, so the next models could be released in September or October this year.
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The upcoming iPhone 17 base model will feature a larger display than the iPhone 16 base model, according to the latest rumor out of China.


In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Digital Chat Station claimed that the lowest-end iPhone 17 model will be equipped with a 6.3-inch display, up from a 6.1-inch display on the equivalent iPhone 16 model.

Digital Chat Station has more than three million followers on Weibo, and the account has accurately leaked Apple information in the past.

Last month, Counterpoint Research VP Ross Young also said that the iPhone 17 base model will be equipped with a 6.3-inch display.

Young expects these screen sizes for the iPhone 17 series:

• iPhone 17: 6.3-inch display


• iPhone 17 Air: 6.6-inch display


• iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display


• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch display

Beyond the larger display, the base iPhone 17 is shaping up to be a minor upgrade over the base iPhone 16, according to rumors. Both devices are expected to have the same overall design, the same A18 chip, and an equal 8GB of RAM. Key new features that are rumored for the lowest-end iPhone 17 include up to a 120Hz display and a 24-megapixel front camera, compared to 60Hz and a 12-megapixel front camera on the iPhone 16.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series in September.
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Apple today opened its latest retail store at Forrest Place, a pedestrianized area in the heart of Perth, the largest city in Western Australia.


The new store is in a historic building originally built for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, at the corner of Forrest Place and Murray Street.

"Our team meticulously restored and mended heritage fabric throughout the building, including the marble tiling, ceilings, and plaster columns, to create a truly unique space for customers to shop," said Apple's retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, in an interview about the store with Perth's local newspaper The West Australian.

Apple's nearby Hay Street store permanently closed a few days ago, after 15 years of business.

The new store is larger and more modern than the original location, and the heritage building that it resides in makes it a so-called "flagship" location.

In a first for Australia, the store has an Apple Pickup station for collecting online orders.
This article, "New Apple Store in Australia Now Open Inside a Historic Bank Building" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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