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  • What’s new in iOS 15 beta 3? Major Safari UI improvements, updated Music widget & more

    What’s new in iOS 15 beta 3? Major Safari UI improvements, updated Music widget & more

    The news: Apple released the third developer beta of iOS 15 on Wednesday morning following a medium-sized beta 2 about 3 weeks ago.

    What’s new?

    • Safari UI improvements include a new reload button and the search bar now remains consistent on the bottom of your display
    • New icons in Focus settings and a new Focus Status explainer
    • New ‘Prepare for New iPhone’ section and what you see when tapped
    • Updated Music widget shows now playing colors instead of just the Music app icon colors
    • When swiping on notifications, the two options are now individual buttons
    • New ‘+’ button on the top of Find My tabs
    • New App Store splash screen
  • iPhone 13 to include improved optical zoom among other video improvements

    iPhone 13 to include improved optical zoom among other video improvements

    The rumor: The 2021 iPhone will boast more expansive video capabilities, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • Gurman says “more advanced video recording features” like upgraded optical zoom will be packaged as part fo the overall camera upgrades
    • Other rumors have suggested that Portrait Mode for video will finally debut on this year’s handsets

    Our take: I’ve wanted to see better optical zoom on iPhone for years…even though it doesn’t sound like this will be the major pericope zoom upgrade rumored for 2023.

  • Gurman: Smaller notch on iPhone 13, even smaller cutout in 2022

    Gurman: Smaller notch on iPhone 13, even smaller cutout in 2022

    The rumor: Apple is planning to (finally) shrink the notch on the new iPhones coming later this year, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    Our take: A smaller notch this year is something we’ve heard over and over again, but only Ming-Chi Kuo (76.6% accurate) has said that an even smaller cutout is happening next year. No mention of hole-punch, specifically, from Gurman though…

  • Gurman: No Touch ID on iPhone 13

    Gurman: No Touch ID on iPhone 13

    The rumor: Face ID will remain the defacto biometric system on this year’s new iPhones, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “The company has tested an in-display fingerprint scanner for this year’s devices, however that feature will likely not appear on this generation” Gurman says
    • Previous rumors suggested that Touch ID would be making a comeback on the 2021 iPhones, allowing for Face ID + Touch ID dual-authentication

    Our take: Super disappointing to hear that in-display Touch ID will, yet again, not make the cut this year. Seems like the main (and only) incentive to go Pro will be the 120Hz display…

  • Apple developing ‘Apple Pay Later’ service to pay for products over time…without Apple Card

    Apple developing ‘Apple Pay Later’ service to pay for products over time…without Apple Card

    The rumor: Apple is working on a new service called “Apple Pay Later” that allows you to pay for nay Apple Pay purchase over time, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “The service is currently planned to work as follows: When a user makes a purchase via Apple Pay on their Apple device, they will have the option to pay for it either across four interest-free payments made every two weeks, or across several months with interest, one of the people said. The plan with four payments is called ‘Apple Pay in 4’ internally, while the longer-term payment plans are dubbed ‘Apple Pay Monthly Installments.’”
    • The interest rates for payments across several months aren’t currently known
    • No release date has been set for the upcoming feature just yet

    Our take: This is a pretty big move…the ability to pay later for any purchase made with Apple Pay. Even more surprising is that this is separate from Apple Card, and will be more broadly available to Apple Pay users. With no interest for two months on most purchases, there’s almost no reason not to pay for your stuff over time.

  • Apple releases new colors for leather AirTag accessories

    Apple releases new colors for leather AirTag accessories

    The news: Just months after the launch of AirTag, Apple has introduced a slew of new colors for their Leather Loop and Key Ring accessories.

    • The Leather Loop adds Baltic Blue, California Poppy and Forest Green to the existing Saddle Brown and (PRODUCT)RED colors
    • Leather Key Ring gets California Poppy and Forest Green on top of the already released Baltic Blue, Saddle Brown and (PRODUCT)RED options
    • The products are available for $39 and $35 respectively at apple.com

    Our take: Is California Poppy the best-looking color ever? Very possibly. Some nice color upgrades for the best AirTag accessories today, but the rumored magnetic key ring accessory is still MIA…

  • Apple releases all-new MagSafe Battery Pack for $99

    Apple releases all-new MagSafe Battery Pack for $99

    The news: Apple just released a new MagSafe-enabled battery pack that attaches directly to the backs of iPhone 12 models.

    • Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack features a total of 2920mAh of juice inside and requires iOS 14.7, which should be launching soon, to work properly
    • The product is available in white only for $99 on apple.com

    Our take: This is a wonderful idea and is an instant-cop for me. These are the type of wildly cool MagSafe accessories that I want to see!

    Update: As noted by Andru Edwards, there are actually two 1460mAh batteries inside the pack, not just one as we previously reported.

  • Exclusive: Next Apple Silicon MacBook Pros may be limited to 32GB of RAM

    Exclusive: Next Apple Silicon MacBook Pros may be limited to 32GB of RAM

    The exclusive: New information seems to cast doubt on the existence of 64GB RAM options for the upcoming MacBook Pro models, a ‘downgrade’ compared to current configuration options for Intel models, AppleTrack has learned.

    • 16GB of RAM will be standard on the 16-inch MacBook Pro as it is now, but we believe there may not be a 64GB RAM option as has been suggested by other sources
    • Apple allows current 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by Intel to be configured with 16, 32, or 64GB of RAM

    Luke Miani’s take: This is a weird one folks. It seems odd that Apple would remove the option to upgrade to 64GB of RAM, and other sources have suggested that the option will remain…but the information we have received and verified indicates that 16 and 32GB will be the only options for the new machines. While this may disappoint some, I have to wonder if low demand for the more expensive $800 option for 64GB RAM contributed to Apple’s decision making here.

  • Another report says LiDAR remaining exclusive to iPhone 13 Pro models

    Another report says LiDAR remaining exclusive to iPhone 13 Pro models

    The rumor: Only Pro iPhones in 2021 will feature the LiDAR sensor, according to dylandkt (81.3% accurate).

    • Only iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max will include the LiDAR sensor, which makes augmented reality tasks significantly more accurate and assists with focus in low-light
    • A previous report from January suggested LiDAR would make its way to all 2021 iPhones

    Our take: Frankly, I don’t think non-Pro users are missing out on much of anything here. The LiDAR sensor is nice, but it is by no means a significant feature in its current state.

    https://twitter.com/dylandkt/status/1414338686314074116?s=20
  • Exclusive: Upcoming MacBook Pros to feature upgraded UHS-II SD card slot

    Exclusive: Upcoming MacBook Pros to feature upgraded UHS-II SD card slot

    The exclusive: The next MacBook Pro models will feature UHS-II SD card readers, AppleTrack has learned from a trusted source.

    Luke Miani’s take: Adding UHS-II to the MacBook Pro will be a huge upgrade to video editors and photographers – you know, the people who really want SD card slots! It’s been great to hear in multiple reports that the SD Card slot is making a comeback, but to have this additional high-speed capability is great news. 

  • Gurman: Larger, redesigned iMac will likely feature M1X or M2X chip

    Gurman: Larger, redesigned iMac will likely feature M1X or M2X chip

    The rumor: Apple is planning a more powerful chip for the iMac to replace the current 27-inch model, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • The new, larger iMac is still coming…but Gurman is not sure exactly when this product will be dropping
    • As for the processor inside, “it likely will be an M1X, the beefier version of the current M1, or an M2X”

    Our take: While I was really hopeful for a 2021 release on the larger iMac, I think it’ll probably come sometime in the first half of next year. Don’t worry though, as the M1X MacBook Pro is still on track to release in Fall.