This week on the iMore Show, Luke and Karen are joined by Bryan M Wolfe, and they discuss the release of the new M2 MacBook Air, the public betas of the upcoming software, and Apple's impressive 52 Emmy nominations.

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• MacBook Air (M2, 2022) review: all-new, all great | iMore
• iPhone 15 Pro Max to get major camera zoom upgrade, says insider | iMore
• iPhone 14 enters trial production ahead of August mass production | iMore
• Apple "likely winner" of NFL deal estimated to cost $3 billion and the UEFA Champions League is their next target, says report | iMore
• Jony Ive no longer works at Apple — for realsies this time | iMore
• Emmy Award nominations: Apple TV+ scores record-breaking 52 including 20 for Ted Lasso | iMore

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The M2-based MacBook Air is now available to preorder! We're slow on news but heavy on rumors as we look towards iPhone 14, a more rugged Apple Watch, and more.

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• iPhone 14 expected to be a disappointing downgrade from iPhone 14 Pro for this reason | iMore
• Apple Watch Series 8 could get the biggest screen Apple ever put on a wrist | iMore
• Here's more proof Apple is focusing on the iPhone 14 Pro this year | iMore
• M2 MacBook Air preorders begin July 8, release date set for July 15 | iMore
• iMac Pro comeback might sport M3 chips but don't expect it any time soon | iMore
• Apple Watch Series 7 takes a beating in new ad | iMore
• Mountain of new Apple products leaked in software code, but are they real? | iMore
• Your Apple Watch Series 8 might not get a rumored improvement after all | iMore
• iOS 16 finally brings us one of the most iconic iPhone wallpapers of all time | iMore
• Apple will pay you $2 million if you can break its new 'Lockdown Mode' | iMore
• Apple Watch 'Extreme Sports' edition to feature larger display and battery | iMore

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Summer is officially here, and we're already more than halfway through 2022! Time is just flying by, and it's pretty crazy that we're already just a few months away from the fall now. Yup, Halloween and iPhone season are almost upon us, so let's dive in.

Apple may be focusing more on the iPhone 14 Pro instead of the iPhone 14

When I say iPhone season is almost here, it's the truth. And that also means a flurry of new rumors and reports about the upcoming next best iPhone swirling about.

One of the biggest pieces of news this past week is that Apple may only be bringing the A16 chip to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models this year. That means the regular iPhone 14, and supposedly the iPhone 14 Max, will still be using the A15 chip that came with the iPhone 13 lineup. So those who were hoping to get the latest chip this year will likely have to opt for the Pro series, though the A15 is not at all slow for most users.

I think this is going to be an interesting turn for Apple, as it has never split up the chips used in the "regular" device versus the Pro models. However, this could be beneficial for users, because again, the A15 is not slow by any means, and this would help keep the cost of the base iPhone 14 lower than the Pro model. And with other rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro devices may have a 48-megapixel camera, it would make sense for Apple to only put the A16 Bionic in the high-end iPhones, which may require extra processing power. But that may also lead to price increases, in addition to other factors like continuing supply chain issues. Apple does seem like it is focusing more on the iPhone 14 Pro models versus the entry-level versions, which may make the standard iPhone 14 a disappointing upgrade for some. We'll find out for sure in a few months, though.

And if you're hoping that using two different chips is just a temporary change, you might be out of luck. It seems more likely that Apple will continue using the newer chip for the higher-end Pro models, and this is just the start.

The Apple Watch could be getting even bigger, but not for the main lineup

A report from the July 4 weekend seemed to indicate that the Apple Watch Series 8 could be coming in a third size, on top of the 41mm and 45mm that already exists. However, that report seems to have been quickly extinguished, as it seems that the larger size is going to be for a brand new Apple Watch variant.

Perhaps it's just because I have small wrists, but I usually go for the smaller Apple Watch sizes anyway. I'd rather not have something too large and bulky on my wrist, especially when it's the current shape and form of the Apple Watch. But I also think that if the Series 8 came in three sizes, it would just make it harder for people to choose, at least not without seeing them in person. I think a larger display would work best for those who have trouble seeing the small screen on the wrist, or those who are frequently outside or in "rugged" conditions. But for most people, the sizes for the Apple Watch Series 7 and Apple Watch SE are just fine and help keep the choices streamlined. A third Apple Watch model for the largest display would be good for those who may need it. Of course, then it just gets more complicated when someone asks you what the best Apple Watch is.

Take care of yourself and find some distractions

It's been a somewhat slow week for Apple, and honestly, it's been a bit rough for a lot of us mentally, with everything that's been going on in the world. Sometimes, it's just hard to focus on just the tech stuff, truth be told. I just want to remind you all that you should definitely take some time to take care of yourself, whether that's just turning off the social media for a day or week or whatever, and just find something else to distract yourself with.

For me, after a long hiatus from my Nintendo Switch, I've dived back into Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, which just came out, and am having a blast. Of course, after not playing for almost a year, I've had to re-learn how to play, but it's keeping my mind off current events when I need a break.

Until next time,

- Christine Romero-Chan

Today on the iMore Show, Luke, Karen, and Stephen are joined by special guest Rene Ritchie to talk about the history of the iMore Show as they celebrate over 800 episodes. Plus, there are a few interesting rumors to discuss!

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• Two big Apple TV upgrades could make it a future gaming powerhouse | iMore
• Apple's HomePod could get an iPhone feature you use every day | iMore
• Five more M2-powered Macs are in the works, says well-connected journo | iMore
• Rugged Apple Watch, new SE again rumored for 2022 release with Apple Watch Series 8 | iMore
• Some M2 13-inch MacBook Pros have far slower SSDs than others | iMore
• Huge Apple TV promotion now live ahead of major upgrade | iMore

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Amazingly, it's July, and we're only two months away until Apple's likely to announce new iPhones, iPad Pros, and more. Until then, there'll be much to keep us busy, including more chatter about Cupertino's latest software updates, including iOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura, and the upcoming official arrival of the next version of Apple's most popular Mac.

The countdown is on

In September, Apple typically announces new versions of its most popular product, the iPhone. Although we're not likely to see a new iPhone mini this year, Apple is still expected to reveal four new handsets this fall, just as it has in recent years. This time, we're likely to see an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Those names are just rumors, however. According to the latest reports, September 13 is the most likely date for this year's iPhone reveal.

Public betas ... incoming

Apple has now released two developer betas for macOS 13 Ventura, iOS 16, iPadOS 16, tvOS 16, and watchOS 9. Following the release of the third set, the first public betas should be incoming. These should be arriving the week of July 4 or July 11 at the latest. So sign up today to join the Apple Beta Software Program.

Something's in the Air

The latest 13-inch MacBook Pro is now available to purchase and in the coming days, the 2022 MacBook Air should join it on virtual store shelves. Announced on June 6, the latest MacBook Air is a significant update. It offers a larger display, flat-body design, MagSafe, two new colors, and much more. Already considered the best MacBook for most people, the 13.6-inch MacBook Air is likely to be in short supply when it goes on sale in a few days. Get those Apple Cards ready, folks.

Prime Day

This year's Amazon Prime Day event is scheduled for July 12-13. Already, we've uncovered a few Apple-related deals in the lead-up to the event. We're also hearing rumblings that Amazon is expected to hold another Prime Day event this fall, news that's frustrating some sellers. No worries, we'll cover both events so you don't have to, and let you know whenever great deals pop up, especially those relating to Apple products.

Odds and ends

It's summertime, but that doesn't mean the last few days have been quiet on the Apple front. The more exciting news items include:

• It seems Apple TV+ now offers the highest-rated content across all streaming platforms. Count me as one of the Apple TV+ skeptics when the service went live in November 2019. I never doubted Apple would introduce terrific content on the new service. However, I never expected there would be so much of it so soon. Can you think of one Apple TV+ title that arrived with mostly bad reviews? Are you like me and can't wait for Thursday nights to arrive when new episodes drop? Are you just waiting for the NFL to announce Apple TV+ will get to carry Sunday Night Ticket starting in '23?
• Let's play a game. How long do you think the 13-inch MacBook Pro will stick around? The latest model only just launched, but it's already one I highly recommend you don't buy despite its pretty good reviews. Moreover, this Mac has little in common with the 2022 MacBook Air and the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. And yet, here it is. My prediction: Apple will quietly pull the 13-inch MacBook Pro from the market before spring arrives next year — or at least until it exhausts its Touch Bar components.
• Finally, big news on the iMore front. In the past few weeks, we picked up a new editor-in-chief, Gerald Lynch, and saw Stephen Warwick receive a well-deserved promotion to iMore news editor. Lynch, who comes to us from Tech Radar, has some terrific new ideas for the site that will undoubtedly come to fruition in the coming weeks and months. I'm excited about the changes, and you will certainly be too, so stay tuned. With Warwick, you can expect more news headlines about the products you love — and those not yet released. He also has some terrific ideas for the site that he'll unwrap soon.

Thanks for reading,

Bryan

Now that the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak expansion is finally available to play, the new Malzeno amiibo has also reached store shelves. I got mine from the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Collector's Edition, which is sold exclusively by GameStop, and it's one of the most impressive and detailed amiibo figures to release thus far. Additionally, due to those tall wings and that long tail, it's super tall. In my whole collection, I only own one amiibo that's taller than it. This is one of the largest amiibo figurines Nintendo has produced.

Note: The Malzeno amiibo is in short supply in the U.S. This was also the case when the Palamute, Palico, and Maganamalo figures first released in 2021.

One of the biggest figurines to come out thus far

After pulling Malzeno out of the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Collector's Edition box, I was immediately impressed by its detail and the overall size, so I decided to compare Malzeno side-by-side with all 78 amiibo that I own. I was only able to find that one of my amiibo — Super Smash Bros Pit — was taller. Admittedly, my 78 figurines are only a drop in the bucket compared to the 210+ amiibo figures out there, but it's still larger than most. It's an official big boi.

There are some notable exceptions, but most of the amiibo figures Nintendo has made are between 2 to 3.5 inches in diameter. Some can be decently larger than average, and then there are some specialty amiibo that are much bigger. I measured my Malzeno at about 4.1 inches tall and 4.5 inches long at its widest length, making it a larger NFC collectible. Even the Magnamalo amiibo from the base Monster Hunter Rise game only measures 3.7 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, so it's shorter and slightly less lengthy than Malzeno.

I really can't get over how good this amiibo looks. Malzeno's menacing pose, along with all of the details in its scales and claws, make this one of the most impressive figures in my collection. If you're a Monster Hunter fan or an amiibo collector you'll definitely want to try to get one. Just note that they are in short supply, especially in the U.S., so that could prove to be difficult.

What is the biggest amiibo anyway?

In case you're curious, the title of biggest amiibo is held by three specialty collectibles. The absolute biggest is the Super Mario Cereal box, which has an NFC chip in its cardboard base. Meanwhile, the largest character amiibo is Mega Yarn Yoshi, which is like a small stuffed animal rather than a figurine, and measures at about 8.26 inches tall and 5.9 inches wide.

However, the largest amiibo figurine of all is the Detective Pikachu amiibo, which stands at 5.3 inches tall and 3.26 inches wide. So compared to these collectibles, Malzeno's 4.1-inch height seems a bit small.

I don't actually own the Mega Yarn Yoshi nor Detective Pikachu myself since I was late to the amiibo collecting game. Both of these collectibles are now rare and expensive amiibo, selling significantly more than their initial MSRP; Yoshi goes for over $200 while Detective Pikachu goes for $60 or higher. However, our own Nadine Dornieden owns the Mega Yarn Yoshi and was kind enough to include a size comparison against Magnamalo to show just how big this stuffed animal amiibo is. You can see it above.

Flagship monster amiibo

It might be hard to get ahold of, but the Malzeno amiibo is really one of the most impressive NFC figurines Nintendo has ever made. While not the biggest amiibo of all time, those large wings and tail help make it one of the larger amiibo out there. You'll want to make sure you have enough space to show it off in all its glory if you do decide to grab one.

The Apple TV has long languished as Apple's most-overlooked product. A serviceable smart box, it hits the right notes when it comes to pulling together iTunes movie purchases and streaming services. But it could be so much more, and gaming could be the key.

While the iPhone gets software overhauls and refreshed internals every year, Macs get Apple's own silicon to fuel their work days, and iPads get regular refreshes alongside handy Pencil and Magic Keyboard accessories, the Apple TV always feels like an afterthought. Take WWDC 2022, for instance: every other Apple platform got a giant software update showcase, while the tvOS platform that Apple TV is built upon didn't even get a mention.

For a little while there, the Apple TV looked to be rising on Apple's priority list. After a four-year gap between the 2017 and 2021 Apple TV 4K models, the 2021 edition saw a hefty upgrade that introduced the A12 Bionic processor, HDMI 2.1 support, and refresh rates of up to 60FPS. With Apple Arcade and Apple TV+ picking up steam at that point, it seemed like it was the Apple TV box's time to shine.

But the reality proved different. Even by 2021, the A12 Bionic was more than two years old and starting to show its age. More demanding Apple Arcade titles now have to scale down their performance profiles to meet the hardware's limitations, and new AAA titles like Diablo Immortal, as found on iPad and iPhone, fail to materialize in Apple TV form. Expanded controller support over Bluetooth helped give the illusion of a more console-like experience but relied on third-party hardware from the likes of Xbox and PlayStation. And the console's operating system software and storage capacities limited the potential of the box compared to what a modern gamer would expect, too — from cloud gaming and live streaming to the ability to store a larger chunk of the growing library of Arcade games on the Apple TV.

A new Apple TV in 2022?

But could change be on the horizon? According to noted Apple insider Mark Gurman, a new Apple TV is on the way, with a faster chip and more RAM, primed for gaming:

In his Power On newsletter, Gurman says, "The new Apple TV, code-named J255, is in development with an A14 chip and an additional gigabyte of RAM. That compares with the A12 chip announced as part of the 2021 Apple TV last year and could be useful for additional gaming capabilities rolling out in tvOS 16."

So what could this look like? While Apple may have been burned by its earlier home console attempt, 1996's Apple Pippin, the groundwork for a successful console has now been laid.

With Apple Arcade, Apple has established a vibrant and ever-growing library of unique and exclusive titles. Its all-you-can-eat, five-bucks-a-month proposition is at a pocket-money subscribe-and-forget subscription price point that encourages exploration by even the most casual gamer, and its multi-platform support is a crucial element that even Sony's recent PlayStation Plus revamp can't match. Whether you've got an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac, or an Apple TV box, you get the same access to all the same games, wherever you go, with robust cloud syncing across iCloud and Game Center.

It's not as if Apple has had any trouble attracting big-name name talent to Apple Arcade. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi brought his acclaimed Fantasian RPG exclusively to Apple Arcade. OutRun creator Yu Suzuki brought his reimagining of Space Harrier, Air Twister, exclusively to Apple Arcade just this month. Capcom re-imagined the Metroidvania for Apple Arcade with Shinsekai: Into the Depths, and brought Monster Hunter Stories to the service too. Will Wright, the creator of The Sims and the Steven Spielberg of game development, is bringing his next big game, Proxi, to Apple Arcade exclusively too.

It's the sort of talent that would make the gaming press sit up if it were tied to a PlayStation or Xbox. And the developers that work with Apple seem happy with the results too – one Apple Arcade developer who spoke to me (and wished to remain anonymous) said that, at least in the early days of Apple Arcade, Apple had been happy to throw money at left-field ideas they'd struggled to find funding for elsewhere. It's a similar sort of creative freedom (and deep pockets) that TV show creators are enjoying on Apple TV+.

The guts to game

All of this is what makes the hamstrung nature of the Apple TV box so frustrating. While there remains no worthy place for Apple Arcade in the living room in terms of hardware, those games will fail to meet the wider recognition they deserve, and gaming time will continue to be dominated by Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo. Keep in mind that such dominance from the 'big three' in gaming doesn't have to be guaranteed. Look to mobile (which perhaps surprisingly is actually the dominant platform among gamers in the U.S., according to YouGov), and the iPhone leads the pack.

The obvious temptation would be to fire up a new Apple TV box with an M2 chip inside. As evidenced by our 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chip review, Apple's latest silicon is a monster when it comes to graphics performance, and has the potential to be a very capable gaming option. With games like No Man's Sky and Resident Evil: Village showcased supporting the chip, that's home console power waiting to be unlocked. The problem there, of course, is that the M2 chip would come at a premium that the Apple TV's hardware pricing isn't currently designed to support. But even a jump to the iPhone's A15 bionic would be a significant step up, with enough power to drive Apple Arcade games to the fidelity and frame rates home console gamers now expect.

But it's not merely about power; it's about a commitment to a gaming ecosystem. The Apple TV needs improved gaming curation on its app store; Apple needs to commit to its own gaming accessories or buy up the likes of BackBone to do the job for them. Game Center needs sharing capabilities and integration with streaming platforms. And, in an ideal world, some investments in Mac gaming to include cloud streaming of AAA titles to the Apple TV box in the living room. A gamer can dream, right?

The groundwork is there, and the audience is proven and profitable. There's only so far Apple can push the Apple TV when it comes to streaming, but the sky's the limit when it comes to gaming.

My first Apple silicon product was the 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro. In a word, I found the device magical, thanks to its then-all-new M1 chip, which ushered in a new era for Mac. Fast forward about two years, and Apple has announced and released another 13-inch MacBook Pro. This model is nearly the same as its predecessor. However, this time it includes an M2 chip. Unfortunately, I can't recommend the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, despite the intense feelings I had for the early one. However, the reasons for my opinion seem to be getting stronger with each passing day.

Why you shouldn't buy a 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro

Recently, I published two comparison guides about the newest MacBook Pro. First, I looked at the differences between it and the yet-to-be-released 2022 MacBook Air, which also has M2 inside. Then, I quickly compared the 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 model.

Neither of these comparisons is particularly harsh concerning the 2022 13-inch MacBook. And yet, both guides point out key reasons why it should be avoided, despite its impressive 4 1/2 star rating. Some of the reasons include:

The 2022 MacBook Air is mostly better

The MacBook Air was never supposed to compete, feature-by-feature, with the MacBook Pro lineup. One didn't need to look at a spec sheet to see this; all you had to do was look at the price differences, which were significant in some instances.

However, this time around, the MacBook Air is much better than the 13-inch MacBook Pro thanks to its superior (and larger) display, updated design, the inclusion of MagSafe 3, and more. There are some areas where the Pro model does best the Air (Touch Bar, improved speakers, more battery life), but overall, most will find the Air much more helpful in their daily routine.

About that dated design

Even in 2020, the 13-inch MacBook Pro's design seemed dated. That's even more the case in 2022 after Apple revealed design updates for every other MacBook on the market, including the previously mentioned MacBook Air, plus the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro. Design, in this case, isn't just about how the laptop looks on the outside. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is also behind the other MacBook models in terms of the FaceTime HD camera quality (720p vs. 1080p), the aforementioned MagSafe charging port, and, in the case of the Pro models only, more storage and unified memory choices.

Storage speed

Recently, some reviewers have discovered slower SSD speeds at the entry-level (256GB) for the 2022 MacBook Pro versus the 2-year-old 2020. However, Rene Richie has concluded that this isn't the case with the 1TB and 2TB models.

Why the speed differences at the lower end? Apple isn't saying, although there probably wouldn't be an explanation that would make sense. A bigger shoe might drop once the 2022 MacBook Air is released to the public in a few weeks. Will this model's SSD speed also best those of the 13-inch MacBook Pro?

What is a "Pro" model?

Apple isn't the only technology company that throws around words in product titles like "Plus," "Max," and "Pro." These words always alert the consumer that product A is better than product B because of x, y, and z. I have noted the oddity of the 2022 MacBook Air at besting the 13-inch MacBook Pro on almost every point. However, it's also important to note the many differences between the newer 13-inch MacBook Pro and the older 14- and 16-inch models.

From the display and chip quality to the storage and memory availability, the number of available ports, and more, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has no business being placed next to the other two models. Sure, from a budgetary perspective, the $700 separating the least expensive 13-inch model from the least expensive 14-inch model is a big deal. But guess what? The better entry-level MacBook Air is $100 less than the least expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Here's perhaps a better idea. The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are identical except for their display sizes. For this, there's a $500 difference that separates both models. If Apple's committed to offering a 13-inch MacBook Pro, have future models be identical to next-gen 14- and 16-inch versions except for the display size — and nothing more. For this, charge $500 less than the least expensive 14-inch model. In other words, make the entry-level 2023 13-inch MacBook Pro $1,500, and call it a day. A better idea: Skip the 13-inch MacBook Pro altogether and let this size be exclusive to the MacBook Air.

Just a bad decision

I remain convinced the only reason the 13-inch MacBook Pro continues to exist is because of supply overages. It could also be that Apple expects significant supply restrains for the upcoming 2022 MacBook Air so it thought it wise to have at least one 13-inch MacBook in plentiful supply. Since 2020, Apple has done a great job at revamping its MacBook lineup thanks to the introduction of Apple silicon, so it can be forgiven for what it has done with the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It's still a head-turning move nonetheless.

What do you think? Should Apple have discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro, modify, or cancel it? Should it be one of the best MacBook Pros on the market?

WWDC has come and gone, and the tech world is now focused on what comes next. Of course, the back-to-school frenzy has already begun, especially at Apple, but a recent report has me looking toward 2023.

That's right, the long-rumored, highly-anticipated AR/VR headset from Apple may launch as early as January.

January seems soon...too soon

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suspects that the Apple headset may finally be launched in January 2023 of all times. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a product in Apple's history that got launched right at the beginning of a new year. Heck, in the tech world, January is typically a pretty slow news month in general — apart from CES.

That's the first part of this new report that has my eyebrows raised. Especially since I can't imagine Apple would launch their headset, which is a brand new product category for the company, without showcasing all of its abilities in a lengthy showcase. If January 2023 truly is the launch date, then it might mean that Apple has a special event planned for January. That would be a first (at least in recent memory) and would certainly be a cool way to kick off the new year.

Of course, the other option is that Apple just announces the product at its iPhone event alongside the iPhone 14, which is certainly possible, but I suppose they run the risk of out-shining the new best iPhone reveal at its own event.

A game-changing headset?

In Kuo's newest report, he said, "Apple is a game-changer for the headset industry," which has got me thinking about what that could possibly mean. How could Apple change the game in the VR/AR headset world?

You see, we've heard a ton of rumors about Apple's upcoming headset over the years, and a lot of them have been directly in opposition to each other. First, we heard it was only going to be AR, then AR/VR then focused on gaming, then focused on communication, and now I've lost track of where the rumor mill even is at this point. I think it's safe to say that no one has a good idea of what this headset will look like or do.

Apple could go the HTC Vive route and make a dedicated headset for gaming purposes that you need to hook up to a Mac, but that wouldn't be the most practical. Primarily since products like the Oculus Go exist. So, then you'd have to imagine that Apple would make the headset like Oculus's newest headsets which are pretty portable and don't need to be attached to anything. However, that isn't changing the game either, so what would be.

Honestly, I feel the only way Apple could truly be called a game-changer is if the headset is everything Google Glass tried to be and more. A hard feat to accomplish since Google Glass was notoriously a pretty big flop. Too expensive, too creepy (for some), and most importantly, it didn't do anything that spectacularly well. Granted, Google Glass was much more of a concept project than an actual consumer product to begin with, but it still didn't really justify its existence enough through what it offered to be enticing.

A lot of the issues that Google Glass faced years ago Apple will face today if they go for that type of headset, but regardless of what type of headset they release, there's no problem in the world today.

Money is tight, and new tech is too expensive

The world seems to be going through a recession right now — I'm not a financial expert, but costs are rising everywhere. Food, gas, and everyday necessities are becoming harder to afford for many people. New tech, whether it be the latest iPhone or a fancy new headset from Apple, is way out of reach for most people. Not to mention the last time we heard a rumored price, the Apple headset was said to be $3,000 or more! That's just far too expensive for a first-generation product that hasn't proven itself yet.

That's why it won't be a game-changer at the end of the day. To truly change the game, the product has to spread — like wildfire. Think of the iPhone (over a billion in the world) or the iPad, which has become so saturated in the world today that you can't throw a stone without hitting someone who has one. That's the kind of market saturation you need to truly change the game.

Color me intrigued

I know this is all rumors and hearsay, but I don't think I've ever been more intrigued by a potential product. We've heard so much, yet, somehow, so little about it.

January isn't that far away, so perhaps I will be proven wrong (or right) sooner than we all think.

Until next time,

- Luke

This week, Stephen, Karen, and Luke welcome iMore's new Editor-in-Chief, Gerald Lynch, on the show to talk about the new M2 MacBook Pro. Plus, Captain America is finally getting rid of his iPhone 6S.

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Links

• MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) review: Next-gen power, last-gen design | iMore
• M2 MacBook Pro still very easy to pre-order ahead of release | iMore
• Report: 10th generation iPad to receive USB-C, 5G, and A14 chip | iMore
• Insider tips major 2023 MacBook upgrade and a new size, but no 12-inch model | iMore
• Apple launches its Back to School promotion, $150 gift cards on offer | iMore

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There's always a new MacBook on the horizon, even after two new ones have just been announced. A recently published Apple patent suggests one of those future MacBooks could borrow something from the product line's past in a potentially game-changing new way. The patent for a "Device having integrated interface system" mentions a feature that sounds a lot like Touch Bar on steroids. If correct, the introduction of the new feature would represent a considerable about-face by the folks at Apple.

The new Apple patent, dated June 21, shows the company could be working on a MacBook with a dual-display and built-in wireless iPhone charger. Among the goodies this possible laptop may include is a "second display (that) may be configured to display an image of a keyboard in a keyboard region of the top case." In other words, the MacBook's physical keyboard could one day get replaced by a digital one.

In 2016, Apple revealed the Touch Bar on select MacBook Pro models. Once considered a "breakthrough interface" by Apple, the Retina-quality multitouch display replaced the traditional row of function keys above the laptop's physical keyboard. With Touch Bar, users could use digital controls that changed as one moved between native- and third-party apps. Although Apple eventually added Touch Bar to its entire MacBook Pro lineup between 2017 and 2020, it never showed the feature much love or offered it software updates. Finally, when the 2021 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were announced late last year, Touch Bar was no longer an option.

Many of us loved Touch Bar and were unhappy to see it go. And yet, we accepted it because of all the great features that arrived on the current generation MacBook Pro models, including the recently announced MacBook Air (2022). Today's patent publication and the introduction of another 13-inch MacBook Pro, which still includes a Touch Bar, suggests that Apple hasn't completely shut the door on multitouch on the MacBook lineup.

Until those same 2021 MacBook Pro models were announced, Apple had long ago retired the MagSafe charging port option on its laptops. Today, the popular feature is alive and well on the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros and MacBook Air (2022). Therefore, it's entirely possible Touch Bar could morph into "Touch Keyboard" someday.

I'm not optimistic, however. Bringing online a MacBook keyboard that's entirely digital sounds like a huge undertaking and one that comes with huge risks. As the now-buried butterfly keyboard showed us, MacBook users are demanding and don't like changes, even minor ones, when it comes to keyboards. So a full-on digital keyboard would have to work as promised and not radically change how typing works.

Is that even possible? Touch Bar only replaced a few seldom-used function keys; I can't imagine the uproar that would likely occur if Apple replaced all of the physical keys with a touchscreen display. Besides, who will clean off the smudge marks that will no doubt happen with each digital keyboard?

Patents don't mean much

Apple patents don't necessarily lead to new consumer products. So most likely, its newest one won't see the light of day as an actual product. However, if Apple does have plans for a digital keyboard on Macs, I'm pretty sure we'll see them arrive first for non-Apple devices. Only after a lot of testing would Apple consider releasing a digital keyboard to call its own.

This week on the iMore Show, Luke and Stephen are jealous that Karen is on vacation, but there are still plenty of rumors to talk about!

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• Big iPad Pro refresh with M2 chip, wireless charging, and more reportedly just months away | iMore
• Rumored 12-inch MacBook doesn't fit Apple's strategy, says 'skeptical' analyst
• 14-inch iPad could be lacking two major 'Pro' features... | iMore
• M2 MacBook Pro release date now June 24, pre-orders Friday 17 | iMore
• Apple signs $2.5 billion streaming deal with MLS | iMore
• Report: 10th generation iPad to receive USB-C, 5G, and A14 chip | iMore
• M1 iPad Stage Manager requirements blurred again by developer finding | iMore

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It's been over a week since Apple's WWDC22, and with it came a lot of controversy regarding some of Apple's recent decisions on software features. But among the hot takes are also more rumors about future products in the pipeline, so let's dive in!

Apple continues to send mixed messages about Stage Manager on iPadOS 16

The biggest controversy from this round of software updates — iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9 — lies with Stage Manager on iPadOS 16. Stage Manager is basically proper window management and multitasking on the iPad that we've been wanting for years now, but the problem? Apple has limited it to M1 iPads only, which means the 2021 iPad Pro and the iPad Air 5.

Originally, Apple made it seem like the M1 requirement is due to Virtual Memory Swap, which is apparently only capable on M1 iPads. However, it turns out you may not necessarily need VMS for Stage Manager, as a developer discovered that the base model 64GB iPad Air 5 can use Stage Manager, despite not having VMS. In fact, VMS is not available on the iPad Air 5 until the mid-tier 256GB capacity model. This muddies the M1 requirement that Apple has stated numerous times because of Stage Manager "needing" VMS, but it turns out that doesn't appear to be the case, at least fully.

The entire Stage Manager controversy is a huge mess. I know that we've been lamenting why Apple put M1 in the iPad if it wasn't going to take advantage of it because prior to iPadOS 16, iPadOS was very limiting and just holding the M1 back. However, when talking about the most desired features to make the most out of the M1 chip, basic window management wasn't quite what we had in mind.

It's just so disappointing that the biggest headline feature of iPadOS 16 won't be enjoyed by most people, as Stage Manager won't run on non-M1 iPads, ruining the value and longevity of the iPad as a whole. I mean, I would even be happy with a watered-down version of Stage Manager on my 2020 iPad Pro, where maybe I could only have three apps open simultaneously. That's already a thing with Split View and Slide Over, so I don't see why compromises can't be made. But I guess Apple just wants to sell more iPads, right?

The next base model iPad could be getting USB-C

Speaking of iPad, while a lot of us techies think the best iPad is the iPad Air 5, a lot of people are happy with the base model iPad. And recent rumors are hinting at big upgrades to the 10th-generation iPad that would be long overdue.

That's right! It seems that the next iteration of the base level iPad could come with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, which would finally bring it in line with the rest of the iPad family. However, it may only be getting an A14 chip, which would mean no, you can't use Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 on it, unfortunately. For most people, that may not be a major issue anyway. The design of the base-level iPad may or may not change though — we won't know until later this year.

Your next iPad Pro upgrade

There's even more iPad news to talk about this week too. As we expect an updated iPad Pro this year, the latest rumor is that the iPad Pro will get a big upgrade with M2, wireless charging, and more. This should not be surprising since Apple unveiled an M2 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro during WWDC22.

But I am curious about the wireless charging aspect. An iPad Pro is much bigger than your favorite iPhone, so how would the wireless charging work? Would the current wireless charging pads on the market be powerful enough to wirelessly charge an iPad? And honestly, how effective would it be? I mean, can you imagine having to place your iPad on a wireless charger perfectly each time? It would drive me mad. Perhaps it may be reverse charging, where you can use the iPad Pro to charge your AirPods or even iPhone. I guess we won't find out until this fall.

And while I still find the 12.9-inch iPad Pro to be a little unwieldy for me in terms of size, Apple could be going even bigger with a 14.1-inch iPad Pro. However, another rumor surfaced about this even larger iPad Pro, where it may not have mini-LEDs or a ProMotion display, which would make it not a "Pro" iPad at all. Regardless, this larger iPad won't be slated until 2023 anyway, so there's still time for it.

In the home stretch for the iPhone 14

Now that WWDC22 has come and gone, we're just a few months away from the next big Apple event, which will no doubt give us the iPhone 14.

This week, we got a closer look at what the iPhone 14 models will look like thanks to some dummy units out in the wild. If you take a look at the video, you'll be able to see the much larger camera bump on the iPhone 14 models, which may be a good sign of improved camera hardware, such as the large jump to 48-megapixels. But the other big difference is the lack of a notch, which has been replaced with a pill and hole-punch-shaped camera layout. Honestly, I'm excited to see what the future of iPhone holds!

Oh, and speaking of iPhone 14, selfie-lovers rejoice — the iPhone 14 may be getting a much better front-facing camera system too, not just on the rear. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to get a good selfie at Disneyland, only to have it look terribly blurry and something that I can't post on my social media.

More to come

That wraps it up for this week. It's still going to be a busy summer as we dive more into all of the refreshed software in the coming months. Oh, and let's hope that the whole Stage Manager fiasco dies down a bit too.

Until next time,

- Christine Romero-Chan

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2022 has come and gone. With it, we got a peek at all of the new software that is to come later in the year for all of our Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Heck, we even got a brand new MacBook Air with M2 coming in about a month's time, and, for some reason, a 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 as well.

But one of the biggest controversies that came out of WWDC22 comes in the form of iPadOS 16 and Stage Manager. Ever since the iPad Pro (2021) came out with an M1 chip inside, many (including myself) have asked, "Why?" For the past few years, the iPad has been hindered by its own software, iPadOS, and when the M1 iPad Pro came out, there was nothing that took advantage of the M1 chip powering it.

That all changed after the announcement of iPadOS 16. In fact, one of the biggest new features of the new software, Stage Manager, is limited exclusively to iPad models with an M1 chip inside. This means right now, the only iPad models that can make use of Stage Manager in iPadOS 16 are the iPad Pro (2021) and fifth-generation iPad Air.

As great as Stage Manager looks to be, this isn't what most users had in mind when wanting Apple to "make use of" the iPad's M1 chip.

Multiple window multitasking has been around for a long time

The main premise of Stage Manager is not an entirely new concept — it's just window management, a thing that's been around on computers for years. Stage Manager is the ability to resize your iPad apps so that they overlap with each other, bringing the best iPad experience closer to, you know, an actual computer. While you're limited to four apps on the iPad itself, you can bring in an external display (with up to 6K resolution) for another four apps. That means the total number of apps that you can use with Stage Manager would be eight.

The problem with Stage Manager is the fact that it is limited to M1 iPads, so just the 2021 iPad Pros and the iPad Air 5. Apple's reasoning for this is supposedly because of virtual memory swap. As of right now, Apple claims that you can only get super fast virtual memory swap with M1 because of the high DRAM capacity that is combined with very high capacity, high-performance NAND flash memory. The result is Stage Manager being instantaneously responsive, whereas that just wouldn't be possible with non-M1 iPads.

But really, multitasking with multiple windows at once has been around long before Apple silicon — ever since I first started using a computer back in the 1990s, I could have multiple windows and apps running alongside each other. So Apple requiring M1 for such a basic feature of, well, a computer, is a little silly.

Now, a year ago we were all going with the discourse that putting an M1 chip in an iPad was a waste because nothing in iPadOS 15 took advantage of it. But now we're getting iPadOS 16, and Stage Manager is the headliner feature that's apparently making use of the M1. However, the problem is no one really asked for window management to be the big feature that made use of the M1's power in an iPad.

There were better ways to make use of M1 in an iPad

I think the biggest wish for many people when it comes to M1 iPads was never something like Stage Manager. Instead, I believe that what most people want is the ability to run desktop-level pro apps like Final Cut Pro, Xcode, Logic Pro, the complete Photoshop, Blender, Cinema 4D, and more. Heck, even a few of those apps I just mentioned are made by Apple for macOS.

These pro-level apps are what people have been wanting to be able to run on an iPad for years, and we still don't have that capability. Considering how often Apple touts the iPad as being a "laptop replacement," it's silly that the iPad still doesn't have those pro apps that people want, especially something like Xcode. Many developers wish they could code and simulate their apps while using an iPad, instead of having to bring a MacBook with them when they're out. After all, why is it called iPad "Pro" if you can't even do pro-level work?

Compromises could be made

According to Craig Federighi, Apple tried getting Stage Manager on non-M1 iPads and wasn't satisfied with the performance, so the company simply decided to leave the major feature out for all non-M1 iPads with iPadOS 16. Honestly, I feel like some compromises could have been made, but Apple just took the easier route and left it out. Maybe even a watered-down version of Stage Manager, where you could only have three windows at once instead of four — I would have been satisfied with that, or something along those lines.

Maybe I'm just overly salty that my 2020 iPad Pro is already rendered obsolete when I usually buy Apple products for longevity. But it's annoying that Apple isn't interested in making some compromises, and also won't give the iPad a true "pro" use case besides Stage Manager. Hopefully, that will change in the future, but only time will tell.

I had never owned a MacBook before. As a relatively fresh-faced jobbing journo, the premium of Apple's devices had previously always been just out of reach for me and my lowly income.

But with my first significant paycheck starting to come in, my eyes widened, and my dreaming got just a little bit more extravagant. I was going to buy a MacBook, which would be the 2012 MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

June 11 marked the 10th anniversary of the laptop, first revealed at WWDC 2012, and I'm happy to say it's still going strong to this day.

An investment in the future

The MacBook Pro with Retina Display set me on the path I now find myself still on today; an Apple connoisseur heading up a site all about the company. In that respect, it's paid for itself many times over, and I can still boot it up today and get 99% of my working tasks done with it speaks to the quality with which it was built in the first instance.

But it was the most expensive thing I had ever bought – it might still be the most expensive thing I've ever bought! The deposit on my flat notwithstanding, thanks to how I souped up the 15-inch model's internal configuration to what were futuristic heights at the time.

But it wasn't a sure thing. I'd been watching rumors of its production for months, and a few things worried me about it. There was to be no CD/DVD drive. There was to be no built-in Ethernet port. Hard drive space was to be limited by the inclusion of then-still-super-expensive all-flash SSD drives. Apple was pointing to a port-free, wireless future I wasn't sure I was ready to experience.

I need not have worried. I opted to up the storage to a then-giant 512GB SSD, pushed for the 2.6GHz processor over the 2.3GHz option, splashed out for 16GB RAM, and never looked back. I can count on one hand the number of times I used the external CD/DVD drive and Ethernet dongles I bought separately alongside the MacBook Pro over the years, while the proliferation of cloud storage systems meant I never needed any more storage than that 512GB. Apple had seen the future of portable computing – or directed its course – and I was happy to find the road it took was not a bumpy one.

A modern MacBook marvel

There were lots to love about the MacBook Pro with Retina display in the then-present too. It was, as all contemporary Apple announcements were at the time, the most advanced portable computer Apple had until then ever made.

Its screen was a thing of beauty, topping out at 2880 x 1800 resolution with a 220ppi pixel density, popping with brightness and color. Its keyboard remains the best I've ever used on a laptop, offering plenty of travel despite its low profile. Its selection of ports, including a full-sized HDMI and SD Card slot, was so useful that Apple has returned to a similar array for its most recent and best MacBook Pro configurations – not to mention the now-returning magnetically-snapping MagSafe charging cable, an idea so wonderfully safe and intuitive that you have to wonder why Apple ever saw it wise to remove it from the lineup.

Whether editing video or messing around making demo tracks for my band, there was no stopping the thing, booting up near-instantly thanks to its SSD innards. Its Intel HD Graphics 4000 chip with Nvidia GT 650M CPU and GPU combo would be tame by the standards of today's Apple M2 chip, but was cutting edge at the time, to the point where I do what at the time seemed inconceivable – have an enjoyable dungeon-crawling session of open-world epic Skyrim on-the-go, on a Mac.

That's not to say living with the thing has been all plain sailing. I saw the true worth of Apple Care when I noticed a ghosting issue starting to appear on the Retina display, the first signs of the dreaded screen stains that marred the line for some users, and the battery had to be replaced too eventually. I was relieved to see the insurance terms fully cover these expensive jobs. Over time I was saddened to see the machine's anodized aluminum casing become discolored, marring the otherwise-pristine aesthetic.

A laptop legacy

A decade is a long time in anything's lifespan. For a laptop, it might as well convert into dog years – the MacBook Pro with Retina Display has long been classed as 'obsolete' according to Apple's definition of the word, with the machine only capable of running the aging macOS Catalina operating system.

Still. 10 years on, the MacBook Pro with Retina Display remains one of my prized possessions. Like an old faithful mutt, he's not as speedy as he used to be, his coat is a little less shiny, and he runs out of energy long before the day is done. But we've sure had some good times together.

It's about time I say a final goodbye to the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, and with the advent of the M2 MacBook Air for 2022, I think my new on-the-go option has already been decided.

But I've got a feeling that when I'm out on my retirement home veranda, sitting in a rocking chair with a tartan blanket over my knees, it'll be my 2012 laptop love that's resting in my lap.

This week, Luke Karen, and Stephen breakdown all the exciting (and not so exciting) news from WWDC!

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This year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) has ended, and the event offered something for everyone — on both the software and hardware side. Perhaps better still, it has set the table for what's likely to be an incredible fall, which could be the launching point for maybe a record number of new devices. So here's a look back at a busy week in the Apple world!

WWDC hardware

Apple doesn't always introduce new hardware at WWDC. This year, however, it revealed next-generation versions of the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. The former, Apple's top-selling Mac, is where all the excitement fell, which wasn't unexpected.

The long-rumored 2022 MacBook Air looks much like last year's 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and offers similar features, including the return of MagSafe 3 and a new 1080p FaceTime HD camera. It also has a larger display, 13.6-inches. Like the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, this model is also the first Apple product to include an M2 chip.

With a starting price of $200 higher than the model it replaced, the 2022 MacBook Air is also the first Apple laptop available in Starlight and Midnight Blue.

And the 13-inch MacBook Pro? Other than the M2 chip and more memory choices, it's essentially the same as the 2020 model it replaced, right down to being the only Apple product with Touch Bar.

WWDC software

Given WWDC is a software-based conference, it comes to the surprise of no one that Monday's keynote address mainly was software-focused once you got past the two new laptops and introduction of the M2 chip. Of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS 13 Ventura, and watchOS 9, it's iPadOS 16 that probably made the biggest splash, but in some ways, for the wrong reasons.

The biggest new feature for iPad, and also M1-based Macs, was Stage Manager. Offering a new way to organize windows and apps, the feature brings iPadOS and macOS ever closer, although not nearly as much as some pre-WWDC rumors suggested.

Beyond Stage Manager, iPadOS 16 offers a nice laundry list of new and unexpected features such as an improved Focus mode, Live Text, Visual Search, and a significant update to Spotlight and Siri.

Unfortunately for iPad users, not every iPadOS 16 feature will come to every supported iPad. Instead, some are exclusive to iPad Pro models (2021 versions, not 2020 models) or this year's iPad Air (but not last year's iPad mini). This news isn't going over very well, especially with iMore's Luke Filipowicz.

But at least all the supported iPads are getting the native Weather app!

For a change, iOS wasn't the star of this year's WWDC keynote, as iOS 16 mostly focused on software improvements. Still, some promising new features were announced, including new wallpaper and notification controls. Christine Chan calls iOS 16 the biggest iOS update since iOS 14.

My daily beat, macOS received some great new updates and features in macOS 13 Ventura. Beyond Stage Manager (my favorite new feature), I'm also excited for Continuity Camera, Passkeys, and much more.

Cupertino added considerable improvements to Apple Watch's fitness and health tools in watchOS 9 that should make runners and everyday users happy. These include expanded metrics, workout enhancements, Fitness+ updates, and AFib history. There are also sleep stages in the Sleep app, a Medications app, and another round of new watch faces.

tvOS 16

For the first time in the history of tvOS, Apple failed to mention the software for Apple TV at WWDC. What this means to the entertainment device (and app) is unknown. The omission could mean the company has big announcements yet to come and decided to wait until the fall (and the launch of a new device?) to make them. Or, perhaps nothing is planned for Apple TV this year.

Looking ahead

Rumors before and after WWDC suggest Apple could have many new hardware announcements prepped for fall. Based on the rumors and what normally happens each fall, here's what could be arriving in the coming months:

• Four new iPhone 14 series handsets
• Next-generation regular iPad
• Apple Watch Series 8, SE 2, Explorer edition
• Two new iPad Pro models in 2022; larger versions added in early 2023
• Updates to the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models
• An Apple silicon-based Mac Pro
• New AirPods (AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max 2)
• Movement on the HomePod front
• At least a preview of Apple's long-rumored VR headset
• Refresh for iMac mini, maybe iMac (Pro?)
• Cheaper Apple TV? An Apple TV stick?

It could be a busy few months, no?

WWDC final thoughts

Recapping Apple events and identifying their pros and cons is a subjective exercise. Regardless, here are my favorite WWDC announcements and moments for 2022:

Although I'm still annoyed Apple has yet to resurrect the singular "MacBook" name for a laptop, the continued success and focus on the MacBook Air continues to impress. This year's model, with two new color choices, an M1 chip, MagSafe, and more, will undoubtedly keep the MacBook Air at the top of our list of the best Macs on the market. Plus, despite the controversy of excluding certain iPads from all its functions, iPadOS 16 still represents a significant step forward for the sometimes maligned operating system. Prediction: 2022 iPad Pro models will wash away most of the criticism.

Apple Watch is already the world's best-selling smartwatch, and it would make sense for Apple to take a year off in terms of software improvements. And yet, that's not what happened at WWDC. Instead, the watchOS 9 update is an exciting one and should bring even more people into the Apple Watch's orbit.

Finally, I want to know what Apple's Craig Federighi eats before these keynotes, recorded and otherwise. He's a showman that oozes excitement that is never duplicated by anyone else on stage. Well done.

The 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro was the first Apple silicon device in my home and one I'll remember fondly. However, its continued form factor has no place in the MacBook lineup in 2022, especially with the far more popular MacBook Air sticking around (and now with a larger display!). Excessive supply is the best bet on why Apple is keeping the 13-inch MacBook Pro around for another generation. It probably has too many Touch Bars sitting around and other parts exclusive to that model. So most likely, despite the update, the 13-inch MacBook Pro as we know it will be quietly retired in 2023 when larger (and perhaps smaller) Pro models arrive.

Finally, it's regrettable Apple couldn't even mention tvOS during the WWDC keynote. Sure, the streaming side of the business isn't appropriate for a developer's conference. However, the same can't be said about gaming. Despite gaining great new titles each week, Apple's premium Arcade service doesn't seem to be getting much attention by Apple, and that's a shame. Perhaps the time has come for Apple to hold an Apple TV-specific media event each year, highlighting where things are heading with Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. Where's the love, Apple?

What were your favorite moments of WWDC? What didn't you like?

Thanks for reading,

Bryan

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2022 has now come and gone. With it, we saw the next major updates for software across all of Apple's devices: iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. We even got some hardware announcements with the new M2 MacBook Air and the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, though it's a mystery why the latter is still around, honestly.

One of the major new features in iOS 16 is the fact that we can now edit and unsend messages. Oh, and we can also mark entire conversations as unread, you know, to help remind us to respond when we actually have time. However, it seems that Apple has given the edit and unsend feature an overly generous time frame of 15 minutes after sending to make a change. Honestly, I think that is just way too long.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

Apple ironically beat Twitter to the punch

One of the biggest feature requests from users (including myself) on Twitter has been an edit button. I often wish for an edit button because I usually see a stupid typo I made in a tweet after I already sent it out, and I end up having to delete it and tweet again. But of course, this is the internet age, where many people see such a tweet and can screenshot it if they're fast enough. The internet remembers all — even if you delete (or edit).

The problem with editing a tweet would be the fact that someone who said something particularly offensive would be able to edit it later with something completely different than what was originally said. But again, on Twitter, there can be dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of eyes on a particular tweet, and the chances are high that someone could take a screenshot before it was altered.

In Messages, however, it's very different. Usually, you send a message to a single person (unless all you do is group text all day long). If a message is sent to one individual, and the original message ends up being edited to something completely different, then there would be no evidence of what the original message said. If there's any animosity between the two people, the first message could have been very damning, but if it's edited, the recipient wouldn't be able to find out what it said before the edit. The same can be said if the message was completely unsent. Of course, this probably won't be an issue if the recipient is already on their favorite iPhone and check messages immediately. Still, if they're unable to get to it right away, the sender has an incredibly large window to make changes.

Changes need to be made to the Messages' edit and unsend feature in iOS 16

Realistically, 15 minutes is a very long time when it comes to communication, and messages can be twisted and completely rewritten in that amount of time.

At the moment, with the first beta, edited messages will say "Edited" underneath the message, like the "Delivered" or "Read" indicator. However, there is no way to read what the original message said, unless the recipient is on a previous version of iOS, as the edit feature is not supported. If a message is "unsent," those on iOS 16 will see a message indicating that a message was rescinded. Again, if the recipient is on iOS 15 or earlier, the message will still be there.

While this is a feature that I probably will often use to correct all of my dumb typos due to typing too fast, there needs to be some changes.

For one, the 15-minute window should really be reduced — that is an awfully long time. I think maybe a maximum of five minutes should suffice. That's enough time to catch any typos or add in details that you forgot.

I also think that the original message should still be viewable somehow. Could you imagine if there were messages between two people that ended up in a court battle? There would be no record of the original unless the person remembered to take a screenshot, though that could also be digitally altered.

This is all subject to change

We are still very much in the early stages of the betas, but this is a change that I hope Apple seriously reconsiders. Or even just give us the option to change the edit/unsend time frame to something less. I'm sure there are some people who would be fine with 15 minutes, but I definitely would prefer less. After all, I usually know within the first few seconds after I send a message if I need to edit it.

The Apple Watch has long been one of Apple's most important products — it literally has saved people's lives. That fact alone is what makes my ears perk up anytime Apple decided to mention the watchOS because I know it has far-reaching consequences and benefits to many different people. It's not just a piece of cool tech, it's a device that lets you live your life better.

Following WWDC22, the iMore team is just starting to dive into the beta software for watchOS 9, but I have a few standout features that I think will finally make the platform much better for lots of people.

Updates to health and fitness

There's no denying that tracking health and fitness is one of the core uses for many Apple Watch owners, and watchOS 9 is finally not just adding a new workout type but adding more workout metrics in general that will be a massive boon for the people who want them.

First, you have custom workouts, allowing you to create your own workouts in the Workout app. You can even have structured intervals, meaning you can include rest intervals when you want — between sets, reps, or whatever you are doing.

Second, the multisport workouts will be a dream for triathletes everywhere since you'll be able to track your running, swimming, and cycling all in one workout. Not only that, but the Apple Watch will also automatically switch between the three activities by using the sensors to track the different movements you make. So, if you're training for that triathlon coming up, you just have to start one workout and never think about it again.

Lastly, watchOS 9 is offering a bunch of new metrics to track for various workouts. Runners will be able to get some advanced metrics that can be really integral to tracking performance, such as Stride Length, Ground Contact Time, and Vertical Oscillation.

Swimmers are getting some new toys, too, with watchOS 9's ability to automatically detect when you are using a kickboard and classify the stroke type in your workout summary. Plus, you will also be able to track your SWOLF score, which will make tracking your pool laps much easier.

Medications will be a huge boon

Well, I mentioned the fitness aspects already but helping you to take better care of your health is another important part of the Apple Watch. The new Medications app is probably one of the more useful health-related apps Apple has come out with in a while. As a child of parents that are getting older and taking more and more medications for multiple health complications, having an app that can track it all for them will be a huge relief for me — and them! It's not even all about being able to track your medication, either.

A huge benefit will be the ability to check if the medication you are taking has any interactions with other medications, so you don't accidentally mix anything that could be dangerous for you. For the time being, it seems like this feature will be in the U.S. only, and obviously, doesn't replace medical advice from an actual medical professional, but it could really help a lot of people take their medications correctly, on time, and much more safely. That's a huge plus in my book.

UI improvements (even if they are small)

When I went over my general reactions to the watchOS 9 announcements, I mentioned that Apple didn't include nearly as many UI improvements as I was hoping for; however, there are a couple that I do think will be useful.

The fact that notifications on your Apple Watch will be smaller when you're actively using an app is a nice quality-of-life change. Seeing more of your screen is always a positive. Plus, the Dock is much more intuitive because it actually promotes the apps that you are currently using over all the other apps in the Dock. This will make it much easier to switch between apps when you want to, because you shouldn't have to go searching through all your open apps just to jump back and forth between two.

Other features may come to light later

Remember, we've just started diving into the new betas just like everyone else, which means there may be more features that come to light. There are already a few features in watchOS 9 you may have missed if you skimmed through the WWDC keynote.

I fully expect to find more goodies in the first watchOS 9 beta as I spend more time with it and will report back with new discoveries, of course.

In the smartphone wars, there will always be the tug-of-war between Androids and iPhones. Android gets certain features first, and then Apple eventually adds them to iOS in an implementation that is better or worse than the competition.

The Google Pixel 6 that came out in 2021 is one of those Android phones that actually piqued my interest. Not really because of the hardware, but more about the software, at least one feature of it. Yes, I'm talking about Magic Eraser, the tool that lets you eliminate unwanted objects in the background of your photos.

Now, Apple did not include such a feature in iOS 16. However, they did add a new ability that's simply called "lift subject from background." Basically, everything can become stickers on your favorite iPhone and iPad.

This lets you "lift" the subject from the background of any image, screenshot, or document, and then place it in another app. It essentially uses machine learning to isolate the subject from the background. Let me tell you, this is one entertaining feature that a lot of people will love.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

What is "Lift subject from background," exactly?

The Lift subject from the background feature utilizes machine learning on an iPhone or iPad with A12 Bionic or later. So if you want to use this feature, you'll need one of the following devices:

• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone SE (3rd-generation)
• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 mini
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11
• iPhone SE (2nd-generation)
• iPhone XS Max
• iPhone XS
• iPhone XR

• iPad mini (5th-generation and later)
• iPad (8th-generation and later)
• iPad Air (3rd-generation and later)
• iPad Pro 11-inch (1st-generation and later)
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd-generation and later)

With the Lift subject from background feature, you "lift" the subject from the background of any image, screenshot, or document, and then place it in another app. This could be Messages, an email, another document, or whatever else works with drag-and-drop. It essentially uses machine learning to isolate the subject from the background, basically creating custom stickers.

A lot of potential with machine learning

This isn't exactly the same as Magic Eraser on Google Pixel 6, but it is a clear demonstration that Apple understands the computational processes involved when it comes to images. And it's kind of like the reverse of Magic Eraser — instead of removing things in the background; you're removing the subject from the background and placing it somewhere else.

Now, you may be wondering what good is removing a subject from the background of an image? Personally, I'm having a ton of fun "lifting" my daughter from her pictures and sending them to friends and family. I'm also planning to use some as emojis in Slack. Oh, and can you imagine how much easier this makes it for epic Photoshop battles? I honestly cannot wait to see what people come up with when they place themselves in other ridiculously hilarious images, such as running from a T-Rex from Jurassic Park. Seriously, I'm going to turn everything into stickers — EVERYTHING! This is actually a feature I didn't think much of during the presentation, but after trying it out for just a few minutes, it's become quite addictive.

Apple's own flair

Again, the Lift subject from the background feature is not quite the same as Magic Eraser. But it's a sign that Apple's computational processes and machine learning know and understand the subject and background in a photo. This could be a sign that Apple could eventually add a Magic Eraser-like tool in the native Photos app for editing, just like the competition currently does.

Who knows, it could be something that they announce with the iPhone 14. After all, they do make some photographic software improvements exclusive to newer devices, such as Photographic Styles.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more stickers to make and share.

If you're an avid iPad user, the announcement of iPadOS 16 seemed like a dream at first. Much better multitasking with Apple's new Stage Manager and full external display support were some of the most requested features from the community. Unfortunately, all those good feelings quickly disappeared for many users as they realized those requested features wouldn't work with their current iPads.

That's right, iPadOS 16 is gatekeeping Stage Manager — its most innovative and important feature — for M1 iPads only, leaving a ton of people with slightly older iPads out in the dark. Plus, that's not the only feature that many iPad users won't be able to use, making iPadOS 16 a much more complicated story. In fact, I think iPadOS 16 has the potential to ruin the best thing about Apple.

Tarnishing Apple's reputation of support

When you hear comparisons of the best iPads, iPhones, and other Apple devices to the competition, you'll often hear people praise Apple for how long they support devices. I've said this before myself because ongoing support, updates, and security patches for your device are so important and one of the best reasons that Apple's devices — especially flagship devices — are worth the investment. Heck, the current iOS 15 still supports the iPhone 6S, a phone that's six (almost seven) years old. But I'm afraid iPadOS 16 is going to change all that.

When iPadOS 16 launches, the iPad Pro (2020), a device that's only two years old, will be lacking major features that Apple has added to the software. There's no doubt in my mind that iPad Pro (2020) users will be underwhelmed when they update their iPads to iPadOS 16 and feel very much left out by Apple's choices. The iPad Pro (2020) will likely feel like it's on life support, getting just enough of an update to be alive, but it will likely feel much past its time.

Software should make old hardware better when it can

I know that the M1 chip is powerful, and Apple says said that the M1 chip is needed to make Stage Manager possible, but shouldn't software make older hardware better when it can, and not just ignore it?

If Stage Manager truly can't run on the A12Z Bionic of the iPad Pro (2020), surely Apple could have added some other update to give the iPad Pro (2020) a little more oomph when it comes to multitasking — especially since it has been such a highly requested feature from so many users. Some sort of simpler version, or a different feature altogether, would have gone a long way to keeping Apple's promise of support for its devices going strong.

It is still early

If there's one saving grace to all of this, it's that the beta for iPadOS 16 just came out, and there is plenty of time for things to change.

It's probably safe to say that Stage Manager and all its features won't come to older iPads, but that's not to say that iPadOS 16 can't still make older iPads feel alive again. There are more features to dive into and plenty more time before iPadOS 16 official launches.

I hope this doesn't start a new trend for Apple where their devices don't feel like they have long-term support via software updates because all the best features are only on the latest models.

It wasn't that long ago when the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) felt more like the iOS show. Sure the company also announced updates to macOS (once called OS X) at the annual developer event, but for the most part, most of the sizzle was left for iPhone. That began to change at WWDC 2019 when Cupertino revealed the new software-development tool, Catalyst, then went into overdrive a year later with the arrival of macOS 11 Big Sur and Apple silicon.

The recently announced macOS 13 Ventura update, like its predecessor, macOS 12 Monterey, isn't as groundbreaking as Big Sur. It doesn't need as so much of what has reenergized Mac is happening on the hardware side. The recently released Mac Studio, alongside last year's MacBook Pro lineup, has made huge splashes. That positive wave should continue once the refresh of Apple's top-selling Mac, the MacBook Air, begins arriving in stores.

More discovered about Ventura

Circling back around to Ventura, I've already highlighted the update's most prominent new features and the ones many might have missed after this week's keynote address. After spending a few days with the first Ventura developers beta, I've made even more discoveries worth mentioning about the update. These findings, perhaps, aren't as sexy as earlier ones. And yet, they continue to add to the picture that Ventura is much more substantial than many of us initially believed.

If you've read any of my articles in recent years about Safari, you already know I've been less than impressed with the many changes Apple has brought to the native web browser for Mac. Fortunately, things have become much more stable in Ventura, and the company has elected not to introduce that many new features this time. However, of the changes Apple did make, a few stand out.

In Ventura, Apple's adding Shared Tab Groups, which makes it possible to share a set of tabs with friends. In addition, these Tab Groups offer different start pages, which you can customize with a fresh background image and favorites. Safari has also picked up extensions syncing, so you can automatically install the same extensions across all your supported devices.

Stage Manager has fast become my favorite feature on Mac and iPad. It provides a new way to organize open apps and windows. However, one Stage Manager feature that hasn't been well reported is the grouping option. With drag and drop, you can easily create app sets to work on multiple apps simultaneously.

A feature exclusive to M1/M2 Macs can automatically generate transcriptions for deaf or hard-of-hearing attendees. The Live Captions tool work with conversations, audio, and video.

It took a co-worker to tell me Apple has finally brought the iOS/iPad Clock App to macOS. The news surprised me as I thought it was already available on Mac. Regardless, the gorgeous Clock we've grown to love looks fantastic here and offers many great features. These include setting world clocks, timers, and alarms, extending Clock functionality for shortcuts, and Ask Siri integration.

Apple's search function, Spotlight, is picking up a lot of advanced features across its many platforms, including Mac, iPhone, and iPad. One I recently discovered on Ventura is Quick Actions. The tools make it possible to type into Spotlight something that will initiate an action. So, for example, you might use the tool to open an app, play a song in the Music, run a shortcut, and more.

Since the WWDC keynote, I've heard from many people who are thrilled to see the native Weather app finally arrive on iPad. Less advertised is that this has also happened on macOS. The app is beautifully designed even in the first Ventura developers beta. It doesn't contain the smirk long-associated with the Carrot Weather app, but that's fine since this one is free.

There are a lot of new sharing features worth discussing at another time in the native Photos app in Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16. The updates also include a duplicate detection tool, which should make it easier to control the size of the Photos database. Other photo apps have long offered duplicate detection, and it's great to see Apple finally join the parade. Apple's tool could prove to be much better since it combines the highest quality and relevant data from both duplicates when one of the photos gets deleted. You can remove all duplicates with one button push for the quickest solution. With iCloud Photos, changes get recorded across all of your devices. If you made a mistake, copies are kept in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days.

So much to see

The macOS Ventura update should be available in September or October. Currently, it's only available through a developer beta. Apple should release the first public beta in the coming weeks. The update will run on all the best Macs and older models.

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) event keynote has come and gone, with plenty of big updates coming for all of your Apple devices. The iPad is getting a much-needed update to multitasking with Stage Manager, the Apple Watch will be able to track sleep stages, and so much more. But the iPhone got a lot of love too in the form of iOS 16.

The headliner feature for iOS 16 is Lock Screen customization. If you've followed my work here at iMore ovver the past few years, you'll know that I'm a big advocate for customization and personalization on iOS. Yes, I'm well aware that Android is the king of customization and I've been told numerous times that "if you want customization, go to Android." But no, I simply prefer iOS, and I've been wanting better customization options ever since iOS 14 showed us what is possible.

While I didn't get all of my customization wishes this WWDC, I'm incredibly excited for iOS 16's new Lock Screen and what it means for the future of iOS personalization.

iOS 16 is to the Lock Screen what iOS 14 was to the Home Screen

When the iPhone first came out, we had "Slide to Unlock" on the Lock Screen, and it became a staple in the modern smartphone world. Eventually, when Apple added Touch ID to the Home button, there was no more Slide to Unlock — instead, we used our fingerprint to unlock the iPhone. Then, Face ID came along and replaced our finger for biometrics.

But even with the Touch ID and Face ID changes, the Lock Screen remained relatively the same. Apple added two buttons for quick access to the Flashlight and Camera at some point, but the overall look and feel of the Lock Screen has never changed — that is, until iOS 16.

The Lock Screen is what we first see on our favorite iPhone before we start using it. And when you're around other people, it's also the first thing they're going to notice before you unlock your phone. Before iOS 16, everyone's Lock Screen was pretty much the same, except for the wallpaper.

With iOS 16, we are finally able to make the Lock Screen truly ours by choosing a color and typeface for the clock, as well as adding informative or fun widgets. The Lock Screen will now also have a multilayer effect for a sense of depth so subjects in the foreground of a photo can appear "on top" of the clock. And to emphasize your personalized Lock Screen, notifications now roll in from the bottom, similar to how it was done on the now-dead webOS (RIP).

Speaking of notifications, Apple also added Live Activities, which are unique, real-time notifications that look and act like widgets. However, they will constantly be refreshed and updated with app data, eliminating the need for multiple notifications, which was always annoying. At the moment, Live Activities seems to be limited to Now Playing controls, as well as Timers (iOS 16 is still limited to one timer at a time, for some dumb reason). When third-party developers are able to create Live Activities, they'll be glanceable but not interactive like Now Playing and Timers, unfortunately.

Apple's on the right track for customization

When I wished for Apple to add more customization to iOS, I wasn't thinking about the Lock Screen. I simply wanted a better way to use custom app icons without the Shortcuts method, and maybe just have a way to apply entire themes, including wallpaper, to the device.

I'll admit, the Lock Screen customization we got caught me off guard, Bbt I think it's a sign of things to come. Apple clearly is emphasizing personalization, and being able to finally change up the Lock Screen is huge. It's a little odd it didn't include different options for the two shortcut buttons on the Lock Screen for Flashlight and Camera, but maybe that'll arrive sooner rather than later.

Regardless, the changes to the Lock Screen are huge and a good sign that Apple knows we want to make our devices feel more like our own. I mean yeah, we can always put on a great iPhone case, but we should have our own style and tastes be reflected in the operating system itself, too.

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is always a big deal, as it gives us a sneak peek at what's coming for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. This year, we got a taste of what's next for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9, as well as a surprise reveal of a redesigned MacBook Air with M2. As you can tell, it was definitely a jam-packed event with a lot of goodies.

While many are swooning over the changes coming in iOS 16, there's also a lot to love about what we're getting with iPadOS 16 (and everything else we got from WWDC). In fact, this update is bringing the iPad closer to a laptop replacement than ever before, and perhaps it could potentially be a thing by the time the general release comes out.

We may not have a Calculator app yet, but hey, Weather is finally here!

First things first — we still don't have a native Calculator app on the iPad, hilariously enough. But after 12 years, we are FINALLY getting Weather on the iPad.

I mean, it's not like Weather wasn't exactly on the iPad before. It was, but only as a widget. With iOS 16, Weather is now a full-fledged app that looks and feels similar to the one we have on our favorite iPhone. This means those gorgeous animations, detailed weather conditions and climate information: all on a large screen

Honestly, it's shocking that it took 12 years for this to happen. And yet, we still don't have a calculator. Hopefully, it's not another 12 years before we see Calculator on iPad.

Stage Manager and external display support boost M1 iPad productivity levels

Stage Manager is the new multitasking interface in iPadOS 16. With Stage Manager, you'll be able to resize and have overlapping windows. And when you enable the actual Stage Manager feature, the current app that you're working in can take center stage on your screen.

And things only get even better if you use an external display, which is now fully supported. Previously, external displays would only mirror what was on your iPad screen. But now in iPadOS 16, your iPad wallpaper and Dock will extend to the external display, while your current apps remain on the iPad's screen. The external display will be able to do things like launch Stage Manager if you move your iPad cursor to the display and launch an app from your iPad's Dock.

With Stage Manager and an external display combined, one could have a total of eight apps running at once in iPadOS 16. There are also improvements to desktop-class apps, as well as a new display mode: Display Scaling, and Reference Mode for color-critical workflows.

Compared to how you could only really have three apps on the screen at once before, this is a serious boon for productivity and brings the iPad more in line with a laptop than ever before. I've tried to use an iPad exclusively to do work before, and it was so restrictive to the point it was frustrating. But with Stage Manager and full external display support, things may be looking up for iPads to be taken seriously as a work machine.

It's unfortunate that only M1 iPads will make the most out of iPadOS 16

As excited as I am about those powerful productivity features, I'm also very disappointed that only M1 iPads are able to use them. I have a 2020 iPad Pro, which was pretty expensive at the time, and just two years later, I'm locked out of some amazing iPadOS features? Very disappointing.

For those who are wondering, Apple claims that features like Stage Manager need an M1 iPad because of how Virtual Memory Swap works on an M1, which helps speed up multitasking. As of this writing, that means only the 2021 iPad Pros or the iPad Air 5 will receive this update.

When you buy an Apple product, one of the reasons is longevity. The fact that my iPad — which is only two years old at this point — is already "obsolete" enough for new features, is infuriating. I guess I'll either have to drop some dough for an M1 iPad to try out Stage Manager or just live without it (and probably continue to be locked out of future features). I mean, I get it — Apple is transitioning to M1 for almost everything, but I know I'm not the only one that is annoyed by this.

The future of iPadOS is powered by Apple silicon

Despite my annoyance with the M1 limitation on big features, I am happy to see where iPadOS 16 is going. I've lamented before that the best iPad is not a serious work machine because iPadOS is so restricting, but iPadOS 16 is turning the tables. At least in the future, when I finally get an M1 iPad, I know that I can actually be productive with it.

When Apple started talking about watchOS 9 at WWDC 2022, I held my breath. I had been pretty excited about what watchOS 9 could look like for months leading up to the big event, but with that excitement came some anxiety. But that anxiety soon turned to pure excitement as Apple began to run through all the new and improved stuff coming to the Apple Watch.

It seems that Apple's plan for watchOS 9 is to give us more of everything. More features, more metrics to track, and more improvements to existing parts of the software. And while Apple didn't improve everything I would have liked (more on that later), I have a feeling watchOS 9 will be an excellent update for most people's best Apple Watch.

Fitness: New workouts and metrics

We are used to Apple introducing a few upgrades to the fitness experience on the Apple Watch with each new software release. However, in 2022, with watchOS 8, it really impressed, announcing 11 new features.

First, for any kind of workout, cardio or not, knowing what heart rate zone you're in can be very important for training, and watchOS 9 will be able to use the heart rate data from the Apple Watch sensor to show which heart rate zone you're hitting. What's more? The heart rate zones can be automatically created using your personalized health data, or you can manually set them if you have specific zones you want to ensure you are hitting.

Speaking of customization, you can also create custom workouts in watchOS 9, which will allow you to have structured intervals, meaning you can include rest intervals you want between sets, reps, or whatever you are doing. Finally, you don't have to use a preselected workout in the Workout app when you want to log your exercise. Plus, if you're a triathlete, the new multisport workout will let you track your cycling, swimming, and running all in the same workout.

It's not just about new features altogether regarding fitness improvements in watchOS 9. Apple has added a few crucial important metrics that runners will appreciate. With watchOS 9, you'll be pleased to know that watchOS 9 will include even more trackable metrics in running workouts, so you can get a sense of how you're performing. These new metrics include Stride Length, Ground Contact Time, and Vertical Oscillation. These new metrics will all be in the Health app, where you can see trends over time. On top of that, you'll be able to have the ability to race against yourself, choosing either your best or last result, meaning if you're training for a particular time on a specific path, you can easily see if you're on pace, exceeding pace, or lagging behind your past performance.

Sleep Stages are finally trackable in watchOS 9

Since the Sleep app came out in watchOS 7 and sleep tracking became possible on your Apple Watch, I have been hoping for a more robust experience, and watchOS 9 looks to have the answer.

With the introduction of Sleep Stages, using both the accelerometer and heart rate sensor in your Appel Watch, watchOS 9 will detect when you are in REM, Core, or Deep sleep. Of course, all your sleep stage data will be viewable on your Apple Watch in the Sleep app, and you can even view more detailed breakdowns of your time asleep in the health app on your iPhone.

The UI gets some help; I'd like to see more

While it didn't make the same waves like all the features announced during the keynote, some of the changes in watchOS 9 you may have missed are some slight UI improvements.

Notifications have been redesigned to be less interruption in watchOS 9, meaning the banners are much slimmer and take upon less screen space. These new notifications are also smart, and they will only use the new slimmer banners when your actively using your Apple Watch.

On top of that, the Apple Watch Dock is getting a little refreshed. The Apple Watch Dock once just showed your open apps in a list. Now, in watchOS 9, the Dock will promote the apps currently in use over all the other apps in the Dock. This will make it much easier to switch between apps when you want because you shouldn't have to search for the apps you're currently using.

While these are welcome changes, I was hoping for a much more significant change to the UI of the Apple Watch. I don't know how anyone uses the Grid view for their App View on Apple Watch — it's a mess. The List view (the only other view) is more organized, but it's no more useful. Instead, it's just a giant scrolling list of all the apps installed on your Apple Watch. I hoped watchOS 9 would improve the App View on Apple Watch, but alas, it looks like I'll have to wait until next year.

Excited to dive into the watchOS 9 betas

Even though watchOS 9 didn't give us everything I had hoped for, I'm pleasantly surprised that there are many new features and changes to explore.

I'm very excited to dive into the watchOS 9 betas over the coming weeks and months, and as Apple makes changes and new features come to light, I'll be sure to keep you all informed! \

Apple's WWDC 2022 has been quite an eventful one so far. It kicked off the festivities by revealing all of the new software updates for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, and everything seemed to be a winner this time around. But of course, the one that most people pay attention to is iOS 16.

It's not a surprise that iOS 16 is the big winner of WWDC — after all, the best iPhone is probably the device that the most people use out of everything that Apple offers. And as someone who messes around with the best iPhone constantly, I found iOS 16 to be the most impressive update at the keynote.

More customization in the form of the Lock Screen

If you've followed my musings here at iMore for the past few years, you know that I'm a big advocate for customization on iOS. Ever since iOS 14, I've been wanting more options for ways to personalize my device besides slapping one of the best iPhone cases on it. While I did not have Lock Screen customization on my bingo card and was hoping for streamlined app icon customization and theming, I truly think it's a step in the right direction.

I mean, the Lock Screen has remained stagnant for years on end. The last big change it received was the addition of the flashlight and camera buttons several years ago, but otherwise, it's pretty much been the same Lock Screen since the original iPhone (without Slide to Unlock, of course). So being able to finally change the typeface and color of the clock, add widgets, and even have multiple Lock Screens that can also be associated with one of your Focus modes is a big deal!

Now, I have the first iOS 16 developer beta on an old iPhone 11 Pro I have for beta testing, and right now, it's far from perfect. The multilayer depth effect only seems to work with Portrait mode style photos, and sometimes it looks layered, and sometimes it doesn't. There's still a long way to go, but I expect it to be polished up considerably in the coming months. But I'm honestly just happy to finally be able to change up my Lock Screen so that it isn't just the same as everyone else's (aside from wallpaper).

Plus, the new Lock Screen is a major sign that we will be getting an Always-On Display on the iPhone 14.

We'll be able to edit messages before editing tweets

I'm incredibly excited about the upcoming changes to Messages! Honestly, it's about time that the Messages app allows us to edit and unsend messages. I often type quickly on my iPhone, and typos happen, which I find embarrassing. And of course, I always catch them after I send the message, so then I send another message to "correct" my previous error. Yes, I'm a perfectionist that way. With the new edit message functionality, I'm looking forward to being able to just fix the original message instead of pinging the other person with more notifications.

I'm not sure how often I have wanted to unsend an entire message, though, but I'll be glad to have that option if it ever arises. According to the first beta, it seems that both the edit and unsend capabilities are available within the first 15 minutes after sending — honestly, I think this window is a little longer than I'd like. Still, maybe Apple will change it before the final release.

Oh, and something I always see people complain about (myself included) is not being able to mark a conversation as unread to remind yourself to respond later. This has happened to me numerous times, but iOS 16 gives us Mark as Unread. Huzzah!

A streamlined process for sharing precious memories with family

One of the last things that I'm most excited about is the iCloud Shared Photo Library. Ever since welcoming my first child last year, I have been sharing photos with my husband and more family and friends than ever before. My husband and I initially started a shared album between the two of us on iCloud, but I wanted all of our family to be able to see those precious moments with our daughter too. So I found a third-party app that works, but the process isn't as smooth as I'd like.

iCloud Shared Photo Library could have a lot of potential from what I'm seeing. It's a separate iCloud Photo Library that is shared between up to five other people (a total of six) through Family Sharing. Whoever is in the group will have equal permissions for contributing, sharing, and deleting. And what makes it different from a standard shared album is that you can automatically share based on filters like date and time or even the people in the picture. A toggle in the Camera app also lets you take and share those pictures automatically to the iCloud Shared Photo Library, which saves a lot of the hassle.

While this feature isn't in the first developer beta of iOS 16, I think it's a pretty big one that I'm very excited to get my hands on.

Something for everyone in iOS 16

These are the three most significant things that have me amped up for iOS 16. But there's so much more too! Multistop routing in Maps for long road trips, medication support in the Health app, Apple Pay Later and Order Tracking, improvements to Live Text and Visual Look Up, etc.

I can't wait to see how iOS 16 shapes up in the next few months. I'm also eager to see how the iPhone 14 hardware will enhance the iOS 16 experience in the fall.

Apple announced iOS 16 at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) keynote this week, and so far, it looks like a winner. It's a much bigger update to iOS than its predecessor, and it could almost make as big of a splash as iOS 14 initially did.

While a big slew of new features is coming in iOS 16 this fall, some changes will have a bigger impact than others. Here are some of the most important features of iOS 16 that will brace your best iPhone this fall.

Lock Screen customization

Ever since iOS 14, people have been able to give their iPhones a bit of a personal touch by customizing app icons through Shortcuts and adding widgets to the Home screen, all without having to jailbreak the iPhone. Even those who are not usually "tech-savvy" got on board this train, thus creating the "aesthetic AF" trend that spread like wildfire when iOS 14 originally came out. iOS 15 did not add much to the customization front, aside from Focus, but iOS 16 is bringing iOS closer to Android than ever before with Lock Screen customization.

The Lock Screen, arguably the screen you probably see the most every time you pick up your phone, has remained stagnant for years. But iOS 16 is finally letting you personalize it by changing the typeface and adding widgets. The Lock Screen wallpaper will now have a multilayered effect for extra depth, with the clock appearing behind a subject in the foreground.

I've been clamoring for more customization in iOS for quite some time now, ever since it became possible without jailbreak in iOS 14. Though we still can't simply apply entire themes to our devices in a few taps, being able to change up the Lock Screen is a step in the right direction. The only thing missing is the ability to change the shortcut buttons in the bottom left and right corners.

Edit, Undo Send, and Mark as Unread in Messages

Though everyone has wanted an edit feature on Twitter, it looks like Apple beat Twitter to the punch here. iOS 16 is bringing considerable improvements to the Messages app, with the ability to edit messages, undo send, and mark conversations as unread.

All three of these are notable features. I often send messages too fast, resulting in ungodly typos. Then when I try to correct myself in a new message, autocorrect keeps messing up what I originally meant to say. Sometimes, I end up spamming the recipient by trying to correct myself repeatedly. With the edit functionality, I'll be able to fix the typo in the original message rather than annoying everyone with multiple messages.

And we've all done it — we may have ended up sending a message that we regret and wish we could take it back. iOS 16 gives us this feature, so no more drunken texts in the middle of the night! Or, you know, other things that we don't mean (it happens to the best of us).

However, keep in mind that there is a time limit for these two features. I'm hearing that it's about 15 minutes as of the first beta, which I honestly think is too long to edit or delete a message. But once that window of time is up, messages should not be able to be edited or rescinded.

Mark as Unread for a conversation thread is also a biggie. I often read an important message, and I need to respond, but I'm busy at the moment. I mean to respond later, but since there is no longer an unread notification, I end up forgetting. So the Mark as Unread feature is finally here, which will help us remind ourselves to respond to a conversation when we can. About time!

Multiple stops en route in Maps

Despite most people saying Apple Maps is the worst, I often use it for turn-by-turn directions. Typically, I go from Point A to Point B, but I want to make a few stops along the way on longer road trips. So the new Multistop routing feature is a big deal.

With Multistop routing, you can add up to 15 stops along the way. This is perfect for planning out those longer road trips or even if you have to hit up multiple locations while you're out doing some errands for the fastest, most efficient route. You can also use Siri to add more stops on the road, plan out your trip beforehand in macOS Ventura, and sync it back to your iPhone.

If you frequently take road trips, this is a game-changing feature.

Safety Check is Apple's answer to the AirTag controversy

When Apple introduced AirTag, most of us found it to be a great way to track items that we often misplace or fear losing. But some people planned to use these with malicious intent by tracking people, which wasn't the original purpose. This misuse of AirTag made its way into mainstream media, and a whole controversy began surrounding Apple and AirTag. However, there are other Bluetooth item trackers that can also be misused.

Apple seems to have taken all of the controversies very seriously and is introducing Safety Check in iOS 16. Apple claims that they have worked with various support groups for domestic violence and abuse to help create the Safety Check feature. With Safety Check, one can revoke previously granted access, including location, passwords, and other sensitive information. On top of that, all app permissions can be reset, access to messages is protected, and FaceTime access is restricted.

Of course, that's the general gist of the Safety Check. We'll have to dive into how it works (for example, let's hope that the abuser doesn't get notified their permissions have been revoked) in betas and the final release. But if Apple says that they have worked with support groups for these features, hopefully, they are on the right track.

Apple Pay Later and Order Tracking

I'm not one to encourage going into debt that isn't necessary, but Apple Pay Later is finally here. It allows users to split an Apple Pay purchase into four separate payments spread out over six weeks, with no interest or extra fees on top of the purchase price. It's available anywhere Apple Pay is accepted: in-store, online, or in-app. Apple Pay Later joins the likes of Klarna and the other "pay later" services that make it easier to spend money.

I honestly don't use any of those services (if I can't afford something small in one payment, I probably shouldn't be buying it), but I know Apple Pay Later will appeal to many. And since Apple Pay is accepted in more places these days, it will be one of the more accessible pay later options.

The other significant Apple Pay feature is Order Tracking. Now, when you make a purchase using Apple Pay, you'll be able to view detailed receipts in the Wallet app and track all Apple Pay purchases. That means no more third-party delivery tracking apps are needed if you pay with Apple Pay (not just Apple Card, either).

iOS 16 is bringing a lot to the table

As you can see, iOS 16 will be a huge update this fall for your iPhone, including the iPhone 14. Apple covered plenty of things at the event, but those above will definitely change the game for many. I can't wait to dive more into the beta and see the finished product in the fall!

Apple announced many new software updates at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Some of the best new features are coming to the iPad with iPadOS 16. I've had a short opportunity to take the first iPadOS 16 developers beta out for a test drive. I'll be digging deeper into the operating system in the coming weeks and months. I've quickly identified my favorite iPadOS 16 features and a few things I'm concerned about, at least for now. Take a look.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

Stage Manager

Pretty much the same reasons I'm excited about Stage Manager on Mac are the ones that make me excited about its entry on iPad. The new feature provides a fresh way to multitask on the tablet. In this case, for the first time, you can have overlapping windows in a single view. The feature should make it easier to switch between apps and create the perfect workspace since you can also resize apps.

I'm all for bringing more organization tools to my iPad Air, and I can't wait to spend more time testing Stage Manager in the coming days. At least for now, it looks like my favorite new feature across two separate platforms, iPad and Mac. Still, it won't be available on all the best iPads, as you can read below.

Weather App

I want someone at Apple to explain why the native Weather App hasn't arrived on the iPad until now. It's a no-brainer. This should have happened before. Regardless, thank you, Apple; it's about time.

Desktop-class Apps

Before WWDC, we heard rumors Apple was planning on making iPadOS more like macOS. Honestly, I'm not sure we saw this during the keynote address, even though Stage Manager pushes iPadOS a little bit in that direcion.

Apple's decision to bring "desktop-class apps" to the iPad could prove most interesting on this front.

According to Apple, desktop-class apps will "enable new capabilities optimized for the iPad display, from system elements and interactions to new features available on Mac." These will include " a consistent undo and redo experience across the system, a redesigned find-and-replace experience, customizable toolbars, the ability to change file extensions and view folder size in Files, and more."

All this sounds good, but it's probably best to play a wait-and-see game. Over the years, Apple has promised a more desktop-like experience on the iPad, and it never delivered. So perhaps now is the time it happens.

Apple News: My Sports

Another favorite I can't wait to see on iPad (and Mac) is the addition of "My Sports" on the Apple News app. The feature will make it easier to find content about your favorite sports teams and check the latest scores in just a few clicks. Unfortunately, the tool isn't available on the first iOS 16 developer beta. Hopefully, it will arrive on the next one in the coming weeks.

Handoff in FaceTime

As a single parent, I often end the day with a FaceTime goodnight to my daughter. These conversations usually begin on my iPhone, even though my iPad is often in the same room. With Apple's new lineup of software features, it will soon be possible to start a FaceTime conversation on one device and seamlessly move to the other. If this is as impressive as Universal Control, definitely sign me up. It's another one of those iPadOS 16 tools I can't wait to use regularly.

Not everything is peachy

I saw nothing about iPadOS 16 that made me cringe, even though I'm likely to enjoy some new features more than others. Instead, my biggest beef with iPadOS 16 has to do with support or lack thereof.

As I already mentioned about macOS 13 Ventura, one of the most promising new features across Apple platforms is Freeform, a collaborative tool for creatives. Unfortunately, this feature is going the route Universal Control took last year. However, Freeform was announced with the rest of iPadOS 16, etc. Apple was quick to explain online the feature was coming "later this year." In other words, not in September or October when the rest of iPadOS 16 gets released.

Taking a "later this year" approach seems dumb for software features, and I don't understand why Apple continues to do it. A better solution would be to hold off and announce these tools nearer to when they get released. Apple, new software features announced outside of WWDC are always welcomed!

I'll end where I began with Stage Manager. The one thing that's wrong with my favorite new iPad feature is its limited availability. At least for now, Apple's only making the feature available on the iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation), and iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation). In WWDC discussions, Apple suggests the speedy M1 chip is required to run Stage Manager smoothly. Maybe this is true, and I do not doubt Apple on this. Still, it's a shame that a costly iPad Pro released just two years ago is missing out on a multitasking feature that would enhance its usefulness.

The team at iMore can't wait to discover all the new features of iPadOS 16. As we do, we'll let you know. Stay tuned!

Last year, Apple shocked us all by redesigning its MacBook Pro to include a notch at the top of the screen. What's in that notch? Apple's improved built-in webcam. Yes, the webcam was finally an upgrade to the very pitiful webcam Apple used to include on its MacBooks. Still, the lack of Face ID (or any other relevant technology) made it a slightly baffling decision at the time. However, yesterday, the notch's inclusion just became a lot more confusing.

Your iPhone is now your webcam

During the WWDC keynote, Apple showed off a new feature in macOS Ventura called Continuity Camera. This feature will allow you to use your iPhone's camera(s) as your webcam without any additional software. They even plan on selling a little accessory that will fasten your iPhone to the back of your MacBook to hold your iPhone right where you would put an external webcam.

We've already noted that this will Sherlock some existing third-party services, like Camo and others, which offer software that allows you to use your iPhone as a Mac webcam. But I think it goes further than that. All webcams could be in danger of being obsolete on Mac.

So, Apple is killing webcams now?

It all boils down to just how excellent the iPhone camera has become. If you have an iPhone 13 Pro, you have a better camera in your pocket than 99% of webcams (both internal and external) on the market. Any picture from an iPhone will look infinitely better than that $50 Logitech webcam you've been using. Plus, with all the software already in your best iPhone handling a bunch of computational photography, it's easy to see how webcams get outclassed. Apple showed us that while using a Continuity Camera, you'll be able to use different lighting modes — as you would for Portrait Mode — to change the look. You can blur the background with ease or even use the studio lighting setting to keep you more light than your background.

Of course, that's only talking about one camera. Remember, most newer iPhones have at least two, if not three, cameras that macOS Ventura could and will leverage. On top of showing off the ability to use the main iPhone back camera as a webcam, Apple showed off a feature called Desk view, which uses the ultra-wide-angle lens on the back of your iPhone to create a top-down view (pictured below). Perfect if you're trying to show something off to your colleagues or friends. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any webcam that can simultaneously show you two different angles. I'm sure they are few and far between if they are out there.

So, yes, it's entirely possible that this could be the end of webcams on MacBooks! Instead, Apple may want you to use your iPhone. I'm not saying that's right or convenient for all the people who love Macs but carry non-Apple phones, but it's a direction Apple may choose to explore.

Will the notch survive? Only time will tell.

If the MacBook's webcam goes away, you would have to assume the notch would also disappear; it barely has a reason for being there in the first place.

Of course, the newly announced MacBook Air with M2 chip has both a notch and a webcam, but it's important to note that it will be available to buy next month. Meanwhile, macOS Ventura and Continiutiy Camera won't be released until the fall.

I've been digging around the first macOS 13 Ventura developer beta and am generally impressed with the update, which launches for everyone this fall. Like macOS 12 Monterey, which it will eventually replace, macOS 13 Ventura is an incremental update and not one on the scale of macOS 11 Big Sur. And yet, there's plenty to like here, including some significant tentpole features that will make it much easier for users to perform tasks.

In the coming weeks and months, the iMore team will look at the new macOS 13 Ventura features in-depth and provide screenshots when possible. But, for now, read on for an overview of the best new features or tools and some others I can't stand.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

Stage Manager

No matter how large the display is, I can't seem to have enough room to keep track of my open apps and windows on Mac. It seems I'm not the only one. With Stage Manager (which is also coming to iPads this fall with iPadOS 16), open windows are kept on the left side of the screen (as tiny screenshots), while the current window is prominently displayed in the center. If you often work with two active apps simultaneously (Safari with Slack, for example), you can group two or more apps with ease.

This isn't the first time Apple has attempted to make it easier for users to control apps and windows on Mac. Mission Control, which remains with macOS 13 Ventura, was designed for this purpose. Though many like it, Mission Control always felt too clunky to me, and perhaps that's one of the reasons Stage Manager was born.

If there's one reason to become a macOS 13 Ventura public beta tester, it's Stage Manager. Yes, it's that good and helpful.

Continuity Camera

If there's one new feature in macOS 13 Ventura that's best described as "something you didn't know you needed," it's Continuity Camera. The feature makes it possible to essentially replace your built-in Mac camera automatically with your supported iPhone. With this support, you can use lighting effects, Center Stage, and other features you aren't able to with the Mac camera system. There's definitely a cool factor here, and I can't wait to try out one of the third-party stands for my iPhone that will make this possible.

Mail and Messages enhancements

Have you ever sent an email or iMessage and immediately regretted doing so? Of course, you have — we all have. Across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, Apple's adding an assist by introducing the ability to "Undo send" in both Mail and Messages.

The Undo send feature isn't that impressive on Mac since you only get 10 seconds to do so. (On iPhone and iPad, you get 15 minutes to unsend a message and 30 minutes to edit one.) With Mail, however, you can also (finally) schedule emails so they can go out at a time of your choosing and not immediately. That's a huge feature and one that other email systems have offered for some time. So I won't criticize Apple for being late to the game!

Goodbye, passwords

In 2022, passwords are out, and Passkeys are in, or that's at least what Apple hopes. Passkeys, which will arrive across all Apple platforms this fall, including Mac, is a new sign-in method that offers end-to-end encryption that's supposedly stronger than two-factor authentication. If this is correct, and I'm assuming it is, this is big news for all different types of users, including those on non-Apple devices. Passkeys are designed to lower the risk of phishing and data leaks. I can't wait to see them in action on all the best Macs.

Apple News App, more sports, no more content you don't want

The most prominent new feature with Apple's native News App across all platforms is the arrival of "My Sports." The feature allows users to follow their favorite teams, leagues, and athletics from the Apple News app.

Another feature that isn't getting nearly the same coverage is also good. Up until now, you could block content from certain news providers in the Apple News App. And yet, when content from those providers popped up on the Today page, you'd still see a nasty blank box indicating that you blocked the content it wants to present on the screen. In macOS 13 Ventura (and other platforms), you can restrict stories on the Today page so that only content from providers you follow will appear.

This is a tiny new feature, but one that makes the Apple News App feel much more personal. The fact this wasn't how the blocking of content worked in the first place is unfortunate.

Spotlight

It would be best if you never questioned the absolute joy that is Apple's Spotlight. Don't believe me? Spend a few minutes with Windows 11 and start searching; there's no comparison! In macOS 13 Ventura, Spotlight is getting even better with the introduction of enhanced image search in macOS 13 Ventura. The update will make it easier to find photos across multiple apps, including Photos, Messages, Notes, the Finder, and the web. Spotlight's search design has also been updated to include much more information about a given result. For example, when you search for "Shining Girls," you'll see a textual preview of the popular Apple TV series and photos.

It will be exciting to see the Spotlight changes across Mac, iPhone, and iPad, beginning this fall.

Not everything is about Ventura is groovy

There are a few things about macOS 13 Ventura that I'm not loving, at least for now, including:

In macOS 13 Ventura, Apple has made significant changes to System Preferences starting with a name change. The comprehensive tool is now called System Settings to match the naming conventions of iPhone and iPad. Beyond this, the tool offers fresh navigation with a sidebar and organization based on categories.

The navigational changes are jarring, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple rethink it before macOS 13 Ventura is released to the public. Last summer, during the macOS 12 Monterey beta process, Apple did just that with Safari after people quickly became annoyed at the initial proposed changes. I'll keep an eye on this throughout the beta process to see if there are System Settings changes in the same direction.

One of the most publicized new features on last year's software updates for Mac, iPhone, and iPad was SharePlay for FaceTime. The feature, which lets you watch and listen to content with others, is now coming to Messages. This is a terrific move on Apple's part since I can probably guess that more people use Messages than FaceTime. And yet, I'm still not sold on the entire SharePlay concept.

Don't get me wrong; I am fully aware I'm not in the age group Apple is targeting for SharePlay. But regardless, I don't think vast numbers of people sit around on their iPhones and listen to Apple Music with their friends on the other side of the country. So maybe I'm wrong, and I'm willing to give SharePlay another try, this time through Messages, to see if my feelings change.

One of the most promising new features for Mac, iPhone, and iPad is Freeform, a collaborative tool for creatives. Unfortunately, soon after announcing Freeform, the Apple website refreshed to note the feature wouldn't be arriving until "later this year." With macOS 13 Ventura not launching until September or October, this probably means we won't see Freeform until November or December. Or, if it follows Universal Control's lead with macOS 12 Monterey, its release could spill over into 2023.

I understand the benefits of announcing lots of new software features at the heavily publicized Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) each June. And yet, this "later this year" approach with some features seems dumb. A better solution would be to hold off and announce it separately after Apple's fall event.

The iMore team can't wait to dig into macOS 13 Ventura, and all of Apple's software updates announced at WWDC. Stay tuned for exciting articles in the coming days and months!

Even though the entire iMore staff (myself included) is well versed in all the rumors and leaks that lead up to an Apple event, we never know what will happen when Tim Cook and the company hit the main stage — no one does. But, that doesn't prevent us from getting caught up in the hype and the potential of the new stuff coming down the pipeline.

I had big expectations for WWDC 2022, and this may be the first time ever I've gone into an Apple event and haven't come out the other side disappointed in some way. Every new software platform they talked about during the keynote was full of juicy details and demonstrations of new features. Here's what stood out to me at WWDC 2022.

iOS 16: More customization, editable messages, and the best Photoshop hack

For everyone who screams for more customization on iOS, it seems that Apple has designed iOS 16 to provide some more options for people. One of the highlight changes was the updates to the Lock Screen.

The Lock Screen now has widgets! In practice, you can certainly see that they take inspiration from Apple Watch complications, but in essence, they are designed to make your Lock Screen much more information-rich while still preserving the clean and uncluttered look. Of course, Apple showed off its own apps that will be able to display on your Lock Screen, but I'm way more excited to see which of my favorite app developers will implement this new feature into their third-party apps — much like when widgets first launched in iOS 14.

This might actually be the feature I'm most excited for out of everything; editing messages in the Messages app. Sent a typo? You can fix it! Send a message to the wrong contact by accident? You can just take back the message shortly after you send it. Gosh, I've wanted this for so long, I can barely contain myself!

While we will have to test it out for ourselves as time goes on, it appears that if you choose to edit a message, there will be a little indicator that the message has been edited. Same with when you choose to "undo send," you and the people in the chat will be able to see that you've unsent a message.

Lastly, a really neat feature that I feel like Apple nearly skipped over was the improvement to Visual Look Up, which will allow you to instantly grab a subject from a photo and rip it out of the background as an image that you can use in messages. It's like Apple just took how of the best tools in Photoshop and stuck it right into iOS 16! Just think about all the meme possibilities!

iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura: Stage Manager will improve multitasking

By far, the coolest feature of iPadOS 16 is Stage Manager, and it looks to be a good solution for all the people (myself included) clamoring for more multitasking features in the iPad — especially those with M1 chips.

Stage Manager automatically organizes open apps and windows so users can concentrate on their work and still see everything in a single glance. The current window users are working in is displayed prominently in the center, and other open windows appear on the left-hand side so they can quickly and easily switch between tasks. Plus, you can also group windows when working on specific tasks or projects that require different apps.

That sounds incredible, and seeing it in practice during the keynote also made it look incredible. Plus, Stage Manager is also coming to macOS, which certainly seems to show that the iPad is moving towards more of a laptop-like feel.

Stage Manager is my favorite announcement for iPadOs and macOS Ventura!

Much more detailed metrics on watchOS 9

While I don't think of the Apple Watch as a fitness first product, a ton of people, maybe even a majority of Apple Watch owners, do, and watchOS 9 is coming in hot with much more detailed metrics.

If you're a triathlete, you'll likely love the new Multisport workout type that can track swimming, running, and biking all in the same workout! Plus, you don't even have to do anything. Your Apple Watch will automatically detect when you're during which activity and track all of it accordingly!

On top of that, if you enjoy running with your Apple Watch, it's about to get much better to gauge your running performance with all the new enhancements in watchOS 9. New metrics you can track new metrics include Stride Length, Ground Contact Time, and Vertical Oscillation. These are advanced running metrics that can really make a difference if you're seriously training for a big race or marathon. Plus, you'll even have the ability to race against yourself, choosing either your best or last result, meaning if you're training for a certain time, you can easily see if you're on pace, exceeding pace, or lagging behind.

There was so much more, too

Those are just a fraction of the announcements we got at this year's WWDC — there truly was something for everyone.

Whether it's being able to use your iPhone as your MacBook's webcam, the new Medications app for the Apple Watch, or the dozens and dozens of new features and quirks we will unearth in the first weeks of the beta program, I can't believe we have so much to discover!

It's early hours, and we don't yet know how well one of the hottest new features in iPadOS 16 and macOS 13 Ventura will work in practice. And yet, if Stage Manager is anything close to being as terrific as it looked in today's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote address, significant changes could be coming to both platforms. Better still, we could be getting ever-closer to iPads acting more like the best Macs.

What is Stage Manager?

Stage Manager automatically organizes open apps and windows so users can concentrate on their work and still see everything in a single glance. The current window users are working in is displayed prominently in the center, and other open windows appear on the left-hand side so they can quickly and easily switch between tasks. Users can also group windows when working on specific tasks or projects that require different apps.

With Stage Manager, open apps and windows are organized so that users can concentrate more on their work. On Mac, this means seeing the currently open window prominently displayed in the center of the screen while tiny screenshots of the others are lined up vertically on the left side of the display. On iPad, Stage Manager offers the same features available on Mac plus allows users to create overlapping windows of different sizes in a single view. The result on both devices is better organization.

Perhaps most significant about the arrival of Stage Manager is that it's only the latest in a series of steps that brings iPadOS closer in line to macOS. Previously, however, the movement was measured on whether an app could run successfully on both platforms (many now can) or whether one could extend or mirror Mac onto iPad. Stage Manager is different because it brings a similar tool to both platforms.

As one of my colleagues said soon after Stage Manager was announced for both platforms, this is a relatively minor step in the right direction to making iPadOS much more like macOS and vice versa. Regardless, it's a positive step.

A long way to go

If Apple wanted to bring macOS to a tablet, it could have done so long ago. It could have replaced iPadOS on iPads or introduced an all-new mobile device that would sit alongside the iPad and target different users, perhaps called an "iTablet," or "MacTab." Instead, incremental updates keep bringing the two operating systems closer together but nowhere near becoming one.

With iPadOS 16 and Stage Manager, is iPad now a suitable MacBook alternative? Absolutely not — just as Apple intended.

Apple has finally announced macOS 13 Ventura, which will arrive on Macs worldwide this fall. The most publicized new tools on the updated macOS version include the new Stage Manager feature and Passkeys, which will make our web browsing on Safari even more secure. In addition, there are a lot of other new features incoming on macOS 13 Ventura.

Apple occasionally offers updates to iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, tvOS, and macOS as closed developer previews or public betas. While the betas contain new features, they also contain pre-release bugs that can prevent the normal use of your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Mac, and are not intended for everyday use on a primary device. That's why we strongly recommend staying away from developer previews unless you need them for software development, and using the public betas with caution. If you depend on your devices, wait for the final release.

Newly discovered macOS 13 Ventura features

We recently discovered five features inside macOS 13 Ventura that we think you'll enjoy using on all the best Macs. Here's a sneak peek at each.

Before this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple put some new memoji artwork on its website. There were also colorful memoji to welcome us to the keynote address right before Tim Cook came into focus. Beyond this, however, nothing else was said about these adorable creatures.

And yet, there are a lot of new memoji features in macOS 13 Ventura. This year's update sees more sticker poses, more hairstyles and headwear, and more noses and neutral lip colors from which to choose. You can also use Memoji stickers as contact pictures (in three poses) in macOS 13 Ventura.

The Clock app found on iPhone and iPad is now available on Mac. The app makes it easy to set world clocks, timers, and alarms, for seamless continuity between devices. On macOS 13 Ventura, you'll also find extended clock functionality available using the Shortcuts app.

Apple has also updated System Preferences, which includes a slick new design. It's also now called System Settings. You can organize System Settings by categories, such as Appearance, Control Center, and Desktop.

Apple has changed how Apple Pay looks in macOS 13 Ventura. You can more easily see and manage your information from the redesigned payment sheet and add cards directly from the Apple Pay experience. The details about purchases made have also been improved.

The native Photos app for Mac has also received some useful new features in macOS 13 Ventura. These include duplicate detection, so you can quickly clean up your library; batch copy and paste, view Hidden and Recently Deleted albums that are locked by default, and more.

We'll be covering macOS 13 Ventura throughout the summer as we get closer to the official launch this fall. In the meantime, visit often to see what develops!

After weeks of rumors, leaks, and hot takes from every Apple-centric publication — including iMore — we finally have only one more sleep until we get to see the WWDC 2022 keynote. Apple events are always exciting, but WWDC always holds a special place in my heart.

Apple's fall event(s) often get the most attention because new hardware tends to look good in a headline, and it's something more tangible than software. However, the software is what makes Apple devices, well, Apple devices. That's why WWDC is so exciting, and luckily for us, the rumor mill has made the lead-up to the big event as exciting as possible.

iPadOS 16 might finally give us the multitasking features we want

When it comes to iPadOS, improved multitasking features are one of the most important updates we want to see implemented.

We've said it before here on iMore, but with iPadOS 16, we'd love to see Apple overhaul multitasking with more ways to display multiple apps on-screen at once. And, just this week, a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman seems to suggest that iPadOS 16 will do just that!

The report claims better multitasking features will be featured in iPadOS 16 that will make it easier to switch between apps and know what apps are currently open, which is great. However, the real star of the rumor was this:

Sounds a lot like perhaps some sort of window resizing, maybe akin to something you would see on a Mac? While I'm firmly in the camp of wanting macOS and iPadOS to remain separate, it's interesting to hear that iPadOS 16 might finally push the iPad to be more laptop-like and less like an iPhone.

iOS 16 Lock screen might become more personal

Another piece written by Gurman suggests that the iOS 16 update will bring a refreshed Lock Screen to existing iPhones, including the current iPhone 13 lineup. Gurman believes that "major enhancements" are coming, "including wallpapers with widget-like capabilities." Along with the rumors we've heard surrounding the chances of the iPhone 14 having an always-on display, this could make the Lock Screen on your iPhone much more personalized.

As it currently stands, you can access widgets from the Lock Screen by swiping right, but this suggests that it may be possible for those widgets to appear directly on the Lock Screen itself.

We're not sure exactly what that would look like — not to mention how notifications would factor into the interface — but I will welcome any new customization options Apple chooses to give us.

Keeping my big expectations in check

I have to admit, I'm super excited to see what Apple will show us at WWDC this year. It seems to be shaping up with significant updates across the board for all devices, which is fantastic to hear.

However, I will attempt my best to keep my expectations in check as I know the best way to avoid being let down.

Have fun and talk to you after the big event!

- Luke

This week, Luke and Karen talk with iOS developer Christian Selig about WWDC, developing, and more!

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Links

• New MacBook Air in, AR/VR headset out as likely WWDC22 announcements | iMore
• Revamped iOS 16 iMessage reportedly getting new 'social network-like functionality' | iMore
• Apple still won't give iPad and Mac users this lifesaving iPhone feature | iMore
• Even your old iPhone could get a giant lock screen refresh with iOS 16 | iMore
• Apple's macOS 13 could get a big update to one of its most important apps | iMore
• Apple patent reveals Apple Watch with camera | iMore
• Apollo | A beautiful reddit app built for power and speed
• Amplosion | A safari extension to automatically redirect from AMP links to normal websites.
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A new HomePod may be on the way, and iPhone 14 Pro could have a 1Hz mode for an always-on display. We dissect all the latest rumors and more!

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• Kuo: A new HomePod is coming in late 2022 or early 2023 — but it might not be innovative | iMore
• Kuo: AirPods Pro 2 to enter mass production in 2H22, but not with USB-C | iMore
• iPhone 14 Pro may have 1Hz refresh mode for always-on display | iMore
• Apple announces WWDC22 program in full ahead of June 6 | iMore
• Renders could show the stunning new purple iPhone 14 Pro months before release | iMore

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Another week has gone by, bringing us one week closer to Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2022. As of this writing, Apple's developer conference will be taking place in just a week, where all of the next iterations of software for Apple's devices will be shown off. Let's dive in.

This iOS 16 concept is what Apple should do

This week, we saw a very cool concept of what iOS 16 could be from Nicholas Ghigo. In this concept video, he showcases customizable buttons on the Lock Screen, interactive widgets, a redesigned Control Center, Always On display, multiple timers, and more. A lot of these features are things that I'm hoping to see in iOS 16 myself, so it looks like I'm not the only one out here.

While my biggest customization request was for more streamlined theming and icon customization, I would love to be able to reconfigure the shortcuts on the Lock Screen too. Though I'm not sure if I'd actually change them from the Flashlight and Camera, as I use those quite frequently, but I know others would love to have the choice to do so. Kind of like changing our default apps, which to this day, still only remains the browser and email app. iOS just needs a bit more flexibility when it comes to letting us customize our devices the way we want them.

Another big one is interactive widgets. Even though I currently use a few widgets on my Home screen right now, they're just kind of there, showing me information and looking cool. But I can't do much else with them because they're not interactive. The concept video shows off the potential of interactive widgets, such as a Music widget with playback controls — this is what widgets should have done from day one! Right now, I find the Music app widget pointless, because it just sits there and shows off Listening Activity. Like, what good is that for? Tapping on an album just opens up the Music app. In its current state, the Music widget is nothing more than a larger, more glorified way to open up Music. Seriously, if interactive widgets become a thing in iOS 16, I can't wait to see what other possibilities developers can come up with.

You'll also see a better App Switcher in that concept video, which is reminiscent of what the iPad App Switcher is at the moment. I end up with so many open apps, that closing them is a pain in the current state — having an iPadOS-like App Switcher on the best iPhone would make it easier to see what I actually have open so I can close certain apps faster.

With WWDC just a week away, I hope Apple takes some ideas from the concepts out there. Developers who are curious about what will be taking place during WWDC can also check out the full program now.

A fresh serving of iPhone 14 rumors to satiate your appetite

Though WWDC is around the corner, don't expect any hardware announcements, at least not any new iPhones. After all, there's a separate event in the fall for that. But that won't stop the rumor mill from churning.

In the past week, we got two nice little nuggets of iPhone 14 rumors. The first is that the iPhone 14 Pro may have a 1Hz refresh mode allowing for an Always On display. This is a feature that I've been hoping to see on an iPhone for a few years now, and it looks like we might possibly see it later this year. Ross Young was asked to confirm if the iPhone 14 Pros will go down to 1Hz, to which he replied, "Can't confirm, but expecting it." Young has a pretty good track record when it comes to his knowledge of the supply chain and relevant technologies, so it's a high possibility. While nothing is confirmed until Apple announces it, of course, this may be one to put on your bingo card this fall.

The next rumor is that the iPhone 14 Pro may come in a purple color this time around. I really wish that Apple would just make the Pro models in pink or rose gold, but hey, purple? I'll still take it, as it's one of my top three favorite colors. I just wish it could be a more saturated, deep purple instead of pastel lavender, but hey, beggars can't be choosers I suppose. I tend to buy the new iPhone in whichever new color is offered, so I will look forward to this one.

Some random tidbits from the week

• Apparently a woman dropped her Hermès Apple Watch while on a ride in Walt Disney World's EPCOT, then her husband tried to retrieve it (a big no-no at Disney parks), and she now claims there were $40k of fraudulent charges since she had an AMEX with an unlimited credit line on it. This is a hilariously fishy story to me, because either she had a really bad passcode, or she's trying to get a free vacation. The best Apple Watch locks the moment it's off your wrist and you need a passcode for Apple Pay. Yeah, I'm just not buying it.
• There was another school shooting in the U.S. I won't say too much on the subject, but I'm honestly tired, sad, and angry. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done NOW. How many more innocent children need to die before the U.S. gets its shit together?

After all of this, I need a well-deserved break, especially for my mental health. I hope that you all take care of yourselves, and make sure to hug your loved ones a little harder each day.

Until next time,

- Christine Romero-Chan

This week, Karen, Stephen, and Luke discuss all the latest rumors and their hopes for the upcoming watchOS 9.

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• Kuo: AirPods, Keyboards, other accessories will switch to USB-C like iPhone 15 | iMore
• Gurman: Apple Watch owners should expect watchOS 9 to be a 'significant' update | iMore
• Apple could bring some 'fresh' apps to iOS 16, says Gurman | iMore
• Leak claims Apple Watch Series 8 will get the huge design change that Series 7 missed out on | iMore
• Apple's mixed reality headset could have an external screen to show people your facial expressions | iMore
• Apple says major new accessibility tools are coming this year | iMore

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We're about two weeks out from the start of this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which begins on Monday, June 6. Not surprisingly, the rumor mill has finally started to kick into high gear for one of the most anticipated dates on the Apple calendar. This week also included news about Final Cut Pro, the long-rumored Apple VR headset, and more.

WWDC 2022

The next version of watchOS is expected to be a "significant" update, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The buzz, which doesn't come with any specifics, would be good news for Apple Watch owners who have been waiting for Apple developers to show the device some extra love.

Among the new goodies we'd like to see on watchOS are rest days in Activity, Low Power mode, mental health support, and more.

Gurman also offered some information on iOS 16, which is also expected to debut on June 6. New native apps could be on the horizon for iPhone and improved "ways of interacting" with existing ones. What probably won't happen this year is a complete redesign.

A more muted update makes sense, given the significant changes that arrived on iOS 14 and iOS 15 in recent years. Still, we hope Apple will reveal interactive widgets, more customization tools, a refreshed Home app, and more.

Final Cut Pro

Last month, a group of filmmakers wrote an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, expressing their concerns about Final Cut Pro. The filmmakers said Apple should do more to promote the popular video editing software, offer better integration with third-party apps and services, and "add the few remaining features that our industry has consistently stated are needed."

This week, Cupertino finally responded. As noted in its open letter, Apple promised to launch new training materials for Final Cut Pro, establish a panel of industry experts, and expand Final Cut Pro workshops. The group said it welcomed the response and was looking forward to seeing Apple's plans come into focus.

The biggest takeaway here: Yes, Apple does respond to complaints, which can't be said for other tech companies.

Final Cut Pro works on all the best Macs.

Major Accessibility news

On Tuesday, Apple surprised many when it announced that new Accessibility features would be arriving later this year. The new tools, which Luke Filipowicz says will benefit everyone, include Accessibility updates for Apple Watch, iPhone, and more.

Was the board impressed?

Apple's long-promised mixed reality headset is getting closer to making its debut. This week, Apple's board finally got to see the device, which is an important milestone before Apple announces a new product.

Initially, Apple planned on revealing the headset at next month's WWDC. But unfortunately, technical concerns have likely pushed the reveal date to sometime later this year, according to Bloomberg.

Odds and Ends

The somewhat quiet week that was also included these tiny nuggets:

• Apple Music is gaining an Essentials Anniversary feature that celebrates landmark albums from artists as they reach significant milestones. The first album is Radiohead's OK Computer, which is now being showcased with the album, music videos, and a special Apple Music Radio show called Essentials Anniversaries with DJ Matt Wilkinson.
• This week, Pebblebee unveiled two new tracking accessories that work with Apple's Find My network. The new accessories can be used on Apple's Find My network or Pebblebee's app, which uses CrowdGPS to help you locate items and works on iOS or Android.
• Apple released iOS 15.4, iPadOS 15.4, macOS 12.4, tvOS 15.4, and watchOS 8.4. Soon after, it revealed new betas for developers and public beta testers. These will likely be the final software updates before the big reveal of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, macOS 13, and tvOS 16 at WWDC.

Enjoy your weekend

As temperatures rise, now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the day. Take photos of everything blooming with your iPhone, listen to your favorite music from your Apple Watch, and more. Whatever you do, take it all in and smile.

Until next time,

Bryan

As someone without a disability, I rarely think about how I interact with my technology. Whether I'm writing an article on my Mac, checking social media on my iPhone, or starting my favorite workout on my Apple Watch, I do it without a thought. Unfortunately, not everyone has that privilege, and many people rely on Accessibility features to use their devices.

Apple has had a pretty decent track record when it comes to releasing new Accessibility features, and they continued their streak this year. If you are someone without a disability, it may be easy to skip over this news, but I would encourage you to see the bigger picture and realize why you should care about these features even if you don't need them.

New Accessibility features are coming

Earlier this week, Apple announced upcoming Accessibility features that will launch sometime this year — no specific date was given.

The highlights? Door Detection will allow those blind or have low vision to use their iPhone and iPad to navigate the last few feet to their destination. Voice Control and Switch Control for users with physical and motor disabilities so they can fully control Apple Watch from their mobile devices via a new feature called Apple Watch Mirroring. Plus, Live Captions for the Deaf and hearing community for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

As you can see, it's not just one feature or one update to an existing feature, but several new features that Apple is working to bring to the masses that will undoubtedly help lots of people use their technology. And isn't the best iPhone the iPhone that helps as many people as possible navigate their daily lives.

Why you should care

The best part about Apple continuing to increase the number of Accessibility tools on its devices is that it will benefit everyone. You might think that you will never need these features, but you never know when you might be in a challenging situation. We're all human and can break bones, get sick, or have many other circumstances that can change our lives forever.

I experienced this firsthand a few years ago when I broke my finger and needed surgery. Suddenly, I could text on my iPhone very quickly, and typing on a keyboard for my Mac was even harder. I ended up using Voice Control heavily for about six weeks while I underwent surgery and physical rehab for my finger. This was a very mild injury, but it still challenged me in my everyday life. And you know the best part? I still use Voice Control to help me in my job today. For example, it's beneficial when I'm writing tutorials on how to use features on the iPhone because it allows me to interact with my iPhone without using my hands. This means I can go through all the steps and take the screenshots I need without taking my hands off my Mac keyboard.

Now, I am by no means saying that because I broke my finger once, I suddenly know what it's like to live with a disability. Still, it did open my eyes to the importance of Accessibility features in the devices I use every day.

We are increasingly dependent on the technology in our pockets and at our fingertips as a society. Everyone should take an interest in seeing that technology can be used by everyone, no matter what. When technology becomes more accessible, everyone wins.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is tomorrow

May 19, 2022 (that's tomorrow) is the 11th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), which is meant to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about Accessibility.

If you want to hear more about what Apple's newly announced features could mean for disabled people, I highly recommend reading Stephen Aquino's piece on Forbes. Stephen is freelance tech reporter covering Accessibility and assistive tech, and has written for iMore plenty of times in the past.

Last weekend, I covered Apple's new actions for its Pages, Keynote, and Numbers apps, which brought templates, and improved presentation modes, and data logging for spreadsheets to iWork for iOS and Mac.

In covering that update, I started to reflect on the impact just a few actions could have come from Apple's own apps — and here are my deeper thoughts on why first-party actions for Shortcuts are so important.

From Apple's side, bringing Shortcuts support to one of their actions forces cross-platform parity, highlights the features of the app and makes them more accessible, and pushes them to be even better for the next set of expected actions.

For developers, Apple adopting Shortcuts gives them a template for how to build their own actions, gives greater emphasis on the ecosystem to encourage adoption, and also gives them hooks into the everyday default apps that people are using to tie together with their own third-party apps.

And for users, they are now able to take greater advantage of what's possible, rediscover and utilize the features that are there, and can start to fully rely on Shortcuts as a true part of the iOS and macOS platforms.

Apple is better when powered by Shortcuts

Apple is a company made better by Shortcuts — the app's integration of everything the company does across hardware and software leads to the greatest ecosystem gains, and Apple should continue to develop this version of themselves with Shortcuts tied across everything they do.

When Apple brought the iWork actions from iOS to the Mac, they aligned both versions of the apps together for the first time in years — Pages, Keynote, and Numbers got Shortcuts support on iOS, but despite the launch of Shortcuts for Mac they didn't get the same actions until 4 minor releases later in iOS 15.4.

With the expectation going forward that new actions in Shortcuts will always be released simultaneously across platforms, Apple will force their own hand at developing for each platform with feature parity — Shortcuts necessarily requires first-party apps to be cross-functional.

Along with the continued development of Swift UI and Apple's efforts to bring their iPad apps to the Mac, this new expectation fits in nicely — this new era means apps should be just as good on iPhone and iPad as they are on Mac (and vice versa).

Beyond forcing cross-functional features, Shortcuts support from first-party apps also gives the apps themselves greater discoverability — in developing the Template actions for Pages, Keynote, and Numbers, I rediscovered the 150+ templates across the apps that actually solve a great number of use cases.

Plus, with actions like the new "Log value" option for Numbers, I can really take advantage of the Personal Budget by adding in my data over time in an automated fashion, thanks to Shortcuts. Previously, much of this template functionality seemed like a "nice-to-have" set of examples to reference, but Shortcuts support lets me actually put those into action and make use of them.

From my brief time working at Apple, I can attest that employees there actually use these apps — now, you don't have to work at Apple to get value out of iWork 😉.

Finally, the best part about Apple adding Shortcuts support to their apps is that, in theory, they will continue to improve them over time. Putting a stake in the ground and adding basic functionality allows users to take advantage of the actions now, provide feedback to Apple, and help them develop future versions of the actions that solve even more real use cases.

A good example is the "Log value" action from Numbers – right now, it requires manually opening the app and inserting the data; in future versions, I fully expect Apple to let users insert data in the background without opening the app at all.

In a non-Shortcuts world, logging data to Numbers at all isn't even possible without AppleScript or something much fancier; in the current Shortcuts world, it's now possible, albeit a bit cumbersome; in the next version of this Shortcuts world, there's even more possibility – and we had to take this first step to get there.—

Shortcuts has its own developer community

While Apple itself benefits from its own continued push into the Shortcuts world, a major benefit of seeing first-party actions in the wild is the effect on the developer community.

Developers often don't know which set of shortcuts to build for their apps, they look at other pro apps and decide whether to adopt Shortcuts based on what the community is doing, and the use cases can be somewhat limited based on the built-in actions or only hooking into other third-parties.

For every action that Apple develops for their own apps, third-party app developers will then have a new set of templates to model their own actions against.

Apple has provided a WWDC guide on How To Build Great Shortcuts Actions, which does lay out a very detailed set of instructions on the types of actions that are possible (and recommended) — however, taking that video and turning your app into something that's Shortcuts-capable is a different story.

Especially for a suite like iWork, developers can look at how Apple thinks about implementing Shortcuts support across three separate-yet-similar types of apps — opening files, creating new files, and interacting with data. And while this only covers part of what Apple recommends in the video, it's a great framework for getting started with your apps if you're a developer.

Even further, the Shortcuts ecosystem is only as healthy as the apps available in it, and Apple putting their main set of productivity apps for working environments into Shortcuts gives the ecosystem the air of professionalism – this tool is designed for work, and here are work apps that hook into it all.

Shortcuts for Mac brought automation to the desktop environment where most people traditionally get their work done, but if it doesn't support actual productivity apps, how can anyone get their work done?

This set from Apple is just the start, but hopefully, it encourages third-party developers that Apple will continue to push the platform, and they'll, in turn, develop even more actions themselves.

Finally, Apple's first-party actions are a boon for third-party developers because of their ubiquity among users — Apple makes all these apps, provides the suite of iWork apps for free, and in theory, they are the most commonly-used apps.

For third-party developers, that means they can generally rely on a large portion of their audience to either be familiar with or take advantage of those apps themselves. Thus, they are great targets for integrating the third-party app with the first-party app using custom shortcuts.

A great example of this is anything related to spreadsheets — prior to this release, Shortcuts users could only really rely on creating structured data using .CSV files or much deeper integrations like Airtable's API; instead, knowing that Numbers should always be available, developers could design actions that log their data into a spreadsheet for easy viewing.

In effect, the third-party app ecosystem can go from a bunch of standalone apps passing data back and forth to a true system integrated across apps that are designed to work with each other — the era of the Shortcuts-specific app is already among us and will only get better.

Shortcuts users need new actions to expand their own capabilities

Beyond the larger implications for Apple and its third-party developers, the continued support of first-party apps with Shortcuts features is incredibly important for the front-end users themselves.

Shortcuts is just a toolbox, and the actions are our tools — while the Scripting category great expands what a user can create on their own, hooking into native apps with pre-built actions is simply much easier and takes way less time.

That means that every new action given to us by Apple greatly expands the sandbox we can play in — Apple gave us nine actions for iWork, and I was able to create 200 individual shortcuts out of it (and that was just the beginning).

As I mentioned above, Shortcuts support gives new life to features of apps that were previously available but not often used.

The templates in Pages make becoming a writer possible, the Keynote rehearse and show modes might've been easy to miss. The Numbers data logging gives a lot of possible use cases the realistic potential for getting utilized. Shortcuts can make what's otherwise viewed as "the default apps you delete right away" instead of a core set of productivity tools that guide core areas of your life.

Plus, not only can you get more out of all your apps, but it's easy to actually utilize them regularly.

Rather than dread opening your novel to make progress on it, you can tie in your shortcut with other actions like Control Home, Play Music, and even Run Script over SSH to set the lighting just right, play your writing playlist, set up your favorite Mac just how you want it – all triggered from Siri.

Or, if you're logging data with Numbers, a series of Scripting actions can prompt you to fill out your data and collect it right in your spreadsheet — you don't have to hunt and peck through all the columns and rows to make sure everything is correct.

Even the Keynote actions make the presentation tool seem more accessible, as if it could be a good way for me to structure and practice storytelling for the videos I make – perhaps there's a Theme you can adopt and take advantage of in a unique way in your own life.

Perhaps the most significant effect of Apple adopting first-party actions for their own apps is the signal it sends to users that Shortcuts is part of how Apple apps work now and that it's here to stay.

Apple has explicitly stated that Shortcuts is the future of automation on the Mac, and the multi-year transition that is occurring in many ways means Shortcuts isn't entirely the present of automation on the Mac — Apple's core set of iWork apps only getting proper actions near the end of this year's cycle matches up with that.

But since that is to be expected (thanks to Apple saying so), it does give folks time to move over and adopt the app's larger ecosystem — for each first-party app that Apple adds actions for, this effect will be even greater.

Early adopters like me will dig in the second these are available, but your everyday Mac user doesn't want to wait for iWork actions — they want to show up and have it all working perfectly. The sooner Apple develops these actions for all their apps, and gives the community time to provide feedback and shape them to be even better, then the sooner the larger Shortcuts community will flourish by actually using the actions too.

First-party actions make Shortcuts the future of automation

Apple's continued commitment to Shortcuts as the future of automation on the Mac (and iOS) is reinforced by their adoption of actions for the first-party apps they've developed.

Beyond the native actions already available, the iWork suite for Pages, Keynote, and Numbers marks a major step forward from the Cupertino company in pushing Shortcuts as part of how you get work done on Apple devices. The signal that this sends to their own internal teams, the developer community, and Shortcuts users themselves is a great sign, especially ahead of WWDC in just a few weeks.

I can't wait to see how Apple leads the way, how developers follow, and what we users can end up doing with it all — it's a great time to begin your own journey towards the future of automation as an Apple user.

This week, Luke, Karen, Steven, and special guest Rene Ritchie discuss the legacy of the iPod.

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• Shock iPhone 15 leak claims 2023 could see USB-C coming to iPhone | iMore
• After 20 years, the Apple iPod is no more | iMore
• iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max screen sizes potentially leaked | iMore
• Famed engineer creates world's first USB-C AirPods | iMore

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With WWDC 2022 fast approaching, I certainly expected this week to be filled with potential rumors of new software features, perhaps some rumors about hardware that may be coming up, but I wasn't expecting to hear of a death in the Apple family. It wasn't all bad news though, the rumor mill for the iPhone 15 (yes, 15) picked up right at the end of the week to remind of that the world, does, in fact, keep turning.

The iPod will always be special

At the beginning of this week, Apple released a somewhat bizarre press release titled The music lives on, which informed all of us that the 7th-gen iPod Touch will only be available as supplies last.

I was surprisingly shocked at the announcement, even though the death of the iPod could be seen from miles away. It's hard to imagine the death of the device that was so pivotal in Apple's growth as a company. In fact, I would say that it was the device that launched Apple into the cultural zeitgeist as it had never been before.

Those colorful ads with the dancing silhouettes were iconic, and I remember them being everywhere. TV, billboards, magazines, you name it.

Everyone has an iPod story. Whether it's about the first iPod you owned, the first iPod you really loved the design, or you just had iPod envy when you couldn't get your hands on one, seemingly everyone has some sort of memory of the device.

That's not just me getting nostalgic, I have the recipes to price it. This week on the iMore Show, Karen, Stephen, Rene Ritchie, and I all talked about the iPod at length. We reminisced about the first iPod we ever had, what we thought of the product that the time, and even shared some fun personal stories. It's nice to look back and rememeber the days where Apple was first starting to get into our pockets (and wallets) in a big way.

So, after over 20 years, the iPod is done. But it shall not be forgotten.

USB-C on the iPhone, finally?

It seems like ever year, we wonder if Apple will finally ditch the Lightning port on its best iPhone in favor of the more "universal" USB-C port. I put universal in quotes, becuase USB-C can actually be quite messy. Some cables and ports only support power delivery, some support data transfer, but only some can give you the full benefits. Regardless of it's somewhat muddied applications, USB-C is a more standard port that lots of devices have been switched over in the past several years.

In a new report by Mark Gurman, it appears we could see the USB-C on the iPhone in 2023 — that would be the iPhone 15 if the naming convention holds up until then.

While I'm excited fore the idea of a USB-C iPhone, I also have heard this rumor before. And even though both Ming-Chi Kuo and Gurman have pretty good track records, I'll choose to believe that USB-C is coming to the iPhone when I see it with my own two eyes.

That being said, it seems like it would be about damn time for Apple to do this, especially since ProRes video on the iPhone 13 Pro produces massive files that could benefit from USB-C data transfer speeds when you want to move those videos off your iPhone and on to your computer.

A good reminder the world keeps turning

This week was a good reminder that no matter how shocking the tech industry can be, it always keeps turning. We started the week with some sad — albeit not unwarranted news — and ended the week with some rumors that might not even come to fruition until 2023!

Until next time,

- Luke

It ended with a press release no one expected, but no one can honestly say it was all that surprising.

On Tuesday, Apple announced that after over 20 years, the iPod lineup was coming to an end once the iPod touch inventory is exhausted. In an age when iPhone long ago overtook iPod as Apple's most popular product, today's news isn't happy or sad but does officially end an era many of us won't soon forget.

Released on October 23, 2001, weeks after 9/11, the first iPod filled a void few of us knew existed. In our hands was a device, when connected to our Mac (and later Windows machines), could download our favorite music from iTunes for listening on the go.

Over two decades, the iPod lineup grew considerably. The traditional iPod eventually became the iPod Classic and was later followed by the iPod mini, iPod nano, and iPod Shuffle. Finally, in September 2007, Apple released the iPod touch, best described as an iPhone without a phone. It launched just months after the first iPhone.

Interestingly, the arrival of that first-generation iPod touch started the iPod lineup's long decline, although we didn't know it at the time.

There was only one iPhone in 2007. That first-generation model was much more expensive than anything in the iPod lineup, saying nothing about the monthly service agreement that was also required. Today, iPhones remain among the most expensive smartphones on the planet. And yet, there are now seven models to choose from at various price points. Yes, all of them are (still) much more expensive than the almost extinct iPod touch. And yet, we also live in a different time when real-time audio AND video streaming is essential, not just for adults, but for their kiddos who are much more likely to carry one of the best iPhones than the generation before.

Although I haven't owned an iPod for many years, today's news bums me out. With some renewed love and innovation, I'm convinced Apple could have done something to spark renewed interest in iPod. Doing so, however, would have probably meant spending lots of resources to separate it from iPhone so it could be reborn as a much different product. Unfortunately, that's not the path Apple took. And because of this, it's time to say goodbye.

White, in bright colors, with or without a mechanical scroll wheel, with a beautiful display or not, iPod will truly be missed. Thankfully, the music continues to play across other Apple devices.

Not ready to say goodbye? Order one of the last iPod touch models before they run out!

Goodbye, iPod, 2001-22.

This week Luke, Karen, and special guest Christine Romero-Chan look ahead and talk about their hopes for iOS 16.

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Links

• This weird Apple Music bug could get Apple in more antitrust hot water | iMore
• Apple slashes trade-in values by up to 42% for Macs, iPads, Apple Watch | iMore
• Stunning new 'After Steve' book promises unseen look inside Apple | iMore
• A historic Apple store is set for demolition later this year | iMore
• The Mac continues to grow in a declining PC market | iMore
• Apple shows how the people behind Star Wars create iconic sounds using Macs | iMore
• UK government summons Elon Musk to explain his Twitter buyout plans, discuss free speech, and more | iMore
• What Apple needs to include in iOS 16 | iMore

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At this point in the Apple calendar, most of us are starting to get our hopes up for a blockbuster WWDC week that gives us our first glimpse at the future of Apple's platforms.

But not everyone is looking forward to it, with Tripp Mickle's new book, After Steve, debuting this week. It lifts the lid on some of the biggest developments inside Apple in the last decade while analyzing the company's shift "from a company of innovation to one of operational excellence." It looks sure to be an interesting read.

WWDC wishes

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to kick off on June 6. For Apple watchers, WWDC is possibly the most exciting event of the year, as it gives us our first glimpse at the future of Apple's software across its various products.

With the keynote under a month away, we've put together our wish lists for iOS 16, iPadOS 16, watchOS 9, and macOS 13. These are well worth checking out for those interested in the future of Apple platforms.

In her iOS 16 wish list, Christine Romero-Chan outlined her hopes for a more customizable Home screen with interactive widgets. She also wants to see an overhaul in the Home app and a Google Pixel-style Magic Eraser tool in the Photos app.

On the iPad side, I'm personally hoping for a fundamental rethinking of iPadOS after two years of iterative updates. My iPadOS 16 wish list includes features like dedicated 'desktop' and 'HomeKit hub' modes, support for Apple's pro apps, and improved multitasking. Interactive widgets and multi-user support also make my list.

Our Mac expert Bryan M. Wolfe laid out five macOS 13 predicitons, in which he expects more blurring of the line between mobile and desktop plus the possibility for "mammoth" changes, while our Apple Watch aficionado Luke Filipowicz calls for some essential quality of life improvements in watchOS 9 this year.

If you are a developer and want to attend the in-person WWDC22 keynote screening in June, you can now apply online from tomorrow.

Apple after Steve

While team iMore has been looking ahead to WWDC, the Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has been revisiting Apple's last decade in his new book After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul.

The book offers more detail on some of the standout stories in recent Apple history including the company's purchase of Beats, the development of Apple Watch, the Scott Forstall and Apple Maps debacle, and much more, while examining the tension between CEO Tim Cook and design chief Jony Ive's respective philosophies.

Since Apple is so secretive, it's always fun to get the inside scoop on the goings-on in Cupertino. From the excerpts I've seen so far, this book seems to be full of new stories and insight into previously-known stories, with Mickle having spoken to over 200 current and former employees, along with other key figures. I expect After Steve is going to be a must-read for tech nerds and Apple fans.

iPhone 14

It wouldn't be a week in Apple world without some iPhone 14 news. In the last week or so we've seen a few iPhone 14 stories break, including leaked iPhone 14 display panels that suggest only the Pro models will get the new notch design.

Apple's partner Foxconn is also said to be on a recruitment drive to help with iPhone 14 production. According to the report, Apple has asked Foxconn to step up its recruitment plans early in order to attempt to avoid delays and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recruitment was subsequently paused, however, after a seven-day lockdown was imposed on the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, where the world's largest iPhone factory is based.

The iPhone is Apple's most important product, as the company's recent quarterly results showed once again, so it's no surprise that the rumors concerning the next best iPhone seemingly never stop.

We won't see the iPhone 14 until the fall, but Apple will soon be ramping up production in an assembly process that runs like clockwork in a regular year. It will be interesting to see if China's current lockdown policies will have an impact on Apple's ability to produce iPhone 14 models at the scale required or if we might see limited supply at launch or even a slightly later than normal product unveiling.

A fond farewell

Though you'll see my name on the site for a few more days, it's worth mentioning that this will be my final Editor's Desk column at iMore. Next week is my last at the site (for now, at least, who knows what the future holds!?).

Leaving iMore, a site I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for over the last year (and reading for many more years before that), was certainly a tough decision to make. I'll still be around on the internet after a couple of weeks of vacation, so be sure to follow me on Twitter if you want to know what's next for me.

As always, thanks for reading!

— Adam

It's almost May, which means we're about a month away from the 2022 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). For those who cover Apple, it's a quiet time on the calendar, better known as the calm before the storm. While this week involved the usual set of iPhone 14 rumors, rather than rehash those types of stories, I'm using this Editor's Desk to highlight a product Apple discontinued nearly 15 months ago, a 6-year-old software problem, before shifting the focus to some discussion on my favorite new series of 2022, "Severance." Some odds and ends will follow.

The HomePod revisited

Apple surprisingly ended the original HomePod's reign in March 2021 without offering a replacement. The head-scratching decision came just four months after the colorful HomePod mini made its debut.

Word this week suggests Apple could eventually launch an Apple TV/HomePod hybrid. Until then, it seems many people are filling the HomePod void ... by making new and used HomePod purchases online.

The HomePod, which first launched in 2018, was priced at $299 for most of its life. Today, those same units sell for about $700 on eBay when new and sealed in a box. Used items are selling for upwards of $500.

You can't blame rampant inflation for these premium prices. Instead, it proves people are still in love with the odd-shaped HomePod, for which there's currently no equal. Although the HomePod mini is a fine Siri speaker, it was never intended to replace the original.

Sometimes Apple makes a decision that doesn't make sense — killing off the HomePod prematurely is perhaps No. 1 on this list.

Is a used HomePod worth $500? It is in households with existing HomePods where expansion is essential and even for newbies who live entirely in the Apple ecosystem.

Looking forward, while an Apple TV/HomePod hybrid sounds exciting, a better path for Apple would be to release a second-generation HomePod and call it a day. May I suggest an HomePod Air or HomePod Max, Apple?

What's up with AirDrop?

During our staff meeting each week, we analyze the most popular stories on the website for the past seven days. Near the top of that list consistently is an article that was first published in 2016, entitled, "AirDrop not working? Here's the fix."

We love the eyeballs this how-to post continues to generate. Yet, it suggests Apple might benefit from taking another look at the feature and resolving what is apparently a long-running miss. AirDrop makes it possible to transfer files remotely between close-range Macs and mobile devices like the best iPhones. When it works, AirDrop is a time-saver and a magical one. But, unfortunately, it doesn't work all the time.

I don't know why AirDrop suddenly stops working for so many people. It's likely a software glitch caused by Bluetooth or Wi-Fi that can be fixed by following our guide's steps. We're glad we can help; it's what we do. And yet, a company claiming to make products that "just work" shouldn't have an issue like this still unresolved after all these years.

Perhaps the next versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS will finally resolve the AirDrop issue and allow our visitors to find far more exciting articles to read!

Being Severed is good

Online and among family and friends, I'm often asked which television series I recommend. The Apple TV+ series, "Severance," remains at the top of that list. Already renewed for a second season, the Ben Stiller helmed drama will pick up lots of awards later this year for its stars and writers, and deservingly so.

"Severance" is a difficult show to describe and explain and not something anyone should jump into expecting to get all the questions answered even after the nine episodes of the first season. But, I promise you this: even though you might struggle through a few of the early episodes, you'll be completely hooked and want more by the end of the finale.

As a starting point, take a look at the original "Severance" trailer, then check out these iMore articles:

• 'Severance' creator says the idea came from their own 'meaningless' jobs
• Tell-all book goes inside Lumon, the secretive company behind 'Severance'
• Apple has created a disturbing LinkedIn page for TV+ show 'Severance'

Then, when you're officially 'severed," listen to the newly released Apple Music "Severance" playlist.

Odds and Ends

Here are some other things I've been thinking about during the week that was:

• Apple recently sent me a souped-up Mac Studio to put through the paces for a review, which you can expect to see published in a week or two. Early on, it's clear this is a fantastic Mac, but one that's not for everyone. Still, its release does suggest when the Mac lineup could be heading, which I'll discuss in more length in the review.
• If you ever wondered whether the iMore team works together physically or only remotely, consider this. For the first time since the pandemic began, a group of us are having meetings next week at Future headquarters in New York City. It will be the first time many of us have met in person and the first time in over three years at least some of us were in the same room. (Yes, we've always worked remotely as a team, even pre-COVID-19.)
• Finally, even though I'm not a hard-core baseball fan, I've enjoyed watching snippets of Apple TV+'s new "Friday Night Baseball" coverage. The live broadcasts feature great technological advances that make the games feel more immersive. It makes me hope even more that Apple gets the rights to "NFL Sunday Ticket," beginning in 2023, which now appears more likely.

Enjoy your weekend,

- Bryan

This week, Luke, Karen, and Stephen talk about plenty of iPhone rumors, Apple's first foray into live sports, and some Twitter news.

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Links

• Apple planning major low-power upgrade for Apple Watch, says Gurman | iMore
• Baseball on Apple TV Plus slaughtered by furious fans on opening night | iMore
• Gurman: Apple TV and HomePod could be merged into one device | iMore
• iPhone 14 to get major FaceTime camera upgrade, says Kuo | iMore
• Kuo: iPhone without notch or hole-punch may debut in 2024 with under-display camera | iMore
• iPhone 14 case schematics show that the iPhone mini is dead | iMore
• Netflix will have ads in 'the next year or two' to arrest subscriber exodus | iMore
• The iPhone 13 is the best selling iPhone in years | iMore
• Elon Musk offers to buy all of Twitter for $41 billion and "transform it" | iMore

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Hosts

• Karen Freeman
• Luke Filipowicz
• Stephen Warwick

Be part of the show!

Send in your comments, questions, feedback, or follow-up to:

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• Twitter: @iMore with hashtag #askimore
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It's spring for most people, which is typically a time of enjoying flowers, the trees budding, the warm sun air, and the promise of summer. Unfortunately, my city never got the memo. Yes, up here in my part of Canada we've been dealing with a blizzard this week — it's Winter 2: Winter with Vengeance.

Still, while I tried to keep warm this week, plenty of interesting news in the tech sphere in general, and of course, some rumors about Apple's upcoming plans. Let's dive in.

Focus better with improved Focus in iOS 16?

Focus was one of the standout features from iOS 15, and it's something that I have come to use a lot in my life. And, apparently, it may be getting some big changes in iOS 16.

While the report didn't really speculate about what those changes might be, it did seem to shed some light on what software will run the new Focus modes. It seems that Focus modes in iOS 16 won't run on IOS 15, meaning you'll need to update to the new software to take advantage of the feature.

Seems crazy that a feature that just launched is already being gatekept to the newest software — I can only hope this means big changes are afoot.

I use Focus all the time on my best iPhone. Every day while working, I have my work Focus running which blocks notifications from most things except work-related apps and a few select people in my life. When I sleep I have a Focus to block calls, and when I need some zen time I have one that only lets my partner's message get through. I'll be really interested to see what Apple's planning for Focus in iOS 16.

The Twitter apocalypse of 2022?

Love it or hate it, Twitter is an extremely important and popular social media app, and it's been making headlines for over a week since Elon Musk amassed quite a large amount of shares in the company.

Just this week, Elon has made an offer to buy Twitter for over 40 billion — with a "b" — dollars. " Being the world's wealthiest person clearly has its perks.

In a letter filed to the SEC Musk told Bret Taylor, Chairman of the Board:

However, since making my investment I now realize the company will neither thrive nor serve this societal imperative in its current form. Twitter needs to be transformed as a private company."

He went on to say that Twitter has potential and that he will unlock it, which is exactly that big chest-beating talk I expect to hear from the man. I've seen his Tweets — he doesn't really hide his ego.

Depending on what you think of Musk, his politics, and Twitter's current handling of its services so far, it seems like you either see this news as devasting or fantastic. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of Musk, and with Twitter being my favorite and most-used social media, I worry if he does buy 100% of Twitter, what might happen. But, he's teased the addition of being able to edit Tweets, so maybe I should try to look at the glass as half full.

TikTok adding dislikes — I hope it helps spam

In yet more social media news, TikTok is testing out the ability to allow users to dislike comments. The move, TikTok says, will mean that it will be able to use the additional data as a way to proactively remove abusive content.

If you've ever been on TikTok — or any social media, really — inappropriate and abusive content is a huge problem, and trying to collect more data from users is a good way to get additional input from the community about content that shouldn't be on there in the first place.

According to TikTok, only the person who dislikes the comment will see that they did, which I suppose is its way of getting around the "dislike bombing" issue that causes YouTube to remove dislikes altogether.

Honestly, I hope this feature not only helps with abusive content but also helps deal with spam. Spam on social media has been getting horrendous and it's a massive problem that not only is annoying but actually hurts people. Just watch this video from the popular tech YouTuber, MKBHD, to see a first-hand account of how spam is affect his channel and YouTube as a whole.

Scroll through any popular video on TikTok and you'll see the exact same kind of stuff that Marques is talking about. Of course, no system will ever be perfect, but hopfeully TikTok can use this new data to help combat the issue more than they are now.

Thanks for reading,

- Luke

iMore is delighted to announce that we have partnered with the incredible people at Grid Studio to give away some fantastic prizes to five of our lucky readers.

Grid Studio is a company that takes old and nostalgic pieces of tech, fashioning them into eye-catching works of art that are the perfect addition to any office or home. They take devices like Apple's best iPhones of yesteryear, disassembling them to create artwork, and now you could be in with a chance of winning some absolutely free!

iMore and Grid Studio are giving away not one, not two, but five prizes.

Grid 1

The grand prize is Grid's Studio 1, a framed original iPhone, first pioneered by Apple back in 2007. This is an incredibly rare piece and retails on Grid's website for $399.

Grid 4S and 5

Next, we have two runners-up prizes, the Grid 4S and Grid 5, housing a disassembled iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 respectively worth $139 each.

Grid A7 and A5X

Finally, two lucky winners will receive one of Grid's acrylic iPhone chips, either the A7 or the A5X, worth $39.99 each.

How to enter

To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is follow the instructions in the widget below. Once you've logged in, you can increase your chances by carrying out the different prompts! The giveaway will run for three weeks from **March 25, with entries closing at midnight ET on April 15.

Enter for a chance to win an incredible piece of iPhone artwork from Grid Studio

Winners will be announced the following week and prizes will be shipped by Grid Studio. You must be a resident of either the United States or the UK in order to enter.

You can check out Grid Studio's full range of nostalgic art on its website, where the company sells not only Apple products but also retro games consoles like the Game Boy and even other phones including BlackBerry.