Apple’s all-new MacBook Air is here! In line with our report from late June, Apple has begun taking orders for the new laptop ahead of its release next week.
This week also saw the release of the third set of developer betas for iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and other upcoming updates, and we expect the public betas to debut next week. Finally, we keep hearing rumors about Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch product line, so read below for details on all of these stories!
Apple is now accepting pre-orders for a new MacBook Air with the M2 chip
Apple on Friday began accepting orders for the new MacBook Air equipped with the M2 chip, after announcing the date earlier in the week to confirm our exclusive report from last month. The first customer deliveries and in-store availability will begin a week later on Friday, July 15, but launch day availability is already starting to dwindle.
The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a slightly larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, flatter edges and new color options. The notebook features MagSafe charging, an improved 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and more.
iOS 16 Beta 3 is out: Here’s what’s new
This week, Apple released the third beta versions of iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16, and several new features were added to the platforms.
We’ve unpacked everything new in the latest iOS 16 beta for iPhone, including a new Lock Mode that offers ‘extreme’ security for high-profile individuals targeted by state-sponsored spyware, a new Clownfish wallpaper inspired by the original iPhone, Lock changes on screen etc.
Apple also enabled two new features in the latest beta versions: iCloud Shared Photo Library and AFib History.
Apple announces new iOS 16 lock mode with “extreme” level of security
Apple has shared more details about the new lock mode enabled in the third beta versions of iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura this week.
Lock Mode is located in the Settings app under Privacy & Security. When enabled, Apple said the optional feature provides an “extreme” level of security by strictly limiting or disabling the functionality of features, apps and websites, such as Safari, Messages and FaceTime.
iCloud Shared Photo Library support added in the latest iOS 16 and macOS Ventura Betas
The new iCloud Shared Photo Library feature that Apple previewed at WWDC was enabled in the third beta versions of iOS 16 and macOS Ventura this week.
iCloud Shared Photo Library is designed to make it easier for you to share photos with your family members or friends. The feature allows you and up to five other people to add, edit or remove photos in a shared library accessible across multiple devices via iCloud.
Apple Watch Series 8 may be able to detect fever
Apple Watch Series 8 models to be released later this year will be able to detect if you have a fever if the feature passes final testing, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in the latest edition of his newsletter.
Fever detection is also expected to be a feature of a new “rugged” version of the Apple Watch Series 8, which is rumored to include a rugged metal body, a larger and more shatter-resistant screen, and a larger battery.
Apple’s latest chips will remain exclusive to professional models for the iPhone 15 and later
Back in March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that only the iPhone 14 Pro models would be upgraded with Apple’s latest A16 chip this year, with the standard iPhone 14 models sticking with the A15 chip.
It wasn’t clear if this would be a one-off change due to ongoing chip shortages, but Kuo now claims that the trend of only Pro models getting Apple’s latest chip will continue with the iPhone 15 series and beyond.
MacRumors Newsletter
Every week we publish an email newsletter like this one highlighting Apple’s top stories, making it a great way to get a quick summary of the week, covering all the major topics we’ve covered and linking related stories for a big picture view.
So if you want to get top stories like the roundup above delivered to your inbox every week, Subscribe to our newsletter!
Add Comment