Review: Ultimate Ears' EVERBOOM Bluetooth Speaker Packs a Punch With a Rugged Design
Logitech subsidiary Ultimate Ears has been in the portable wireless speaker market for over a decade now, gradually building a full set of models across a range of sizes, power, and price points. The most recent addition to the lineup is the EVERBOOM, a mid-range speaker that debuted a few months ago. I've been testing one out and I've found it to be a handy and capable speaker in a variety of settings. Priced at $249.99, the EVERBOOM sits in the middle of the Ultimate Ears lineup, which currently ranges from the WONDERBOOM 4 at $99.99 all the way up to the HYPERBOOM at $399.99. Like many of Ultimate Ears' speakers, the EVERBOOM is designed for an active lifestyle, offering IP67 water and dust resistance to stand up to not just splashes but full dunks in water. The speaker even floats, and it's been drop tested from a height of one meter. The EVERBOOM is more or less an elliptic cylinder, measuring a little over 8 inches (200 mm) high, 4.3 inches (110 mm) wide, and 3.25 inches (85 mm) deep. Aside from plastic toward the top and bottom of the speaker, it is wrapped entirely in a speaker mesh, with Ultimate Ears touting 360-degree sound. In reality, the audio largely comes from the two sides of the speaker, but with them firing in opposite directions, you do indeed get pretty solid sound projection all around. The EVERBOOM includes a pair of full-range transducers paired with two customized passive radiators to help deliver full sound from the relatively small form factor. I found sound quality to be quite good, with the 360-degree sound easily filling even a fairly large room and remaining quite audible and well-balanced outdoors. It can get quite loud if you turn it up, although distortion becomes a bit of an issue as you start to max it out in more enclosed environments. Volume is easily controlled right from the speaker with the huge iconic plus and minus buttons on the front. They're a bold design decision, but they make an Ultimate Ears speaker pretty much instantly recognizable. Pressing both of them simultaneously while the speaker is powered on gives you a general sense of battery level with some lights hidden behind the mesh up at the top. An Outdoor Boost mode can be activated with a button on the speaker or from within the UE | BOOM app, offering a bit more punch with the sound output optimized for outdoor spaces. The increase in bass is definitely noticeable when it's turned on. Speaking of the UE | BOOM app, it offers an array of functionality for managing one or more speakers from the Utimate Ears lineup. You can of course use the EVERBOOM as a standalone Bluetooth speaker right from the options on your iPhone or other device, but the app includes features like an equalizer, the ability to link multiple speakers, and more. With PARTYUP mode, you can sync up to 150 speakers from the UE lineup to maximize your sound. The app also offers convenient controls for changing tracks and volumes, turning the speaker on and off, activating Outdoor Boost, and activating a Microphone mode that lets you broadcast your voice over the speaker via your phone. The equalizer panel offers five preset configurations: a flat Signature curve, a Bass Boost setting that does just what you'd expect, a Cramped Spaces option that drops the mids a bit, a Deep Relaxation mode that drops the treble way down, and a Podcast/Vocal setting that drops the bass. Any of these presets can be customized via five sliders spanning the various frequencies. Another handy aspect of the UE | BOOM app is management of the Magic Button, which is a function of the play/pause hardware button on the speaker itself. The play/pause button offers the usual functionality with a single press playing or pausing music, a double press skipping forward, and a triple press skipping backward. But there's also a fourth function, and that's a long press to activate the Magic Button. In the app, you can configure the Magic Button to activate a playlist from either Apple Music or Amazon Music. It requires connecting the UE | BOOM app to those services, at which point you'll be able to see all of your saved playlists and select up to four of them to link to the Magic Button. A long press on the button on the speaker immediately starts the first playlist you've configured, and subsequent long presses will cycle through your selected playlists. Overall, the app only gets middling reviews from users, with some citing Bluetooth connection problems and ads covering important controls, but I haven't experienced any of those issues in my testing, so hopefully they've been resolved. Beneath the buttons on the top of the EVERBOOM is an NFC chip that allows for quick pairing and switching with Android devices. It doesn't currently work with iOS devices, but perhaps it will at some point in the future as Apple gradually opens up the NFC capabilities of its devices. The EVERBOOM offers up to 20 hours of battery life and a Bluetooth range of up to 55 meters (180 feet), offering solid flexibility while on the go. A small loop on the back of the speaker and an included carabiner make it easy to hang the EVERBOOM from a backpack, tent, or other convenient spot. It recharges over USB-C, with the device's port located at the bottom rear behind a flap that helps prevent water intrusion. The EVERBOOM is available now for $249.99 from Ultimate Ears and Amazon in Azure Blue or Charcoal Black. Lilac and Raspberry color options are currently sold out. Alongside the EVERBOOM launch in June, Ultimate Ears also refreshed its WONDERBOOM, BOOM, and MEGABOOM speakers with USB-C ports and new colors in 100% post-consumer recycled fabric. The BOOM and MEGABOOM also received enhanced deep bass radiators while the WONDERBOOM added an audio mode optimized for podcasts. Note: Ultimate Ears provided MacRumors with the EVERBOOM for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Ultimate Ears and Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.Tag: Ultimate EarsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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EU Consumer Group Summarizes How Apple Fails to Comply With DMA
There are a number of ways that Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta, ByteDance, and Microsoft are failing to comply with the Digital Markets Act, according to an analysis published by the European Consumer Organization (BEUC). The BEUC advocates for consumer rights and provides guidance to European lawmakers. In regard to Apple, the BEUC outlines several ways that the company's DMA compliance efforts fall short, but it is worth noting that Apple has addressed many of these issues in its most recent DMA updates, which will be implemented starting later in 2024. Apple creates unnecessary steps to impede or deter users from switching to alternative app stores or downloading apps outside of the App Store. Apple does not make it easy for consumers to change their default settings. Apple's browser choice screen does not provide enough information for consumers to make an effective choice, and the choice screen is "confusing, complex and creates negative friction." Apple uses non-neutral language to scare consumers away from choosing alternative payment services or subscribing to cheaper services outside of an app. This is in reference to the disclosure screens that Apple presents when consumers use alternative payments. Apple does not allow end users to easily uninstall first-party apps, and while Safari can be deleted by the end of 2024, Apple was required to allow that feature by March. Apple does not provide adequate compliance reports to the European Commission, and has delayed the implementation of some of its DMA measures, a "blatant violation" of the DMA. Many of the DMA changes that Apple announced last month make the report outdated, and the BEUC does acknowledge that Apple plans to implement tweaks to its DMA compliance. The BEUC says that the "precise details" of Apple's changes "will need to be evaluated." The report is clearly of the opinion, however, that Apple is taking too long to implement these features. Most of the updates will be made before the end of the year, while some others won't be enabled until spring 2025. Here's what Apple changed to better comply with the DMA: New default apps will be able to be set for phone calls, messaging, password managers, keyboards, navigation, translation, and call spam filters. There is a new Default Apps section in the Settings app, which specifically addresses one of the complaints in the BEUC's report. It was confusing to consumers to have to go to the "Safari" settings to manage a non-Safari default browser. Safari, ‌App Store‌, Messages, Camera, and Photos apps will be able to be deleted. The browser selection screen shown to consumers at setup will include a description about the browser, an option to set a default right from the screen, and a requirement to scroll all the way down before choosing a browser. When a default browser that is not Safari is selected, that browser's icon will replace Safari's icon on the Home Screen or Dock. For other tech companies, the BEUC targeted Meta's cross-service ads and messaging interoperability, Google's self-preferencing in search results and personal data use across services, Amazon's self-preferencing and difficulty unsubscribing from services, TikTok's personal data consent implementation, and Microsoft's customer consent screen for the use of data across services. The European Commission will likely take the recommendations from the BEUC into account when taking further action on the way tech companies are complying with the Digital Markets Act. The report says that it is not an exhaustive assessment of compliance with every provision of the DMA, and is instead focused on issues relevant to consumers. Apple's fees for developers, for example, would not fall under the scope of the report, so the company could also face changes to its DMA compliance in areas not mentioned here.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Seeds Ninth visionOS 2 Beta to Developers
Apple today released the ninth beta of an upcoming visionOS 2 update to developers, with the beta coming a week after the eighth beta. Registered developers are able to opt into the betas by opening up the Settings app on their device, going to the Software Update Section, tapping on the "Beta Updates" option, and toggling on the Developer Beta. Note that an Apple ID associated with a developer account is required to download and install the beta. ‌visionOS 2‌ is able to take the depth information from 2D photos and turn them into 3D photos using advanced machine learning. Apple says that the feature is meant to add depth to photos to make memories more immersive. There are new hand gestures for activating the Home View and Control Center, and the Home View is also now customizable with apps able to be rearranged. Travel Mode now includes support for trains, and Guest User profiles are now saved for 30 days so guests don't have to do the setup process every time they try out the headset. Later in the year, Mac Virtual Display will support higher resolution and larger sized virtual displays, which Apple says will be equivalent to two 4K monitors side by side. With an AirPlay update, the Vision Pro can serve as an ‌AirPlay‌ receiver, so content from the iPhone, iPad, or Mac can be shared to the headset. The Mindfulness app can track and respond to breathing patterns using the camera for an improved meditation experience, and the Vision Pro supports Bluetooth mice with ‌visionOS 2‌.Related Roundups: visionOS, visionOS 2Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Sonos End of Summer Sale Introduces Savings on Ace Headphones, Arc Soundbar, and More
Sonos has expanded its Labor Day sale from over the weekend with more discounts, including $50 off the new Sonos Ace over-ear headphones. You can also save on the Roam 2 smart speaker, Arc soundbar, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Sonos. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. With this discount, the Sonos Ace are available for $399, down from $449. These headphones launched back in May as a direct competitor to the AirPods Max. They support spatial audio, Dolby Atmos, dynamic head tracking, and a 30 hour battery life. UP TO $180 OFFSonos End of Summer Sale This sale also includes a collection of bundles of devices like the Arc soundbar, Sub Mini, Era 100 speaker, Move 2 speaker, and more. We've added a few of these bundles to the list below, but be sure to browse the Sonos website to see everything on sale before it ends on September 8. Sonos Ace Headphones - $399 ($50 off) Sonos Ace (2x) Headphones - $798 ($100 off) Roam 2 Speaker - $143 ($36 off) Sonos Ace Headphones + Arc Soundbar - $1,280 ($68 off) Arc Soundbar + Move 2 Speaker - $1,208 ($140 off) Sub Mini + 2x Era 100 Speakers - $832 ($95 off) Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Huawei Aims to Upstage Sep 9 Apple Event With Tri-Fold Phone Debut
Huawei has announced a September 10 event where the Chinese company plans to unveil the world's first tri-folding smartphone, with the timing of the event an apparently deliberate attempt to upstage Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 reveal. Huawei teaser showing tri-fold shape Huawei hasn't yet officially shown off the pocketable phone, which reportedly has a 10-inch display when completely unfolded, but the company has shared a teaser on Weibo that depicts a device with three folding sides in a sort of reverse Z-shape, leaving little to the imagination about what's headlining the event. Concepts of a three-fold device have not been in short supply over the years, but Huawei clearly thinks it can bring one to market, although DSCC analyst Ross Young has suggested that it will be the most expensive smartphone yet. The company's consumer and automotive technology executive Richard Yu called it an "epoch-making product." The Huawei event is scheduled for September 10 at 2:30 p.m. China Standard Time. That translates to 11.30 p.m. Pacific Time on September 9, so the same day of Apple's "It's Glowtime" event for observers on the US West Coast. Apart from the foldable, new smartwatches and an electric car are also expected to be announced by Huawei on stage. Huawei's recent resurgence has significantly challenged Apple's position in the Chinese smartphone market. According to research firm Canalys, Apple's standing in China has notably declined, with the company falling out of the top five smartphone vendors by market share in the second quarter of 2023. In stark contrast, Huawei has experienced a remarkable upswing during the same period. The company saw its smartphone shipments in China surge by 41% compared to the same quarter last year, marking the fastest growth rate among the top five brands in the country. Apple is unlikely to release a foldable iPhone before 2027, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. Apple is widely expected to release a large-screen foldable iPad or MacBook to kick-off its foray into the product category‌.Tags: Foldable iPhone, HuaweiThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone SE 4 to Complete Apple's Switch to OLED Across iPhone Lineup
Apple is expected to launch a fourth-generation iPhone SE early next year with an OLED display for the first time, marking the completion of Apple's adoption of OLED technology across all iPhone models. According to Nikkei Asia, the move away from LCD displays will exclude two longstanding Japanese panel makers, Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp, from Apple's iPhone supply chain. In 2017, Apple introduced OLED screens with the iPhone X. Since then, OLED displays have replaced LCD screens in Apple's high-end iPhone models. This shift has significantly impacted LCD suppliers. In 2015, JDI and Sharp provided about 200 million LCD panels yearly for iPhones. However, by 2023, this number had decreased dramatically to around 20 million. Recently, Apple's gradual adoption of OLED has seen both Japanese LCD makers supply for just iPhone SE models. JDI currently only supplies small OLED displays for devices such as the Apple Watch. JDI is now focusing on revamping its business strategy around LCDs for automotive applications, while Sharp is scaling back its LCD business, which was primarily for TVs. Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly begun placing orders for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE from China's BOE Technology Group and South Korea's LG Display. The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button. The device's display is expected to grow in size from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches, and internal RAM is likely to be 8GB, up from 4GB in the 2022 model, due to the hardware requirements of Apple Intelligence. Apple suppliers are expected to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. The device could be released ahead of the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, all three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so a March 2025 release seems possible too.Related Roundup: iPhone SETag: NikkeiBuyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 60 Upgrades to Expect
The iPhone 16 Pro is set to succeed 2023's iPhone 15 Pro, introducing over 30 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones. With many users adopting two-year upgrade cycles, plenty of iPhone 14 Pro owners will be looking to upgrade to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, so this guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations based on rumors. In 2022, Apple unveiled the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro as the successor to the popular iPhone 13 Pro, introducing an always-on display, the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel camera, the A16 Bionic chip, longer battery life, and more. Two years later, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to offer at least 60 upgrades. All of the changes the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to feature compared to their 2022 predecessor are listed below, using information from reliable sources that we have previously covered here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more rumors emerge prior to Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Design The design of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is expected to be a relatively significant evolution over the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro, iterating on the titanium frame and slightly rounded edges introduced on the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ models last year. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Surgical-grade stainless steel chassis Aerospace-grade titanium chassis Glossy frame with squared-off edges Brushed frame with contoured edges Ring/Silent switch Action button Thermal design with copper heatsink and black foil battery casing New thermal design with graphene heatsink and metal battery casing More repairable design Lightning port USB-C port Space Black, Silver, Gold, and Deep Purple color options Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium color options Dimensions To accommodate larger displays, both ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to grow in height and width. In addition to last year's increase in depth, the devices are due to be considerably larger, but with a notable reduction in weight thanks to the adoption of a titanium frame. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ 7.85mm depth 8.25mm depth (0.4mm thicker) iPhone 14 Pro: 147.5mm height iPhone 14 Pro Max: 160.7mm height iPhone 16 Pro: 149.6mm height iPhone 16 Pro Max: 163.0mm height iPhone 14 Pro: 71.5mm width iPhone 14 Pro Max: 77.6mm width iPhone 16 Pro: 71.45mm width iPhone 16 Pro Max: 77.58mm width iPhone 14 Pro: 206g weight iPhone 14 Pro Max: 240g weight iPhone 16 Pro: 194g weight iPhone 16 Pro Max: 225g weight Displays Both ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are expected to feature larger displays than their predecessors, pushing the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max to be the biggest iPhone ever offered. There are also reportedly improvements to the underlying OLED technology in store, in addition to last year's slimmer bezels, making for a noticeable overall display upgrade. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ 6.1- or 6.7-inch display 6.3- or 6.9-inch display Slimmer borders around the display More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology Performance The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are rumored to bring notable improvements in processing power, including a 3nm Apple silicon chip and 33% more memory. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ A16 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N4P" 5nm process) A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced ‌3nm‌ process) 16-core Neural Engine Enhanced neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support Apple Intelligence more effectively Dedicated AV1 decoder 6GB memory 8GB memory Connectivity Connectivity is also due to get a significant upgrade on the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, bolstering the device's 5G, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Ultra Wideband specifications. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Snapdragon X65 5G modem Snapdragon X75 5G modem Wi‑Fi 6 connectivity Wi‑Fi 7 connectivity Thread networking technology First-generation Ultra Wideband chip Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (connects from 3x further away) Precision Finding for Find My friends Cameras The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models are slated to receive a range of substantial camera enhancements, such as a larger main camera sensor, a 48-megapixel sensor on the ultra wide camera, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro: 1/1.28-inch main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro Max: 1/1.14-inch main camera sensor (12% larger) Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro: Sony IMX-803 main camera sensor iPhone 16 Pro Max: Sony IMX-903 main camera sensor with stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control 7P main camera lens 8P main camera lens 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos 24- and 48-megapixel super-high-resolution photos Telephoto camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization Telephoto camera with larger sensor, folded tetraprism design, optical image stabilization, and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module 77mm maximum focal length 120mm maximum focal length 13mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 120mm focal length picker 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x optical zoom 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom 4P telephoto camera lens 5P telephoto camera lens 12-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.4 aperture 48-megapixel ultra wide camera with f/2.2 aperture, 48-megapixel ProRaw support, and improved low-light performance 5P ultra wide camera lens 6P ultra wide camera lens Anti-reflective coating on camera lenses Smart HDR 4 Smart HDR 5 Portrait mode with Focus and Depth Control Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control Night mode and Night mode portraits Improved Night mode and Night mode portraits Support for new JPEG-XL format Shoot and instantly transfer 48-megapixel ProRAW images to Mac via USB 3 Record video directly to an external drive ProRes video recording up to 4K at 30 fps ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording Support for 3K video at 120 fps with Dolby Vision Action mode Improved Action mode and low-light video Log video recording Academy Color Encoding System Record spatial video for Apple Vision Pro Capacitive "Capture Button" with force-sensitive half-press and sliding gestures to trigger photography and videography features Batteries and Charging The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting bigger, denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Setting to prevent charging above 80% Battery manufacture date, first use, and cycle count information in Settings Single-layer battery technology Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan iPhone 14 Pro: 3,200 mAh battery iPhone 14 Pro Max: 4,323 mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro: 3,355 mAh mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,676 mAh battery Up to 27W wired charging Up to 40W wired charging 15W charging via MagSafe 20W charging via ‌MagSafe‌ Other Features and Changes One of the major differences between the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is support for Apple's new suite of AI features called Apple Intelligence. ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Apple Intelligence support with iOS 18.1, plus a suite of exclusive AI features Microphone Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance Improved audio quality on phone calls USB 2 transfer speeds (up to 480Mb/s) USB 3 transfer speeds (up to 10Gb/s, 20x faster) DisplayPort support for up to 4K HDR video output Up to 1TB of storage Up to 2TB of storage Release Date The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max are expected to be announced at Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, see our comprehensive roundup. Will It Be Worth Upgrading? The ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ was a fairly significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro in 2023, introducing a titanium chassis, slimmer bezels, the Action button, and a USB-C port. The ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ will build on these upgrades, offering larger displays, the Capture button, and improved cameras. With at least 60 upgrades likely to be in store, many ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro users will find upgrading to an ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ model worthwhile.Related Roundup: iPhone 16 ProRelated Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Best Apple Labor Day Sales Include Year's Best Prices on iPads, MacBooks, and More
It's Labor Day weekend and a number of retailers have introduced deals that should be advantageous for anyone shopping around for Apple products and related accessories. In this article we've rounded up some of the best Labor Day deals for Apple devices, also including discounts on charging accessories, headphones, speakers, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. AirPods Max Amazon has the AirPods Max for $399.00 in every color this week, down from $549.00. This is nearly a match of the all-time low price on the headphones, just $5 higher than that Prime Day deal we saw in July. $150 OFFAirPods Max for $399.00M3 MacBook Pro Best Buy and Amazon have introduced major discounts on the M3 MacBook Pro this weekend, offering up to $1,000 off select models. This includes an all-time low price on the entry-level M3 512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,299.00, down from $1,599.00, and a massive $1,000 discount on the high-end 16-inch model exclusively for Best Buy members. 14-inch MacBook Pro M3 512GB - $1,299.00 ($300 off) [matched at Amazon] M3, 8GB, 1TB - $1,499.00 ($300 off) [matched at Amazon] M3, 16GB, 1TB - $1,699.00 ($300 off) [matched at Amazon] M3 Pro 512GB - $1,499.00 ($500 off) [matched at Amazon] M3 Pro 1TB - $1,999.00 ($400 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Max 1TB - $2,799.00 ($400 off) [Best Buy members only] 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB - $1,799.00 ($700 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Pro, 36GB RAM, 512GB - $2,199.00 ($700 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB - $2,799.00 ($700 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Max, 48GB RAM, 1TB - $2,999.00 ($1,000 off) [Best Buy members only]10th Gen iPad We're tracking one of the first notable discounts in weeks on the 10th generation iPad at both Amazon and Best Buy. Prices start at $299.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, and include both cellular devices as well. $50 OFFiPad (64GB Wi-Fi) for $299.00 $50 OFFiPad (256GB Wi-Fi) for $449.009th Gen iPad Amazon recently introduced a new all-time low price on Apple's 9th generation 64GB Wi-Fi iPad, available for just $199.00, down from $329.00. This sale beats the previous low price by about $30, and it's available in both colors right now on Amazon. $130 OFF9th Gen iPad (64GB Wi-Fi) for $199.00iPad Mini You can get the 64GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 6 for $379.99 this week on Amazon, down from $499.00. This is a match for the record low price on the tablet, and right now we're only tracking it on Amazon. $119 OFFiPad mini (64GB Wi-Fi) for $379.99M2 MacBook Air If you want a cheaper MacBook model, Best Buy has Apple's 2022 M2 MacBook Air starting at just $799.00 this week. This is a match for the all-time low price on the notebook, and you'll find matching deals at Amazon too. $200 OFF13-inch M2 MacBook Air (256GB) for $799.00 $200 OFF13-inch M2 MacBook Air (512GB) for $999.00M3 MacBook Air For newer models, Amazon has every 15-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale right now, available from $1,049.00 and reaching $250 off. $250 OFF15-inch M3 MacBook Air (256GB) for $1,049.00 $250 OFF15-inch M3 MacBook Air (8GB/512GB) for $1,249.00 $250 OFF15-inch M3 MacBook Air (16GB/512GB) for $1,449.00iPhone 15 AT&T is offering up to $1,000 off iPhone 15 models ahead of the launch of the next generation devices in September. You'll find offers on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus for new and existing AT&T customers. UP TO $1,000 OFFiPhone 15 Deals at AT&TAccessories Sonos - Get up to 20% off select devices Sony - Save on headphones and more Eufy Security SmartTrack Card - $19.99, down from $29.99 Casely - BOGO everything sitewide with code BOGO-WEEKEND Hyper - Get 20% off select chargers with code POWERUP20 OWC - Save on computer accessories sitewide Satechi - Get 25% off sitewide with code SUMMER25 Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Working on Redesigned Magic Keyboard for iPad
Apple is working on a new low-end Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. In the latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple's suppliers are developing a new keyboard for the ‌iPad‌ that is scheduled to launch next year. The accessory is said to be designed for the entry-level ‌iPad‌ or the iPad Air, rather than the iPad Pro. While it will lack an aluminum top case like the new Magic Keyboard for the M4 ‌iPad Pro‌, it may feature a function row. It should be released by the middle of 2025. Earlier this year, Apple debuted a completely redesigned Magic Keyboard for the ‌iPad Pro‌, featuring an aluminum top case, a function row, and a larger trackpad. Apple continues to sell the previous generation Magic Keyboard for the ‌iPad Air‌, as well as the Magic Keyboard Folio for the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌.Related Roundups: iPad, iPad Air Tags: Bloomberg, Magic Keyboard, Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: iPad (Caution), iPad Air (Buy Now)Related Forum: iPadThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Mac Mini to Lose Its USB-A Ports Later This Year
Apple's redesigned Mac mini will feature will not have any USB-A ports, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. The current ‌Mac mini‌ with the M2 chip features two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports, while the ‌M2‌ Pro variant has four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that the new ‌Mac mini‌ with the M4 Pro chip will have a total of five USB-C ports, but no USB-A ports. Three USB-C ports will be located on the back, while two will be present on the front of the machine, similar to the Mac Studio. There will continue to be ports for ethernet, HDMI, and 3.5mm audio. The power supply will apparently continue to be internal. Last month, Gurman reported that the next-generation ‌Mac mini‌ with the M4 and M4 Pro chips will feature the first major design change to the machine since 2010. The new ‌Mac mini‌ will apparently approach the size of an Apple TV, but it may be slightly taller than the current model, which is 1.4 inches high. It will continue to feature an aluminum shell. Individuals working on the new device apparently say that it is "essentially an iPad Pro in a small box." Gurman says that suppliers in China are scheduled to begin shipping the new ‌Mac mini‌ models with the M4 chip in early September. The M4 Pro model will not begin shipping until October. The M4 generation of Apple silicon will purportedly be the first time that Apple has used the same chip generation across all of its Macs, with refreshes to add the M4 chip to the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, ‌Mac Studio‌, and Mac Pro planned to take place over the next year. Related Roundup: Mac miniTags: Bloomberg, M4 Mac mini, Mark GurmanBuyer's Guide: Mac Mini (Caution)Related Forum: Mac miniThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone 16 Launch Month Is Here: Everything We Know
Apple has announced that on Monday, September 9 it will hold its annual fall event, which means we are just days away from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring you up to speed ahead of Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, we've summarized below the biggest iPhone 16 rumors we've covered so far here on MacRumors. For more details, follow the links, or dive into our dedicated roundups for both iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models. 1. Larger Displays Biggest Ever iPhones This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting bigger display sizes, increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes would be the largest ever for the iPhone. 2. Vertical Camera Layout iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus Apple's iPhone 16 base models will feature a vertical camera arrangement with a pill-shaped raised surface, instead of a diagonal camera arrangement like the iPhone 15. The new camera bump features two separate camera rings for the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras. The vertical camera layout is expected to enable Spatial Video recording, which is currently limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models. 3. Battery Changes All iPhone 16 Models Rumors suggest the ‌iPhone 16‌ and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature larger batteries than their predecessors, although the smaller iPhone 16 Pro device could see the biggest improvement, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus may have reduced capacity. The iPhone 16 is said to have a 6% increase over the iPhone 15, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max gaining a 5% increase, and the iPhone 16 Pro seeing a 9% increase. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to have a 9% reduction in capacity. On the other hand, Apple could also potentially use stacked battery technology to increase energy density and prolong lifespan across the lineup. 4. Capture Button New Camera Capabilities All iPhone 16 models will have a new "Capture Button" dedicated to triggering image or video capture. The button will add features like the ability to zoom in and out by swiping left and right on the button, focus on a subject with a light press, and activate a recording with a more forceful press. The Capture Button will be located on the bottom right side of the ‌iPhone 16, and will take the place of the mmWave antenna on U.S. ‌iPhone‌ models, with the antenna relocating to the left side of the device below the volume and Action buttons. 5. Ultra Wide Lens Upgrade iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature an upgraded 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera lens, which should allow it to capture more light, resulting in improved photos when shooting in 0.5× mode, especially in low-light environments. This also means that iPhone 16 Pro models should be able to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos in Ultra Wide mode. These photos retain more detail in the image file for more editing flexibility, and can be printed at large sizes. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is also rumored to boast a bigger main camera thanks to an advanced custom 48-megapixel Sony IMX903 sensor. 6. Super Telephoto Camera iPhone 16 Pro Max The iPhone 16 Pro Max could be the first to feature a super telephoto periscope camera for dramatically increased optical zoom. "Super" or "ultra" telephoto usually describes cameras with a focal length of over 300mm. The current telephoto lens is equivalent to a 77mm lens, so if accurate, there could be a notable increase in zoom capabilities. Super telephoto cameras are often used for sports and wild animal photography, but the extremely soft backgrounds they create also make them useful for portrait photography, providing there is enough distance between the subject and the photographer. 7. Faster Wi-Fi Support Wi-Fi 6E & Wi-Fi 7 Apple's 2024 iPhone Pro models are expected to get Wi-Fi 7 in the Pro models, enabling data transfer over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands simultaneously. This should result in faster Wi-Fi speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity. With technologies such as 4K QAM, Wi-Fi 7 is also expected to offer peak data transfer speeds of over 40 Gbps, a 4× increase over Wi-Fi 6E. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus is rumored to support Wi-Fi 6E, which works with the 6 GHz band, enabling faster wireless speeds and reduced signal interference. 8. New A18 Series Chips All iPhone 16 Models Apple's next-generation A18 Pro chip is expected to be manufactured with TSMC's second-generation 3nm process, known as N3E. All four iPhone 16 models will be equipped with A18-branded chips, according to rumors, but Apple could still differentiate between the standard models and the Pro models, even giving the chips separate A18 and A18 Pro names. It makes sense for all four ‌iPhone 16‌ models to have the same A18 chip because of the Apple Intelligence features set to debut in iOS 18. Apple Intelligence requires a high-powered chip for the AI features to run on-device. At this time, only the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ and Pro Max are able to use Apple Intelligence. 9. 5G Qualcomm Modem iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple is expected to use Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon X75 modem in this year's Pro and Pro Max models. The Snapdragon X75 includes improved carrier aggregation and other technology advancements for faster 5G download and upload speeds compared to the X70, which is used in iPhone 15 models. The modem's combined mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G transceiver also takes up 25% less circuit board space, and is said to use up to 20% less power. The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to retain the Snapdragon X70 modem. 10. Tetraprism Lens iPhone 16 Pro Both iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to feature 5x optical zoom, which is currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple's tetraprism lens system has a "folded" design that allows it to fit inside the smartphone, enabling up to 5x optical zoom and up to 25x digital zoom. In contrast, the current smaller iPhone 15 Pro is limited to up to 3x optical zoom, which is in line with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. 11. Micro-Lens Technology More Efficient OLED Apple is said to be weighing up the use of micro-lens technology to maintain or increase the brightness of OLED displays on next year's iPhone 16 models while potentially reducing their power consumption. MLA works by using a uniform pattern of billions of lenses inside the panel that reduces internal reflections. These lenses turn the path of light reflected backwards from the inside of the panel towards the screen, which can serve either to increase perceived brightness while maintaining the same level of power consumption, or maintain brightness levels while consuming less power compared to conventional OLED panels at the same luminance. 12. Action Button iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus The iPhone 15 Pro models include an Action Button, and in 2024, the Action Button is expected to be expanded to the standard iPhone 16 models. The Action Button used across the iPhone 16 lineup will be identical to the iPhone 15 Pro Action Button. The Action button, which replaces the traditional mute switch, can perform multiple functions such as activating the Flashlight, turning on the Camera, launching a Shortcut, enabling or disabling a Focus mode, using Translate, turning on/off Silent Mode, and more. 13. 40W Fast Charging and 20W MagSafe Both iPhone 16 Pro Models The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will support 40W wired fast charging and 20W MagSafe charging, according to a recurring rumor. Right now, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models are capable of up to 27W peak charging speeds with an appropriate USB-C power adapter, while official MagSafe chargers from Apple and authorized third parties can wirelessly charge the iPhone 15 models at up to 15W. The charging boost is expected to balance and improve the problem of increasing charging time caused by the increase in battery capacity. 14. Upgraded Microphone Enhanced Siri Apple is said to be planning a significant upgrade to the iPhone 16 microphone to improve the new Apple Intelligence-enhanced Siri experience, which will include contextual awareness, semantic indexing, app control, and on-screen awareness. Apple's Siri AI ambitions will heavily rely on improved voice input processing, and the new mic is expected to offer significantly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. 15. New Thermal Design Reduced Heat Apple is rumored to be working on a graphene thermal system for the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup, while the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro models could add metal battery casings to reduce overheating. Graphene has high thermal conductivity, surpassing that of copper, which is currently used in iPhone heat-sinks. Another source has claimed that iPhone 16 models will be equipped with a "larger graphite sheet" inside the chassis of the devices, to address potential overheating. The move could be in response to widely encountered overheating issues experienced with the iPhone 15 Pro, which Apple addressed through a software update. 16. Expanded Storage Both iPhone 16 Pro Models The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available with double the maximum storage capacity as the iPhone 15 Pro models, increasing from 1TB to 2TB, according to one rumor. The move is said to be a result of Apple's switch to higher-density Quad-Level Cell (QLC) NAND flash for higher storage models. Apple's use of QLC NAND could allow Apple to fit more storage into a smaller space and it is less expensive than Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND, which current iPhones use. On the downside, QLC has comparatively slower read and write speeds. 17. Increased Memory iPhone 16 & iPhone 16 Plus Apple's iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models have been rumored to both feature 8GB of RAM, an increase over the 6GB of RAM in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. More working memory should equate to improved performance for multitasking on the iPhone. Apple has hinted that plenty of RAM is required for Apple Intelligence features, so it is perhaps no coincidence that all devices in the iPhone 16 lineup will have at least 8GB of RAM. 18. Upgraded Neural Engine Enhanced Machine Learning Apple's next-generation A18 chips will feature an upgraded Neural Engine with "significantly" more cores, according to one Taiwanese report. An upgraded Neural Engine should improve the performance of Apple Intelligence features and machine learning tasks. Apple's iPhone 12 through iPhone 15 models all include a 16-core Neural Engine. Despite no difference in core counts across generations, Apple has still managed to improve their performance in successive models. 19. Ultra-Thin Bezel Technology Maximized Display Size Apple plans to maximize the display size on the iPhone 16 series by using a new ultra-thin bezel technology, according to one rumor. Apple will use Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology to minimize the bezel at the bottom of the display. BRS achieves this by rolling up the internal copper wiring into a more compact package. Apple reportedly plans to apply the borderless display technology to all four iPhone 16 models, but the Pro models will have the thinnest bezels of any smartphone, beating the screen border thinness of even its latest iPhone 15 Pro devices. 20. New Polished Titanium Finish iPhone 16 Pro & iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple will use an improved finishing process for the titanium chassis on the iPhone 16 Pro models, according to one rumor. The new process will allegedly make the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max look more polished than the iPhone 15 Pro models, which have a brushed finish. The improved manufacturing process will result in a glossy appearance that is more akin to the heavily polished stainless steel material used in previous Pro iPhones. However, the new titanium finish will be less prone to scratches compared to stainless steel. 21. Reduced Lens Flare Less Photo Artifacts Apple is said to be testing a new anti-reflective optical coating technology for its iPhone cameras that could improve the quality of photos by reducing artifacts like lens flare and ghosting. Apple plans to bring new atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment into the iPhone camera lens manufacturing process to apply the coating. ALD-applied materials can also protect against environmental damage to the camera lens system without affecting the sensor's ability to capture light effectively. 22. New Colors All iPhone 16 Models The iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max are expected to be available in black, white or silver, gray or "Natural Titanium," and rose. This suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro's Blue Titanium option will be discontinued and replaced with a new rose or rose gold titanium color, which could even have a bronze appearance under certain lighting conditions. Meanwhile, the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus is said to be coming in black, green, pink, blue, and white. Compared to the iPhone 15, this means that white will replace yellow, with the other colors remaining the same. 10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 17Are you looking forward to the iPhone 16 series and plan to upgrade, or are you skipping this year's model? Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Likely to Launch M4 Macs in November
Apple will likely announce new Mac models with M4-series chips in November, confidential information obtained MacRumors claims. According to a reliable source familiar with the matter, Apple will release new Mac models in November 2024. While new Macs are usually released toward the end of the year, this is the first time a launch month has been singled out for the upcoming M4 Macs. This does not discount the possibility of Apple holding an event in October to announce the new machines. Last year, Apple announced its "Scary Fast" event on Tuesday, October 23. It hosted the event on Monday, October 30, unveiling new MacBook Pro and iMac models with M3 chips. These new machines then launched on Tuesday, November 7, so we could see a similar series of events this year. Rumors suggest that Apple has plans to launch four new Mac models with M4-series chips before the end of the year: an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, a new ‌iMac‌ with the M4 chip, and a completely redesigned Mac mini with the M4 and M4 Pro chips. With the exception of the new Mac mini, these devices are expected to be minor refreshes that focus on chip upgrades, but they could come with 16GB of memory as standard across the board for the first time. Some of these machines are now believed to be in mass production, which may line up with a November release date.Related Roundups: iMac, MacBook Pro 14 & 16" , Mac miniTags: M4 iMac, M4 Mac mini, M4 MacBook ProBuyer's Guide: iMac (Neutral), 14" & 16" MacBook Pro (Caution), Mac Mini (Caution)Related Forums: iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac miniThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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What Not to Expect at Apple Event on September 9: 'It's Glowtime'
Apple's annual fall event takes place on Monday, September 9, when it is expected to unveil the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, and some new Apple Watch models. It may also make some additional new products available, but there are a handful of rumored upcoming devices that we don't expect to make an appearance this month. To help set expectations ahead of Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, we've compiled a list of products that Apple is unlikely to announce in September, but rather later on in the year or in 2025 and beyond. M4-Powered Macs Apple is developing new Macs powered by the company's next-generation M4 chip, which is built on chipmaking partner TSMC's second-generation 3nm technology and features a new display engine, resulting in significant performance and power efficiency improvements over the M3 chip that Apple's most recent Mac models are based on. The first of Apple's new M4-powered Macs are expected to arrive later in the year. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman's sources, Apple is planning to refresh the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac with M4 chips this year, and we are likely to see the new models sometime in October. Four machines that Apple has been testing reportedly have base-level M4 chips, according to developer logs. Three of the Macs have a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. The fourth machine has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, which is not an M4 configuration that we've seen so far. All four of the M4 Macs have either 16GB or 32GB of Unified Memory. 16GB of RAM Could Be the New Minimum in Apple's Upcoming M4 Macs Meanwhile, Apple's supply chain is reportedly beginning mass production of next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. If Apple repeats last year's launch pattern, these machines are around two months away from being released. iPhone SE 4 Following the release of the iPhone 16 lineup in September, Apple will release the fourth-generation iPhone SE as early as the beginning of 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button. The device's display is expected to grow in size from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches and use OLED for the first time, and the device will almost certainly come with 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the 2022 model, due to the hardware requirements of Apple Intelligence. Apple Explains iPhone 15 Pro Requirement for Apple Intelligence The device could be released ahead of the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, all three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so a March 2025 release seems quite possible too. HomePod mini 2 Apple's HomePod mini will be four years old in October. Gurman was first to highlight Apple's work on a second-generation HomePod mini in August 2022. He also expressed skepticism about what a new ‌HomePod mini‌ could offer since "the latest ‌HomePod‌ doesn't include any major new functions that aren't already in the $99 mini." In February 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple would begin mass shipments of the second-generation HomePod mini in the second half of 2024. But given how long ago Kuo made the claim, it's not clear how much weight should be given to it. And since then, rumors about the device have been scant. That said, it would be reasonable to assume a new model would feature improved sound and microphones, along with an updated S-series chip and new color options. If Apple wants to keep up with Amazon's rumored new Claude AI-powered Echo devices, Apple Intelligence could also factor into a next-generation HomePod mini. Talking of colors: In an unusual development, Apple replaced the Space Gray with a practically identical Midnight finish just a few months ago, which would make it seem odd to expect a new model to be unveiled anytime soon, and almost certainly not at Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 event. AirPods Pro 3 Apple is expected to release a redesigned version of the AirPods Pro in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The update will likely include enhanced audio quality, an improved design, and a faster chip. Apple may introduce a new hearing test feature for the AirPods Pro, potentially capable of detecting hearing issues. Additionally, new health sensors are under development, which could enable features such as reading body temperature from the ear canal and enhancing hearing-related functions like Conversation Boost and Live Listen. iOS 18 to Bring These 5 New Features to AirPods Pro The next-generation AirPods Pro are rumored to have significantly improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) compared to the AirPods Pro 2, although specific details on how ANC will be enhanced are not yet available. New Apple TV Apple is reportedly developing a new Apple TV with a faster processor while retaining the same design as the current model. Initially, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggested a 2024 launch for the new Apple TV, but he later indicated that an update is not imminent, leaving the timeline unclear. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next-generation Apple TV could be more affordable, and that would fit a pattern of Apple reducing the price of the device. The second-generation (2010) and third-generation (2012) models of the Apple TV were both launched in the U.S. at a price of $99. Apple later reduced the price of the third-generation model to $69, establishing a precedent for a sub-$100 Apple TV that could better compete with low-cost streaming devices from companies like Amazon and Roku. iPhone 16 Likely to Launch on September 20 With These New Features A future version of the Apple TV might feature a built-in camera for FaceTime and other video calling apps, as reported by Mark Gurman. While Apple introduced a FaceTime app for the Apple TV in tvOS 17, which works via a connected iPhone or iPad, this could be a step toward an Apple TV with an integrated camera.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Series 10 Buyer's Guide: 10 Rumored Upgrades Compared
After over a year of rumors, the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are set to launch in just a matter of weeks. There are now 10 changes and improvements rumored to be offered by the new models, so here's everything we're expecting. All of the changes the Apple Watch Series 10 are expected to feature compared to last year's Apple Watch Series 9 are listed below, using information from a wide range of reliable sources that we have previously covered here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more reports emerge prior to Apple's "It's Glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. ‌Apple Watch Series 9‌ Apple Watch Series 10 41mm and 45mm casing size options 46mm and 49mm casing size options (+11.1% and +8.9%) 1.69-inch and 1.9-inch display size options 1.89-inch and 2.04-inch display size options (+11.8% and +7.4%) 45mm model: 38mm width 46mm model: 39.7mm width (+4.5%) 10.7mm depth 11.6mm depth (+8.4%) 3D printed casing (some models only) More efficient OLED display S9 chip S10 chip with AI enhancements Thinner logic board Hypertension detection Sleep apnea detection According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, both the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 will apparently feature a new processor that succeeds last year's S9 chip. While this could "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road," it will not run Apple Intelligence and there are currently said to be no plans to bring "the full initiative" to the Apple Watch. Apple has been developing hypertension and sleep apnea detection features for the Apple Watch that were originally slated for release in 2024, but Gurman now says that the "effort hasn't gone smoothly" and "Apple has run into some serious snags." The hypertension detection feature has been insufficiently reliable during testing and there are concerns about integrating it into the refreshed design, which could force Apple to postpone this feature until next year. Likewise, while the Apple Watch Series 10 was widely rumored to tout a thinner design, that too is now in question. Likewise, the sleep apnea detection feature is now in trouble because it relies on blood oxygen saturation, which Apple Watches in the United States cannot currently measure due to an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo. Gurman postulates that the dispute with Masimo could be resolved soon, or Apple could find a way around it by arguing that the blood oxygen sensor could be used for purposes that are not directly related to blood oxygen levels. The company could also announce the sleep apnea detection feature and hold off releasing it until a later date. Release Date The Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are expected to be announced at Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. Will It Be Worth Upgrading? The ‌Apple Watch Series 9‌ was a very minor upgrade over the Series 8, with the S9 chip, Double Tap, and Precision Finding for the iPhone 15 models being the most significant changes. The Apple Watch Series 10 could build on these with new health features and larger display size options, but it looks like current Series 9 users will have little reason to upgrade.Related Roundup: Apple Watch Series 9Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Don't Buy)This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Top Stories: September 9 iPhone Event, iOS 18.1 Photos Clean Up Tool, and More
It's a day earlier than rumors had suggested, but Apple's big iPhone 16 event now has an official date: Monday, September 9. The "It's Glowtime" tagline and glowing Apple logo theme are clear nods to the revamped Siri and new Apple Intelligence features that will undoubtedly be a major point of emphasis for the upcoming devices. Much of the news this week focused on what announcements we will and won't see at Apple's upcoming event, with the usual focus on iPhone and Apple Watch perhaps being supplemented by a few other hardware announcements but a number of other updates like Macs not coming until later. This week also saw fresh rounds of operating system beta releases, including some new Apple Intelligence features for those on the iOS 18.1 beta, so read on below for all the details! Apple Event Announced for September 9: 'It's Glowtime' Apple has announced plans to hold its annual iPhone-centric event on Monday, September 9, at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The event is set to start at 10:00 a.m., and select members of the media have been invited to attend. This year's event will see Apple unveil the iPhone 16 lineup, new Apple Watch models, and the AirPods 4, plus we'll get official launch dates for iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, and Apple's other software updates. iPhone 16 Likely to Launch on September 20 With These New Features With Apple's "It's Glowtime" event taking place on Monday, September 9, pre-orders for the new iPhone 16 lineup are likely to begin on Friday, September 13, with a launch to follow on Friday, September 20. We've recapped many of the rumors we've heard about the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineups, so read up for a refresher on what we can expect to see for Apple's latest flagship phones. Apple's September 9 'It's Glowtime' Event: What to Expect Beyond the iPhone 16 While the iPhone 16 lineup will be the headliner for Apple's September 9 event, we're expecting a number of other product introductions to fill out the day's presentation. We're expecting new Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3 models, plus two variants of fourth-generation AirPods, and perhaps a seventh-generation iPad mini and other announcements. We should also be getting new colors of iPhone and iPad cases and Apple Watch bands, while we'll get final details and release dates for iOS 18 and related operating system updates. When to Expect the iPhone SE 4 to Launch The iPhone 16 lineup is right around the corner, but Apple's cheapest iPhone is also in need of an update so when can we expect to see a fourth-generation iPhone SE? Rumors are currently pointing to an iPhone SE update in the spring of 2025, which makes sense considering all three previous generations have been introduced in March over the years. Check out our coverage for details on what we're expecting to see in what should be a major update for the budget iPhone. See the Apple Intelligence Photos App 'Clean Up' Tool in Action AI-driven Apple Intelligence features won't make the cut for the initial iOS 18 release next month, but Apple has been gradually rolling them out in betas of iOS 18.1, which should see a public release in October. In this week's iOS 18.1 beta, the most notable Apple Intelligence addition is Clean Up, a tool in the Photos app that lets you remove unwanted objects from your photos and use generative AI to fill in missing pieces of the photo behind the removed objects. It's a bit hit-or-miss right now, but it's still a work in progress in beta so check out our hands-on video to see what it's capable of at the moment. MacBook Pros With M4 Pro and M4 Max Chips Reportedly Being Mass Produced This Month Based on past history, next month's event will not include any Mac hardware announcements, but Mac updates based around the M4 chip family should arrive before the end of the year. We're expecting a number of Macs with the base M4 chip similar to the one that debuted in the iPad Pro earlier this year, but there are also more powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max variants in the works, and a new report claims that Apple's supply chain is already gearing up to mass produce updated MacBook Pro models with these more powerful chips. MacRumors Newsletter Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view. So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!Tag: Top StoriesThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone 16 Pro's Rumored Gold Titanium Color Revealed by This Mockup
Just a few weeks ahead of Apple unveiling the iPhone 16 series, we potentially have an early look at a new color option for the Pro models. 9to5Mac today shared a mockup image of the rumored gold finish for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, based on information provided by a previously-accurate source. The publication believes this image is "likely" accurate. iPhone 15 Pro models were the first highest-end iPhones to not be available in gold since the iPhone X. The devices are offered in four finishes, including Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium. The addition of a gold color option for iPhone 16 Pro models would mark a return to the norm. There have been many rumors about the iPhone 16 Pro models being offered in a gold or bronze option, which is expected to replace Blue Titanium. Apple's event on September 9 is fast approaching, so we'll find out for sure soon.Related Roundup: iPhone 16 ProTag: 9to5MacThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Best Apple Deals of the Week: Labor Day Sales Arrive for the Holiday Weekend With Record Lows on iPad, iPhone, and More
Labor Day deals have kicked off this week, and as we head into the long weekend you can still find great discounts on AirPods Max, MacBook Air, Sonos speakers, and more. We're also tracking fresh markdowns on iPhone 15, the 10th gen iPad, M3 MacBook Pro, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Labor Day Deals What's the deal? Save on AirPods, MacBook Air, and more this weekend Where can I get it? Amazon, Best Buy, Sonos, and more Where can I find the original deal? Right here Labor Day Apple Deals Labor Day is coming up on September 2, and many retailers have kicked off sales that you can shop over the long weekend. You can find the full list of the sales in our original article, but we've collected a few of the best sales below as well. 9th Gen iPad - $199.00, down from $329.00 AirPods Max - $399.00, down from $549.00 Sonos - Get up to 20% off select devices Sony - Save on headphones and more Eufy Security SmartTrack Card - $19.99, down from $29.99 iPhone 15 What's the deal? Take up to $1,000 off iPhone 15 Where can I get it? AT&T Where can I find the original deal? Right here UP TO $1,000 OFFiPhone 15 Deals at AT&T AT&T is offering up to $1,000 off iPhone 15 models ahead of the launch of the next generation devices in September. You'll find offers on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus for new and existing AT&T customers. iPad What's the deal? Take $50 off 10th gen iPad Where can I get it? Amazon and Best Buy $50 OFFiPad (64GB Wi-Fi) for $299.00 $50 OFFiPad (256GB Wi-Fi) for $449.00 We're tracking one of the first notable discounts in weeks on the 10th generation iPad at both Amazon and Best Buy. Prices start at $299.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, and include both cellular devices as well. MacBook Pro What's the deal? Take up to $700 off M3 MacBook Pro Where can I get it? Best Buy and Amazon $500 OFF14-inch MacBook Pro (512GB M3 Pro) for $1,499.00 $700 OFF16-inch MacBook Pro (512GB M3 Pro) for $1,799.00 Best Buy and Amazon have a match of the all-time low price on the 512GB M3 Pro 14-inch MacBook Pro right now, available for $1,499.00, down from $1,999.00. This beats the previous low price by $100, and is available to all Best Buy shoppers without the need of a membership. You can find multiple 14-inch and 16-inch models on sale right now at both retailers. Samsung Monitor What's the deal? Take $800 off 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor Where can I get it? Amazon Where can I find the original deal? Right here $800 OFFSamsung 27-Inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor for $800.60 Earlier in the week, we began tracking a low price on Samsung's 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Monitor. This deal has gotten even better today, now available for $800.60, down from $1,599.99, marking a new all-time low price on the monitor. Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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The MacRumors Show: 'Glowtime' Event Invites and M4 Macs
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's recently announced "It's Glowtime" event for September 9 and what we're expecting from this year's M4 Mac models. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple this week sent out invitations for the "It's Glowtime" event that it is set to host on Monday, September 9. It is highly likely to unveil the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods 4. We take a look at the event invite that clearly hints at Apple Intelligence's prominent presence at the event and weigh up what sort of role it could play in each of the devices that are set to be revealed. We also look at the upcoming M4 Mac models expected to launch this year: an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip, new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, a new iMac with the M4 chip, and a completely redesigned Mac mini with the M4 and M4 Pro chips. With the exception of the new Mac mini, these devices are expected to be minor refreshes that focus on chip upgrades, but they could come with 16GB of memory as standard across the board for the first time. Some of these machines are now believed to be in mass production, so while they probably won't be announced at Apple's "Glowtime" event, launch is likely to take place soon. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips: Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel! You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our discussion about all of the latest Apple rumors for the remainder of 2024, including the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌'s rumored "Desert Titanium" color option that's expected to replace Blue Titanium, the two fourth-generation AirPods variants coming later this year both with and without active noise cancellation, the Mac mini complete redesign with the M4 and M4 Pro chips, and M4 MacBook Pro refresh. We also took a look at rumors surrounding the third-generation AirPods Pro, the fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the likelihood of Apple Intelligence moving to a subscription model to boost Apple's services revenue. Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Kevin Nether, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie. ‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.Tag: The MacRumors ShowThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Best Buy Labor Day Sale Takes Up to $1,000 Off M3 MacBook Pro
Best Buy and Amazon have introduced major discounts on the M3 MacBook Pro today, offering up to $1,000 off select models. This includes an all-time low price on the entry-level M3 512GB 14-inch MacBook Pro at $1,299.00, down from $1,599.00, and a massive $1,000 discount on the high-end 16-inch model exclusively for Best Buy members. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy and Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Across the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro lineup you'll find $300-$500 off every model on Best Buy and Amazon. In regards to the Best Buy discounts, most of these do not require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership and are available to all customers. The only exceptions are the higher-end M3 Pro 1TB and M3 Max 1TB models, which have an extra $100 discount exclusively for Best Buy members. UP TO $1,000 OFFM3 MacBook Pro at Best Buy If you're shopping for the 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro, you'll find the steepest discounts at Best Buy. The biggest savings will be found on the M3 Max, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD model at Best Buy, which is being discounted by $500 for all shoppers, and an extra $500 exclusively for My Best Buy members. This adds up to a massive $1,000 discount on the high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro, at the new record low price of $2,999.00. 14-inch MacBook Pro M3 512GB - $1,299.00 ($300 off) [matched at Amazon] M3, 8GB, 1TB - $1,499.00 ($300 off) [matched at Amazon] M3, 16GB, 1TB - $1,699.00 ($300 off) [matched at Amazon] M3 Pro 512GB - $1,499.00 ($500 off) [matched at Amazon] M3 Pro 1TB - $1,999.00 ($400 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Max 1TB - $2,799.00 ($400 off) [Best Buy members only] 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB - $1,799.00 ($700 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Pro, 36GB RAM, 512GB - $2,199.00 ($700 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB - $2,799.00 ($700 off) [Best Buy members only] M3 Max, 48GB RAM, 1TB - $2,999.00 ($1,000 off) [Best Buy members only] Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.Related Roundup: Apple DealsThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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LG to Offer 3-Month Free Trial of Apple TV+ on Select Smart TV Models
LG today announced that it will be offering a three-month free trial of Apple TV+ on select smart TV models from September 9 through November 17. The offer will be available to new and "qualified" returning subscribers in both the Apple TV app and LG Streaming app in over 90 countries on 2018-2024 models of LG's 4K and 8K smart TVs, including StanbyME and StanbyME Go models. The offer is part of LG Streaming Week. Apple TV+ typically offers a free one-week trial, or a one-month trial with an Apple One package. Apple TV+ is priced at $9.99 per month or $99 per year in the U.S. as an individual subscription. The streaming service provides access to Apple's library of original series and films, including hits such as The Morning Show, Ted Lasso, Silo, and Severance.Tags: Apple TV Plus, LGThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16: 20 Rumored Upgrades Compared
After over a year of rumors, the iPhone 16 and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are set to launch next month. There are now 20 changes and improvements expected to be offered by the new standard models, so here's everything we're expecting. All of the changes the ‌iPhone 16‌ models are expected to feature compared to their direct forerunners are listed below, using information from a wide range of reliable sources that we have previously covered here on MacRumors. We will continue to update this article as more rumors emerge prior to Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. This guide focuses on the iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 16‌, but to learn about how we are expecting the iPhone 16 Pro to improve on the iPhone 15 Pro, see our other comparison article. Design The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are expected to largely carry over the design of their predecessors, meaning that they will have the same dimensions. The most noticeable alteration that will denote the new models is said to be a vertical rear camera arrangement to facilitate spatial video capture, but the removal of the mute switch in favor of the Action button introduced on last year's Pro models. ‌iPhone 15‌ ‌iPhone 16‌ Diagonally arranged rear camera array Vertically arranged rear camera array Ring/Silent switch Action Button Thermal design with copper heatsink New thermal design with graphene heatsink iPhone 15: 171g weight iPhone 15 Plus: 201g weight iPhone 16: 173g weight (+1%) iPhone 16 Plus: 203g weight (+1%) Cameras The ‌iPhone 16‌ models are slated to receive a small number of camera enhancements, such as an improved ultra wide camera, macro photography support, and a dedicated hardware button for photography and videography on the side of the device. ‌iPhone 15‌ ‌iPhone 16‌ Capacitive "Capture Button" with force-sensitive half-press and sliding gestures to trigger photography and videography features Ultra wide camera with f/2.4 aperture Ultra wide camera with f/2.2 aperture for improved-low light performance Macro photography support Spatial video capture Chip, Memory, and Connectivity The ‌iPhone 16‌ models are rumored to benefit from a moderate improvement in processing power thanks to an all-new A18 chip with a more powerful Neural Engine to support exclusive generative AI capabilities. We are also expecting an 33% more memory and Wi-Fi 6E support. ‌iPhone 15‌ ‌iPhone 16‌ A16 Bionic chip (TSMC's "N4P" enhanced 5nm process) A18 chip (TSMC's "N3E" enhanced 3nm process) 16-core Neural Engine Enhanced Neural Engine with "significantly" more cores to support Apple Intelligence 6GB memory 8GB memory (+33%) Wi-Fi 6 connectivity Wi-Fi 6E connectivity Batteries and Charging The ‌iPhone 16‌ models could receive some major improvements in battery technology and charging, sporting denser batteries and faster charging capabilities. It is worth noting that the ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus is rumored to feature a smaller battery than its predecessor, but it is not clear how this will affect actual battery life. ‌iPhone 15‌ ‌iPhone 16‌ Single-layer battery technology Stacked battery technology for increased energy density and prolonged lifespan iPhone 15: 3,349 mAh battery iPhone 15 Plus: 4,383 mAh battery iPhone 16: 3,561 mAh battery (+6%) iPhone 16 Plus: 4,006 mAh battery (-9%) Up to 27W wired charging Up to 40W wired charging (48% faster) 15W charging via MagSafe 20W charging via ‌MagSafe‌ (33% faster) Other Features and Changes Support for Apple Intelligence is expected to be one of the ‌iPhone 16‌'s most important features, bringing the new array of AI tools to Apple's standard line of iPhones for the first time. ‌iPhone 15‌ ‌iPhone 16‌ Apple Intelligence support Microphone Upgraded microphone with improved signal-to-noise ratio and water resistance, designed to support new AI features More efficient OLED display with brighter micro-lens technology Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Yellow, and Black Available in Blue, Pink, Green, Yellow, Black, White, and Purple Release Date The ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus are expected to be announced at Apple's "It's glowtime" event on Monday, September 9. Pre-orders are likely to open on Friday, September 13, with launch following one week later on Friday, September 20. For more information about the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, see our comprehensive roundup. Will It Be Worth Upgrading? The ‌iPhone 15‌ was a significant upgrade over 2023's iPhone 14, introducing a new design with a the Dynamic Island, a 48-megapixel camera, a USB-C port, and more. The ‌iPhone 16‌'s upgrades will likely not be as substantial as those offered by its predecessor. As a result, most ‌iPhone 15‌ users will have little reason to upgrade, but Apple Intelligence and the new Action and Capture buttons are likely to be among the main motivations to get the latest device.Related Roundups: iPhone 15, iPhone 16Buyer's Guide: iPhone 15 (Don't Buy)Related Forum: iPhoneThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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New Spatial Apps, Games, and Video Coming to Apple Vision Pro
Apple is expanding its selection of spatial and immersive experiences for the Vision Pro headset with a series of new games, apps, and video content. Among the newly introduced experiences is a spatial version of "Castle Crumble," a physics-based puzzle game that lets players interact in a 3D environment. Players can use their hands to precisely target the castles' weak points with a variety of powerful explosives, mystical spells, and unlockable boosts. Castle Crumble is available now on the App Store. "Puzzle Sculpt," another spatial game, is set to release on September 5. Developed by Schell Games, an award-winning studio known for pioneering gameplay with emerging technologies, "Puzzle Sculpt" offers a relaxing, 3D puzzle-solving experience. The game invites players to interact with a variety of puzzles in a fully immersive spatial environment. Meanwhile, "Immersion Golf" from Tag Heuer takes golf enthusiasts to the next level with detailed 3D maps of nearly 40,000 courses worldwide. The app allows players to preview course layouts and obstacles, providing a comprehensive tool for planning their game strategy. "Sandblox: The Marble Game" allows players to create and share physics-based puzzles and marble runs using intuitive hand tracking. The game encourages both solo and collaborative play, with users able to build complex structures and share their creations online. "Pinball Nation" transforms living spaces into a virtual 1980s pinball arcade, complete with life-sized virtual tables and realistic gameplay, while "Beat Slash - Mixed" offers a high-energy rhythm game where players use swords to slash beats in time with the music. Starting September 6, Vision Pro users will also have access to new films and series captured in Apple Immersive Video. This includes the premiere of "Elevated," an aerial travel series that provides viewers with breathtaking views from staggering heights. Available exclusively to U.S. users, "Elevated" aims to transport audiences to iconic vistas around the world. Another notable addition is "4 Minutes Inside Super Bowl LVIII," a short film that offers an immersive glimpse into the intense atmosphere of the Super Bowl LVIII, where the Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the San Francisco 49ers. This film will be available to a global audience. On the same day, Vision Pro users worldwide will also be able to watch the first episode of "Boundless," titled "Hot Air Balloons," and the second episode of "Wild Life," focusing on elephants. Popular Vision Pro apps are also receiving significant updates. The PGA TOUR app now features SharePlay support, enabling users to watch every hole, follow the leaderboard, and examine every shot in 3D. Meanwhile, "Synth Riders," available on Apple Arcade, has been enhanced with a new Adrenaline Pack, adding high-energy punk and ska music to its existing eclectic mix.Related Roundup: Apple Vision ProTag: Apple ArcadeBuyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)Related Forum: Apple Vision ProThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Amazon to Launch New AI-Powered Alexa Using Anthropic's Claude
Amazon is set to release a revamped version of its Alexa voice assistant this October that will be powered by AI models from Anthropic's Claude, rather than Amazon's in-house AI technology, reports Reuters. Amazon's Echo device with Alexa The decision to use Claude's AI models comes after Amazon's internal software reportedly struggled with performance issues during initial testing. Sources who spoke to Reuters claim that early versions using Amazon's own AI had difficulty responding promptly, sometimes taking up to 6-7 seconds to acknowledge and reply to prompts. This new AI-enhanced "Remarkable" Alexa is expected to offer more advanced capabilities compared to the current version. Users will reportedly be able to engage in more complex, context-aware conversations with the assistant. Some potential features include providing shopping advice for specific scenarios like vacation clothing recommendations, aggregating news stories, executing multi-step tasks from a single prompt such as ordering food or drafting emails, and enhanced home automation with improved ability to remember and apply user preferences. Amazon plans to offer this upgraded "Remarkable" Alexa as a paid subscription service, with pricing anticipated to be between $5 to $10 per month. In other words, it won't be included in existing Prime memberships. The existing "Classic" Alexa service will remain available for free. The move to partner with Anthropic for AI technology contrasts with Amazon's typical strategy of relying on in-house developments, but similar partnerships such as Microsoft and Apple's collaborations with OpenAI for ChatGPT integration indicate a broader shift in the tech industry. Amazon has invested $4 billion in Anthropic, which may have influenced this decision, but the full details of the agreement between the two companies regarding the use of Claude in Alexa have not been disclosed. Industry analysts estimate that there are approximately 100 million active Alexa users. If 10% of these users opt for the paid version, it could potentially generate at least $600 million in annual revenue for Amazon, assuming the lower end of the expected price range. The launch of this new Alexa comes at a critical time for Amazon's voice assistant division. Despite Alexa's widespread adoption, with Amazon claiming 500 million Alexa-enabled devices sold, it has struggled to generate significant revenue. Amazon's leadership has reportedly emphasized that 2024 is a crucial year for Alexa to demonstrate its ability to drive meaningful sales. While Amazon has confirmed its use of various AI models, including its own Titan model and those from partners, it has not specifically commented on the use of Claude for the new Alexa. The official unveiling of the new AI-powered Alexa is expected to take place at Amazon's annual devices and services event, typically held in September. Tags: Alexa, Amazon, AnthropicThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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Spotify Blames Apple for Loss of iPhone Volume Button Control of Connected Devices
Spotify says users on iPhone will no longer be able to control the volume of connected devices using their physical volume buttons after Apple "discontinued" the technology that enables the functionality. The change impacts Spotify Connect, a feature that allows users to control Spotify playback on various devices like speakers, game consoles, and smart TVs. The streaming giant claims that the previous method had become unstable, leading to issues such as volume spikes during playback. As a result, iPhone users will now have to resort to an in-app slider to adjust volume, a change that Spotify is calling a "workaround," reports The Verge. To use the new volume control, iPhone owners will need to tap a notification that appears when they press the physical volume buttons. This notification will prompt them to use the in-app slider. Spotify claims that the new solution will provide "persistent, high-quality" volume control, despite the extra steps involved for users. The change is set to take effect on September 3, but some users are reportedly already seeing it. Spotify claims that Apple is refusing to grant access to the same technology that allows Apple Music to play on third-party devices. In a continuation of long-held tensions between the two companies, the streaming service has gone as far as suggesting that this could violate the EU's Digital Markets Act, which requires major platforms to open up to third-party services. "We've made requests to Apple to introduce a similar solution to what they offer users on HomePod and Apple TV for app developers who control non-Apple media devices," Spotify said in its update. "Apple has told us that they require apps to integrate into HomePod in order to access the technology that controls volume on iPhones." Spotify's volume control workaround for Spotify Connect Apple actually offers an API for third-party music services to stream directly to HomePods, but for whatever reason Spotify has chosen not to implement it. Fortunately, iPhone users running iOS 17 can still start an AirPlay session on HomePod using a Siri command (e.g. "Siri, play Fleetwood Mac on Spotify"). It's worth noting that this change only affects Spotify Connect on iOS. Spotify users controlling volume via Bluetooth or AirPlay will not be impacted.Tag: SpotifyThis article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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These Are Apple's Oldest Products Still Sold Today
For over two decades, the MacRumors Buyer's Guide has served as a valuable resource for keeping track of when Apple products were last updated. Below, we have highlighted five current-generation Apple products that have not received hardware upgrades in several years. We also provide some purchasing recommendations based on both rumors and our own opinions. This list excludes previous-generation Apple products still sold, such as the iPhone 13, along with various accessories and cables. Pro Display XDR Apple released the Pro Display XDR in December 2019, so it will be five years old later this year. The high-end monitor starts at $4,999 and features a 32-inch screen size with 6K resolution, but it lacks a built-in camera and speakers. In December 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple was working on multiple new external monitors, including an updated version of the Pro Display XDR that will be equipped with an Apple silicon chip, just like the Studio Display with the A13 chip. However, it's unclear when the new Pro Display XDR will be released or what other new features it will have. Age: 4 years and 8 months Recommendation: Given how expensive the Pro Display XDR is, it is worth waiting for the next model at this point. Also consider the Studio Display, which is over two years newer, more affordable, and has a built-in camera and speakers. HomePod mini Released in November 2020, the HomePod mini is also nearly four years old. The smaller Siri-enabled smart speaker has not received any hardware updates since launching, although it did get Blue, Orange, and Yellow color options in November 2021, and Space Gray was replaced with a virtually-identical Midnight finish a few months ago. In February 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass shipments of a second-generation HomePod mini would begin in the second half of 2024, but it is unclear if that info is still accurate, as there have not been any recent HomePod mini rumors. Age: 3 years and 9 months Recommendation: Given there was a rumor that a new HomePod mini might be released later this year, it might be best to hold off for three to four more months to see if that happens. However, given the HomePod mini is a modest $99, there is not too much harm in purchasing one now if you don't want to wait. AirPods Max Released in December 2020, the AirPods Max will turn four years old later this year. Apple's over-ear headphones have not received any hardware updates since, and remain priced at $549 on Apple's online store, with five color options available. Age: 3 years and 8 months Recommendation: We recommend waiting for the AirPods Max with a USB-C port to launch later this year, but the headphones will still more or less be four years old beyond that change, so you may wish to consider newer competing options, such as the Sony XM5, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, and Sonos Ace. Amazon does have the AirPods Max on sale for $399 if you are interested in purchasing them now at a discount. iPad mini Apple released the current iPad mini in September 2021, with new features at the time including a larger 8.3-inch display, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, the A15 Bionic chip, 5G support on cellular models, a 12-megapixel rear camera with Center Stage support, compatibility with the second-generation Apple Pencil, and more. In November 2023, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the next iPad mini would begin in the second half of 2024. More recently, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said inventory of the current iPad mini‌ was starting to dwindle at Apple Stores, which could be a sign that the device will be updated in the near future. Rumored features for the next iPad mini include a newer chip, upgraded cameras, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, new color options, and a fix for the so-called "jelly scrolling" effect on the current model's display. Age: 2 years and 11 months Recommendation: At this point, we suggest waiting for the new iPad mini that is rumored to launch later this year. AirPods 3 Released in October 2021, the third-generation AirPods are nearly three years old. Two new fourth-generation AirPods models are expected to be unveiled at Apple's special event on September 9, with both options rumored to feature a tweaked design with better fit in the ear, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C port. The higher-end AirPods 4 are also said to feature active noise cancellation, and a speaker in the charging case that can play a sound for Find My location tracking. Age: 2 years and 10 months Recommendation: Do not buy! Apple is expected to announce the fourth-generation AirPods in less than two weeks.This article, "" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

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GRU (São Paulo) on 2024-09-16
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 16, 21:30 UTC  -  Sep 17, 00:00 UTCSep 16, 21:15 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in GRU (São Paulo) datacenter between 2024-09-16 21:30 and 2024-09-17 00:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.

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DUO63: Scheduled Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 18, 04:00 - 05:00 EDTSep 16, 15:29 EDTScheduled - The Duo Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) team is scheduling regular maintenance on the DUO63 deployment. The goal of this maintenance is to better balance authentication traffic across all Duo deployments in our continued efforts to provide a high performance and resilient service.We expect minimum user impact since each specific migration window will occur during non-peak times for your organization. Do I need to take action?If your organization has strict IP filtering/firewall rules in place, you should ensure that all Duo IP ranges listed here https://help.duo.com/s/article/1337 and DNS names exist in any filtering rules if firewalls, SSL inspection, or other proxy rules whitelist communication to specific Duo IP ranges. In the event of an outage or failure, Duo’s service could automatically failover to any IP in those ranges. Otherwise, no action is required.How does this migration affect you? During the migration, we expect minimum intermittent authentication failures when users attempt to log in to Duo protected applications.Users may need to retry the authentication or potentially wait a few minutes before attempting another login.After the migration Duo Administrators with the Owner and Administrator role will have their notification settings for the Duo Status Page https://status.duo.com/ adjusted to reflect the new deployment within 24 hours.Duo Administrators with the other roles will need to update their Duo Status Page preferences manually using the steps in https://help.duo.com/s/article/2060. Resources • Documentation: How do I find my StatusPage deployment ID in the Duo Admin Panel and sign up for updates? - https://help.duo.com/s/article/2060* Article: What are Duo's IP ranges and data residency areas by deployment? - https://help.duo.com/s/article/1337* Duo Status Page - https://status.duo.com/For any questions or concerns please email support@duo.com. Thank you for being a Cisco Duo customer! Duo Site Reliability Engineering

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BNA (Nashville) on 2024-09-17
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 17, 15:00 - 23:00 UTCSep 16, 18:59 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in BNA (Nashville) datacenter on 2024-09-17 between 15:00 and 23:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.

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UPDATE: **Summary:** Google Drive users may experience increased error rates. **Description:** We are experiencing an intermittent issue with Google Drive beginning on Monday, 2024-09-16 10:11 US/Pacific. Our engineering team continues to investigate the issue. We will provide an update by Monday, 2024-09-16 11:45 US/Pacific with current details. We apologize to all who are affected by the disruption. **Diagnosis:** Google Drive users may experience increased error rates. **Workaround:** Customers may see success in retries.
Incident began at 2024-09-16 17:11 (times are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)).Summary: Google Drive users may experience increased error rates. Description: We are experiencing an intermittent issue with Google Drive beginning on Monday, 2024-09-16 10:11 US/Pacific. Our engineering team continues to investigate the issue. We will provide an update by Monday, 2024-09-16 11:45 US/Pacific with current details. We apologize to all who are affected by the disruption. Diagnosis: Google Drive users may experience increased error rates. Workaround: Customers may see success in retries. Affected products: Google Drive

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AMS (Amsterdam) on 2024-09-24
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 24, 00:00 - 04:00 UTCSep 16, 16:01 UTCUpdate - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in AMS (Amsterdam) datacenter on 2024-09-24 between 00:00 and 04:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.Sep 16, 15:57 UTCScheduled - We will be performing scheduled maintenance in AMS (Amsterdam) datacenter on 2024-09-24 between 00:00 and 02:00 UTC.Traffic might be re-routed from this location, hence there is a possibility of a slight increase in latency during this maintenance window for end-users in the affected region. For PNI / CNI customers connecting with us in this location, please make sure you are expecting this traffic to fail over elsewhere during this maintenance window as network interfaces in this datacentre may become temporarily unavailable.You can now subscribe to these notifications via Cloudflare dashboard and receive these updates directly via email, PagerDuty and webhooks (based on your plan): https://developers.cloudflare.com/notifications/notification-available/#cloudflare-status.

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Germany and France Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 25, 13:00 - 19:00 PDTSep 16, 09:02 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Germany and France are conducting a planned maintenance from 25 September 2024 at 13:00 PDT until 25 September 2024 at 19:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent call disconnects or call failures to Twilio Germany, and to and from Twilio France phone numbers.

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Germany and France Voice Carrier Partner Maintenance
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 23, 13:00 - 18:00 PDTSep 16, 09:01 PDTScheduled - Our Voice carrier partner in Germany and France are conducting a planned maintenance from 23 September 2024 at 13:00 PDT until 23 September 2024 at 18:00 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent call disconnects or call failures to Twilio Germany, and to and from Twilio France phone numbers.

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Cloudflare Access API delays
Sep 16, 15:06 UTCMonitoring - A fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results.Sep 16, 15:04 UTCIdentified - The issue has been identified and a fix is being implemented.Sep 16, 14:58 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating an increased latency with configuration changes to Cloudflare Access. Existing Cloudflare Access configurations are unaffected.We are working to mitigate this problem. More updates to follow shortly.

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SMS Delivery Delays to Glo Network in Nigeria
Sep 16, 07:26 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing . Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

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SMS Delivery Delays to Movicel Network in Angola
Sep 16, 05:49 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Movicel Network in Angola. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

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Cloudflare Dashboard and Cloudflare API service issues
Sep 16, 10:49 UTCMonitoring - A fix has been implemented and we are monitoring the results.Sep 16, 10:30 UTCIdentified - The issue has been identified and a fix is being implemented.Sep 16, 10:26 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating issues with Cloudflare Dashboard and related APIs.These issues do not affect the serving of cached files via the Cloudflare CDN or other security features at the Cloudflare Edge.Customers using the Dashboard / Cloudflare APIs are impacted as requests might fail and/or errors may be displayed.

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SMS Delivery Delays to Viettel Network in Burundi
Sep 16, 03:41 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Viettel Network in Burundi. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

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Austria, United Kingdom and Italy Account Security Carriers Partners Maintenance – Drei, Three and Wind Tre
THIS IS A SCHEDULED EVENT Sep 23, 21:30 - 23:30 PDTSep 16, 03:03 PDTScheduled - Our carriers partners Drei Austria, Three United Kingdom and Wind Tre Italy are conducting a planned maintenance from 23 September 2024 at 21:30 PDT until 23 September 2024 at 23:30 PDT. During the maintenance window, there could be intermittent API request failures for the following carriers and countries: Drei Austria, Three United Kingdom and Wind Tre Italy customers.Impacted Products: Verify Silent Network Auth, Lookup SIM Swap, Lookup Identity Match, Legacy Identity MatchAndAttributes

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Elevated 499 Error Rates
Sep 16, 04:37 UTCInvestigating - Cloudflare is investigating an increased level of HTTP 499 errors rates. We are working to analyse and mitigate this problem. More updates to follow shortly.

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Network Performance Issues in Singapore
Sep 16, 00:05 UTCIdentified - Cloudflare is investigating issues with Network Performance in the Singapore Region. We are working to analyze and mitigate this problem. More updates to follow shortly.

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SMS Delivery Report Delays To Multiple Networks In US Via A Subset Of Twilio Shortcodes
Sep 15, 16:44 PDTInvestigating - Our monitoring systems have detected a potential issue with SMS Delivery Reporting Delays To Multiple Networks In US Via A Subset Of Twilio Shortcodes . Our engineering team has been alerted and is actively investigating. We will update as soon as we have more information.

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Facebook Conversions error: “API calls from the server require an appsecret_proof argument” – Users unable to authenticate or reconnect
Sep 15, 13:39 PDTUpdate - Users with connections for Facebook Conversions and Facebook Conversions (for Business) have been reporting issues with the app disconnecting. Upon attempting to authenticate, they are met with the following error:"API calls from the server require an appsecret_proof argument"This issue has been brought to the attention of the partner team in charge of those apps and we are awaiting further information from them on options for a fix. We apologize for the inconvenience but thank you for your patience while those involved continued the investigation.Sep 15, 13:38 PDTInvestigating - Users with connections for Facebook Conversions and Facebook Conversions (for Business) have been reporting issues with the app disconnecting. Upon attempting to authenticate, they are met with the following error:"API calls from the server require an appsecret_proof argument"This issue has been brought to the attention of the partner team in charge of those apps and we are awaiting further information from them on options for a fix. We apologize for the inconvenience but thank you for your patience while those involved continued the investigation.

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SMS Delivery Delays to Natcom Network in Haiti
Sep 14, 22:23 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to Natcom Network in Haiti. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

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Inbound Call Failures to a Subset of Twilio Phone Numbers in Denmark
Sep 14, 21:25 PDTInvestigating - We are observing . We are currently working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We expect to provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

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SMS Delivery Delays to AT&T Network in Mexico
Sep 14, 20:49 PDTInvestigating - We are experiencing SMS delivery delays when sending messages to AT&T Network in Mexico. Our engineers are working with our carrier partner to resolve the issue. We will provide another update in 1 hour or as soon as more information becomes available.

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