Update: Public beta versions of today’s software releases are available now.
It’s not just iPhone 15 event announcement day. Fresh iOS 17 betas are here as well. Apple has released iOS 17 beta 8 for developers.
Apple unveiled iOS 17 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, previewing new features coming to iPhone including StandBy, Live Voicemail, AirDrop updates, and much more.
iOS 17 has been available as a pre-release version since early June. Starting last month, Apple has expanded iOS 17 testing through its public beta program as well.
This year, Apple has made it possible to join the developer beta program without paying the annual $99 fee. The one difference between the developer and public beta now is how soon new builds become available.
Early versions of developer beta releases go out in plenty of time to make sure nothing critical breaks for public beta users. Closer to release, however, both versions typically become available at the same time.
We expect iOS 17 to be ready for primetime in a couple weeks. Apple should announce the official release date on September 12. In the meantime, follow our coverage to stay up-to-date on the latest.
Apple has also released watchOS 10 beta 8, tvOS 17 beta 8, HomePod (OS) 17 beta 8, and the third visionOS beta.
Apple has officially set a date for its annual iPhone special event. This year, the festivities commence on September 12 and the iPhone 15 is expected to be the star of the show. Head below as we round up all of the announcements we expect at the Apple event, including new software and hardware.
Apple September event details
This year’s Apple event will be held on September 12 at 10 a.m. PT and 1 p.m. ET. Apple’s invite for the event teases the tagline “Wonderlust,” and some people have speculated the blue and gray color scheme could be a hint at Apple’s color choices for the iPhone 15.
The “Wonderlust” event is once again a hybrid-style event. This means it will include pre-recorded keynote that the majority of us watch from home. Members of the press, however, will watch from Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park and subsequently get hands-on time with the iPhone 15 and other new hardware.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are on track for an announcement at Apple’s September event this year. Here’s a rundown of the features and changes that have been rumored for the entry-level iPhone 15 models:
The Dynamic Island, which first came to the iPhone 14 Pro last year, will expand to the non-Pro versions of the iPhone 15.
The iPhone 15 will have a USB-C port that replaces Lightning for charging and data transfer.
Rumors have suggested the iPhone 15 will include a colour-matched braided USB-C cable in the box. That cable might also be 1.5 meters long, an increase from the current 1-meter Lightning cable included in the iPhone box.
Improved efficiency and performance with an upgrade from the A15 Bionic chip to the A16 Bionic chip.
Support for the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, which will allow for 15W wireless charging on a greater number of accessories.
iPhone 15 colours: black, green, blue, yellow, and pink.
As you can see, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus won’t be radically different than their iPhone 14 counterparts. The biggest changes are the switch to USB-C and the addition of the Dynamic Island.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will likely start at the same prices as their predecessors, coming in at $799 and $899 respectively. With an announcement on September 12, iPhone 15 pre-orders will likely begin on September 15, and the first shipments will arrive to customers on September 22.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are expected to get their own share of big changes this year, with design updates, dramatically better performance, and camera upgrades. Here’s a rundown:
The iPhone 15 Pro lineup will have noticeably smaller bezels around the display. The iPhone 14 Pro features a bezel that measures in a 2.17mm thick, while the iPhone 15 Pro will reportedly cut that down to 1.5mm.
Like the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Pro models will also switch to USB-C for charging and data transfer. The iPhone 15 Pro, however, could offer faster charging speeds at up to 35W, compared to the iPhone 14 Pro at 27W. iPhone 15 Pro might also support Thunderbolt speeds for data transfers at rates of up to 40 Gbps.
Support for the new Qi2 wireless charging standard, which will allow for 15W wireless charging on a greater number of accessories.
The chassis of the iPhone 15 Pro will be made from titanium, replacing the current stainless steel edges. This means the devices will be lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro and also feature a matte texture rather than a glossy finish.
A new A17 Bionic chip built with a 3nm fabrication process, which is expected to offer dramatic improvements in performance and efficiency. This will be Apple’s first-ever 3nm chip.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max (but not the iPhone 15 Pro) will include an upgraded camera system with periscope lens technology. The new periscope lens will offer increased optical zoom, up to 5x or 6x. Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro Max’s optical zoom is limited to 3x.
The mute switch will reportedly be replaced with a new programmable Action button, similar to what was first debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra last year. iPhone 15 Pro users will be able to assign this Action button to a number of different tasks.
iPhone 15 Pro colours: space black, silver, blue, and grey.
These new features, however, will reportedly come at a cost. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are both expected to be more expensive than their predecessors. At least one analyst has suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro could start at $1,099 (an increase of $100) and the iPhone 15 Pro Max could start at $1,299 (an increase of $200).The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are expected to go up for pre-order on September 15th, but a recent analyst report indicated that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could face shipping delays of two to three weeks due to supply issues affecting the new camera hardware.
Apple Watch Series 9
In addition to the new iPhone 15 hardware, Apple is also planning a new Apple Watch Series 9 update. The new Apple Watch Series 9, however, is expected to be an iterative update without many major changes.
The one change for the new Apple Watch that’s been rumoured is a new processor inside. The Apple Watch Series 9 will reportedly be powered by a new S9 processor that offers performance and battery life improvements. This will mark the first change to the Apple Watch’s performance since the Apple Watch Series 6.
For context’s sake, the Apple Watch Series 8 is powered by the S8 processor, which is identical to the S7 chip used in the Apple Watch Series 7, which was identical to the S6 chip used in the Apple Watch Series 6.
The Apple Watch Series 9 will also be available in a new pink colour option, according to one leaker. This new colour would coexist alongside midnight, starlight, silver, and (PRODUCT)RED. Apple is also reportedly planning to debut a new band design with woven fabric materials and magnetic buckle.
That’s about all we know in regards to the Apple Watch Series 9. Apple, however, is reportedly working on a dramatic “Apple Watch X” update that could debut as soon as next year. The Apple Watch X has been described as the “biggest redesign of the Watch ever.”
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra is also expected to get an update this year, but details here are just as sparse as details about the Apple Watch Series 9. Presumably, the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 will use the same S9 processor with improved performance and battery life.
Bloombergreported that Apple tested a black titanium color for the Apple Watch Ultra last year but scrapped those plans. Bloomberg suggested the black titanium color could resurface this year with the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra, which leaker ShrimpApplePro has also echoed. “I can confirm this year we will have the black titanium this year along with the current standard titanium,” they posted on Twitter.
– Apple Watch Ultra 2 Same design. And I can confirm this year we will have the black titanium this year along with the current standard titanium. (MKBHD Edition) 🗿 pic.twitter.com/zxsVu0TYKX
In line with the iPhone 15’s switch to USB-C, Apple will also reportedly unveil a new version of AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case at its September event. The change from Lightning to USB-C is expected to be the only change for the new version of AirPods Pro. Apple will also likely sell a standalone version of the AirPods Pro charging case with USB-C, so existing users don’t have to buy a completely new pair.
Apple may also have USB-C versions of its other accessories in the works, such as the MagSafe Battery Pack, the MagSafe Duo, and its various peripherals for the Mac; whether or not those announcements are set for the September event remains to be seen.
iOS 17 release date and more updates
Looking beyond new hardware, Apple will also announce more details about iOS 17 and its other new software updates during the September event. This includes iOS 17, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and iPadOS 17. These updates were first announced at WWDC in June and have been in beta testing since then.
During its September special event, Apple will announce a release date for these software updates. It will also likely give another rundown of the new features included in these updates.
One thing to note is that macOS Sonoma won’t be released in September, despite being announced alongside the other updates at WWDC in June. macOS Sonoma will be released sometime in October – which is when Apple will also reportedly unveil its first M3-powered Macs.
Apple September event wrap-up
Based on what we know now, Apple’s September 12 “Wonderlust” event is expected to be relatively to true to the precedent set in previous years. That is, the focus will be on the new iPhones with the Apple Watch updates being relatively minor.
One thing I’m particularly interested in seeing is the general public’s reaction to the iPhone 15’s switch to USB-C. While those of us in the tech community have been calling for Apple to replace Lightning for several years, there’s always the possibility that the broader iPhone user base will feel different.
Getting specific and putting commitments on a calendar are two great ways to build consistency in working toward fitness goals. With iOS 17 and watchOS 10, Apple is leveraging both of those tactics to help you get healthier with the ability to make custom Apple Fitness+ plans that can be mapped out for as long as two months.
Last year with watchOS 9, we got the ability to create custom workouts in the Workout app. Now Apple is taking that further with a custom Apple Fitness+ plan tool in iOS 17 and watchOS 10 that lets users get proactive with scheduling weekly and monthly fitness routines.
The new feature lets you select your days of the week, length of time (per day and how many weeks), activity types, instructors, music, body focus, and more.
While it’s great that watchOS 10 supports the new feature, keep in mind Apple opened Fitness+ to work without Apple Watch in the fall of 2022 (just iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV needed).
How to create custom Apple Fitness+ plans
iOS 17 is currently in beta.
Running iOS 17, open the Apple Fitness app on your iPhone (or iPad) and tap the Fitness+ tab
Near the top, look for the new Custom Plans tile, tap Build Your Plan
Pick your weekly schedule, total time per day, and how many weeks you want your fitness plan to run
Now choose which activity types you want to include, then tap Review Plan
In the final step, you can add workouts to each day as well as select your preferred trainers and genres of music
You can also tap the existing workout activities to change equipment and body focus
When you’re all set, tap Create Plan
Here’s how it looks to create custom Apple Fitness+ plans:
Tap the + icon to add workouts to a day or tap one of your scheduled workouts to edit it:
After creating a plan, it will live on the main Fitness+ tab of the Fitness app just below the This Week feature at the top.
There’s a nice big, green “Let’s Go” button just below your workout for each day.
There doesn’t appear to be a way to automatically add the workouts to the native Calendar app at this point in the beta, but that could be coming 😁.
For now, there only appears to be support for one custom plan at a time. When one ends or you cancel one, you can also find Custom Plans (create new and see your past ones) at the bottom of the Fitness+ tab:
One of the big new features coming in iOS 17 is the addition of offline maps to Apple Maps, which lets you download a map region ahead of time and navigate without Wi-Fi or cell service.
Although several years behind Google Maps, the Apple Maps implementation of offline maps is very well done. In fact, it is even intelligent enough to remind you to download an offline map in advance, if you are getting directions to an area with poor reception.
When planning a route on an iPhone running iOS 17, Apple Maps will look ahead and check to see the cell service of your route. If it knows that the cell service will be poor before you get to your destination, the route options screen will automatically include a link to download a map that covers your route.
That means you won’t be caught lost once you set off, due to a lack of network connectivity. At this stage, it is a bit unclear how Apple Maps determines whether to show the ‘limited service’ warning. Perhaps, it is based on telemetry collected by other Apple Maps users. It may also be region limited; we could only make it appear for US national parks, but it is possible it rolls out more widely over time.
Once downloaded, you can manage your collection of offline maps by tapping on your profile picture inside the Maps app. Automatic updates means that Apple Maps periodically updates your downloaded maps with the latest POI and cartography, on your behalf. This means the maps never go out of date.
Downloaded maps are also browsable on your Apple Watch, if the paired iPhone is nearby.
Other improvements to Apple Maps with iOS 17 include an upgrade to the experience for EV owners. Maps can now integrate real-time availability information for charging spaces with support for Tesla Supercharger network, Chargepoint, Electrify America and more.
iOS 17 adds real-time charging availability info for EV drivers
With iOS 17 this year, Apple is further expanding on its set of features in Apple Maps for electric car owners. Starting this year, Apple Maps will show real-time charging availability information and let drivers choose a preferred charging network.
Apple first announced support for EV routing in Apple Maps back at WWDC 2020. The feature eventually debuted for Ford Mustang Mach-E drivers last year, followed by Porsche Taycan drivers earlier this year.
With iOS 17 installed on your iPhone, Apple Maps will prompt you to set up your preferred charging networks for your EV. You can choose from a long list of options, including Electrify America, Chargepoint, Tesla’s Supercharger network, and more.
Once you choose your preferred networks, Apple Maps will intelligently present you with real-time charging availability information. For instance, this will show the number of total stalls available at a specific charging station and how many of those are currently occupied.
Based on the electric car you drive, Apple Maps will only show you charging options that are compatible with the charging connector used by your car. In iOS 17 beta 1, the feature still appears to be a work in progress and is missing some of the necessary data.
“When driving an electric vehicle, you can now choose a preferred charging network and see real-time charging station availability,” Apple explains.
As of right now, it appears that this feature is only available to cars that support Apple Maps EV routing, which is only the Mach-E and Taycan. Still, we expect more EV makers to adopt the feature in the future, and this is a great improvement to have – especially when using CarPlay.
iOS 17: How to download and use offline maps with Apple Maps
Apple Maps has improved leaps and bounds over the last decade, but one area it has always been lacking is offline use. Google Maps and others have let you download maps to be available offline for a long time.
That feature gap is now closed with iOS 17. Apple Maps now lets you download a maps region to store on your device, and use entirely offline for navigation and routing without an internet connection. Here’s how.
Offline maps are useful when travelling abroad, but also at home when you can’t always rely on a network being available. If you often travel through cellular deadspots, especially applicable to some highways and suburban areas, having maps available offline is a nice safety net so that you know you won’t get lost.
With Apple Maps on iOS 17, you can now save a region of the map locally on your iPhone. As long as you stay inside the bounds of the downloaded map, you can get turn-by-turn directions entirely offline; for driving, walking, cycling, for transit. You can also simple pan and zoom around the map in the Maps app, with no waiting for things to load. Offline maps also include POI data like opening hours.
Apple Maps downloaded to your iPhone will also be available on the Apple Watch, when the paired iPhone is nearby. The watch cannot download maps directly.
How to download an offline map in iOS 17
To download a map, press on your avatar in the panel and press on the new Offline Maps button.
Select “Download New Map”.
Search for the area you want to download. iOS will automatically suggest your home area.
On the preview, you can refine the bounds and the app will tell you how much storage space you’ll need to save the map.
Press “Download” button to confirm and the map will appear in the Downloaded list.
Obviously, the larger the region, the bigger the download size. You can repeat the process and download as many different regions as you need. What’s also nice is that offline maps are not a one-time static snapshot; they will be automatically updated with the latest changes, when a network is available.
Downloads default to happening only over the WiFi network. You can change the setting to download over cellular as well.
Offline Only Mode
With a map downloaded, when no network is available, Apple Maps will use the downloaded map if applicable for your current location. When internet is available, Maps will always look up data over the network to incorporate information like realtime traffic.
However, you can force the app to only use downloaded map content. To do this, from the same settings panel as described above, enable the toggle for “Only Use Offline Maps”.
After launching a big overhaul of the Apple Support app in May and expanding it to Vietnam, Apple has released a small but useful update for the app today that brings more details about nearby locations.
Along with performance improvements and bug fixes, the new feature is store hours, accesssibility details, and specialty services showing up for nearby locations.
Apple Support 5.1 release notes:
Added helpful information about nearby locations, including store hours, accessibility details, and specialty services available
Performance enhancements and bug fixes
This release follows Apple Support 5.0 which launched in May with a new UI, the ability to browse nearby Apple service providers, improvements to managing calls, chats, reservations, and more.
Apple Support app overhauled with new layout, quicker access to nearby providers, more
Apple is rolling out a notable update to the Apple Support app for iPhone and iPad today. The update brings a revamped layout that makes it easier to manage your activity, expands the app to new regions, and more. Head below for the full details.
Apple says that the revamped Apple Support app layout streamlines the process of viewing and managing your support account, including calls, chats, reservations, and more. There’s also a new feature that allows customers to easily browse the providers in their area to find the quickest way to get support and service for their devices.
Today’s update to the Apple Support app also brings the app to Vietnam and adds Vietnamese as a supported language. In total, Apple says the app is now available in 32 languages and 174 regions.
Here is the full changelog:
Browse the providers in your area to see what’s nearby.
New layout makes it easier than ever to view and manage your calls, chats, reservations, and other activity.
Expanded region availability to Vietnam and added Vietnamese as a supported language. The Apple Support app is now available in 32 languages and 174 regions.
Performance enhancements and bug fixes.
The Apple Support app is a useful resource for finding help for any problem you might face with your Apple hardware or your Apple ID. You can download it on the App Store for free. Today’s new update is still rolling out, so you might not see it right away in the App Store on your device.
Google is finally adding a native translate capability to Gmail for Android and iOS after long supporting it on the web client.
Update 8/21: Gmail’s translate feature is rolling out via a server-side update. We’re seeing it with version 2023.07.23.x. It’s not yet widely available, but one way to check is by tapping the second overflow menu in the message body for “Translate.”
That option brings up a banner with the settings gear letting you select something other than “Detect language.”
Before the message body, Gmail will show a “Translate to” banner. Tapping updates what appears below with the ability to “Show original” again and “Automatically translate” a specific language going forward.
Press the settings gear to pick another output language, with over 100 supported. This prompt appears when the contents of an email doesn’t match your “Gmail display language,” which is the first dropdown menu in web app settings.
You can manually translate a language by going into the three-dot overflow menu in the top-right corner if an email was not recognized. The feature can also be disabled for a specific language by clicking ‘x’ on the banner and then “Don’t translate [language] again.”
Translations in Gmail for Android are rolling out from today onwards, while it will come to iOS in the coming weeks. This is a much-needed integration as users previously had to open an email on their computer, or taking a screenshot on mobile and send it to Google Lens or Translate.
Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts
Gmail encouraging users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing
Over the past few days, Google has been prominently promoting Enhanced Safe Browsing in the Gmail apps.
Appearing just above your inbox on Android and the web, getting “additional protection against phishing” is the main benefit for Gmail users: “Turn on Enhanced Safe Browsing to get additional protection against dangerous emails.”
We first saw this message on Friday, and it’s seeing a wide rollout. Google touts:
Provide real-time security scanning to warn you about or block dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions.
Improve Google’s ability to detect and protect against phishing and malware for you and everyone on the web.
Give you better protection from dangerous links across Google apps.
In other security news, Google shared today that “70% of Google Accounts, owned by people regularly using our products, automatically benefit from second factor authentication that confirms their identity when a suspicious sign-in is detected.” The company is looking forward to wider passkey adoption.
What is Enhanced Safe Browsing
First introduced three years ago in Chrome, Enhanced Safe Browsing provides real-time web protections. The standard, non-enhanced version works by checking the URL of sites you visit against a local list that is downloaded/refreshed every 30 minutes (as of 2020). This list is widely used by many other apps and browsers.
Google created Enhanced Safe Browsing because “sophisticated phishing sites” got around the update period. “Uncommon URLs” are sent in real time to determine whether you’re about to visit a phishing site, with Chrome also sending a “small sample of pages and suspicious download,” while Gmail, Google Drive, and other apps you’re signed in to contribute data.
Later on, Enhanced Safe Browsing expanded to provide warnings about Chrome extensions, conduct in-depth file analysis, leverage ML models, and is now also available in Chrome for iOS.
It’s also accessible in Chrome settings: chrome://settings/security.
New Gmail ‘Offer times you’re free’ tool streamlines calendar scheduling
Google is rolling out a new Calendar tool in the Gmail web client that makes it easier and faster to schedule meetings.
When composing an email on the web, the toolbar will feature a new Calendar icon at the right with two options:
Create an event: This functionality was previously accessed from the “three dot menu on top of the email conversation view.” Event title and recipients are pre-filled from the email. Gmail will also automatically insert an event summary into the email body for easy sharing.
Offer times you’re free: This new option opens the Calendar side panel, where you can “select and insert proposed meeting times” by highlighting what’s free in your primary calendar across multiple days. Recipients will be able to select one of the proposed times via an interactive email reply, and this will automatically generate a Calendar invite after confirming their name and email address.
At the moment, Offer times you’re free only works for 1:1 meetings: “If multiple people are included in the recipient list, only the first person to book an appointment will be added to the event automatically.”
Google hopes to make “scheduling much easier by reducing the back-and-forth in lengthy email threads when negotiating or scheduling meeting times.” This is rolling out over the coming weeks:
Available to all Google Workspace customers and users with personal Google Accounts
The most important questions to ask about the Apple Watch Series 7 aren’t about the Apple Watch Series 7, they’re about the Apple Watch you may already have.
That’s a gentle way of saying that if there’s nothing wrong with your current watch, there’s nothing in the Series 7 that should compel you to upgrade. If you’ve been waiting for some key features before buying your first Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is great. The larger screen and faster charging are the two headline features and both are welcome. The Apple Watch is in a class entirely of its own right now. Nothing else is as good for iPhone users and nothing like it is available for Android users.
Apple Watch design and screen
The Apple Watch Series 7 didn’t get a major redesign when launched. Instead, it looks almost identical to previous Apple Watches and maintains compatibility with all previous Apple Watch straps, although there are incredibly subtle changes in its overall size and curves.
There are new colour options available, including midnight (which apparently has a hint of blue in it), starlight (a cross between silver and gold), and dark green. Apple sent me the green one and in most light, it just looks grey — but every now and then it’ll pop and look visibly green.
The biggest change is the screen; it’s 20 per cent larger than the last few iterations of the Apple Watch. It does the thing all screen upgrades tend to do: make the older screen with its larger bezels look small.
When Apple first made the screen bigger way back on the Apple Watch Series 4, Some thought it made an appreciable difference in the experience and would even be worth upgrading for. Here, on the Series 7, Some just think the screen is really nice and looks better, but isn’t enough to justify an upgrade.
Apple has kept the always-on screen and says that it is brighter in ambient mode when indoors. That is: the overall max brightness hasn’t changed, but when you’re inside, the screen should look a little less dim.
The other design change on the Series 7 is that it’s more durable. The front crystal on all models is thicker and stronger against cracking. (It’s also more refractive, so you can catch a glimpse of some pixels at extreme angles.) The whole watch adds IP6X dust resistance for the first time and maintains the same water resistance to 50 meters.
Apple didn’t add any new health sensors to the Series 7. It still tracks heart rate and has a blood oxygen monitor and EKG. None of these sensors should be used for diagnostic purposes as the Apple Watch is not a medical device.
Apple Watch charging and battery
Apple is still targeting 18 hours of battery life on the Apple Watch Series 7. It’s enough to get through a day — maybe two if you turn off the always-on screen and don’t work out. In my tests, those numbers are borne out. I need to charge the Series 7 only a little less often than I need to charge my old Series 5 (which is starting to lose its battery capacity a bit).
Wish Apple had done more to improve battery life on the Series 7, especially since this is technically a redesign. Would have even taken the same size screen as last year’s model if it had meant getting longer battery life instead. There’s nothing wrong with the Apple Watch’s battery life, but I do wish that it aimed higher like the new iPhones did this year.
Instead, we got faster charging thanks to a redesigned charging puck that also uses USB-C. Lots of people have those wall adapters but may need to pick up a second one (or a multi-charger) since it’s not included in the box. (As an aside, the actual plug part of the Apple Watch charger is longer now, which Apple says is to manage heat.)
The charging is faster. Apple claims it’s 33 percent faster than the older cable and that sounds right to me. I have been able to juice up 20 per cent in just ten minutes several times and it has been easier to top off to a full charge in the morning while I putter around with coffee and breakfast. It makes it slightly more convenient to use the watch for sleep tracking since it’s easier to fit a quick charging session in.
Still and all, We would have preferred standard Qi charging to faster charging (if we had to choose). Qi charging mats are cheap and plentiful now, but integrating an Apple Watch charger adds cost and complexity. Older Apple Watch chargers will work just fine with the Series 7 but at a slightly slower charging speed.
WatchOS 8
There are a few features in WatchOS 8 that are exclusive to the Series 7, ostensibly because its larger screen makes them possible. The watch can fit just a little more text when reading a message, for example.
The two watch faces custom to the Series 7 are called “Contour” and “Modular Duo.” The former just put numbers out on the edges of the screen and would apparently look bad on screens with larger bezels, while the latter allows you to have two full-width complications stacked instead of just one.
The larger screen also allows for a new text-entry option: a miniature keyboard. You can tap or swipe on it and as long as autocorrect is doing its thing correctly, it works fine. It’s about as good as any smartwatch keyboard I’ve used, but still, others prefer dictating messages via Siri whenever possible.
Those are the Series 7-specific features, but WatchOS 8 has a few more things worth covering. It’s able to auto-detect outdoor bike workouts — and in testing, it managed to do that very well, even when I was hitting stoplights at every block. Wish Apple would make it easier to integrate the Watch’s workout data with cadence or power sensors on a bike, but cyclists are still on their own to figure out how to do that.
Apple says it’s also adjusting your calorie metrics if the watch believes you’re riding an e-bike. There’s no setting for it, it just detects if your heart rate is suspiciously low and your speed is remarkably high as you cruise up a hill. There’s also no indicator in your results if your calorie metrics were adjusted.
WatchOS 8 has a redesigned photos app and lets you send photos directly from the watch. It has an updated “Mindfulness” app with a “Reflect” feature that gives you some kind of prompt to meditate on, like “Recall a challenge you’ve overcome” and “Think about what sparks your creative energy.” As you can probably tell from the unnecessary scare quotes in the previous sentence, I don’t like it. I think meditation is a deeply personal — and for many people spiritual or religious — thing, and so I recoil whenever I see tech companies reducing the practice down to anodyne apps.
I’ve left the best for last: the Apple Watch lets you set multiple timers. You can set them in the timer app. You can set them with Siri. You can use Siri to name each timer. You can see all your timers stacked one after the other. It’s magical. It’s wonderful. It’s hilarious that it took until 2021 to make this happen and even more hilarious that the iPhone itself still can’t do it.
Seriously, though, multiple timers on the Apple Watch are great, especially for cooking. It means I don’t need to stay within earshot of the smart speaker in my kitchen if I’ve got something in the oven.
As what have said this every year for several years now because it’s true every year: the Apple Watch is the best smartwatch for iPhone users, by far. There are fitness trackers that fulfil niches not filled by the Apple Watch like Garmins for more serious athletes or Fitbits for people who want something simpler. But as a general computer-on-your-wrist, the Apple Watch Series 7 is challenged only by older Apple Watches.
If you have one of those older Apple Watches, I don’t think there’s anything here that should compel an upgrade. All the new features are very nice but not necessary. If there is something that’s bothering you about your current watch, then by all means go for it if you can afford it. Also, while the Series 3 is still kicking around for cheap, I don’t think it’s a great buy anymore. The Apple Watch SE is a better value.
There’s no reason that we should have an expectation of major year-on-year updates for the Apple Watch. These smaller iterations might not be what we’ve been hoping for — a big redesign with much more battery — but that doesn’t make the Series 7 bad on its own merits.
It’s a great watch — again, the best smartwatch. If it’s time for you to replace your watch (or buy your first one), you’ll love it. If it’s not time to replace your watch, it’s not time to replace your watch.
Apple released watchOS 9.6.1 for Apple Watch users on Tuesday but without an accompanying iOS 16.6.1 update. A new rumor today suggests that Apple isn’t planning iOS 16.6.1 and is instead planning to jump all the way to iOS 16.7. Simultaneously, Apple has also started ramping up iOS 17.1 testing.
watchOS 9.6.1 addresses a bug in Apple’s Movement Disorder API that had prevented access to that data by researchers and third-party applications.
Typically (but not always), when Apple releases an update for one of its platforms, it releases accompanying updates for other platforms. This is especially true for watchOS, with Apple generally trying to keep lock-step between watchOS and iOS when possible.
That being said, a new rumor today from a previously accurate source on Twitter suggests that Apple is instead planning to jump to iOS 16.7 with its next update. The company reportedly isn’t planning to release iOS 16.6.1.
There’s no word on when Apple might release iOS 16.7 to the public, and the update is not actively being beta tested with developers. Last year, the first and only iOS 15.7 beta was released alongside the final iOS 16 beta. The stable iOS 15.7 update for everyone was released alongside iOS 16 on September 12, with a handful of bug fixes and security improvements.
In recent years, Apple has allowed users to remain on a previous year’s iOS release instead of immediately updating to the new version. For example, Apple actively encouraged users to update to iOS 15.7 rather than iOS 16 on day one last year.
iOS 17.1 testing ramps up
As of right now, there’s no evidence of iOS 16.7. This will likely change as we inch closer to a release sometime next month.
Interestingly, there has been a subtle uptick in iOS 17.1 users on over the last several weeks. iOS 17.1 could potentially add some of the features that aren’t included in the iOS 17 initial release, such as the new Journal app, additional AirDrop improvements, and collaborative playlists in Apple Music.
Last year, iOS 16.1 was released on October 24 with new features including iCloud Shared Photo Library, Live Activities for third-party apps, key sharing in the Wallet app, and more.
Apple releases watchOS 9.6.1 update for Apple Watch users
Apple is rolling out a new software update to Apple Watch users ahead of watchOS 10’s launch in September. Starting today, watchOS 9.6.1 is rolling out with a fix for the Movement Disorder API.
This update includes a fix for an issue that prevents access to motion data for apps that use the Movement Disorder API to track tremors and symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.
The Movement Disorder API was first launched in 2018 as a way for developers to offer passive, all-day monitoring via an Apple Watch. The API is able to monitor two common symptoms of Parkinson’s, including Tremors, indicated by shaking and quivering detected by the Apple Watch. The API can also monitor for Dyskinesia, a side-effect of treatments for Parkinson’s that causes fidgeting and swaying motions in patients.
The bug in watchOS 9.6 prevented third-party apps from accessing this data. Apple says the issue has been rectified with today’s release of watchOS 9.6.1.
You can update your Apple Watch by going to the Apple Watch companion app or to the Settings app on the Apple Watch itself. The build number for watchOS 9.6.1 is 20U80.
As of right now, there’s no sign of other updates from Apple, including iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. We’ll be sure to let you know if any other updates are released today.
Some companies ended up making these briefcase monitor-type accessories, but they were bulky, finicky, and always expensive. But thanks to an update to iPadOS 17, it looks like your iPad can now solve that problem. Here is how to get it done.
How is this possible?
Firstly, the reason this is possible is that one of the new features of iPadOS 17 gives you the ability to use an external camera as a webcam for your iPad. Again this is on iPadOS 17 and it is still in beta, but should be released in mid-September. The way this works is by using an external camera or webcam and basically “playing” it on your iPad, and the result is the ability to use it as your camera instead of the built-in FaceTime camera. Right now this feature only works in the FaceTime app but should become more available in third-party apps like Zoom, Slack, and Teams. Wesley Hilliard, from AppleInsider, wrote that this new camera support also applies to capture cards, which can be used to turn anything into an HDMI in. That is where the magic happens.
What you need
The setup for this is actually extremely simple. It will work with any video game console as long as it has an HDMI out. As tested it with my PS4 and my Nintendo Switch, and it worked amazingly. But below are the software and items needed to get this going.
Any iPad with a USB-C port (does not work with lightning port iPads)
Must be on iPadOS 17
Video Capture Card
Video game console of choice
Capture Pro App (currently in testflight but free to sign up to use)
Optional: USB-C hub to charge your iPad and use Capture Card
As mentioned, the iPad needs to be on iPadOS 17 to support this feature. You also need to make sure to download the Capture Pro App. It is currently in testing, so just hit this link, make sure to download Testflight, and then you can sign up to test Capture Pro for free, and it works immediately. It will eventually make it onto the regular app store once iPadOS 17 goes live to the public.
How to use your iPad as a game console display
Now that we have all the hardware we need, we can start to set this up. As stated, this is the easy part. Just connect your console to power, and run the plug the capture card into the HDMI cable. Plug the HDMI side to the console, and the capture card side to the iPad. Turn on the console, open the Capture Pro app, tap the “reload” button, and you are live!
What You will love about this is also just how well it works! The audio of the video game defaults to the iPad Pro speakers, which is outstanding! There is also ZERO latency. Since this isn’t remote play or cloud gaming, you are directly connected to the console which allows for no latency while playing. On top of all of this, since you are using an App to display this through the Capture Pro App, it supports stage manager. So you could have the gameplay in one window and have Twitter or some walkthrough website up in another window while playing. Be sure to watch the hands-on video to see this in real-time.
Wrap-up
I think this is a very cool feature, and I can’t wait to see what this could mean for portable consoles in the future. It is not unheard of to put your Xbox, iPad, and controller in a bag for a week-long trip. You would be able to get some series gaming done. Combine that with the amazing iPad Pro ProMotion display, and you will be gaming at 120FPS on the go.
This is still in beta but so far I have had zero issues at all. If you want to give it a try, all you really need to do is buy that capture card if you don’t have one, and you should have everything you need.
Apple’s Shortcuts app has evolved a lot since the company acquired Workflow in 2017. For those unfamiliar, it lets users create a series of automated processes on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even Apple Watch. And with iOS 17, Apple is adding even more functionality to the app, which now supports Camera app actions.
Camera app shortcuts coming to iOS 17
As noted by Matthew Cassineli, the latest iOS 17 beta available to developers and public beta testers adds new Shortcuts actions to open specific camera modes in the Camera app. With the new “Open Camera” action, users can choose between different camera modes and “immediately open any preset using Shortcuts.”
There are up to nine different modes available, which vary depending on the device you have:
Photo
Selfie
Video
Portrait
Portrait Selfie
Cinematic
Slo-Mo
Time-Lapse
Pano
These shortcuts can be very useful for a lot of things, like creating voice commands to use Siri to open the Camera app in a specific mode. You can also add icons to quickly access a specific mode right from your Home Screen.
ChatGPT for iOS adds Siri & Shortcuts support, and proper iPad app
This shortcut brings deep ChatGPT integration to native iOS features and apps
Workflow cofounder and Shortcuts engineering manager departs Apple
More about iOS 17
iOS 17 comes with a bunch of new features for the iPhone. These include enhancements to FaceTime and Messages, a new StandBy mode, interactive Home Screen widgets, NameDrop, and smarter keyboard suggestions. For the iPad, the update brings a brand new customizable Lock Screen, plus support for microphones and USB webcams.
iOS 17 beta is currently available through the Apple Developerand Apple Beta Softwareprograms. The official release to the public is expected this fall.
Apple acquires powerful iOS automation app Workflow, makes it available for free
Apple way back 2017 acquired popular iOS tool Workflow, which allows users to combine the functionalities of various apps together to automate normally complex processes. According to TechCrunch, Apple finalized the deal today but financial details are not yet available.
In a statement, Workflow developer Ari Weinstein said that the team is thrilled to be joining Apple and remarked on how amazing of a journey it has been going from the company’s beginnings to today:
“We are thrilled to be joining Apple,” said Weinstein in a statement. “We’ve worked closely with Apple from the very beginning, from kickstarting our company as students attending WWDC to developing and launching Workflow and seeing its amazing success on the App Store. We can’t wait to take our work to the next level at Apple and contribute to products that touch people across the world.”
Apple has also confirmed the acquisition. The company said in a statement that Workflow’s use of iOS accessibility features is something that really makes the app standout out from other services. In 2015, the app won an Apple Design Award, something Apple attributes to those accessibility features in today’s statement:
“The Workflow app was selected for an Apple Design Award in 2015 because of its outstanding use of iOS accessibility features, in particular an outstanding implementation for VoiceOver with clearly labeled items, thoughtful hints, and drag/drop announcements, making the app usable and quickly accessible to those who are blind or low-vision.”
Workflow is based around the idea of transforming a process that would normally take a handful of interactions with iOS into a single tap. The goal is to “hide” a complex set of commands under a single, instant tap of a button.
What’s somewhat unusual about Apple’s acquisition of Workflow is that the app will remain on the App Store and has transformed into a free offering today. It’s unclear at this point how the Workflow team will be integrated into Apple, but the acquisition is good news for pro users who have called on Apple to make iOS more powerful, as well as good news for those who have called the iOS interface overly complicated.
iOS 17 beta 4: Here’s what new
iOS 17 beta 4 is here, and it includes a handful of small changes and new features for iPhone and iPad users. Head below as we round up everything that’s changed ahead of iOS 17 being released to the general public in September.
The first beta of iOS 17 was released following the WWDC on June 5, and beta two was released two weeks later on June 21. iOS 17 beta 2 included updates to AirDrop, changes to the Settings app, crossfade support in Apple Music, and more. iOS 17 beta 3 was released on July 5 and brought more in-depth credits to the Music and more.
Since the release of iOS 17 beta 3, Apple also released the first iOS 17 public beta. We expect a new iOS 17 public beta build to be released sometime later this week or early next week.
What’s new in iOS 17 beta 4?
Ahead of Photo Stream being shut down this week, iOS 17 beta 4 removes the feature entirely.
iOS 17 beta 4 includes a new toggle in the Settings app that allows users to disable the ability to initiate AirDrop transfers by bringing two devices close together.
In the Messages app, Apple has tweaked the layout and icons for Messages apps in iOS 17 beta 4.
As spotted by Hidde Collee on Twitter, iOS 17 beta 4 includes a slightly tweaked design for buttons in the TV app.
There’s also a new AirPlay picker animation included in iOS 17 beta 4: