Apple has moved on to a new round of developer beta testing for iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and related updates, and the public beta program open to everyone should be kicking off very soon.
The next iPhone launch is also just two months away now, and we're continuing to hear rumors about what to expect from the next-generation models, while we've heard more this week about a rumored iPhone SE 4 and an upcoming external Mac monitor that could double as a smart home display.
Finally, Meta this week launched its Twitter competitor known as Threads, and it's seen rapid uptake thanks to its integration with Instagram. Read on for all the details on this week's biggest stories!
Everything New in iOS 17 Beta 3
Apple this week seeded the third beta of iOS 17 to developers for testing. The latest beta includes a few smaller changes for the iPhone, so be sure to check out our recap of everything new.
The first public beta of iOS 17 will be available later this month, according to Apple, and the software update will be released for all users with an iPhone XS and newer in September. Read our in-depth iOS 17 roundup to learn more about the update and new features.
Apple also released the third developer betas of iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 this week.
iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Come in Blue
The iPhone 15 Pro models set to be introduced this September will be available in a unique dark blue color that has a gray tone, according to leaker Unknownz21.
Available in a new titanium material, the blue shade will have a brushed finish that is unlike the stainless steel Apple has used in the past. The color is similar to the blue Apple used for the iPhone 12 Pro models, but it appears to be darker and with more gray to better complement the titanium finish. Check out our article for renderings we created to demonstrate the new color.
iPhone 15 Pro Max Predicted to Be More Expensive Than Previous Model
The high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max will be more expensive than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which starts at $1,099, according to tech analyst Jeff Pu.
One reason the Pro Max might be more expensive this year is the device's rumored periscope lens, which is expected to enable up to 5-6x optical zoom, compared to the current limit of 3x. The regular 15 Pro is not expected to have a periscope lens.
Meta's Twitter Alternative 'Threads' Now Available
Facebook's parent company Meta this week launched a new iPhone app called Threads that competes with Twitter. Thanks to Instagram integration, the app amassed over 30 million users as of Thursday morning, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
MacRumors is on Threads, as are several of our staff members, so be sure to follow us to keep up with the latest Apple news and rumors.
Apple Reportedly Working on Mac Monitor That Becomes a Smart Home Display When Idle
Apple is working on a new external monitor for Macs that also functions as a smart home display while not in use, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is developing multiple new monitor offerings, some of which are likely to be successors to its Studio Display and Pro Display XDR, and one that could have smart standby features powered by an onboard iOS chip.
iPhone SE 4: Here's What the Latest Rumors Say
Rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE have been circulating since just months after the current model launched in 2022. This week, we recapped rumors about the device and potential launch timing.
The latest word about the fourth-generation iPhone SE comes from UBI Research analyst Dae-Jeong Yoon, who this week said that mass production of the device has been delayed until some point in 2025.
Top Five New Features in iPadOS 17
While iPadOS 17 has adopted almost all of the features that are available in iOS 17, there are also several additions designed specifically for the larger display of the iPad. In a recent video on our YouTube channel, we highlighted the best new features available for the iPad in the iPadOS 17 update.
For more details about the update and new features, read our in-depth iPadOS 17 roundup.
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!
Top Rated Comments
?
BTW I actually used Threads. I tapped the button to follow everyone that I followed on Instagram. Now my Threads feed and Instagram feed are practically the same. People crossposting the same pictures as in Instagram. What's the point?
This is like Google bragging they have 80% world marketshare but Apple still earns more revenue from the App Store than Google's play store.
https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/03/facebook-shutting-down-live-shopping-feature-october/
https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2023/05/facebooks-paid-online-event-program-is.html
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/facebook-gaming-app-will-shut-down-soon/1100-6506992/
https://www.niemanlab.org/2022/10/facebook-will-shut-down-bulletin-its-newsletter-service-by-early-2023/
https://7news.com.au/technology/meta-shutting-down-facebook-feature-after-seven-years-affecting-millions-of-users-c-8580273
https://www.engadget.com/meta-facebook-video-speed-dating-sparked-shutting-down-collab-154126226.html
https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/26/23278767/meta-tuned-social-app-couples-shutting-down-date
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/red-table-talk-exit-facebook-watch-1235260023/
https://www.lightreading.com/big-tech/meta-kills-facebook-connectivity/d/d-id/782257
With that trick they are inflating the number of users. I wonder if they will really publish the number of active users.
At the moment the app is horrible bad. For a test I signed up and followed two accounts. Yet my feed was full of stuff from people I did not follow and there does not seem to be a way to change that. Stuff I did not request is basically spam. It is not any better than ads.
Google killing 1000 products does not prove Meta is good at keeping the lights on.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/09/tech/mark-zuckerberg-emoji-kids-faces/index.html
When Mark Zuckerberg shared a photo on Instagram of his family on July 4, two things stuck out: the billionaire CEO wore a striped souvenir cowboy hat, and the faces of his children were replaced with happy face emojis.
Zuckerberg’s post was promptly criticized by some who saw the decision to obscure the faces as a reflection of his privacy concerns for sharing pictures of his children online, despite his creating massive platforms that allow millions of other parents to do just that.
Meta, Instagram’s parent company, has long been scrutinized over how it handles user privacy and for the way its algorithms can be used to lead young users down potentially harmful rabbit hoes.
But the choice also highlights a broader trend among some social media users, and particularly among high-profile individuals, to be more cautious in sharing identifiable pictures of their children online.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg with his family on July 4 2023.
From zuck/Instagram
For years, celebrities from Kristen Bell and Gigi Hadid to Chris Pratt and Orlando Bloom have been blurring images or using emojis to help protect their kids’ privacy on social media. Zuckerberg, too, had previously posted pictures of the back of his daughters’ heads and their side profiles rather than showing their entire faces.
It’s more rare for everyday users to take a similar approach — but perhaps it shouldn’t be.
“By modeling for us that he was careful not to share his family’s location or childrens’ identities, he may be communicating that it is the end users’ responsibility to protect themselves online,” said Alexandra Hamlet, a New York City-based psychologist who closely follows the impact of social media on young users.
Meta did not respond to a request for comment.