MacRumors

As we get further into December, it's becoming increasingly hard to find all-time low discounts on Apple products that also have guaranteed Christmas delivery. One of the few devices that still falls under both of these conditions is the Apple Watch Series 10, which remains at best-ever Black Friday prices on Amazon for multiple 42mm and 46mm GPS models.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You'll find $69 off both 42mm and 46mm GPS Series 10 models in multiple case colors and band styles, all requiring an on-page coupon in order to see the discount at checkout. Every price listed below is a match of the record low prices we saw for Black Friday. If you've been eyeing an Apple Watch Series 10 as a present, now will be the time to purchase one at these record low prices.

If you're also shopping for a few new Apple Watch bands, Woot is hosting a big sale this week on Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop bands. You'll find Solo Loop bands at $19.99 ($29 off) and Braided Solo Loop bands at $29.99 ($69 off) during this event, making them both the lowest we've ever tracked for each style in brand new condition.

42mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10

• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (S/M) - $329.99 with on-page coupon, down from $399.00
• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band (S/M) - $329.99 with on-page coupon, down from $399.00

46mm GPS Apple Watch Series 10

• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (M/L) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band (S/M) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Jet Black Aluminum Case with Ink Sport Loop - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Light Blush Sport Band (M/L) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Rose Gold Aluminum Case with Plum Sport Loop - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Blue Cloud Sport Loop - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (S/M) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00
• Silver Aluminum Case with Denim Sport Band (M/L) - $359.99 with on-page coupon, down from $429.00

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

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Apple Intelligence servers are currently powered by the M2 Ultra chip, and they are expected to start using M4 series chips next year. In an eventual move away from Mac chips for server use, The Information today reported that Apple is developing a new server chip that will offer even faster performance for AI features.

The report said the new chip contains "many duplicates" of Apple's Neural Engine, so it sounds like it will offer turbocharged performance for AI processing.

At least a trio of companies are believed to be involved with the chip. Apple is said to be handling the overall design of the chip, while Broadcom is said to be providing some networking technology for it. TSMC is expected to begin mass production of the chip in 2026, using its third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. That is the same process expected to be used for the A19 chips in the iPhone 17 models next year.

The chip will likely power some Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-based generation, such as Image Playground, according to the report:

Apple will likely use the new AI chip it is developing for inference, where the chip processes new data—such as a user describing a possible image—and applies them to the models to generate an output, like producing the image itself.

More on Broadcom's involvement, from the report:

Like Google, Apple is relying on Broadcom for technology to network or link the chips together so they can work in unison to compute data more quickly. That technology has been one of the key drivers of AI development, making it possible to compute the massive amounts of data required to train and run LLMs. Networking technology is one of Broadcom's key strengths.

The paywalled report offers many more details about the chip.

Apple has announced that iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 will be released today with additional Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand, and ChatGPT integration for Siri. There is also a new Visual Intelligence feature on all iPhone 16 models that allows you to quickly identify things in the real world using the Camera Control button on those devices. As part of Apple Intelligence, Siri will gain features like on-screen awareness and deeper per-app controls, likely starting with iOS 18.4. And with iOS 19.4 in 2026, Siri is expected to become more conversational like ChatGPT.

Back in September as part of the iPhone 16 launch, Apple's Beats brand surprisingly launched cases for new iPhone lineup, available in four colors and featuring MagSafe and Camera Control support.

Beats today is expanding its case lineup with two additional colors, Sunrise Pink and Twilight Blue, with the new cases including the iconic Beats logo in the center of the rear rather than the ‌MagSafe‌ alignment guides seen on the original versions.

The cases are made of a polycarbonate back with flexible sidewalls for shock absorption, and they feature a glossy scratch-resistant exterior coating and a soft microfiber interior. Camera Control support is enabled via a sapphire crystal button coupled to a conductive layer to transmit finger movements to the button on the phone.

The two new colors of cases are available for all four models in the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup, and are priced at $49. They're available through Apple's online store starting today, and will be at Apple Store retail locations starting tomorrow.

In iOS 18.2, Apple introduced a major change to the Mail app with its new Categories feature. Categories automatically sorts your emails into four distinct sections: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. However, while this organizational system aims to help manage email overload, not everyone is going to prefer the new layout.

Mail Categories attempts to intelligently organize your incoming emails into different sections. Important emails are shown in a "Primary" category, with orders, newsletters, social notifications, and deals organized into three other sections.

The "Transactions" section includes receipts, orders, and deliveries, and aims to make it easy to find orders that you've placed and shipping information for those orders. Meanwhile, the "Updates" section includes newsletters, alerts for things like doctor's appointments and correspondence, and other subscription emails. Lastly, Apple's "Promotions" category includes special offers and deal emails.

Note that even if an email would normally fall into Transactions, Updates, or Promotions, it will also appear in your Primary inbox if it contains time-critical information. On devices that support Apple Intelligence, the system goes a step further by highlighting priority emails that require action or have deadlines.

Mail Categories: Why You Might Want to Revert

The new Categories view, while helpful for some, might not suit your email management style for several reasons:

• You prefer seeing all emails in chronological order.
• Some messages may be incorrectly categorized.
• You have your own organization system.
• You find the extra sections distracting.
• You want faster access to all emails without switching between categories.

You can swipe left across the categories to switch to an All Mail view, but what if you want to remove the categories completely?

iOS 18.2: How to Return to List View in Apple Mail

Categories is the default view after updating to the new software. Fortunately, Apple makes it simple to switch back to the traditional list view. Here's how it's done:

1. Open the Mail app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the More button (three dots) in the upper right corner of your inbox.
3. Select List View from the pop-up menu.

Once you switch to List View, your inbox will return to showing all emails in chronological order, just as it did before iOS 18.2. The change takes effect immediately. While categorization is not perfect, it's likely something that Apple will improve over time. You can always switch back to Categories view using the same menu if you want to try it again later.

Note: If you're using an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, you'll see an additional option in the More menu for priority messages. This option won't appear on devices without Apple Intelligence support. The More menu also has an "About Categories" section where you can see how your messages have been categorized over the course of the last week, but there is no option to tell the Mail app if you believe an email has been put into the wrong category.

Amazon this week has brought back a low price for the Apple Pencil Pro, available for $99.00, down from $129.00. Alongside this deal, we're tracking a collection of Apple accessory discounts, including great deals on the Magic Keyboard and MagSafe Charger.

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.

Apple Pencil Pro

Deals on the Apple Pencil Pro have been very rare throughout the past few weeks, and they never last long. So, although this isn't an all-time low price, it's still a great deal and potentially your last chance to get the accessory at a discount before Christmas.

Update: As expected, the Apple Pencil Pro deal has quickly expired, but the other deals below remain available.

AirTag

Amazon is also discounting Apple's AirTag 4-Pack to $72.99 this week, down from $99.00. This is just about $3 higher when compared to the all-time low price and it's still a great deal on the accessory, with guaranteed Christmas delivery.

iPad Pro Magic Keyboard

Moving to the new 2024 Magic Keyboard, you can get the 11-inch model in Black for $249.99, down from $299.00. This is an all-time low price on the accessory and it can still be delivered in time for Christmas on Amazon.

MagSafe Charger

Amazon introduced a few deals on Apple's new lineup of MagSafe Chargers this week. You can get the 1-meter model for $29.99 and 2-meter model for $34.99, both representing solid second-best prices on the accessory.

The new MagSafe Chargers provide overall faster charging speeds with compatible iPhone models. When paired with a 30W power adapter, iPhone 16 models can charge at up to 25W wirelessly over MagSafe, which is 10W faster than a regular non-MagSafe Qi2 wireless charger.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

Apple today revealed its 2024 App Store Award winners, including pro video camera app Kino, which was named iPhone App of the Year.

There were 45 finalists across 12 categories, and 17 winners were ultimately selected. Apple said the awards recognize developers who delivered the "highest levels of user experience, design, and innovation" on the App Store this year.

"We are thrilled to honor this impressive group of developers who are harnessing the power of Apple devices and technology to deliver experiences that enrich the lives of users and have a profound impact on their communities," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "The remarkable achievements of this year's winners demonstrate the incredible ingenuity that can be unlocked through apps."

Kino was released earlier this year by Lux, the makers of the popular iPhone camera app Halide.

The full list of winners is below.

Apps

iPhone App of the Year: Kino

iPad App of the Year: Moises

Mac App of the Year: Adobe Lightroom

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year: What If…? An Immersive Story

Apple Watch App of the Year: Lumy

Apple TV App of the Year: F1 TV

Games

iPhone Game of the Year: AFK Journey

iPad Game of the Year: Squad Busters

Mac Game of the Year: Thank Goodness You're Here!

Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year: THRASHER: Arcade Odyssey

Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Balatro+

Some apps also received Cultural Impact awards for the lasting impact they had on people and communities this year, according to Apple. All of this year's winners and more details about the apps can be found in Apple's press release.

In iOS 18.2, which Apple is releasing today, Apple's new Genmoji feature lets you create personalized emoji that aim to perfectly match what you want to express, going far beyond the limitations of standard Unicode emoji. Want an emoji of a break-dancing astronaut or a dog playing bagpipes? With Genmoji, you can make it happen.

Unlike standard emoji that are fixed Unicode characters, Genmoji are dynamically generated using on-device AI. They work seamlessly in text, appearing as inline emoji characters in supported apps like Messages and Notes. You can even create Genmoji based on people in your Photos app, making them more personal and expressive.

Requirements and Availability

Genmoji is available in the iOS 18.2 update, which Apple is releasing on December 11, 2024. The feature also requires Apple Intelligence, which is limited to iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 series models. Apple Intelligence does not currently work in the EU.

Even with a compatible device in a supported region, you'll need to join a waitlist for Apple Intelligence features like image creation (Settings ➝ Apple Intelligence & Siri). Apple will notify you when access is granted. Note that Apple Intelligence is only available when your iPhone and Siri are set to the same language.

Apple Intelligence is available in English (US) in most regions around the world, while iOS 18.2 adds Apple Intelligence support for English (Australia), English (Canada), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (South Africa) and English (UK).

Compatibility

While Genmoji work best between iOS 18.2 devices, they're also viewable on devices running iOS/iPadOS 18.1 and later, as well as Macs running macOS Sequoia 15.1 and later.

On older Apple devices or Android phones, Genmoji appear as regular images rather than inline emoji characters. Third-party apps need to specifically add Genmoji support to enable creation and proper display of these custom emoji.

Creating Custom Emoji in Messages

1. In Messages, start a conversation or choose an existing one.
2. Tap the emoji symbol in the bottom-left corner of the keyboard.
3. In the emoji search field, describe your desired emoji (alternatively, tap the colored smiling emoji at the far right, then enter your description).
4. Tap Create New Emoji.
   
   

5. On the New Genmoji screen, wait a moment for the amorphous blob to transform into your new emoji.
6. When the navigational symbols appear below the emoji, swipe left to preview alternative versions of your creation.
7. Tap the ellipsis button to add a caption to your emoji or save it as a sticker. You can also provide feedback to Apple using the thumbs up/down buttons.
8. Tap Add when you're happy with your selection, then tap the blue arrow button to send your new Genmoji.
   
   

With Genmoji, emoji finally become as limitless as your imagination. Having said that, Apple does maintain content restrictions similar to Image Playground to keep things appropriate. Regardless, once you start creating custom emoji, you might find standard emoji feeling a bit limited in comparison.

Apple has announced that iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 will be released today following more than six weeks of beta testing.

For the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, the update introduces additional Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji for creating custom emoji, Image Playground and Image Wand for generating images, and ChatGPT integration for Siri. There is also a new Visual Intelligence feature on all iPhone 16 models that allows you to quickly identify things in the real world using the Camera Control button on those devices.

On all compatible iPhones, the update adds a new Defaults section in the Settings app, an item location sharing feature in the Find My app, and much more.

Apple's full release notes for iOS 18.2 are below.

Apple Intelligence (All iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max)

Image Playground
- A new app that lets you use concepts, descriptions, and people from your photo library to create fun, playful images in multiple styles
- Swipe through previews and choose from as you add concepts to your playground
- Choose from animation and illustration styles when creating your image
- Create images in Messages and Freeform, as well as third party apps
- Images are synced in your Image Playground library across all your devices with iCloud

Genmoji
- Genmoji allows you to create a custom emoji right from the keyboard
- Genmoji are synced in your sticker drawer across all your devices with iCloud

ChatGPT support
- ChatGPT from OpenAI can be accessed right from Siri or Writing Tools
- Compose in Writing Tools allows you to create something from scratch with ChatGPT
- Siri can tap into ChatGPT when relevant to provide you an answer
- A ChatGPT account is not required and your requests will be anonymous and won't be used to train OpenAI's models
- Sign in with ChatGPT to access your account benefits, and requests will be covered by OpenAI's data policies

- Image Wand turns sketches and handwritten or typed notes into images in Notes
- Describe your change in Writing Tools allows you to suggest how you'd like something rewritten, for example as a poem
- Camera Control (iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
- Visual Intelligence with Camera Control helps you instantly learn about places or interact with information simply by pointing your iPhone at the object, with the option to tap into Google Search or ChatGPT
- Camera Control two-stage shutter lets you lock focus and exposure in Camera when light pressing the Camera Control

Mail
- Mail Categorization sorts your messages to help you prioritize the most important messages
- Digest view groups all of the messages from one sender into a single bundle for easy browsing

Photos
- Video viewing improvements, including the ability to scrub frame-by-frame and a setting to turn off auto-looping video playback
- Improvements when navigating Collections views, including the ability to swipe right to go back to the previous view
- Recently Viewed and Recently Shared album history can be cleared
- Favorites album appears in the Utilities collection in addition to Pinned Collections

Safari
- New background images to customize your Safari Start Page
- Import and Export enables you to export your browsing data from Safari and import browsing data from another app into Safari
- HTTPS Priority upgrades URLs to HTTPS whenever possible
- File Download Live Activity shows the progress of a file download in the Dynamic Island and on your home screen

This update also includes the following improvements and bug fixes:
- Voice Memos supports layered recording, letting you add vocals over an existing song idea without the need for headphones -- then import your two-track projects directly into Logic Pro (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)
- Share Item Location in Find My helps you locate and recover misplaced items by easily and securely sharing the location of an AirTag or Find My network accessory with trusted third parties, such as airlines
- Natural language search in Apple Music and Apple TV app lets you describe what you're looking for using any combination of categories like genres, moods, actors, decades, and more
- Favorite Categories in Podcasts allows you to choose your favorite categories and get relevant show recommendations that you can easily access in your Library
- Personalized Search page in Podcasts highlights the most relevant categories and editorially curated collections tailored to you
- Sudoku for News+ Puzzles provided in three difficulty levels and available for News+ subscribers
- Support for the Hearing Test feature on AirPods Pro 2 in Cyprus, Czechia, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom
- Support for the Hearing Aid feature on AirPods Pro 2 in United Arab Emirates
- Pre-market price quotes in Stocks lets you track NASDAQ and NYSE tickers prior to market open
- Fixes an issue where recently captured photos do not appear immediately in the All Photos grid
- Fixes an issue where Night mode photos in Camera could appear degraded when capturing long exposures (iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max)

Some features may not be available for all regions or on all Apple devices. For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/100100

When released, iOS 18.2 will be available in the Settings app under General → Software Update.

TP-Link has launched a new Smart In-Wall Outlet under its Tapo brand, bundling Matter support and a feature that lets users monitor the energy usage of connected devices.

The Tapo P210M includes overcharge protection, meaning when connected devices are fully charged, the outlet switches off. The 15A/1800W outlet also features Power Protection, which automatically turns off devices when the power exceeds a user-specified threshold.

The aforementioned energy monitoring is accessed via the Tapo app, providing tracking of the outlet's energy use through stats and charts. Users can save money on their bills by scheduling devices to turn off during periods of inactivity. Note that this dual-socket model also has manual on/off buttons for each outlet.

The all-important Matter support over Wi-Fi eliminates the need for an additional hub, but a controller is necessary. In Apple Home terms, that equates to an Apple TV 4K (2021 and 2022 models), HomePod (both generations), or HomePod mini.

The Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Outlet retails at $30, but it is currently listed as on sale at Amazon.com, with a 33% discount bringing the price below $20.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Microsoft has announced that Teams for iPad now supports external cameras, allowing users with older devices to hook up better-quality webcams during Teams calls.

With iPadOS 17, Apple added support for connecting external cameras to iPads with a USB-C port, and Microsoft has just got around to leveraging the feature for users who want to benefit from higher resolution, better dynamic range, and the ability to adjust angles when videoconferencing.

Thanks to Microsoft's implementation, connecting a camera for use in Teams couldn't be simpler. Plug your external camera into your iPad's USB-C port either before or during your Teams meeting, and the app will automatically select it for use on the call. To switch back to your iPad's built-in camera, simply disconnect the external one.

The plug and play simplicity of the support does mean that there are currently no native or Teams controls to manually switch between your iPad's internal camera and an external one. For now at least, Teams will default to the connected external camera whenever one is plugged in.

Microsoft says most webcams that work over a USB-C connection are supported, so finding a compatible model shouldn't be an issue.

Spotify today shut down all Car Thing accessories, several months after announcing plans to discontinue the product. As of this week, Car Thing is no longer functional and will not work with the Spotify streaming service.

Car Thing owners who power on the device now only see the following message:

Car Thing is discontinued and no longer operational.

Thank you for being on this journey with us, safe travels. For more information, visit carthing.com Contact customer service by no later than January 14, 2025 to discuss your refund options.

Spotify's Car Thing was first introduced in April 2021, and it was Spotify's first hardware product. The accessory was designed to provide simple access to Spotify music while in a vehicle, and it was especially useful in vehicles without modern infotainment systems.

Spotify stopped making Car Thing just five months after it launched due to low product demand and supply chain issues. Existing Car Thing accessories continued to function as expected, until this week.

Back in May, Spotify announced that it was discontinuing Car Thing, and earlier this month, it told customers that the device would stop working at some point in December. Spotify says that Car Thing was discontinued in an effort to streamline product offerings.

Car Thing cost $90 when it launched, and existing units are entirely non-operational now that Spotify has decided to brick them. Spotify has directed customers to recycle their Car Things.

Satechi recently came out with a Find My wallet that's designed to work with a passport, allowing you to keep tabs on your most important documents when you're traveling.

Priced at $60, the Passport Cover with Find My is made from a simple but attractive black vegan leather material. It has a book-like shape and it is sized to hold a passport on one side, with four card slots for IDs and credit cards on the other side. There's also a pocket that can be used for holding money or an airline ticket.

Unfortunately, there is no strap, zipper, or other closure method included, so if you have it stuffed with several things, there is a possibility that something could come out. Cards slot into the holders and there's also a holder for the passport, but it would be nice to have an extra layer of security keeping everything closed.

Satechi's Passport Cover can be added to the ‌Find My‌ app alongside AirTags and other Find My-equipped devices. It is able to be tracked through the "Items" tab in the ‌Find My‌ app, and setup is as simple as pushing a button and holding it near the iPhone.

All of the ‌Find My‌ features are included, so the Passport Cover can be tracked on a map with directions to it, it can play a sound out loud, and you can get alerts when it is left behind and separated from your ‌iPhone‌. ‌Find My‌ devices use the ‌Find My‌ network when you're out of range, so if someone's ‌iPhone‌ is near the Passport Cover, you'll be updated with its location.

There is a built-in battery that Satechi says lasts for up to five months. It can be recharged using Qi, Qi2, or MagSafe, so while there is no cable to hassle with, you do need to have a wireless charger available. I much prefer the Qi-based charging to charging with a cable, and there is a ring on the front that lets you know where to charge.

The four card slots inside the Passport Cover have RFID protection to prevent card skimming from contactless credit cards for peace of mind.

I haven't had the Passport Cover on hand long enough to test its longevity, but the material is soft to the touch, pleasant to hold, and it feels durable. It is worth noting that while Satechi calls this a vegan leather, the texture does not resemble leather and it will not develop the same patina over time.

Bottom Line

There are passport holders that have built-in slots for AirTags, but Satechi's Passport Cover is sleeker and more convenient with built-in wireless charging. There are also several other ‌Find My‌ passport holders on the market, but many of them are more expensive. Some are cheaper, but for something as important as a passport, it's a good idea to go with a recognized brand.

If you're someone who travels often or if you have a big trip coming up where you want to make sure you can keep an eye on your passport, Satechi's Passport Cover is worth considering.

How to Buy

Satechi's Passport Cover with ‌Find My‌ can be purchased from the Satechi website or from Amazon for $59.99.

Note: Satechi provided MacRumors with a Passport Cover for the purpose of the review. No other compensation was received.

Yelp today announced several new features powered by artificial intelligence, including a new integration with Apple Maps that's available to iPhone users and an option for summarizing review content.

Review Insights uses large language models to surface reviews and information tailored to details that you are looking for when searching for a restaurant or other location to visit. Review Insights can discern reviewer sentiment about food quality, service, ambiance, wait time, and drinks. The LLM behind the feature can understand context in a review to provide relevant information even if a a key word you're looking for isn't in a review.

Yelp says that Review Insights are aggregated as sentiment scores that range from 1 to 100 and are positive, neutral, or critical. Tapping into the score provides the review related to a specific topic of interest. Review insights are available for restaurant, food, and nightlife businesses on iOS devices.

The Yelp homepage is gaining more personalized content and trending searches to make it easier to find new places to visit, and the company is testing AI videos that use real photos, videos, and information from Yelp to create videos about local restaurants. Unfortunately, the homepage is gaining autoplay user videos that unmute and expand to full screen

Business pages will now show information on a location's tipping policies and payment policies, and Yelp Assistant allows for quote requests using texts and calls after a project is submitted.

In ‌Apple Maps‌, there's a new integration for connecting directly to pros and requesting a quote via Yelp. ‌Apple Maps‌ has a "Quote" button on businesses pages that links to the Request a Quote flow in the Yelp app or the Yelp mobile web experience.

The new Yelp features are available to ‌iPhone‌ users starting today.

Apple today launched Tap to Pay on iPhone in Chile, which means independent sellers, small businesses, and other merchants in the country can use an ‌iPhone‌ as a contactless payment terminal.

With Tap to Pay on ‌iPhone‌, an ‌iPhone‌ is able to accept payment using Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets using NFC technology. Transactions are encrypted and Apple does not have information about what is purchased or the person that made the purchase.

On the customer end, using Tap to Pay on ‌iPhone‌ works like any standard ‌Apple Pay‌ transaction. Sellers open up an app on an ‌iPhone‌ XS or later, register a sale, and present an ‌iPhone‌ to the buyer, who can then use a contactless payment method to complete the transaction.

In Chile, SumUp is supporting the Tap to Pay on ‌iPhone‌ feature for merchants. SumUp is known for its iPhone-connected card reader, and the Tap to Pay feature uses the same infrastructure, but without the need for additional hardware.

Tap to Pay on ‌iPhone‌ launched in February 2022 in the United States, and since then, Apple has been working to expand it to additional countries. The feature is available in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

We're already just two weeks away from the Christmas holiday, so in an effort to aid in any last-minute holiday shopping we've accumulated a list of exclusive sales from popular Apple accessory companies. These sales offer the perfect chance to do some online Christmas shopping before it's too late for items to arrive before the 25th.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

In total, you'll find exclusive offers from Satechi, Twelve South, Nomad, Nimble, and Grid Studio. These exclusive deals run the gamut of Apple accessories, and you can shop for iPhone cases, MacBook sleeves, Apple Watch bands, screen protectors, bags, and much more.

Each sale has a different end date, and shipping will vary from site-to-site, so be sure to read on for more information. Most brands are still offering delivery for Christmas, as long as you place orders soon. Every sale below is exclusive to our readers, and will require a coupon code, which you can find listed below as well.

Satechi

• What's the deal? Get 30% off sitewide with MACRUMORS30
• How long does it last? It ends on December 23
• What do they sell? USB-C hubs, MagSafe-compatible chargers, keyboards

Satechi is well known for its large collection of charging products, and with our exclusive code you can take 30 percent off sitewide, even on already-discounted products. The company sells portable batteries, USB-C hubs, wireless chargers that are compatible with MagSafe, and more. The exclusive code has a few exclusions on select new and upcoming products, but otherwise will work on any product sitewide.

One of the best products to use the coupon on is the Qi2 Trio Wireless Charging Pad, which is priced at just $70 with our code, down from $129.99. Our code is compatible with all of Satechi's new Qi2 chargers and hubs, making solid gift options for tech lovers.

Nomad

• What's the deal? Save 20% off sitewide with code MACRUMORS2024
• How long does it last? It ends on December 15
• What do they sell? iPhone 16 cases, AirPods cases, MagSafe-compatible accessories

Over at Nomad, you can get 20 percent off all in stock and full price items sitewide with our exclusive code MACRUMORS2024. This sale will last through December 15, and most things on Nomad's website are in stock and ready to ship for Christmas.

Nomad offers a variety of high-quality accessories for Apple products, like the Base One Max wireless charger, folio cases for iPad Pro, iPhone 16 screen protectors, and even a variety of straps for the Apple Watch.

Nimble

• What's the deal? Get 20 percent off your order with MACRUMORS20
• How long does it last? It ends on December 20
• What do they sell? Eco-friendly portable chargers, wireless chargers, iPhone cases

Eco-friendly brand Nimble is offering our readers 20 percent off their order this holiday season with the exclusive promo code MACRUMORS20. With this promotion you can save on Nimble's portable chargers, wireless chargers, iPhone cases, and more.

Nimble's products are made from highly sustainable materials and come inside plastic-free packaging. The company also runs a one-for-one tech recovery project, placing a disposable bag with every product it sells. In these bags, customers can send back their old or unused tech so that it can be recycled responsibly.

Shoppers should note that our code only works on Nimble's website and can not be used on any of Nimble's products that are available exclusively on Apple's website.

GRID Studio

• What's the deal? Get 20 percent off sitewide with MacRumors20
• How long does it last? It ends on December 31
• What do they sell? Disassembled and framed versions of old products like iPods, Nintendo consoles, and more

GRID Studio buys and recycles old electronics, taking them apart and arranging each component carefully under a glass frame. Their work turns a hodgepodge of parts into display pieces designed for Apple enthusiasts who want to own a piece of Apple's history. You can also find similar frames for products from Nintendo, Sony, BlackBerry, and more.

Twelve South

• What's the deal? Get 15 percent off orders of $150 or more with MacRumors
• How long does it last? It ends on December 22
• What do they sell? Products designed specifically for Apple devices like iPhone chargers, MacBook stands, and more

At Twelve South, you can get 15 percent off your order worth $150 or more with the promo code MacRumors. This promo code will last through December 22 for users in the United States.

Twelve South has numerous accessories that are specifically made for Apple products, like AirSnap for AirPods, HiRise Wireless for iPhone, and BookBook for iPad Pro. You can browse for some holiday shopping ideas of your own on Twelve South's website, and shoppers should note that the code will not work on any items that are available for pre-order.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Instagram today gained a new trial reels feature, which is designed to allow content creators to try out new formants and content to see what performs best. Trial reels are shared with people who do not follow a creator, giving insights into what performs well so it can then be shared with followers.

Trial Reels let creators experiment with new ideas and post frequency without worrying about losing followers or creating content that followers don't want to see. Instagram says that the feature will "help take the guesswork out of how your content will perform."

Content that is performing well in a trial reel can be shared with followers with a tap, or it can be set to be shared with followers automatically if it's performed well after the trial period.

Sharing a trial reel can be done by creating a reel and then tapping on the "Trial" toggle when uploading it. Trial reels are not shown to people on the creator's main grid or the Reels tab unless they are lated shared with all users.

The trial period lasts for 24 hours, and then Instagram provides key engagement metrics like views, likes, comments, and shares so creators can see how the content is performing.

Apple today announced that it has invested more than £18 billion in the United Kingdom over the last five years, plus it has doubled the number of engineering teams in the country.

Apple says that it supports 550,000 jobs in the UK through direct employment, its product supply chain, and the iOS app economy. Apple's UK engineering teams work on Apple Intelligence, Private Cloud Compute, and silicon engineering.

"We've been serving customers in the U.K. for more than 40 years, and we're proud of our deep connection with communities across this country," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We're thrilled to be growing our Apple teams here, and to keep supporting the extraordinary innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs who are pushing the boundaries of technology in so many ways."

Apple has also added jobs in the country through expanded Apple TV+ production, which has tripled in the past two years. ‌Apple TV‌+ adds jobs for cast and crew in the UK, but also hundreds of suppliers across business sectors like construction, manufacturing, and hospitality.

Since the App Store launched in 2008, Apple says that UK developers have earned £9 billion from selling digital goods and services.

Apple's Greg Joswiak is in the UK this week, and today he shared a photo at Apple Battersea and said that he was looking for an "exciting and special week ahead." Apple CEO Tim Cook is in the country as well, and today he met with Slow Horses Star Jack Lowden.

Apple is ramping up work on a blood pressure monitoring feature for the Apple Watch and it could be ready as soon as 2025, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Blood pressure monitoring is a health addition that Apple has been working on for the last several years, and based on rumors, Apple wanted to debut it in 2024.

The feature would not provide exact systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements, instead tracking whether a user's blood pressure is trending upwards and sending an alert if hypertension is detected. After receiving an alert, the Apple Watch user could provide the information to a medical professional for additional testing.

Hypertension is known as a silent killer because it can go undetected and undiagnosed, leading to heart damage and death. High blood pressure often has few symptoms until it is notably advanced, and early detection via the Apple Watch has the potential to save lives. The Apple Watch already has the ability to detect atrial fibrillation or an irregular heart beat, plus it can be used to take one-lead ECG readings. There is also a blood oxygen monitoring feature, but it is disabled in current models in the United States due to patent issues.

According to Gurman, Apple is aiming to introduce the feature in the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and it would also presumably be included in the standard Apple Watch coming in 2025 as well. It is not yet entirely clear if Apple will be able to launch the feature in 2025, given that it was previously delayed. In 2022, Apple was reportedly dealing with accuracy issues during testing, but those problems may have been solved.

Apple is also continuing to work on noninvasive blood glucose monitoring, but that feature is not yet ready to launch.