iOS 18, macOS 15 and everything else coming from Apple in June
Macworld June is a big month for Apple. It all starts with the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where Apple talks about all the great features and improvements coming to its platforms later in the year. That’s followed immediately by the first round of developer betas, so devs can start testing their apps and making updates using the new frameworks and APIs. A public beta typically follows a few weeks later, often in early July. Sometimes, Apple introduces new hardware at WWDC–Macs are a favorite, as that’s the core product for developers. Last year also saw the unveiling of the Vision Pro headset. And let’s not forget the usual releases for Apple’s content services: Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. Those will continue throughout June as usual. Here are all the things we expect from Apple this month. WWDC 24 software: iOS 18, macOS 15, and AI, AI, AI WWDC is a week-long event, but the part we all care most about is the opening keynote. This year that happens at 10 am Pacific Time on Monday, June 10. It will stream live on Apple TV, YouTube, and Apple.com. During this keynote, Apple will take the wraps off its fall operating systems, just as it does every year. That’s iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, tvOS 18, and watchOS 11. And for the first time, we’ll get a section devoted to the first major update to Vision Pro, visionOS 2. This year’s iOS 18 update is supposed to be one of the biggest ever, with substantial changes to many of Apple’s core apps. But the big focus is expected to be on AI, with an overhauled Siri and AI features found throughout iOS and its apps. We expect a lot of the AI stuff to be available in macOS 15 as well, but there’s no telling to what degree tvOS and watchOS will be impacted by the dramatic AI push. WWDC 24 hardware: Macs? Something else? WWDC keynotes have featured some major new hardware announcements—the 15-inch MacBook Air, Vision Pro, M2 chip, the Apple silicon transition, HomePod, iMac Pro—so we’re always on the lookout for new gear to make some noise during the WWDC keynote. However, this year might be a quiet one. We’re not expecting anything major, but a Mac mini or MacBook Air with the M4 chip isn’t out of the question. Or we could be surprised by a new Apple TV or HomePod, though based on the latest rumors, either release wouldn’t bring major changes to the existing models. Apps and software updates Immediately following the WWDC keynote, Apple generally makes available a beta version of iOS and macOS available to developers (and sometimes other OSes as well). This comes weeks before the first public beta, which is usually released in July. iOS 18 developer beta: We expect a big push into AI in iOS 18, with AI features in many core apps and a revamped Siri. There’s also new features such as RCS support and a more customizable Home screen, as well as new accessibility features, and plenty of app design and feature improvements that aren’t AI-related. We have a whole article about what to expect from iOS 18, but nothing is definite until Apple makes a formal announcement. iPadOS 18 developer beta: Expect most of the same features as in iOS 18, including the addition of a brand-new Calculator app. We’re not sure what iPad-specific features Apple has in store for new tablets, but a perpetual ask is for more consistent and flexible multitasking. macOS 15 developer beta: We think most of the new AI features from iOS 18 will appear in macOS, except where the Mac varies greatly in design and capabilities. We have an article detailing the latest macOS 15 rumors. tvOS 18, watchOS 11 betas: Not much is known about what Apple has in store for these, only a rumor suggesting that neither one is due for a very big change. And we excpect Apple’s AI push will reach these platforms as well, but we haven’t heard any specific rumors. Services Apple TV+ Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in TK. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content. Presumed Innocent: An eight-episode limited series inspired by the Scott Turow novel of the same name. A courtroom drama that tells the story of a murder that ends up in the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. June 12 Bread & Roses: A documentary that reveals the powerful resistance of Afghan women against the Taliban. A Cannes Film Festival selection and Cannes Golden Eye nominee. June 21 Land of Women: Based on Sandra Barneda’s bestselling novel of the same name. A six-episode dramedy about Gala, a New York empty nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties, and she is forced to flee the city alongside her aging mother and college-age daughter. June 26 Fancy Dance: Since her sister’s disappearance, Jax has cared for her niece Roki by scraping by on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma. Every spare minute goes into finding her missing sister while also helping Roki prepare for an upcoming powwow. The pair hit the road and scour the backcountry to track down Roki’s mother in time for the powwow. June 28 WondLa: Based on the children’s book by Tony DiTerlizzi, which follows the story of Eva Nine, a girl who spent most of her life living underground before being forced to flee outside and survive with a robot named Muthr, an alien named Rovander Kitt, and a water bear named Otto. June 28 Apple Arcade Apple releases most Apple Arcade games on the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll usually see next month’s releases listed in the Coming Soon section. Return to Monkey Island+: The classic adventure game returns with a new art style. June 6 Tomb of the Mask+: An arcade maze game with retro graphics. June 6 Rabbids Multiverse: An original card-based area battle game featuring Ubisoft’s Rabbids. June 6 Fabulous – Wedding Disaster+: A story-based time management fashion and design game. June 6 Apple Inc, iOS, MacOS

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Rumor: Apple, OpenAI may work to add ChapGPT functionality to iOS 18, other forthcoming operating systems
Apple and OpenAI may have reached a deal to bring ChatGPT to iOS 18 and Apple’s forthcoming operating system updates in 2024. Per The Information, Apple has been looking to bring AI to its platforms, but in a way that opts for preserving privacy through an on-device method as opposed to the Large Language Models […] Source

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France could get Apple Vision Pro at end of June
Leaked internal announcements from Apple Retail heavily suggest that Apple Vision Pro will launch in France on July 29, 2024.Apple Vision Pro at WWDC 2023While Apple has confirmed that the Apple Vision Pro will launch in China before the end of 2024, there have been no formal announcements of when the headset will launch anywhere outside the US. Many rumors have specified dates that have since passed without a launch, but now a French source believes it has an accurate schedule.According to WatchGeneration, staff in France have been told that what it describes (in translation) as an "all stores meeting" will take place early in the week beginning Monday, June 24, 2024. It's a meeting to discuss, at least in part, a "big novelty." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Tap to Pay on iPhone launches in Italy
Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone technology launched in Italy on Thursday, allowing sellers to use the iPhone as a contactless payment terminal. As with other international launches, the feature allows retailers to use the NFC chip inside more recent iPhones to accept debit and credit card payments alongside Apple Pay and other digital payment […] Source

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Apple News+ Subscription Growth Blows Away Major Media Sites
David Snow reports via Cult of Mac: A new report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) shows Apple News+ growing its subscription rate about four times as fast as major news sites are. CIRP showed Apple increased its News+ subscriptions in the United States from 15% to 24% between 2020 to 2024, a 9% increase. In that same period, The New York Times and The Washington Post managed a 2% bump apiece and The Wall Street Journal managed a 3% increase. The results come from data measuring how many Apple product buyers say they subscribe to the News+ service. CIRP also cited a report indicating that the Apple News+ partnership program is increasingly becoming a lifeline for news websites losing revenue, according to major publishers. And as far as the growth of Apple News+ subscription growth is concerned, it may keep growing as long as the user install base for devices keeps growing. "One-quarter of the U.S. base of Apple customers represents tens of millions of users, an enormous audience relative to what individual media outlets can expect on their own," CIRP noted. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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How to avoid force ejecting mounted volumes in macOS
Macworld When using macOS, you certainly know if you’ve opened a Pages file or are editing an email. But, below the surface are files that macOS uses that you don’t see–all the activity required for background processes, Time Machine backups, Spotlight indexing, and other system needs. When you want to eject a mounted volume, like a volume on an external SSD or hard drive, you can run afoul of macOS’s hidden needs. You can try to eject a volume normally in these ways: Select it in the Finder and press Command-E. Select it in the Finder and choose File > Eject. Control-click/right-click the volume in the Finder and choose Eject “volume name.” (If you don’t see the volume in the Finder, either choose Go > Computer or press Command-Shift-C, or choose Finder > Settings > General and check all the items under “Show these items on the desktop.”) If you’re lucky, when you try to eject a volume, you see a message with specific details, such as this one that came up when I tested ejecting the external drive that houses my main Photos library: If you’re lucky, macOS tells you exactly which apps to quit.Foundry Quitting those two apps did let me eject “Photos SSD 2TB.” If there’s something happening at a system level, however, you will see a message worded like this: “The disk [name] wasn’t ejected because one or more programs may be using it. You can try to eject the disk again or click Force Eject to eject it immediately.” Cancel and Force Eject buttons are part of the dialog, and a progress spinner appears next to the phrase “Trying to eject.” That does not help resolve the situation. Here’s what you can do to narrow down the problem. (And note that Apple uses the term “disk” despite that, in the Finder, you’re always ejecting a volume, as some disks may have multiple mountable volumes on them.) Close Finder windows As odd as it seems, sometimes merely having a window open in the Finder that shows the contents of the volume or a folder on it may make the Finder believe that a “program” is using that mounted item. Close the Finder window and try again. Remove the volume from Spotlight I’ve found that Spotlight can sometimes seize hold of a volume and mark it as unejectable even when indexing isn’t actively in process on that volume. You can check if that’s the problem by going to  > System Settings > Siri & Spotlight, scrolling down to the bottom of the view, and clicking Spotlight Privacy. Drag the volume into the window (or click + and navigate to it, then add it), and click Done. This immediately removes the volume from indexing. Try to eject now. If it works, that was the problem. However, if you want to search items on that volume, you will need to remove it from Spotlight Privacy later. Check if Time Machine is backing up If Time Machine is actively backing up the volume, you may be unable to eject it. Check the status of Time Machine either through its system menu or by going to  > System Settings > General > Time Machine. If it’s underway, you can choose Skip This Backup from the Time Machine system menu or click the “x” box next to the active session in the System Settings view and wait for Time Machine to wind down. You can exclude the volume from Time Machine by using the settings view: click Options, click the + (plus) sign at the bottom of Exclude from Backups, and add the volume while mounted. Click Done. Head for the Terminal There’s a tweaky way to dig more deeply using the Terminal. In Terminal, copy and paste the following command after replacing “Name of volume” with your precise volume name, including spaces, and press Return: lsof | grep '/Volumes/Name of volume' Make sure there are straight single quotes before the / at the front of /Volumes and at the end of the line after your volume name. The lsof command shows all files in use by apps and system processes; grep is a filter option that, with 'Volumes', lets you only see files in use by a mounted drive. The resulting output is full of technical detail, but reading through it, you may be able to identify which programs are the issue, or what system processes have grabbed hold. For my external Photos library volume, for instance, I saw dozens of entries, which include these two lines: mediaanal 38659 glenn txt REG 1,38 32768 42399710 /Volumes/Photos SSD 2TB/Photos Library.photoslibrary/database/Photos.sqlite-shm Adobex20 855 glenn 84u REG 1,38 7134511104 62657146 /Volumes/Photos SSD 2TB/.TemporaryItems/folders.501/TemporaryItems/Adobe Photoshop 2024/Photoshop Temp1442699855 From this, I could have guessed Photos and Adobe Photoshop were active, even if the Finder hadn’t told me. You may be able to figure out from the list what app or apps to quit–or even that you don’t know why a given process is using the volume. In which case… Force Eject If you have a Force Eject button available in the dialog noted at the start of this article, you could click that now. However, I’m not a big fan of it: using Force Eject can cause a problem when the open file on the volume being ejected isn’t properly updated and closed. That might corrupt a file that you need without knowing it. I try to save Force Eject for when I know macOS is ridiculous and there’s no issue or it’s a situation in which I don’t have the time to choose the most prudent course, noted next: shutting down or restarting. Shut down If none of the above helps, then: For a physically connected external volume, choose  > Shut Down. When your Mac is completely shut down, unplug the SSD or HDD. Press the power button on your Mac to start up. For a “logically” mounted volume, such as a disk image or networked volume, choose  > Restart. On restart, the volume should be unmounted by default. If not, immediately select it and use an eject option listed above, which should now work. This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Cliff. Ask Mac 911 We’ve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently, along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, we’re always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com, including screen captures as appropriate and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we don’t reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice. Mac, MacOS

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Make PDFs more productive with $60 off this easy Mac editor
Macworld PDFs are an incredibly common filetype, but for far too many of us they’re a necessary evil. PDF Expert is the tool that lets Mac users not only sidestep the most common PDF headaches but add new features that turn them into a real workhorse document — and now new users can get a lifetime subscription to this top-selling app’s Premium Plan for less than $80. This Mac standby was a runner-up for Apple’s App of the Year, and it’s easy to see why. It has all the usual conversion tools front and center, allowing you to seamlessly optimize PDFs as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. But you don’t even have to convert to get tons of functionality. With PDF Expert, you can change text or images, add annotations, and even redact sensitive paragraphs so that they’re only seen on a need-to-know basis. Get a lifetime subscription to PDF Expert Premium Plan today for $79.99 (reg. $139.99).   PDF Expert Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription (Mac) – $79.99 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. Accessories

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You might need Apple’s latest iPhone 15 Pro to use all the AI features in iOS 18
In a little over a week’s time, Apple will unveil iOS 18 and its other new operating system versions, with a heavy focus on bringing AI features to its customers at a system level. Apple is expected to use a combination of on-device and cloud for AI processing. But customers might need the latest and greatest to be able to use these new features. Mark Gurman writes that many of the upcoming on-device artificial intelligence will require the latest high-end, the . more…

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Siri could let you control individual apps in iOS 18
An underlying AI upgrade could make Siri a lot smarter in iOS 18, letting you to control individual apps through voice commands. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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How to set up and manage a guest user to your Mac
On occasion, you may want to allow other people in your home to access your Mac, but not your personal account. We'll show you how to set up and manage temporary guest users.User accounts listed on the login screen of the author's MacIf you are routinely sharing your Mac with someone else, it might be best to set up a second administrator or just a Standard user account for them. For short-term access, for visitors as an example, you can create a Guest User account.Doing so allows limited use of your computer without a password needed, or any access to your other accounts. It is important to note that nothing is retained in the Guest User account once the guest logs out. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Add three 10Gbps USB ports to your laptop for just $30 in this killer hub deal
Macworld Laptops nowadays never seem to have enough ports for all the things we need to plug in, do they? Well, the Baseus 6-in-1 USB-C hub is only $30 right now, down from its usual $46, a significant discount for one of our favorite hubs. This Baseus hub allows you to easily connect an extra monitor to your laptop. The HDMI port supports 4K monitors and up to 60Hz for mirroring or extending your display. Whether you’re working, holding a presentation, or streaming Supernatural again, the ultra-high-definition output ensures everything looks fantastic. In our USB-C hub roundup, we named the Baseus 6-in-1 hub as the best value for a. 10Gbps USB-C hub. There’s even a button to quickly turn off the content cast to the display, which is super handy when you want privacy or just want to log off for the night. The hub also features one USB-C and two USB-A data ports that support 10Gbps data transfer to help you move super-large files to a flash drive in no time. In case there’s an ethernet cable available and you’d rather enjoy faster internet, there’s also a port for that. This will help when gaming, for instance, or downloading large files. So go ahead and place the Baseus 6-in-1 hub into your cart and get it delivered as soon as possible. While the price for Prime members is only $30, it’s okay for non-members, as it’s only $36. If you can sign up for a free Amazon Prime trial, however, you should do that instead to save some money. Pick up this $30 Baseus 6-in-1 hub for your laptop Docks and Hubs

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Controller for HomeKit updated with new 3D ‘Floor Plan’ feature
Although Apple already provides its own Home app to let users control and manage their HomeKit devices, there are multiple third-party apps that extend such functionality – and one of them is Controller for HomeKit. This week, Controller for HomeKit got a major update that adds a new “Floor Plan” feature for mapping your home in 3D. more…

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YouTube app no longer hijacks Apple TV screen saver after complaints
We reported last month about an update to the YouTube app for tvOS that introduced its own screensavers, hijacking Apple TV’s default Aerial screensaver – which upset many users. After many complaints, YouTube seems to have rolled back this update. more…

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How and why to use an external webcam with your iPad
Here's a guide to why you might be interested in using an external webcam with your iPad, and how to connect one. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Foldable MacBook rumors, iOS 18 home screen updates and AI privacy details
Benjamin and Zac discuss the curious rumors about a 20-inch foldable MacBook, and the latest Vision Pro content developments. iOS 18 may let users change the icons of the apps on their home screen, but how exactly? We also have more insight into Apple’s AI plans and its approach to handling user data privacy while remaining feature competitive. And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Zac talk more about the genuine utility of ChatGPT in daily life. Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs: LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/HAPPYHOUR. more…

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AR laptop ‘Spacetop G1’ now available for pre-order – but is this really the future?
Sightful, nana, unveiled a new product last year called Spacetop G1, which is described as an “AR laptop.” That’s because the device consists of lightweight AR glasses combined with a laptop computer that has a keyboard and trackpad. Spacetop G1 is now available for pre-order, but what does it tell us about the future of AR/VR devices? more…

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Upgrade your Mac setup with these products: My favorites
If you’re looking to take your desk setup to the next level, this is the guide for you. Head below for some of my favorite products that can improve your working setup, ranging from accessories to decorations and more. All the things on this list are things I’ve personally used and can vouch for. more…

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LED floor lamp gives you 16 million color options for just $50
Change your room's color scheme in an instant with an app or a remote. This modern LED floor lamp gives you total control. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Report: An iOS 18 update will enable Siri to control any app
Macworld It’s no secret that Apple is going to push hard into AI with its OS updates this year, and we’ll learn all about iOS 18 and macOS 15 at WWDC in less than three weeks. Details have been leaking out in the weeks leading up to the event, and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has news of one we haven’t heard of yet. Siri, he claims, will be able to perform almost any function within apps. The feature is said to be coming in an iOS 18 update early in 2025. Currently, Apple provides a limited number of “app intents” that developers can hook into that allow Siri to perform limited actions within those apps. It’s things like starting to play audio or sending messages. Under the new system, Apple will use AI to analyze what people do on their devices, together with reading screen content (like button labels), to perform a much wider range of functions. The system will supposedly handle hundreds of different commands, and presumably won’t require developers to build their apps in a specific way to enable them all. Initially, the system is expected to handle one command at a time and only in Apple’s own apps. Over time, Apple hopes to grow that to work in almost any app and to support multiple commands at once. Examples given would be to create a text summary of a recorded meeting and then text it to a colleague, or to crop an image and then email it to a friend. The feature sounds like a nail in the coffin of devices like the Rabbit R1 or Humane AI pin, which aim to do similar things with apps and services on a much smaller scale and in a more limited fashion. The feature isn’t expected to be available when iOS 18 launches in September, but rather will come in an update early in 2025. We’ll learn much more about Apple’s AI ambitions at WWDC on June 10. iOS

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Report: Apple and OpenAI have signed a deal to partner on AI
The deal has parallels to Apple's infamous search deal with Google.

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