Huge news this week for iOS users in the European Union, with major changes to Apple’s policies coming with iOS 17.4 related to alternative app stores, default browsers, NFC payment options, and more.
This week also saw the public release of iOS 17.3 with several new features, rumors about upcoming hardware, the end of an era for Apple retail, and more, so read on below for all the details!
iOS 17.4 Introduces Alternative App Marketplaces With No Commission in EU
Apple this week seeded the first developer beta of iOS 17.4, and it comes alongside significant changes, particularly for users in the European Union to comply with the Digital Markets Act that goes into effect in early March.
Most notably, iOS 17.4 will allow EU users to install apps from marketplaces other than the App Store. Apple will not charge a commission on purchases for these apps, but there will be a per-install Core Technology Fee.
Other changes coming as part of iOS 17.4 include worldwide support for game streaming apps, allowing EU users to set third-party browsers as default, and opening up the iPhone’s NFC capabilities in the European Economic Area to support payments by systems other than Apple Pay and the Wallet app.
Apple Releases iOS 17.3 and iPadOS 17.3 With Stolen Device Protection, Collaborative Apple Music Playlists and More
The initial beta of iOS 17.4 comes just after the public release of iOS 17.3 and related operating system updates this week. iOS 17.3 brings a new Stolen Device Protection feature to help keep your device and accounts secure.
The update also brings collaborative Apple Music playlists with emoji reactions, support for using AirPlay to stream content directly to select hotel TVs, and more.
New iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air Models Likely to Launch in March or April
Apple plans to release new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air models in the spring this year, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. Based on this time frame, the devices could be released as early as this March or April.
The iPad Pro is expected to see a significant redesign including OLED displays, an M3 chip, and perhaps a landscape Face ID camera system. Meanwhile, the iPad Air is expected to see a new 12.9-inch option join the existing 10.9-inch size, while the MacBook Air should see largely internal upgrades such as a move to the M3 chip.
Here’s What Apple Vision Pro’s Huge Box Looks Like
Apple has yet to officially reveal to the public what the box for the Apple Vision Pro will look like, but MacRumors has seen an internal employee video that offers a glimpse of the packaging and we’ve created a rendering that approximates the design.
The box is somewhat larger than might be expected, with the headset, bands, and other various parts all packaged inside a relatively plain white box with a front-on view of the headset on top.
iPhone 7 Users in U.S. Could Receive Up to $349 Payment From Apple
Apple last year agreed to pay $35 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit alleging that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus were prone to audio issues due to a defective chip in the devices, and it has now started notifying eligible customers by email.
You may be eligible for a payment from Apple if you are a U.S. resident who owned an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus between September 16, 2016 and January 3, 2023, and reported audio issues covered by the settlement to Apple, and/or paid Apple out of pocket to have your iPhone repaired or replaced as a result of the covered audio issues.
Apple’s Infinite Loop Store Permanently Closes
As previously announced, Apple permanently closed its Infinite Loop and Royal Hawaiian retail stores in the U.S. on January 20. Apple said all employees at both stores would be given the opportunity to remain with the company.
Infinite Loop served as Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, from 1993 until 2017, when Apple Park opened nearby. The store on the campus existed in various forms for over 30 years and was located at street level near the entrance to the main office building. In its most recent incarnation, it sold a mix of standard Apple products and unique Apple-branded merchandise, such as shirts, reusable bottles, mugs, and notebooks.
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!
Popular Stories
Apple Confirms Next-Generation CarPlay Launching in 2024, Reveals New Features in iOS 17.4 Beta
Thursday January 25, 2024 7:19 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple this week updated its website to confirm that the first U.S. vehicle models with next-generation CarPlay support will debut in 2024, but it did not provide a more specific timeframe, or indicate when availability will begin in other countries. In a next-generation CarPlay section of its website, Apple replaced “Vehicle announcements coming in late 2023” with “First models arrive in…
iOS 17.4 Beta: All the New Changes
Thursday January 25, 2024 4:23 pm PST by Juli Clover
Apple today introduced the first betas of iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 to developers, bringing some radical updates to the iPhone and iPad in Europe. Most of the big changes will only impact EU users, but there are also updates in the operating system that are available worldwide. In this article, we’ve rounded up everything new in iOS 17.4 beta 1. EU Changes Apple implemented several major …
Apple Releases Updated Firmware for First-Generation AirPods Pro and AirPods 2
Tuesday January 23, 2024 11:25 am PST by Eric Slivka
Apple today introduced a new firmware update for the first-generation AirPods Pro and second-generation AirPods. The new firmware is the same 6A321 version that was released for the third-generation AirPods last week and is up from the 6A300 firmware introduced last September. Apple’s AirPods firmware updates often do not come with details on new features, so it is unclear what might be…
iPhone 16 Pro Max Rumored to Feature Bigger, More Advanced Main Camera Sensor
The iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a bigger, more advanced main camera sensor to deliver improved photography and videography capabilities, according to new information coming out of Asia. The claim comes from “Digital Chat Station,” a Weibo user responsible for a range of details about the camera technology of upcoming iPhone models. According to the latest post on the matter, the iPhone…
How Much Will Apple’s OLED iPad Pro Models Cost?
Tuesday January 23, 2024 7:58 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Expected in March or April, Apple’s 2024 OLED iPad Pro models could be vastly more expensive than its existing iPad Pros and even more costly than some MacBooks currently on sale. Here’s what the rumors say. The expected cost for the upcoming OLED iPad Pro models from Apple is significantly higher than the current models. The pricing for the 11-inch OLED iPad Pro could start at $1,500, while …
iOS 17.4 Introduces Alternative App Marketplaces With No Commission in EU
Thursday January 25, 2024 10:00 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today announced major changes to its app ecosystem in the European Union, implementing updates that will allow iPhone and iPad users to download and install apps outside of the App Store through alternative app marketplaces. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alternative app marketplaces will function as an iOS app that is able to install other iOS apps on an…
Apple Releases watchOS 10.3 With New Watch Face
Monday January 22, 2024 10:02 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today released watchOS 10.3, the third major update to the watchOS 10 operating system that was released in September. watchOS 10.3 comes over a month after watchOS 10.2, a major update that brought Health data access to Siri. watchOS 10.3 can be downloaded for free through the Apple Watch app on an iPhone running iOS 17 or later by opening it up and going to General &…
