Top Stories: iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia Out Now, iPhone 16 Launch, and More

[MacRumors]

It was another busy week in the Apple universe, bookended by the release of iOS 18 and other major operating system updates on Monday and the launch of all of the brand-new hardware on Friday.

In addition to taking thorough looks at iOS 18, macOS Sequoia, the iPhone 16, and more, we're also keeping an eye out for more updates coming from Apple, which could arrive as soon as next month with another event of some kind, so read on below for all the details!

Apple Releases iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 With Home Screen Customization, App Locking, Passwords App, and More

A week after its big September event, Apple officially released iOS 18 and related major operating system updates to the public on Monday. There are a ton of new features and changes in the release, so be sure to check out our list of ten things to do first after updating as well as our ultimate mega guide that brings together all of our coverage of what's new and our quick video overview of the major highlights.

One significant piece of iOS 18 has yet to debut, however, and that's the suite of Apple Intelligence features Apple has been promoting since WWDC in June. The first of these AI-driven features will be appearing in iOS 18.1 and related updates next month, with more to follow in subsequent updates.

And one final note: M4 iPad Pro owners should be aware that Apple has pulled the iPadOS 18 update for those models after a number of users reported failed installations that bricked their devices. We're still awaiting a revised version of the update that avoids the issue.

Apple Launches macOS Sequoia With iPhone Mirroring, Passwords App, Window Tiling Updates and More

Apple doesn't always release the new versions of iOS and macOS simultaneously, but that was the case this year as macOS Sequoia also made its debut on Monday.

Highlights of macOS Sequoia include an iPhone Mirroring feature that lets you interact with your iPhone from your Mac while your phone stays locked and across the room or in a bag, a new Passwords app, and improved window tiling for multitasking, but also make sure to browse through our full guide covering 50 macOS Sequoia features that are worth checking out.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Orders Start Arriving to Customers

All of Apple's new products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4, and tweaked versions of other Apple Watch models and AirPods Max, are now officially available as of Friday, September 20. We've started to go hands-on with Apple's latest hardware, beginning with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Early media reviews of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models have been relatively positive, although many of the updates are fairly iterative and more powerful Apple Intelligence features these devices have been optimized for aren't coming until later.

Apple Watch Series 10 Reviews: Solid Upgrade With an Unexpectedly 'Mind-Blowing' Feature

Media reviews of the Apple Watch Series 10 have also been shared ahead of the official launch, with reviewers appreciating the thinner design and larger displays.

Other feature highlights include new casing materials and finishes, sleep apnea detection (also available for the Series 9 and Ultra 2), the ability to play audio through the watch's speaker, and surprisingly good voice isolation that ensures you can be heard when taking phone or FaceTime calls on your watch in noisy environments.

AirPods 4 Reviews: 'An Almost-Perfect AirPods Pro Alternative'

Two new AirPods 4 models are also incoming, including one entry-level model and one with active noise cancellation and an upgraded case offering wireless charging and a speaker for Find My support.

Early reviews of the AirPods 4 have praised the sound quality and comfort improvements, the active noise cancellation despite a lack of silicone tips to seal in the ear canal, and the slimmer case. Overall, many feel they are an excellent alternative to the AirPods Pro for those looking to spend a bit less or who prefer the open-ear design.

M4 Macs and iPad Updates Expected at Upcoming Apple Event

We're still coming down from this month's event, but rumors are already looking toward what's coming in the future, and that includes a potentially substantial follow-up event for October where we may see a number of M4-based Macs and one or more iPad updates.

The Mac mini may be the star of the show with a rumored redesign that will shrink it to around the size of an Apple TV but still offer as many as five USB-C ports and other connectivity options. A new iPad mini is also expected at the event, and while an 11th-generation iPad has also seemed likely, a new rep... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: Top Stories: iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia Out Now, iPhone 16 Launch, and More

 

[Velin]

Forget the complainers. These are decent upgrades. I like the iPhone 16, like the camera button, like the incremental upgrades, battery/camera improvements. Software updates look very solid, with more to come. Series 10 looks really cool -- and you can use your prior bands.

Also really looking forward to M4 releases. Mac Mini sounds like a promising release.

And seriously, people need to look at what's happening in PC-ville. They have had some very serious issues, especially last year and early this year with motherboard manufacturers releasing faulty boards, frying CPUs. Then a much, much bigger issue with Intel's Series 13 and 14 CPUs, including both a foundry defect and a microcode defect, resulting in major instability issues. And Intel's warranty response has been abysmal. Then there's the truly absurd cost and power requirements for the high-end GPUs.

Very happy to be with Apple, OSX, iOS and the suite of products at the moment.

 

[klasma]

And seriously, people need to look at what's happening in PC-ville. They have had some very serious issues, especially last year and early this year with motherboard manufacturers releasing faulty boards, frying CPUs. Then a much, much bigger issue with Intel's Series 13 and 14 CPUs, including both a foundry defect and a microcode defect, resulting in major instability issues. And Intel's warranty response has been abysmal. Then there's the truly absurd cost and power requirements for the high-end GPUs.

This mostly affected high-end gamers, for whom Apple isn’t an alternative anyway. Intel’s mobile processors and NUCs were completely unaffected.

 

[Velin]

This mostly affected high-end gamers, for whom Apple isn’t an alternative anyway. Intel’s mobile processors and NUCs were completely unaffected.

Possibly. It's a huge issue, and one that needs even more coverage in mainstream news. A whole lot of their CPUs are borked. From Tom's:

Intel has now divulged that the crashing issue affecting 13th and 14th-gen processors impacts all 65W and higher CPUs, meaning even more mainstream un-overclockable models are impacted. Intel announced Monday that, even though it still continues to investigate, it had finally gotten to the bottom of crashing issues plaguing its chips. As we reported on Monday, the microcode update is coming in mid-August, but if the bug has already damaged your CPU, you’re out of luck -- the damage is irreversible, and the chip will need to be replaced. Intel has no plans to do a recall, but it is replacing impacted processors.

Intel also revealed the full scope of the bug’s impact. We once believed the issue only happened with the most powerful Core i9 and i7 SKUs, but Intel says it's much more widespread. The crashing issues could impact any Raptor Lake or Raptor Lake Refresh chip drawing 65W or more power. Furthermore, the bug also affects the mainstream non-K models and their K/KF/KS counterparts, Intel told the Verge.

As for the laptops, Intel may not be coming clean on that, either:

"Yes we have several laptops that have failed with the same crashes. It's just slightly more rare then the desktop CPU faults," the dev posted.

Matt's response all but nullifies any theories that Raptor Lake instability might be a desktop or LGA1700 socket-specific problem. Alderon Games claimed several days ago that virtually 100% of its Raptor Lake [desktop] chips were crashing, so the fact that Raptor Lake laptop crashing is only "slightly more rare" reveals how truly problematic the issue is on all platforms.

 

[lkrupp]

Got my AirPods 4 ANC yesterday as promised. Simple to pair, sound great, and the ANC is fantastic. I have a fan blowing on me at my desk. Turned on the ANC and the fan noise disappeared completely. Two thumbs up.

 

[lkrupp]

Forget the complainers. These are decent upgrades. I like the iPhone 16, like the camera button, like the incremental upgrades, battery/camera improvements. Software updates look very solid, with more to come. Series 10 looks really cool -- and you can use your prior bands.

Also really looking forward to M4 releases. Mac Mini sounds like a promising release.

And seriously, people need to look at what's happening in PC-ville. They have had some very serious issues, especially last year and early this year with motherboard manufacturers releasing faulty boards, frying CPUs. Then a much, much bigger issue with Intel's Series 13 and 14 CPUs, including both a foundry defect and a microcode defect, resulting in major instability issues. And Intel's warranty response has been abysmal. Then there's the truly absurd cost and power requirements for the high-end GPUs.

Very happy to be with Apple, OSX, iOS and the suite of products at the moment.

So did you see the reports in the financial world that Qualcomm is looking to buy Intel as the switch to ARM ramps up? Reports say the two companies are in discussions. Why? For their chip foundries it is rumored. Looks like Intel is in for some rough times in not already.

 

[Velin]

So did you see the reports in the financial world that Qualcomm is looking to buy Intel as the switch to ARM ramps up? Reports say the two companies are in discussions. Why? For their chip foundries it is rumored. Looks like Intel is in for some rough times in not already.

I‘d be very surprised if it closes. Qualcomm would be buying a massive headache.

 

[The Game 161]

iPhone screen mirroring one of the best features for me

 

[Sasparilla]

Got my AirPods 4 ANC yesterday as promised. Simple to pair, sound great, and the ANC is fantastic. I have a fan blowing on me at my desk. Turned on the ANC and the fan noise disappeared completely. Two thumbs up.

Nice to hear, not sure if the term casual ANC is appropriate, but I like the idea of open ear "pop ins" as opposed to the Pro's. Have to see if they fit my ears.

I‘d be very surprised if it closes. Qualcomm would be buying a massive headache.

Indeed. Just trying to square what anyone might be interested in Intel and beyond Server market access and chip knowhow (not worth buying the whole company), I keep coming up with why (as they'd obviously shut down x86 for their own ARM chips)? Nothing compelling really comes up, unless Qualcomm thinks Intel's performance per watt chips are going to let it hold off the ARM invasion of Windows.

The other thing in all this, is the timing - Intel is weeks from releasing their 1st real performance per watt x86 chips (laptop and then a few weeks later desktop and the laptops get almost as good as the Qaulcomm laptop chips in efficiency apparently - same vendor laptop on ARM was testing at 28 hrs for playback, Intel's new one is testing at 26hrs and Intel's old one is 14hrs) and Intel's stock will probably rise a good deal if they're successful (i.e. this is probably the bottom of the trough on Intel's stock price if the new chips are as good as early testing is showing).

 

[fontman]

Forget the complainers. These are decent upgrades. I like the iPhone 16, like the camera button, like the incremental upgrades, battery/camera improvements. Software updates look very solid, with more to come. Series 10 looks really cool -- and you can use your prior bands.

Also really looking forward to M4 releases. Mac Mini sounds like a promising release.

And seriously, people need to look at what's happening in PC-ville. They have had some very serious issues, especially last year and early this year with motherboard manufacturers releasing faulty boards, frying CPUs. Then a much, much bigger issue with Intel's Series 13 and 14 CPUs, including both a foundry defect and a microcode defect, resulting in major instability issues. And Intel's warranty response has been abysmal. Then there's the truly absurd cost and power requirements for the high-end GPUs.

Very happy to be with Apple, OSX, iOS and the suite of products at the moment.

Yes these OS releases are awesome very very very useful and continue to tie in with Apple's very strong infrastructure system working across devices I upgraded seamlessly with no issues still working wonderfully I love that I can access my iPhone right on my computer desktop when my phone is in the other room it's beautiful everything works beautifully

 

[dottdirtt]

ios needs an urgent update to fix icon behaviour when customising

 

[xander49x]

anyone else having problems with app's after installing IOS18? I think I am going to roll back to IOS17.

 

[victorvictoria]

As with any major upgrade (an integer instead of a fraction), we always wait for the .1 version. Try as any tech company might with the Beta testing, there's no way to predict everything that thousands or millions of endusers are going to do with their shiny new OS, and problems are inevitable. The great majority of those will be ironed out by the first update, so way fewer problems. You also have the advantage of actual customer feedback.