Welcome to our monthly Apple News Roundup. This column recaps the top 10 biggest Apple news announcements from each month. This edition features the highlights from October of 2021.
1. Apple unveils new resources for elementary school coding
New “Everyone Can Code Early Learners” guides became available on October 5, along with new “Inclusive App Design” activity, and updates to the Schoolwork app. The guide extends Apple’s coding curriculum resources from kindergarten to college, while the activity introduces students to coding and app development. Everyone Can Code Early Learners is available as a free download for families and educators on apple.co/code-early. The Schoolwork app is available in beta through AppleSeed for IT.
2. Apple to use iPhone to control car technology
Apple is working on technology that would access functions like the climate-control system, speedometer, radio, and seats of an automobile. This initiative, known as “IronHeart” internally, is still in its early stages. Apple CarPlay interface is currently used by millions of motorists to control music, get directions, and make phone calls, and IronHeart would take this feature a step further. This project could provide Apple with helpful insights in its efforts to build a self-driving car.
3. Apple Watch Series 7 available for order
Apple Watch Series 7 pre-orders started on October 8, and availability began on October 15. The new watch features a larger and more advanced display, enhanced durability, faster charging, new aluminum case colors, and watchOS 8. The watch design is described as refined with softer, more rounded corners, and also features a user interface optimized for the larger display, a new keyboard, and two unique watch faces. Users will also benefit by 33 percent faster charging.
4. Apple offers rebates on Watch Series 7 purchases
Apple is offering $100 rebates on cellular Apple Watch purchases with select carriers. For customers with T-Mobile or Sprint, you’ll need to activate on a new* Paired DIGITS plan and complete an application to receive a $100 virtual prepaid MasterCard. Verizon customers will need to activate on any new consumer postpaid data plan to receive a $100 Verizon e-gift card.
5. Apple News expands local coverage
Apple News is expanding its local news coverage to Charlotte, Miami, and Washington, D.C. This will give users access to numerous publications, including the Miami Herald and the Washington Post. The individual local news experiences are curated by Apple News editors and cover topics ranging from restaurant openings and real estate trends to policy decisions. Apple says it plans to expand its local news features to additional U.S. cities in the future.
6. Apple opens Developer Academy in Detroit
Apple’s new Developer Academy is the first in the U.S. and was launched in collaboration with Michigan State University as part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. The academy will prepare its students for jobs in the iOS app economy by teaching the fundamentals of coding, design, project management, and more—all with an emphasis on making a positive impact in their communities. The first class made up of 100 learners aged 18 to 60, will receive 10 months of app development and entrepreneurial training.
7. Apple One Premier expands to 17 new regions
Alongside the announcement of Apple Fitness+ launching in 15 new regions on November 3, Apple is also making the premium tier of Apple One available soon in 17 new countries. Users will now have the choice to bundle everything in a single subscription—this includes Apple Fitness+ and Apple News+. In the US, Apple One Premier includes Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Fitness+, and 2TB of iCloud for $29.95 a month.
8. Apple delays MacBookPro orders
Some customers who custom-ordered one of Apple’s new MacBook Pros and were promised an October 26 delivery, have been informed that their Mac won’t arrive until December. As the new MacBook Pro begins to arrive for the earliest pre order buyers, and as the models appear in Apple Stores, some other orders have been unexpectedly delayed.
9. macOS Monterey is now available
macOS Monterey comes complete with a number of new features that help users connect in new ways, accomplish more, and work in tandem across all of their Apple devices. FaceTime includes new audio and video features, and new Continuity tools like AirPlay to Mac enable Apple devices to work even better together. Live Text and Visual Lookup bring new intelligence features, and Safari includes powerful tab organization with Tab Groups. In addition, ease of automation comes to the Mac with Shortcuts. macOS Monterey is available today as a free software update. (And be sure to read our Road to macOS Monterey series.)
10. New MacBook Pro arrives
The most powerful MacBook Pro ever has arrived. With the new M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, your apps can take advantage of groundbreaking performance and amazing battery life. There is also a powerful Neural Engine for supercharged machine learning and upgraded media engines. To take advantage of the performance features of Macs with M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max, you need to use Xcode 13.1 to build your Mac app as a Universal app. The new MacBook Pro also introduces a Liquid Retina XDR display.
