The latest macOS 27.2 beta released this week further hints at the long-rumored MacBook with a touchscreen, which is expected to be unveiled by next month.


Specifically, when you click and hold on an app icon in the Dock on the third developer beta of macOS 27.2, the icon gets a little bit larger. A similar animation occurs when you long press on an iOS or iPadOS app, so the fact that the animation now extends to macOS could be another subtle clue that a touch-enabled MacBook is coming.

The new animation can be seen in videos shared by @madeby_ldt and @craigapplecom.


The latest macOS 27.2 beta added other new touch gestures as well, so it seems pretty clear that Apple is gearing up for the first touch-enabled Macs. In particular, Apple reportedly plans to release new higher-end, higher-priced 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro or "MacBook Ultra" models with touchscreens in October or November.

In addition to a touch-enabled OLED display, these Macs are expected to feature M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a thinner-and-lighter design, a Dynamic Island, and potentially Apple's C1X or C2 modem for built-in cellular connectivity.
This article, "macOS 27.2 Further Hints at MacBook With Touch-Enabled OLED Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced that the all-new "Crossy Road" spinoff game "Crossy Road Rush" will be launching exclusively on Apple Arcade on Thursday, November 5.

Crossy Road Rush has players "swerve, jump, and smash their way across an island obstacle course packed with quick-fire challenges and hazards at every turn," according to Apple. Also coming to Apple Arcade on November 5 are existing App Store games KAMI 2 and Food Stylist.
This article, "'Crossy Road Rush' Launching Exclusively on Apple Arcade in November" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Last month, a proven leaker revealed that Apple has tested the ability to connect four HomePods to an Apple TV 4K for surround sound, with the HomePods intended to be arranged in front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right positions. Now further evidence of this functionality has surfaced ahead of an announcement from Apple.


First, the same leaker known as "pdfu" has uncovered additional code related to a four-HomePod surround sound system in the latest beta of audioOS, which is Apple's internal name for the HomePod's operating system. For example, on the third audioOS 27.2 beta, he said that "Siri can match a speaker to its surround system."

Second, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered that the third beta of macOS 27.2 contains two new SF Symbols depicting a group of four speakers in a room. While the HomePod is not mentioned in the names of the symbols, one of them appears to show a basic top-down view of HomePods, and the other mentions that the four speakers are part of a home theater setup. The timing of these symbols being added by Apple suggests they could be related to the rumored four-HomePod surround sound functionality.


Apple plans to unveil new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K models on Tuesday, October 13, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, while he said that the full-sized HomePod will be updated "eventually." However, it is unclear if this surround-sound functionality will require new HomePods. The leaker "pdfu" previously said that Apple tested two different setups, including four second-generation HomePods, and two second-generation HomePods in front positions paired with two unreleased speakers in rear positions.

It is also unclear if any existing Apple TV 4K models will support four HomePods, or if the functionality will be limited to the upcoming model.

Currently, you can set two HomePod or HomePod mini speakers as the default audio output on all Apple TV 4K models for stereo sound.

With new HomePod and Apple TV models on the horizon, and all of the mounting evidence across Apple's software code and symbols, it seems likely that Apple will unveil this new functionality fairly soon, barring any last-minute issues.
This article, "Apple TV 4K Rumored to Support Four HomePods for Surround Sound" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today announced that apps optimized for the iPhone Duo can now be submitted for App Store approval, ahead of the foldable device launching on Friday, October 23.

While existing App Store apps will automatically run on the iPhone Duo, only apps built with the iOS 27.1 SDK or later can dynamically resize to fill the entire space of the inner display, whereas unoptimized apps will have black borders. Developers can get their apps ready for the iPhone Duo using Xcode 27.1, and Apple shared some tips on its website.

This article, "Apple Announces iPhone Duo Apps Can Now Be Submitted to App Store" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently reported that Apple plans to unveil an all-new home hub, a new HomePod mini, and a new Apple TV 4K on Tuesday, October 13, and MacRumors has since learned about another launch slated for later in the month.


Apple is planning to unveil additional new products in the final week of October, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

While we do not know exactly which products Apple plans to announce in the final week of October, the most likely possibilities are all Macs, including the long-rumored "MacBook Ultra" models with OLED displays and a thinner-and-lighter design, a base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, and an iMac with an M6 chip.

Apple also previously announced that it will be releasing a high-end Mac Studio configuration with the M5 Ultra chip and 512GB of RAM in "late October."

Another new product expected this October is a new iPad mini with an OLED display, an A20 Pro chip, a landscape front camera, a redesigned speaker system, and more. It is unclear if the device will be announced alongside new home products on October 13, alongside new Macs in the final week of October, or at some other point this month.

All in all, it appears that Apple has two sets of product launches planned for this October, and that is on top of the iPhone Duo launching on Friday, October 23. Get ready, as it is about to be a busy couple of weeks in the world of Apple.
This article, "Sources: Apple Planning Two Sets of Product Launches in October" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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