The 7th beta versions of iOS and iPadOS for iPhone and iPad, respectively, have been released to users participating in the developer beta programs.

Apple will usually release a developer beta first, which is soon followed by the same build being released to users enrolled in the public beta. The build number for iOS 17 beta 7 is 21A5319a.

While beta system software is intended for advanced users and developers, technically speaking any curious user who has a compatible device can install iOS 17 beta onto iPhone or iPadOS 17 beta onto iPad by joining the free Apple developer program, or by joining the public beta program.

iOS 17 for iPhone features interactive Home Screen widgets, FaceTime Video Voicemail, Standby mode which makes your iPhone into a display clock when its charging and in landscape position, support for Live Voicemail, customizable Contact Posters, support for Safari Profiles, minor changes to the Messages interface, new predictive typing capabilities, NameDrop contact sharing, and more.

iPadOS 17 for iPad features a customizable lock screen, interactive Home Screen widgets, support for Safari profiles, support for FaceTime Video Voicemail, NameDrop contact sharing, improvements to Stage Manager, changes to Messages, improvements for predictive typing, and more.

Apple has also released new beta builds for macOS Sonoma beta 6, along with beta 7 for watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and HomePod, and a release candidate beta build for macOS Ventura 13.6.

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Apple has issued the 6th beta version of macOS Sonoma to users who are enrolled in the developer beta testing program for MacOS. MacOS Sonoma beta 6 arrives late and off-schedule compared to the other beta operating systems like beta 6 of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 (which are now on beta 7), so if you are running those releases and were curious where the latest Sonoma beta was. The build number for MacOS Sonoma beta 6 is 23A5328b. Usually a developer beta comes out first and is followed soon by the same build number for public beta users.

Beta system software is most appropriate for usage by advanced users and developers, but technically speaking, anyone can install MacOS Sonoma beta onto their compatible Mac.

MacOS Sonoma, or macOS 14, features a redesigned Lock Screen, new screen savers, the reintroduction of widgets on the Mac but it is no longer called Dashboard and they are no longer able to be created in HTML/JS/CSS, support for FaceTime Video Voicemail, support for Safari Profiles, amongst many other smaller changes and little features.

Separately, Apple has released iOS 17 beta 7, iPadOS 17 beta 7, watchOS 10 beta 7, and tvOS 17 beta 7, as well as a macOS Ventura 13.6 beta.

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The iPhone has so many features and capabilities that it’s easy to overlook even some of the essentials, so we’re going to share some iPhone tips that will enhance your experience and help you make the most of your device. These tricks can help improve your workflow, simplify your interactions with iPhone, and save you time too.

Let’s check out five essential tips for iPhone that every iPhone user should know. Whether you’re needing to take screenshots, quickly access the camera, quit out of apps, find text on a webpage, or undo, we’ve got your covered.

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Spotify will sometimes default to using the shuffle feature on playlists, whether that playlist is from an artist, yourself, shared from a friend, or elsewhere. If you do not want to shuffle songs on Spotify, you will find that disabling the Shuffle feature is actually really easy.

There are generally two different ways to disable and turn off Shuffle in Spotify; from within a playlist, or from an album or song view.

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If you’re a longtime Apple fan, you may recall the Apple Newton, the Apple PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that debuted in 1993. It had a pen-input based screen, handwriting to text capabilities, a whimsical and fun user interface (sigh), and many features that we all take for granted and use regularly today on iPhones, iPads, and even Macs. Now, a new documentary film called “Love Notes to Newton”, covers the Apple Newton, its development, interface, quirks, and influences on later tech from Apple and beyond.

Whether you’re a retro Apple fan, you ever had a Newton, merely remember the Newton, or didn’t know it existed but you’re interested in computing history and nostalgia, you’re sure to enjoy this lovely documentary, which we have embedded below.

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You can hide your Instagram following and followers lists, if you’d like to add some additional privacy to your account and your Instagram experience.

With the method we’ll cover here, your Instagram followers and following lists will be hidden from all Instagram users who you have not approved to follow you.

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MacOS Ventura 13.5.1 has been released by Apple, and it includes a bug fix for an issue where Location Services in macOS Ventura 13.5 would not display apps, preventing users from adjusting location controls and location usage permissions for particular applications. The 13.5.1 update carries a build number of 22G90.

The bug fix release apparently does not include any other fixes or security updates, making it specific for the Location Services issue in Ventura 13.5.

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Apple has released the 4th public beta versions of iOS 17 for iPhone and iPadOS 17 for iPad, carrying the build of 21A5312c, which matches the just released iOS 17 beta 6 update.

While beta system software is intended for advanced users, anyone can install iOS 17 public beta onto a compatible iPhone, or iPadOS 17 public beta onto a compatible iPad.

Additionally Apple has released updated betas for watchOS 10 and tvOS 17, though currently absent is any update to MacOS Sonoma beta.

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Amazon is hosting some rare discounts on the black Mac accessories (they work with iPad too), including the full sized Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad, Apple Magic Mouse, and Apple Magic Trackpad, all in black color.

For a reason nobody quite understands, Apple usually charges a bit more for the black accessories compared to the white ones, but with these discounted prices from Amazon, you can save up to 25% off the black color Mac accessories.

• Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID & Numeric Keypad – Black – $149.99 (discounted from $199)
• Apple Magic Trackpad – Black – $134.99 (discounted from $149)
• Apple Magic Mouse – Black – $79.99 (discounted from $99)

Whether you merely prefer the black color of these accessories, or you want to color match your setup, these are great prices on accessories that are rarely discounted.

And again, while these accessories are intended for the Mac, they work great with modern iPad models too.

FTC: OSXDaily is an affiliate partner with Amazon, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment which goes towards keeping the site running.

Apple has released iOS 17 beta 6 and iPadOS 17 beta 6 to iPhone and iPad users wnerolled in the developer beta testing programs.

Usually Apple will release a developer beta build first, and is soon followed by a matching build as public beta. iOS 17 beta 6 is build 21A5312c, which also matches iPadOS 17 beta 6.

Generally beta system software is best reserved for advanced users, but any curious user can proceed to install iOS 17 beta onto their iPhone or iPadOS 17 beta onto their iPad by signing up for the free Apple developer program, or they can use the public beta channels as well. The only real requirement is to have an iPhone that supports iOS 17, and being comfortable with beta system software and the quirks that come along with a beta release.

Separately, Apple has released new beta builds for watchOS 10 beta 6, tvOS beta 6, and HomePod, but curiously absent at the moment is MacOS Sonoma beta 6, which did not get released concurrently.

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Staying safe online with your Apple devices is an ongoing effort, and it’s important to keep yourself vigilant and informed about potential threats and risks. While the Mac, iPhone, and iPad, are generally much more secure than their competitor counterparts, that doesn’t mean you should be completely oblivious to risks to your personal information, logins, privacy, and general security.

We’re going to walk through six important tips to remember for when you’re online with your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, to help to insure your and your devices safety.

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Amazon is discounting all of Apple’s wildly popular AirPods wireless earbuds, knocking $29.99 off the price of the AirPods 3, $50 off AirPods Pro 2nd gen, and $30 off AirPods 2.

Let’s check out the deals:

AirPods 3 for $139.99 (from $169 retail)

AirPods 3 feature a Lightning charging case, spatial audio, sweat and water resistance, up to 30 hours of battery life, the ability to answer and end phone calls, Hey Siri support, and more.

• Get AirPods 3 for $139.99 (discounted from $169)

AirPods Pro 2nd gen for $199 (from $249 retail)

AirPods Pro 2nd generation are Apple’s most advanced wireless earbuds, with active noice canceling, Adaptive Transparency, spatial audio, a MagSafe charging case, Hey Siri support, customizable fit, touch controls for adjusting volume and play/pause capabilities, water resistance, and more.

• AirPods Pro 2nd gen for $199 (discounted from $249)

AirPods 2 for $99 (from $129 retail)

The AirPods 2 feature a lightning charging case, 24 hours of battery life, easy setup, and Hey Siri support, and remain an excellent choice if you do not need the more advanced features or water resistance available on the other models.

• AirPods 2nd generation for $99 (discounted from $129)

FTC: OSXDaily is an affiliate partner with Amazon, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment which goes towards keeping the site running.

iPad 9th Generation for Just $249 (discounted from $329)

If you’re in the market for a cheap iPad, Amazon is selling the 9th generation iPad for just $249, a whopping $80 discount from retail price.

iPad 9th generation features an A13 CPU, 10.2″ Retina display, 64GB storage, 12MP camera on the front, 8MP camera on the back, Touch ID with Home button, and is available in Space Gray and Silver color options.

• Get the iPad 9th generation for $249 (final price in cart during checkout, discounted from $329)

Remember, you must add the iPad 9th gen to your cart and go to checkout to see the final discounted price of $249.

These iPads are excellent choices for more casual iPad users, for kids, grandparents, friends, or just about anyone who wants an iPad but doesn’t want to pay the hefty prices of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, or iPad mini models (or even the 10th gen iPad, which is wildly overpriced in my humble opinion).

M1 iPad Air for $499 (discounted from $599)

If you’re more of a power iPad user, or you simply want a more powerful device with the latest industrial design, you can also get the iPad Air M1 at $100 off for just $499 from Amazon.

• Get iPad Air M1 for $499 (discounted from $599)

The iPad Air 5th generation features the speedy and power efficient M1 chip, a 10.9″ Liquid Retina Display, 64GB of storage, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front camera and 12MP back camera, Touch ID on the side power button, and has the snazzy newer modern industrial design language that matches the iPad Pro line. One huge benefit to the M1 iPad Air too is that it’s compatible with the iPad Magic Keyboard, which is easily the best accessory available for any iPad, as it turns the iPad into a laptop with a great keyboard and trackpad as well.

As is typical with Amazon, prices and stock changes frequently, so if you see something you’re interested in, grab it for the discounted price, and enjoy!

FTC: OSXDaily is an affiliate partner with Amazon, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment which goes towards keeping the site running.

If you’re seeking out a very unique hobby project or weekend endeavor, perhaps you’d be interested in building a tiny working Macintosh out of a RaspberryPi?

Nobody said it would be easy, but if you’re adventurous, dedicated, and patient enough, you can follow a set of instructions to build your very own Tiny Mac out of a Raspberry Pi 4 and some 3D printed components to make your own miniaturized original Macintosh enclosure.

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Some Mac users have discovered a seemingly random device called “openthread.thread.home.arpa” in the Network section of Finder, which is where you see other available network computers and devices.

Curiously, if you click on “openthread.thread.home.arpa” to try and connect to it or interact with it, you will find that generally nothing happens.

So, what is openthread.thread.home.arpa in the Network section of MacOS? Is this something to worry about, is it a normal device, and what is its purpose? Don’t stress, because that’s exactly what we’re going to dive into here, so that you can understand what openthread.thread.home.arpa is if you happen to see it on your Mac.

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Some Mac users have discovered an alarming message when using macOS Sonoma that says “Unknown is capturing your screen”, appearing in the users menu bar. The “Unknown is capturing your screen” message is not actionable, and typically it appears for a few seconds and then vanishes, making it more concerning.

What’s going on that is causing the “Unknown is capturing your screen” message to appear on the Mac, and what can be done about it? Let’s take a look.

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The M1 MacBook Air is a very popular laptop, and Amazon continues to offer the base model at a whopping $250 discount off the retail price of $999, bringing the sale price to just $749.99.

Featuring a speedy and power efficient M1 processor, 13″ Retina display, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, FaceTime HD camera, Touch ID, and a backlit keyboard, you can get the $749.99 price in any available color, including Gold, Space Gray, and Silver.

• M1 MacBook Air 13″ – 8GB RAM / 256GB SSD for $749.99 (any color, discounted from $999)

Apple continues to sell the M1 MacBook Air too, but at the full $999 price… if you’re shopping for a MacBook Air why pay more than you need to?

And if MacBook Air isn’t what you’re looking for, you can always check out other great Apple deals at Amazon.com.

And separately…

Amazon is also offering a nice 10% discount on a 4 pack of AirTag personal trackers, which you can put on everything from luggage, backpacks, even pets (though the latter is informal and not recommended by Apple, many people do it).

• AirTags 4 pack for $88.99 (10% discount, from $99)

OSXDaily is an affiliate partner with Amazon, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment which goes towards keeping the site running.

Some iPhone and iPad users who are running the iOS 17 beta and iPadOS 17 beta may occasionally encounter an error when attempting to update their system software. The error message appears on the Software Update screen of Settings and usually says something like “Unable to Check for Update – An error occurred while checking for a software update.” You’ll then have an option to “Try Again”, which often does nothing and simply shows the same error message.

If you experience the “Unable to Check for Update” error when trying to update iOS 17 or ipadOS 17 beta, read along and you should have it fixed in no time.

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