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How to Download Safari 17 Beta for macOS Ventura and Monterey

Apple is now allowing Mac users running macOS Ventura and macOS Monterey to try out its latest Safari 17 browser before it officially launches alongside macOS Sonoma in the fall. Keep reading to learn what's new and how to download it.

What's New in Safari 17 for macOS

As of writing, Safari 17 for macOS Ventura and Monterey has reached its fourth beta. Not only is it snappier with faster search responsiveness, it also has more relevant search suggestions – and easier-to-read suggestions. Here's what else is new:

• Locked Private Browsing : Private browsing windows in Safari can now be locked when not in use, and require secondary authentication via Touch ID or your Mac's password to unlock and access for added privacy.
• One-Time Code AutoFill from Mail : One-time verification codes you receive in Apple Mail now autofill in Safari, making it easy to log in without leaving the browser.
• Advanced Tracking and Fingerprinting Protection : URLs in ‌Safari 17‌ can be stripped of all tracking information appended to the end of the URL so that websites cannot track your browsing using URL identifiers.
• Multi-Tab Selection : You can now select multiple open tabs at once to move them around the tab bar or create a Tab Group for them.
• Favicons in the Favorites Bar : You can now identify sites in the Favorites bar more easily with favicons.
• Privacy Protections for App Extensions : You can now set per-site privacy settings for app extensions in addition to web extensions.
• Safari Profiles : Safari has gained a new feature called Profiles, which is designed to help keep your browsing separate for topics like Work, School, or Personal. Each profile gets its own icon and silos your history, Tab Groups, favorites, and cookies. You can even assign specific extensions to profiles to optimize your browsing experience based on the task at hand.

How to Install Safari 17 on macOS Ventura/Monterey

In an unexpected change for 2023, anyone who signs in to Apple's developer account website with their Apple ID gets access to developer beta releases as well , even if they are not a paying member of Apple's Developer Program. So if you're still interested in trying out Safari 17, simply follow the steps below.

Note that Safari 17 Beta 4 requires macOS Ventura 13.4 or macOS Monterey 12.5 to run , and that installing it will overwrite your current Safari version. Also, bear in mind that this is beta software , so you may potentially experience bugs and issues that negatively impact your browsing. Having said that, beta 4 is very stable in our experience.

• Open Safari on your Mac and go to Apple's developer website .
• Under "Sign in to Apple Developer," enter and submit your Apple ID and password using the arrow buttons, then if required, enter the two-factor authentication code sent to your Apple devices.
• Now click through to the Safari Beta Downloads page .
• Under Safari 17, click View Details , then click the Safari 17 Beta DMG link to download the installation package applicable to your macOS version.
• Once the package is downloaded to your Mac, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions to complete installation.

Wrapping Up

When Safari 17 is officially released to the public as part of macOS Sonoma, users can expect some additional features, including the ability to save your favorite websites to the Dock as streamlined Web Apps , as well as the ability to share website passwords and passkeys with trusted contacts.

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Top Rated Comments

I've long gone elsewhere too. There are quite a few websites that don't work on Safari. In fact I see a lot of organisations actively suggesting Chrome. Having said that the vast majority of web work for me is Chrome and FIrefox. Safari is probably 5%.

Last night, at 2AM in the night, I was on the bed and my phone made a sound, and that was the invitation for the beta of Safari 17 for my Mac on Monterey. However, I no longer install betas anymore, past are those days I tested every new beta with excitement while suffering the bugs and annoyances of using beta software. Nowadays I stay with the stable releases as much as I can. Thankfully, Safari keeps getting updates on older systems such as Monterey.

Name a website that doesn’t work with Safari. I use Safari all day long and have yet to run into a website that doesn’t work. Even government websites work these days.

It is a start, but 80% (at least) of my Mac browsing happens on FIREFOX. It’s the quality of the extensions that keeps me with the fox ?

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Apple Beta Software Program

Help make the next releases of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, watchOS and HomePod software our best yet. As a member of the Apple Beta Software Program, you can take part in shaping Apple software by test-driving pre-release versions and letting us know what you think.

Learn more about the next releases.

• iOS 17
• iPadOS 17
• macOS Sonoma
• tvOS 17
• watchOS 10
• HomePod Software 17

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How do I participate?

As a member of the Apple Beta Software Program, you’ll be able to enroll your devices to access the betas and try out the latest features. You can provide feedback directly to Apple using the Feedback Assistant app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have additional questions about the Apple Beta Software Program?

Apple Developer Program

Looking to build the next generation of amazing apps and test them on the developer beta?

Learn about the Apple Developer Program

Safari 17 beta is here (and it lets you enable hidden features too)

Flag up some new features in testing…

A new version of Safari is almost here, and it’s set to be a big one. First announced at WWDC 2023 , it brings a bunch of new features for those running macOS Sonoma , but it’s also bringing different features for those running macOS Monterey and Ventura , too. And with a beta build now available, you can try it for yourself.

For those unaware, Safari for iOS 17 , iPadOS 17 , and macOS Sonoma introduces profiles, so you can separate work and personal bookmarks at different times of the day, alongside being able to secure a private window behind Touch ID and Face ID.

This version of Safari is also available to older macOS versions, so you can try out these features without updating to the public beta of macOS Sonoma. To do so, simply sign up to the Apple Beta Software site and try it out right now. 

While we don’t recommend using beta software for your everyday devices, Safari 17 can be downloaded as a separate browser, so you can relatively safely use it alongside the latest stable build, too.

Sweet seventeen

Experimental Features will be a big draw here, as you can easily switch on some features in a redesigned menu that makes it easier to try individual additions to the browser. Google Chrome has had a similar method for years, where you can type in chrome://flags in the address bar, and you can simply scroll down the list and enable features in development.

Safari is unique in the fact that it has its own section on Apple’s Developer site where a Preview of the web browser is maintained all year round. No other app from Apple does this, but it makes sense, as Webkit, the engine that powers Safari, is used in other web browsers, so any improvements need to be made available for other third-party developers.

But using a preview that’s separate from the public betas of iOS 17 is a unique offering, and it makes us wonder whether other apps could benefit from this regular cadence of updates and documentation. Perhaps Mail could benefit from this by being opened up by Apple, without having to showcase new features at WWDC every year, so users and developers could see how the app could improve and become a great rival to other Mail apps like Spark and Outlook.

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

Are you using Safari 17 already? Let us know how you’re getting on over at the iMore Forums .

Daryl is iMore's Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use everyday to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.

Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, ' The Making of Tomb Raider ', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64 and Daily Star.

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Apple delivers Safari 15.1 beta for macOS Big Sur and Catalina

Release notes accompanying the Safari 15.1 beta, which was pushed out on Thursday, largely repeat disclosures issued with Safari 15 in September .

Refinements and feature additions might be added at a later date in subsequent beta releases prior to public availability.

While Apple fails to specify what improvements are contained in the new beta, MacRumors notes a fix for an issue that would crash the browser when bookmarking a YouTube page.

Designed to complement Safari on iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 , Safari 15 for Mac delivers a refreshed user interface with a few controversial elements including a " Compact " layout that merges navigation controls, tabs and the Smart Search field (URL field) into one line. The change was implemented to afford more space for webpages, but the design has proved confusing and Apple now offers an option to return the browser to a more traditional view.

Also new are Tab Groups for organizing open tabs, up-to-date security and privacy tools, performance enhancements and UI tweaks.

The redesigned Safari will be included with macOS Monterey this fall.

Developers can download the Safari 15.1 beta from Apple's developer website .

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Everything you need to know about the new Safari in macOS Monterey

Safari becomes more powerful in macOS 12 Monterey. We have compiled for you a list of all the significant new changes in this release.

Apple introduced macOS 12 Monterey during WWDC21, back in June. The first developer beta was released later that day, along with those for iOS 15 , iPadOS 15, watchOS 8, and tvOS 15. Whether you have the latest MacBook Pro or a slightly older, less capable Mac , macOS 12 Monterey will bring big improvements to our favorite desktop machines later this fall. A notable change is the mightier and more colorful Safari in the latest macOS update.

Streamlined tab bar

The new tab bar takes up less space and adjusts its color depending on the webpage you're visiting. This color flow makes it seem like the page is actually filling up the entire Safari window and offers a cleaner look. If you miss the old tab bar design, you may switch back to the old one in Safari Tab Preferences.

By default, the new Compact mode is chosen, but you can always switch to Separate mode if you change your mind. Personally, I use Compact mode because it allows more web content to be viewed at once.

If you dislike the new color adjustments that are based on the pages you're viewing, you may also turn that setting off from Safari Tab Preferences. Just toggle Show color in tab bar on or off.

Redesigned tabs

Tabs now have more rounded corners and a more defined look. They smoothly expand and shrink as you close and add new tabs respectively. This way they're always stretched just enough to fill the tab bar, offering a more uniform appearance.

To simplify the UI (user interface) further, Apple has hidden some buttons behind a 3-dot more menu. Now the Share, Bookmark, New Quick Note, Privacy Report, and Reader View buttons are accessible through this 3-dot menu. If you'd rather have one (or more) of these buttons in a more visible location, you can always edit the toolbar and add them for faster access.

Most of us have separate web pages for our personal and work lives. For the longest time we could create a bookmark folder to categorize our frequents, but that wasn't the fastest or most convenient way to access the right tabs at the right time. This is where tab groups come into the formula.

Tab groups — as their name suggests — are bundled webpages of our own choosing. You can give them a name to make recognizing what category they belong to easier. Once you add tabs to a group, they'll remain there, even after you quit Safari, until you close the individual tabs inside a certain group.

Once you set a group up on one device, it is synced across all of your updated Apple devices. It has to be one of my favorite features on macOS 12 Monterey because it makes separating my entertainment and work tabs an effortless process. I'm always a single click away from switching "profiles" back and forth.

Redesigned sidebar

Apple has redesigned the sidebar in Safari on macOS 12 Monterey. The new sidebar includes the Start Page, your Tab Groups, Received Links (Shared with You), and Collected Links (Bookmarks and Reading List). The new sidebar makes accessing these sections easier and hides them away when they're not needed so you get more web browsing screen real estate.

New privacy protections

Apple has been taking its privacy approaches to the next level for a few years now. New ways to keep users' data safe are always getting added to new releases. An example of that is iCloud+ features that offer VPN and hide-my-email services to paying users. However, non-paying users also get new privacy protections with the latest Safari. Your online privacy is protected through Intelligent Tracking Protection which prevents trackers from profiling you through your IP address.

HTTPS upgrade

When you visit an HTTP website that supports HTTPS, Safari now automatically upgrades you to the latter because it's more secure.

Autofill 2FA codes from Keychain

macOS 12 Monterey also includes the ability to add time-based 2FA (2-factor authentication) codes to Keychain. So now when you are signing into a website, you just Touch ID, and Safari will fill in your email/username, password, and 2FA code, if required. This makes the signing in process a hassle-free one. You no longer have to keep third-party apps to manage and store your 2FA codes.

Bottom line

Combined with the major macOS 11 Big Sur redesign, Safari becomes an even more powerful web browser on macOS 12 Monterey. The previous release introduced the Start Page, where users find the content they might want to visit before they even start typing.

The Start Page bundles your iCloud Tabs, Favorites, Frequently Visited, Shared with You, Privacy Report, Siri Suggestions, and Reading List. It also lets you set a custom background so you add more personality to your web browser. The best part? It syncs to all of your updated Apple devices, so you don't have to set it up manually on each device of yours.

While Safari still lacks some features that some rivals offer, it's slowly becoming a solid opponent to the rest. It offers an objectively minimalistic UI, webpage translations (requires macOS 11 Big Sur or later), Tab Groups, Extensions, and more. At this point it I use it as my sole browser, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by not using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, for example.

macOS 12 Monterey has been in beta testing since June. It is expected to be released later this fall. It's common for Apple at this point to release major macOS updates a few months after the rest of their operating systems. This is due to the complexity of macOS and to ensure users don't get a rushed, buggy build that ruins their experience with this OS. If you'd like to get your hands on the beta right now, you can sign up for the public Apple Beta Software Program for free.

What are you excited for the most in Safari on macOS 12 Monterey, if you haven't already installed the beta? Do you use Safari as your primary browser? If not, what browsers do you use and why? Let us know in the comments section below.

Apple launches public beta of macOS Monterey, bringing updates to FaceTime and Safari

Lots of tweaks here and there.

By Monica Chin , a senior reviewer covering laptops and other gadgets. Monica was a writer for Tom's Guide and Business Insider before joining The Verge in 2020.

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The public beta of macOS 12 Monterey, Apple’s next big macOS release, is now available for download. The operating system has the same general look and feel as its predecessor, macOS 11 Big Sur , but it brings some new features and a number of tweaks to Apple’s most popular services.

Before we get into this, friendly reminder that Monterey is, for now, a beta. It may not be the best idea to install on a primary device, as you might encounter bugs, unfinished features, and incompatibility with third-party apps. If you will be installing the program on your daily driver, make sure you’ve backed up anything you can’t afford to mess with first.

For those who take the leap and install the public beta, the component Apple seems most excited about is its updates to FaceTime. My favorite of these is Portrait Mode, which blurs the background behind you while you’re speaking on a call (similarly to the iPhone’s feature with the same name ). Portrait Mode didn’t always get everything — sometimes when there were multiple different surfaces behind me, it seemed to get a bit confused and leave some parts un-blurred. But it wasn’t difficult to find areas where the feature worked just fine. Apple says Portrait Mode will be available for adoption in third-party apps as well, but we’ll have to wait for them to issue updates to support it.

• iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 preview: a first look at Apple’s latest software
• How to install the macOS Monterey public beta

Even though it’s had the ability to make group calls for a few years, I’ve always viewed FaceTime as a tool for calling one person at a time. But Monterey introduces a few other features that are clearly meant to make the tool a stronger Zoom competitor, conducive to meetings and larger calls. It now supports a grid view and Spatial Audio (which makes other people’s voices sound like they’re coming from the area on the screen where their face is positioned). You can generate a link to a FaceTime call ahead of time (the same way you generate a Zoom link), and users of Android and Windows can join from their browsers. And a new Voice Isolation feature uses machine learning to mitigate background noise while you’re speaking.

There’s a new feature called SharePlay, which is like Netflix Party or Scener but for FaceTime. Like Netflix Party, it allows you and other people on your FaceTime call to watch content from certain streaming services together by syncing everyone’s video playback and controls. (So we’re both watching the video on our own devices, with our own accounts. But when I pause or start, you pause or start as well.) SharePlay isn’t a new idea, but it’ll certainly be convenient to have on FaceTime. While the list of supported services includes some big players (such as Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, Paramount Plus, Twitch, Pluto TV, and — hilariously — TikTok), it doesn’t appear to include Netflix, which is the one streaming service I and all of my friends and family reliably have in common. Until that’s added to the roster, I don’t see myself using this that often.

A new feature that I do think I’ll be using a lot is Quick Note. Quick Note gives you an easy way to take notes on an article you’re reading (or items you’re viewing in Maps, Photos, or other apps). You can right-click highlighted text to add it to a Quick Note, and it’ll appear there along with a link to the source. (You can press Fn+Q to pull up a blank one as well.)

Quick Notes sync across devices and are available in a specific “Quick Notes” folder in the Notes app. The handiest thing, I think, is that if you’ve got an app open where you’ve previously created a Quick Note, you can hover your cursor in the bottom-right corner of the screen and a thumbnail of the note will pop up.

Apple has introduced a few “continuity” features that are meant to make it easier to use Macs alongside other Apple devices. Arguably the most exciting one, Universal Control , won’t be ready until a future beta. What you can try now is AirPlay, which has made its way to macOS for the first time. AirPlay makes it easier to cast content to a Mac computer: it can mirror or extend your iPhone’s screen, for example, or can function as an AirPlay 2 speaker. I was able to set this up easily (you just need to wait until the devices detect each other and then enter a code on your phone), and it worked well.

Safari has some tweaks, mainly concerning tabs. The URL bar now lives next to your tabs, which gives you more browsing space. Tabs have a rounder appearance now, and you can click one to reveal its page’s full address.

The new feature that I think is quite useful is tab groups. The way this works is that if you have, say, five tabs open, you can click a little icon in the top-left corner to make them into a “tab group”. Later on, if you open the sidebar on the left, you’ll see the group listed in the “Tab Groups” section; click on it, and Safari will reopen those five tabs. Also in that sidebar lives a bookmarks list, a reading list, and a list of links that have been shared with you in Messages. You can test-drive the new Safari browser in older versions of macOS without having to update to the Monterey beta by installing the Safari Technology Preview .

There are a number of other odds and ends built into macOS Monterey. Shortcuts is available on macOS, Focus allows you to filter notifications based on the task you’re doing, it’s gotten easier to save photos that you receive in Messages, etc. I look forward to digging more into these features for our full review, but the things I’ve highlighted here are the ones I see being the most immediately impactful to daily use.

The phrase “odds and ends” really sums up my impressions after using macOS Monterey for a few days. macOS Big Sur completely overhauled the Mac experience. That’s not the case here (which is fine — not every update needs to be a revolution). Apple seems to have made some tweaks here and some tweaks there. My reactions have largely been: “Alright, that could be handy.” Which is fair. I’ll take handy.

Here’s the list of devices that will support macOS Monterey:

• iMac ( late 2015 and later )
• iMac Pro (2017 and later)
• Mac Pro ( late 2013 and later )
• Mac Mini ( late 2014 and later )
• MacBook Pro ( early 2015 and later )
• MacBook Air ( early 2015 and later )
• MacBook ( early 2016 and later )

Notably, this doesn’t include a few models that did get Big Sur last year, including the 2013 MacBook Air, the late-2013 MacBook Pro, and the 2014 iMac.

• Some of macOS Monterey’s best features aren’t coming to Intel Macs
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Safari on macOS Monterey: What's New, and How to Test it Now

Apple made changes to Safari in macOS Monterey. Here's what's new, and how you can try the revamped browser for yourself.

Apple introduced some major changes to Safari in both macOS Monterey and iOS 15. The tech giant has updated Safari to offer a more minimalist look with some much-needed changes to the software, including grouped tabs and a compact tab layout.

While the software is still in the beta testing phases as of this writing, we have a good idea of what to expect from the updated browser. We'll also show you how to test it for yourself to get an idea of what's new, if you're interested.

Introduction to Changes in Safari

Apple removed the dedicated URL and search interface of Safari in the first beta version of macOS Monterey. Instead, you could use any individual tab for navigation. Tabs were also arranged at the top of the display to minimize space taken up at the top of the Safari window.

Related: The Best macOS Monterey Features You Haven't Heard About Yet

However, after heavy criticism regarding the hidden refresh and share buttons during the testing phase, Apple has redesigned the browser. There's now a dedicated URL and search bar at the top of the Safari window, with tabs arranged below it. You can choose to enable the previous compact view instead, if you prefer.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest changes coming in this iteration of Apple's browser.

1. Separate and Compact Tab Layout Options

macOS includes two different tab layouts. You can either choose to use the Separate tab layout (activated by default) or a Compact tab layout. The Separate tab layout is similar to the current layout of Safari, with the address bar taking up the top of the screen and the tabs lined up below it. However, the tab bar now takes up much less space, while extending the web page to the edge of the window. The tab bar also changes color to match the web page you're browsing.

The second option you can use is the Compact layout. This was the original design that Apple introduced with the first beta of Monterey. The Compact layout combines the address bar into the tab that you're currently viewing. This takes up less space at the top of the screen, letting you see more of the website you're viewing. Since the address bar is integrated into the tab name, you'll need to drag around the address bar if you want to move a tab to a new window.

You can see the difference between the Separate layout (top) and Compact layout (bottom) in the image below:

2. Tab Groups

Safari on macOS Monterey includes tab groups. This lets you organize tabs based on what you're currently doing, or by any personal preference. For example, you may choose to launch some websites that you frequently access during working hours, and others while you're checking social media.

You can switch between tab groups using Safari's sidebar or the dropdown menu. Tab groups are also synced to your other Apple devices, including iPhone and iPad, so you can easily switch between any device and have your groups present.

Tab groups may sound a bit confusing at first, but they really help with organizing your browser and tabs.

3. Universal Control

At WWDC 2021, Apple introduced Universal Control , which is a promising feature. It allows you to seamlessly move your trackpad and keyboard between Mac and iPad. Additionally, Universal Control will allow you to switch your cursor between two instances of Safari open on your iPad and Mac. At this point, it is yet not enabled in the Monterey beta, so we haven't been able to test it.

4. A New "More" Menu

If you have tab groups enabled using the Compact view, you'll find the new More menu within the active tab on the address bar. This allows you to access features such as the Safari Privacy Report , Translate , and Reader . You can also access Safari's sharing features using this menu.

Test Safari 15 on macOS Big Sur

Overall, Safari in macOS Monterey feels more clean and sleek. The tabs are more rounded and less cluttered. Individually, these changes don't sound extraordinary, but they give a new refreshed experience while using the browser.

If you want to test the changes in Safari for yourself, you can do so by downloading the Safari Technology Preview. Safari Technology Preview is Apple's experimental browser designed for developers. It helps them get early access to new upgrades in macOS and iOS, allowing them to test the software and prepare for its launch. This browser was recently updated to run Safari 15, which will be released with macOS Monterey.

Although Safari Technology Preview is meant for developers, you do not need a developer account to download it. The browser currently works on both the macOS Monterey beta and macOS Big Sur (the current major release of macOS.)

How to install the Safari Technology Preview

Follow these steps to try the latest release of Safari:

1. Make sure your Mac is updated to macOS Big Sur 11.3 or later (you can do this by navigating to System Preferences > Software Update ).

2. Head over to the Safari developer downloads page .

3. Choose and download Safari Technology Preview for macOS Big Sur .

4. Once downloaded, drag the app to your Applications folder to install it like normal.

Remember that beta software is often unstable, so you shouldn't use it for any mission-critical work.

Getting Used to Safari's New Design

It may take some time to become familiar with the new design in Safari. The Separate tab layout is enabled by default. However, if you want to try out the new Compact look, simply enable it by navigating to Safari > Preferences > Tabs > Compact .

As mentioned, the tab bar has had the biggest change in the Compact tab layout. Tabs take up the top center of the screen, where you used to have the address bar and search bar. Within a tab, there's the address/search box. The aim is to make tabs disappear from your view until you need them. A part of this design philosophy is to change the color of Safari's controls based on your current site.

To use the tab groups feature, open a website that you'd like to add, then right-click on the address bar. This will give you an option to make a New Empty Tab Group or a New Tab Group with X Tabs . Access your tab groups using the left pane menu. You can open up more websites in this tab group, or simply move back to the start page.

You also might be a bit confused by the lack of a reload button next to the website URL. Instead, you'll see an ellipsis icon, which leads to the More menu. When you hover over this, you'll see the reload button on the left.

There's also no apparent x to close a tab. Apple has added a new way to close a tab instead. Hover on the tab you want to close and you'll see a close icon replace the site's favicon.

If you feel like these changes are too much, you can choose to opt for the Separate tab layout instead from Safari's Preferences.

How to Go Back to the Previous Version of Safari

Since the Safari Technology Preview is meant for beta testing, it's possible that you'll encounter some problems while using it. In this case, you may want to switch back to the normal Safari browser for your browsing.

Related: How to Install the Developer Betas for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and watchOS 8

This is simple and does not require any uninstalling. Simply close the Safari Preview browser and launch your normal Safari browser. Both of these browsers can run separately, and the Safari Technology Browser does not have any effect on the normal Safari browser on your system. You can uninstall the Preview version if you like.

Will Safari Have More Changes in Monterey?

It's likely that Safari will change further, since macOS Monterey is still in beta testing phases. Apple may choose to further tweak the design before the final release of the OS. It'll take a bit more testing to fully grasp the changes Apple is bringing to Safari. However, the Safari Technology Preview gives us a good idea of what to expect with macOS Monterey.

More From Forbes

Apple loop: latest iphone 16 details, retro gaming victory, apple’s microsoft fight.

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Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including iPhone 16 details, India’s new iPhone advantage, more iPad Pro delays, App Store’s welcome changes, Apple’s Web Browser power, and Microsoft’s big challenge to the MacBook Pro.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes .

The iPhone 16’s Secret Sauce

Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developer Conference is expected to debut Apple’s big and visible play into the Generative AI and LLM space, although don’t expect the software to become available until September when it will be the leading feature on the new iPhone. What could an AI-boosted Sir offer the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max handsets?

"Being able to describe the screen, no matter the app, opens up a richer avenue for accessibility apps, removing the need to pre-program responses and actions. Those looking to perform complex tasks or find obscure options on their phone could ask Siri to open up a complex app and use an obscure function hidden away in the depths of the menu system"

( Forbes ).

People wait in line to purchase new Apple iPhone 15 (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Gmail And YouTube Hackers Bypass Google s 2FA Account Security

Apple confirms innovative iphone 16 pro upgrade, it s going to zero legendary billionaire predicts rapid cataclysmic u s dollar collapse and a 5 trillion post halving bitcoin price boom, the indian iphone success story.

Apple continues to diversify its manufacturing base and bring assembly closer to one of its key markets. This week saw reports on it’s iPhone operations in India, and facilities in the country are responsible for a significant number of smartphones:

"The figure accounts for $14 billion of assembled iPhones in the country, or about 1 in 7 of the company's flagship devices, a doubling of production compared to the last fiscal year. Models assembled in India include the iPhone 12 through to the latest iPhone 15, excluding premium Pro and Pro Max models.

( MacRumors ).

Is The iPad Pro Still On A Break?

The iPad Pro’s on-again off-again relationship with its release date continues. This week the Ross and Rachel of Tim Cook’s life looks like it will come to fruition early in May. Forbes’ David Phelan has ideas on what comes next."

"I would say the order of business is this: announcement on Monday, May 6 or Tuesday, May 7 as many countries around the world have May Day as a public holiday on the Monday. Then, pre-orders would begin on Friday, May 10. Initial reviews would appear a few days later, with the onsale date of Friday, May 17."

Another Step in Opening Up The App Store

Apple has opened up the App Store a bit more this week with two changes to its guidelines. the first is to allow subscription-based services to collect customer emails so they can be sent a link to subscribe to a service outside of the App Store and out of reach of Apple’s thirty percent rake.

"It’s not quite the same as signing up in the app, which would entail the commission Apple charges. Instead, “These entitlements also permit music streaming app developers to invite users to provide their email address for the express purpose of sending them a link to the developer’s website to purchase digital music content or services.”

The second is to allow emulators to download games from outside the app store space, although Aplpe is quick to note that any downloads are the responsibility of the app distributor; there does not appear to be any provision for users to dump their own games and copy them to their iPhone directly:

"The section on mini apps and game streaming has now been updated to include game emulators. “Additionally, retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games,” Apple says. However, there’s a catch… Apple warns that developers are “responsible for all such software offered in your app, including ensuring that such software complies with these Guidelines and all applicable laws.” This raises the question of whether anyone can release a game emulator or only the companies that own the rights to the games distributed for it."

( 9to5Mac ).

The Rise And Fall Of The Web Browser

One other area where the European Union’s Digital Markets Act impacts Apple is the rise of alternative web browsers. WIth Apple forced to show options to consumers, Safari is losing ground to smaller web browsers, but those companies beleive there is more work to do:

"In iPhones, users can see the choice screen only when they click Safari, and then users are shown a list of browsers with no additional information, said Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner, CEO of Norway's Vivaldi. "The process is just so convoluted that it's easiest for (users) to select Safari or potentially some other known name," he said.

"The complicated design has led European Commission to start a non-compliance investigation, opens new tab into whether Apple may be preventing users from truly exercising their choice of services."

( Reuters ).

And Finally...

Apple unlocked a significant amount of power and performance when it switched to ARM-based chipsets for the Mac platform. Will Microsoft do the same this summer with a rafe of ARM-based Windows devices launching? With Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite, it hopes there is enough to beat the Mac family… if the developers can come on board:

"There is a bit of a chicken and egg situation here; developers will program for ARM if there is consumer demand, but consumers will not demand an ARM laptop if there are no apps. Which is why the balance between emulation and native is key. Emulation means that the laptop is usable out of the box, getting the hardware into consumers' hands, at which point the advantages of ARM-based apps can be leveraged."

Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here , or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes .

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Rumor: iOS 18 to include new ‘Safari browsing assistant’ AI feature

iOS 18 is rumored to include a number of new artificial intelligence features spread across the entire operating system. A new rumor today suggests that one of those features could be “Safari browsing assistant.”

As for what that means, we are left to speculation for now…

Safari browsing assistant rumored for iOS 18

In a post on social media today, code sleuth Nicolás Álvarez shared two new features in the works at Apple:

• Safari browsing assistant
• Encrypted visual search

According to Álvarez, both of these features use Apple’s Private Relay infrastructure to send data back to Apple. Álvarez speculates that this is a privacy-preserving practice on Apple’s part, so it doesn’t learn user IP addresses. Of note, iCloud Private Relay is currently only available to iCloud+ subscribers.

( Update : Álvarez says that it’s not actually iCloud Private Relay but rather an “Oblivious HTTP gateway.”)

Apple already offers different visual search-style features, integrated into Spotlight and the Photos app. It’s not explicitly clear if “encrypted visual search” is just a more secure version of existing features or something new entirely.

The more interesting thing here is the “Safari browsing assistant” feature. Based solely on the name, this feature sounds like it will bring AI features of some sort to Safari, similar to what other browsers already offer. Microsoft’s Edge browser, for example, has different Copilot AI features built in. Arc from The Browser Company also combines a variety of AI features with web browsing.

Bloomberg reports that Apple is likely to team up with a company such as Google to power some of its new AI features. We aren’t expecting any announcement from Apple about a partnership until WWDC at the earliest.

iOS 18 is expected to be announced at WWDC, which kicks off on June 10. Check out our in-depth guide for more details on what to expect from AI in iOS 18 .

Álvarez has also reported that iOS 18 will bring two new features to Apple Maps on iPhone, including custom route creation and new topographic maps.

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Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

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