Apple recently added iPad Air models with the M3 chip to its refurbished store in the United States and many European countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and others.


This is the first time the iPad Air with the M3 chip has been available in Apple's refurbished store since the device was released in March this year.

As usual, the refurbished models are discounted by approximately 15% compared to new models. In the United States, for example, the 11-inch iPad Air with the M3 chip, 128GB of storage, and Wi-Fi only is available for $509, compared to $599 new.

Apple says its refurbished iPads include a new battery and outer shell, a new box, and all accessories, including a 20W USB-C power adapter and/or a USB-C charging cable depending on the country. Apple says it puts refurbished devices through a "thorough cleaning process and inspection," resulting in a like-new condition.

All refurbished iPads are covered by Apple's one-year warranty. AppleCare+ is available.

While some savings can be had here, better iPad deals are often available through Amazon.
This article, "Apple Begins Selling Refurbished iPad Air With M3 Chip at a Discount" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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In select U.S. states, residents can add a driver's license or state ID to Apple's Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.


After being announced yesterday, the feature is now live in Illinois.

Apple Wallet IDs are accepted at TSA checkpoints in more than 250 airports, including O'Hare and Midway in Chicago. They can also be used to show proof of age or identity at select businesses and venues, but there is no list of specific locations.

To set up the feature, open the Wallet app and tap on the plus sign in the top-right corner. Next, select Driver's License and ID Cards and follow the steps.


Apple says the feature requires an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16.5 or later, or an Apple Watch Series 4 or later running watchOS 9.5 or later.

The feature is also available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Japan's My Number Card can be added to Apple Wallet too.

Apple previously said Connecticut, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Utah plan to offer the feature in the future, but it did not provide timeframes.
This article, "iPhone Driver's License Feature in Apple Wallet App Now Live in Illinois" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A new study has revealed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air achieve significantly faster average Wi-Fi speeds compared to the iPhone 16 series, thanks to Apple's custom-designed N1 chip.


The study was conducted by Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest website and app. It said the results are based on global, crowdsourced Speedtest user data collected from September 19 to October 29 of this year.

Ookla said Apple's N1 chip is a "substantial upgrade," with up to 40% faster average download and upload speeds compared to Broadcom's Wi-Fi chip in the iPhone 16 series. The study found that speeds were faster across every country it analyzed, including the United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, and others.

The study found that the N1 chip "lifts the floor" for Wi-Fi performance, more than "raising the ceiling." Based on the results, Ookla said the N1 chip often delivers more consistent performance in challenging Wi-Fi conditions.

In the United States in particular, Ookla said the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air series achieved a median average Wi-Fi download speed of 409 Mbps, compared to 350 Mbps for the iPhone 16 series. That is a nearly 17% increase.


Head over to Ookla's website for more charts.

A few months ago, we reported that the N1 chip supports up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, short of the standard's 320 MHz maximum. This limitation means the devices cannot achieve the peak theoretical speeds possible with Wi-Fi 7, but we said this was a non-issue for most customers, and the study backs that up.

Ookla said the results show the 160 MHz limitation "does not materially affect performance in real world use for most people."

While the study found the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air series tops the iPhone 16 series in terms of average global Wi-Fi download speeds, Ookla said the Google's Pixel 10 Pro series was even faster, but only by a slim margin.

The Pixel 10 Pro came in at 335 Mbps, edging out the iPhone 17 series at 329 Mbps.


All in all, the study reveals that the N1 chip is an upgrade, not a downgrade. If you are considering purchasing any of the iPhone 17 or iPhone Air models, it looks like you can be confident that Wi-Fi performance will not be an issue.
This article, "iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 16 Wi-Fi Speeds: New Study Reveals the Winner" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Just ahead of the 30th anniversary of Toy Story, The Steve Jobs Archive has shared a "never-before-seen" video of Steve Jobs discussing Pixar.


The interview is from November 22, 1996 — exactly one year after Toy Story debuted in theaters, as the world's first entirely computer-animated feature-length film. In the video, Jobs reflects on Pixar's early success, business model, and more.

For those unaware, Pixar was born after Jobs purchased the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm, and spun it into an independent company. He remained Pixar's majority shareholder until the company was sold to Disney in 2006.


Fun fact: Jobs appears in Toy Story's opening credits.

The Steve Jobs Archive was launched in 2022 by Laurene Powell Jobs, Tim Cook, and Jony Ive. The website features a collection of quotes, photos, videos, and emails from Jobs, and offers fellowships to young creators looking to follow in his footsteps.
This article, "Steve Jobs Talks Pixar in 'Never-Before-Seen' Interview as 'Toy Story' Turns 30" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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