Lamborghini is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Countach sports car with a new video series involving inspirational personalities, and the latest videos shared today feature Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller.
Schiller, who is now an Apple Fellow, said innovative products that stand the test of time have both great design and solve a problem.
"At Apple, we like to exist at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts, and I think that's a wonderful place to be," said Schiller. "It's not just enough to make something — you have to make it in a way that has meaning in people's lives."
In a companion Q&A video on Lamborghini's website, Schiller said the iPod is the project he is the most proud of. When asked if he prefers gas or electric vehicles, Schiller said that while he would always say combustion engines, he is "getting ready for electric" and he is excited to see what companies like Lamborghini can deliver in the space. Lamborghini recently announced plans to release its first fully-electric vehicle after 2025, and Apple has for years been rumored to be planning its own electric vehicle.
As an Apple Fellow, Schiller is responsible for leading the App Store and Apple Events, after helping guide Apple's products and marketing for 30 years.
Apple on Monday responded to questions from Australia's parliament about its third-party access approach to the NFC chip in its iPhones, following claims that its Apple Pay system is stifling innovation in the contactless payment technology space.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services heard for-and-against arguments from Apple, Google, and others relating to whether Apple should open up access to its near-field communication (NFC) chip. Australia's big banks have also sought open access to the NFC chip on the iPhone in recent years. However, in a written response to the committee, Apple said it "provides banks with access to NFC functionality on Apple devices" through Apple Pay, which is "available to all banks in Australia on fair and non-discriminatory terms."
Apple has developed a technical architecture that comprises hardware and software components and application programming interfaces (APIs) that banks can use to facilitate contactless payments with their cards and mobile banking applications.
Apple chose to call this architecture Apple Pay because: (a) merchants need a simple way to communicate their acceptance of the service to consumers both in store and online, (b) Apple wished to facilitate consumer choice of payment method / bank by providing a consistent and simple experience, and (c) it allowed Apple to market the service to consumers without having to preference one bank over another.
According to ZDNet, Apple cited security as one of the reasons it doesn't support alternatives to Apple Pay, comparing it to Google's HCE payment system which it claimed is an inherently less secure system with a worse user experience.
Host Card Emulation (HCE) is a less secure implementation, which was adopted by Android … Apple did not implement HCE because doing so would lead to less security on Apple devices. Google likely selected this implementation because Android software is used in a variety of hardware devices offered from many different companies other than Google, and therefore had to select a software-centric solution, even though it is less secure than a secure element-based implementation.
Apple, which offers a tight integration between the operating system and its own hardware, is able to offer a fully integrated solution that is superior to Android's approach.
In response, Google denied the allegation that it had made a security trade-off in implementing the HCE system.
"Our payments apps are immensely secure … our HCE system, which is used by a very large number of banks all around the world, is audited directly by the banks … we would refute the suggestion our HCE environment is in any way insecure," Google president of partnerships in the EMEA region Diana Layfield told the committee on Monday afternoon. "I would argue the user experience on Google Pay is equal to that of Apple Pay."
The Australian parliamentary committee is still considering the arguments submitted. Elsewhere, the EU is currently considering forcing Apple to open up its NFC payment technology, and earlier this year, Germany passed anti-money laundering legislation that requires Apple to grant payment service providers access to its technical infrastructure.
Users who subscribed to the Paramount+ and Showtime bundle via Apple TV channels are noticing that their subscription is being refunded and showing as "expired," likely indicating that the bundle is coming to an end.
A large number of subscribers on Reddit, Twitter, and the MacRumors forums are reporting billing errors for the bundle, where the $9.99 per month fee has failed to renew. The subscriptions tab of affected accounts is reportedly showing the bundle as "expired."
Users flagging the issue seem to be receiving different responses from Apple support, with some being told that the billing error was a fixable mistake and others being told that the bundle was a limited offer for one year only. Most users still seem to be able to access the streaming services, but the billing rejections and "expired" phraseology appear to suggest that their subscription will not renew. Apple or ViacomCBS, the owner of Paramount+ and Showtime, has not given an official comment.
The offer originally launched on August 17 last year via the TV app, giving Apple TV+ subscribers access to both Paramount+, then titled CBS All Access, and Showtime, for $9.99 per month. The bundle aimed to encourage the use of Apple TV+ and the Apple TV channels feature.
The loss of Paramount+ and Showtime would be yet another blow to Apple TV channels, which have largely failed to garner much support from streaming services. Last week, HBO dropped support for its Apple TV channel and encouraged subscribers to move to HBO Max instead.
Since the bundle launched a year ago next month, it is possible that it could have been an offer limited to one year only as some subscribers have suggested. If the bundle of Paramount+ and Showtime has indeed been discontinued, subscribers will now need to spend $9.99 for Paramount+ and $10.99 for Showtime per month. The combined cost of $20.98 would be over double the $9.99 cost of the exclusive bundle for Apple TV+ subscribers.
Apple's larger redesigned iMac will arrive sometime in 2022 rather than later this year, according to the leaker known as "Dylandkt."
On Twitter, Dylandkt claimed that Apple's "high end iMac" is not expected to release in the fourth quarter of 2021 alongside Apple's "M1X Macs" – a reference to Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro models – because "Apple simply does not want their devices to compete for attention and delays in product releases have led to this timetable."
In previous claims, Dylandkt has remained adamant that an "M1X" Apple silicon processor is destined for high-end "Pro" Macs, which could include the upcoming MacBook Pro models and a larger, more powerful iMac model. Apple is expected to release 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models at some point between September and November. Reputable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has said he also expects the larger redesigned iMac to feature an M1X or M2X chip, but Gurman has stopped short of offering launch timing details.
Apple is known to be still developing a larger version of the iMac, but paused work on the larger version to launch the 24-inch iMac model earlier this year. If the larger version of the iMac uses an M1X or M2X chip, it will be a more powerful version of the M1 chip that's in the 24-inch iMac. The 27-inch Intel models that remain in Apple's lineup launched in August 2020, suggesting they are reaching the end of their production cycle.
A new larger iMac would likely ape several changes that debuted in the latest 24-inch model, such as a thinner overall design, studio-quality microphones, and of course more powerful Apple silicon processors replacing Intel.
Just as an explanation for those who are wondering, the high end iMac is not expected to release in Q4 alongside the other M1X Mac’s. Apple simply does not want their devices to compete for attention and delay's in product releases have led to this timetable.
— Dylan (@dylandkt) July 23, 2021
Dylandkt has correctly predicted details about a number of Apple's recent product launches. As early as November 2020, the leaker claimed that the next-generation iPad Pro would feature an M1 chip, five months before the device emerged. Prior to the launch of the 24-inch iMac earlier this year, Dylandkt also correctly predicted that the new, redesigned iMac would replace the smaller entry-level iMac only and feature an M1 chip rather than an M1X.
Apple has ordered more than 100 million of its "A15" chips to be produced by supplier TSMC, as it prepares to launch its upcoming iPhone 13 lineup, according to supply chain sources cited by CNBeta.
Apple is expecting the upcoming line-up to be high in demand and has reportedly asked its suppliers to boost production by more than 25% for this year's new iPhone. With the boost, the company's suppliers are expected to produce 100 million handsets, compared to the 75 million it initially produced for the 2020 iPhones. According to today's report, Apple has ordered 100 million A15 chips to be produced using TSMC's enhanced 5nm process.
The A14 chip powering the latest iPad Air and iPhone 12 are the first Apple-designed chips to be built using the 5nm process. The upcoming chips will continue to be based on the same technology and an enhanced version that will offer improved performance and power efficiency.
Today's report also claims that the upcoming chip will feature a six-core CPU with four high-efficiency cores and two high-performance cores. If true, the upcoming chip will feature the same CPU count as the existing A14 but will still provide performance and battery life improvements.
The power efficiency of the upcoming A15 chip will be critical on the higher-end models of the upcoming iPhone due to the rumored inclusion of a ProMotion display. Apple's ProMotion technology allows displays to refresh at a higher 120Hz refresh rate, which can be significantly power hungry. The high-end iPhone models may also feature always-on display capabilities.
Next year's "iPhone 14" series is expected to feature high-end models with a new titanium alloy chassis design, claims a new investors report by JP Morgan Chase.
According to the report, the use of titanium alloy will be one of the biggest changes to the case design in the 2022 iPhone series, and Foxconn will be the exclusive manufacturer of the titanium frames for the high-end models.
If the report is accurate, the use of titanium in an iPhone would be a first for Apple. The company currently uses the material for some Apple Watch Series 6 models, and the physical Apple Card is made of titanium, but the latest iPhones are made of aluminum and stainless steel.
Compared to stainless steel, titanium has a relatively high hardness that makes it more resistant to scratches, and its stiffness makes it durable enough to withstand bending. It's as strong as steel but 45% lighter, and twice as strong as aluminum while being only 60% heavier. It's also more resistant to corrosion compared to many other alloys.
The material does have some drawbacks, though. Oil from fingerprints can be readily seen on bare titanium and titanium alloy surfaces, leaving unattractive marks on consumer devices. The hardness of titanium also makes it difficult to etch, which can make it less attractive.
However, Apple has been researching how it can overcome both of these issues. Recent patent filings reveal that Apple is looking at the use of thin oxide coatings for metal surfaces which can significantly reduce the appearance of fingerprints on devices. The company has also outlined a blasting, etching, and chemical process that can give titanium enclosures a high-gloss surface finish for a more attractive appearance.
Meanwhile, JP Morgan Chase's report also corroborates rumors that next year's iPhone will feature greater specification changes than the upcoming iPhone 13, suggesting that Apple is earmarking 2022 as an iPhone "supercycle," or a year in which dramatically more people than usual upgrade to the latest models.
The report corroborates other rumors that Apple does not plan to introduce a 5.4-inch iPhone 14 mini, with the mini line ending after the iPhone 13. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will instead offer two 6.1-inch iPhones and two 6.7-inch iPhones, so both the standard iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Pro will be available in those two size options.
Other rumors suggest at least some 2022 iPhones will no longer have a notch, with Apple instead adopting a punch-hole design that's previously been used for some Android devices. For all the details on the rumors floating around for the iPhone 14, check out the last section of our iPhone 13 guide.
In the newsletter, Gurman says that he believes Apple's ultimate goal is to shift all of its products to Face ID, including the lower-end iPhones such as the iPhone SE and the iPad Air, which feature Touch ID. Gurman says Touch ID remains an important part of Apple's product lineup, especially for lower-end models, thanks to it being a "cheaper alternative" to Face ID while continuing to provide security to users.
But I expect that to eventually change. It won’t happen this year, but I’d bet Face ID on the Mac is coming within a couple of years. I expect all iPhones and iPads to transition to Face ID within that timeframe, too. Eventually, a camera embedded in the screen would help differentiate Apple’s pricier devices by eliminating the notch at the top. The facial recognition sensor gives Apple two central features: security and augmented reality. Touch ID, more convenient or not, only provides the former.
Gurman had previously reported that as Apple was planning its recently launched redesigned 24-inch iMac, it had initially planned to include Face ID, but that Face ID implementation has been delayed to an upcoming iMac redesign instead. Unlike iPhones and iPads, Mac laptop screens are significantly thinner, making it harder to fit the necessary depth sensors for Face ID, Gurman notes.
Further down the line, Gurman says Apple will eventually embed Face ID into the screens themselves, abandoning the need for a notch on the iPhone. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes such an iPhone may debut as early as 2023. As for the Mac desktop, Apple is continuing to develop a replacement for the 27-inch iMac which may feature a larger screen and a more powerful "M2X" chip. Apple earlier this year paused work on the larger iMac to focus on the 24-inch iMac, which was released this past April.
Apple's new MagSafe Battery Pack is now available, and we went hands-on this week for some early impressions of the new accessory to get more battery life out of Apple's iPhone 12 lineup.
This week also saw a number of rumors about the upcoming redesigned MacBook Pro models, the iPhone 13 lineup, the next-generation iPad mini, a new iPhone SE, and the third-generation AirPods. Read on below and check out our video above for details of these stories and more!
The MagSafe Battery Pack can be ordered from Apple's online store and is currently estimated for late July delivery, and it is also available for same-day Apple Store pickup at select locations.
Redesigned MacBook Pros Expected to Launch Between September and November
Apple apparently planned to launch the new MacBook Pro models earlier this year, but continued complications with mini-LED display production delayed their launch.
iPhone 13 May Feature Apple Watch-Like Always-On Display
iPad Mini 6 Rumored to Feature A15 Chip, Smart Connector, and More
More details emerged about what we can expect from the next iPad mini this week, including that it will apparently be powered by the same A15 chip as expected for the iPhone 13. The device may also gain a Smart Connector for connecting compatible keyboards.
The third-generation AirPods are rumored to adopt a similar design to the current AirPods Pro, with shorter stems and silicone ear tips. However, they would likely lack some of the more advanced AirPods Pro features.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple has made so many improvements to the Maps app in iOS 15 that it's almost an entirely different experience. There are better driving directions, improved transit directions, and more immersive AR-based walking directions.
The Maps design has once again been updated, and you can see everything at an incredible level of detail that wasn't available before, especially in cities and in places where there was no detail before. This guide walks through all of the changes that have been introduced in the Maps app in iOS 15.
Updated Driving Maps
When using Maps for driving directions, more detailed road information is available. Maps will make turn lanes, crosswalks, and bike lanes clear so you know where you're supposed to be.
If there's a complex interchange that needs to be navigated, Maps will shift over into a street-level perspective to cut down on the confusion. All of this is included on the dedicated driving map, which also highlights current traffic incidents and conditions like road closures so you know what to expect on your route.
Maps in iOS 15 has Explore, Driving, Transit, and Satellite maps to choose from, and it's the driving map that's the new addition. There is a new interface for picking a map, with previews of what each map looks like.
More Detailed City Maps
Maps in iOS 15 is more detailed in all locations, but in select cities, Apple has upped the detail even further. Roads, neighborhoods, trees, and buildings are shown in full detail, and there are 3D representations of landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge.
iOS 15 left, iOS 14 right
Cities with 3D landmarks and high levels of detail include San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and London. Apple has also rendered its Infinite Loop and Apple Park campuses in 3D, and this is a feature that will expand to additional cities in the future.
Apple has also updated the Apple Maps night/dark mode with new colors and a fresh look, and commercial districts are highlighted.
AR Walking Instructions
Walking directions in iOS 15 can now be shown in augmented reality, making it easier to get where you need to go, especially in situations where the directions are tricky. The AR mode offers step-by-step directions when walking, and you can enter it by scanning the buildings around you when prompted after initiating a route.
To get AR walking directions, an iPhone that has an A12 chip or later is required. The A12 was first used in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, which came out in 2018. So 2018 and newer iPhones are compatible with the augmented reality feature.
With iOS 15, if you continue to zoom out until you can zoom no further, you reach a new globe view that lets you spin around the world and drill into new areas. Prior to iOS 15, there was an option to zoom out to a world map, but not a full globe.
The Globe view is easier to navigate than the prior world map, with better pinch in and pinch out gestures and smoother scrolling.
iOS 15 left, iOS 14 right
To enhance this view, Apple has added more details for mountain ranges, deserts, forests, and ocean. If you zoom into the Andes, for example, Apple has detailed topographical information and you can get information on each mountain peak like elevation, coordinates, distance, and more.
When getting directions in the Maps app, iOS 15 has a feature that lets you choose a time to arrive or a time to leave, allowing you to get prospective commuting lengths ahead of time.
Tapping on "Leaving Now" next to "My Location" when getting directions has options for "Leave at" or "Arrive by" times to select dates and specific times.
In cities with updated maps, the transit map has been updated with a more detailed view that shows major bus routes. Frequent transit riders can see all of the departures that are listed near them and pin their favorite lines so they always show at the top of the Maps interface.
While on public transit, there's an updated user interface that makes it easier for users to see and interact with their routes in a one-handed operation mode, useful when there are no seats available.
As a stop approaches on public transit, Maps will send a notification that it's nearing time to disembark.
New Place Cards
Place cards for businesses, landmarks, restaurants, and more have been updated with a new design, with Apple providing details about nearby places, other spots at the same location, Guide availability, and more. Apple is still using Yelp to pull in information like reviews.
Apple says that it's easier to find and interact with information for businesses or explore details about cities. Physical features like mountain ranges now have their own place cards with details like elevation.
Guide Updates
Apple added a dedicated Guides Home that houses editorially curated guides with tips on what to do in a city where you live or where you're visiting.
Search Improvements
Search in Maps has been improved and search results can now be filtered by options like specific cuisine, whether a restaurant is open, whether a restaurant offers takeout, and more.
If you move around the map after executing a search, the Maps app will automatically update the search results to the new location.
If there are weather conditions that will affect your route, Maps in iOS 15 will let you know. If there's flooding on a road, for example, Maps will reroute you around the flooding, or let you know about it so you can avoid the trip.
Guide Feedback
Have questions about Maps in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.
Apple's iOS 15 website lists "improved recognition for individuals" as one of the new Photos features, and in a machine learning blog post shared this week, Apple gave more information on what exactly that means.
Apple says that on-device machine learning improvements have led to significantly better person recognition. The iOS 15 Photos app is able to detect people in extreme poses, people wearing accessories, and people with occluded faces.
To do this, Apple uses a combination of face and upper body to match people whose faces are not visible. Apple's machine learning blog says that the new functionality improves the Photos experience by identifying people in situations where it was previously impossible.
Apple's blog post on recognizing people in photos through on-device machine learning goes into much greater detail on how Apple uses machine learning to identify people while still protecting user privacy, and it's well worth a read for those who are interested in the inner workings of ML features.
Back in March, Hyper released its HyperJuice Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 lineup, promising customers an easy way to wirelessly charge their devices on the go. At the time, there were relatively few options for portable MagSafe-compatible battery packs on the market. Now, though, thanks to Apple's recent release of its own MagSafe Battery Pack, there is a little more competition, and Hyper's battery pack stacks up as a worthy competitor.
Design
One of the most eye-catching aspects of the battery pack is its size. Like Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack, Hyper sells one battery pack for all iPhone 12 models, meaning the size must be unawkwardly big enough for the iPhone 12 Pro Max but remain small enough to fit on an iPhone 12 mini.
I used it with my iPhone 12 Pro Max, and I found it to be too bulky with its design, although as a disclaimer, I do have rather small hands. The battery pack has smooth, curved edges on either side, so it's relatively comfortable and natural to hold, but difficult to use your iPhone one-handed normally with it attached.
In practice, I found that the battery pack's design leads it to rotate ever so slightly if you're typing or on a phone call. It's definitely not a deal-breaker, and some blame can be put on Apple for the strength of the magnets. Overall, though, the battery pack stays firm and set in place in casual use.
If build quality is something you're concerned about, you shouldn't be. Hyper's battery pack is an excellently well-built product, made with hard plastic on the front and a softer cushion-like coating on the back. The finish on the back, which attaches to the iPhone, is highly welcomed as it not only protects the battery pack, but also the iPhone itself from any scratches or scuffs.
In my normal day-to-day use with it, it's held up very well and any scuffs that do appear can be easily cleaned away.
Functionality
Each person's use case for a battery pack will differ, but in my experience, attempting to use the battery pack while shopping or while out on a quick jog with it in my pocket proved to be a challenge. In other situations though, such as laying in bed without a wire nearby or at your desk, the battery pack can come in handy thanks to the ease of simply attaching it to the back of the iPhone without the hassle of wires.
Performance
On the performance side, the Hyper battery pack features a 5000mAh, 18Wh battery that provides power to Apple devices at 7.5W. You can use the pack as a standard portable power brick with a USB-C port that provides power at 12W, which can be convenient if you have a non-MagSafe device that needs a charge. That USB-C port on the battery pack can also be used to charge both the iPhone's battery and the pack itself at the same time when attached.
Hyper's battery pack has a 5000mAh, 18Wh battery, which given its size is impressive. Each person's direct experience with the battery pack in terms of how much it can charge their device will vary, depending on several factors.
With Hyper's battery pack, however, you should expect to get a sufficient charge. In my experience, with the phone left untouched, it gave me around 73% of a charge on an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and you'll obviously get a greater percentage of a refill on iPhones with smaller battery capacities.
There are four lights on the front of the battery pack, which are the only indicators of the battery pack's current status and charge. On the other hand, Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack allows users to see the battery pack's specific charge on iOS, a feature that third-party accessory makers cannot utilize currently.
The Bottom Line
The iPhone 12 is the first iPhone to bring Apple's MagSafe technology, which originated in a different form on the Mac, to the iPhone. MagSafe is the future of the iPhone, as Apple will likely eventually rely on it entirely for power with the rumored removal of the Lightning port within the next few years.
Having said that, MagSafe on the iPhone is still a fairly new technology, and the accessory industry that it has begun to create will only become more robust and diverse with options as the years go by.
Hyper's Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack does what it promises to do; it provides your iPhone 12 with a enough extra amount of juice to help you get through your day. Depending on your use case, it can be a great accessory for customers of the iPhone 12 lineup looking for an easy way to charge their iPhones on the go.
Everyone's lifestyle is different, and some may find that Hyper's offering fits even better into their daily routine than it did for me. Either way, for $39.99 and a 5000mAh battery, Hyper's Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack is a top-tier portable wireless charger, especially when Apple's offering is more than twice the price.
Note: Hyper provided MacRumors with a HyperJuice Magnetic Wireless Battery Pack for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner Hyper Shop. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Verizon today is discounting the Apple Pencil 2 to $103.99, down from $129.00. Although the Verizon website displays the accessory at a price of $109.99, once you head to checkout you'll see the $103.99 sale price applied automatically in your cart.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This sale is offering a second-best price for the Apple Pencil 2, and it's a match of the previous best price seen on the accessory earlier in 2021. We very rarely see the Apple Pencil 2 dip below this sale price, so if you've been on the hunt for one at a discount, now's a great time to buy.
Electronic Finishing Solutions is a company that customizes AirPods, speakers, earbuds, headphones, and other devices with custom logos.
Customized AirPods can be ordered in quantities ranging from a single set to more than 100, and can be customized with any logo. Pricing starts at $249.99, which is $100 more expensive than standard AirPods, but it drops down to $189.99 when larger quantities are purchased.
Electronic Finishing Solutions' custom products make ideal corporate gifts for employees or for anyone who wants to gift friends or family with a custom set of headphones. The company is able to customize everything from Sonos Speakers to Bose headphones, so there are a range of options.
Personalization services are all-inclusive and Electronic Finishing Solutions works with customers to get the perfect look for a customized product, with production beginning after a proof is approved by the customer. Orders ship in 5 to 10 business days, but faster shipping is available and there's even a direct fulfillment service.
Electronic Finishing Solutions has made three sets of custom MacRumors AirPods to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win a set, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (July 23) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on July 30. The winners will be chosen randomly on July 30 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple is developing an external display that includes an A13 chip with Neural Engine, according to a new rumor from 9to5Mac. The A13 chip with Neural Engine would presumably serve as an eGPU, though details are light at this time.
Having a CPU/GPU built into the external display could help Macs deliver high-resolution graphics without using all the resources of the computer's internal chip. Apple could also combine the power of the display SoC with the Mac's SoC to provide even more performance for running intensive graphic tasks.
There were rumors back in 2016 that suggested Apple was working on a new version of the Thunderbolt display that included a graphics card, but no such display ever materialized. In fact, no Apple-branded display came out ahead of the Pro Display XDR that was introduced in 2019, and the Pro Display XDR is just a display with no GPU included.
9to5Mac believes that the display with A13 chip would be a replacement for the Pro Display XDR, and it's possible that the release version of such a display would use an even more powerful chip than the A13 that was first introduced with the iPhone 11.
Apple is also rumored to be working on a more affordable external monitor that would be sold alongside the Pro Display XDR, but this more affordable monitor is apparently separate from the version with a built-in A-series chip.
The classic endless runner Jetpack Joyride from Halfbrick Studios is making a return today on the subscription-based Apple Arcade service.
Over 750 million players have downloaded Jetpack Joyride across all gaming platforms, and Apple Arcade subscribers can now relive the fun with Jetpack Joyride+ for the iPhone and iPad.
"Get ready for bullet-powered jetpacks, giant mechanical dragons, and birds that shoot money," the game description reads. "It's time to join Barry Steakfries and equip the coolest jetpacks, suit up in stylish costumes, and ride crazy vehicles in this endless running quest to beat the scientists to the end of the lab."
Skate City is also receiving a major update on Apple Arcade today with a new Olympics-inspired Tokyo level. The game hails from Snowman, maker of the popular endless sandboarding games "Alto's Adventure" and "Alto's Odyssey."
Snowman says players will be able to skate through a diverse range of neighborhoods and famous skate spots to experience Tokyo's unique identity. Tokyo will include over 60 challenges in Free Skate and Challenge modes, along with new deck designs, updated clothes in the skate shop, and new original songs that expand on the popular soundtrack.
Priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, Apple Arcade provides access to a catalog of around 200 games without ads or in-app purchases across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, with additional titles added periodically.
Apple's App Store guidelines don't permit cloud-game-based apps to appear on the platform unless developers submit each app offered in the service individually for review. The limitation has been a significant point of contention between Apple and Facebook, and Microsoft, which both have cloud-game services.
In a statement to The Verge, Facebook's vice president of gaming, Vivek Sharma, said that the company has come to the same conclusion as others, such as Microsoft, that bringing cloud games to iOS users through a web app is the only possible way. The vice president also criticized Apple's guidelines, saying it "defeats the purpose of cloud gaming."
"We've come to the same conclusion as others: web apps are the only option for streaming cloud games on iOS at the moment," Facebook's vice president of gaming, Vivek Sharma, told The Verge in a statement. "As many have pointed out, Apple's policy to 'allow' cloud games on the App Store doesn't allow for much at all. Apple's requirement for each cloud game to have its own page, go through review, and appear in search listings defeats the purpose of cloud gaming. These roadblocks mean players are prevented from discovering new games, playing cross-device, and accessing high-quality games instantly in native iOS apps — even for those who aren't using the latest and most expensive devices."
Earlier in June, Microsoft made Xbox Cloud Gaming available to iOS users through Safari. Compared to normal apps available to download through the App Store, web apps are severely limited in functionality, not being able to send user notifications, take advantage of a device's hardware, and are harder to find for users.
Apple's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineup is seeing all-time low discounts across the board today, including the 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 13-inch MacBook Air, and 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
13-Inch M1 MacBook Air
Starting with the 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Air, Amazon has the 256GB notebook for $899.00, down from $999.00. This price is available in all three colors of Gold, Silver, and Space Gray, but stock is dwindling on the latter two options.
Additionally, Amazon is also selling the 512GB M1 MacBook Air at $1,099.00, down from $1,249.00. Both of these discounts represent all-time low prices, and they're shipped and sold directly from Amazon.
For the newest MacBook Pro models, Amazon has lowest ever prices on the new 2020 M1 13-inch MacBook Pro. You can get the 256GB notebook for $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00, in both Silver and Space Gray.
For more storage, the 512GB M1 MacBook Pro is on sale for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.00. This model is also available in both Silver and Space Gray at this price.
Moving to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we're tracking record low prices on both storage options for this 2019 notebook. You can get the 512GB model for $1,999.99, down from $2,399.00. This sale is available in both Silver and Space Gray color options.
The 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro is on sale for $2,299.99, down from $2,799.00. Like the other model, this is an all-time low price, but it's only available in Silver. Both notebooks are sold by Amazon and are ready to ship today.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Yesterday, DigiTimesclaimed that the upcoming iPad mini will feature a mini-LED display, but now, display analyst Ross Young is going at odds with that report, claiming that while the updated iPad mini continues to be on track for a release this year, it won't feature a mini-LED display.
Young says he "confirmed" with Radiant Opto-Electronics, who DigiTimes claims would provide Apple with the display, that the upcoming iPad mini will not feature a mini-LED display. It's important to note that suppliers are tight-lipped about specific details about their client's work, especially suppliers working for Apple.
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously stated that an updated iPad mini with a mini-LED display would launch in 2020, but likely due to the global health crisis and delays in production, that failed to materialize. The iPad mini rumor cycle has been rather cloudy, but some claims have pointed to a significant redesign featuring no home button, a Touch ID sensor embedded into the power button, a USB-C port, and a larger display.
Rumors are also conflicting on whether the upcoming iPad mini will feature Apple's current flagship A14 chip, included in the latest iPad Air and iPhone 12, or whether the iPad will use the A15 chip, destined for the upcoming iPhone 13. Rumors have also suggested that a "Pro" model of the iPad mini is also in the works; however, that doesn't seem to be likely.
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