Apple continued to dominate the North American wearables market in the second quarter of 2020, with a growth of nine percent year-on-year, according to a new report by Canalys.
The shipments of wearables in the North American market grew 10 percent in the second quarter of 2020, but the value of the market remained flat year-on-year. A boom in low-end activity trackers meant that the average selling price of a wearable declined by 11 percent to $235. The surge in more basic devices offset the United States' third consecutive quarter of smartwatch decline.
In spite of this, the Apple Watch Series 5 was America's best-selling smartwatch, matching last year's Series 4 model for shipments. Demand for the Apple Watch Series 3 also grew by 30 percent.
Recent IDC research similarly showed Apple's ongoing dominance of the global wearables market. North America was one of only two regions to demonstrate sustained consumer demand for wearables with quarter-on-quarter growth.
Canalys predicts that going into 2021, medical-oriented devices will move certain products into an elevated tier, creating much stronger differentiation between casual fitness devices and those that offer advanced health tracking. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 6 will likely contribute to this by offering new health-tracking features such as blood oxygen monitoring.
Following several months of explosive growth, Apple's stock came crashing down on Thursday, dropping around eight percent in a single day. It was the worst day of trading for technology stocks as a whole since March.
Apple's market capitalization slid over $180 billion as a result of the sell-off, marking the largest one-day loss in value for any company ever, according to Barron's. The report claims the previous record was set by Volkswagen in October 2008, when the automaker lost $153 billion in value in a day, shortly after a massive short squeeze.
Apple is down another five percent today as of writing, stripping the company of its $2 trillion status during intraday trading.
Apple's stock price is still twice as high as it was in late March. Despite the global health crisis, the company set a June quarter revenue record of $59.7 billion, buoyed by strong Mac and iPad sales as more people work, learn, and connect with others from home.
Apple recently announced a four-for-one stock split that took effect for shareholders of record as of August 24. Split-adjusted trading began August 31.
As we head into the long weekend ending with Labor Day on Monday, a number of retailers have introduced deals that should be advantageous for anyone shopping around for Apple products and related accessories. In this article we've rounded up some of the best Labor Day deals for Apple fans, including discounts on the Bluetooth speakers, charging accessories, HomeKit devices, and more. Most of the discounts will expire early next week.
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.
Best Buy
Best Buy is holding a Labor Day sale on a variety of products, including kitchen and laundry room appliances, 4K TV sets, and home electronics. For the home electronics category, Best Buy is offering various indoor workout equipment, routers, smart vacuums, and more.
Right now, you can also save on the HomePod, which is discounted to $199.99 from $299.99 this week. If you're interested in setting up a stereo pair, Best Buy is also offering the HomePod in a 2-pack for $399.98, down from $599.98 (in Space Gray and White).
Twelve South
At Twelve South you can take 12 percent off sitewide by using the code SeeYaSummer through Monday, September 7. Twelve South has plenty of accessories tailor-made for Apple products like the MacBook Pro, iMac, and AirPods, and the retailer offers free shipping in the United States.
Ring
Numerous discounts on Ring products have hit Amazon and the Ring website. The Ring Video Doorbell (Second Generation) is on sale for $79.99, down from $99.99, and you can also save on Ring's cameras and security systems.
JBL's Labor Day sale includes up to 50 percent off Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and other audio equipment. We've collected a few accessories from the sale below, but be sure to visit JBL's website to browse every discount before they expire.
Newegg is providing its customers with up to 70 percent off gaming computers, monitors, Bluetooth speakers, mice, tablets, and more.
The sale also includes routers from TP Link and Samsung SSD, so be sure to browse the entire event before it expires.
OWC
At OWC's Labor Day event you can save on iMac memory kits, USB-C docks, audio accessories, and more. The retailer's memory kits make it super easy to expand the memory of your current iMac to help speed up older models.
Miscellaneous
Belkin - Up to 50 percent off chargers and cables.
Dell - Save on PCs, monitors, keyboards, headphones, and more.
Dyson - Take $150 off Dyson V8 Absolute Pro cordless vacuum.
The Home Depot - Save on various smart home products from Nest, Lenovo, Ring, and more.
Nomad - Take 20 percent off sitewide with code LABORDAY
Hyper - Take 20 percent off USB-C hubs and other Mac accessories with code LABOR20
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
Nearly a year after its launch, subscription mobile gaming service GameClub is today announcing an expansion that will start bringing PC and console gaming titles to mobile.
The first three PC titles to be announced for GameClub are Tokyo 42, Ancestors Legacy, and Chook & Sosig: Walk the Plank, all of which will be coming to iOS and Android this fall. GameClub is also announcing new content for its existing library, which includes new levels and modes coming to Breach & Clear.
Similar to Apple Arcade, GameClub offers a library of over 100 games available to play without ads or in-app purchases. Offering support for both iOS and Android, a subscription is priced at $4.99 with up to 12 family members able to share a single subscription.
GameClub got its start updating classic iOS games for modern display sizes and device capabilities, but has broadened its reach as it first expanded to Android and has now begun porting key titles from other platforms to its library.
Images of what appears to be an original Apple Watch prototype in its security case have been shared online by Twitter user @AppleDemoYT.
The photos show a prototype stainless steel Apple Watch concealed within a silicone security case, marked with a redacted serial number. Apple usually transports its prototype and testing units in thick protective cases that are intended to mislead and conceal the true design of the product.
Interestingly, the security case seems to resemble a third-generation iPod nano with a click wheel. In the years leading up to the announcement of the Apple Watch, it was not uncommon for some users to use the sixth-generation iPod nano as a watch using third-party cases. It is therefore fitting that Apple disguised the original Apple Watch as an iPod nano.
Prototype Apple Watch (Original) with matching Security Case and box. The Security Case was used to conceal the design before release durning transportation; and makes the Watch look similar to an iPod Nano. #appleinternalpic.twitter.com/2q0y8l6oso
— Apple Demo (@AppleDemoYT) September 1, 2020
The prototype was allegedly used for internal testing before the official release of the original Apple Watch. The device came in a cardboard box marked "Apple Confidential," with multiple warnings about unauthorized use.
Images of original Apple Watch prototypes have surfaced before, showing slight variations from the final design. While no useful information can usually be gleaned from most prototypes, it is interesting to see how Apple conducts the development of its products before they reach the market. Prototype devices are hotly desired by collectors and occasionally surface on auction sites and at device recycling facilities.
This week's addition to Apple Arcade is World's End Club, described as a new type of action-adventure game that fuses a thrilling story with 2D side-scrolling action. The game is available on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.
World's End Club revolves around a group of "oddball kids" from Japan who get into an accident while on a bus for a class trip. When they wake up, they find they are trapped in an abandoned theme park under the sea. Suddenly, a mysterious clown appears and orders the kids to play a "Fate Game," forcing them to fight for their lives.
Watch the trailer below:
The game's scenario is written by Zero Escape series creator Kotaro Uchikoshi, with Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka serving as creative director.
Apple Arcade has also started advertising three more titles that are coming soon to the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, including the sword-swinging fantasies Slash Quest! and Marble Knights as well as puzzle game A Monster's Expedition.
Apple Arcade is a subscription-based service that provides iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users with access to over 100 premium games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month. The games can be downloaded from the Arcade tab of the App Store.
In line with previous reports, Broadcom has confirmed that a ramp-up of its chip shipments, for what analysts believe is the iPhone 12, will run into the final quarter of 2020 (via Reuters). This is a quarter later than most years, which suggests that Apple's upcoming iPhone 12 lineup will be delayed.
In June, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan discussed a "major product cycle delay" at a "large North American mobile phone" company. There was no mention of Apple by name, but according to Bloomberg, this is phrasing that Tan often uses to describe Apple.
Earlier this year, Apple CFO Luca Maestri confirmed that this year's new iPhones will be released later than normal. The statement remained vague about the exact release date, simply saying that the devices will be "available a few weeks later" than usual.
In 2019, Broadcom earned one-fifth of its revenue from supplying Apple. The confirmation of significant late-2020 shipments from the company indicates that the iPhone 12 is highly unlikely to arrive this month. Multiple reports are now pointing towards October for the launch of the iPhone 12 lineup, as well as Apple Watch Series 6 models, and the long-rumored AirTags.
Facebook has announced a new forward limit on its Messenger chat platform so that messages can now only be forwarded to five people or groups at a time.
The limiter was revealed in a Facebook Newsroom blog post explaining that the new rule has been introduced to provide users with "a safer, more private messaging experience," particularly amid the ongoing global health crisis and in the run up to major elections in the United States.
Limiting forwarding is an effective way to slow the spread of viral misinformation and harmful content that has the potential to cause real world harm.
The change follows a similar limit on Facebook-owned WhatsApp that was introduced in July. In limiting the ability to forward messages to multiple chats at once, the encrypted messaging platform cited events in India as a specific example of how spreading fake messages could cause harm.
Earlier this year, a series of viral message-related crimes in India resulted in 12 dead in the span of just one month. One incident left one man dead and two others severely injured after false rumors went viral on WhatsApp that they had tried to abduct children.
WhatsApp said it was "horrified" by the violence in India, and that it had announced several changes to help address the issues.
Apple has published a human rights policy document that commits to "freedom of information and expression," following years of criticism from investors that it shows too much deference to Beijing and accedes to China's censorship demands.
The four-page document formalizes Apple's commitment to "respecting the human rights of everyone whose lives we touch," but concedes that the company is "required to comply with local laws," although it stops short of mentioning any particular country.
"Where national law and international human rights standards differ, we follow the higher standard. Where they are in conflict, we respect national law while seeking to respect the principles of internationally recognised human rights."
The Financial Times reports that Apple's board of directors approved the policy and published it ahead of a deadline of September 5 for shareholders to submit motions for next year's investor meeting.
The commitment comes seven months after some of Apple's shareholders defied management and supported a proposal from a consumer advocacy group called SumOfUs that would have compelled it to uphold freedom of expression globally. Apple reportedly tried to strike the proposal from the agenda but was denied by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Apple has faced increasingly pressure from investors about its relationship with China and its tendency to accede to Beijing's demands. Last year, for example, Apple removed the app of news outlet Quartz from China's App Store after complaints from the government that it included content that is illegal in the country. The app was covering the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement protests at the time.
Apple has also been forced to remove many VPN apps from the App Store in China due to the administration's regulations. Other apps affected in the past include WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and the New York Times app.
Sondhya Gupta, campaign manager at SumOfUs, welcomed the publication of Apple's human rights policy, but told FT it was not clear how Apple would create proper oversight or measure progress, and Apple had not said how it would disclose the actions it might take in response to government demands that could limit free expression or access to information.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
The ongoing dispute between Apple and Epic Games has spurred complaints from Japanese game developers about Apple's App Store business model and the way it handles third-party app submissions.
Bloomberg reports that some developers in the Japanese gaming market have been emboldened by the dispute and are becoming more vocal about their own concerns, which including Apple's 30% commission rate and inconsistent enforcement of App Store policies.
While Epic, publisher of the hit title Fortnite, focuses on the 30% revenue cut app stores typically take, Japanese game studios have broader concerns. They have long been unhappy with what they see as Apple's inconsistent enforcement of its own App Store guidelines, unpredictable content decisions and lapses in communication, according to more than a dozen people involved in the matter.
According to game developers in Japan, Google's Play Store offers a smoother approval process and better communication than the App Store. Some developers even rely on a third-party service called iOS Reject Rescue, which helps them navigate through Apple's approval process if their app is rejected.
"Apple's app review is often ambiguous, subjective and irrational," said Makoto Shoji, founder of PrimeTheory, which provides the rejection service. "While Apple will never admit it, I think there are times when they simply forget an item's in the review queue or they intentionally keep it untouched as a sanction to a developer giving them the wrong attitude," Shoji told Bloomberg.
Japanese developers have also been critical of the way Apple interprets what is appropriate content and say it often changes policies without advance notice. One topic in particular they take issue with is Apple's judgement of what constitutes overtly sexualized or pornographic material. The report notes that several game studios had characters in swimsuits approved only for them to be later rejected as Apple considered them to be "sexualized."
Apple has faced increasing scrutiny over its App Store practices from both developers and regulators in recent months. In response to the public clash between Apple and Epic Games, Japan's antitrust regulator has said it will "step up attention" to the iPhone maker's practices and how they affect the country's massive mobile gaming market.
Apple is working on a Tile-like Bluetooth tracking device that's designed to be attached to items like keys and wallets. Called AirTags, these item trackers will let you keep an eye on your possessions right in the Find My app.
AirTags are perhaps one of Apple's worst-kept secrets because we've been seeing signs of them in various versions of iOS since early 2019, but it looks like AirTags may finally be ready to launch, coming alongside new iPhones this fall.
Based on images found in iOS, AirTags may be small, circular tags with built-in Bluetooth and ultra-wideband support for tracking purposes. You'll be able to locate your AirTags in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac right alongside all of your Apple devices that support Find My.
The rumored ultra-wideband support is worth noting because it's going to let iPhones with a U1 chip (the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max) track positioning with more accuracy than Bluetooth alone. If you lose your keys down the couch cushion, for example, the iPhone should be able to lead you right to them.
We don't know how AirTags will attach to items, but Apple may use rings, adhesive, or a similar method. The exact design also isn't known at this time, but AirTags are expected to be water resistant. As for charging, there are mixed rumors. AirTags might have a replaceable CR2032 battery or they might feature a rechargeable battery that works with an Apple Watch-style charging puck.
Anything that's lost will show up on a Find My map, and you'll see an associated address. Inside, and when you're close, you may also see an augmented reality map with the specific positioning of your lost device. AirTags will also be able to play a sound when you're close by, making it even easier to locate what you're looking for.
There's an iOS 13 feature that lets Apple products communicate with one another when offline, so your lost iPhone can ping off of someone else's that it comes into contact with even without a cellular connection, letting you know where it is. This same feature could come to AirTags.
We could be seeing AirTags quite soon, if the most recent AirTag rumor from Japanese site Mac Otakara is to be believed. Mac Otakara believes Apple will hold an event in October that will see the launch of iPhone 12 models, the Apple Watch Series 6, and the AirTags.
Apple today seeded the fourth public beta of an upcoming watchOS 7 update to public beta testers, one week after seeding the third public beta and just a few days after seeding a new beta to developers.
The watchOS 7 update can be downloaded after installing the proper profile from Apple's Public Beta website. watchOS 7 should not be installed on a primary device as it is still an early beta and there could be bugs, plus there is no way to downgrade back to watchOS 6.
watchOS 7 is a major update that introduces a new Sleep Tracking feature for the Apple Watch, which is designed to measure how long you're asleep as you wear the Apple Watch while sleeping.
It comes along with a Wind Down feature that helps you establish a bedtime routine to make it easier to fall asleep at night, as well as a Sleep Mode that turns on Do Not Disturb and dims the Apple Watch display.
The Apple Watch can also wake you up with haptic vibrations, providing a weather report in the morning as well as info on battery life so you can get your day started.
Along with these sleep tracking features, the Apple Watch has automatic handwashing detection that listens for the sound of running water and handwashing motions and then starts a 20-second timer so you can make sure you're washing your hands for the appropriate amount of time.
A new watch Face Sharing feature lets you share watch faces with others and install new watch faces from the App Store, Messages, Mail, websites, and more.
There's a new Chronograph Pro face with tachymeter, updates to complications, and new workout options in the newly renamed Fitness app, which was previously the Activity app.
The Maps app now supports directions for cyclists, Siri provides spoken translations, and there's a Shortcuts app on the Apple Watch. For more on what's new in watcOS 7, make sure to check out our watchOS 7 roundup.
watchOS 7 is limited to the Apple Watch Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5 models, and is not compatible with the Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2.
Apple today seeded the seventh betas of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 to developers for testing purposes, updating and refining the features included in the software.
As the beta testing period progresses, changes get smaller and less notable, but the seventh beta still has a few new features that are worth mentioning, such as dark mode options for some wallpapers. We've listed what's new in the seventh beta of iOS 14 below.
- Dark Mode Rainbow Wallpapers - The existing rainbow stripe wallpaper options now feature Dark Mode settings as well as standard light mode settings. You can't select the darker wallpaper by default, though, and it only activates when Dark Mode is on.
- Tweaked App Library Categories - Apple has changed the categories in the App Library. Options now include Social, Utilities, Productivity & Finance, Information & Reading, Creativity, Other, Health & Fitness, Shopping & Food, Entertainment, Travel, Games, Arcade, and Education.
- AirPods Banner - When connecting AirPods or AirPods Pro to an iPhone or iPad in beta 6, there was an error that caused incorrect text to be displayed. That appears to be fixed in beta 7.
Know of any other changes in iOS 14 beta 7 that we didn't list here? Let us know in the comments and we'll add them.
As part of iOS 14, Apple is introducing a new App Store feature that will provide privacy details for each app that you're downloading, which the company has said can be likened to a "nutrition label" for apps.
In a new Developer Support document, Apple outlines the information that developers will need to provide on their App Store pages for customers. Apple is relying on developers to offer up their own privacy policies, and developers will need to start adding this information to App Store Connect starting in the fall.
Later this year, the App Store will help users understand an app's privacy practices before they download the app on any Apple platform. On each app's product page, users can learn about some of the data types the app may collect, and whether that data is linked to them or used to track them. You'll need to provide information about your app's privacy practices, including the practices of third-party partners whose code you integrate into your app, in App Store Connect starting this fall.
Apple says that developers will need to identify "all possible data collections and uses," providing a list of data types that will be shown in the App Store labeling.
Customers can expect to see details on all of the data collected by an app, ranging from name, email address, and address to payment info, location, contacts, and more. Apps will need to make it clear when they access photos, texts, browsing history, purchase history, and more, and whether advertising and diagnostic data is collected.
Apps will need to disclose what the data collected is used for, such as first-party advertising, third-party advertising, analytics, app functionality, or product personalization, and whether data is linked to a user's account, device, or identity.
Developers are also required to understand and outline whether data collected is used for tracking users, aka providing data collected from the app with third parties for targeted advertising purposes.
More information on what developers will need to provide for their App Store listings can be found in Apple's developer document. This feature is expected to become available when iOS 14 launches to the public, though Apple does not appear to have given developers deadlines for when the information needs to be added to the App Store.
Apple today seeded the seventh betas of upcoming iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 updates to developers for testing purposes, a little over one week after seeding the sixth betas and over two months after unveiling the new software at the WWDC keynote.
Registered developers can download the betas over the air after installing the proper profile from the Apple Developer Center.
iOS 14 introduces a redesigned Home Screen that supports widgets on iPhone for the first time, plus widgets have been redesigned and can now be customized in three sizes through the new widgets gallery.
An App Library shows all of the apps installed on an iPhone in one place, both in an icon view and in an alphabetical list. With all of the apps in the App Library, app icons and Home Screen pages can be hidden for a cleaner look.
Incoming phone calls and FaceTime calls no longer take up the entire iPhone/iPad display, and Siri requests have also been minimized so summoning Siri doesn't monopolize the screen. Siri is smarter in iOS 14 and can send audio messages, and dictation can now run on device. A Picture in Picture mode allows users to watch videos or use FaceTime while using other apps.
App Clips lets users take advantage of some app features without needing to download a full app, useful for quick actions like purchasing a coffee, making a restaurant reservation, or renting a scooter, where downloading an entire app would be a hassle. App Clips can be scanned from QR codes, NFC tags, or Apple-designed App Clip Codes, plus they can be shared in Messages or accessed from Safari.
In the Messages app you can now pin important conversations, use @mentions in group chats, and take advantage of inline replies to keep multi-person conversations better organized. There are new Memoji options and group chats can be assigned icons with photos, emoji, or Memoji.
The Health app supports the Apple Watch's new Sleep Tracking feature and there's a Health Checklist for managing health settings, and in the Weather app, there's more info on precipitation and severe weather events.
Cycling directions are available in the Maps app with directions incorporating elevation, how busy a street is, and stairs, plus for those who own electric vehicles, there are options for routes with EV charging stops.
Digital Car Keys let an iPhone be used in lieu of a physical key, a feature that's coming soon to BMWs, and CarPlay now lets users set wallpapers.
A new translate app provides text and voice translations to and from 11 languages, and there are tons of new privacy protections. Developers need to get user permission before accessing devices on a local network, limiting access to photos, and providing apps with approximate locations instead of exact locations.
Safari has a Privacy Report that lets you know which websites have trackers, and there are new icons on the Home screen that let you know when an app is using a camera or microphone. Third-party browser and mail apps can be set as default for the first time, and Apple added new AirPods capabilities.
As for the iPad, the Apple Pencil can now be used in any text field, with handwritten text converted automatically to typed text thanks to the new Scribble feature.
There are tons more features in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, so make sure to check out our iOS 14 roundup and our iPadOS 14 roundup for a full list of everything new. We also highlight all of the new feature tweaks and changes introduced with each beta iteration, and you can see the changes from beta 2, beta 3, and beta 4 in our beta 2, beta 3, beta 4, beta 5, and and beta 6 tidbits articles.
Beta 3 brought a new red Music icon, changes to the design of the Music Library in the Music app, a Clock widget, an updated Screen Time widget, while beta 4 added an Apple TV widget and improvements to search. Beta 5 introduced a larger Apple News widget option, a scrolling clock wheel for apps like Alarm Clock, an option to turn on Exposure Notifications, and a feature to better hide photo albums, while beta 6 added spatial audio settings.
iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 are available to registered developers and public beta testers at this time. Beta testing for iOS 14 will last for a couple of months, with the update set to be released in the fall alongside new iPhones.
Apple today seeded the sixth beta of the upcoming macOS Big Sur update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the fifth beta and more than two months after the new update was unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference.
The macOS Big Sur beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
macOS Big Sur introduces a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds. Everything feels fresh but familiar, with a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.
The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on. Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.
Tabs have been redesigned, there's a built-in language translation feature, Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari, and YouTube supports 4K video playback. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.
Messages is more similar to the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, plus the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it easier to find links, photos, and conversations in the app.
Apple redesigned the Maps app to add support for Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides, which are lists of notable attractions, restaurants, and more created by trusted sources. Maps can also be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone, and shared ETA updates are now viewable on the Mac.
Photos includes a better Retouch tool, Apple Music's For You section has been replaced with a Listen Now section, HomeKit Secure Video cameras support Face Recognition and Activity zones, and Siri can answer a wider range of questions than before.
In the future, the macOS Big Sur App Store will help users better understand privacy practices with clear info on the information that an app collects, and after installing macOS Big Sur, you'll see faster updates that begin in the background and then finish more quickly to make it easier to keep your Mac up to date.
Apple in the third beta of macOS Big Sur changed the battery icon for the Battery section in System Preferences, refining the design to make it look more clean and streamlined. There update also brought a new design for the Music app icon (it's red), and some color changes to the buttons and icons inside the music app.
For more on everything that's new in macOS Big Sur, make sure to check out our roundup.
Update: Today's macOS Big Sur beta adds support for the new 2020 iMac models.
Apple today seeded the seventh beta of an upcoming tvOS 14 update to developers for testing purposes. Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 14 beta comes one week after the release of the sixth beta.
Registered developers can download the new tvOS 14 beta onto the Apple TV through a profile that's installed using Apple's Xcode software.
tvOS 14 introduces Picture in Picture, a feature that lets you watch movies or TV shows in a small window in the corner of the screen while you do something else on the Apple TV.
There's a new Home section in the Control Center on Apple TV in tvOS 14, which allows HomeKit-connected devices to be controlled right from the TV. There's an option to view HomeKit camera feeds on the larger screen of the television or in Picture in Picture mode so you can keep an eye on your house at all times.
Apple Arcade on Apple TV now supports multiple users, so each tvOS user can keep track of their individual game levels, leaderboards, and invitations. Additional gaming controllers are supported, including the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controllers, and Apple TV games can now take advantage of haptic feedback and other features built into controllers.
There's an option to manually choose a screensaver category in tvOS 14, and for those who watch YouTube, tvOS 14 supports watching YouTube videos in 4K for the first time.
For more on the new features coming in tvOS 14, make sure to check out our roundup. tvOS 14 is expected to be released this fall alongside iOS and iPadOS 14.
Apple is set to introduce 5G technology in its 2020 iPhone lineup, but there are two kinds of 5G -- mmWave, which is the fastest, and sub-6GHz, which is slower but more widespread -- and there is mixed information on the spectrums the 2020 iPhones will support.
The fastest mmWave 5G could be limited to Apple's iPhone 12 Pro lineup, and a new report from Fast Company suggests that mmWave technology could be limited to Apple's largest and most expensive iPhone, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.
A source that spoke to Fast Company said that only the largest iPhone in the lineup has the space inside to accommodate the antenna design needed to implement mmWave support, along with the larger battery needed for its battery drain.
Further, Fast Company believes that the iPhone 12 Pro Max will support mmWave only in versions of the new iPhone sold in the United States, Korea, and Japan as some countries don't have well-established mmWave networks at this time.
mmWave is the fastest version of 5G, offering up speeds of up to 1Gb/s. but it is limited in scope because it has a short range that's only suitable for more urban areas because of the cost of deployment.
Sub-6Ghz is faster than the average 4G LTE connection, but slower than mmWave 5G. It has a much longer range, however, making it suitable for use in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike, and it is expected to be the more widely available version of 5G.
There have been a few rumors lately that have indicated Apple's iPhone 12 lineup will have a staggered launch, with the more affordable iPhone 12 models coming out before the more expensive iPhone 12 Pro models.
There have also been suggestions that the mmWave 5G iPhones could be delayed because of production issues, which matches up with rumors that it's the Pro models that support mmWave while the lower-end iPhones stick to sub-6GHz.
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