MacRumors

Apple has begun rejecting app updates that do not comply with the App Tracking Transparency rules that the company is enforcing starting with iOS 14.5, according to a new report from Forbes.

Apps must ask for permission to access the advertising identifier or IDFA of a user's iPhone in order to track them across apps for ad targeting purposes, a rule that apps will need to comply with when iOS 14.5 launches. The rule also prevents apps from using other workaround methods for tracking users, which is getting some developers into trouble already.

Several apps have been rejected so far, with Forbes listing Heetch, Radish Fiction, InnoGames, and more. Developers seeing app rejections are getting the following message: "Your app uses algorithmically converted device and usage data to create a unique identifier in order to track the user," with the message also listing the data that's being collected.

Mobile marketing analyst Eric Seufert said that an SDK from mobile measurement company Adjust is at fault because of the data that it collects for device fingerprinting. Adjust, which is installed in more than 50,000 apps, says that it "maximizes the impact" of mobile marketing.

Apple is blocking apps that are using fingerprinting techniques to collect data for the purpose of building a profile of a user that allows the user to be tracked even without an advertising identifier. Data collection uses metrics like software version, time since last update, time since last restart, charge level, battery status, and more to identify individual users.

It is Apple's position that if a customer has declined the usage of the IDFA for ad tracking, that user has also declined other tracking methods. Apple's App Store rules say that app developers cannot collect data from a device for the purpose of identifying it, and developers are responsible for all tracking code in their apps, including any third-party SDKs they're using.

Adjust has now updated its SDK to remove code that accesses data like CPU type, phone memory, charging status, and battery level, so apps that were rejected for using Adjust may be able to have their updates greenlit after installing the new Adjust SDK.

There's still no word on when Apple plans to release iOS 14.5, but we've had six betas so far and the software is set to be available to the public sometime in the spring. With the App Tracking Transparency rules starting to be enforced for updates, it is possible that Apple is preparing for the software's launch, so we could perhaps see it debut in the near future.

Apple today updated its Apple Support app to version 4.2, introducing a few useful new features to streamline the app's usefulness for getting service and support for Apple devices.

The section of the app that provides coverage details now offers up more information about benefits and service options, plus you can now get reminders about your upcoming Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider reservations sent by text message or phone.

Though not mentioned in the release notes, the update introduces a new Check Coverage App Clip for those who do not have the Apple Support app installed. If you go to Apple's Check Coverage website on an iPhone without the app, you will be able to use the App Clip to see device information without needing to download the full Apple Support app.

The Apple Support app is designed to provide an easy to use resource on the ‌iPhone‌ and iPad for getting help with hardware issues. It is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

(Thanks, Steve Moser!)

The next-generation iPhone SE that's set to launch in 2022 will feature the same 4.7-inch display as the current version, according to display analyst Ross Young.

The existing ‌iPhone‌ SE is modeled after the ‌iPhone‌ 8 with a 4.7-inch display. There were rumors suggesting that Apple was working on an "‌iPhone‌ SE Plus" that could come out this year, but earlier this month, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that there won't be a new iPhone in the SE family until 2022.

Young's information also suggests there will be no 2021 refresh for the ‌iPhone‌ SE, but he says that following the minor 2022 refresh, there could be a more radical design change coming in 2023.

Apple is said to be working on a 6.1-inch version of the ‌iPhone‌ SE that features a hole punch design rather than a notch. Apple is rumored to be planning to bring the hole punch display to the 2022 flagship models, so it makes sense that after introducing new ‌iPhone‌ 14 models with the design change, it could trickle down to the ‌iPhone‌ SE a year later.

The hole punch design is something that Android manufacturers have been using for some time to maximize available display area while also leaving space for the front-facing camera. On Apple's devices, the hole punch will replace the current notch.

Though there will presumably be few design changes to the ‌iPhone‌ SE coming in 2022, the device is expected to get an upgraded processor and 5G support, which Young says may be limited to sub-6GHz.

Apple CEO Tim Cook today sent out a motivating memo to Apple employees to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Apple's founding, asking them to rededicate themselves to the original mission of Apple's founding - to redefine what technology can achieve and make people's lives better. Cook's memo was shared in full by French site MacGeneration.

Cook said that there's never been a moment in Apple's history with such great potential, nor has Apple ever had "so talented and dedicated a team." Cook quoted Steve Jobs: "It's been an amazing journey so far, yet we have barely begun," and included his own inspirational addendum. "Remember that none of us will be here for the end of the story, but it's on all of us to make sure it's one worth telling."

On April 1, 1976, a company was formed in Cupertino to create transformative products that redefine what technology can achieve and make people's lives better in the process. Forty-five years later, we mark this occasion by rededicating ourselves to that mission -- and to keeping it alive for a long time to come -- rather than to remember it fondly as something past.

While some things about Apple have changed over these many years, the important things haven't. From the M1 chip to 5G iPhones, from iPads that change the face of education and productivity to a Watch that can look out for your health, to the very best Software and Services that bring them all to life, we have never stopped setting the pace that others try to match. What I can tell you with gut certainty is that there has never been a moment of such great potential as this one, nor have we ever had so talented and dedicated a team. That shouldn't make us rest easy. Great potential obligates great people to meet it.

I know this past year has tested each of us in ways that we never imagined. It's asked all of us to adapt, it's added complexity to our work and it has demanded additional resolve and commitment in areas of our lives that extend well beyond our work. But I also know that what we have each achieved during this time should make us enormously proud. Through a once-in-a-generation challenge, the things we make, and the ways in which we make them, have revealed profound and durable new sources of value to the people who love and count on them. And, on many fronts, we know even brighter days are ahead.

In an email like this one, to mark a much earlier anniversary shortly after I joined Apple, Steve said, "it's been an amazing journey so far, yet we have barely begun." Still true. Remember that none of us will be here for the end of the story, but it's on all of us to make sure it's one worth telling.

Cook also shared the same Steve Jobs quote on Twitter and offered a cheers to the "next 45 years and beyond."

As Apple celebrates its 45th anniversary, the company is poised to announce major new hardware products in 2021, including new Apple silicon notebooks and desktops, updated AirPods, new iPads, and refreshed iPhones, plus work is ongoing on a mixed reality headset, Apple smart glasses, an Apple-designed self-driving vehicle, and more.

Today marks the 45th anniversary of Apple, co-founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976. Wayne sold his 10% share of the company back to Jobs and Wozniak just 12 days later to avoid financial risk, which is unfortunate in hindsight given that his stake would be worth more than $200 billion today.

Apple's history began in the garage of Jobs' childhood home in Los Altos, California, where he worked with Wozniak to test the first Apple I computer systems in 1975. Jobs then reached a sales agreement with a small computer store named the Byte Shop in nearby Mountain View, California, which began selling the Apple I in July 1976 for $666.66. Wozniak later said he chose that price because he liked repeating digits.

From near-bankruptcy in the late 1990s to becoming the world's most valuable public company by the 2010s, Apple has been through a series of highs and lows over the past four and a half decades. The company has introduced several iconic products over that time, most notably including the Macintosh in 1984, the iPod in 2001, and the iPhone in 2007, with Jobs becoming well known for his charismatic keynote presentations.

Apple CEO Tim Cook reflected on the company's 45th anniversary today on Twitter, sharing a quote from Jobs and thanking employees.

Apple recently capped off its most financially successful year ever with a record $111 billion revenue in the fourth quarter of 2020. The company is now valued at over $2 trillion, and its future is expected to include greater pushes into areas like AR/VR and artificial intelligence as technology continues to evolve beyond screens.

Eve today announced the availability of Thread support for the second-generation Eve Aqua, which is now available through an Eve Aqua firmware update.

The Eve Aqua, for those unfamiliar, is a smart water controller that attaches to any outdoor faucet, adding smart functionality and irrigation controls to sprinklers and hoses.

Eve has been working to update all of its Bluetooth-compatible accessories with Thread technology, and several of the devices, including Eve Aqua, have a Thread-capable chipset inside that can be activated through a firmware update.

As a battery powered device, Eve Aqua is a Minimal Thread Device that does not relay packets, but the mesh network Thread technology in general offers extended range and connectivity improvements when paired with a Thread-capable device like the HomePod mini.

Eve has three Thread-capable devices including the Eve Door & Window and the Eve Weather, with a Thread-enabled Eve Energy smart plug coming to the U.S. at the end of April. The Eve Energy, as a continually connected device, is a Full Thread Device that enables extended range for accessories like the Eve Aqua when placed between the Eve Aqua and a ‌HomePod mini‌.

The new firmware update can be downloaded through the Eve app. The Eve Aqua is available from Amazon for $80.

Twitter today added options to include stickers and other media in its ephemeral tweets, or "Fleets," which last for 24 hours on the social network before disappearing.

Launched on the platform back in November, Fleets are short stories made up of photos or videos with overlaying text. Much like stories on Instagram or Facebook, Fleets are located at the top of the Twitter timeline.

Now when Twitter users compose a Fleet, they'll see a smiley face icon at the bottom of the screen for adding animated stickers and emoji ("Twemoji) to their creation. Meanwhile, searching for something in the search bar at the top of the screen pulls up GIFs from Tenor and Giphy.

How to Create a Fleet on Twitter

1. Tap your profile image in the Twitter app.
2. Tap the Fleet compose icon.
3. Compose your message, using text, emoji, photos, a GIF, or video. To add media, tap the screen to bring up the keyboard and toolbar. There, you'll find the Align button to format text, a B button to bold text, and a Highlight button to highlight it. The color wheel can be used to change the text and highlight color, and the circle icon at the bottom left of the screen to changes the background color.
   
   

4. Tap the Fleet button to post the Fleet to your profile, where it'll remain for 24 hours.

To delete a posted Fleet, simply select it and tap Delete Fleet. Note that Fleets have no retweets, likes, or public comments, do not show up in search or moments, and cannot be embedded on external websites.

In 2019, some customers of 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models began to notice an odd "stage lighting" effect that would impact their screen, potentially causing the laptop to be unusable. The odd occurrence resulted from a weak and fragile flex cable that can experience wear and tear with repeated opening and closing of the computer.

Now, two years later, a judge who's presiding over a case from a group of consumers accusing Apple of knowingly selling the laptops, despite the defect, says that Apple would have been alerted to the issue thanks to pre-release testing.

As reported in a paywalled report from Law360, Judge Edward Davila sided with the plaintiffs by agreeing that testing the laptops before their release would have informed Apple engineers of the issue. Hence, the company knowingly sold the laptops with the defect.

U.S. District Judge Edward Davila determined that the consumers' allegations of Apple conducting intensive pre-release testing, which the consumers say was conducted by a team of "reliability engineers" who carried out stress tests and other procedures that would have alerted Apple to defects behind the display failures, sufficiently demonstrate that Apple was aware of the alleged defect.

"The court finds that the allegations of pre-release testing in combination with the allegations of substantial customer complaints are sufficient to show that Apple had exclusive knowledge of the alleged defect," the judge wrote in his opinion.

The plaintiff, Mahan Taleshpour, representing a larger group of consumers, says that Apple "continues to deny there was ever a defect in its display cables," and goes further to say that Apple attempted to cover any evidence of "Flexgate."

According to Talehspour, Apple deliberately deleted comments and threads from its Apple Support Community Forum, which often serves as a go-to place for crowdsourcing information on potential issues with Apple devices. Talehspour accues Apple of deleting comments that outlined "‌‌Flexgate‌‌" and the issues around the display. The judge says that if the accusation is true, it will act as further proof that Apple was aware of the issue.

If Apple deleted comments on its website from consumers complaining about display issues attributable to the alleged defect, that suggests that Apple had knowledge of the alleged defect, superior to that of plaintiffs or potential class members.

Apple is pushing back, saying that Talehspour bought his ‌MacBook Pro‌ in 2017, and used it without any issues for more than three years until the case was filed. Apple also says that the allegation is based on false assumptions,not hard-ironed facts.

Specifically, Apple says that the idea that pre-release testing of the device would have alerted it to the issue is not accurate. Alexander Wheeler, an attorney for the case, says that the plaintiffs are "naturally pleased" with the judge's current stance on the issue and their decision to allow the case to move forward. Wheeler goes on to state the specifics of "‌Flexgate‌."

"Those thin cables stretch and wear out as consumers open and close their laptops," Wheeler said. "As those thin cables tear, the laptop display screens — which Apple touts as the 'best Mac display ever' — stop working long before the expected life of an expensive Apple laptop."

With the release of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ in 2018, Apple addressed the issue by adding a longer and seemingly stronger flex cable to the display, reducing the likelihood of wear and tear.

The minimalist Opera browser designed for the Mac was today updated with native Apple silicon support for M1 Macs, introducing notable speed improvements.

With this release, the Opera browser runs two times faster on ‌M1‌ Macs compared to the previous generation of the browser for smoother and quicker browsing performance.

Along with ‌M1‌ Mac support, today's update lets users set keyboard shortcuts to access Opera's Flow feature, which connects the browser on the Mac with Opera on iOS or Android. Flow is end-to-end encrypted and can be used to send notes, images, links, files, and more.

There's also now an option to create shortcuts to Opera's built-in Crypto Wallet and the Player feature for accessing Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. Custom shortcuts can be accessed by clicking on the three-dot icon at the bottom of the sidebar and choosing the Configure shortcuts option.

The latest version of the Opera browser can be downloaded from the Opera website. [Direct Link]

Long-time Apple supplier TSMC, which produces A-series chips for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple silicon chips for the Mac, will invest $100 billion over the next three years to significantly expand its production capacity to meet ever-increasing demand, Bloomberg reports.

TSMC previously announced a planned expenditure of up to $28 billion in 2021 alone; however, an ongoing chip shortage is plaguing the global semiconductor industry, forcing the supplier to increase its planned investments. In a statement, TSMC says the new $100 billion investment will expand support for production and R&D of new semiconductor technologies.

TSMC expects to invest USD$100b over the next three years to increase capacity to support the manufacturing and R&D of advanced semiconductor technologies. TSMC is working closely with our customers to address their needs in a sustainable manner.

In a letter to customers, such as Qualcomm, Nivida, and Apple, TSMC CEO C.C. Wei revealed that his company has been running at 100% capacity over the last year and that thousands of new employees have been hired in an effort to keep up with demand.

In a letter to customers obtained by Bloomberg News, TSMC Chief Executive Officer C.C. Wei wrote that the company's fabs have been "running at over 100% utilization over the past 12 months," but demand still outpaced supply. Thousands of new employees are being hired, and multiple new factories are under construction, he added, and TSMC will suspend wafer price reductions for a year from the start of 2022.

The new investment comes the same week that Apple has reportedly booked all of TSMC's production capacity for 4nm process chips, expected to be used in "new generation" Mac computers.

Apple plans to use Tesla's "Megapack" battery pack at a newly announced energy farm in California to help power Apple Park and further its commitment to renewable energy and being carbon-neutral by 2030, according to The Verge.

Apple's newly announced California solar farm will use 85 of Tesla's 60MV battery packs to help power ‌Apple Park‌, according to the report. According to Apple, the new solar farm, initially spearheaded by the company in 2015, will store enough battery to power more than 7,000 homes.

Apple is constructing one of the largest battery projects in the country, California Flats — an industry-leading, grid-scale energy storage project capable of storing 240 megawatt-hours of energy, enough to power over 7,000 homes for one day. This project supports the company's 130-megawatt solar farm that provides all of its renewable energy in California, by storing excess energy generated during the day and deploying it when it is most needed.

The farm was approved by the local Monterey County Board of Supervisors last year, and the county's chief of planning confirmed to The Verge that Apple would use Tesla's "Megapack" battery at the new farm.

Apple will not, however, be using Tesla's most high-end Megapack offering. As noted by The Verge, Tesla has built 100MV battery storage solutions in Australia and Houston, Texas. Apple's VP of environment, Lisa Jackson, says the company hopes the new farm will remove hesitancy around companies switching to renewable and clean energy.

If we can do it, and we can show that it works for us, it takes away the concerns about intermittency and it helps the grid in terms of stabilization. It's something that can be imitated or built upon by other companies.

Apple and Tesla are yet to be direct competitors; however, that could change in the not-so-distant future as Apple further develops its self-driving car. Tesla CEO Elon Musk made headlines earlier last year when he revealed that he reached out to Tim Cook about Apple acquiring Tesla. According to Musk, however, Cook never accepted the meeting invitation.

A few weeks after Apple agreed to allow Russia to show iPhone users in the country suggested apps created by Russian developers, Russian users are seeing the list of app suggestions when setting up a new device.

As noted by Khaos Tian on Twitter, Russian users will see an App Store section featuring apps like Yandex Browser, Yandex Maps, ICQ, VK, and others during the ‌iPhone‌ startup process.

"In compliance with Russian legal requirements, here are some apps from Russian developers that you may download," reads the text of the popup, which resembles an ‌App Store‌ "Today" view card.

After going through standard ‌iPhone‌ setup procedures like setting light/dark mode, turning on True Tone, and adjusting Display Zoom, Russian users are directed to the list of apps that they can choose to download. Downloading the apps is optional and not required, and the apps are not installed automatically.

According to Russian site iPhones.ru, the ‌App Store‌ suggestions have been implemented server side, so Russian users will see them with no iOS update required. Users can choose the apps they want to install by tapping "Get," or can skip out of the screen without installing anything by tapping the "X."

Apple agreed to display the list of apps to comply with a law established by Russia's Ministry of Digital Affairs. The law requires software to be preinstalled on all devices sold in Russia, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, and smart TVs.

Apple said on March 16 that the app suggestions would be provided starting on April 1, and in addition to the apps listed during setup, Apple may also add a new section in the ‌App Store‌ that's dedicated to promoting Russian apps.

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.

Twitter-owned app Periscope today announced that its dedicated app for the live video service will be shut down as of today. In a tweet, Periscope said that today is the last day that the Periscope app will be available.

Periscope first announced its planned shutdown in December of 2020, and said that the app was being shuttered because most of the Periscope functionality has now transitioned to the Twitter app.

The Periscope app was still available un an "unsustainable maintenance-mode state" with declining usage and rising costs, and the Periscope team said that leaving the app as is wasn't "doing right by the current and former Periscope community or by Twitter."

Periscope's core capabilities are available through Twitter, and the app has not allowed new account creation since last year. Broadcasts shared to Twitter will be available as replays, and all Periscope users will be able download an archive of broadcasts and data.

With the Periscope app gone, people will be able to broadcast using Twitter Live within the compose view by tapping on the in-app camera option. Brands, publishers, and creators can go live using Media Studio.

The tvOS 14.5 beta that was released this morning includes a code change that references an Apple TV remote control that features a "Center Button," which is a description that does not fit the current ‌Apple TV‌ remote.

"Press the center button or the touch surface to continue," reads the tvOS 14.5 code, which was discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.

The remote for the fourth and fifth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models features a series of buttons that are arranged in two rows, with no button in the center.

There is an older "Apple Remote" with a center button that's designed for the second and third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models and is compatible with the current ‌Apple TV‌ models, so it's possible that's what the code change is referencing, but it could also be referring to a new unreleased ‌Apple TV‌ remote.

The specific code that was found is in a "setup" app, which would make more sense for a new remote rather than an older remote, but we don't know for sure that this is a reference to a new ‌Apple TV‌ remote option. If it is indeed something new, the upcoming ‌Apple TV‌ remote could perhaps feature a design similar to the remote app on the iPhone, which features a large touch area, a main center Menu button, and side buttons for accessing Siri, play/pause, the Home screen, and search.

Apple is rumored to be working on a sixth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ that will feature an upgraded A-series chip and a revamped remote control. We haven't heard details on what the remote control might look like, but it could have a "Find My" feature for location purposes when lost.

In an earlier beta, Apple renamed the "‌Siri‌ Remote" to the "‌Apple TV‌ Remote," which is another possible reference to an unreleased ‌Apple TV‌ remote option.

Update: The code could be referring to a third-party ‌Apple TV‌ remote that's in development and which could be offered by Universal Electronics to cable, satellite, and MVPD companies. This remote also has a circular button, and an image of it was found in the beta by 9to5Mac.

It's possible the Universal Electronics remote will soon be available from various cable providers who will offer it alongside the ‌Apple TV‌, much like the Salt Remote sold by a Swiss telecommunications company.

Apple today added the late 2012 13-inch MacBook Pro, the first 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ to ship with a Retina display, to its list of obsolete products.

Apple first introduced the Retina display in its Mac lineup with the 15-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ released in mid-2012. In October of that year, Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Retina display, flash storage, and upgraded processors.

The original 15-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ became obsolete in July of 2020, and the 13-inch model has now followed suit. Apple classifies products that have been discontinued for at least seven years as "obsolete," meaning that they are unable to receive any hardware service from Apple or its service providers.

Apple's iOS 14.5 beta that's currently in testing introduces a new process for recalibrating the battery health reporting on the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.

As outlined in a support document, Apple says that the update will recalibrate the maximum battery capacity and peak performance capacity on the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models to address inaccurate estimates of battery health reporting that some users have encountered.

Symptoms of this bug include unexpected battery drain behavior or in some cases, reduced peak performance capability. Apple says that the inaccurate battery health reporting does not reflect an issue with actual battery health.

Once the update is installed, ‌iPhone‌ 11 users will see a message in Settings > Battery > Battery Health about the recalibration process, which Apple says might take a few weeks.

Recalibration of maximum capacity and peak performance capability happens during regular charge cycles, and this process might take a few weeks. The displayed maximum capacity percentage will not change during recalibration. Peak performance capability might be updated, but this might not be noticeable by most users. If a previous degraded battery message was displayed, this message will be removed after updating to iOS 14.5.

When the recalibration is complete, the maximum capacity percentage and peak performance capability information will be updated. If the recalibration indicates that battery health has indeed significantly declined, users will see a battery service message.

In some cases, recalibration may not be successful and a battery service message will pop up. Apple says that it will replace these affected batteries free of charge to restore full performance and capacity.