Apple is holding its first virtual media event of 2021 today, with the event kicking off at 10:00 am Pacific Time and likely consisting of a pre-recorded stream from Apple Park. Still, some MacRumors readers who can't follow the event as it's being broadcast are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until the event has ended and is available for on-demand viewing so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.
For those individuals, we've posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.
Apple's recent virtual events have been made available to view almost immediately following the conclusion of the broadcasts, and we expect similar timing for today's event.
Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events as they occur refrain from making any posts about Apple's announcements in this thread.
Eve has today released a new version of the smart home connected Eve Light Switch featuring support for Thread, in what seems to be the first Thread-enabled light switch for any smart platform (via HomeKit News).
The Eve Light Switch, which is designed for the European market, can use both Thread and Bluetooth to connect to a smart home network, depending on which is available. It requires a neutral wire and is not compatible with existing switch plates, meaning that the only option is to use the one that comes with the Eve Switch itself.
Until now, Eve's popular smart home devices have mostly been Bluetooth-based, which attempted to avoid the occasional reliability issues of Wi-Fi networks, but came at the cost of slower response times. Thread technology is now proliferating through Eve's smart home products. The new Eve Switch is constantly powered, allowing it to expand the Thread network in a user's home as a Thread Router.
Eve Light Switch supports Bluetooth and Thread, and joins your Thread network automatically. As a router node, Eve Light Switch relays other Thread accessories' data packets and enhances the stability and reach of your smart home. Thread is also a pillar of CHIP – the smart home standard of the future.
Apple has begun looking toward open standards in the smart home space, working with other companies such as Google and Amazon to develop a universal standard for smart home products. Apple's commitment to open standards and Thread within HomeKit was demonstrated by the launch of the HomePod mini last year, which is the first Thread-enabled Apple device.
Although the HomePod mini supports thread, it only serves as a Border Router, unlike the Eve Light Switch, which works as an entire Thread Router. Thread accessories do not need a proprietary bridge to communicate with each other, instead only needing a Border Router like the HomePod mini. The new Eve Light Switch puts the company center-stage with the advancement of Thread in conjunction with HomeKit.
Ahead of Apple's "Spring Loaded" event later today, Samsung has announced an update to its SmartThings Find platform that can scan for unknown Galaxy SmartTags and other Tile-like trackers nearby and alert the user if one appears to be moving along with them in their vicinity.
Called "Unknown Tag Search," the anti-stalking feature aims to detect if someone has slipped a SmartTag into the user's bag or vehicle and is surreptitiously tracking their location.
iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta 3 includes a similar Find My feature called "Item Safety Feature" that helps prevent someone from stalking or tracking you with item trackers such as Apple's rumored AirTags.
With the feature enabled, the user's iPhone can tell if someone has placed an AirTag or other Find My-compatible item tracker on their person and can prevent your location from being shared.
In a related discovery, MacRumors contributor Steve Moser last year found code within iOS 14.3 beta 1 that states, "If you feel your safety is at risk due to this item, contact your local law enforcement. You may need the serial number of this item."
In its announcement today, Samsung also explained that its Bixby voice assistant can now be used to find SmartTags based on their custom name and direct the user to their location with an audible alert. Apple's Siri is likely to offer similar functionality with AirTags.
Apple has already opened up its Find My network for third-party accessories makers to take advantage of ultra-wideband technology in Apple devices. Under the network, accessory makers will tap into the Find My ecosystem, allowing customers to track their items on their iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
AirTags have been rumored to be launching for months now, and the most recent hope is that they will be unveiled later today during Apple's "Spring Loaded" virtual event. The event kicks off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time via a live stream on Apple's website and YouTube channel.
If you can't watch the live stream, you can follow along for full coverage of all of the announcements from the event on MacRumors.com or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for our live tweet coverage.
As is tradition, Apple's online store has gone down ahead of its "Spring Loaded" event, which will be streamed on Apple's website and on YouTube at 10 a.m. Pacific Time today. Apple's online store should become available again when the event has concluded, likely with new products and accessories available to order.
The event will consist of a pre-recorded video with Apple executives speaking from locations around the company's Apple Park headquarters in California. Apple is widely expected to introduce new iPads at the event, including a new iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display, and there could be a few other surprises in store, such as Apple's long-awaited AirTags item trackers or a redesigned iMac with Apple silicon.
This week could also mark the final release of iOS 14.5 following over two months of beta testing, so we could hear about this during the event. The software update is packed with new features, including the ability for iPhone users who are wearing an Apple Watch to unlock the iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask.
MacRumors will have in-depth coverage of Apple's event across our platforms, including a live blog on our website and live tweets via @MacRumorsLive on Twitter, so be sure to follow along later today to keep track of everything announced.
Update: Check out our Apple Event news hub for complete coverage of today's announcements.
We're just hours away from Apple's first event of the year, and alongside widely reported updates to the iPad Pro and possibly the reveal of other new products, Apple will announce a new paid podcast subscription service, according to The Wall Street Journal.
According to the Journal, this new service will be built into the Apple Podcasts app and will "allow listeners to compensate hosts directly." Yesterday, Vox's Peter Kafka tweeted that he is "pretty sure Apple is prepping its own podcast plan - a paid subscription service - on Tuesday."
Neither Kafka nor today's new report offers any new concrete insight into the pricing of this new service and its specific breakdown. While it may come as a surprise, news of an Apple podcast subscription service is not entirely new. Bloomberg and The Information have both independently reported that Apple is in talks with production companies to produce new original shows for the service.
Even without the new service, Apple has launched several original podcast shows based on content from Apple TV+, such as "The Line." Further corroborating rumors of a paid service, changes found within the Podcasts app on iOS 14.5 by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser indicate that Apple is reworking the app with more subscription-centric features.
Apple's "Spring Loaded" event will officially kick off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time via a live stream on Apple's website and YouTube channel. If you're unable to watch the live stream, you can follow along for full coverage of all of the announcements from the event on MacRumors.Com or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for our live tweet coverage.
While we wait to see if rumors of a new iMac announcement today are accurate, popular 3D concept channel ConceptsiPhone and Khahn Design have taken a stab at envisioning what Apple's redesigned all-in-one desktop Mac could look like. Check out the pictures and video embedded below.
According to Bloomberg, Apple's redesigned iMac models will feature slimmed down bezels around the display and the metal chin will be removed. The new look is expected to be quite similar to the Pro Display XDR monitor that Apple released in 2019, and that's what we see here.
Instead of a curved rear design, the iMacs will feature a flat back, and prior rumors have described the new iMacs as using an "iPad Pro design language." At least one of the new models that will replace the 21.5 and 27-inch models will measure in at 23 to 24 inches, but it's not clear what size the second iMac will be.
Serial leaker L0vetodream has said that at least one of the new iMac models will feature a display that is much larger than the current 27-inch model, presumably due to reduced bezels.
Meanwhile, leaker Jon Prosser has suggested that the 2021 iMac models will come in five colors that match the colors of the fourth-generation iPad Air (Silver, Space Gray, Green, Sky Blue, and Rose Gold). This rumor has since been hinted at by L0vetodream, who suggested that the colorful new iMacs may be launched at Apple's "Spring Loaded" event.
Apple has developed underlying Mac support for Face ID, Apple's facial recognition technology. Apple initially planned to include it in the iMac refresh coming in 2021, but according to Bloomberg, it has been delayed and is not likely to be included in the first iteration of the new iMac lineup.
Apple is also expected equip the new iMacs with next-generation versions of its Apple silicon chips. Not only will be faster and offer more GPU power, better efficiency, cooler running chips, and tighter mainboard integration could allow for a thinner chassis.
References to two unreleased iMac models has been found in macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta code, identified as "iMac21,1" and "iMac21,2." Could they reference new models that take cues from Apple's first-generation iMac by coming in different colors? We may know for sure before the day is out.
Apple will hold its first media event of 2021 later on Tuesday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through a live stream. The event is expected to see the unveiling of updated iPad models, likely some information related to new features in iOS 14.5, and there's a possibility of a surprise like AirTags. Check out everything that's coming in our What to Expect guide.
Facebook has introduced a tool that lets users export notes and text-based posts to third-party services, making it easier than ever to leave the social network without saying goodbye to your content.
The new "data portability types" mean people can now directly transfer their notes and posts to Google Docs, Blogger and WordPress. The updates are extensions to Facebook's existing tool that lets users transfer photos and video to Backblaze, Dropbox, Google Photos and Koofr.
To better reflect the range of data types people can now transfer to our partners' services, we're renaming the tool "Transfer Your Information."
We designed this tool with privacy, security and utility in mind. We'll ask you to re-enter your password before the transfer starts and encrypt your data as it moves between services, so you can be confident it will be transferred securely.
To access the tool from a desktop browser, follow these steps.
Log in to the Facebook website, click the Account button in the top-right corner of the screen, and select Settings & Privacy.
Click Settings.
Click Your Facebook Information, and next to "Transfer a copy of your information," click View.
Select a media type to transfer (Photos/Videos/Posts/Notes), choose a destination which service your information will be transferred to, then click Next.
Authorize Facebook to access the chosen service.
Click Confirm Transfer.
The process may take a while to complete depending on the amount of content being transferred, but once it's done you'll be able to find it in your chosen destination, ready for perusal.
Back in January, we saw a few promotional images for third-party AirTags accessories from both Nomad and Spigen's Cyrill brand, and while Apple's item trackers have yet to launch, we're now seeing more signs of similar accessories starting to show up in the wild.
An increasing number of sellers on eBay, Walmart, Etsy, and other online marketplaces are now offering AirTags holders for sale as details on the device continue to spread.
MacRumors has also received a pair of images of one particularly interesting set of straps that our source says are made of a similar material as the fluoroelastomer Apple uses for its Apple Watch Sport Bands. The band design appears to have a snap closure to secure the AirTag and a short leash with an opening at the opposite end to allow the strap to be secured to an object to be tracked.
An image of a very similar but not identical design has been shared on Weibo today by leaker UnclePan (via DuanRui). This design appears to rely on the elasticity of the strap rather than a snap to hold the AirTag in place.
The increasing number of third-party AirTags accessories comes just ahead of Apple's "Spring Loaded" event tomorrow, although it's still unknown whether the accessory will make an appearance at the event. The first hints of AirTags surfaced in leaked code two years ago, and they've yet to be officially unveiled, but information on them is clearly circulating among accessory manufacturers.
Apple's infrastructure to support AirTags is already in place, as the company earlier this month launched its Find My network accessory program that lets third-party devices like Belkin earbuds, Chipolo item trackers, and VanMoof e-bikes be tracked right in the Find My app.
AirTags are expected to work in exactly the same manner, except with Ultra Wideband U1 chip support that would allow for greater accuracy than standard Bluetooth and even an augmented reality experience to help direct you right to a lost item.
The upcoming 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be thicker than the previous-generation version, likely due to the inclusion of the mini-LED display. We've heard several rumors about the change in thickness, and now leaked design images have confirmed it.
A source that designs accessories for Apple devices sent MacRumors a series of photos that feature exact dimensions for the new iPad Pro models, and while we can't share the images themselves, we can share the leaked measurements, which are in line with measurements shared byMac Otakara in February.
The 12.9-inch model will measure in at 280.65mm long (11.04 inches), 215mm wide (8.46 inches) and 6.4mm thick (0.25 inches). With the exception of the thickness, those dimensions are about the same as the dimensions of the current iPad Pro, and that matches up with rumors we've heard suggesting that there will be few design changes to the device.
6.4mm is 0.5mm thicker than the thickness of the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, which is 5.9mm thick. The change in thickness may be due to the inclusion of the mini-LED display, a feature that will be unique to the 12.9-inch model.
Prior rumors have indicated the camera lenses of the new iPad Pro models will protrude less, and there will be some small changes to the size of the camera bump. The design drawings suggest the camera bump will measure in at 27.67mm by 27.67mm, slightly larger than the prior 27mm x 27mm camera bump.
As for the 11-inch iPad Pro, the dimensions will remain largely the same, including the thickness. It will measure in at 247.6mm (9.74 inches) by 178.5mm (7.02 inches) by 5.9mm (0.23 inches).
There could, however, be more drastic changes to the camera bump size than on the 12.9-inch model. The current 11-inch iPad Pro has a camera bump that measures in at 26.7mm by 26.7mm, but the new version's camera bump may be smaller at 25.3mm by 25.3mm.
These design drawings were provided by a source that MacRumors has not worked with in the past, but the information we've received lines up with what we've heard from prior rumors. We can't verify the information with complete confidence, but it's likely that the details shared with us are accurate.
Aside from these minor design changes and the introduction of a mini-LED display for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the new models could feature Thunderbolt connectivity and faster A14X chips on par with the M1 chips in the current Mac lineup. Apple will announce the new iPad Pro models at tomorrow's "Spring Loaded" event.
We could also see the debut of the long-awaited AirTags, and there could also be other new low-cost iPad and iPad mini models in the works, plus there's a chance Apple will introduce updated iMacs. We have a full list of what to expect in our April Event Guide.
Fitbit, one of Apple's competitors in the wearable space, today announced the launch of the Fitbit Luxe, its latest fitness and wellness wristband.
Priced at $150, the Fitbit Luxe features a small color display that's the size of the Fitbit band, which comes in colors that include white, black, and pink, with the watch body available in gold, black, and silver.
The Fitbit Luxe is Fitbit's thinnest tracker with a touchscreen to date, and Fitbit expects it to be more comfortable for people to use while sleeping.
Like other Fitbit devices, it offers activity tracking and monitoring of steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned, plus it can receive call and text notifications.
There are sleep tracking functions, and when connected to a phone's GPS, it can measure real-time pace and distance for runs and jogs. It is water resistant so it can be worn in the pool or in the ocean, and it lasts for five days without needing to be charged.
As The Verge points out, the Luxe has more of a fashion orientation than Fitbit's prior devices, which is a tactic that Apple tried with the initial Apple Watch launch before changing its advertising to more of a health and fitness focus. "Fitness & wellness goes fashion-forward," reads Fitbit's Luxe marketing materials.
Fitbit has made a range of accessories available for the Luxe, including various link and mesh bracelet options, along with double wrap and woven bands.
The $150 price point includes six months of Fitbit's Premium service, which normally costs $9.99 per month. Fitbit Premium includes advanced tracking insights, sleep tools, workout options, and mindfulness sessions with Deepak Chopra.
The Fitbit Luxe can be pre-ordered as of today, and Fitbit says it will ship out in late May.
Apple is planning to hold its first media event of 2021 tomorrow on Tuesday, April 20, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through a live stream. The event is expected to see the unveiling of updated iPad models, likely some information related to new features in iOS 14.5, and there's a possibility of a surprise like AirTags or new Apple silicon iMac models. See everything that's coming in our What to Expect guide.
There are multiple ways to watch the April 20 event, with details listed below. We've also included a useful guide on when the event will take place in your particular time zone.
Apple Events Website
With the Apple Events website, you can watch the event live on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, PC, or any other device with a web browser. The Apple Events website works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and other main browsers.
Just navigate to www.apple.com/apple-events/ using a web browser at the appropriate time to watch. You can visit the site now to add an event reminder to your calendar.
YouTube
Apple also plans to stream the event live on YouTube, which is perhaps the easiest and most efficient way to watch because the YouTube live stream can be viewed on every platform where YouTube is available, which is pretty much all platforms, from smartphones and tablets to consoles and smart TVs.
Apple has posted a placeholder for the April 20 event on YouTube, and you can visit it now to set an event reminder through YouTube.
Apple TV App
Apple used to have a dedicated Apple Events app on the Apple TV, but ahead of WWDC in June, it folded into the Apple TV app. On event day, there will be a prominent Apple TV app section dedicated to the live stream, which can be watched on any device where the Apple TV app is available.
This includes the Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and some smart TVs. If you have an Apple TV, the Apple TV app is one of the best ways to watch the event live. Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV app with the new event as of yet, but it should be added soon.
Event Time Zones
Apple's event will take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, like most events. Event times in other time zones are listed below.
Honolulu, Hawaii — 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska — 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 7:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia — 8:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland — 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China — 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore — 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia — 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong — 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea — 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan — 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia — 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia — 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand — 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
MacRumors Coverage
If you're not able to watch or just want to follow along with us as we watch the event unfold, visit MacRumors.com for our liveblog or follow us on Twitter at MacRumorsLive for our live tweet coverage.
Both the MacRumors site and our Twitter account are excellent ways to discuss the new announcements with other Apple enthusiasts as Apple unveils new products. Later in the day and throughout the week, we'll also have much more in-depth coverage of all of Apple's announcements, so make sure to stay tuned.
Following the removal of the app in January, Apple will now allow the social media app Parler to return to the App Store following changes to how the social media network moderates content, CNNreports.
On April 14, in a letter to Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Ken Buck obtained by CNN, Apple said that the app has improved the way it moderates content, and says those changes are "sufficient" for it to return to the App Store. Apple says it is now up to Parler to publish the app to users, in which Apple says it believes it will "become available immediately."
In a letter to Parler following its removal from the platform earlier this year, Apple said that the app would remain off the App Store until it is updated and becomes "compliant with the App Store Review Guidelines" and until the app has demonstrated its ability to "effectively moderate and filter the dangerous and harmful content on your service."
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.
Microsoft has today announced that it will launch its browser-based Xbox Cloud Gaming service in beta to selected testers on iPhone and iPad tomorrow.
Starting tomorrow, Microsoft will begin sending out invites to selected Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to test the Xbox Cloud Gaming limited beta for iPhone, iPad, and Windows 10 PCs using a web browser. Invites will be issued on a continuous basis to players in all 22 supported countries.
The new in-browser cloud gaming platform will be available at xbox.com/play, and will work in Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. Microsoft plans to "iterate quickly" on the beta, and open up to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in the coming months. Games will be playable via a controller or touch controls for more than 50 games at first.
This will be the first time that Xbox Game Streaming has been available on iPhone and iPad since the service launched exclusively on Android devices last year. Last year, plans to bring an Xbox game streaming app to iOS stalled due to Apple's App Store rules, which forbids apps from streaming multiple games from the cloud via a single app. This is because Apple believes that its inability to review each game in the service's library is a potential security risk. Game Pass streaming would only be viable if each game was available as its own app under Apple's rules.
Microsoft then suggested that it would use a browser instead of an app to avoid Apple's App Store rules while still providing the same service. Microsoft says that creating a browser-accessible service has a number of advantages in making cloud gaming more accessible, as well as streamlining development into a singular, universal platform.
Microsoft's games streaming service is bundled as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 per month, with more than 100 games available.
Update: Beta testers invited to the program have confirmed to MacRumors, despite it not being mentioned in Microsoft's press release, that the Xbox Cloud Gaming beta also works on macOS.
New markdowns on Apple's AirPods and AirPods Pro have emerged to kick off the week, with up to $52 in savings on the Bluetooth headphones. If you're shopping for the AirPods Pro, it's still a solid time to buy this version of Apple's wireless headphones, now priced at $197.00, down from $249.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This price is beating the typical Amazon sale by $2, and it's the best sale currently available at a major Apple reseller online this week. Steeper discounts on the AirPods Pro have been rare this spring, and we haven't seen a drop to $189.99 at Woot since early March.
Today's sale brings the Amazon price closer to Woot's, and it's a notable offer for anyone hoping to purchase the noise-canceling headphones soon. The AirPods Pro are ready to ship today, and they're sold directly from Amazon.
For the lower-cost model, Amazon also has the AirPods with Wired Charging Case for $129.00, down from $159.00. We've seen this model drop to $109-$119 in the past, but this is another example of rare sales that haven't reemerged very often since their popularity earlier in 2021.
As of spring 2021, the last steep discount on the AirPods with Wired Charging Case at Amazon was in the first week of March, priced at $119.00. It's hard to say when we'll see a return of these prices, so if you're shopping for gifts for Mother's Day or anything else and need to purchase them soon, Amazon's sale today is still a good offer.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
Customers can now message Best Buy to get questions answered, store timings, resolve issues, and more using iMessage through Apple's Business Chat feature, as first reported by Apple blog Appleosophy.
Using iMessage Business Chat, Best Buy customers can now initiate a conversation with the retail chain by either navigating to a Best Buy location on Apple Maps and tapping the "Message" button or through its website and apps.
Apple Business Chat allows customers to message participating businesses right through iMessage on their devices, just as they would text a friend or family member. Apple Business Chat integrates with Apple Maps and Apple Pay, enabling users to purchase and pay for items in chat and begin chats through Apple Maps.
Apple is planning to launch a new entry-level iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Pro at its "Spring Loaded" event tomorrow, along with "a few surprises," according to Wedbush analysts.
In a new note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Wedbush analysts Daniel Ives and Strecker Backe explained that the iPad will be the main focus of Apple's "Spring Loaded" event, with new entry-level iPad, iPad mini, and iPad Pro models being announced.
The 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will apparently be receiving "significant changes," including the A14X chip and a "game-changing" mini-LED display for the 12.9-inch model, allowing for better color performance, dimming capabilities, and higher contrast.
While the entry-level iPad and the iPad mini will see "consistent pricing" compared to the current models, the iPad Pro models will apparently have "modest price increases" over the current versions.
While the new iPads will be the main focus of the event, Wedbush believes that "there could be a few surprises," including new iMacs with a range of color options, an updated Apple Pencil, and the long-awaited AirTags item trackers.
Moreover, third-generation AirPods are expected to be teased at the event, but will not be launched immediately. The AirPods 3 are instead expected to be launched "in a separate virtual event in the early summer timeframe," which may be referring to WWDC, starting on June 7.
This may explain some of the uncertainty around the launch of the third-generation AirPods, with some leaked images and reports claiming that launch is imminent, while others have said that they will not enter production until the third quarter of 2021. Nonetheless, it is not clear why Apple would announce new AirPods but not launch them for several months, suppressing the sales of the current model in the process.
MacRumors will provide live coverage of the "Spring Loaded" Apple event both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Apple may announce a podcasts subscription service at its "Spring Loaded" event tomorrow, according to Vox's Peter Kafka and findings in the beta of iOS 14.5.
Kafka remarked in a tweet, spotted by 9to5Mac, that he is "pretty sure Apple is prepping its own podcast plan - a paid subscription service - on Tuesday." MacRumors contributor Steve Moser has now said that Kafka's claim lines up with findings in the beta of iOS 14.5.
The Podcasts app in iOS 14.5 features a new account button on the "Listen Now" tab, just like in Apple Music. Notifications settings have been moved to this new area, which will presumably include other account and subscription information.
Apple has not yet announced a release date for iOS 14.5, but with eight betas having been released, iOS 14.5 is nearing the end of the testing process. It is likely that a release candidate of iOS 14.5 will follow the Apple event, along with an update on when iOS 14.5 will fully roll out.
Apple has been rumored to be planning to launch a podcasts subscription service for some time. A report by Loup Ventures analysts made the case for a new Apple service tentatively titled "Podcasts+." According to the report, Podcasts+ would form a tier in the existing Podcasts app, offering a selection of exclusive premium shows.
The service is speculated to be bundled as a part of Apple One as well as Apple Music, with no added charge for existing paid subscribers. Podcasts+ would help to "drive incremental interest" in Apple Music and Apple One as a result, "generating high-margin, recurring revenue."
The Information and Bloomberg have reinforced the rumor, explaining that talks between Apple and production companies for a new podcast service were ongoing.
Spotify has moved aggressively into podcasts, acquiring the exclusive rights to popular shows and removing them from other services. A podcasts subscription service would enable Apple to claw back space within the field.
According to Kafka, the new service could be announced as soon as tomorrow, presumably to accompany iOS 14.5, at Apple's "Spring Loaded" event. The event is also expected to see the debut of new iPad models and potentially redesigned iMacs with Apple silicon chips.
Update:AppleInsider reports that Apple is no longer accepting new podcast submissions on iTunes connect. Reports of Apple refusing to accept new podcast submissions for review began emerging yesterday, and may indicate that a major podcast-related change could be set to arrive imminently, which has fueled speculation around an Apple podcasts subscription service being announced tomorrow. It is also possible that the podcast submission block may simply be a consequence of scheduled maintenance.
With the release of Chrome 90, Google is rolling out a new browser feature that lets you create a shareable link to a section of text you've highlighted on a webpage. Here's how to use it.
Sometimes when you share a webpage link with someone, you just want to bring their attention to a specific passage or sentence to make your point, rather than have them read through the entire article.
Last year, Google created an extension called Link to Text Fragment that does just this. Recognizing its utility, the tech giant has integrated the function into its browser to coincide with the release of Chrome 90.
To use the feature, visit a web page and simply highlight the text you want to create a link to, then right-click and choose Copy Link to Highlight from the dropdown menu.
The "Copy Link to Highlight" option
This will generate a URL that includes a hash (#) symbol. All you need to do is share the link with someone, and when they click it they'll be sent directly to that part of the webpage with the specific passage highlighted, as shown below.
The shared link in action
Unfortunately, the highlight links that Chrome generates only work in Edge and Chrome, therefore users running other browsers won't see the highlighted text. However, they'll still be sent to the webpage in question, so the link isn't completely useless to Safari or Firefox users.
Google says the copy link to highlight feature is currently rolling out to desktop and Android devices, and is coming soon to iOS. If you're using the desktop browser and you've updated to Chrome 90 but you're not seeing the option yet, you can enable it manually by navigating to Chrome://flags and enabling the copy-link-to-text flag (use the search field to find it).
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
