MacRumors

Apple and Google have been asked by New York's Attorney General to do more to prevent sensitive health data from being collected by third-party contact tracing apps.

According to Business Insider, AG Letitia James sent letters to both companies and urged them to impose tighter restrictions on the apps if they are to be available in their app stores, following concerns that some of the apps have not been properly vetted.

"As businesses open back up and Americans venture outdoors, technology can be an invaluable tool in helping us battle the coronavirus," said Attorney General James. "But some companies may seek to take advantage of consumers and use personal information to advertise, mine data, and unethically profit off this pandemic. Both Apple and Google can be invaluable partners in weeding out these bad actors and ensuring consumers are not taken advantage of by those seeking to capitalize on the fear around this public health crisis."

James noted that the privacy-centric exposure notification technology that Apple and Google developed isn't being used by all contact tracing apps. As such, she is urging the two companies to commit to greater oversight by only allowing apps affiliated with federal or state public health agencies to collect personal health data.

The hope is that by prohibiting third-party contact tracing apps from collecting personal data, it won't be used for targeted advertising or for identifying anonymous users.

James wrote that third-party apps should be required to delete personal health information on a rolling 14-day basis, and that the companies' respective app stores should disclose which apps were launched by governments and which are made by private developers.

"Consumers should always check with the Apple App Store or Android Play Store for information on what entity operates the app and whether the app collects geolocation information or other data," cautioned James.

According to the report, Apple and Google have until June 19 to acknowledge the Attorney General's letter.

The Philips Hue line of lights is gaining several new additions this summer, including a bright white bulb, a Bluetooth version of the Lightstrip Plus, and a revamped Hue Bloom.

Priced at $20, the new Philips Hue White A21 bulb is the brightest bulb in the Hue lineup with 1,600 lumen output that's equivalent to a 100W bulb. That's much brighter than the standard Hue White and Color Ambiance bulbs, which are 60W equivalent. The Hue White A21 bulb can fully illuminate a kitchen, garage, or other room, plus it offers wireless dimming. It will launch in late July.

Also new is the Bluetooth-enabled Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus, a Bluetooth version of the popular Hue Lightstrip Plus that connects to WiFi. This new Bluetooth model does not require a hub to work, though it is compatible with the Hue hub. Up to eight extensions can be added.

A two-meter Bluetooth Lightstrip will be available from Target for $79.99 starting this week, and it will come to other retailers later in the summer. A one-meter extension will also be available for purchase for $24.99.

Along with the new A21 bulb and the Lightstrip, the Hue line is also gaining a redesigned Bluetooth-compatible Hue Bloom table lamp, which features richer colors and an improved white light with brightness up to 500 lumens compared to the prior version. It has also been updated with a more consistent experience with the rest of the Hue range, and the color temperature can now be tuned from 2000K to 6500K.

The Philips Hue Bloom will be available in late July and it will cost $69.99. More information on all of the new announcements can be found on the Philips Hue website.

Every year heading into WWDC, one question on many Mac fans' minds is what Apple will choose as the name for the next version of macOS. The tradition dates all the way back to the beginning of Mac OS X with its big cat names, and then in 2013 Apple shifted to Calfornia-themed names with the unveiling of OS X Mavericks.

Back in the early days after the debut of OS X Mavericks, we discovered a total of over 20 California-themed trademark applications filed by various limited liability companies that were all but certain to be shell companies created by Apple to hide its identity.

Over time, some of the trademarks like Yosemite, Sierra, and Mojave were indeed used by Apple for its major Mac operating system updates, while trademark applications for many of the other names have been abandoned.

In last year's lead-up to WWDC 2019, we noted that of that original set of trademark applications, only four unused ones remained active: Mammoth, Monterey, Rincon, and Skyline. All four of those trademarks had been granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Apple was keeping them alive for potential use by filing successive extension requests.

Trademark recipients have up to 36 months from the date of approval to file a Statement of Use proving they are using the trademark in commerce, although they are required to file for extensions every six months during that period to keep that full window open.

Apple of course opted to name its 2019 macOS release Catalina, which wasn't one of the previously trademarked names, but in case Apple has opted to go back to its original list, we decided to check back on last year's trademark list to see if any of them remain protected.

Of the four, Rincon is no longer active, having been abandoned in September 2019 after its 36-month window expired. The other three remain active for now, with Apple's presumed shell companies continuing to file extensions as needed.

• Mammoth, which is likely related to Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Mountain, a popular area for skiing and hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains, saw its trademark application approved in March 2019, and a second extension of the Statement of Use period was approved in March 2020. The full 36-month window won't expire until March 2022 as long as additional extensions continue to be filed.
• Monterey, a historic city and popular vacation spot on the Pacific coast, has long been one of the most popular macOS name options among our readers over the years. The trademark was applied for by Asilomar Enterprises LLC in December 2013, but wasn't allowed until June 12, 2018. A fourth extension to Statement of Use window was granted just last week, and Asilomar will have until June 2021 to prove commercial use of the name, provided a final extension is requested in December of this year.
• Skyline likely relates to the scenic Skyline Boulevard that largely follows the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains running south from San Francisco, and Antalos Apps LLC filed for a trademark on the name in December 2013. The trademark was allowed on March 20, 2018, and the fourth Statement of Use extension was granted in March of this year. The owner will have until March 2021 to prove use of Skyline in commerce, provided all necessary extensions are requested.

So what will macOS 10.16 be called? Mammoth, Monterey, and Skyline all seem like reasonable options, but we've also seen Apple turn to names that had not been previously rumored. In years when the new macOS version is viewed as more of a refinement of the previous version rather than a leap forward, Apple has used names that bear relationships to the previous ones, such as going from Yosemite to El Capitan and Sierra to High Sierra.

With macOS 10.16 again seeming to be more of a refinement release, could we see something like macOS Channel Islands (the island group that Catalina is a part of) or macOS Avalon (the only city on Catalina)? Or with Apple reportedly set to begin transitioning to its own Arm-based chips for its Mac lineup, could it shift gears to something completely different? Whatever it ends up being, we'll know one week from today.

Apple today announced that its App Store ecosystem supported $519 billion in billings and sales worldwide in 2019, based on an independent study conducted by Analysis Group, an economic consulting firm in the United States.

Since the App Store launched in 2008, developers have earned over $155 billion from app and in-app purchases, with a quarter of those earnings occurring in 2019. However, the App Store also facilitates the sale of a wide variety of physical goods and services, ranging from Uber and Lyft rides to Postmates and DoorDash deliveries, which the study found accounted for $413 billion of the last year's total.

Of this $413 billion, some categories include:

• $268 billion from retail apps such as Target, Best Buy, and Etsy
• $57 billion from travel apps such as Expedia and United
• $40 billion from ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft
• $31 billion from food delivery apps such as DoorDash and Grubhub

Apple CEO Tim Cook:

The App Store is a place where innovators and dreamers can bring their ideas to life, and users can find safe and trusted tools to make their lives better. In a challenging and unsettled time, the App Store provides enduring opportunities for entrepreneurship, health and well-being, education, and job creation, helping people adapt quickly to a changing world. We're committed to doing even more to support and nurture the global App Store community — from one-developer shops in nearly every country to businesses that employ thousands of workers — as it continues to foster innovation, create jobs, and propel economic growth for the future.

Apple said the App Store now has nearly two million apps and is accessed by half a billion people each week across 175 countries.

Buried in the iOS 13.5.1 update, there's a privacy policy for the "CarKey" feature that Apple has in the works, suggesting that a launch could perhaps be coming soon. CarKey is designed to allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to be used in lieu of a physical key in certain vehicles with NFC connectivity.

First noticed by German site iPhone-ticker.de, the CarKey privacy info can be found in the current iOS 13.5.1 release and the iOS 13.6 beta. There's no word yet on when CarKey will be released, but quite a bit of info about the feature has leaked over the course of the last few months as signs of it have shown up in various versions of iOS 13.

There's not a lot of new info about CarKey in the privacy policy, but it does sum up how CarKey works, setup, and the sharing of CarKey keys through Messages. It makes it clear that Apple does not collect or retain information on vehicle usage, though the vehicle manufacturer still may collect vehicle usage information based on their own privacy policies.

Wallet allows you to add and share car keys for certain vehicles. You may add a car key by signing in to your vehicle manufacturer's app or entering a pairing code in Wallet to claim the vehicle as your own and to pair your device with your vehicle. If successful, your device sends Apple a one-time owner redemption token. Apple uses the redemption token, information about your Apple account and your device, and your location at the time of provisioning (if Location Services is enabled) for fraud prevention purposes.

To set up your car key, Apple shares a unique device identifier with your vehicle manufacturer. This device identifier is different for each vehicle manufacturer to help protect your privacy. Your vehicle manufacturer may connect this device identifier with other information it has about you and will process information it has about you according to its privacy policy.

You may share car keys by tapping Invite on the back of your car key pass, selecting the access type that you would like to grant, and sharing the car key pass using iMessage. To help set up and manage car key passes, Apple forwards to the vehicle manufacturer information about with whom a pass is shared and what level of access was granted. Apple also shares a unique device identifier for the pass recipient with the vehicle manufacturer to enable them to manage your pass. For pass recipients, just as with owners, the vehicle manufacturer may connect the device identifier with other information it may have about the recipient and process such information according to its privacy policy.

Apple does not collect or retain information on vehicle usage, such as when you use your car key pass to lock or unlock the vehicle. Your vehicle manufacturer may collect vehicle usage information according to agreements you have with them. We encourage you to review your vehicle manufacturer's privacy policy for more information.

Digital CarKey keys will be stored in the Wallet app alongside credit cards, rewards cards, gift cards, and other items on ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch. These keys will let an ‌iPhone‌ or Apple Watch unlock, lock, and start vehicles equipped with NFC.

Vehicle owners will be able to share a digital CarKey with another person, which is useful in valet situations, if a friend needs to borrow a car, and more. CarKey access is authenticated biometrically using Face ID or Touch ID, though there is an "Express Mode" that vehicle owners can take advantage of.

Apple will be partnering with vehicle manufacturers for CarKey, and it may be a factory installed option similar to CarPlay. CarKey requires NFC to function, so it is something that needs to be implemented by car makers.

Screenshots found in iOS 14 have suggested that BMW may be one of the first manufacturers that will support the CarKey feature. CarKey functionality could be released at any time as the NFC-based Digital Key Release specification that powers it was finalized in May and provided to Car Connectivity Consortium members including Apple.

Given that CarKey is a major feature and iOS 14 is on the horizon and set to be unveiled next week, CarKey could perhaps be included in the iOS 14 update.

Apple is working on a foldable iPhone prototype that features two separate display panels that are connected by a hinge rather than a single display like the Samsung Galaxy Fold, according to leaker Jon Prosser who shared the info in a tweet and a YouTube interview shared by Jon Rettinger.

Prosser says that the foldable ‌iPhone‌ has rounded, stainless steel edges like the current ‌iPhone‌ 11 and no notch, but a "tiny forehead" on the outer display for Face ID.

Though the ‌iPhone‌ features two separate displays connected by a hinge, Prosser claims that the panels look "fairly continuous and seamless."

Samsung's foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, is designed as a single display with a fold in the middle that allows it to open and close. Prosser believes that Apple's version that's in the works looks more similar to Microsoft's Surface Neo and Surface Duo, both of which are foldable dual display devices that feature two displays connected with a hinge.

There's no word on when Apple might develop a foldable ‌iPhone‌, but there have been rumors about work on such a device dating back to 2016, as well as a number of patents. A March 2020 patent described a device that featured two separate displays that could be brought together to create a single bendable device with a hinge.

It's not clear if the foldable ‌iPhone‌ will ever move out of a prototyping stage, but it doesn't look like a foldable device is launching in the near future. More information on Apple's alleged work on a foldable ‌iPhone‌ can be found in our guide.

With the release of the updated Apple Developer app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, Apple today released some additional details and resources for developers ahead of the digital WWDC event that's set to kick off on Monday, June 22.

Along with the keynote that will take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at Apple Park, Apple plans to hold a traditional Platforms State of the Union at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time to provide developers with an in-depth look at the new features in iOS/iPadOS 14, macOS 10.16, watchOS 7, and tvOS 14.

Apple plans to release engineering session videos for developers, but there will be an opportunity for developers to schedule 1-on-1 Developer Labs that will provide in-depth guidance on implementing new features.

These 1-on-1 labs will be held using Webex, and each appointment will last for 10 to 55 minutes, depending on subject matter. Members of the Apple Developer Program, Apple Developer Enterprise Program, and Swift Student Challenge winners are able to sign up.

Requests are taken for appointments that occur on the following day and can be made by members of the Apple Developer Program, the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, or Swift Student Challenge winners. You can submit a request Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PDT. Simply sign in with your Apple ID, choose a lab from the schedule, enter your question, and submit. If you've filed a report using Feedback Assistant, include the Feedback Assistant ID in your submission.

Availability is limited. Requests will be reviewed and you'll receive an email with your status within several hours. If you do not receive an appointment, you may submit again the next day if the lab is available, or post in the Apple Developer Forums.

On June 18, Apple will open up its all-new Apple Developer Forums that will allow anyone with an Apple ID to ask about questions related to app development. Starting on the first day of WWDC, the forums will be used to connect developers with more than 1,000 Apple engineers who will be answering questions.

The all-new forums feature tags as a way to make content easily discoverable. You can find content and tag your posts using special tags for WWDC20:
WWDC20 Community. Meet and chat with fellow developers. Everyone can view and all forums users can post.
WWDC20 Support. Ask for help with conference logistics, such as video streaming issues. Everyone can view and all forums users can post.
WWDC20. Discuss general conference content with engineers and fellow developers. Everyone can view. Program members and Challenge winners can post.
In addition, each session and conference topic will have a unique tag that program members and Challenge winners can use to discuss content. Everyone can view these threads.
A full list of tags will be available here starting June 22.

On June 29, a week after WWDC begins, Apple plans to announce its annual Apple Design Award winners, highlighting notable apps and games.

Apps and games created by millions of developers around the world have made a positive impact on people's daily lives. Join us in celebrating the developers who used their ingenuity, smarts, and savvy to build this year's Apple Design Award winners.

In addition to providing more information on the digital WWDC event, Apple today also added new Messages stickers for those who have installed the Apple Developer app. The stickers are WWDC themed, with graphics that are being used for the 2020 event plus some additional fun icons.

More information about Apple's WWDC schedule can be found in the Apple Developer app or on the Apple Developer website.

Following an announcement earlier today, Apple is now selling SSD storage upgrade kits for the latest Mac Pro, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB options available. Prices range between $600 and $2,800 in the United States.

Each kit contains two SSD modules, enabling users to upgrade the internal storage capacity of a Mac Pro themselves. Until now, Apple advised customers who wanted to upgrade the built-in SSD modules to book an appointment with a Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider, as they are tied to Apple's T2 security chip.

As we demonstrated earlier this year, it is also possible to expand a Mac Pro's storage capacity by placing a third-party SSD in a PCIe slot. Another option is to install a third-party internal drive mount that connects via SATA.

Apple sells a variety of other components and accessories for the Mac Pro and its companion Pro Display XDR, including graphics modules, RAM kits, expensive wheels, a VESA mount adapter, an AUX power cable kit, and more.

Apple's 2020 WWDC event will mark the first time that WWDC has been held in an all-digital format, with no physical conference or meetup. With everything taking place online, Apple today expanded its Apple Developer app to the Mac.

The Mac version of the Apple Developer app will mirror the iOS version, offering up a Discover section with new and relevant developer news, a videos section with sessions created by Apple engineers, and a WWDC section.

The WWDC section of the app will allow developers to access Apple's keynote event on Monday, June 22, as well as the Platforms State of the Union and more than 100 technical and design-focused engineering sessions.

Content from past WWDC events is also included in the app and neatly organized to make it easy for developers to find exactly what they're looking for.

Developers can download the new Apple Developer app for Mac from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

As Apple gears up for its 2020 WWDC event that will be held in a digital-only capacity, the company today sent out invites inviting members of the media to tune in to the keynote that's set to take place on Monday, June 22.

Apple will hold its keynote event at the standard time, 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. While the event will be digital only with no non-employees attending, Apple execs will be broadcasting from Apple Park.

"Join us for the first all-online WWDC, kicking off on June 22 with a Special Event Keynote coming to you from ‌Apple Park‌," reads the invitation.

Some people have noted that much of Apple's wording around the invite does not include the word "live," which suggests that Apple will be recording the keynote in advance and then broadcasting it on June 22.

Apple today also updated its main Apple.com website to invite all Apple users to watch the keynote event in addition to media and sent out invites to developers.

Apple plans to share broadcast the keynote through the Events tab on the Apple TV, through the Events section of the Apple website, on YouTube, in the Apple Developer app, and on the Apple Developer website.

For those unable to watch the livestream, MacRumors will have a live blog on the MacRumors.com site and will also live tweet through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Ahead of the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference, which is set to take place next Monday, Apple has updated its Apple Developer app for the iPhone and the iPad.

The new version of the app includes a redesigned Discover tab to make it easier to catch up on news, videos, and more, plus an option to favorite articles in addition to videos and session content.

A refreshed Browse tab allows users to search for existing sessions, videos, and articles, and the WWDC tab has been revamped to prepare for the upcoming WWDC event.

Apple plans to hold the WWDC keynote on Monday, June 22, and the keynote will be available in the Apple Developer app as well as on the Apple Developer website, the standard Apple Events website, the Events tab on the Apple TV, and YouTube.

The Apple Developer app used to be known as the WWDC app, but Apple changed the name in 2019 to turn it into a general developer app that can be used all year rather than just during WWDC.

The app is more important than ever this year as it will house more than 100 technical and design-focused engineering sessions as well as Apple Developer forums, the Platforms State of the Union address, and more.

Apple today launched its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and Canada. After five years of offering free Beats, Apple this year is offering free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad.

Qualifying students and educators can receive free second-generation AirPods with a wired charging case with the purchase of a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, iPad Pro, or iPad Air. During the checkout process, it is also possible to upgrade to second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for $40 or to AirPods Pro for $90.

As usual, the standard iPad, iPad mini, Mac mini, and refurbished products are not eligible for the Back to School promotion.

The free AirPods are in addition to Apple's educational pricing, which allows students to save up to $200 off a Mac and up to $100 off an iPad Pro. The promotion runs until September 29, 2020 and is available through Apple's education store on the web, at Apple's retail stores where open, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE.

For purchases made using Apple Card Monthly Installments, you will receive an instant credit of $159, which will be applied as a discount to your eligible iPad or Mac at the time of purchase. Then, the cost of the AirPods will be billed in six monthly installments. Apple provides more details in its full terms and conditions for the promotion.

The promotion does not appear to be live in Europe or other regions at this time.

Apple today expanded its Apple Card interest-free monthly installment payment plan across much of its U.S. online store, allowing users to pay for Macs, iPads, and other Apple products over time. In addition to the interest-free payments, users also earn the standard 3% Daily Cash for purchases through Apple.

The new option is available on checkout pages for individual products, with some products like Macs and iPads available with 12-month interest-free installments, and others like Apple TV, AirPods, and HomePod can be paid off over six months. Notably, Apple Watch and iPod touch are not eligible with the interest-free financing.

Tim Cook announced on Apple's April 30 earnings conference call that the company would be expanding the ‌Apple Card‌ Monthly Installments plan beyond the iPhone, and just over a week ago, Bloomberg shared details on what it would cover.

One week ahead of WWDC, Apple has released a new high-end graphics option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. For an extra $700, the notebook can now be configured with AMD Radeon Pro 5600M graphics with 8GB of HBM2 memory.

Apple says the new 5600M graphics option is up to 75 percent faster than the base 5500M graphics for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, according to TechCrunch.

Apple has also released user-installable SSD storage kits for the latest Mac Pro, with 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities available.