Apple today sent out emails to Apple Card holders letting them know that the three percent cash back perk at Walgreens has been expanded to include drive-thru ordering until June 30. When using the physical Apple Card to make a payment through the drive-thru ordering feature, Walgreens shoppers will get three percent cash back.
Apple and Walgreens are also continuing to offer three percent cash back when making touchless payments with Apple Card using Apple Pay in-store and when using Apple Card to shop online at Walgreens.com or in the Walgreens app.
Apple Card owners have been able to get 3 percent daily cash back when making purchases of all eligible health, beauty, personal care, household, and seasonal products at Walgreens and Duane Reade since September 2019.
iOS devices accounted for 44 percent of all U.S. smartphone activations during the first calendar quarter of 2020, the highest number of activations Apple has seen in a single quarter since 2016.
According to the data sourced from Consumer Research Intelligence Partners, Google's Android operating system was responsible for 56 percent of all activations due to the higher number of Android smartphones out in the wild.
Market share numbers for iOS and Android have largely remained stable over the course of the last few years with just minor fluctuations in activations due to operating system loyalty.
In the quarter ending in March, 89 percent of Android users remained with Android, while 91 percent of iOS users stayed with iOS when activating a new mobile phone. iOS and Android loyalty rates have also fluctuated little over the course of the last three years as people tend to stick with the operating systems they're familiar with.
"Operating system loyalty is stable at very high levels," added Mike Levin, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP. "For the past four or so years, around 90% of new mobile phone activations stayed with the buyer's previous operating system. Despite Apple's efforts to attract Android users to iOS, and Android handset manufacturers' similar efforts to attract iPhone customers, operating system usage is among the stickiest of all consumer affinities."
CIRP's data was based on a survey of 500 U.S. subjects from April 1 to April 9 that activated a new or used smartphone in the January to March 2020 period. Given the small sample size, there is certainly some margin of error to these numbers, but the data provides a reliable look at activations and loyalty over time as it uses the same survey each quarter.
As part of its updated parental controls, Netflix now includes an option that lets account holders PIN protect individual profiles to help prevent kids from using them.
Even if you're not a parent or guardian, so long as you're the account holder you can still use the PIN feature to prevent other people in the same household from watching stuff on your Netflix profile and messing up your recommendations.
The easiest way to set up a PIN for your profile is on the Netflix website. The steps below show you how it's done.
Sign into Netflix using your account credentials, then select your profile.
On the main Netflix screen, select your profile avatar and choose the Account option in the menu.
Under the Profile & Parental Controls section, use the chevron against your profile to reveal further options.
Click Change next to the Profile Lock option.
Enter your account password if prompted.
Click the checkbox next to Require a PIN to access [yourname] profile, then enter the four-digit pin that you want to use.
Click the second checkbox to require the same pin to add new profiles.
Click Save.
When your PIN is set, Netflix will ask for it whenever your profile is selected at the welcome screen. This will happen on all devices, including smart TVs. Note that you won't be asked for a PIN if your profile is the only one that exists on the account.
In addition to PIN protection for profiles, Netflix has added filters for children's accounts that are based on country ratings, as well as options to remove individual series or films by title, and a feature for reviewing each profile's setting using the Profile and Parental Controls hub in the settings menu.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Yohann to offer MacRumors readers the chance to win an artfully crafted wooden stand for one of Apple's iPads or MacBooks.
Yohann's iPad stand, priced at $109 to $149, is available in either walnut or oak wood, and each stand is crafted in Italy.
A lip at the bottom of the stand holds the iPad in place, while a rounded, angular design provides multiple viewing angles that users can take advantage of, as well as support for use in landscape or portrait mode. The design of the stand allows it to be used on hard or soft surfaces, such as in bed or on a couch.
The bottom of the stand also features a series of cutouts that leave the charging port accessible and provide an opening for the speakers. The iPad stand comes in multiple sizes, featuring a normal and a mini version for Apple's iPad mini models.
The standard version fits the 11-inch iPad Pro and all iPads dating back to the 2011 iPad 2, and there's also an iPad Pro-specific stand coming in late June that features a cutout designed for the Apple Pencil. The iPad Pro stand fits both the iPad Pro models, while the standard iPad stand is limited to the smaller iPad Pro.
Yohann also makes a stand for the MacBook, also available in walnut or oak wood, priced at $159 to $179. The MacBook stand features a design similar to the iPad stand, and is meant to allow users to position the top edge of the MacBook screen at eye level, in accordance with principles of ergonomics.
The stand elevates the MacBook by six to nine inches, depending on the model of the MacBook, and when paired with a keyboard and mouse, it allows a Mac notebook to be used while maintaining an upright and relaxed sitting posture. It can also be used to hold a MacBook while the MacBook is partially closed in sleep mode or in clamshell mode.
Created to work with multiple MacBook models, the stand is compatible with the 2015 and later 12-inch MacBook, all MacBook Air models, all 13-inch MacBook Pro models from 2012 and later, all 15-inch MacBook Pro models from 2012 and later, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro introduced in 2019.
There's a leather pad at the bottom of the stand to keep it in place, and weight is evenly distributed across the entire width of the stand so that it holds each MacBook securely. All of Yohann's stands are made sustainably, and for each product sold, a new tree is planted. The walnut and oak woods used for Yohann stands are sourced from select European plantations and forests maintained with sustainable forestry.
We have three stands from Yohann to give away to MacRumors readers, with winners able to pick either an iPad stand or a MacBook stand. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (April 10) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on April 17. The winners will be chosen randomly on April 17 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple and Google today announced a joint effort that will see them using Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world.
Apple says that user privacy and security will be central to the design of the project. Participation will be opt-in, and privacy, transparency, and consent are "of the utmost importance of this effort."
Since COVID-19 can be transmitted through close proximity to affected individuals, public health officials have identified contact tracing as a valuable tool to help contain its spread. A number of leading public health authorities, universities, and NGOs around the world have been doing important work to develop opt-in contact tracing technology. To further this cause, Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing. Given the urgent need, the plan is to implement this solution in two steps while maintaining strong protections around user privacy.
Starting in May, Apple and Google will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These apps will be available for users to download from the iOS App Store and Google Play.
Contact tracing can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and can be done without compromising user privacy. We’re working with @sundarpichai & @Google to help health officials harness Bluetooth technology in a way that also respects transparency & consent. https://t.co/94XlbmaGZV
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 10, 2020
In the coming months, Google and Apple will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into their underlying platforms. Apple says that this solution is more robust than an API and will allow more individuals to participate, if they choose to opt in, and it will enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities.
All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.
All information about the work being conducted by Apple and Google will be openly published and built in consultation with interested stakeholders. Initial details on the contact tracing technology are available on Apple's new webpage for the feature, which has links to technical documentation on Bluetooth specifications, cryptography specifications, and the framework API.
TechCrunch has specific details on how the tracking procedures will work. A random, rotating identifier will be assigned to a person's phone, and it will be transmitted via Bluetooth to other nearby devices.
The identifier, which rotates every 15 minutes and has no personally identifiable information, will pass through a relay server that can be run by health organizations worldwide. The list of identifiers a person has been in contact with doesn't leave the phone unless the user explicitly decides to share it. Users that test positive will not be identified to other users, Apple or Google.
All identification matching is done on device, allowing users to see within a 14-day window, whether their iPhone has been near the device of a person who has self-identified as having tested positive for COVID-19. Users who are notified that they have been exposed will then receive steps on what to do through a public health app.
Apple and Google are not using any location data for the tracking feature, including from the users who report being positive. The tool is meant to determine not where affected people have been, but rather if they've been around other people so that those people will know to self isolate due to the exposure.
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 new Today at Apple (at Home) website features creative projects created by Creative Pros from Apple Store locations all over the world, with all of the tutorials able to be completed at home. Sessions, which are presented as short videos, include drawing playful portraits with iPad, capturing striking photography with iPhone, and shooting photos with personality with iPhone, and Apple will likely add additional fun projects in the future.
Apple will likely be providing these creative videos for people until it is able to begin reopening its Apple retail locations around the world. All Apple stores outside of China have been closed since March 14, and there is no word yet on when stores will be able to open again.
Apple yesterday also introduced a series of new activities designed for children and families, all of which can be done using an iPad, and it has provided remote learning tutorials for parents and teachers to allow them to better adjust to remote teaching techniques.
Apple today shared a new video ad called "Creativity Goes On," which highlights people working from home, learning from home, FaceTiming one another, and more, with Apple products.
The video focuses on the ways that people are keeping entertained and communicating with one another while social distancing.
We have always believed deeply in the power of creativity. Now, more than ever, we're inspired by people in every corner of the world finding new ways to share their creativity, ingenuity, humanity and hope.
In the video's description, Apple highlights some of the stay at home tools and features that it has created for people, such as a new "Today at Apple (at Home)" initiative, activities for children, remote learning tutorials, and more.
Apple's development schedule for iPhone 12 models will likely be pushed out slightly due to current travel restrictions and cargo flight delays, which could result in delayed availability of the highest-end 6.7-inch model, according to analyst Jeff Pu.
In a research note with Chinese research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said he believes that the current "EVT" or "Engineering Verification Test" stage of iPhone 12 development may have been extended by two weeks to late April for the 5.4-inch model and 6.1-inch models, and to mid-May for the 6.7-inch model.
As a result, Pu currently expects the 5.4-inch and two 6.1-inch models to be available in September, followed by the 6.7-inch model in October. This two-phase rollout would be similar to 2018, when the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were released in September, followed by the iPhone XR in October. And in 2017, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus launched in September, followed by the iPhone X in November.
Pu also believes that Apple's widely rumored iPhone SE successor will launch in mid-April, suggesting that the device could be announced as early as next week. The new iPhone SE is expected to be an upgraded version of the iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID home button, A13 chip, 3GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage.
On Wednesday, HBO announced that HBO GO and HBO NOW would no longer be available on the second and third generation Apple TV models from April 30, 2020. The company has now extended this deadline, and will remove HBO NOW from these platforms on May 15, 2020 and HBO GO will remain available for "a few additional months."
Speaking to Engadget, an HBO spokesperson described the decision to remove these streaming services from older Apple TV models as a "business-as-usual device deprecation that was planned several months ago." The company hopes that the extended deadline provides people with enough time to upgrade their Apple TV models and otherwise prepare for the day they are removed.
HBO GO and HBO NOW will remain functional on the newest Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K platforms, which range from about $149.00 to $169.00 at this time. There are numerous shows and movies that can be streamed for free on HBO GO and HBO NOW as well, including Silicon Valley, Succession, The Wire, and more.
Anker today launched a wireless charging power bank called the PowerCore 10K Wireless. This accessory supports 5W wireless charging for any Qi-compatible smartphone, and has two additional USB-A ports for extra charging, with a 10,000 mAh capacity.
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.
Anker is selling the device for $35.99 on Amazon. To recharge it, the PowerCore 10K Wireless includes a USB-C input port, and four LEDs to indicate battery level. The new accessory will be ready to ship within 6 to 10 days.
There are a few other Anker sales happening on Amazon this week, including a collection of charging accessories. Most of these require a discount code, which we've listed below. In the list, you'll find solid deals on wireless chargers (from $10.99) and wall chargers (from $30.99), which could help enhance your home office.
Apple this week added futuristic trash cleanup game "Scrappers" to its Apple Arcade subscription gaming service, making the game available across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac.
In Scrappers, up to 4 players can team up to clean up the streets of a futuristic city teeming with garbage -- and trash anyone who gets in their way!
You take on the role of the Scrappers, a squad of robot garbage collectors working to clean up a grimy city of the not-so-distant future. Time is money in Junktown, and team tactics like stacking trash and passing it to teammates -- much like in basketball -- can boost your efficiency for bigger rewards!
But garbage collection is only part of the job. Rival teams will attack and interfere, and it’s up to you to dispose of them while staying on schedule!
Teamwork is key to maximizing efficiency and achieving high scores, which in turn unlocks new characters and customization options!
"Scrappers" can be found in the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, as well as the Mac App Store, and is available to all Apple Arcade subscribers. The service provides iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users with access to over 100 games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Apple yesterday added the 2019 Mac Pro to its online store for refurbished products in the United States, offering customers the ability to save approximately 15 percent compared to equivalent brand-new models.
At the high end is a 16-core model with 192 GB of RAM, a pair of Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics cards, 8 TB of storage, and an Afterburner card, now available refurbished for $22,439. That's a savings of nearly $4,000 compared to a brand-new model.
All of Apple's refurbished products go through a rigorous refurbishment process before being offered for sale, which includes inspection, repairs, cleaning, and repackaging. Like new purchases, refurbished Macs come with a one-year warranty that can be extended with an AppleCare+ purchase.
Woot is selling the 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 128GB SSD today for $899.99 in refurbished condition, down from Apple's price of $1,299.00 ($400 off). This model has a 1.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB RAM, and first launched in mid 2019. Comparatively, Apple's own refurbished store is selling this model for $1,099.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For more storage, the same MacBook Pro with a 256GB SSD can be purchased for $1,029.99, down from $1,499.00. Both notebooks are available in either Space Gray or Silver, have the Touch Bar, and a 13-inch Retina Display.
You'll also get a one year Woot Warranty with purchase of the MacBook Pro. Woot notes that the notebooks have been repaired by professionals to be in proper working order, and they will come in a generic white box with Apple's USB-C power adapter and charge cable.
Woot is owned by Amazon, so Amazon Prime members can also get free shipping on all Woot orders. Be sure to visit Woot's homepage to shop for more flash deals, today including the LG Ultrafine 5K Monitor and Soundbar.
Apple has just added multiple 2018 Mac mini models to its US online refurb store, offering customers potentially hundreds of dollars in savings on a variety of configurations.
Last month, Apple updated the Mac mini, but the only change it made was that standard configurations now come with double the storage capacity for the same price.
Prior to that, Apple's 2018 Mac mini refresh came after more than four years without an update. So if you're in the market for Mac mini, the refurb store is definitely worth checking out first.
For example, a refurbished Mac mini with 3.0GHz 6-Core Intel Core i5, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage can be had for $1,099, bagging you twice the amount of RAM for the same price as the base 2019 model offering otherwise identical specs. Doubling the memory on the 2019 base configuration costs $200 during checkout, so this is a great saving.
Elsewhere, refurbished pricing on 2018 Mac mini models starts at $599 for a Mac mini with 3.6GHz quad-core Intel Core i3, 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, offering a saving of $100 on the original price.
Apple says certified refurbished Mac mini models are thoroughly inspected, tested, cleaned, and repackaged, with all manuals and cables included in the box. In our view, a refurbished Mac is virtually indistinguishable from a brand new one. They're also backed by Apple's standard one-year warranty.
A refurbished Mac's warranty can be extended to three years from the refurbished purchase date with AppleCare+.
Facebook is rolling out a new feature in its iOS app that lets users temporarily mute push notifications and put the app on hold if they think it's taking up too much of their time.
Called "Quiet Mode," the new setting can turned on for a certain period of time or scheduled to come on at specific intervals. Quiet Mode be found by tapping the hamburger icon in the bottom right corner of the mobile app's interface and looking under the section titled "Your time on Facebook."
Quiet Mode forms part of a series of measures that Facebook is implementing to help users better manage their time on the social network while keeping people connected during the current health crisis. As Facebook explains in a blog post:
As we all adjust to new routines and staying home, setting boundaries for how you spend your time online can be helpful. Whether it’s to help you focus on your family and friends, sleep without distraction or manage how you spend your time at home, we have tools that can help you find the right balance for how you use Facebook.
If Quiet Mode is enabled and the user opens the Facebook app, a splash screen reminds them that they opted to take a break and shows how long is left before Quiet Mode ends. It's not a total block, though – a Manage Quite Mode button on the same screen lets you turn off the setting.
Facebook has included options for monitoring usage for a while now, but Quiet Mode is supposed to be an easier way to keep tabs on how much time you spend on the social network. The company has also updated and refined the way its usage stats let you see how long you've spent in the app.
Apple also offers Screen Time in iOS that allows you to put daily usage limits on individual apps. You can learn more about Screen Time here.
Of course, if any app turns into a distraction black hole for you, the easiest way to deal with that is to just delete it from your device.
With stay-at-home orders widely in place, Apple has made several of its original Apple TV+ series and movies free for anyone to watch for a limited time (via TVLine).
In the US and many other countries, the content listed below can be streamed for free online via Apple.co/FreeForEveryone or through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac, select Samsung and LG smart TVs, and Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices.
In other words, to view the content, you don't need an Apple subscription – the only requirement is that you sign in with an Apple ID.
Dickinson
Ghostwriter
Helpsters
For All Mankind
Servant
Snoopy in Space
The Elephant Queen
The content represents about a third of Apple's TV+ offering, and excludes some of the service's premium shows like "The Morning Show," which remains behind Apple's streaming paywall.
Apple is also currently offering extended trials of several streaming services available within the Apple TV app under Apple TV Channels, including free access to EPIX for the next month.
Apple is still rolling out its "Free for Everyone" offering, so sit tight if you're not able to access it just yet. Meanwhile, if you're keen to check out the full raft of content, Apple still offers a free seven-day trial of Apple TV+, which converts into a $4.99 per month subscription or an annual $49.99 subscription if users continue with the service.
Apple's education team today debuted 30 activities for kids and families to do as part of an ongoing effort to support at-home learning while many schoolchildren are completing classes remotely.
Available as a PDF that can be downloaded or printed, the suggestions include a wide range of activities that can be done using the built-in features of an iPad or iPhone.
We know parents out there are juggling a lot in this challenging time. Apple’s education team has some fun ways to keep kids everywhere creating. #CreativityForKidshttps://t.co/hWIrWeSqGG
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) April 9, 2020
Some of the activities include capturing a time-lapse video, going on a photo walk, recording a news interview, personalizing a portrait, seeing color in slo-mo video, and emojifying a mood. The PDF features a different activity for each number, each of which can be clicked for an activity description. For the photo walk activity, for example:
Pick a color or letter of the day and take photos around the house and yard of things that are that color or start with that letter. Then put them together in a collage or video. Try to make a rainbow or complete the alphabet!
Get started: Add the photos of each color or letter to a slide in the Keynote app. Or add each photo to Clips and record your voice saying the colors or letters.
According to Apple, these activities are aimed at children from pre-kindergarten to second grade, but can be tailored to suit the whole family.
Apple has also been supporting at-home education with a series of remote learning videos that are designed to help schools and educators use the built-in features of their devices to enable remote learning.
Apple today introduced new features for its COVID-19 screening app, which is designed to help people stay informed and take the proper steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.The 2.0 version of the app adds a feature for selecting a state of residence to see specific guidance information from that state's health department, and it provides tips for keeping physically and mentally healthy.
With the new state feature, users can choose their state to be directed to coronavirus guidelines offered by the state health department, and available information and guidelines will vary by location. In California, for example, Apple directs users to covid19.ca.gov, a website that provides dos and don'ts, symptoms to watch out for, emotional health resources, information about financial help, and more.
The update adds many self-care tips to both the app and website, such as staying hydrated, exercising for 30 minutes a day, getting adequate sleep, taking breaks for fun and relaxing activities, stimulating the brain through books, puzzles, or painting, talking to people, and journaling.
It provides shopping tips like purchasing two weeks of groceries at a time, stocking up on long-lasting foods, buying extra household items, and taking precautions such as wearing gloves and wiping down shopping carts.
Apple's site and app also offer tips on working from home, creating a household emergency plan, and what to do if you get sick.
Apple designed its COVID-19 app and website in partnership with the CDC, White House Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA. Along with the features introduced today, the tools provided by Apple let users answer a series of questions on risk factors, recent exposure, and symptoms to receive CDC recommendations on the next steps that they need to take.
The screening tool is available to anyone who is 18 years or older in the United States. Data provided in the COVID-19 app and on the website is not shared with Apple, the CDC, or other government agencies.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
