MacRumors

Apple's iPhone 11 was the most-shipped smartphone in the first half this year and has been the single most popular handset of 2020, according to new research by Omdia.

Apple shipped an estimated 37.7 million iPhone 11 units this year, which is 10.8 million more units than last year's top-selling model, the iPhone XR.

A key driver of the success of the iPhone 11 was adjudged to be the lower starting price, which is $50 cheaper than the iPhone XR yet adds significant hardware improvements. The report notes that due to these improvements, iPhone sales have remained strong in 2020, despite the global health crisis.

The second most popular handset of 2020 has been Samsung's Galaxy A51 (11.4 million units shipped), followed by Xiaomi's Redmi Note 8 (11 million units) and Redmi Note 8 Pro (10.2 million units).

Several other iPhone models also make the top 10 ranking, including the 2020 iPhone SE in fifth place (8.7 million units shipped), followed by the iPhone XR (8 million units) and iPhone 11 Pro Max (7.7 million unity). The iPhone 11 Pro ranked tenth (6.7 million units).

Shipments of the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ and iPhone 11 Pro models decreased compared to the previous iPhone Xs Max and Xs, but their rankings improved, according to Omdia.

According Omdia’s smartphone market tracker report, Apple shipped 13% more iPhones in the second quarter this year compare to the previous year thanks to the success of the iPhone 11 and the newly released iPhone SE.

Last year's list featured four Samsung models, whereas this year's featured just one mid-tier model. None of Samsung's flagship devices made the top 10, and were instead replaced by Xiaomi's Redmi's line of devices, doubling the number of Xiaomi models compared to 2019.

Bloomberg yesterday shared several details about new Apple products that are expected later this year, including four new iPhone 12 models with OLED displays, flat-edged designs, and 5G support.

Rumors suggest there will be two sizes of the iPhone 12 Pro, including one with a 6.1-inch display and another with a 6.7-inch display. The devices are expected to be introduced in October.

MacRumors has learned that Apple later this month will add the seventh-generation iPod nano to its list of Vintage and Obsolete products, officially marking the final iPod in the iconic nano lineup as "vintage."

The vintage products list features devices that have not been sold for more than five and less than seven years ago. After products pass the seven year mark, they are considered obsolete. Apple debuted a refreshed version of the seventh-generation iPod nano in mid-2015, and that was the final iPod nano that came out. Now that the device is five years old, it is being added to the vintage list.

Apple launched the first iPod nano in September 2005, and over the course of the nano's lifetime, it got several redesigns. The first iPod nano model was similar in design to a standard iPod but with a slimmer, easier to pocket shape.

The second-generation version cut down on the size and introduced bright aluminum colors, but it offered a similar design as the first iPod nano model.

The third-generation iPod nano was popularly known as the "nano fatty" for its squat, wide design, and it was the first significant design iteration that Apple made to the nano lineup.

With the fourth-generation iPod nano, Apple again cut down on the size and abandoned the wide design from the third-generation models, and the fifth-generation looked largely the same.

Another major design change came with the 6th-generation iPod nano in 2010, with Apple doing away with the iconic click wheel in favor of an all-screen design that looked a lot like the Apple Watch does today.

The seventh-generation iPod nano, which ended up being the final model that was introduced, came out in October 2012 with an iPod touch-style multi-touch display and a Home button, and the nano and touch product lines were ultimately so similar that Apple did away with the iPod nano.

Apple refreshed the seventh-generation iPod nano in 2015 to add new colors, but did not tweak the design, signaling the impending end of life for the device. The iPod nano was discontinued along with the iPod shuffle in mid-2017, leaving the iPod touch as the sole iPod that Apple sells.

While devices on the vintage list are able to receive hardware service from Apple and Apple service providers, it is subject to the availability of repair components and where required by law. Obsolete products have no hardware service available with no exceptions.

Apple is planning to officially add the seventh-generation iPod nano to the Vintage and Obsolete list on September 30, along with the 5th-generation iPod touch, originally released on October 11, 2012.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of Apple launching its ill-fated social network Ping, which allowed users to follow their favorite music artists and friends within iTunes and discover what songs and albums they were listening to.

Here is how Apple described Ping in a September 2010 press release:

Ping lets you follow your favorite artists such as Lady Gaga, Coldplay, U2, Jack Johnson, Yo-Yo Ma and more, to see what they're up to, check out photos and videos they've posted, see their tour dates and read comments about other artists and albums they're listening to. In addition, you can post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you've downloaded from iTunes and the concerts you plan to attend.

Despite a promising start, with more than one million users joining Ping in less than 48 hours after its launch, the service never truly caught on. Ping was officially shut down on September 30, 2012, with Apple CEO Tim Cook noting that "the customer voted and said 'this isn't something that I want to put a lot of energy into'."

Apple today began informing developers of upcoming App Store pricing changes in several countries due to tax changes, with the prices of apps and in-app purchases affected.

Prices are shifting in Chile, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.

• Chile: New value-added tax of 19%
• Mexico: New value-added tax of 16%
• Saudi Arabia: Increase in value-added tax from 5% to 15%
• Turkey: New digital services tax of 7.5% (in addition to the existing value-added tax of 18%)

According to Apple, developers will see their proceeds from ‌App Store‌ sales adjusted accordingly, with revenue calculated based on the tax-exclusive price.

‌App Store‌ proceeds will also be adjusted in Germany, France, Italy, and the UK due to tax changes, though ‌App Store‌ pricing will not be shifting.

• Germany: Reduced value-added tax rate from 19% to 16%
• France: New digital services tax of 3% (in addition to the existing value-added tax of 22%)
• Italy: New digital services tax of 3% (in addition to the existing value-added tax of 22%)
• United Kingdom: New digital services tax of 2% (in addition to the existing value-added tax of 20%)

Developers are able to download updated pricing charts from Apple's developer site to prepare for the upcoming changes. Developers are able to change the prices of apps, subscriptions, and in-app purchases, and can opt to preserve pricing for existing subscribers if desired. Apple says the price changes will go live "in the next few days."

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.

Apple today released iOS 13.7, a major update that comes more than a month after the release of iOS 13.6. iOS 13.7 is an update that's being introduced to roll out a new Exposure Notifications System that does not require an app to be downloaded for the feature to be turned on.

The iOS 13.7 updates are available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the updates, go to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released a new version of iPadOS 13.7, but as Exposure Notifications don't work on the iPad, the ‌iPad‌ update focuses on bug fixes.

With iOS 13.7, Apple is adding Exposure Notifications Express, a feature that lets public health authorities that choose to participate provide an Exposure Notification system without having to do the work to develop an app.

After updating, iOS 13.7 users will see a new ‌Exposure Notification‌ section in the Settings app (it used to be in the Privacy settings) where there's a toggle to "Turn on Exposure Notifications."

Activating Exposure Notifications lets you know if the feature is available in your country, state, or region through a contact tracing app. In areas that are participating in the Exposure Notifications Express program, users will be able to turn on Exposure Notifications without the need to download an app.

Apple this morning said that Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. will soon be adopting Exposure Notifications Express, and more U.S. states could follow in the future. Using Exposure Notifications Express will require iOS 13.7, and even though it works without an app in some areas, it is still entirely opt-in.

In areas that do not participate in Exposure Notifications Express, attempting to toggle on Exposure Notifications will direct users to an app created by a public health authority in their state if one is available, or it will let them know that Exposure Notifications are not yet available in their area.

iOS 13.7 is likely to be one of the final updates to the iOS 13 operating system as Apple shifts its focus to iOS 14. We could see iOS 14 released in the coming weeks if the update is decoupled from new iPhones, or in October when the new iPhones are expected to debut.

Apple is today releasing iOS 13.7 with a major step forward in the Exposure Notification API that's available for public health authorities to use for their COVID-19 contact tracing efforts. Exposure Notifications Express is designed to provide simpler deployment of regional exposure notifications without the need to develop or maintain an app.

The new Exposure Notifications Express system will also let users in participating states opt into the system more easily, while still maintaining focusing on privacy and security.

When upgrading to the new iOS 13.7 update, users in states who have agreed to use Exposure Notifications Express will be provided with a notification letting them know that exposure notifications are now available in their state. Tapping the notification will open up the Settings where they can turn on ‌Exposure Notification‌ without downloading an app. From Apple and Google:

"As the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications, we are making it easier and faster for them to use the Exposure Notifications System without the need for them to build and maintain an app. Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project's core tenets of user privacy and security. Existing apps using the Exposure Notification API will be compatible with Exposure Notifications Express, and we are committed to supporting public health authorities that have deployed or are building custom apps."

To develop Exposure Notifications Express, Apple consulted with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC Foundation, the Association of Public Health Laboratories, the American Public Health Association, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the Task Force for Global Health.

States that use Exposure Notifications express will not need to develop an app and can instead provide Apple and Google with information about how to reach the public health authority, guidance for residents, and recommendations on potential actions. Public health authorities provide a name, logo, criteria for triggering an exposure notification, and the materials to be presented to users in case of exposure, with Apple and Google using this information to offer an Exposure Notifications System to customers on behalf of the public health authority.

Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. will be the first areas to use Exposure Notifications Express. iOS and Android Exposure Notifications will be fully interoperable with one another and existing Exposure Notifications apps that have rolled out. Public health authorities can still choose to build their own custom apps instead of using Exposure Notifications Express.

More than 20 countries and regions have already created and launched apps that use the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API, with more on the way. In the U.S., 25 states, territories, and the District of Columbia have been working on ‌Exposure Notification‌ solutions, with apps launched in Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming, Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada.

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.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu yesterday shared several details about new Apple products that are expected later this year, including four new iPhone 12 models with OLED displays, flat-edged designs, and 5G support.

iPhone 12 Pro models are expected to feature a flat-edged stainless steel frame, similar to recent iPad Pro models, while sticking with frosted glass on the back.

Rumors suggest that there will be two sizes of the iPhone 12 Pro, including one with a 6.1-inch display and another with a 6.7-inch display, the latter of which would be the largest iPhone ever. By comparison, the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max have 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch displays, respectively. The devices are expected to be introduced in October.

A photo of what appears to be the rear glass of the upcoming iPhone 12 Pro have been shared online by Twitter user "Mr. White."

The images appear to show two iPhone rear glass parts in Space Gray, with one having an extra cut out below the ultrawide lens hole, likely for a LiDAR scanner. There are also holes for three camera lenses and a TrueTone LED flash, which suggests these are both from "pro" models.

The exact models that each of the rear glass panels is from are unclear since no other edges are visible in the picture. It is possible that one is the 6.7-inch "iPhone 12 Pro Max", and the other is the smaller 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro. This would mean that the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro does not have the LiDAR scanner, leaving it exclusively for the 6.7-inch "‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌," which has been supported by previous rumors.

Alternately, if both iPhone 12 Pro models are to feature LiDAR, then the glass without the additional hole for the scanner may in fact be from the current iPhone 11 Pro.

At least one model of the iPhone 12 Pro has been widely reported to have a LiDAR scanner, first seen on the 2020 iPad Pro, to sense depth and improve AR experiences.

Update: An alleged ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ case recently surfaced on Chinese social media website Weibo (via MyDrivers) with a matching triple-lens camera and LiDAR Scanner layout.

Ridley Scott, director of the original "1984" Apple Macintosh advertisement, has commented on Epic Games' recent parody of his ad, in an interview to IGN.

When ‌Epic Games‌ launched its campaign against Apple over alleged anticompetitive App Store policies, it premiered a shot-for-shot remake of Apple's famous "1984" Super Bowl commercial directed by Ridley Scott, titled "Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite." The original commercial was based on the novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell and was meant to convey Apple as a rebel against an oppressive regime believed to be IBM.

Whereas Apple's ad portrayed IBM as the evil "Big Brother," ‌Epic Games‌ aimed to show that Apple is now the oppressive authoritarian power. In a blog post, ‌Epic Games‌ encourages Fortnite players to fight against Apple's "app tax" by using the hashtag #FreeFortnite on social media platforms.

"‌Epic Games‌ has defied the ‌App Store‌ Monopoly. In retaliation, Apple is blocking Fortnite from a billion devices. Join the fight to stop 2020 from becoming '1984,'" text at the end of the ad reads.

Scott confirmed to IGN that he has seen Epic's parody, and explained that while he feels that the Fortnite ad was well produced, it could have had a more powerful message.

I sure have and I wrote to them because on the one hand I can be fully complimented by the fact they copied [my commercial] shot for shot. But pity the message is so ordinary when they could have been talking about democracy or more powerful things… And they didn't use it.

I think the animation was terrific, the idea was terrific, the message was "ehh."

Fortnite has been in violation of the ‌‌App Store‌‌ rules since August 13, when it introduced a direct payment option that avoided Apple's in-app purchase system by allowing payments directly to ‌Epic Games‌. Shortly after Epic blatantly disregarded ‌‌App Store‌‌ policies, Apple removed the app from the ‌‌App Store‌‌, leading to a lawsuit from Epic and a quickly escalating legal battle between the two companies. On Friday, Apple terminated ‌Epic Games‌' developer account.

Apple Pay with Express Transit mode today appears to have gone live for the Washington Metro.

MacRumors reader Errin submitted screenshots showing the SmarTrip fare card ready for public transport use in the Wallet app on iPhone. Several Twitter users have also shared news of the card appearing in the Wallet app for them, too.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority announced in December 2019 that ‌Apple Pay‌ with Express Transit would be coming to the Washington Metro this year.

Express Transit mode allows for tap-and-go payment, eliminating the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. The device does not need to be waked or unlocked, either.

Facebook has said it will stop users in Australia from sharing news on the social network if a proposed law from the country's competition regulator comes into force that would require it to pay local media companies for their content (via CNET).

The threat comes after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) submitted a draft regulatory code that would "address the bargaining power imbalances between Australian news media businesses and digital platforms" and allow Australian news publications to "negotiate for fair payment for their journalist's work."

If the proposed regulation becomes law, technology companies like Facebook and Google will have three months to negotiate with Australian media organisations. 

In a blog post on Tuesday, Facebook Australia and New Zealand's managing director Will Easton pushed back against the draft regulation, claiming that the code "misunderstands the dynamics of the internet and will do damage to the very news organisations the government is trying to protect."

Assuming this draft code becomes law, we will reluctantly stop allowing publishers and people in Australia from sharing local and international news on Facebook and Instagram. This is not our first choice – it is our last. But it is the only way to protect against an outcome that defies logic and will hurt, not help, the long-term vibrancy of Australia’s news and media sector.

[...]

The ACCC presumes that Facebook benefits most in its relationship with publishers, when in fact the reverse is true. News represents a fraction of what people see in their News Feed and is not a significant source of revenue for us. Still, we recognize that news provides a vitally important role in society and democracy, which is why we offer free tools and training to help media companies reach an audience many times larger than they have previously.  

In a statement given to CNET, ACCC Chair Rod Sims said Facebook's threat was "ill-timed and misconceived."

"The draft media bargaining code aims to ensure Australian news businesses, including independent, community and regional media, can get a seat at the table for fair negotiations with Facebook and Google," said Sims.

"Facebook already pays some media for news content. The code simply aims to bring fairness and transparency to Facebook and Google's relationships with Australian news media businesses."

In a move possibly related to the ACCC's draft code, Facebook has sent a notification to all users, explaining that its terms of service will be updated from October 1 to allow it to remove or restrict access to any content it thinks could cause the social media company legal problems.

Google also opposes the draft regulation, and sent an open letter to the ACCC claiming that it would put the free services that it offers users at risk. The ACCC responded by saying the letter "contains misinformation" and said that "a healthy news media sector is essential to a well-functioning democracy." It also noted that charging users is not a requirement of the draft regulation, and if Google chose to go down that route, it would be Google's choice alone.

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.

Apple's upcoming iPhone 12 models will all include 5G support, and several rumors have suggested that some if not all the new iPhones coming this fall will support both sub-6GHz and mmWave networks, which are two different 5G technologies that carriers are rolling out.

The fastest technology, mmWave, will be used in dense areas like major cities. The longer-distance sub-6GHz networks will be available more broadly in urban, suburban and rural areas. Due to the impact of the global health crisis, however, shipments of Apple's mmWave-enabled 5G iPhones could be weaker than expected this year and next year, according to reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a new investor's note for TFI Securities, seen by MacRumors, Kuo says shipment estimates for Apple's mmWave-enabled 5G iPhones are likely to be several million units lower than expected due to delays in the global rollout of mWave base stations.

We believe that due to the impact of [the health crisis], the global 5G millimeter wave base station installation is lower than expected. Therefore, we estimate that the shipments of millimeter wave iPhones in 2020 and 2021 will be about 4-6 million and 25-35 million, respectively, which is lower than the market consensus of 10-20 million and 40-50 million units.

Kuo's note harks back to a DigiTimes report in June that claimed shipments of mmWave 5G iPhones could be much weaker than expected this year because of a combination of production challenges and the impact of the health crisis.

However, that report said shipping estimates of mmWave-enabled 5G iPhones slated for launch this year would reach only 15-20 million units in 2020, compared to a previous supply chain estimate of 30-40 million units.

Prior to the global health crisis, Kuo said Apple was still on track to release both sub-6GHz and sub-6GHz-plus-mmWave iPhone 12 models simultaneously in the second half of 2020, with shipments beginning in the late third or early fourth quarter. Kuo has not indicated whether those plans have since changed, but some analysts believe that models with support for ultra-fast mmWave technology will likely launch after sub-6GHz models.

Meanwhile, the latest Bloomberg report on Apple's product launch plans claims Apple plans to stagger its iPhone launches this year.

There are four new iPhones in the works in 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7-inch sizes. Bloomberg says the two lower-end 5.4 and 6.1-inch devices are expected to ship out ahead of the Pro devices, but it's not clear whether the phased launch relates in any way to different models supporting different 5G technologies.

Apple employees also told Bloomberg that a few testers have found 5G disappointing, with the current 5G networks "not improving connection speeds much."

Kuo has previously said he believes iPhone models with mmWave and sub-6GHz support will be available in main markets like the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan, while in some other countries, Apple may offer iPhones with just sub-6GHz connectivity. Sub-6GHz could also be disabled in countries that do not offer 5G or have shallow 5G penetration, allowing them to connect only to 4G networks.

Apple is working on a new version of the Apple TV that includes an upgraded remote with Find My-like capabilities, reports Bloomberg. The tidbit was shared in a wider report on Apple's fall product launch plans.

Apple has been rumored to be working on an upgrade to the 4K ‌Apple TV‌ for some time, and it's been believed that the device could launch at any time, but Bloomberg says that the new set-top box might not ship until 2021.

Along with a faster processor for gaming, the upgraded ‌Apple TV‌ is expected to include a redesigned remote, which is something that we've heard in prior rumors. The new remote is said to have a feature similar to Find My iPhone, which would make a lost remote easier to locate within the house.

We don't know much else about the ‌Apple TV‌ from prior rumors, except that it might come with higher capacity 64 and 128GB storage options.

Bloomberg does not provide details on when the new ‌Apple TV‌ might launch in 2021, but given that signs of the device have been popping up in betas since January 2020, it could see a launch early in the year.

Apple has a number of products in the works that are set to debut this fall, and this evening, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu shared details on Apple's launch plans, reiterating many of the rumors that we've previously heard about the upcoming product lineup.

There are four new iPhones in the works in 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7-inch sizes, with Apple planning to stagger the iPhone launches. The two lower-end 5.4 and 6.1-inch devices are expected to ship out ahead of the Pro devices, and the 2020 launch timeline is set to be the latest relase since the iPhone X came out in November 2017.

Bloomberg confirms design rumors that have indicated the 2020 iPhones will feature iPad Pro-style squared edges and a new dark blue color option for the Pro models, which will replace midnight green. Pro models will feature stainless steel edges while standard models will use aluminum, similar to the current iPhone lineup.

As for LiDAR, "at least" the largest of the Pro phones will get the same LiDAR Scanner that was built into the 2020 iPad Pro models. Apple employees have told Bloomberg that the 6.7-inch display of the largest iPhone is one of this year's "most notable improvements," and a few testers have found 5G disappointing with the current 5G networks "not improving connection speeds much."

Apple is preparing to build 75 million 5G iPhones, which Bloomberg says suggests demand for the iPhone is "holding up" despite the ongoing public health crisis. Apple anticipates shipments of the iPhone 12 lineup could hit 80 million units in 2020.

As for other fall launch products, Apple is working on an iPad Air with an edge-to-edge ‌iPad‌ Pro-style display, and though not mentioned by Bloomberg, prior rumors have suggested it will either feature under-display Touch ID or a ‌Touch ID‌ power button and a 10.8-inch display.

Other products coming this fall include two new Apple Watch versions (Series 6 and a new replacement for the Series 3 that will serve as a low-cost option), over-ear headphones that prior rumors have suggested will be called the AirPods Studio, and a smaller, more affordable HomePod. Past rumors have indicated that the Apple Watch models will feature blood oxygen monitoring, but Bloomberg does not confirm or deny the rumor.

AirTags are in the works with no information on a launch timeline, and while Apple is developing a new Apple TV with a faster processor and upgraded remote control, Bloomberg believes it might not ship until 2021. The remote is expected to come with a new feature similar to Find My for locating the remote when it's lost inside the house.

There are no specific launch details included in the report beyond the mention of the staggered iPhone release, so it's still unclear when we can expect to start seeing new devices from Apple. Leaker Jon Prosser said that we can expect iPads and Apple Watch models to launch as soon as next week, while Japanese site Mac Otakara today said that Apple will unveil the iPhones, AirTags, and new Apple Watch models at an October event. Both Prosser and ‌Mac Otakara‌ have mixed track records when it comes to rumors.