Apple's Mac Pro can now be configured with a Radeon Pro W5550X with 8GB of GDDR6 memory, a graphics card option that's a step above the entry-level Radeon Pro 580X but not as expensive as the W5700X graphics card that Apple introduced as an option in April.
Upgrading a Mac Pro with the Radeon Pro W5550X costs an additional $200 over the base price of the machine.
The AMD Radeon Pro W5500X with 8GB of GDDR6 memory is based on AMD's RDNA architecture, featuring up to 5.6 teraflops of single-precision performance or 11.2 teraflops of half-precision computing. It supports up to four 4K displays, one 5K display, or one Pro Display XDR.
The Radeon Pro W5500X can also be purchased as a standalone half-height MPX Module for $600.
Google pays Apple to be the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser on iPhones and Macs, which causes a "significant barrier to entry and expansion" for rivals in the search engine market, said the UK Competition and Markets Authority in a report released today (via Reuters).
The relationship between Apple and Google impacts Microsoft's Bing, Verizon's Yahoo, and independent search engine DuckDuckGo. Apple allows users to set these search engines as their default in the Safari settings, a privilege the search engines pay for, but Google Search remains the default on a new device.
Apple received the "substantial majority" of the $1.5 billion (1.2 billion pounds) that Google paid to be the default search engine on various devices in the United Kingdom in 2019, according to the report.
"Given the impact of preinstallations and defaults on mobile devices and Apple's significant market share, it is our view that Apple's existing arrangements with Google create a significant barrier to entry and expansion for rivals affecting competition between search engines on mobiles," the regulators wrote in the report.
UK regulators believe that enforcement authorities should be provided with a range of options to address the arrangement between Apple and Google to provide a more level playing field for other search engines.
Apple could be required to provide "choice screens" that would let users decide which search engine to set as default during device setup, or could be restricted from monetizing default search engine positions, a move that Apple said would be "very costly."
Apple and Google have never confirmed exactly how much Google pays to be the default search engine on Apple devices in the UK, the United States, and other countries, but it's rumored to be in the billions.
As COVID-19 cases in the United States continue to climb, Apple is closing more of its retail stores in multiple states. This week, Apple is shuttering additional stores in California, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Utah, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, and Oklahoma.
The coronavirus has been spreading rapidly in Florida, Southern California, Texas, and other states where Apple is shutting down access to its retail locations, and as of this week, 77 stores that had reopened have been closed once again.
9to5Mac has been keeping up with all of the stores that are closing this week and has published a full list of the stores that will be closed today and tomorrow.
California
Glendale Galleria
Northridge
Pasadena
The Grove
Third St. Promenade
Century City
Manhattan Village
Beverly Center
Sherman Oaks
Topanga
Los Cerritos
The Americana at Brand
Valencia Town Center
Victoria Gardens
The Oaks
Alabama
The Summit
Georgia
Cumberland Mall
Perimeter
Lenox Square
Avalon
Mall of Georgia
Idaho
Boise Towne Square
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
Lakeside Shopping Center
Nevada
Fashion Show
The Forum Shops
Town Square
Summerlin
Oklahoma
Penn Square
Woodland Hills
Florida
St. Johns Town Center
University Town Center
Mississippi
Renaissance at Colony Park
Texas
Barton Creek
Domain Northside
La Cantera
North Star
Knox Street
Northpark Center
Galleria Dallas
Ciello Vista Mall
Southlake Town Square
University Park Village
Utah
Station Park
Fashion Place
City Creek Center
For stores that are closing this week, Apple is allowing customers to pick up existing online orders and repaired devices through Friday, July 3. There is no word on when stores will reopen.
This is the fifth wave of store reclosures, which started two weeks ago in states that include Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
When Apple first began reopening stores in the United States in May, the company warned that it could end up closing some locations again depending on local conditions. "These are not decisions we rush into - and a store opening in no way means that we won't take the preventative step of closing it again should local conditions warrant," said Apple's retail store chief Deirdre O'Brien.
Apple's decisions to close or reopen stores are based on data evaluation, such as local cases, near and long-term trends, and guidance from national and local health officials. In a statement to CNBC Apple said that it is closing stores out of an abundance of caution.
Due to current COVID-19 conditions in some of the communities we serve, we are temporarily closing stores in these areas. We take this step with an abundance of caution as we closely monitor the situation and we look forward to having our teams and customers back as soon as possible.
In store locations that have reopened, Apple has implemented safety measures that include mandatory masks, social distancing, frequent cleaning, temperature checks, and more. In some locations, stores are open only for repairs and curb-side pickup, while others are open but with a limited number of people allowed in at one time.
Apple's iPhone 12 models will not feature an upgraded 120Hz ProMotion display, according to display analyst Ross Young. Young previously said that Apple would not implement ProMotion technology until it adopted low-power LTPO display technology, a move Apple is not expected to make until 2021.
In a tweet shared this morning, Young said that the none of his contacts have been able to corroborate rumors that the iPhone 12 Pro models will feature 120Hz displays, with his sources instead indicating 120Hz technology will be coming in the 2021 iPhone refresh.
None of our contacts could corroborate iPhone 12 Pro models as 120Hz. They told us 2021. So, they are off our latest 120Hz list.. pic.twitter.com/uTQ7uinMUQ
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) July 1, 2020
There's been a lot of back and forth on the ProMotion display rumors, with some leakers suggesting 120Hz support is in the works. These rumors kicked off in 2019 when leaker "Ice Universe" said that Apple was considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate for at least one iPhone in 2020.
Taiwanese site DigiTimes has also said that Apple is planning to release an iPhone with a 120Hz display, as have leakers Max Weinbach and Jon Prosser.
Young, who has display expertise, has maintained that Apple will implement ProMotion in 2021 alongside the adoption of low-power LTPO displays which will allow for a variable refresh rate that preserves battery life. Adding a ProMotion display to the iPhone without the technology could result in undesirable battery drain, though it's worth noting the iPad Pro uses ProMotion without LTPO.
Last week, Ice Universe again claimed that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max models will offer displays capable of refresh rates up to 120Hz. "A reliable source, if there is no accident, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have basically determined the maximum 120Hz refresh rate," he said.
There's also an accessibility setting in iOS 14 that appears to limit the frame rate of the iPhone to 60 frames per second, which could be indicative that future iPhones will support higher frame rates. The setting does not show up for all beta users, however, and could be a bug.
ProMotion technology on the iPad Pro is able to dynamically adjust the display to the movement of content, resulting in more fluid scrolling, smoother motion, and improved responsiveness. The frame rate changes based on the content on the screen, preserving battery life.
Given the mixed rumors about ProMotion display technology, we may not know for sure if the new iPhones will have the feature until their debut this fall. Current rumors suggest Apple will unveil the new iPhones in September, but a launch for some or all models could be delayed until October or November.
Benchmarks for an unreleased iMac equipped with a 10th-generation Core i9 Intel Comet Lake-S chip and an AMD Radeon Pro 5300 graphics card have surfaced, giving us an idea of what we can expect from a refreshed 2020 iMac.
The Geekbench benchmarks, which appear to be legit, were found on Twitter and shared this morning by Tom's Hardware. The iMac in the benchmarks would be a successor to the 27-inch iMac.
The machine features Intel's 3.6GHz Core i9-10910 chip with 10 CPU cores, 20 threads, a 20MB L3 cache, and 4.7GHz Turbo Boost, a successor to the Core i9 chip found in the current high-end 27-inch iMac. As Tom's Hardware points out, the chip appears to be a higher clocked 95W Core i9-10900 that's unique to the iMac.
According to the Geekbench submission, the Core i9-10910 runs with a 3.6 GHz base clock and 4.7 GHz boost clock. The clock speeds suggest that the Core i9-10910 is fundamentally a higher clocked Core i9-10900. Doing the math, the Core i9-10910 reportedly boasts a 28.6% higher base clock than the Core i9-10900.
Given the shared specifications, the Core i9-10910 should slot right in between the Core i9-10900K and Core i9-10910. The first is a 125W part, while the latter is a 65W chip. This means that the Core i9-10910 is likely a 95W processor.
The unreleased iMac is also equipped with an as of yet unannounced AMD Radeon Pro 5300 graphics card, which seems to be a desktop version of the Radeon Pro 5300M released last year with Navi 14 silicon.
There's no word on when Apple might release an updated iMac, but there were rumors suggesting a new machine could come at WWDC. Rumors have suggested an updated 2020 iMac might feature the first redesign we've seen in years with "iPad Pro design language" and thin bezels similar to the bezels on the Pro Display XDR.
The updated machine is expected to feature a T2 chip for security and controller functions along with an AMD Navi GPU and an all-flash storage setup. It's not clear what size it will be, but there have been multiple rumors suggesting Apple is working on a 23 or 24-inch iMac with an all new form factor.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuorecently said the 24-inch iMac would be one of the first Macs to get an Apple Silicon chip in late 2020 or 2021, but said that Apple plans to refresh the existing Intel iMac in the third quarter of 2020, which appears to be the machine we're seeing in the benchmarks.
Whether the new machine features a new look remains to be seen, as the redesign could be something Apple is holding back for when the company is ready to debut its Apple Silicon chips. Apple said the first Mac with an Apple-designed chip would come in late 2020, but did not provide details on which Mac that would be.
It's possible that this Intel refresh will see Apple reusing the same 27-inch iMac design that hasn't been updated since 2012.
This weekend is the Fourth of July holiday in the United States, and as the celebration approaches many of the most popular Apple-related product and accessory sites have introduced notable discounts. You'll find all of the best Fourth of July Apple deals in the lists below, and note that many of the sales will last through Saturday, July 4, unless otherwise stated.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Anker
Anker's newest Amazon sale includes discounts on wall chargers, wireless chargers, and accessories including eufy's robotic vacuums and the Nebula Apollo Mini Projector. Each of these discounts will expire on Sunday, July 5.
Best Buy has returned with its $199.99 HomePod offer this week, available in both Space Gray and White. This sale marks $100 off the price of the HomePod, and is among the best seen online right now for a new HomePod.
The HomePod discount is part of Best Buy's overall Fourth of July sale, including markdowns on MacBook Pros, iPad Pros, iPhones, 4K TV sets, and more.
eBay
eBay has a 20 percent off coupon code for its shoppers this Fourth of July. By entering the code PLUS20 you can save on select home and garden, tech, pool, sporting goods, and more through July 6. This discount is capped at a max of $100 taken off your order.
eBay's tech and home section includes a wide arrange of products, including JBL speakers, Dyson fans and vacuums, iPhones, MacBooks, 4K TV sets, and much more. Be sure to head to eBay's tech section to browse before the coupon expires. Shoppers should note that it can be used twice.
Adorama
Adorama's Fourth of July sale is mainly focusing on discounts on cameras and photography equipment. You can save on the Canon Ivy Cliq Instant Camera Printer ($59.00), the GoPro HERO8 ($299.00), and the Canon VIXIA Waterproof Camcorder ($249.00). Visit Adorama's website for the full list, and note that this sale will expire on Sunday, July 5.
B&H Photo
B&H Photo has a wide variety of discounts going on this Fourth of July. You can save on a previous-generation iPad Pro, Western Digital external hard drive, AirPods Pro, various computer monitors, and more. We've collected a few of these sales below.
Accessory brand Hyper has a few discounts on its USB-C hubs for the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad Pro. These devices start at $39.99 and include savings of up to $20 off. Hyper's sales also include savings on wireless chargers, Lightning cables, and more. You can see all of the discounts on the company's website.
Bose
Bose is offering a few special offers on its wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers this week. You can also get free standard shipping on orders of $50 or more, with free return shipping.
The rest of the sale includes savings on loudspeakers and other portable Bluetooth speakers, so be sure to visit JBL's website before the deals expire.
Speck
At Speck you can get 20 percent off sitewide through July 4 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Free shipping is available on orders placed in the United States. There are some exclusions, including cases for the 2020 iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone 7, Presidio Perfect Clear Series cases, and any products already on sale.
Miscellaneous
Belkin - Save on iPhone docks, smart plugs, wireless chargers, and more.
Incipio - Save on cases for the iPhone XR, XS, XS Max, and more.
Newegg - Save up to 40 percent on computer accessories.
Pad & Quill - Shop the new Summer Clearance event with discounts on iPhone, MacBook, and iPad cases.
Apple has acquired the rights to "Emancipation," an action thriller film about a slave on the run from the Confederacy in the midst of the Civil War, journeying north to join the Union Army (via Deadline). The film is set to star Will Smith and will be directed by Antoine Fuqua, who previously helmed "Training Day" and "The Equalizer."
Apple's purchase of "Emancipation" is described as the largest festival acquisition deal in film history. Several bidders were interested in the film when it was introduced at the Cannes Virtual Film Market, which was held late in June as a replacement to the physical Cannes Film Festival.
Apple allegedly paid north of $120 million for the film package, and "Emancipation" is set to premiere in theaters first and then around the world on Apple TV+. Production is expected to begin in early 2021.
Apple has frozen updates for thousands of iOS mobile games on the App Store in China, due to these apps lacking an official license from Chinese regulators (via Financial Times). Previously in February, Apple gave app developers a June 30 deadline to prove they had a license for their games.
Now that it's July, Apple said that developers would not be able to update their games without a license. The move is said to come from "increasing government pressure" on Apple to comply with local regulations, which have been in place since 2016.
“No one is entirely clear how Apple managed to avoid enforcing the 2016 licensing rule for so long. But considering the US-China trade war began heating up earlier this year, the timing is suspicious,” said Todd Kuhns, marketing manager for the consultancy group App in China, which estimated that the move could cost Apple up to $879m in lost sales.
In total, Apple is estimated to host around 60,000 gaming apps in China that are paid downloads or include in-app purchases. Among that amount, China's regulators have issues just over 43,000 licenses since 2010, while in 2019 about 1,570 licenses were granted to developers.
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 has once again extended its Apple Card COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program by a month, allowing cardholders who enroll in the program to defer their July payment without incurring any interest charges.
To enroll in the program, open the Wallet app on an iPhone or iPad, tap on the Apple Card, tap on the black circle with three dots, tap on the message bubble, and send a message along the lines of "I want to enroll in the Customer Assistance Program." Confirmation of your enrollment will be sent to the email address associated with your Apple ID.
Your outstanding balance of Apple Card purchases will still need to be paid off eventually, but the balance will not accrue interest while you are participating in the program. Customers who previously enrolled in the program for other months will need to enroll again for July.
Apple has a support document with more details, although it does not reflect the July extension yet.
Following over a year of testing in select countries, Spotify is debuting a new subscription plan called Premium Duo, which costs $12.99 a month and allows two people who live under the same roof to share the one plan while owning separate Spotify accounts.
Duo costs $3 more than a single Premium membership, and given the new plan is aimed at couples and roommates, both users must live at the same address. Spotify requires a confirmation of address during the sign-up process, and the bill for the plan is sent to the person who sets up and purchases the Premium Duo account.
Premium Duo comes with an exclusive playlist called "Duo Mix," which Spotify regularly updates based on music that each user on the plan listens to and likes.
Duo Mix includes two versions: "Calm" for more mellow tracks and "Upbeat" for songs with a faster tempo. Additionally, the two members on Premium Duo are able to create playlists and share them with each other via a Shared Playlists feature.
Existing solo Premium members can upgrade to Premium Duo at any time without losing their existing account listening history or preferences. It's worth noting that a Family plan membership is only $2 more than Duo and supports up to six accounts. For more information on Premium Duo, head to the Spotify website.
As expected, Apple's first MacBook Pro with a Retina display is now officially classed as "obsolete" worldwide, just over eight years after its release.
In a support document, Apple notes that obsolete products are no longer eligible for hardware service, with "no exceptions." This means that any mid-2012 Retina MacBook Pro 15-inch models still out there that require a battery or other repairs will no longer be accepted by Apple.
The only alternatives are to follow one of iFixit's many do-it-yourself repair guides, or to make enquiries at an independent repair shop, although many do not use official Apple parts.
When the MacBook Pro with Retina display was revealed at WWDC 2012, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller called it "a breakthrough in display engineering" and claimed there had "never been a notebook this gorgeous."
Apart from being the first MacBook Pro to boast a Retina display, the 2012 model had a much slimmer design than previous models. This was made possible by Apple removing the built-in Ethernet port and optical disc drive for CDs/DVDs. It still featured pairs of Thunderbolt and USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot, however.
Apple's "iPhone 12" lineup is facing mass production delays of between four weeks and two months because of postponements caused by factory lockdowns and workplace absences during the global health crisis, according to a new report from Nikkei Asian Review.
"What the progress looks like now is months of delay in terms of mass production, but Apple is doing everything it can to shorten the postponement. There's a chance that the schedule could still be moved ahead," one source told Nikkei.
"Some final iPhone assembly could be delayed to early October, and it wouldn't be surprising if there are further delays because there are still a lot of tests going on now and the final designs have not yet been locked down," the person said.
According to the report, Apple has aggressively tried to cut delays and is now less likely to postpone launch of the iPhone 12 until next year, which was the situation it faced towards the end of March.
That is in agreement with a report from The Wall Street Journal in late April that said Apple still plans to launch its iPhone 12 lineup in 2020, but mass production on the devices will be delayed for around a month.
On the other hand, Apple supplier Broadcom believes the 2020 iPhone models will be delayed for several weeks, and will launch later than usual in the fall.
Apple has reportedly asked suppliers to build more than 45 million iPhone XR, iPhone 11, and iPhone SE units for the second half of 2020, as a way of shielding the company in case of delays to its new 5G iPhones.
Information from Bloomberg continues to suggest that some of the new iPhones could be released "multiple weeks later than normal," though still within the typical fall window.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the mmWave 5G iPhones could potentially see a delay due to changes to the antenna package made in early April and delays in qualification process services.
Apple is expected to launch four iPhone 12 models this year: One new 5.4-inch device, two 6.1-inch models, and one 6.7-inch handset. Kuo still expects the 6.1 and 5.4-inch iPhones to go into mass production in September, while mass production on the larger 6.7-inch iPhone will be delayed until October because of its more complicated design.
Leaker L0vetodream this morning posted a tweet corroborating recent rumors that Apple's "iPhone 12" lineup won't come with EarPods or a charger in the box, adding that this will also eventually apply to the existing second-generation iPhone SE.
L0vetodream also claims that future iPhone packaging will be "thinner" and "exquisite," which would make sense if Apple's handsets are set to come in lieu of a bulky power adapter and EarPods case. Apple is already renowned for its svelte, economical packaging, and slimming down its iPhone boxes would cut down on waste and shipping costs.
The lack of a charger and EarPods lines up with predictions made by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and analysts at Barclays last week. Apple is expected to release a separate new 20W power adapter as an optional accessory for iPhones and end production of its existing 5W and 18W power adapters later this year.
in my dream, the new IPhone will not come with the charger and earphone , this even applying to SE2. The new packaging box become thinner, and Exquisite.
— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) July 1, 2020
The form factor of the new 20W power adapter is said to be similar to the 18W version, with USB-C Power Delivery for fast charging. Kuo also expects that Apple will stop including a 5W power adapter with the current second-generation iPhone SE later this year.
Barclays still expects Apple to include a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box as the only accessory included with the "iPhone 12," which is expected to come in four models: One new 5.4-inch device, two 6.1-inch models, and one 6.7-inch handset.
Rumors suggest the 6.7-inch iPhone and one 6.1-inch model will be higher-end OLED devices with triple-lens cameras, while the 5.4 and 6.1-inch models will be lower-end iPhones with dual-lens cameras and a more affordable price tag.
watchOS 7, introduced last week and available for developers, is a significant update that introduces useful new Apple Watch features like sleep tracking and watch face sharing.
We went hands-on with watchOS 7 in our latest YouTube video to give MacRumors readers a preview of what's coming when the update launches later this year.
Apple still isn't allowing custom watch faces, but it did add more flexibility in watchOS 7. Multiple complications from a single app can be used on your watch face, so if you wanted to do something like set up a surfing themed watch face with info on swells, water temperature, and more all taken from one app, you can do so.
There are several Apple-created complications to add to the Apple Watch in watchOS 7 for accessing Shortcuts, the Camera Remote app, Moon phases, Sleep Tracking, and the World Clock.
There's also a new feature that allows for watch face sharing, so you can create useful watch faces and share them with friends and family over apps like Mail and Messages, or with a broader audience on the web. Apple also plans to highlight useful watch faces in the App Store.
Apple added a new Chronograph Pro watch face with a tachymeter, plus tweaked a few others. The Photos face supports color filters and the X-Large face works with complications.
Sleep Tracking lets the Apple Watch be worn at night to track how much sleep you're getting, with sleep habits over time visible in the Health app on the iPhone. The Apple Watch's sleep tracking doesn't provide detailed data on metrics like deep sleep or light sleep, but it does come alongside Sleep Mode, Wind Down, and alarm features to maximize how much sleep you're getting.
Sleep Mode turns the Apple Watch's display off and activates Do Not Disturb while you're asleep, and it can be set to come on automatically based on the sleep schedule programmed into the watch. Wind Down works with your own pre-bedtime preferences and can do things like suggest that you open a meditation app or turn down the lights as you get ready to sleep. In the morning, the Apple Watch can wake you up with a haptic alarm, greeting you in the morning with a weather report.
To make sure you have enough battery, the Apple Watch provides notifications when it needs to be charged above 30 percent before bedtime, and if you're charging in the morning while you get ready for the day, you'll see an alert on your phone letting you know when the Apple Watch has a full charge.
Sleep tracking battery drain isn't too bad, and in our experience it drained about 30 percent throughout the night, something that Apple may be able to improve over the beta testing period.
Along with sleep tracking, Apple introduced a new handwashing monitoring feature that helps people wash their hands for the recommended 20 second duration. When the Apple Watch detects handwashing motions and the sound of running water, it starts up a 20 second countdown.
Apple renamed the "Activity" app to "Fitness" in watchOS 7 and added new workouts that include Dance, Functional Strength Training, Core Training, and Cool Downs, and it provides more data post workout.
iOS 14 features like cycling directions for bike riders and EV routes for electric vehicle owners have been added, Siri can offer spoken translations, Siri requests are now faster with on-device dictation, and there are new hearing health features to better protect your hearing when listening to music.
watchOS 7 is limited to developers at the current time, but Apple plans to release a watchOS 7 beta for public beta testers for the first time. watchOS software can't be downgraded, so when the public beta software releases, beta testers will still want to use caution before installing.
After a few months of beta testing to work out bugs and streamline new features, watchOS 7 will see a public release this fall alongside iOS 14.
YouTube is increasing the price of its live streaming YouTube TV service yet again, raising the price from $50 per month to $65 per month for new subscribers as of today. Current YouTube TV users will see service prices increase on the next billing cycle after June 30.
YouTube TV previously saw a price increase in April 2019 when prices jumped from $40 per month to $50 per month, or $55 when purchased through Apple. YouTube TV no longer offers in-app purchase options for subscribing, so the $65 price applies to all users.
YouTube says that the increased price for YouTube TV is due to the rising cost of content. YouTube also argues that the higher price point reflects the "complete value" of YouTube TV.
We don't take these decisions lightly, and realize how hard this is for our members. That said, this new price reflects the rising cost of content and we also believe it reflects the complete value of YouTube TV, from our breadth of content to the features that are changing how we watch live TV. YouTube TV is the only streaming service that includes a DVR with unlimited storage space, plus 6 accounts per household each with its own unique recommendations, and 3 concurrent streams. It's all included in the base cost of YouTube TV, with no contract and no hidden fees.
YouTube says that subscribers who are unhappy with the price increase can cancel their subscriptions, and that it will continue to work to build "flexible new models for YouTube TV users" to offer a "robust and innovative experience."
With the addition of eight new ViacomCBS channels launching today that include Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon, YouTube TV now offers access to over 85 channels. Six additional ViacomCBS channels will be added in the future.
Apple is shifting its Apple Arcade strategy and canceling contracts for some games while pursuing titles that it thinks will help it better retain subscribers, reports Bloomberg.
Apple earlier this year ended contracts with multiple game studios and let them know about its new approach to choosing games for the service. Some upcoming games Apple had planned to support didn't have a high enough level of "engagement" as Apple is now looking for games that will "keep users hooked."
In one call, Apple highlighted Grindstone as the type of game that it wants to see on the platform. Grindstone is a multi-level match-3 puzzle game.
So far, no Apple Arcade games have become major hits, and there's no word on how well Apple Arcade is doing. Some developers have speculated that Apple's strategy change indicates subscriber growth is weaker than expected, and Apple also recently began offering some people a second free trial month, which perhaps suggests that users aren't remaining subscribers for a long enough period of time.
In a statement to Bloomberg, Apple said that its vision has always been to try to "grow and evolve the Apple Arcade catalog" and that it has always planned to make changes to the game lineup based on feedback from subscribers.
"Apple Arcade has redefined what a gaming service can be, putting unlimited play at the fingertips of subscribers and their families across all their Apple devices," Apple said in a statement. "We are proud to have launched the first-ever mobile game subscription service that now features more than 120 games, many of which are award-winning and widely celebrated for their artistry and gameplay. The vision has always been to grow and evolve the Apple Arcade catalog, and we can't wait for our users to try the games developers are working on now."
Apple unveiled Apple Arcade in September 2019, pricing it at $4.99 per month. Apple Arcade games are available to all members of a family at that price point, and contain no ads or in-app purchases.
Since Apple Arcade launched, Apple has added new games on a near-weekly basis, and there are now more than 120 titles available. Apple has funded work on many games that have been created for Apple Arcade, spending between $1 million and $5 million on several titles so far.
There's a new 'EvilQuest' Mac ransomware variant that's spreading through pirated Mac apps, according to a new report shared today by Malwarebytes. The new ransomware was found in pirated download for the Little Snitch app found on a Russian forum.
Right from the point of download, it was clear that something was wrong with the illicit version of Little Snitch, as it had a generic installer package. It installed the actual version of Little Snitch, but it also installed an executable file named "Patch" into the /Users/Shared directory and a post-install script for infecting a machine.
The installation script moves the Patch file into a new location and renames it CrashReporter, a legitimate macOS process, keeping it hidden in Activity Monitor. From there, the Patch file installs itself in several spots on the Mac.
The ransomware encrypts settings and data files on the Mac, like Keychain files, resulting in an error when attempting to access the iCloud Keychain. The Finder also malfunctioned after installation, and there were problems with the dock and other apps.
Malwarebytes found the ransomware to work poorly and was not able to get instructions on paying the ransom, but a screenshot found on the forums where the malicious software originated suggests it's meant to prompt users to pay $50 to recover access to their files. Note: anyone infected with this ransomware or any ransomware should not pay the fee, because it does not remove the malware.
Along with the ransom activity, the malware may also install a keylogger for monitoring keystrokes, but what the malware does with the functionality is unknown. Malwarebytes says that its software for Mac is able to remove the ransomware, detected as Ransom.OSX.EvilQuest. Encrypted files will require a restore from a backup, though.
Similar ransomware was found in other pirated apps, and Mac users can avoid it by staying away from pirated apps and untrustworthy websites and forums that offer illicit downloads.
Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.6 updates to developers, three weeks after seeding the second betas and over a month after releasing iOS/iPadOS 13.5 with Exposure Notification API, Face ID updates, Group FaceTime changes, and more.
iOS and iPadOS 13.6 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or over the air once the proper developer profile has been installed. Note that Apple changed the version number of this beta with the second beta update. The first beta that was released was iOS 13.5.5.
The iOS 13.6 update adds a toggle for customizing software updates, providing users with more granular control over the downloading and installing of new software. iOS users can decide if their iPhone or iPad should automatically download iOS updates when connected to WiFi, and when those updates should be installed.
There's a Download iOS Updates toggle for turning automatic downloads on or off over WiFi and an Install iOS Updates toggle for installing software updates overnight as an iPhone charges. The new feature will be a welcome change for those who do not want their iPhones to automatically download new software.
In the Health app, there's a new "Symptoms" section that allows users to add symptoms of various illnesses, choosing from options like body and muscle aches, appetite changes, coughing, dizziness, fainting, headache, nausea, and more.
Health app users are able to add symptom data through the Health app by tapping on the "Add Data" option, providing a way to track and log various illness-related symptoms over time and to share that information with doctors.
iOS 13.6 also brings support for Car Key, a feature available in both iOS 13 and iOS 14. Car Key is designed to allow an iPhone or an Apple Watch to be used in lieu of a physical key to unlock an NFC-enabled vehicle.
Car Key needs to be implemented by car manufacturers to function, and BMW is one of Apple's first partners. BMW's Digital Key for iPhone feature will let iPhone owners tap to unlock their vehicles, start the car by placing the iPhone in the smartphone tray, place limitations on young drivers, and share keys with up to five other users.
In the Apple News app, iOS 13.6 adds a feature that's designed to save your place in an article when you start reading something and then exit out of the article or the app.
Though the feature is not live yet, iOS and iPadOS 13.6 include signs of a new Apple News+ Audio feature, which will see Apple offering some news stories in an audio capacity.
Apple has been working with publishers to garner permission to create audio versions of some stories. Apple also plans to offer a recap of the day's top stories for subscribers to listen to.
Code in iPadOS 13.6 also suggests Apple is working on keyboard shortcuts that will allow users who have a Magic Keyboard or other attached keyboard to adjust the brightness level of the keys, but it's not clear if this will be a feature included in the update.
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