An Apple press release today looked at how teachers across Europe are using iPads to help them work with students learning a new language alongside their regular educational subjects.
Apple chose to highlight teachers at Wilhelm Ferdinand Schussler Day School in Dusseldorf, Germany, who say iPads are allowing them to prepare written and video lessons for immigrant students from war-torn areas of the Middle East to help them learn at their own pace and consequently improve their grades.
For teacher Nick Kyriakidis, 47, and his colleague Sinaan El Haq Hadjeri, 31, who alternate teaching the class on different days, one of the most powerful tools they have to bridge potential language divides is iPad.
"Kids withdraw when they're afraid of [making] mistakes," says Kyriakidis. "If we try to reduce this fear, it's much easier for them to work with us because they don’t have anything to lose."
"With iPad … it's different than when they write something [on paper] and I come in with my red pen and say 'that’s wrong,'" says Hadjeri. "[With iPad] they learn for themselves."
Since the Wilhelm Ferdinand Schussler Day School began the 1:1 iPad program, every student has had access to their own iPad, and 100 percent of participants have graduated – an increase of more than 20 percent.
Likewise, at Stenkulaskolan School in Malmo, Sweden, where 98 percent of students speak Swedish as a second language, teachers have seen an 80 percent jump in math grades since they started sending home similar instructional videos, recorded by a teacher in Swedish.
It's a similar story at St. Cyres School in Penarth, Wales, where the 2018 senior class of "English as an Additional Language" students working with iPad increased their grades by an average of 3.8 points during the year — outperforming their peers who speak English or Welsh as their native language for the third year in a row.
Interested readers should check out Apple's full press release, which continues a series spotlighting teachers and students using innovative technology in the classroom.
The Mozilla Foundation is working on a premium version of its Firefox browser, according to a new report. German media site T3N ran an interview with Chris Beard, CEO of Firefox, who appeared to confirm that a paid tier of the browser could be ready to launch by October this year.
According to Beard, the premium version of Firefox is likely to include a VPN, secure cloud storage, and other subscription services such as paywalled content access.
"We will probably launch some new services first and then we will think carefully about which model makes the most sense while ensuring the best user safety," said Beard. "Firefox and many security features and services, like ETP [Enhanced Tracking Protection], will still be free, that's for sure."
Mozilla has been experimenting offering ProtonVPN to some Firefox users for a $10 per month subscription, but Beard says the company is now considering offering some amount of free VPN bandwidth to non-paying users, and a premium metered VPN service as a monthly subscription.
Mozilla currently earns its money through read-it-later and content discovery service Pocket, which it owns, but the majority of its revenue comes from the search engines used in its free browser.
After Beard's interview was published, The Next Web received a statement from Dave Camp, senior vice president of Firefox, who confirmed that paid products are actively in development:
We were founded on the belief that the internet should be open and accessible to all. A high-performing, free and private-by-default Firefox browser will continue to be central to our core service offerings. We also recognize that there are consumers who want access to premium offerings, and we can serve those users too without compromising the development and reach of the existing products and services that Firefox users know and love.
There's no word as yet on pricing for the upcoming paid version of Firefox, the standard version of which relaunched last year powered by a new Quantum engine and including several privacy-focused features.
In perhaps a hint at its planned new product launches, Mozilla on Tuesday unveiled a family of new Firefox logos, designed to give a unified identity to its broadening suite of products and services that become accessible to users who open a Firefox account. For example, Lockwise is a secure password manager, and Monitor that notifies users if their email has been part of a known data breach.
Apple is in talks to buy Intel's German modem unit, which could help Apple develop its own modem chips more quickly, reports The Information.
Intel is considering selling its modem business in pieces, and this is not the first time we've heard word that Apple's interested in a purchase. Back in April, The Wall Street Journal said that Apple had held discussions with Intel about acquiring parts of the Intel modem chip business, and apparently, those talks are ongoing.
Any deal between Apple and Intel would likely include Intel patents and products, said one person briefed on the discussions. Such an arrangement would resemble the deal Apple reached with Dialog Semiconductor, a U.K.-based company that designs chips that handle power management chores in devices. Last year, Apple and Dialog struck a $600 million deal that brought 300 Dialog employees to Apple, along with some patents.
The two companies have been in discussions since last year, but The Information warns that the talks could still fall through without a deal.
The Information estimates that a deal for Intel's German modem business could bring "hundreds" of modem engineers to Apple. Intel's chip production facilities are headquartered in Germany after a 2011 purchase of chip maker Infineon.
Intel announced in April that it was exiting the 5G smartphone modem business, sharing the news just hours after Apple and Qualcomm announced a resolution to their ongoing legal battle and established a new supply deal.
Apple had been planning to use Intel's 5G chips for its 2020 iPhones, but rumors indicated Intel wasn't able to meet design deadlines, causing the relationship between the two companies to sour. Apple is now planning to use Qualcomm's 5G modem chips in its 2020 5G iPhones, and is also working on its own modem chip development for later devices.
In the future, Apple is aiming to reduce its dependence on suppliers like Qualcomm by creating its own modem chips, but the company still has a few years to go before the technology is ready. According to The Information, Apple has been telling new modem chip hires in San Diego that it doesn't expect to release devices with its own modem chips until 2025.
Apple this week debuted iOS 13 with a ton of updates, including a new dark mode option, major performance improvements, faster Face ID, simpler photo editing tools and a new Photos interface, a Sign In With Apple Privacy feature, a swipe-based keyboard, and tons more.
In addition to these features that made it into Apple's keynote event, there are dozens if not hundreds of smaller hidden features that are included in iOS 13. Below, is our comprehensive list new and notable "hidden" features in iOS 13.
Wi-Fi Options in Control Center
You can change WiFi networks right from Control Center, but it's a bit annoying to get to. Long press in the middle of the WiFi/Bluetooth widget to bring up the extended options, and then Force Touch the WiFi icon to see a list of networks available.
Bluetooth Options in Control Center
As with Wifi, you can access your list of available Bluetooth devices from the Control Center. Long press in the middle of the WiFi/Bluetooth widget to bring up the extended options and then Force Touch on the Bluetooth icon to see a list of Bluetooth devices you've connected to before.
Location Settings
Apple mentioned during the keynote that location access is getting scaled back in iOS 13, and in the Settings app, there's a new option that requires an app to ask each time it wants to access your location.
Block Senders in Mail
In iOS 13, your list of blocked phone numbers and contacts extends to the Mail app, which lets you block people from sending you mail. The Settings app has a feature for blocking contacts in Mail and ignoring blocked senders.
Thread Muting in Mail
If you swipe on a message in the Mail app and then choose "More," there's a new option to mute a thread so you won't get notifications when a new email in that thread is received.
Reading Goals in Books
In the Books app, there's a new Reading Goals feature that keeps track of how long you've read each day. The app encourages you to read every day, see your stats soar, and finish more books.
Silence Unknown Callers
In the Phone section of the Settings app, there's a new toggle that will let you block all unknown callers, cutting down on spam calls that you're receiving.
Low Data Mode
In the Settings app under Cellular, there's an option to enable Low Data Mode, which says it helps apps on your iPhone reduce their network data use. There's also a Low Data Mode option that can be enabled for specific WiFi networks.
Improved Messages Search
In the Messages app, when you swipe down to search, you'll see a new interface with suggested contacts and links you've been sent. Searches bring up the most recent results, with an option to see more by tapping "See All."
Notes Folder Management
In the Notes app in iOS 13, there are new tools for managing your folders. Tap the "..." button to get to options like Add People, Move This Folder, Rename, and View Attachments.
PS4/Xbox Controller Support
Apple announced PS4/Xbox One S controller support for Apple TV, but these controllers will also be supported on iPhone and iPad.
New Animoji
There are three new Animoji in iOS 13: a cow, an octopus, and a mouse. As mentioned on stage, there are also tons of new accessories for your Memojis, and there are new Memoji stickers you'll see available in the emoji portion of the iOS keyboard.
Separate Emoji and Globe Keys
The emoji key on the iOS keyboard is no longer the same key as the globe key that lets you switch between languages. The emoji key lives next to the number key and the globe is now below. In iOS 12, a long press swapped between functions of the all-in-one key.
Automatic Safari Tab Closing
In the Safari section of the Settings app, there's a new option to automatically close all of the tabs that you have open in Safari. You can set it to a day, a week, a month, or leave it on manual, which is how it currently works.
Attachments in Calendar
You can now add attachments like documents to events you have scheduled in the calendar app.
App Updates
To update apps in iOS 13, you need to open up the App Store, tap on your profile and choose apps from the Pending Updates section. There was an updates tab in iOS 12, but it's been removed in favor of an Apple Arcade tab in iOS 13.
Safari Screenshots
When you take a screenshot in Safari, there's a new option to save it as a full page, which exports the entire webpage as a PDF that you can save or share. You can also use Markup to edit it before sending.
Updated Mute Switch Interface
When you toggle on the mute switch on the iPhone in iOS 13, there's a new interface that lets you know whether Silent Mode is on or off. It's located at the top of the display, replacing the former notification that popped up in the middle of the display.
Optimized Battery Charging
A new iOS 13 feature introduces Optimized Battery Charging. According to Apple, the iPhone learns from your daily charging routine and waits to finish charging past 80 percent until you need to use it, which is meant to cut down on battery aging.
Home App Improvements
The control options for your HomeKit devices in the Home app have been revamped and streamlined. Available controls vary by device, but in general, the change makes options you check or use frequently (such as various light colors) easier to access. Controls are also now shown in a card-style view so you can swipe them away to get back to the main Home app screen.
AirPlay 2 Devices in HomeKit Automations
You can now use AirPlay 2-enabled devices in HomeKit automations. So you can do things like set music to play when you arrive home.
Photos Zoom
In the Photos app, there's a new +/- symbol at the top that, when tapped, lets you zoom in and out of your Photos tab. You can also zoom in and out using pinch gestures.
Business Chat Suggestions
When calling a business that offers business chat, your iPhone will offer to start a business chat instead so you can interact with a business from a text message instead of through a phone call.
Time Synced Lyrics in Apple Music
When accessing the lyrics for an Apple Music song, they're now presented synced to the music, so the lyrics will scroll along as the song progresses. Lyrics can be accessed by tapping the new lyrics icon at the bottom of any song interface.
Up Next in Apple Music
There's a new toggle when playing any Apple Music song that lets you see exactly what's up next so there's no mystery as to what's going to play after the current song.
Apple News+ in Stock App
The Stock app will now offer relevant business publications from Apple News+.
Voice Memos
A new pinch to zoom gesture in the Voice Memos app lets you zoom in on the waveform to make editing easier.
Do Not Disturb
Do Not Disturb While Driving will not activate in iOS 13 when you're using public transit.
Peek Gestures
Peek gestures, that let you see previews of emails, links, messages, and more, are now available on any iPhone or iPad that runs iOS 13 or iPadOS. These were previously limited to devices with 3D Touch.
Quick Actions
You can now press and hold on an app icon to quickly perform actions specific to the app on any device, iPhone or iPad. This too was previously limited to devices with 3D Touch.
Dolby Atmos Playback
2018 iPhones and iPads support Dolby Atmos video playback in iOS 13.
Personal Hotspot Sharing
If you have Family Sharing enabled, your family members can automatically join your personal hotspot in iOS 13.
Automatic Personal Hotspot
You can automatically connect to your iPhone's personal hotspot when no internet connection is available, and there's an option to remain connected even when your device is asleep so you can continue to receive messages and push notifications.
Popular WiFi Networks
In iOS 13, your iPhone detects which WiFi networks are being used and lets you know if one is available.
Delete Apps From Update Screen
In the App Store, you can now delete apps from the list of apps to be updated by swiping to the left on them.
Timer
The Timer feature in the Clock app has been updated with a new interface in iOS 13. When a timer is counting down, there's a new circle that slowly depletes, along with the standard timed countdown.
New Volume HUD
There's a new look for the volume interface in iOS, which is designed to be less obtrusive. It's a bar on the left side or top side of the display, which shrinks down as you continue to press the volume up or down buttons. What's neat is that you can also touch the bar with a finger to adjust sound with a swipe in addition to using the physical volume buttons.
Haptic Feedback for Face ID
Haptic Feedback for Face ID will cause your phone to vibrate slightly when it unlocks in iOS 13. It can be enabled by going to Settings > Accessibility > Face ID & Attention.
NFC Tags
In iOS 13, iPhones are able to read a wider range of NFC tags. Japan's national identity cards will support the iPhone through a government developed app, and Germany will also allow Apple users to load their national ID cars, residence permits, and biometric passports onto their iPhones using NFC.
Canceling Apps With Subscriptions
When deleting an app that you have a subscription to, in iOS 13, you'll get a warning that the subscription is still active so you can make sure to cancel before deleting it. The warning includes options to manage your subscription.
Image via Federico Vittici
Quick Actions Menu Size
The menu that pops up when using a Quick Action is also smaller in size with less obtrusive icons that have also been relocated to the right side of the menu interface.
Voice Messages
When using the option in Messages to record a voice-based message, there's a new icon for the option. It's now a waveform rather than a microphone icon.
Note that almost all of these features are also available in the iPad and are part of Apple's new iPadOS operating system.
For more on what's new in iOS 13, make sure to check out our full iOS 13 roundup. We'll be adding to the hidden tips and tricks list over the course of the coming months, keeping a catalog of the new features and changes added to iOS 13 during the beta testing process. Know of an iOS 13 feature we don't have in our guide or our roundup? Send us an email here.
The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) today announced that Apple has joined the group as a Platinum member, and Senior Engineering Manager Tom Doron has joined the CNCF Governing Board.
The CNCF sustains and integrates open source monitoring and deployment systems like Kubernetes and Prometheus. Cloud Native Computing Foundation CTO Chris Aniszczyk said the foundation is "thrilled" to have Apple's support.
"Having a company with the experience and scale of Apple as an end user member is a huge testament to the vitality of cloud native computing for the future of infrastructure and application development," said Chris Aniszczyk, CTO of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "We're thrilled to have the support of Apple, and look forward to the future contributions to the broader cloud native project community."
87 other companies are already members of the CNCF, including Spotify, Atlassian, eBay, Intuit, Reddit, Shopify, Squarespace, Walmart, and more.
The CNCF hosts monthly meetings with these companies to advise the Governing Board and Technical Oversight Committee on "key challenges, emerging use cases, and areas of opportunity and new growth for cloud native technologies."
Apple today introduced a new iCloud for Windows app designed for PCs, according to a blog post shared by Microsoft. The new app is designed to allow Apple users to access their iCloud content on their Windows 10 PCs.
The iCloud app for Windows includes iCloud Drive, iCloud Photos, Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Safari Bookmarks, and more.
What you can do with iCloud for Windows
- Safely store your photos and videos in iCloud. With iCloud Photos, any new photos and videos that you take on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch automatically download to your PC. And you can upload new photos and videos from your PC so that you can access them from your other devices too. - Use Shared Albums to share photos and videos with just the people you choose. Then invite friends to add their own photos, videos, and comments. - Get your documents on every device you use with iCloud Drive. Simply drag your documents into the iCloud Drive folder on your PC and access them at any time, on any device. - Keep your iCloud Mail, Contacts, Calendars, and Reminders up to date automatically between your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC. - Keep your Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Google Chrome bookmarks on Windows the same as your Safari bookmarks. - Update your iCloud preferences, see how much iCloud storage you're using, delete items to free up storage, and update your storage plan whenever you want.
According to Microsoft, the iCloud Drive feature on Windows is powered by the same Windows technology behind the OneDrive Files On-Demand Feature, which lets users be more productive offline on mobile devices and quickly share files on iOS.
Apple has a support document for getting started with iCloud for Windows, which basically requires having an existing iCloud setup on an Apple device.
Windows users can download iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store starting today.
Belkin today announced a new addition to its lineup of HomeKit-compatible Wemo-branded smart devices, the Wemo 3-Way Light Switch, which is now available.
Announced at CES, the new 3-Way Light Switch is priced at $49.99 and adds HomeKit functionality to your household lights.
The new Light Switch joins the Wemo Mini Smart Plug and the Wemo Dimmer, Belkin's other devices that offer full HomeKit compatibility without the need for the Wemo Smart Bridge.
Other Wemo products, such as the Insight Smart Plug, Motion Sensor, and existing Light Switch connect to HomeKit setups through the Wemo Smart Bridge. The newest Wemo products are much more convenient, offering a HomeKit connection without the use of the bridge.
You're able to control the Light Switch using the Home app, the Wemo app, or Siri functionality, and it also works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
The 3-Way Light Switch is available today from Belkin or from Amazon, and it will be available from Apple starting on June 18.
iMovie for iOS was today updated to version 2.2.7, adding a long list of new features to the video editing app for the iPhone and the iPad.
The update brings a new green screen effect that lets you remove the background of clips shot in front of a green or blue screen, a neat new feature for quickly swapping in a new background.
Still images with transparent backgrounds, such as logos or graphics, can be inserted on top of your video, and photos can be used as overlays to create picture-in-picture and split-screen effects.
Apple has added 80 new soundtracks across genres that include pop, chill, sentimental, and more, all of which automatically adjust to match the length of your video.
Apple has removed the ability to share to iMovie Theater, and all movies and trailers are now saved to iCloud Photos to watch them on other devices.
There are also a few other minor tweaks and bug fixes, with Apple's full release notes below:
- Transform your video with the new green screen effect that lets you instantly remove the background of clips shot in front of a green or blue screen - Adjust the green screen effect with a 4-point mask and strength slider - Choose from 80 new soundtracks in genres including pop, chill, and sentimental that automatically adjust to match the length of your movie - Drop in still images with transparent backgrounds to use as logos or custom graphics on top of your video - Add photos as overlays to create picture-in-picture and split-screen effects - Choose to hide the border that surrounds picture-in-picture and split-screen effects - Instantly return to the edit screen of your project when switching back to iMovie from other applications - ClassKit support lets students deliver video assignments to teachers using the Schoolwork app - For users with videos in iMovie Theater, the Theater window is now accessible from the ••• menu at the bottom of the Projects screen - Sharing to iMovie Theater is no longer supported; save your movies and trailers to iCloud Photos to watch them on other devices including Apple TV - Resolves an issue that could lead to a black viewer when previewing your video fullscreen on an external display
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Mojave 10.14.6 update to developers, three weeks after seeding the first macOS Mojave 10.14.6 beta and a month after the release of macOS Mojave 10.14.5, which brought AirPlay 2 support for third-party TVs.
The new macOS Mojave 10.14.6 beta can be downloaded through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after the proper profile has been installed from Apple's Developer Center.
There were no new features or significant changes discovered in the first beta of macOS Mojave 10.14.6, which indicates it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't able to be addressed in the macOS Mojave 10.14.5 update.
If new features are found in the second beta of macOS Mojave 10.14.6, we'll update this post with details.
macOS Mojave 10.14.6 is likely to be one of the last updates to the macOS Mojave operating system as Apple will soon transition to work on macOS Catalina, announced at WWDC last week.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.4 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the second tvOS 12.4 beta and a month after releasing the tvOS 12.3 update with the new TV app.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 12.4 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV through a profile that's installed using Apple's Xcode software.
There were no new features discovered in the first two betas of tvOS 12.4, suggesting the update focuses on under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements rather than outward-facing features, which is typical for new tvOS software.
Apple offers up little information on what's included in tvOS updates, so we may not know what's new in tvOS 12.4 even after release. Despite the limited information, we share news of new tvOS updates so developers are able to download the software upon release.
Should we discover new features in the third tvOS 12.4 beta, we'll update this post with details.
Apple today seeded the third beta of an upcoming watchOS 5.3 update to developers, two weeks after releasing the second watchOS 5.3 beta and two weeks after the launch of watchOS 5.2.1, an update that expanded ECG availability and introduced new pride watch faces.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
There were no new features discovered in the first two watchOS 5.3 betas, suggesting that it focuses on bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements.
There could also be hidden changes that will be available after the update is released, such as support for the upcoming Apple Card, set to debut this summer. If new features are discovered in the third watchOS 5.3 beta, we'll update this post with details.
Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming iOS 12.4 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the third iOS 12.4 beta, and a month after releasing iOS 12.3, a major update that introduced a revamped TV app.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.4 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
There were no new features discovered in the first three iOS 12.4 betas, so it's not entirely clear what's coming in the update. As a more significant 12.x update, it's possible that the update is focusing on a feature that's not yet available -- the Apple Card.
Apple is planning to release the Apple Card in the summer, so iOS 12.4 could be the update that prepares the iOS operating system for that launch, adding hidden features that will be unlocked when the update becomes available to the public.
If we find new features in the fourth beta of iOS 12.4, we'll update this post.
iOS 12.4 may be one of the last updates to the iOS 12 operating system as Apple transitions to iOS 13, set to launch this September.
"As we near completion of our new Viborg data center in central Jutland, Denmark, we've decided to focus on growing that site instead of building an additional data center in Aabanraa," an Apple spokesperson told Reuters today.
In July 2017, Apple announced that it planned to spend nearly $1 billion on a data center just outside of Aabenraa, a small town in Denmark near the German border. As with Apple's other data centers, the Aabenraa facility was expected to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, including wind and biomass.
Aabenraa officials described the news as "completely unexpected," noting that Apple informed them of its decision with a "short phone call" today. The municipality said it will assist Apple with selling the 285-hectare property.
The first phase of construction of Apple's other data center in Denmark, near Viborg, is expected to be completed later this year.
Dutch company TomTom today announced that it has significantly revamped its iPhone navigation app with several new features, including customizable offline maps with weekly updates, lane guidance, and CarPlay support. The app has also been renamed from TomTom GO Mobile to TomTom GO Navigation.
The offline maps are available on an à-la-carte basis, meaning that users can download maps only for the regions they need to save storage space. TomTom says the maps will automatically receive weekly updates to help users avoid newly blocked lanes, active road construction, and other traffic delays.
CarPlay support enables users to access the TomTom app from their dashboard display in vehicles equipped with Apple's software platform, complete with new lane guidance functionality that helps users avoid missing turns and last-second merges by zooming in on their lane as they approach an intersection or exit.
Unfortunately, the iPhone app's route bar is not available on CarPlay at this time:
Hi Dirk, unfortunately, the CarPlay® User Interface templates do not allow for the route bar in its current form. We are investigating ways to incorporate the information and features of the route bar in future versions of the app. Cheers, TomTom Team
— TomTom (@TomTom) June 11, 2019
TomTom GO Navigation also provides point-of-interest search, real-time traffic conditions, speed camera alerts, and other services.
TomTom GO Navigation is available in the App Store and is expected to launch on Android later this year. The app offers a free trial, followed by one-, three-, and six-month subscriptions for $1.99, $4.99, and $8.99 respectively.
Best Buy has introduced a new sale this week, highlighting discounts on both the Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4. The sale covers numerous models of each Apple Watch from 2017 and 2018, including stainless steel cases, aluminum cases, GPS only models, and GPS and cellular models.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Although there are many devices in the sale, you'll find the same savings for each Apple Watch model: Series 3 devices are discounted by $80 and Series 4 devices are discounted by $50. This means that prices on Apple Watch Series 3 start as low as $199 and prices on Apple Watch Series 4 start as low as $349.
We've listed a few devices on sale below, but be sure to head to Best Buy to browse every Apple Watch that's been marked down.
The Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4 are both rated for immersion in water as deep as 50 meters, but there are a few differences between the two models. The newer Series 4 has an upgraded processor, a bigger display area, fall detection, and an electrical heart sensor that lets you measure your own ECG, which is one of the big new features of the wearable.
Series 3 models lack these features, but you'll still be getting all of the expected health tracking features, the ability to log your workouts, and iPhone-connected benefits, like receiving texts on your wrist. If you're looking to jump into the Apple Watch ecosystem for the first time and don't care about having the newest gadget, Series 3 models are definitely a solid place to start.
Head to our full Deals Roundup to stay up-to-date on all of the latest and greatest sales happening now.
Update 2: Apple Watch Series 4 models with GPS only are launching in Slovenia on July 19:
@MacRumors Hey guys, seems like Apple Watch (GPS models only for now) will finally go on sale in Slovenia starting next Friday. The promo image (from https://t.co/utnIoLlML6) is in Slovene but it shouldn't be hard to understand "19. julij" (July 19). pic.twitter.com/C1pZFVudGC
— Nace Jemec 🏳️🌈 (@w3bfreak) July 12, 2019
Apple surpassed Google but Amazon usurped both tech giants to become the world's most valuable brand in market research firm Kantar's annual BrandZ brand value report.
According to the BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brand ranking 2019 [PDF], the ecommerce giant saw its brand value rise to $315.5 billion, beating second-placed Apple's $309.5 billion evaluation and Google's $309 billion in third. Apple's brand value saw a 3 percent rise over last year, while Google saw a 2 percent rise, but Amazon outshone both with a whopping 52 percent gain.
Amazon's rise to the top spot ends a Google-Apple duopoly that began in 2007 when Google surpassed Microsoft to capture the No. 1 rank. Apple and Google had since jostled amongst each other for the position, but Google took the top spot from Apple in 2018.
Doreen Wang, Kantar’s global head of BrandZ, told CNBC that Amazon's jump was due to it selling a variety of services.
"Amazon’s phenomenal brand value growth of almost $108 billion in the last year demonstrates how brands are now less anchored to individual categories and regions. The boundaries are blurring as technology fluency allow brands, such as Amazon, Google and Alibaba, to offer a range of services across multiple consumer touchpoints."
The top ten most valuable global brands in the report is made up almost entirely of technology and telecom companies, with Microsoft, Visa, Facebook, Alibaba Group, Tencent, McDonald's, and AT&T rounding off the top ten after Amazon, Apple, and Google.
To qualify for the ranking, brands must be publicly traded, or publish their financial results. BrandZ’s list uses measures of brand equity based on interviews with over 3 million consumers about thousands of brands, with analysis of each company and financial performance, using data from Kantar Worldpanel.
Brandz is one of several brand rankings released each year, with others including Forbes and Interbrand. Apple has consistently performed well in these studies over the past decade as its revenue has ballooned on the strength of iPhone sales, but the company is increasingly looking to subscription services, original content, and other untapped markets to prop up its business in the face of the recent downturn in the global smartphone market.
Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn says it has enough capacity to make all iPhones bound for the U.S. market outside of China if the current trade war between the two countries intensifies.
That's according to Foxconn board nominee and semiconductor division chief Young Liu, who made the comments at an investor briefing in Taipei on Tuesday, reports Bloomberg.
As the U.S.-China trade war gets more unpredictable, Foxconn – also known as Hon Hai – will "fully support Apple if it needs to adjust its production," he said.
"Twenty-five percent of our production capacity is outside of China and we can help Apple respond to its needs in the U.S. market," said Liu, adding that investments are now being made in India for Apple. "We have enough capacity to meet Apple’s demand."
Liu conceded that Apple has not given its Taiwanese partner instructions to move production out of China, but he said Foxconn is "capable of moving lines elsewhere according to customers' need."
The Hon Hai senior executive said it will respond swiftly and rely on localized manufacturing in response to the trade war, just as it saw the need to have a base in the U.S. two years ago before the trade dispute began.
Foxconn has been considering expanding its production plants in India as a way to diversify its supply chain away from China, where most of the Taiwan-based firm's facilities currently reside.
Apple manufactures most of its iPhones through Foxconn, but the latter's growing India base provides security in the face of Apple's vulnerability to rising U.S.-China tensions over trade and technology.
Foxconn already has plants in India, and in late 2017 it was reported that the firm would invest around $356 million to expand its facilities there to begin assembling Apple's high-end iPhones. Manufacturing iPhones in India could help Apple lower prices by allowing it to avoid a tariff that adds 20 percent to devices imported from China.
The Mozilla Foundation is working on a premium version of its Firefox browser, according to a new report. German media site 
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