Less than a month ahead of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has outlined his expectations for iOS 13, macOS 10.15, watchOS 6, and more, which we've summarized below.
A new systemwide Sleep Mode that can be toggled in Control Center to turn on Do Not Disturb, darken the Lock Screen, and mute all notifications. This is said to be tied to improvements to the Bedtime tab in the Clocks app.
A revamped Messages app with a WhatsApp-like feature that enables users to set a profile picture and display name, and choose who sees it, and a dedicated menu for Animoji and Memoji stickers
A revamped Maps app will make it easier to set frequent locations, like home or work addresses, and then navigate there. Improved grouping of frequent locations with ability to add photos.
A revamped Reminders app with four default sections laid out in a grid: tasks to be done today, all tasks, scheduled tasks, and flagged tasks
A revamped Books app with updated progress tracker and new rewards system
A revamped Health app with an improved view of daily activity, more comprehensive menstrual cycle tracking, and more
A revamped Mail app with ability to mute individual threads, block incoming email from certain contacts, and simpler folder management
New default swipe-based keyboard option like SwiftKey
New feature that will let users use their iPad as an external display for a Mac, complete with support for Apple Pencil, notifications, and more, as previously reported by 9to5Mac
A combined Find MyiPhone and Find My Friends app, and possibly a Tile-like tag for tracking devices, as previously reported by 9to5Mac
User interface tweaks, including a new animation when launching the multitasking pane and closing apps and tweaks to the home screen on iPad
iPad is getting some unique features, including an updated interface for multi-tasking, tweaks to the home screen, and the ability to cycle through different versions of the same app
A more comprehensive Accessibility menu on the main page of the Settings app with improved hearing aid support and more
Performance improvements and bug fixes
macOS 10.15
Marzipan: iPhone and iPad apps can be easily ported to the Mac with new SDK that simplifies the cross-platform development process. This is said to be the first step in a plan to merge iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps into a single package that can run on any of those devices by 2021.
Apple Music, Podcasts, and merged Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps
A dedicated App Store app on the Apple Watch itself
Voice Memos, Calculator, and Books apps
"Dose" and "Cycles" apps for pill reminders and menstrual cycle tracking respectively
Animoji and Memoji sticker support in sync with iPhone
New watch faces, including one with a custom "gradient" design and at least two "X-Large" versions with very large font; new complications for audiobooks, battery life of hearing aids, and more
Apple is also said to be planning to let the HomePod respond to multiple users in a future software update tied to iOS 13.
As usual, Gurman notes that some of Apple's plans could change between now and WWDC, so some features may end up being slightly different than described, kept internal, or axed entirely.
Looking ahead, Apple is said to be already working on iOS 14 with support for 5G and new AR functionality on 2020 iPhones.
British Government services have begun accepting Apple Pay to approve online transactions. The gov.uk website is accepting Apple's mobile payment system for four services initially, but it will roll out more widely as well as to local government, police, and the NHS later this year, ITV reports.
Payments for the Global Entry Service, enabling UK citizens to get expedited entry to the US, can now be made via Apple or Google Pay. The same goes for basic online disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks, the Registered Traveller Service and the Electronic Visa Waiver Service for people in the Middle East coming to the UK.
Till Wirth, lead product manager of gov.uk Pay, said: "Allowing people to pay for Government services through Apple Pay and Google Pay means they won't have to enter their credit or debit card information when making payments.
"This innovation will increase the convenience and security of gov.uk Pay for users and hopefully make their experience online a lot easier."
Apple Pay launched in the United Kingdom in 2015, while the UK government launched its online Pay platform in 2016. The gov.uk Pay service has since been used to make more than 2.9 million transactions using credit and debit cards, according to the report.
Apple is to be formally investigated by the European Commission after Spotify accused the company of using the App Store to deliberately disadvantage other app developers.
According to a report by the Financial Times, EU competition commission has decided to launch a formal antitrust investigation into Apple's conduct "in the next few weeks" after surveying customers, rivals and others in the market.
Spotify in March filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the EU in which it argued that the iPhone maker enforced App Store rules that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience."
Apple swiftly hit back at the accusation, labeling it as "misleading rhetoric" and arguing that "Spotify wants all the benefits of a free app without being free."
Spotify's complaint focuses on Apple's policy of charging a 30 per cent fee on App Store purchases, which means Spotify has to charge existing subscribers $12.99 per month for its Premium plan via the App Store just to collect its standard $9.99 per month charge.
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek claimed that the policy gives Apple an "unfair advantage," since Spotify is unable to fairly compete with Apple Music's standard $9.99 per month price within the App Store.
Alternatively, if Spotify chooses not to collect payments via the App Store, Ek said that Apple "applies a series of technical and experience-limiting restrictions" on the company. Over time, this has also included "locking Spotify and other competitors out of Apple services such as Siri, HomePod, and Apple Watch."
The EU can force companies to change business practices they deem unlawful and levy fines of up to 10 per cent of a company's global turnover. However, investigations by the European Commission can take years to resolve unless the companies involved offer to settle the probes by making legally binding agreements to change their behavior.
Apple plans to use modified-PI (MPI) material for most antennas in 2019 iPhones, rather than the liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material used for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR antennas, according to the latest research note from reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.
Kuo believes that LCP limits the RF performance of the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR antennas due to current technology limitations and production issues. This puts the RF performance of MPI material at least on par with LCP, despite MPI being easier and cheaper to produce.
While switching to MPI material for 2019 iPhone antennas appears to be a no-brainer decision for Apple, Kuo expects that LCP will still be the primary material for 5G antennas in 2020 iPhones, as he believes that the production issues limiting the RF performance of LCP will be resolved by then.
In today's note, Kuo also said he expects Apple to use LCP material in future iPad models, starting from the late fourth quarter of 2019.
In a separate research note last month, which has only been seen by Taiwanese media so far, Kuo said two new iPad Pro models with the same 11-inch and 12.9-inch screen sizes as the current models will enter mass production between the fourth quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.
Kuo said those new iPad Pro models will feature flexible circuit boards using LCP, but we've yet to receive that research note in English, so we cannot confirm any further details at this time.
Apple is set to open a new retail store at the revamped Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 11, and ahead of the grand opening, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Apple retail leader Deirdre O'Brien did an interview with The Washington Post to discuss the new flagship location.
Work on the Carnegie Library Apple Store kicked off two years ago, and Apple has spent an estimated $30 million on the project. $7 million of that went towards facade restoration, $300,000 went to restoring the stair wells, and $2 million was spent on landscaping and site work. Apple is also paying $700,000 per year for the next 10 years to lease the space.
According to Cook, restoring Carnegie Library to its original design standards became the "most historic, ambitious restoration by far, in the world." Apple believes projects like this help showcase "Today at Apple" services and classes, though the company's aim is to get customers to further associate Apple with creativity.
"Our roots are in education and creativity," Cook said. "You think about where the company started from and Steve and the team at the time were very focused on providing people tools that allowed them to do incredible things."
"We've been serving the creative community as a company since the founding of the company, and the truth is everyone should be a part of the creative community," Cook added, "so this is our way to democratize it."
Like other remodeled Apple Stores, Carnegie Library will use the town square design with dedicated sections for the Genius Grove, Today at Apple sessions, and shopping for retail products. Buying something, says Cook is "probably one of the least done things" in an Apple retail location.
People come in to look at new products, and get help with the products that they already own. Apple sees its retail locations as communities rather than standard stores.
"We should probably come up with a name other than 'store,' " he said, "because it's more of a place for the community to use in a much broader way."
The Carnegie Library store will open at 10:00 a.m. local time on May 11, and Apple has six weeks of programs from local artists planned in celebration of the launch.
Apple will be sharing the space with the Historical Society of Washington D.C., which plans to open up a D.C. History Center.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Solo New York to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a backpack, sleeve, or briefcase for the MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air.
Solo New York offers a range of different bags, backpacks, and cases, to keep your Apple products safe and secure, and all accessories feature attractive, streamlined designs without super high price tags. We've got a selection of products to provide to MacRumors readers, as outlined below.
The All-Star Backpack Duffel, priced at $86.99, transforms from a backpack into a duffel and can hold your laptop and a ton of other stuff with its 22.6L capacity. There's a padded space for a MacBook, an internal organizer section, front pockets, and a separate compartment for your shoes or laundry to keep everything organized.
It's made from a tough nylon fabric that's lightweight and stylish, with shoulder straps and multiple hand straps so it's convenient to hold in any orientation.
Solo's Kilbourn Leather Backpack is one of its highest-end products, and for the $250 price tag, you get a quality bag made from full grain pebble leather that's perfect for when you want something classier than a traditional backpack but still need a lot of storage space.
There's a padded laptop compartment that can accommodate a 15-inch Macbook Pro, a separate internal iPad pocket to keep your iPad safe, an easy-access front pocket with a magnetic closure, and a back panel that slides over a luggage handle. Camouflage lining complements the black leather exterior, and padded back and shoulder straps make sure it's comfortable to carry.
If you prefer briefcase styles, Solo's $65 Voyage Briefcase has plenty of room for all of your essentials. There's a padded laptop compartment that's easy to get to, which is ideal for airline travel, plus a separate pocket for an iPad. At the front, there's an organizer section where you can put all of your cables, power adapters, pens, credit cards, and other accessories, and there's space inside the main compartment for everything else.
The Voyage Briefcase is made from a heathered gray material that looks snappy, and there's a removable shoulder strap along with a hand strap. A back strap at the side allows it to slide over a luggage handle for easy travel.
Solo also has the $55 Duane Hybrid Briefcase Backpack, which, as the name suggests, converts from a briefcase into a backpack depending on how you want to use it. There's a padded laptop compartment that fits a 15-inch MacBook Pro, a separate iPad compartment, a large front pocket that's able to hold all of your accessories, and two separate quick access front pockets.
There's a removable shoulder strap, a main hand strap for using it in briefcase mode, and padded backpack straps that tuck away when it's not being used in backpack mode.
Along with bags, Solo makes sleeves and cases for Apple devices, including the Portal Sleeve for the 13 or 15-inch MacBook Pro, which is priced at $33. The Portal Sleeve is a padded laptop sleeve that can be tucked away in another bag, keeping your MacBook Pro safe from bumps and drops. It has an attractive dark gray exterior with camouflage lining, and it matches well with other Solo products.
We have one of each of the above listed products from Solo to give away to MacRumors readers. The first winner picked will receive the Kilbourn Leather Backpack, the second will get the All-Star Backpack Duffel, the third will get the Voyage Briefcase, the fourth will get the Duane Briefcase, and the fifth will get the Portal Sleeve.
To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (May 3) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 10. The winners will be chosen randomly on May 10 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
The SEC today announced it has charged GT Advanced Technologies and its former CEO Thomas Gutierrez with misleading investors about the company's ability to supply sapphire glass for iPhones. The company is also found to have misclassified more than $300 million in debt to Apple.
In the fall of 2013, Apple agreed to advance $578 million in four installments to GT in exchange for sapphire glass that met certain technical standards, the SEC says. By late April 2014, GT had failed to meet those standards, resulting in Apple withholding its final $139 million installment and demanding repayment.
On earnings calls in the second quarter of 2014, however, Gutierrez falsely stated that GT expected to hit performance targets and receive the fourth installment payment from Apple by October 2014. GT ended up filing for bankruptcy shortly after, which the SEC says resulted in "significant investor harm."
SEC associate director Anita B. Bandy:
GT and its CEO painted a rosy picture of the company's performance and ability to obtain funding that was paramount to GT's survival while they were aware of information that would have catastrophic consequences for the company. We will continue to hold chief executives accountable when they breach their most fundamental duty to make full and truthful disclosures to investors.
GT Advanced Technologies was expected to become a major Apple supplier, as it was supposedly able to manufacture extremely thin sheets of sapphire much more cheaply than current methods. For now, Apple continues to source non-sapphire glass from Corning in Kentucky for use in products like the iPhone.
Powerbeats Pro are Apple's first totally wireless Beats earphones, equipped with the same H1 chip as the second-generation AirPods for hands-free "Hey Siri" and faster connection speeds between the iPhone, Apple Watch, and other devices.
Like the Powerbeats3, the Powerbeats Pro feature adjustable, secure-fit ear hooks and earbud tips with four size options. They're essentially sportier AirPods, complete with a durable design and sweat resistance. They'll last up to nine hours per charge, with more battery life via an included charging case.
Powerbeats Pro are priced at $249.95 in the United States and $329.95 in Canada. The earphones will be available at Apple Stores and select resellers like Best Buy on May 10 in those two countries, with other regions listed as "coming soon." Ivory, Moss, and Navy colors will be available later this year.
Orders placed today are currently estimated for delivery by May 14 to May 21.
Best Buy is currently offering Apple Watch Series 4 models for $50 off in a new sale, which also includes special cellular offers for Verizon customers and an ongoing Apple Watch trade-in program offer. The main sale discounts the brand-new aluminum Apple Watch Series 4 in 40mm to $349.00, down from $399.00.
The event includes dozens of Series 4 models with various bands, case finishes, and sizes. You can find some of the Apple Watches on sale in the lists below, and be sure to head to Best Buy to browse the full event and place your order before it ends. As a note, many of the prices are also being matched at Amazon.
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.
For Verizon customers looking to purchase two cellular Apple Watch models, you can buy one select Apple Watch and save up to 50 percent (up to $190) on the second. This offer includes Series 3 and Series 4 devices and requires at least one new line. You can find more details about the sale right here.
Best Buy shoppers also have a chance to trade in their old Apple Watch toward a new Series 4 model and get as much as $100 for the current device. This offer and many more discounts and bargains in Best Buy's Apple Shopping Event are still live, including a notable sale on the latest MacBook Air.
For even more discounts, head to our full Deals Roundup.
YouTube on Thursday announced a new original TV content strategy that will see the Google-owned video hub make new programs available to users on a free, ad-supported basis (via Deadline).
Nine new programs will be made available on YouTube this year, with a mix of original content, including a documentary about sports tricks outfit Dude Perfect, and an interactive series featuring YouTube star Mark Fischbach that allows viewers to control the storyline.
Other programs include a third season of the Karate Kid-inspired Cobra Kai, an investigation show from media startup Vox, and a set of standalone films from "The School of Life" YouTube channel, which "explores some of the greatest philosophical questions of our age," according to YouTube.
The development represents a shift in strategy since the arrival of YouTube Premium in May 2018 (previously YouTube Red), which offered ad-free viewing and other benefits, including original programming offered behind a $12-a-month paywall. The latter perk apparently hasn't been as popular as YouTube was hoping, so the new direction is about making original content available to as many users as possible on an ad-supported basis.
"For today's viewers, primetime is personal and our content resonates so strongly due to the diversity and richness of our unmatched library and platform capabilities," Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl said in the official announcement. "While every other media company is building a paywall, we are headed in the opposite direction and now have more opportunities than ever to partner with advertisers and share our critically-acclaimed originals with our global audience."
Another reason for the shift is Google's recognition of the growth in viewing YouTube in the living room, where about 250 million hours of YouTube fare are watched every day, on average, according to the company.
YouTube will continue to test original content benefits for subscribers. For example, all episodes from the third season of Cobra Kai will be available to subscribers in one block, while non-subscribers will gain access to one new episode per week. New episodes of some existing programs are also likely to remain subscriber-only because of contractual commitments, YouTube said.
Toyota today announced that CarPlay and Amazon Alexa support will be standard features in its all-new 2020 Prius Prime range in the United States.
Toyota states that CarPlay will come as standard across the full line of 2020 hybrid plug-in Prius models, so customers won't have to pay extra for Apple's in-car infotainment system. As in other Toyota vehicles, CarPlay remains a wired implementation in the 2020 Prius Prime.
Other new features include two additional USB-A ports for rear passengers, an additional fifth seat, black interior accents for a more premium feel, and a new sun visor extender.
Available this summer, the 2020 Prius Prime's suggested retail price for the LE grade will be $27,600, the XLE grade will be $29,500 and the Limited grade will be $33,500.
Other Toyota vehicles equipped with CarPlay include the 2019 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2019 Sienna, 2019 Camry, 2020 Tacoma, 2020 Tundra, 2020 Sequoia, 2020 Corolla, 2020 Yaris Hatchback, and 2020 Highlander.
Earlier this week, Toyota announced plans to bring CarPlay to 2018 Toyota Camry sedans and 2018 Toyota Sienna minivans through a new retrofitting program that will be available through Toyota dealers.
Adobe today quietly debuted new pricing for its Photography bundle, which has long been available for $9.99 per month. Starting today, Adobe's website is listing a price tag of $19.99 per month, which is double the previous price.
The bundle includes access to Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, and Lightroom Classic, and is aimed at photographers. In a statement provided to PetaPixel, Adobe said that it is testing new pricing tiers.
"From time to time, we run tests on Adobe.com which cover a range of items, including plan options that may or may not be presented to all visitors to Adobe.com. We are currently running a number of tests on Adobe.com."
Most users appear to be seeing the updated pricing on the Adobe website, but there is a hidden section of the site where one can still purchase the Photography plan for $9.99 per month.
The new plan does offer 1TB of storage instead of 20GB of storage, but for those who do not use Adobe storage, the new pricing doubles the cost with no added benefit.
It is not clear if Adobe is planning permanent pricing changes for its Photography plan or if prices are going to change for existing subscribers in the future. If you previously signed up for the Photography option, you're likely paying $9.99 per month at the current time.
Adobe offers other plans, pricing a single app at $20.99 and access to all apps at $52.99 per month, but it has offered the lower-cost $9.99 per month Photography plan option since 2013.
So far, GameClub is seeing early successes, and in addition to raising $2.5 million in seed funding, GameClub already has a handful of Early Access games that you can play right now.
GameClub games like Run Roo Run, Cubed Rally World, and Incoboto are available through TestFlight and you can check them out right now for free. Links are below:
To install these, you need to download Apple's TestFlight app and then click one of the links above to open it up in the TestFlight app. From there, just tap on "Install" and you'll be able to play the game.
In the future, a few titles that were super popular back in the day will be introduced on GameClub, including Super Crate Box from Vlambeer, Plunderland from Glitchers, and Space Miner from Venan Entertainment. All of these games are from the early days of the App Store and many fans will undoubtedly be thrilled to see them available to play once again.
Super QuickHook
More than 50 titles in all are in the works at the current time, and GameClub plans to add more games in the future. There's a tentative fall launch date for GameClub, and while details on pricing have yet to be announced, there will be no ads or microtransactions in any of the games available through GameClub, a rarity in an App Store dominated by freemium titles.
GameClub's creators are focusing on creating a robust catalog of games and making sure early access testers are satisfied with quality of the updates and the direction of the GameClub catalog before details like pricing are solidified, and with funding in place, GameClub says it has time to experiment with what works best for its customers.
Incoboto
There are hundreds of now-defunct gaming titles that have disappeared from the App Store, which leaves a lot of potential for GameClub in the future. Developers of some early titles have been unable to keep up with the changes implemented in the App Store over the years, but with GameClub handling the modernization process, many older titles could see re-releases.
The iPhone has been around for more than 10 years, which has given accessory manufacturers time to come up with all manner of useful add-ons that enhance, protect, and charge your iPhone.
There are so many iPhone accessories on the market that we can't go through them all, but in this guide, we're highlighting some products that we think are among the best accessories you can get for the iPhone. We'll be updating this guide over time to add new items, remove old items, and highlight great products we come across, so make sure to check back in from time to time.
Cases and Screen Protectors
There are an endless number of iPhone cases and screen protectors on the market, and here at MacRumors, we've tested much of what's available. I'm not going to go through every iPhone case that you can get because that list would be endless, but will instead highlight some of the favorites that we've used over the years and some of the favorite brands of our readers.
- Silicone Cases from Apple ($35 to $39) - Apple designs iPhone cases to go along with its iPhones, and because these are Apple created, they're a perfect fit for every iPhone. Apple's silicone cases are grippy, thin enough not to add a lot of bulk, and, most importantly, protective. I've been using silicone cases almost exclusively on my iPhones since the iPhone 6, and through many, many drops, some quite significant, my iPhones have always survived intact. If you don't like the feel of silicone, which some people don't, Apple also has a great selection of leather cases that are just as protective.
- Smart Battery Case ($129) - Apple has a series of Smart Battery Cases for all of its modern iPhones, which extend the battery life of your iPhone. These cases are similar to the Silicone Cases from Apple, but have a bump for a battery pack on the back. If you're regularly running out of battery life during the day or want extra battery for an upcoming trip or outing, these cases from Apple are your best bet for extra power in a convenient way without having to carry another accessory. Apple's Battery Cases can charge wirelessly and you can see the battery life left right on your iPhone.
- Velvet Caviar iPhone Cases ($30) - If you're looking for a case that's a bit out of the ordinary and more eye catching than your standard case, make sure to check out Velvet Caviar. Velvet Caviar cases are lightweight and don't add a lot of bulk, but will protect your iPhone from drops and bumps. There's a front bumper to keep your display safe too, and there are plenty of unique patterns.
- Spigen's Liquid Air Case ($19.99) - Spigen cases are super popular with MacRumors readers because they're protective, dependable, well-made, and won't break the bank. Spigen offers a ton of iPhone case options and all are pretty great, but the Liquid Air in particular is thin, making it perfect if you hate bulk, easy to get on and off, and protective. Another favorite is the Liquid Crystal, similar to the Liquid Air but clear so it lets the design of the iPhone shine through.
- iCarez Glass Screen Protectors (~$8) - There are a lot of screen protectors on the market at wildly different price points, and most of them function in a similar way. MacRumors videographer Dan vouches for iCarez's screen protectors, which are affordable, offer a perfect fit, and have an easy installation process. You can get iCarez screen protectors for all of Apple's iPhones at a discounted price on Amazon.
Chargers
- Logitech POWERED 3-in-1 Dock ($130) - The Logitech POWERED 3-in-1 Dock is a new entry in Logitech's lineup of wireless chargers, and a new favorite. It features an upright charger for charging the iPhone, an Apple Watch charging puck, and a small space to charge the AirPods or another iPhone. Upright chargers are great because your iPhone always goes in the right spot for wireless charging, and this model doesn't take up too much desk space.
- Scosche BaseLynx Modular Charging System Kit ($90) - Scosche's BaseLynx is a modular charging kit that lets you buy just the components you need, snapping them together to form a customizable charging dock for all your devices. There's an Apple Watch charger, a wireless charger for the iPhone, a slotted dock for charging an iPad and other devices, plus an add-on USB-C unit. Individual pieces are around $30 to $50, and kits with multiple pieces are available starting at $90.
- Zens Liberty Wireless Charger ($140) - The Liberty Wireless Charger from Zens features 16 coils, which means overlapping charging power no matter where you place your iPhone or AirPods to charge. It also includes a USB-A port for charging an extra device or attaching an Apple Watch charger, which is available for an additional $30.
- Nomad Base Station Apple Watch Edition ($139) - Nomad's Apple Watch Base Station has an Apple Watch charging puck for charging the Apple Watch, along with a double coil Qi wireless charging pad, making it a great alternative to the now-canceled AirPower. You can use the wireless charging pad to charge the iPhone horizontally, but if you put the iPhone vertically, it frees up a little spot for charging the AirPods, so all three devices charge at one time. It's pricy, but it's one of the best multi-device chargers on the market.
- ElevationDock 4 ($50) - If you prefer charging over Lightning to wireless charging (it's faster!) the ElevationDock 4 is one of the best docks on the market. It's slim and doesn't take up much room on a desk, and the suction material on the bottom means that you can dock and undock your iPhone one handed. That might not seem like a big deal, but it's huge when it comes to convenience.
- Logitech 7.5W Powered Wireless Charging Stand ($69.95) - Working at MacRumors, I've tried endless wireless charging options and the upright chargers are my preference. It's easy to get your iPhone in the right spot for charging with no fuss and you can see the screen. Of the upright chargers I've tested, I like Logitech's Powered Wireless Charging Stand best. It always works, I can put my iPhone in when it's dark at night and I know it's charging, it's 7.5W, and it doesn't take up too much space on my desk. It's pricier than the cheap chargers on Amazon, but it's sturdier, looks better, and Logitech is a trusted brand so I know it's safe. Belkin's $70 Boost Up Wireless Charging Stand is a close second.
- Anker Wireless Charger ($50) - If you're looking for a high-quality Qi-based wireless charging stand for your iPhone that's not too expensive, you might want to check out the Anker PowerWave. It features 7.5W wireless charging, is equipped with a fan to keep your iPhone cool for faster charging, and it's an upright charger so you can see the screen while your iPhone charges. If you want something cheaper, we also like Anker's $22 PortPort Wireless Stand.
- Zens Dual+Watch Wireless Charger ($112) - If you want an AirPower replacement that can charge your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at once, the Zens Dual+Watch Wireless Charger is worth checking out. It has an arm with a magnetic Apple Watch charging puck built in along with a base with dual wireless charging coils where you can put your iPhone and your AirPods Wireless Charging Case. It's available in both black and white, and it's MacRumors editor Mitchel's favorite wireless charger. Check out his review here.
- Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge ($60) - If you need an in-car Qi-based wireless charger, MacRumors editor Mitchel recommends the Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge, which charges the iPhone at 7.5W and can be attached to a window or dashboard so your iPhone is at eye level while you're driving. It uses magnets to hold the iPhone in place, and it can also be used in the house. Check out our Scosche MagicMount Pro Charge review here.
Photography and Videography
- Moment iPhone Lenses ($99+) - There are a lot of iPhone lenses out on the market that promise to improve your iPhone photography, but Moment's are some of the best I've used. Moment has super high quality telephoto (58mm) and wide-angle (18mm) that won't distort your images or lower the quality, and if you want to capture cinematic video (or photos) the anamorphic lens is a must have. Moment's lens system is super streamlined and attaches to your iPhone using a special iPhone case, which is sleek and protective in its own right. Moment also has a great collection of lens storage accessories.
- GorillaPod Stand Pro ($41) - I've been using Joby's GorillaPods for years now, both with my DSLR and my iPhone. You can manipulate them into any position thanks to the bendy legs, and you can put them anywhere for the perfect shot. The GorillaPod is super stable, works in landscape or portrait, and can be used with or without a case.
- DJI Osmo Mobile 2 ($130) - DJI's first Osmo smartphone gimbal for capturing video was expensive, but the Osmo Mobile 2 is more reasonably priced at $130, a standard price for a good gimbal. If you want to capture professional looking video on an iPhone, a smartphone gimbal is the way to go for stabilization. The Osmo Mobile 2's sensors and motors make sure your smartphone stays steady no matter what you're doing, and the battery lasts up to 15 hours.
- Zhiyun Smooth II 3 Axis Gimbal for iPhone ($190) - If you like to capture video with your iPhone, a handheld camera mount is invaluable to make sure you're getting smooth, shake-free footage. Zhiyun makes a range of gimbal camera mounts, including the Smooth II, which offers full 360 degree rotation and a 5-way joystick for adjusting angle. Check out our review here.
- SandMarc Camera Lenses ($90 to $100) - SandMarc makes a range of add-on lenses for Apple's modern iPhones, offering a 2x wide-angle lens, a fisheye lens, a macro lens, and a 2x zoom telephoto lens. These are high-quality lenses that produce crisp, clear images, and they're a favorite of MacRumors editor Tim. They're around $99 each, but you can get a discount if you buy a bundle.
- Kenu Stance Tripod ($9.95) - If you just need a simple, inexpensive tripod for photos or video watching, the Kenu Stance is a great little device at an affordable price. It fits into the Lightning port of your iPhone and can be used to prop it up in either photo or video mode.
Headphones
- AirPods 2 ($199) - No iPhone recommendation list would be complete without Apple's AirPods, because there's a reason these are some of the most popular earbuds on the market. There are no wires, connecting to the iPhone is super fast (and even faster with AirPods 2), battery life is impressive, they're comfortable, and there's "Hey Siri" support and wireless charging compatibility so you can charge them up with any Qi-based wireless charger.
- Sony WH1000XM3 Headphones ($348) - Sony's WH1000XM3 Headphones are a solid choice if you need noise canceling, and they're a favorite of several of us here at MacRumors. These headphones aren't cheap, but the noise canceling technology is excellent, they're super comfortable, and the audio sounds great. If you use Alexa, they're also Alexa enabled so you can get hands-free access to your music. Neat features like a touch gesture for temporarily turning down your music and ambient sound adjustment also make these an appealing pick.
- Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones ($280) - Apple's Beats headphones are sometimes maligned for poor audio quality, but the Beats Studio3 Wireless sound great, offer excellent battery life, and are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The Active Noise Canceling is useful, and with the included W1 chip, they connect to the iPhone as quickly and as easily as AirPods.
- Bowers & Wilkins PX Active Noise Canceling Wireless Headphones ($400) - Bowers & Wilkins is known for excellent sound quality, which makes them MacRumors editor Marianne's favorite headphones. They feature active noise canceling, which is great for travel, and they're comfortable. These are wireless, so they connect to your devices using Bluetooth and have up to 22 hours of connectivity with ANC activated and 29 hours without it. You can also use these with a wired connection if desired for even longer battery life.
Gaming
- SteelSeries Nimbus Wireless Gaming Controller ($50) - If you like to play games on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, many game titles support Made for iPhone Apple-certified controllers, so you can play like you would play a traditional console title, using a controller instead of the touchscreen. SteelSeries has long had its Nimbus controller available, and it's one of the better Made for iPhone controllers we've tested.
Cables, Power Adapters, and Battery Packs
- 45W ZMI 20,000mAh USB-C Battery Pack ($70) - If you're looking for a USB-C battery pack to power everything from your MacBook to your iPhone, the 20,000mAh USB-C battery pack from ZMI is a solid choice. It can charge most of your device multiple times over, it's affordable, and it's small enough to carry with you. You can also use it as a hub thanks to an extra USB-A port and hub functionality. We did a comparison of the most popular USB-C chargers on the market, and ZMI was one of our favorites.
- 45W Jackery Supercharge 26800mAh USB-C Portable Charger ($120) - Our other favorite USB-C battery pack comes from Jackery. The 26800mAh Supercharge has enough power for your MacBook Pro, and at 45W, it charges reasonably fast too. It can fast charge your iPhone (with appropriate cable) and iPad, making it perfect for all of your devices. There's a clear readout of remaining battery, which we loved, and it includes a 45W power adapter so you can charge it up fast.
- Anker PowerPort II USB-C PD Charger ($30) - Anker's 49.5W PowerPort II Charger comes equipped with USB-C port that offers up to 30W of power along with an extra USB-A port, so you can charge your MacBook or iPad or fast charge an iPhone along with another accessory that uses USB-A. It's affordable and a great alternative to a 30W charger from Apple.
- Anker 30W PowerPort Atom PD1 USB-C Power Adapter - If you need a 30W USB-C power adapter for fast charging purposes, Anker's PowerPort Atom PD1 is an excellent choice. It's much smaller than your average power adapter because it's using new Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor components, making it more portable and ensuring it takes up less space when used with a power strip. Anker's also known for its high-quality line of iPhone accessories and is a favorite of MacRumors. Make sure to check out our full review.
- Mophie Charge Force Powerstation ($57) - Mophie makes a wide range of external battery packs for iOS devices, all of which are reliable. The Charge Force Powerstation is a middle-of-the-road option that offers a respectable 10,000mAh capacity, enough to charge your iPhone a couple of times. Passthrough charging is supported, as is Qi-based wireless charging so you don't even need a cable with Apple's latest iPhones.
Other Accessories
- Fuse Cable Organizers ($10 to $30) - Fuse has a whole line of cable organizing products designed to wrangle messy cables, with options for Macs, iPhones, iPads, and more. If you're looking to get your cables in order, Fuse's products are well worth checking out. They're simple, affordable, and effective.
- Phone Loop ($4.99) - Phone Loops are a useful and inexpensive iPhone accessory that adds a bit of extra grip without adding any bulk. These are designed to fit underneath your iPhone case, and they work with a wide variety of case designs. The Loop goes through the camera cutout on the smartphone and wraps underneath the iPhone, cleverly providing a strap you can hold on to.
- PopSockets ($10 to $15) - PopSockets are incredibly popular because they're useful for holding an iPhone in one hand for photos, web browsing, and more, and the PopSocket also serves as a stand. Because these things are absolutely everywhere you might already have one, but if not, it's $10 well spent. You can use PopSockets with or without a case.
- Cable Bites ($5 to $10) - Cable Bites are little rubber animals that are designed to fit over the end of a Lightning or USB-C cable. They're cute, but they're also designed to be functional, preventing wear and tear on the cable from bending.
Guide Feedback
Know of an awesome iPhone accessory that isn't in our guide but should be? Let us know in the comments below or Send us an email.
Apple today sent out emails for a new Apple Pay promotion, offering a $15 discount on 1-800-Flowers just ahead of Mother's Day, which takes place on Sunday, May 12.
To get the discount, you'll need to use Apple Pay and shop the Mother's Day Collection in the 1-800-Flowers app. You can also visit the 1-800-Flowers website to receive the special pricing.
The discount will be applied automatically during the checkout process and will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 10, 2019. Apple says some restrictions and exclusions may apply, based on availability and other factors.
The Mother's Day Collection includes a variety of different floral arrangements featuring roses, lilies, mixed flowers, chocolates, orchids, and more. Pricing with the discount starts at $35.
Apple's promotion also provides links to Macy's, Print Studio, and Etsy for Mother's Day gift ideas, and it suggests that you "split a gift for mom" using Apple Pay Cash.
Spotify is beginning to test new podcast features for a select group of users, beginning with a playlist that suggests podcast episodes for you to listen to, interspersed with songs.
The playlist is aimed at users who commute frequently in their vehicles and is called "Your Daily Drive" (via The Verge). The podcasts seen in the playlist mainly center around news shows.
Spotify has been slowly gearing up for a strong push into podcasts for a few years now, but it has yet to introduce any sort of podcast curation feature or used its algorithms to recommend podcasts to subscribers. In the new playlist, the company is testing out doing just that, albeit with a few song recommendations thrown in as well.
Spotify confirmed the test to The Verge with the usual statement: "We're always testing new products and experiences, but have no further news to share at this time." Because of this, it's unclear if this new playlist will launch to a wide audience on Spotify. As of now, the playlist's podcast recommendations are in Portuguese so it appears the test is happening only outside of the United States.
Spotify appears to have a new (?) algorithmic playlist for morning commutes that mixes news podcasts and music, but all the podcasts are in a foreign language? pic.twitter.com/8HZyq6Ji3J
— dan seifert (@dcseifert) May 1, 2019
In 2019, Spotify's podcast goals began taking clearer shape with a trio of acquisitions revolving around podcasts, including Gimlet Media, Anchor, and Parcast. These acquisitions give Spotify a suite of high-profile shows to launch on its platform, as well as Anchor's podcast creation tools that could let users create and share their own podcasts on Spotify.
Once it fully launches, Spotify's podcast initiative will be a direct competitor to Apple Podcasts, which has long dominated the market, although some creators and listeners have ongoing gripes with the platform. To get an edge on Apple Podcasts, Spotify plans to focus on exclusives and improved podcast discovery -- like with this week's test -- to challenge Apple as the go-to destination for podcasts.
Apple Watch remained the world's most popular smartwatch by a significant margin last quarter, with an estimated 35.8 percent market share during the January-March period, according to Counterpoint Research. In other words, one in every three smartwatches shipped last quarter was an Apple Watch.
Samsung was a distant second with an estimated 11.1 percent market share last quarter, although that is up from 7.2 percent one year prior.
Niantic, known for Pokémon Go, has been working with WB Games on a new augmented reality project set in the Harry Potter universe, called Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. Today, Niantic officially made an open beta of the game available in Australia and New Zealand for both iOS and Android users.
In the game, players become recruits of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force and must investigate and contain a "Calamity" that has befallen the wizarding world. To that end, players must cast spells and collect artifacts and memories, and rescue characters to level up, all with the goal of keeping magic hidden from muggles.
The collecting mechanic is similar to Pokémon Go, with players locating magical artifacts instead of Pokémon, and using spells rather than Pokéballs to capture them.
Niantic notes that in the beta version of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite the features, available languages, design, and overall appearance are not final, and the product might be buggy and unstable at times. The idea of the beta is to get feedback from players so that the developers can improve the game experience.
The open beta launch in Australia and New Zealand follows a similar pattern to Pokémon Go, which was initially released in the two countries first before launching worldwide. A global release date hasn't been announced yet for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, but Niantic plans to release the game later this year. Interested gamers can sign up to receive updates on the Wizards Unite website.
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Spotify is beginning to test new podcast features for a select group of users, beginning with a playlist that suggests podcast episodes for you to listen to, interspersed with songs. 
