Apple today updated its online store with a new collection of Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, and the Sony DualShock 4 controller. For Apple Watch bands, this includes three new Sport Bands: Pomegranate, Beryl, and Khaki.
There's only one new Sport Loop, and it's for the (Product)Red initiative. This is the new dual-color style Sport Loop, with two shades of red along the length of the band.
There are also two new Hermès bands: Noir/Brique/Étain Swift Leather Double Tour and Noir/Brique/Étain Swift Leather Single Tour.
For iPhone, you can get the new Beryl and Pomegranate colors in a Silicone Case for the iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max.
Sony's DualShock 4 controller has also been added to Apple.com at a price of $59.95. In iOS 13 and tvOS 13, you can connect either a DualShock 4 or Xbox Wireless Controller to your Apple device to play compatible games or even control your PS4 remotely via Sony's Remote Play iOS app.
Lastly, Otterbox recently launched the Figura Series Otter + Pop cases for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. These cases are exclusive to Apple and combine Otterbox's protection with a built-in PopSocket accessory, for $59.95.
Apple updated its online store today alongside the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is now available to order starting at $2,399 in the United States. Our announcement post has more information on the new MacBook Pro.
Apple today announced its widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro with a larger display and slimmer bezels, a new Magic Keyboard with a scissor mechanism and physical Esc key, up to 64GB of RAM, up to 8TB of SSD storage, AMD Radeon Pro 5000M graphics options, upgraded speakers and microphones, and more.
Here are some other things to know about the new 16-inch MacBook Pro:
In addition to a scissor mechanism keyboard with a physical Esc key, another much-requested feature that Apple has reintroduced is an inverse-T arrow key layout, last used on the 15-inch MacBook Pro in 2015.
Display brightness appears to remain unchanged, with the same brightness of up to 500 nits as the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
Unlike the iPhone 11, which has 802.11ax aka Wi-Fi 6, the 16-inch MacBook Pro sticks with 802.11ac for wireless networking.
AppleCare+ remains the same $379 price as the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
As noted by Daring Fireball's John Gruber, there is about 0.5mm more space between keys. He also notes that the Touch Bar has been moved slightly further above the top row of keys to help avoid accidental touches.
We'll update this list if we spot any other tidbits worth mentioning. Let us know if you spot any others in the comments section.
Fun fact shared by @MKBHD: The new 16-inch MacBook Pro has a larger 100 watt-hour battery. That's the max allowed by the TSA for use on an airplane. pic.twitter.com/ReBKFj8gyE
— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) November 13, 2019
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is available to order today through Apple.com and the Apple Store app in many countries. It will be available in Apple Stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers in the United States later this week and is "coming soon" to stores around the world, according to Apple.
The previous 15-inch MacBook Pro included an 87W USB-C power adapter in the box.
Apple says the 16-inch MacBook Pro uses the "most advanced thermal architecture ever in a Mac notebook" to enable the system to run at higher power for sustained periods of time. The notebook also features a redesigned fan with a larger impeller, extended blades, and bigger vents for a 28 percent increase in airflow.
Apple adds that the 16-inch MacBook Pro can ultimately sustain up to 12 more watts during intensive workloads than the previous 15-inch model.
Smartphone accessory maker PopSockets today announced a new version called the PopGrip Slide that will be available in exclusive colors on Apple's website and in select Apple stores around the world. This accessory is compatible with iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max.
The PopGrip Slide attaches to the iPhone and is specifically designed to work with Apple's Silicone Cases, coming in matching Black, White, Pink Sand, Midnight Blue, and Red color options.
PopSocket accessories allow for easier one-handed control of the iPhone, and the company says that it lets users take better selfies and can even be used as a stand for watching videos. The PopGrip Slide is compatible with PopSockets swappable products so the top can be twisted off and a new design can be added.
PopGrip Slide costs $15 and will be available exclusively on Apple.com and in select Apple stores soon.
Apple today introduced its widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro with a larger display and slimmer bezels, a new Magic Keyboard with a scissor mechanism and physical Esc key, up to 64GB of RAM, up to 8TB of SSD storage, AMD Radeon Pro 5000M graphics options, upgraded speakers and microphones, and more.
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro replaces the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which has been discontinued. It is possible the 15-inch model will appear in Apple's clearance store at some point, but it is not available at this time.
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,399 in the United States, consistent with the former 15-inch MacBook Pro. A maxed-out 16-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.4GHz 8‑core Core i9 processor, 64GB of RAM, 8TB of SSD storage, and AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics runs $6,099 on Apple's online store.
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is available to order today through Apple.com and the Apple Store app in many countries. It will be available in Apple Stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers in the United States later this week and is "coming soon" to stores around the world, according to Apple.
Apple today announced and launched the long-awaited 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has now replaced the previous 15-inch MacBook Pro models in the line of Apple notebooks. Alongside the announcement, a handful of YouTubers and tech bloggers have begun sharing their first impressions of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, after having used it for a few hours.
The two big updates to the new notebook include its bigger 16-inch Retina display, and the updated scissor switch keyboard that ditches the butterfly keyboard of the previous 15-inch MacBook Pro. Essentially every first impression applauded Apple for the new keyboard, particularly in regards to the new physical Escape key (instead of a virtual one on the Touch Bar).
Below we've rounded up a few first impressions videos for the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Marques Brownlee:
iJustine:
The Verge:
UrAvgConsumer:
Engadget:
Rene Ritchie:
CNET:
The 16-inch MacBook Pro also features AMD Radeon Pro 5000M graphics options, GDDR6 video memory, a larger 100Wh battery for about an hour more battery than the previous generation, a redesigned six-speaker sound system, and upgraded microphones.
The new model starts at $2,399 in the United States and includes another $2,799 option, both of which can be individually configured with various internal upgrade options. For more information on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, be sure to read our announcement post for the notebook.
Apple has officially announced that its long-awaited Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR will be available starting in December.
Apple also announced that the new Mac Pro will be available with up to 8TB of SSD storage, after originally promising up to 4TB.
The base model Mac Pro starts at $5,999 and features an 8-core 3.5GHz Intel Xeon processor, a Radeon Pro 580X GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options are available on Apple's website.
The high-throughput machine was originally announced in June, when Apple promised a "fall" release. Apple confirmed December today:
Today, Apple also announced that the all-new Mac Pro, the world's best pro desktop, and Apple Pro Display XDR, the world's best pro display, will be available in December. Designed for maximum performance, expansion and configurability, Mac Pro features workstation-class Xeon processors up to 28 cores, a high-performance memory system with a massive 1.5TB capacity, eight PCIe expansion slots and a graphics architecture featuring the world's most powerful graphics card. Pro Display XDR features a 32-inch Retina 6K display with P3 wide and 10-bit color, 1,600 nits of peak brightness, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a superwide viewing angle, all at a breakthrough price point.
Apple is also releasing the Pro Display XDR alongside the Mac Pro next month. The high-end monitor costs $4,999, or $5,999 for a version with a "nano-texture" matte coating. The stand costs $999 and a VESA mount costs $199.
Today's announcement was brief, and Apple stopped short of providing specific dates for Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR preorders and availability.
Apple today announced its much-rumored high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is the largest MacBook Pro that's been offered for sale since the discontinuation of the 17-inch MacBook Pro back in 2012.
The updated 16-inch MacBook Pro features a larger display with slimmer bezels than the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which it has replaced in Apple's notebook lineup. The display has a resolution of 3072x1920 pixels with up to 500 nits of brightness.
The notebook features an updated "Magic Keyboard" that does away with the unpopular butterfly mechanism, returning instead to a more reliable scissor mechanism with 1mm key travel, along with Intel's latest 9th-generation processors with up to 8 cores. It also has up to 64GB of RAM and up to 8TB of SSD storage.
Above the keyboard, the Touch Bar lives on, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro marks the return of a physical Esc key. In line with the latest MacBook Air, the Touch ID sensor has also been separated from the Touch Bar.
Other features include AMD Radeon Pro 5000M graphics options paired with GDDR6 video memory and an 8GB VRAM option, a larger 100Wh battery for longer battery life, a redesigned six-speaker sound system, and upgraded microphones.
Starting at $2,399 in the United States, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is available today through Apple.com and the Apple Store app. It will be in Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers in the United States later this week and is "coming soon" to stores around the world, according to Apple.
Ahead of the imminent launch of Apple's new 16-inch MacBook Pro, several benchmark results have appeared on Geekbench that allegedly come from a Mac model designated "MacBookPro16,1" and, if true, confirm some of the machine's rumored hardware specifications.
Many of the results indicate that the 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature Intel 9th-generation Coffee Lake Refresh processors, which would be in line with the 15-inch MacBook Pro released in May. Some benchmarks show an 8-core Core i9 processor with a 2.4GHz base clock speed.
In addition, OpenCL scores list the machines as having Radeon Pro 5300M and 5500M graphics, and up to 32GB RAM. We've spotted references to Radeon Pro 5300M and 5500M in macOS Catalina code, so there's a good chance these are legit.
Apple is celebrating Thanksgiving this year by urging U.S. Apple Watch owners to bag a special achievement by recording a minimum walking or running distance on Thursday, November 28.
As with past holidays, Apple Watch owners can earn an exclusive badge and an iMessage sticker if they complete the challenge.
To earn the turkey-themed badge and sticker, Apple Watch wearers must clock up a 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) walk, run, or wheelchair workout. Apple's Thanksgiving Day challenge was first spotted by Kyle Seth Gray, who shared his discovery on Twitter.
To record the activity, wearers need to use Apple's stock Workout app or a third-party app that feeds data to Apple's HealthKit. An Apple Watch user's history of achievements can be viewed any time via the Achievements tab on the iOS Activity app.
Apple first challenged Apple Watch owners to get out on Thanksgiving Day in 2016, and then again in 2017, but no challenge was forthcoming in 2018.
Thanksgiving is a U.S. holiday, so the challenge obviously won't show up for Apple Watch users set to other regions. The last special activity challenge Apple promoted occurred on Monday for Veterans Day.
Following yesterday's report on Apple's new 16-inch MacBook Pro which could be announced as soon as Wednesday, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman this morning shared some additional details about the upcoming machine via Twitter.
According to Gurman, the display on the new MacBook Pro is less than four percent larger than the current 15.4-inch MacBook Pro, suggesting to him that "it's really going to be about the higher resolution" rather than a significant material increase in screen real estate.
Gurman offers no clues as to the exact resolution, but reliable IHS Markit analyst Jeff Lin claimed in June that the 16-inch MacBook Pro would feature an LCD panel with a resolution of 3,072×1,920 pixels supplied by LG Display. For comparison, the 15-inch MacBook Pro has a resolution of 2,880×1,800 pixels.
In addition, Gurman says the new 16-inch MacBook Pro will have "impressive speakers" and "noise cancelling microphones," which sounds like a reference to an improved ambient noise reduction feature enabling users to capture less background noise when using the built-in microphones, thereby improving dictation and FaceTime calls.
The screen on the new MacBook Pro is less than 4% larger than the current 15.4 inch. So it’s really going to be about the higher resolution, impressive speakers, noise cancelling microphones and of course the all new keyboard (similar to the iMac external Magic Keyboard).
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) November 13, 2019
Otherwise, Gurman reiterates Apple's focus on providing users with a more reliable keyboard that uses a new scissor switch mechanism, which is "similar to the iMac external Magic Keyboard."
The new 16-inch machine, which will be the largest laptop Apple has offered for sale since the 17-inch MacBook Pro was discontinued, will replace the current 15-inch model and "cost about the same," Gurman revealed on Tuesday. The 15-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,399.
Apple is said to have been holding private press briefings at its luxury loft mansion in New York City this week, likely providing media sites with review units for first impressions. Apple will surely announce the new 16-inch MacBook Pro via press release, as there are no more Apple events expected this year.
Apple's AirPods Pro are normally priced at $249, but for those looking for a deal, Amazon has them at the discounted price of $235.
That's a savings of $14, which isn't much, but it's better than full price. This deal could go quickly, and the last time it was available, Amazon only discounted the AirPods Pro for a few hours.
Amazon says that the AirPods Pro have an extended delivery time due to shipping restrictions, with orders expected to arrive sometime next week.
We're not expecting to see prices much lower than this on the upcoming Black Friday shopping holiday due to the fact that the AirPods Pro are newly released.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple's new high-end modular Mac Pro is set to be released in December, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The launch timing of the Mac Pro was shared in a report on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is set to come out as soon as tomorrow.
Apple unveiled the new 2019 Mac Pro in June at its Worldwide Developers Conference, but since then has not provided any details on its prospective release date.
A December launch would be in line with the launch of the 2013 Mac Pro, which came out on December 18, and the 2017 iMac Pro, which came out on December 14.
The new Mac Pro is designed for Apple's pro user base with a heavy focus on upgradeability and expansion. It features a traditional PC shape, but with an Apple-esque stainless steel frame with a lattice pattern that maximizes airflow.
The Mac Pro uses workstation-class Xeon processors with up to 28 cores, and it supports up to 1.5TB of high-performance memory. Pricing on the new Mac Pro will start at $6,000.
Alongside the Mac Pro, Apple will likely launch the Pro Display XDR, which is a 32-inch 6K display with a resolution of 6016 x 3384 and more than 20 million pixels. Pricing on the Pro Display XDR will start at $5,000.
While Bloomberg has disclosed a December launch month for the Mac Pro, there's still no word on a specific date. Given past launch timelines, it could come on either the week of the 9th or the week of the 16th.
Apple's upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro is set to replace the current 15-inch MacBook Pro, which is priced starting at $2,399, according to a new report from Bloomberg.
The new 16-inch machine, which will be the largest laptop Apple has offered for sale since the 17-inch MacBook Pro was discontinued, will "cost about the same" as the current 15-inch model.
Prior reports suggested the 16-inch MacBook Pro would be sold alongside the 15-inch model as a higher-end, more expensive option, but it sounds like it won't be quite as pricey as first expected.
The new MacBook Pro is said to feature a revamped keyboard that's designed to be "more reliable," and previous rumors have indicated that it will abandon the butterfly switch mechanism Apple has been using for a new scissor switch mechanism.
The display of the upcoming machine will be brighter, and Bloomberg suggests it will appeal to video and photo editors, gamers, and software developers.
As for launch timing, Bloomberg believes that the new MacBook Pro will come out as soon as Wednesday, with the Mac Pro to then follow at some point in December.
Apple this week has been holding private press briefings at its luxury loft mansion in New York City, likely providing media sites with review units for first impressions. Apple will announce the new 16-inch MacBook Pro via press release, as there are no more Apple events expected this year.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and United States President Donald Trump will soon tour facilities in Texas where Apple products are made, reports Reuters.
The goal of the trip is to showcase companies that "keep jobs in America." Both Apple and the White House declined to comment on the upcoming tour.
The planned journey comes as Apple is seeking tariff waivers on imports from China that include iPhone components, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, and more.
Apple in September said that its newest Mac Pro will be manufactured in Texas at the same Austin facility where the existing Mac Pro has been made since 2013.
According to Apple, the new Mac Pro includes components designed, developed, and manufactured by more than a dozen American companies. Suppliers span states that include Arizona, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont.
Apple has pledged to invest $350 billion in the United States economy by 2023, and last year, spent more than $60 billion with 9,000 domestic suppliers across the country.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues 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 in late October released a new 13.2 software update for the HomePod with a bunch of new features, but it turned out the update was bricking some HomePods.
Apple addressed the bug in an updated 13.2.1 software release a couple days later, making the new functionality available without the risk of ruining a HomePod. In our newest YouTube video, we go over all of the new HomePod features for MacRumors readers who may have been put off by the bug reports.
With the new update, HomePod can distinguish between different users in the household, introducing multi-user support for the first time.
Siri is able to tell who is speaking, allowing each person in the home to access their own selection of music, playlists, radio stations, and preferences.
Setting up multi-user support requires a device running iOS 13.2 or later, and you need to invite your family members to be a member in the Home app. From there, open the Home app, choose Home Settings, tap on your user profile under people, and then turn on the "Recognize My Voice" option.
If you're listening to a song on your iPhone and want to transfer it over to your HomePod, you can do so with iOS 13.2.1's new Handoff feature.
To use Handoff, have a song playing on the iPhone and then bring it over to the top of the HomePod. The audio playing on the iPhone will swap over to the HomePod, pausing audio on the iPhone. You'll get a notification letting you know about the transfer of content, and while this feature is still a bit buggy, it's useful.
Handoff works with the Apple Music app, podcasts, phone calls, and more. If you don't want to use the feature, you can turn it off in the Settings app by going to General > AirPlay > Handoff and toggling off "Transfer to HomePod."
Adding Music to HomeKit Scenes
When creating or editing a HomeKit scene, you can now add songs from your Apple Music Library. You can, for example, create a "Good Morning" or "Relax" scene that does things like change the lighting and start a song playing on HomePod.
Just select the "HomePod" option when creating a scene under the list of accessories. From there, choose the "Play Audio" option and then select "Choose Audio" to select a song.
Ambient Sounds
The 13.2.1 update also introduces a neat new feature called Ambient Sounds, which is designed to let you ask Siri to play relaxing sounds like rain, white noise, and more.
There are seven different options that you can choose from:
Rain
Stream
White Noise
Fireplace
Forest
Night
Ocean
To use Ambient Sounds, just ask Siri. Asking Siri to play Ambient Sounds will select a random sound, but you can also ask for a specific sound with a command like "Hey Siri, play rain sounds."
Setting a Sleep Timer
Ambient Sounds can be set up with a sleep timer so that the noise automatically turns off after a set period of time. When an Ambient Sound is playing, ask Siri to set a sleep timer for a set amount of time.
"Hey Siri, set a sleep timer for 45 minutes," for example, will play the ambient noises for 45 minutes before the HomePod turns off.
If you don't want to listen to Ambient Sounds, this also works with any music that happens to be playing.
Downloading the Update
Downloading the new HomePod software can be done by opening up the Home app, selecting "Home Settings" after tapping the house icon in the upper left corner, and choosing the "Software Update" option. If the "Install Updates Automatically" feature is turned on, your HomePod has likely already updated to 13.2.1.
Walmart this week announced a new partnership with Apple, which allows the Walmart Voice Order feature to be used with Siri.
With this option, Apple users can ask Siri to add items to their Walmart Online Grocery Cart through a new Siri Shortcut. After pairing an account, customers can create a shopping cart by saying "Add to Walmart" and then naming the product they want to purchase.
Once finished shopping, customers can place the order with the Walmart app and then Walmart personal shoppers will gather the items. Customers can have their orders delivered or pick them up at a local Walmart store. Items can be added to the Walmart cart on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, and CarPlay.
According to Walmart, the more customers use the feature, the better the experience will be. The app is designed to quickly and accurately identify desired items based on purchase history.
For example, if a customer says, "add orange juice to my cart," we'll make sure to add the specific orange juice the customer buys regularly. Instead of saying "Great Value organic orange juice with no pulp," they'll simply say: "orange juice" and we'll add the right one.
The voice ordering feature is aimed at letting customers add to a list of items over time as they realize what they need for a weekly shopping trip. Walmart customers interested in using the feature can go to the Walmart Grocery App and choose the "Voice Shopping" option on their account page.
Minecraft Earth, Microsoft's new augmented reality Minecraft game, is now available on iOS and Android devices in the United States.
Microsoft has been testing Minecraft Earth in other countries like the UK, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Sweden and South Korea, but now it is also available in an early access capacity in the U.S.
Minecraft Earth is designed to let users access a tabletop mode that displays Minecraft creations in the real world at life size, bringing Minecraft designs to life.
Gamers will be able to add a buildplate. creating an interactive Minecraft diorama. Tappables, which unlock in-game materials, will be able to be found in the real world, such as on a walk, and resources can be used for crafting and smelting. There are also monsters to encounter and other discoveries to make.
Multiple players can team up with one another to create structures together, and in adventure mode, there's an option to battle against hostile mobs to survive.
The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store, though it is a freemium title and "Minecoins" can be purchased in app.
