MacRumors

Apple this evening sent out emails promoting holiday content in a selection of games that include Fortnite, PUBG, Candy Crush Saga, Minecraft, Homescapes, and Clash of Clans.

Some of the available bonuses are free, while others appear to be holiday-themed in-app purchases, as outlined below:

• Fortnite - Get an exclusive holiday outfit pack for a limited time, starting December 24.
• PUBG - Limited-edition Santa suit and supply crates are now available.
• Candy Crush Saga - Get extra-special items that last two times longer than normal.
• Minecraft - Claim 1 free skin and 1 free world right now.
• Homescapes - A free small-size pack of coins and items is all yours!
• Clash of Clans - Receive 5 times more goodies with limited-edition Christmas bundles.

Apple's promotional email also highlights other games, such as Pocket City and Knights of Pen & Paper 2, though there are no specific holiday bonuses in these games.

Apple is going to be offering a separate bonus on December 24, as discovered in Australia and New Zealand this morning. In those countries, Apple is highlighting "surprises" from December 24 to December 29, with the first two being a discounted in-app purchase bundle for Looney Tunes World of Mayhem and a three-month subscription for the price of one month in Canva.

The "Surprise" bonuses will likely be live in the United States when December 24 rolls around.

Apple is planning to offer some kind of holiday App Store promotion that may see the company giving away free apps and games.

In Australia, where it is December 24, ‌App Store‌ users are waking up to an App Store story that mentions a "surprise" for Tuesday and explains that users can expect a treat every day from December 24 to December 29.

Tuesday's surprise isn't live yet, but it will be shortly! Make sure you come back soon to check it out.



Have you seen today's goodies? Look for the unwrapped presents on the App Store's Today, Games, and Apps tabs.

From December 24 to 29, you'll find a new surprise every day on the App Store. Come back daily to discover which treat we have waiting for you!

The wording of the story suggests that Apple is planning to give away free apps and games in a promotion similar to the 12 Days of Christmas promotion that the company used to run several years back.

We don't know yet what app or game Apple plans to give away on December 24, but we should find out soon from Australian users. ‌App Store‌ users in other countries like the United States can expect to see the same promotions when December 24 rolls around.

Update 10:39 a.m.: The surprises have gone live in New Zealand, and MacRumors readers tonyduffe and @Ldeverell report that the deals include a special in-app purchase bundle Looney Tunes World of Mayhem and a three-month subscription for the price of one month in Canva. We'll have to see if offers are the same around the world.

Update 2: Based on reader reports, the daily surprises appear to only be available in Australia and New Zealand, with a subset of them also seen in India.

Apple is offering free two hour delivery when customers purchase any Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, or Mac, which is ideal for last minute shoppers.

Through December 24 at 4:00 p.m. local time, customers who live in an area where courier delivery is available can get their orders for free. Apple normally charges $9 for same-day courier delivery.

Apple says that its courier delivery is available "in most metros," and it applies to the total order whenever an Apple Watch, ‌iPad‌, ‌iPhone‌, or Mac is ordered. AirPods aren't available for free courier delivery on a standalone order basis, but can be included with other purchases.

For deliveries that do not include an Apple Watch, ‌iPad‌, ‌iPhone‌, or Mac, courier options are still available, but Apple is charging the standard $9 fee. Delivery cutoff is December 24 in most areas, but Apple says that December 25th delivery is available in New York City, Las Vegas, and Hawaii.

Those who are not in an area where courier delivery is available can still get items before Christmas by using in-store pickup options.

Software developer and composer Stephen Coyle published a new article on his blog recently, intent on measuring the Bluetooth latency of Apple's new AirPods Pro and comparing their performance to previous-generation AirPods. As Coyle pointed out, Bluetooth audio latency in wireless earphones can cheapen the user experience of these devices, and can particularly cause major issues for certain accessibility features reliant upon audio accuracy.

Coyle measured latency by testing how much time passes between a user triggering a sound and when they hear it in the earphones. The developer pointed out that these user-initiated sounds "are the most commonly encountered example" of Bluetooth audio latency, because they are unpredictable and therefore difficult for most platforms to respond to with finesse. These include keyboard clicks, accessibility features like VoiceOver, and sound effects in games.

Using the default iOS keyboard and his own game Tapt as means of measuring this latency, Coyle discovered that the AirPods Pro have the lowest average audio latency (measured in milliseconds) among the entire AirPods line. AirPods 1 measured in at 274ms between the time the sound was triggered and the time the sound was heard, then AirPods 2 was at 178ms, and AirPods Pro clocked in at 144ms. Coyle called this "tantalizingly close to seamless."

If it's possible for the trend line to continue in the same direction, the next generation or two of AirPods will be very exciting. Not being a VoiceOver user, I'm unsure how much AirPods Pro improve its user experience in real terms, but I think this general trend can only be for the good. Similarly, for mobile gaming and general user experience, this trend means that what is, in my opinion, the primary downside of Bluetooth earphones may be gradually disappearing.

Coyle's test also included the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones and Sony WH-CH700N, which measured in around 250ms and 225ms, respectively. The developer included these two devices for context and explained that they represent the general state of Bluetooth headphones as it stands right now, with devices like the third-generation Amazon Echo and a JBL Bluetooth speaker also measuring in at about the same level as the Beats and Sony devices.

Check out Coyle's full article on the AirPods Pro Bluetooth audio latency right here.

Apple has removed messaging app "ToTok" from the App Store after an investigation by the New York Times concluded that the app was actually a spying tool being used by the United Arab Emirates government to mass surveil its citizens.

According to the report, which cites U.S. officials familiar with a classified intelligence assessment, the app was being used to mine data from users' contact lists and track locations by offering a localized weather forecast.

ToTok's privacy policy notes that it "may share your personal data with group companies," but it turns out that the app is linked to Abu Dhabi-based cybersecurity firm DarkMatter, which is under investigation by the FBI for possible cybercrimes. A U.S. intelligence assessment also linked ToTok to Pax AI, an Abu Dhabi-based data mining firm.

In the time that it was available on the ‌App Store‌ and the Google Play store, the app was downloaded by millions of users in the Middle East, North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The app was particularly popular in the UAE, where other messaging apps like WhatsApp and Skype are partially blocked. Users who installed the app on their devices are being advised to remove it, as any surveillance capacity could still potentially operate unhindered.

The UAE has reportedly been using surveillance technology to crack down on internal dissent in the country, including hacking Western journalists and holding human rights activists in solitary confinement over Facebook posts.

It's not the first time we've heard reports that apparently legitimate apps are being used as fronts for governments to spy on their citizens. An October report from the Open Technology Fund (OTF), an initiative funded by the U.S. government, revealed that an "educational" app teaching the Chinese Communist Party's policies includes code that amounts to a backdoor into users' Android devices.

A separate report elaborating on the findings said that the app, known as "Study Xi, Strong Nation," essentially gives the Chinese government the capacity to determine "the location of every citizen at any single point in time."

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

As we enter the last weekend before Christmas, last-minute holiday shopping is in full swing. For our readers, we have a collection of exclusive discounts that remain ongoing this season, offering the perfect chance to do some quick online Christmas shopping this weekend.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

These sales largely focus on accessories for Apple products, including those from Pad & Quill, Mophie, Twelve South, Nimble, and Zagg. On these websites, you can shop for iPhone cases, MacBook sleeves, Apple Watch bands, screen protectors, leather bags, and much more.

Each sale has a different end date, and shipping will vary from site-to-site, so be sure to read on for more information. Most brands are still offering delivery for Christmas, as long as you place orders by the end of the day today.

Pad & Quill

• Save 20 percent on any Apple-related product with MR20
• Save 15 percent on everything else with MR15

At Pad & Quill, our readers have a chance to save on Apple accessories all the way through Christmas day. With our first discount code, you can save 20 percent on any Apple related product, including those for iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and MacBook. Enter the code MR20 to access this sale.

Otherwise, you can use the code MR15 to take 15 percent off Pad & Quill's other products, like its premium leather bags, wallets, and desk accessories. These two codes essentially cover the entirety of Pad & Quill's website, and are a perfect opportunity to shop for anyone on your holiday list who loves high-quality accessories for their Apple devices.

Nimble

• Save 30 percent sitewide with MACRUMORS30

Eco-friendly brand Nimble is offering our readers 30 percent off sitewide this holiday season with the exclusive promo code MACRUMORS30. With this promotion you can save on Nimble's portable chargers, wireless chargers, iPhone cases, and more.

Nimble's products are made from highly sustainable materials and come inside plastic-free packaging. The company also runs a one-for-one tech recovery project, placing a disposable bag with every product it sells. In these bags, customers can send back their old or unused tech so that it can be recycled responsibly.

In terms of shipping, Nimble offers free two-day shipping and returns, so be sure to browse the retailer's website soon to place your order in enough time before Christmas.

Mophie

• Save 25 percent on any one item with MACRUMORS25

Mophie is giving our readers a chance to save 25 percent on one item on Mophie's website using the code MACRUMORS25.

If you place multiple items in your cart, the code will take 25 percent off of the highest-priced item, so if you've been waiting to buy one of Mophie's portable batteries, wireless charging mats, or battery cases, now is the perfect time. This new discount will run through New Year's Eve.

• Juice Pack Access for iPhone 11 - $59.96, down from $79.95
• Charge Stream Pad+ - $44.96, down from $59.95
• Powerstation Hub - $74.96, down from $99.95
• Charge Stream Powerstation Wireless - $59.96, down from $79.95
• Charge Stream Powerstation Wireless XL with Lightning - $74.96, down from $99.95
• 3-in-1 wireless charging pad - $104.96, down from $139.95

Twelve South

• Save 15 percent off your order with MacRumors15

At Twelve South, you can get 15 percent off your entire order with the promo code MacRumors15. This promo code will last through December 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET for users in the United States.

Twelve South has numerous accessories that are specifically made for Apple products, like AirSnap for AirPods, HiRise Wireless for iPhone, and BookBook Vol. 2 for iPad Pro. You can browse for some holiday shopping ideas of your own in Twelve South's gift guide.

Zagg

• Save 20 percent across Zagg's brands with RUMORS20

On Zagg's other brands, you can get 20 percent off sitewide, including Zagg itself, Braven, Invisible Shield, iFrogz, Gear4, and Halo. This sale covers the gamut of Apple product accessories, including screen protectors, portable batteries, battery cases, charging cables, and more.

To get the discount, head to one of Zagg's websites, browse for an item, add it to your bag, and when you do you'll notice a pop-up on the right where you can view your bag. Here you can enter the promo code RUMORS20 and click apply to see the 20 percent discount taken off the most expensive item in your cart.

This discount can be applied across all of Zagg's brands, and it can be used twice per customer. You'll have until December 31, 2019 to use the code, so it should be a great way to save some money during your holiday shopping this season.

Although Mophie is included in this deal, our Mophie-specific code (mentioned above) is providing a deeper discount, so only look to use this Zagg code if you're shopping on the company's other product brands like Invisible Shield or Braven.

• Ultra Clear for Apple Watch Series 4 and 5 - $23.99, down from $29.99
  

• Glass+ Anti-Glare for iPhone XR - $25.19, down from $31.49
  

• Glass Elite Tempered Glass for iPhone 11 Pro Max - $31.99, down from $39.99
  

• Glass Elite VisionGuard+ for iPhone 11 - $39.99, down from $49.99
  

• Glass+ for 12.9-inch iPad Pro - $51.99, down from $64.99

For more of the best Apple-related sales and bargains, head to our full Deals Roundup.

Apple today shared a new Apple Arcade video that focuses on great games to play during the holidays in an effort to get new users to try out its gaming service.

Get Apple Arcade for the holidays, and your whole family can play with you. Tap the joystick icon on the App Store to start your one-month free trial.

Apple highlights top ‌Apple Arcade‌ games like What the Golf (which has been updated with new December levels), Cat Quest II, Super Impossible Road, Sneaky Sasquatch, Steven Universe Unleash the Light, Patterned, and Exit the Dungeon.

‌Apple Arcade‌ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, and one subscription allows up to six family members to play through Family Sharing. For those who have not yet given ‌Apple Arcade‌ a try, there is a one-month free trial available.

Apple continues to authorize free display repairs for eligible MacBook and MacBook Pro models with anti-reflective coating issues for up to four years after the affected notebook's original purchase date, the company said in an internal memo distributed to Apple Authorized Service Providers this week.

Models that remain eligible for the repair program:

• MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2015)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
• MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017)
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2015)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2016)
• MacBook (12-inch, Early 2017)

Apple has not added any MacBook Pro or MacBook Air models released in 2018 or later to the eligibility list at this time.

In its memo, obtained by MacRumors, Apple adds that MacBook Pro models released in 2014 and earlier are no longer eligible for the program. Most of those units should be well past the repair program's four-year coverage window, but perhaps some were sold by resellers at a later date and were still eligible until now.

Apple began this repair program in October 2015 after some MacBook and MacBook Pro users experienced issues with the anti-reflective coating wearing off or delaminating on Retina displays. Apple has never posted the repair program to its website, opting instead to handle the matter more quietly.

Over the years, the issues have led to an online petition with nearly 5,000 signatures, a Facebook group with over 17,000 members, and complaints across the Apple Support Communities, Reddit, and our own MacRumors forums. A so-called "Staingate" website was set up to share photos of affected MacBooks.

Apple's internal service guide for this issue continues to state that customers who already incurred out-of-warranty costs related to this issue are eligible for a refund, which can be initiated by contacting Apple support.

Affected customers can schedule an appointment at an Apple Store or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider on Apple's support website by selecting Mac → Mac Notebooks → Hardware Issues → Display Issue. Apple advises technicians to quote customers a 3-5 business day turnaround time.

Apple's high-end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhones in 2020 will adopt sensor-shift image stabilization technology, according to a paywalled report today from hit-or-miss Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes.

While details are slim, sensor-shift technology could bring image stabilization to the ultra-wide lens on high-end 2020 iPhones.

iPhone 11 Pro models feature optical image stabilization for both photo and video, but only when using the wide-angle or telephoto lenses. Sensor-shift technology could change this, as the stabilization would apply to the camera sensor itself and not be dependant on any specific lens.

Sensor-shifting image stabilization could also result in better shots with attachable lens accessories like the OlloClip.

The report backs rumors that the high-end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhones will each sport a triple-lens rear camera system with time-of-flight 3D sensing. Largan Precision is said to be the primary supplier of the lenses, fulfilling 80 percent of orders, with Genius Electric Optical picking up the remaining 20 percent.

Taiwan-based ALPS will supply motors for the sensor-shifting stabilization, and Sony will offer CMOS image sensors, the report adds.