Kuo said iPhone models with mmWave would be available in five markets, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom, adding that Apple may disable 5G functionality in countries that do not offer 5G service or have a shallow 5G penetration rate to reduce production costs.
Kuo has now doubled down on his prediction. In a follow-up research note today, viewed by MacRumors, he said Apple is still on track to release both sub-6GHz and sub-6GHz-plus-mmWave iPhone models simultaneously in the second half of 2020, with shipments beginning in the late third quarter or early fourth quarter.
Last week, analyst Mehdi Hosseini had disagreed with Kuo's timeframe, claiming that sub-6GHz models would launch in September 2020 and mmWave models would follow in December 2020 or January 2021.
Kuo says development of 5G iPhones with both sub-6GHz and mmWave support is progressing as scheduled, however, and he has the more reputable track record as it relates to forecasting Apple's roadmap. So, as of now, it looks like the entire 5G iPhone lineup will be announced in September as usual.
Early January always sees a flurry of news coming out of CES, but that wasn't all that was on the docket this week. Additional topics of interest in this week included new emoji personalization options for AirPods charging cases, "iPhone 9" rumors, and an upcoming change to Apple's serial number format.
CES 2020: New HomeKit Accessories, Wireless Chargers, and Other Cool Tech From the Show
Body composition and hydration is not something the Apple Watch can track on its own, though testing will need to be done to see how accurate the Aura strap is in practice.
Apple Launches Replacement Program for Smart Battery Cases Designed for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR
Numerous customers have run into issues with Apple's Smart Battery Cases for the company's 2018 iPhone lineup, experiencing issues with the cases failing to charge or the cases failing to charge the iPhones.
Addressing the situation, Apple this week launched a replacement program that allows iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR users who have run into these problems to receive a free replacement case. Customers will need to visit an Apple retail store or authorized service provider to have their cases inspected and ensure they qualify for the program.
Apple TV App Coming to Select LG, Sony, and Vizio Smart TVs Later This Year
When available, the Apple TV app will allow owners of newer LG, Sony, and Vizio smart TVs to stream Apple TV+ shows and movies, use the à-la-carte Apple TV Channels feature, access their iTunes libraries of movies and TV shows, and buy or rent more than 100,000 shows and movies from the iTunes Store.
In line with earlier predictions from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, OnLeaks expects the iPhone 9 to resemble the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch LCD display with thick bezels, Touch ID home button, and single-lens rear camera, but with a faster A13 chip, 3GB of RAM, and no hardware-based 3D Touch.
OnLeaks also expects the iPhone 9 to be 7.8mm thick, which would be 0.5mm thicker than the iPhone 8. The device will launch by the end of March, starting at around $399, according to Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple Plans to Switch to Randomized Serial Numbers for Future Products Starting in Late 2020
Apple says all serial numbers that exist before the change is made will remain the same.
Apple already uses alphanumeric serial numbers, but it has long been possible to determine the date and location that a product was manufactured based on the current format. Readers would often use serial numbers to glean more information about their devices, like the iPhone or MacBook Pro.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oprah today said that she will no longer be an executive producer on the project and it will not be offered on Apple TV+. Oprah believes there's more work to be done on the film and that it's not ready to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival that the filmmakers want to debut it at. From a statement Oprah gave to The Hollywood Reporter:
I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on The Untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Documentary and it will not air on Apple TV+.
First and foremost, I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard. In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision.
Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering are talented filmmakers. I have great respect for their mission but given the filmmakers' desire to premiere the film at the Sundance Film Festival before I believe it is complete, I feel it's best to step aside. I will be working with Time's Up to support the victims and those impacted by abuse and sexual harassment.
News of Oprah and Apple's interest in the documentary came in early December after Oprah signed on to executive produce the film. The documentary explores alleged sexual misconduct in the music industry, following a former music executive who struggles with whether or not to go public with her story of assault and abuse by well-known music industry titan Russell Simmons.
The documentary was created by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering, who have previously worked on several other documentaries, including "The Hunting Ground," exposing sexual assault on college campuses and "The Bleeding Edge," an exposé on the medical device industry.
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.
Apple today launched a battery case replacement program for Smart Battery Cases designed for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR.
According to Apple, some Smart Battery Cases can experience charging issues, including cases that will not charge or charge intermittently when plugged into power, or cases that will not charge an iPhone or charge it intermittently.
Affected Smart Battery Cases were manufactured between January 2019 and October 2019. Apple says that this is not a safety issue and Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will replace eligible cases for free.
All Smart Battery Cases designed for iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR manufactured between the above dates are eligible for replacement. Apple says that no other iPhone Smart Battery Cases are a part of the program, which means no iPhone 11, 11 Pro, or 11 Pro Max battery cases will be replaced.
Apple says that customers with an impacted Smart Battery Case can find an Apple Authorized Service Provider or make an appointment at an Apple retail location to have their case replaced. Smart Battery Cases will be examined prior to service to verify that they are eligible for the program.
Affected cases will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way and the program covers Smart Battery Cases for two years after the first retail sale of the unit.
Since the Smart Battery Cases launched in early 2019, there have been complaints over various failures and issues with charging. At one point in mid-2019, the Smart Battery Cases were unavailable for purchase and backordered for over a month, a stock issue that could have been related to ongoing charging problems.
The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, this week urged customers who are using the Firefox browser to upgrade to version 72.0.1, as there is a major vulnerability in older versions of the Firefox browser.
Mozilla released Firefox 72.0.1 on Wednesday to address a security issue that allows malicious entities to run unauthorized code on a target computer through a webpage, letting them take control of an affected system. From Mozilla:
Incorrect alias information in IonMonkey JIT compiler for setting array elements could lead to a type confusion. We are aware of targeted attacks in the wild abusing this flaw.
As the above quote states, there are known targeted attacks exploiting this flaw, which means it's important for all Firefox users to upgrade, including enterprise users.
The vulnerability was first discovered by Chinese company Qihoo 360 two days after the release of Firefox 72, but there is no word on how long the bug has been exploited nor who used the vulnerability or who might have been targeted. This is the third zero-day vulnerability that Mozilla has addressed within the last year, with the company patching two other major vulnerabilities in June 2019.
MacRumors readers who use Firefox for Mac but have not installed the latest version should make sure to do so. The latest version of Firefox can be downloaded from the Mozilla website or through the update function within Firefox itself.
MacRumors published thousands of stories in 2019, as part of our continued coverage of the latest Apple news and rumors. Below, we look back at the top 10 most discussed stories of the year in our forums, with topics ranging from the AirPower mat being canceled to the launch of the Apple Card.
Apple Officially Cancels AirPower (1,948 comments): At its iPhone X event in 2017, Apple previewed a new wireless charging mat called AirPower that would have been able to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously, regardless of each device's position on the mat. Apple failed to release the mat in 2018 as promised, however, leading to relentless rumors and speculation. In March 2019, Apple's hardware engineering chief Dan Riccio finally came out and said the AirPower was canceled due to the product's inability to meet its high standards.
Apple Card Rolling Out Today to Limited Number of Customers (1,920 comments): After being previewed at its March 2019 event, Apple rolled out its all-new credit card to select users in the United States in the first week of August 2019, followed by a wider launch later in the month. Built into the Wallet app on an iPhone, the Apple Card features Apple Pay support, up to 3% daily cashback, color-coded spending summaries, zero fees beyond interest, and much more.
Live 2019 iPhone Event Coverage: 'By Innovation Only' (1,855 comments): Live coverage of Apple's September 2019 event at Steve Jobs Theater, where the company unveiled the iPhone 11 lineup, Apple Watch Series 5 models, and 10.2-inch iPad.
Live Apple Event Coverage: 'It's Show Time' (1,537 comments): Live coverage of Apple's March 2019 event at Steve Jobs Theater, where the company unveiled four new services: Apple News+, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Card.
Live From WWDC 2019: Coverage of Apple's Keynote with iOS 13, macOS 10.15, and More (1,494 comments): Live coverage of Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference from the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California. Apple announced iOS 13, iPadOS, macOS Catalina, tvOS 13, and watchOS 6, in addition to previewing its new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR.
AirPods Pro Launching on October 30 for $249 (1,173 comments): With a press release, Apple introduced higher-ends AirPods Pro with several improvements over regular AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water resistance.
Spotify on Apple's Response to App Store Dispute: 'Every Monopolist Will Suggest They Have Done Nothing Wrong' (1,094 comments): Last year, Spotify filed an antitrust complaint against Apple in Europe over unfair App Store practices. Apple labeled the complaint as "misleading rhetoric" and argued that "Spotify wants all the benefits of a free app without being free." Spotify fired back, claiming that "every monopolist will suggest they have done nothing wrong."
Apple to Release Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR on December 10 (1,037 comments): Over two years after confirming that it was working on a new Mac Pro, Apple finally announced that the new Mac Pro and companion Pro Display XDR would be available to order starting December 10, 2019. Watch our hands-on video!
MacRumors will celebrate its 20th anniversary next month, having been founded on February 24, 2000. We look forward to another year of sharing the latest Apple news and rumors and we thank all of our readers for their support.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Mous to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an iPhone case for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, or an earlier iPhone.
Mous offers cases for everything from Apple's newest iPhones to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and there are several case designs to choose from.
The Limitless 3.0, designed for Apple's newest iPhones, is perhaps Mous' most popular case offering. Priced at $35 to $70, the Limitless 3.0 case is offered in several attractive materials, including Aramid Fibre, Bamboo, Black Leather, and Walnut.
Each case is designed to offer protection without adding a significant amount of bulk to the slim form factor of the iPhone. Mous' AiroShock technology keeps the iPhone safe from drops, and raised top and bottom edges protect the display when it's face down without impeding swiping.
The cases are made from a polycarbonate and TPU material, which is used in riot shields, and which has been tested extensively for its durability and protection by Mous.
The Limitless 3.0 cases are equipped with an AutoAlignPlus magnetic system that allow them to work with a range of accessories, such as a car vent mount, a card wallet, and a suction mount. Though there is a magnet for accessories, the Limitless cases work with Qi-based wireless chargers.
Mous also makes other case options for the iPhone, such as the Clarity, which offers impact absorption with a clear, minimalist design that doesn't obscure the look of the iPhone. The Clarity case uses the same AiroShock protection and has the same screen protection as the Limitless 3.0.
There's also the Contour, a simple dual-color case that comes in leather, and is available in multiple colors. The Contour offers drop protection, a microfiber lining, display protection, and the same AiroShock technology as Mous' other cases.
We have 15 cases to give away to MacRumors readers, and each winner will be able to choose a case to fit their device and pick a color. 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 (January 10) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 17. The winners will be chosen randomly on January 17 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple's online store and select Apple retail stores are now selling Scosche's BaseLynx Modular Charging System, which features different device charging components that can be paired together to form a charging base.
The BaseLynx Modular Charging System can be purchased in a kit or piece by piece, and there are four different options available:
MFi-certified Apple Watch charger, which works in Nightstand mode).
Qi wireless charging pad for iPhones and AirPods.
Vert charging station that charges three devices at once with one 18W USB-C port and two 12W USB-A ports.
Charging EndCap, which fits on the end and includes an 18W USB-C port and a 12W USB-A port. The EndCap is the one component that doesn't work alone.
The standard kit includes the Apple Watch module, Qi module, and the vertical charging stand, while the Pro version includes those three modules along with the EndCap charger.
Each portion of the BaseLynx can also be purchased separately at prices ranging from $39.95 to $69.95, so customers can build a setup piece by piece.
There are only four charging modules at this time, but Scosche plans to build additional modules in the future that will integrate with the existing modules.
Apple today updated its Apple Arcade gaming service with a new title, adding No Way Home, a space survival and crafting game where players need to fight to survive on an alien planet.
In No Way Home, there are more than 50 weapons to find, craft, and upgrade, aliens to befriend, over 60 monsters to defeat, and boss battles to engage in.
No Way Home uses a procedural universe so each game played is unique, and the game promises a rich story mode that takes place in a huge universe. Players can take multiple paths as they struggle to survive, and there's cargo to find and loot.
Both touch screen support and controller support are available, and the game is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Like all Apple Arcade games, No Way Home can be downloaded and played with an Apple Arcade subscription. Apple Arcade is priced at $4.99 per month and lets up to six members of a family play games for the one monthly fee.
The major cellular carriers in the United States have all kicked off new offers for customers in the New Year, with the chance to save on your monthly cellular bill and hardware device payments for iPhone, Apple Watch, and more. We've rounded up these various offers below from Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
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.
Sprint
Starting today, you can get the Apple Watch Series 4 at up to $275 off, seen in the form of a $11.46/month credit on your bill. This will make the 40mm Apple Watch $7.29/month and the 44mm model $8.54/month. A 24-month installment billing agreement is required, or you'll have to buy a new watch line of service on a qualifying plan with one active handset on the account.
If you're shopping for iPhone, you can get the 64GB iPhone 11 for $15/month with qualifying trade-in and Sprint Flex lease. You'll need a new line of service and an 18-month lease, and afterwards you'll see $14.17/month in credit applied to your bill.
You can also lease a 64GB iPhone XS at $37.50/month, and then get another 64GB iPhone XS for no extra cost thanks to a $37.50/month credit applied to your account within two bills. You'll have to add two new lines or get one new line and one new upgrade, along with a pair of 18-month leases.
There are also a few options for anyone considering switching to Sprint. You can get the iPhone XR for $15/month, or the same smartphone in pre-owned condition for $8/month, if you switch to Sprint from another carrier.
AT&T
AT&T is offering its customers a chance to get up to $500 off eligible iPhones with a new line of service, while customers switching to AT&T can get up to $700 off when they port in their number from another service. The usual caveats apply: you'll need a qualifying installment agreement, eligible smartphone trade-in, and pay a $30 activation fee.
iPhones that you can purchase under this offer include: iPhone: 8 (128GB/256GB), 8 Plus, XR (128GB/256GB), X (64GB/256GB), XS (256GB/512GB), XS Max, 11 ,11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (priced up to $1,450). AT&T noted that the 64GB iPhone 8, 64GB iPhone XR, and 64GB iPhone XS are not eligible.
iPhones that you can trade in under this offer include: iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max. You can also trade in various smartphones from Samsung, Google, LG, Motorola, Razer, OnePlus, and more.
After all of this, customers switching to AT&T will get up to $700 in bill credits, while existing AT&T customers adding a new line will get up to $500 in bill credits. These credits start within three bills, and they will be applied in equal amounts over 30 monthly installments.
If you're shopping around for Internet and TV packages, AT&T has a few bundle options of AT&T Internet and U-Verse TV, allowing you to save up to $240/year as well as $300 in AT&T reward cards. The carrier even has a few deals on accessories, like 20 percent off AT&T branded chargers.
Verizon
Verizon has a BOGO offer, allowing you to buy one iPhone and get $700 off a second one. Eligible devices include: iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
If you add two of these to your cart with any Verizon Unlimited plan, you can get $700 credited to your account over 24 months.
The carrier also has a few deals on older iPhones, like the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7. You can get the iPhone 8 for $10/month when you buy a new smartphone line, or the same offer stands for the iPhone 7 at $5/month.
Other deals include Apple Watch offers, where you can buy one Apple Watch and get another for up to 50 percent off. To do this, add one Apple Watch to your cart on Verizon's website and then shop for another to see the discount applied.
A new watch line of service is required and up to $150 off the retail price of the lower device will be applied.
T-Mobile
If you and someone else are switching to T-Mobile, you can get two lines and two new 64GB iPhone 11 smartphones at $90/month, via 24 monthly bill credits and qualifying trade-ins.
You can also save up to $700 on the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max when switching and trading in a qualifying device. This deal is for the 64GB iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max, and a monthly payment plan must be selected.
For both offers, you can get up to $700 off if you trade in: iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. You can also get up to $500 off if you trade in: iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, and iPhone 6s Plus.
Additionally, T-Mobile has an Apple Watch offer where you can buy the Apple Watch Series 3 and get $100 off when you add a paired DIGITS line. Once you buy the Series 3 on a monthly payment plan and activate at least one new line of Apple DIGITS service, T-Mobile will apply a monthly bill credit of $4.16 to your account for 24 months.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Following in the footsteps of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, the first Android smartphones with Ultra Wideband technology will be released starting later in 2020, according to Barclays analysts.
In a research note obtained by MacRumors, the analysts said Android smartphones will be equipped with an all-in-one Ultra Wideband, NFC, and Secure Element chip introduced by Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors last year. It is unclear which Android smartphones will adopt Ultra Wideband first, but Samsung did join a consortium with NXP last year to help develop the technology.
iPhone 11 lineup features Ultra Wideband technology
In a press release last year, NXP said Ultra Wideband will give mobile devices several new and interesting capabilities, such as being able to unlock a car's doors when the device comes in close proximity of the vehicle, potentially foreshadowing a feature that could come to the iPhone down the road.
"With the SR100T, mobile devices will be able to communicate with connected doors, points of entry, and cars to open them once approaching," said NXP in a press release. "Lights, audio speakers, and any other connected device with UWB sensing capability will be able to follow users from one room to another, and smart connected technology will intuitively be embedded in people's lives."
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max models are equipped with an Apple-designed U1 chip with Ultra Wideband, allowing the devices to understand their precise location relative to other nearby U1‑equipped Apple devices. On iOS 13, for example, there is a directional AirDrop feature where you can point an iPhone 11 at another iPhone user to instantly share files with them.
On its iPhone 11 Pro page, Apple teases that the directional AirDrop feature is "just the beginning" of what is possible with Ultra Wideband, adding that "amazing new capabilities" are coming later.
Last year, MacRumors uncovered evidence of Apple working on Tile-like item trackers in iOS 13 code. The so-called AirTags will also support Ultra Wideband, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, suggesting that iPhone 11 models will be able to locate the tags with precise accuracy in both indoor and outdoor areas.
MacRumors exclusive: Find My app with hidden "Items" tab for AirTags
The distance between two Ultra Wideband devices can be measured precisely by calculating the time that it takes for a radio wave to pass between the two devices, with much more accuracy than Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi.
It is unclear when Apple plans to announce its item tracking tags, or if development of the product has been abandoned.
In any case, it appears that Ultra Wideband really is just getting started.
Best Buy today began a new 3-Day Sale, kicking off discounts on Philips Hue accessories, Beats headphones, MacBook Pro USB-C hubs, 4K TVs, and more. Best Buy's new sale will last through Sunday, January 12 at 11:59 p.m. CT, and select products have limited quantities.
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.
Apple is now accepting donations from users to help Australian bushfire relief efforts. The company has updated its U.S. and Australian websites with a banner that visitors can click on to make donations, 100 percent of which go to directly to the aid agencies involved.
Depending on the device you're using to access Apple's website, clicking on the banner launches the Music app or the iTunes Store where you can select how much money to donate from a series of pre-defined amounts. The U.S. site offers six buttons ranging from $5 to $200.
Donations made via the U.S. site go to the American Red Cross, while donations made through the Australian site go directly to the Australian Red Cross. Visitors to the sites outside of their respective regions don't appear to be able to donate at this time.
The plea follows Apple's own donation pledge in late December to support fire fighting efforts in Australia. For several weeks now, bushfires have been burning across Australia due to one of the worst droughts in history and record-breaking heat waves.
At least 27 people have died and more than 800 homes have been destroyed. Wildlife has also been impacted by the ongoing fires – an estimated 25,000 koalas were killed when flames devastated Kangaroo Island last week.
Apple often provides donations during major disasters and most recently donated money to help fight the wildfires in California.
Overnight, Apple has quietly slashed almost all of its maximum estimated trade-in values of second-hand iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watch models.
For example, yesterday on Apple's device trade-in program web page, the iPhone XS Max had an estimated trade-in value of up to $600, but today Apple is only offering up to $500 –– a full $100 less than it did 24 hours ago. The only devices that have been spared reductions are the MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, Mac mini, and Apple Watch Series 1, 2, and 3.
The new trade-in iPhone values on the trade-in program page match the values offered on Apple's online store when purchasing new devices. There are no special trade-in prices for Macs, iPads, and Apple Watch models when ordering a new device, so this only applies to iPhones.
We've compiled a list of all device trade-in reductions below for convenience. The new maximum estimated trade-in values are shown in bold alongside yesterday's values in brackets.
The reductions appear to have occurred not just on Apple's U.S. online store, but in other countries and regions as well, including the United Kingdom. Tech blog iFun.de was first to spot the reductions in Apple's Germany online store.
Apple has heavily promoted its iPhone trade-in program at its retail stores and on its website for over a year now, and CEO Tim Cookrecently claimed the increased emphasis has been effective, noting that a third or more of customers that visit its retail stores end up trading in an older device for a newer one.
Using Apple's trade-in service is always going to be more simple than selling to a person, but the convenience of doing so will cost you. You're never going to get quite as much money from a trade-in service as you can get from direct sales, but there are some tips and tricks worth knowing before considering a trade-in. Check out our full trade-in guide for more advice.
Bethesda has updated the iOS versions of DOOM and DOOM II with some notable features that should please fans of the original classic first-person shooters.
Both games now offer an increase in framerate from the original 35fps to 60fps for smoother gameplay, and a new aspect ratio has been added that stretches the display vertically to match the original 4:3 aspect ratio that the game was intended to be played in.
There's also added support for quick saves and a new option to select any episode, map, and difficulty setting for immediate play, without having to clear the previous levels first.
Perhaps the biggest addition though is support for DOOM and DOOM II community add-ons. These will be curated and offered as free downloads from the main menu, and Bethesda says that it is open to suggestions as to which community-made episodes it should include in the future.
As it stands, players can load up John Romero's SIGIL, as well as TNT Evilution and The Plutonia Experiment, the latter two forming 1996's Final DOOM release. As noted by our sister site TouchArcade, DOOM II also gets No Rest for the Living, which is a map pack originally available on Xbox Live.
Gamers will need a Bethesda.net account to access the add-ons, but the good news is that Bethesda has removed the online log-in requirement that caused so much frustration when the games were released last year.
A full rundown of all the updates and improvements can be found here. DOOM and DOOM II are available to download for iPhone and iPad from the App Store and both games are priced at $4.99 each.
It's CES week and thousands of companies are in Las Vegas showing off their newest and best tech-related products. CES is wrapping up today and tomorrow, but there's still plenty to see.
Over the course of the last couple of days, we've scoured the show floor for the most unique and interesting products, some that are Apple related and some that are neat, but more general tech.
Brydge, known for its range of keyboards designed for iPads, debuted a new keyboard designed for the iPad Pro. This new offering, priced starting at $200, includes a multi-touch trackpad that uses AssistiveTouch functionality to do things like activate the dock, bring up App Exposé, and more.
Brydge also showed off a standalone iOS trackpad that might see a release later in the year, and a vertical docking station for the new 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Aukey Omnia Chargers
Aukey is launching a new series of GaN chargers for USB-C devices, offered with various port options (USB-A and USB-C) and different wattages for your iOS and Mac devices. Aukey isn't launching these until the second quarter of 2020, and pricing info isn't available yet.
Hyperjuice 100W GaN Power Adapter
Speaking of power adapters, Hyper was on hand to show off its new HyperJuice 100W GaN charger option, which comes with two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports to charge all of your devices at one time. The credit card-sized charger can even charge up two MacBook Pros at one time.
Kohler HomeKit Setra Faucet
There are a ton of smart home products at CES, including the HomeKit-enabled Kohler Setra faucet. The touchless faucet can be turned on and off using HomeKit commands, and it can dispense a specific amount of water. It also monitors water usage and lets consumers track their water consumption.
Moen HomeKit Shower
If you've ever wanted to be able to interact with Siri while showering, Moen has a product for you. The U by Moen Smart Shower lets you choose one of 12 custom presets through Siri voice commands or through the Moen app.
Razer iPhone Game Controller
Razer surprised us at CES this year with a Razer-branded Kishi mobile gaming controller designed for the iPhone. The controller fits over the iPhone, connecting to the Lightning port, and adds clickable analog controls and thumbsticks on both sides of the iPhone.
Razer was also showing off its Arctech iPhone cases for Apple's latest iPhones, which are great if you like the Razer aesthetic.
Dell Concept UFO and Ori
Dell was showing off a little Nintendo Switch-like gaming console, which is just a prototype at this point in time. The Concept UFO (designed with Alienware) runs Windows 10 and it can be used both in handheld mode or docked to a TV. Since this is just a concept, Dell isn't planning to release it, but it's a project that came from Dell's exploration of different form factors.
Dell also had a second concept product, the Ori, at CES. The Ori (short for Origami) is similar in design to Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold, able to fold in half for usage as a laptop style device or fold out to be used as a tablet. The Ori is also something that's not really slated for an official release.
OnePlus Concept Phone
The OnePlus Concept One is a conceptual phone that has a disappearing camera feature. The glass on the back of the phone can turn opaque to hide the rear-facing cameras, which is a neat trick. This feature isn't ready to ship, and it doesn't do much but hide the cameras and add a neutral density filter to the lenses.
Samsung Indoor Garden Fridge
Samsung showed off an indoor gardening fridge which is in no way Apple related but is super nifty for those who like fresh herbs but don't have the space for a garden. The garden fridge will let people grow herbs and produce indoors all year round with cool, controlled temperatures, built-in lights, and a built-in watering system.
Samsung Ballie Robot
Samsung's Ballie Robot received a lot of attention at CES, mostly because it's not entirely clear just what it's going be useful for. Ballie is, well, a robotic ball that rolls around your house and can respond to voice commands. It's supposed to do things like serve as an alarm, record video, play with pets, or manage smart home devices, but mostly it just rolls around.
Sony Vision-S Concept Car
Sony showed off the Vision-S, an electric concept car packed with Sony technology. Sony doesn't plan to sell the Vision-S, even in a limited edition capacity, but it was neat to see a car packed with a series of rectangular displays for doing everything from watching media to viewing car data.
There's also high-end Sony sound equipment and a Sony LIDAR setup that powers side view cameras that replace the traditional mirrors. Sony is hoping that its concept car gives consumers and car manufacturers ideas about the kind of technology that can be added to vehicles.
JBL Bar 9.1
JBL debuted a unique soundbar at CES this year. The JBL Bar 9.1 offers wireless surround sound with a soundbar base and two detachable battery powered rear speakers that can be removed and placed anywhere.
It's also equipped with AirPlay 2, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby Vision support, but it will be priced at $1,000 when it launches later this year.
Farewell, CES 2020!
This is the last of our CES 2020 coverage, but we'll be following up with reviews and articles on some of the products we saw when they're released later in the year.
Masimo, a medical technology company that designs pulse oximetry devices, has filed a lawsuit against Apple accusing the Cupertino company of stealing trade secrets and improperly using Masimo inventions related to health monitoring in the Apple Watch.
According to Bloomberg, Masimo claims that Apple stole secret information by pretending to have a working relationship with Masimo, and then hiring Masimo employees. Masimo also believes the Apple Watch is infringing on 10 Masimo patents.
Masimo, and its spinoff company Cercacor, claim that Masimo's technology for non-invasive health monitoring helped Apple overcome performance issues with the Apple Watch. Apple allegedly relied on Masimo tech when developing the light-based heart rate sensor used in the Apple Watch, among other technologies.
According to Masimo, Apple first contacted the company in 2013 and asked to meet for a potential collaboration, with Apple asking to "understand more" about Masimo's products to potentially integrate Masimo technology into future Apple devices. After what Masimo considered productive meetings, Apple began hiring away important employees.
Ahead of when the Apple Watch was released, Apple hired Michael O'Reilly, who had served as the Chief Medical Officer and EVP of Medical Affairs at Masimo. He has been working on Health Special Projects at Apple, and had a hand in the development of the Apple Watch.
O'Reilly wasn't the only hire from Masimo, as Apple also took on other former Masimo employees along with employees from other health-related companies during the time the Apple Watch was being designed. Marcelo Lamego, who served as CTO of Cercacor, for example, joined Apple not long after O'Reilly.
Masimo says Apple received confidential information from its hires, and launched a targeted effort to obtain "information and expertise."
Masimo and Cercacor are aiming to block further use of their patented inventions and are asking for unspecified damages. The two companies also want to add their engineers to four patents that were granted to Lamego after leaving the Cercacor.
13 years ago today, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the stage at Macworld in San Francisco and surprised the world with the very first iPhone.
Jobs introduced the iPhone as if it were three separate products: an iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device. Today, the iPhone is still all of those things, but also so much more.
Apple has sold well over a billion iPhones since 2007, and as of last January, the company's active installed base had hit 1.4 billion devices. Though iPhone sales were down last year, the iPhone continues to be Apple's single most successful product.
Apple has steadily improved the iPhone over the years, refining the design over and over again, updating the camera, and adding new biometric features, and all of these changes have made the iPhone even more indispensable in our daily lives. Improvements over the years:
2008: App Store and 3G network support
2009: Personal Hotspot and video recording capabilities
2010: New form factor and Retina display
2011: Siri and iCloud
2012: 4-inch display, Lightning connector, and LTE
2013: Touch ID fingerprint sensor
2014: 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays
2015: 3D Touch, Live Photos, and 4K video recording
2016: Waterproofing, dual-lens camera for iPhone 7 Plus, no headphone jack
2017: No Home button, 5.8-inch OLED full screen display, wireless charging, fast charging, Face ID
2018: 5.8 and 6.5-inch OLED screen sizes, three iPhone lineup
2019: Night mode, triple-lens cameras
Rumors suggest the iPhone is going to see a major overhaul in 2020, with Apple set to debut 5G connectivity, a revamped iPhone 4-style frame design, 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7-inch iPhone sizes, and a time-of-flight laser-based camera system for better depth calculations and AR capabilities.
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