MacRumors

In an effort that would give future Echo speakers with Alexa a new advantage over Apple's HomePod, Reuters today reports that Amazon is working with chipmakers to build Alexa speakers that would not require a constant power source. As it stands, most smart assistant devices -- Amazon's main Echo, Apple HomePod, Google Home, etc -- require a constant draw of power due to their always-on microphones listening for the user's voice commands, among other reasons.

Now, Amazon has partnered with chipmaker DSP Group to build a standardized chip that is "a little smaller than a U.S. 10-cent coin" and optimized for lower power consumption. Amazon and other companies will be able to use the chip to place Alexa into their own smart devices that offer greater portability to users.

Amazon already has the Amazon Tap, a portable Bluetooth speaker that doesn't need to be plugged in to use all of its features. With a "hands-free mode" users can ask Alexa questions and command her to play music, which slightly affects battery life: 9 hours of continuous playback compared to 8 hours with hands-free mode activated.

There are also third-party companies like Fabriq that sell portable Alexa solutions, but these devices are still a small portion of the market in comparison to AC-powered speakers. With Amazon and DSP Group's new partnership, it appears that Amazon is looking to greatly bolster the amount of cord-free Alexa devices available to buy, while also improving the user experience with internal chips that can run always-on listening features without as much of a hit to battery life.

Amazon also has numerous other chipmakers offering solutions for Alexa -- including Intel and Qualcomm -- but as of now DSP is said to be the sole supplier competing with a chip that offers low power consumption. DSP's current client roster includes making chips for Samsung smart watches, cameras for GoPro, and a wireless speaker for Logitech.

Those are all large companies with many engineers, but by working with Amazon to make its chip easier to use in a device, DSP is hoping to spur more products from gadget makers of all sizes to include Alexa, Elyakim said.

“We are at a fairly early level in this market, but I think over the next 12 months we’ll see a lot of announcements,” he said.

For Apple's HomePod, the main rumor for the next-generation speaker centers around its price tag, with numerous reports earlier this year suggesting Apple is "mulling" and "low-cost version" of the HomePod that will run between $150-$200. What this means for specific features remains unclear, but since the original speaker is believed to have underperformed due to ecosystem limitations and Siri issues, some theorize Apple could focus on combating these problems in the cheaper HomePod.

The only time that portability and a future version of HomePod were tied together came from a questionable report earlier this spring, which claimed that the "low-priced" HomePod will be placed under the Beats by Dre brand, which only sells portable rechargeable speakers. Apple has yet to introduce its Siri assistant into any non-Apple product, and one reason Beats Pill devices don't have "Hey Siri" is likely due to their portability and lack of constant power.

Although unlikely at this point, the speculative HomePod/Beats speaker was described in a way that suggested a more portable smart speaker than the first generation, and could be similar to the proposed future versions of Amazon Echo from today's report. As it stands, there are many pros and cons to both the HomePod and Echo, as Apple's more expensive speaker focuses on sound quality first, while Amazon's speaker provides one of the most robust smart home hubs on the market thanks to its numerous Alexa Skills.

This week's Apple Pay promotion is offering customers the chance to save on their Fourth of July dinners with 20 percent off from restaurant chain TGI Fridays. If you use Apple Pay to checkout in the TGI Fridays iOS app, select the order for pickup, and use the promo code APPLE20, you'll get 20 percent off your meal through Sunday, July 8.

Apple's new promotion encourages users to get out and shop to prepare for their Fourth of July celebrations, suggesting stores like Trader Joe's, Party City, BevMo!, Hannaford Supermarkets, and BJ's Wholesale Club, all of which support Apple Pay. The email also mentions Apple Pay support at ACE Hardware, where users can find supplies for summer projects.

The last few Apple Pay promotions have been themed around summer activities as well, offering customers the chance to save money on new Adidas shoes to wear during summer workouts, and two free bike rides with the ofo app. Apple tends to theme its weekly promotions around big holidays or events when they happen, offering $5 off movie tickets with Fandango in celebration of the Oscars and a free Postmates Unlimited subscription for holiday dinners last November.

Apple has announced that, starting June 30, customers will no longer be able to change their iTunes or App Store payment information from devices running iOS 4.3.5 or earlier, OS X 10.8.5 or earlier, or Apple TV Software 4.4.4 or earlier.

In an email to customers who may be impacted, Apple said it is implementing this change to continue to ensure that their financial information is protected when they make purchases on the iTunes Store or App Store. For emphasis, this appears to be a proactive move, not the result of a security breach.

Given how old the affected software versions are, relatively few customers should be impacted by this move. iOS 4.3.5 and Apple TV Software 4.4.4 were both released in 2011, while macOS 10.8.5 was seeded in September 2013 as the final update to what was then called OS X Mountain Lion.

If you're using one of these versions on your device and need to change your payment method, Apple says to update your device to the latest version of the software. Of course, this may not be possible on older devices that have been phased out, in which case a newer device with newer software must be used.

The full email to customers courtesy of MacRumors reader Rich:

On June 30, 2018, Apple will implement changes to continue to ensure your financial data is protected when you make purchases on the iTunes Store or App Store.

Our records show that you may be accessing the store from an older version of iOS, macOS, or Apple TV software:

- iOS 4.3.5 or earlier
- macOS 10.8.5 or earlier
- Apple TV Software 4.4.4 or earlier

To be able to change your payment information with devices running the software listed above, you'll need to update to a more recent software version.

The email was also shared on Reddit.

Apple provides more details, instructions on how to update to the latest version of iOS, macOS, and Apple TV software, and steps to change your payment method, in a support document related to this change.

Update: As noted by MacRumors forum member Cdbrawn, this change appears to be in line with the PCI-SSC's requirement that all businesses processing payments online must transition to TLS 1.1 encryption or better by June 30, 2018. The affected iOS, OS X, and Apple TV software versions use TLS 1.0.

Using the Segments feature in the Apple Watch Workout app is a great way to track changes in exercise intensity over the course of a workout. It can also help you find out which activities in a mixed session push your body the most.

If your regular running route includes a hilly section, for example, using segments to indicate where it begins and/or ends lets you review how much time it takes to complete compared to the rest of your workout.

Or maybe you use your Apple Watch to track gym sessions that include various high-intensity strength training or mixed cardio exercises. Marking a new segment every time you move to another piece of equipment or perform a different exercise will give you a better idea of how effective each activity is at burning calories.

How to Mark a Segment During a Workout

1. Launch the Workout app on your Apple Watch.
   

2. Choose a workout type to track from the list, then go ahead and start your workout.
   
   

3. To divide your workout into two segments, simply raise your wrist and double-tap on the screen. The time elapsed becomes Segment 1 of your workout, while the remaining time becomes Segment 2.
   

4. To create a third segment in your workout, just double-tap on the screen again. Repeat this action as many times as you want.

How to View Segment Metrics on Your iPhone

1. Launch the Activity app on your iPhone.
   

2. Tap the Workouts tab.
   
   

3. Select the workout in which you recorded segments.
   

4. In the workout summary screen, locate the Segments section just above the heart rate graph, and tap the chevron alongside it to reveal your numbered segments with stats for duration and calories burned.

Apple may choose to use modems manufactured by MediaTek instead of modems from Intel in future iPhones, according to an investor's note from Northland analyst Gus Richard that was shared by Bloomberg.

Little detail was included in the note, but Richard believes Apple could be planning to shift its modem business away from Intel. The accuracy of that prediction is questionable, however, and there's no clear timeline on when Apple might be planning to make the shift. Presumably this would impact 2019 iPhones, as deals for 2018 iPhones are established.

For many years, Apple relied solely on Qualcomm chips, but added Intel as a manufacturer a couple years ago. Current iPhones use LTE chips from both Qualcomm and Intel, but Apple is embroiled in a lawsuit with Qualcomm and is rumored to be aiming to ditch Qualcomm chips, too.

Given the sheer number of iPhones Apple produces each year, it's not clear if Apple could rely on MediaTek as sole supplier for its LTE chips, so the conflicting rumors of Apple cutting ties with both Intel and Qualcomm are somewhat confusing.

Apple is developing its own modem chips to reduce its reliance on both Intel and Qualcomm, but it will need to continue to use third-party chips until its in-house solution is ready to be deployed in iOS devices.

Current rumors suggest Intel will supply approximately 70 percent of LTE chips set to be used in the 2018 lineup, with the rest of the chips continuing to come from Qualcomm.

Apple is also moving away from Intel chips in its Mac lineup, with rumors suggesting the company is developing its own custom Mac chips that could be deployed as early as 2020.

Apple's Beats Electronics division today lost a lawsuit levied against it by Steven Lamar, who had a hand in the development of the Beats brand.

According to Bloomberg, a jury today decided that Lamar is entitled to $25 million due to a disputed settlement in 2007 with Beats co-founders and Apple execs Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre.

Lamar signed over the rights to the Beats design in exchange for royalties back in 2006. He claimed that under the terms of the settlement, he was owed royalties on all Beats models, while Dre and Iovine said he was entitled to royalties only on the original Studio model released in 2008, leading to a legal dispute.

The jury awarded Lamar royalties on all models of the Studio Beats headphones, but not on other models, an amount that could add up to a total of $40 million when interest and attorney fees are taken into account.

Lamar in 2006 claims to have shown a headphone design to Iovine, who recommended Dr. Dre as an endorser, creating the partnership that led to the creation of Beats Electronics. Lamar then helped to develop the Beats brand and the concept behind the headphones until he had a falling out with Iovine and Dre in 2006.

Apple purchased the Beats brand in 2014 for $3 billion, with Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre (otherwise known as Andre Young) joining Apple at that time. Since then, Apple has continued to sell products under the Beats label.

Rumors suggest new iPad Pro models coming in 2018 will feature slimmer bezels and no Home button, which will be removed in favor of the same Face ID system that's available in the iPhone X.

A new iPad Pro concept shared by Álvaro Pabesio imagines what such an iPad Pro might look like, with detailed mockups of an iPad that features an 11.9-inch display with slim wraparound bezels, no notch (as the TrueDepth camera system is included in the top bezel), and no Home button.

Size wise, Pabesio's imagined 11.9-inch iPad is the same physical size as the current 10.5-inch iPad Pro, which is in line with rumors suggesting the next iPad Pro will feature a bigger display. Those rumors, though, have suggested it won't be quite as large as 11.9 inches.

The concept also includes a 12-megapixel dual-rear camera, a feature that has not been rumored for the next-generation iPad Pro but is possible, along with some imagined iOS enhancements, like Stacks, that are not coming in iOS 12.

While Pabesio's mockups aren't entirely true to rumors with some imagined features, it's still an interesting look at the design decisions that Apple could opt to make in a next-generation iPad Pro with Face ID and a TrueDepth camera system. The full design can be seen over on Behance.

For a full and accurate list of all of the rumors we've heard about the iPad Pro models expected to be released in 2018, make sure to check out our iPad Pro roundup.

After months of scrutiny in an ongoing antitrust case, the United States Department of Justice today granted The Walt Disney Company approval to acquire 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets for $71.3 billion, on one new condition: Disney must divest 22 regional sports networks owned by Fox to an "acceptable" buyer. Removing these networks from the acquisition "would resolve the competitive harm" that has been previously raised in the antitrust lawsuit, the Department said.

If Disney did acquire Fox and the 22 regional sports networks, the original complaint argued that the proposed acquisition would "likely result" in multichannel video programming distributors paying higher prices for cable sports programming in the designated markets. This would also inflate television subscription prices in the process, the Department pointed out.

Now, Disney has agreed to sell the 22 networks to a buyer that the Justice Department deems "acceptable," rather than continue the ongoing merger investigation. After the acquisition closes, Disney will have 90 days in which to sell all of the designated networks to the buyer, otherwise the court will appoint a trustee to force the sale.

This will ensure a competitive market remains in place in each region, Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim explained.

“American consumers have benefitted from head-to-head competition between Disney and Fox’s cable sports programming that ultimately has prevented cable television subscription prices from rising even higher,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s settlement will ensure that sports programming competition is preserved in the local markets where Disney and Fox compete for cable and satellite distribution.”

The specific regional sports networks in question include the following:

(i) Fox Sports Arizona, (ii) Fox Sports Carolinas, (iii) Fox Sports Detroit, (iv) Fox Sports Florida, (v) Fox Sports Indiana, (vi) Fox Sports Kansas City, (vii) Fox Sports Midwest, (viii) Fox Sports New Orleans, (ix) Fox Sports North, (x) Fox Sports Ohio, (xi) SportsTime Ohio, (xii) Fox Sports Oklahoma, (xiii) Fox Sports San Diego, (xiv) Fox Sports South, (xv) Fox Sports Southeast, (xvi) Fox Sports Southwest, (xvii) Fox Sports Sun, (xviii) Fox Sports Tennessee, (xix) Fox Sports West, (xx) Prime Ticket, (xxi) Fox Sports Wisconsin, and (xxii) the YES Network.

Disney is now believed to have surpassed the last major hurdle in the deal and should be nearing the end of the acquisition process, although regulatory approvals from other countries are still required. Competitive offers could also still appear, potentially from Comcast, although Fox has remained vocal about its preference for Disney to win its entertainment assets.

As outlined in the original announcement last December, these assets include Twentieth Century Fox Film and Television Studios and Fox-related cable and international TV businesses. Movie assets that would become Disney-owned include Avatar, X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool, and TV shows include The Simpsons, This Is Us, and The Americans. Disney would also get Fox's 30 percent stake in Hulu and become a majority owner of the streaming service.

The Pokémon Company's latest mobile game, Pokémon Quest, is available starting today on iOS and Android devices after launching on the Nintendo Switch in late May.

A free to play game with in-app purchases, Pokémon Quest takes place in Tumblecube Island, where everything, from the Pokémon to the environment, is cube shaped. The essentials of the game are still Pokémon-esque, and players are tasked with battling wild Pokémon, searching for treasure, exploring new areas, and more.

Players are able to create a three-Pokémon team, befriend Pokémon through items collected in the game, personalize Pokémon with Power Stones to give them unique stats, and create and decorate a base camp.

The Pokémon you know and love have turned into...cubes?! Head out in search of treasure with your cube-shaped Pokémon buddies on Tumblecube Island--a land where everything is a cube! Your goal is to find the awesome goodies said to be hidden on the island!

- Battle by tapping!
The simple controls make for lively and fun battles! Danger is lurking, so you'll need the help of your Pokémon buddies on your expeditions on the island. When wild Pokémon appear, your Pokémon will battle ferociously and knock them out one after another!

- Befriend Pokémon to make your own unique team!
You can use the items you get from your expeditions to befriend more Pokémon or make your Pokémon stronger. Make more buddies to create a team that's all your own, and head out on more expeditions!

- Spruce up your base camp with cute decorations!
Your base camp is your home for this adventure, and you can spruce it up however you like with cute and fun decorations! These decorations can also make your expeditions on the island more beneficial.

Pokémon Quest can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Snapchat is looking to build its own "internal app store" of gaming titles, according to a new report out today from The Information.

The platform is set for a tentative launch sometime this fall, and will allow outside developers to build games that Snapchat then distributes for users to play within the Snapchat app.

People familiar with the company's plans claim that Snapchat has already lined up one gaming publisher to make a new game for Snapchat's app store.

Unless every game is completely free, it's unclear how the company plans to succeed when Apple has strict App Store guidelines that prevent companies from selling apps, games, and other content in their apps that aren't designated in-app purchases.

The company is preparing to launch a platform this fall that will let outside developers create games to be played through the Snapchat app, according to two people familiar with the matter.

It is relying on outside developers to build the games that could be downloaded in an internal app-store of titles. The gaming platform has been in the works for at least a year as the company has worked on the platform’s technology, according to a person familiar with the effort.

Recently, Valve had trouble with Apple's policies in this regard, after trying to get its Steam Link app on the App Store, which would have let users purchase games within the app. After Apple rejected the app, Valve removed game purchasing as an option from Steam Link and has resubmitted it for approval to Apple. Now, when users see a game in the app Valve points them toward a Mac or PC as places to make their purchases.

For Snapchat, the deeper foray into gaming is believed to be an attempt to further distance itself from rival Instagram, which has copied a few of its features over the years and eventually became more successful than Snapchat in regards to the 24-hour "stories" feature. However, one source reportedly suggested that the gaming platform is still "more experimental" at this point than a central business effort by the company.

Earlier this year, the company expressed interest in gaming on a small scale with the launch of "Snappables," Snapchat Lenses that are interactive and let users play AR games with friends. Many social-focused apps have tried out gaming experiences in the past, including Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Apple's own iMessage through the launch of the Messages App Store in iOS 10.

Elgato Systems today announced that it will shift its focus "exclusively" to its line of HomeKit-connected Eve devices, in the process rebranding itself to "Eve Systems." At the same time, it confirmed plans to sell its streaming accessory division Elgato Gaming to peripheral company Corsair to continue life as a separate brand.

Under its new name, the company said that Eve Systems will offer a "constantly expanding ecosystem" of accessories that are designed exclusively for HomeKit. It also told users to look out for the next line of product announcements coming to IFA Berlin in a few months, running from August 31 through September 5.

In the announcement, Elgato founder and CEO of Eve Systems Markus Fest explained that the Eve product line will benefit from a "focused team and a dedicated organization" thanks to the gaming division's sale.

“Today, the Gaming space is more dynamic and exciting than ever, and we sought a larger partner to help us capitalize on the phenomenal opportunities ahead” said Markus Fest, Elgato’s founder and now CEO of Eve Systems.

“Our gaming business has been wildly successful, and that success is inextricably linked to the Elgato brand. The brand has been with us for almost twenty years and we are obviously a little sad to see it go, but Corsair is a fantastic company and will be a great new home for Elgato. At the same time our Eve product line will benefit from a focused team and a dedicated organization. This move will further strengthen both product families.”

For products that don't fall under the Eve or Gaming categories — like Elgato's thunderbolt docks — the company confirmed that anything that is not an Eve device will also be joining Elgato Gaming under Corsair.

The most recent HomeKit product announcements from the company came with the Eve Aqua and Eve Flare. Eve Aqua connects to your outdoor water system so you can control your sprinklers or other irrigation system through the Home app or Siri. For European users, the Eve Flare lamp is a portable LED lamp that offers six hours of illumination on one charge.

Otheriwse, the company sells numerous Eve devices on Apple.com, including the Elgato Eve Degree Connected Weather Station, Light Switch, Wireless Motion Sensor, Room Sensor, Energy Smart Plug, Button, and more.

Logitech today announced that its popular Slim Combo and Slim Folio Bluetooth keyboards have been updated with support for sixth-generation iPad, which means they're now available for Apple's most affordable tablet.

The Slim Folio was previously available for the fifth-generation iPad and is also now compatible with the sixth-generation model, while the Slim Combo was previously limited to the iPad Pro. The new Slim Combo is compatible with both fifth and sixth-generation iPads.

Priced at $100, the Slim Folio is designed to turn the iPad into a laptop replacement, with a lightweight design and well-spaced mechanical scissor keys, along with iOS shortcut keys. It also serves as a protective case for the iPad, keeping it safe from scratches, drops, and spills.

There are two different viewing angles, so it can be used in a typing mode or a mode for watching videos and playing games, and the new version includes a holder for the Apple Pencil.

The $120 Slim Combo offers similar features, but it has a detachable keyboard and an adjustable kickstand for more versatility. Like the Slim Folio, the Slim Combo is a lightweight Bluetooth keyboard case that lets you type anywhere.

For the sixth-generation iPad, there is a built-in Apple Pencil holder to store an Apple Pencil when it's not in use, plus it comes with backlit keys. Unlike the iPad Pro version of the Slim Combo, which connects to an iPad Pro using the Smart Connector, the Slim Combo for iPad connects via Bluetooth.

The Slim Combo and the Slim Folio can be purchased from the Logitech website starting today.