Apple is hosting a one-night-only Shawn Mendes concert at the Ford Theatres in Los Angeles, California this Thursday, the company shared today on Twitter.
The live performance kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time and will include the debut of a brand new song that will be included on Mendes' upcoming album.
Apple continues to expand the number of self-driving vehicles it is testing on the streets of Northern California, according to new numbers sourced from the California DMV (via macReports).
Apple has 55 vehicles out on the road driven by a total of 83 drivers, up from the 45 vehicle permits the company possessed in March. Since last April, Apple has been steadily adding new vehicles to its fleet, all of which are equipped with the autonomous driving software that Apple is developing.
For its software testing, Apple uses Lexus RX450h sports utility vehicles outfitted with advanced LIDAR equipment and an array of cameras. While California now allows for fully autonomous driverless vehicles to be tested on public roads, Apple does not yet possess those permits and all of its vehicles have safety drivers inside.
Rumors of Apple's work in the vehicle space first surfaced in 2015 as the company hired thousands of automotive experts and explored the possibility of a full Apple-designed electric vehicle. Those plans did not pan out, and in 2016, longtime Apple executive Bob Mansfield took over the automotive team and Apple refocused its efforts not on a car, but on self-driving car software.
At the time of the pivot, Apple executives allegedly gave the automotive team until 2017 to "prove the feasibility" of a self-driving car system, and given the continued expansion of Apple's self-driving car fleet, it seems the company has decided to progress with development.
It is not yet clear what Apple plans to do with the self-driving car software when finished, but the company could partner with other car manufacturers or eventually return to development on its own vehicle. It's also possible that some of the features that are being worked on could be introduced in future more advanced versions of CarPlay.
Some rumors have suggested augmented reality aspects could be included in the software that Apple is developing, such as a heads-up display that would provide standard driving details along with data from apps like Maps.
Because of the need to submit public information to the DMV, Apple has not been able to keep its work on autonomous driving software under wraps as it does with most of its product development. Tim Cook in June of 2017 even confirmed Apple's work on autonomous software, a rare move for the normally tight-lipped CEO. "It's a core technology that we view as very important," he said. "We sort of see it as the mother of all AI projects. It's probably one of the most difficult AI projects to actually work on."
On Friday, Apple began promoting its streaming show Carpool Karaoke: The Seriesinside of the TV app, marking the first time the entire series will be available for people who don't subscribe to Apple Music. Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps -- which represent Apple's foray into original television content -- have been mainly housed inside of the Music app since they both launched last year, and in the ensuing months the company has been connected to over a dozen upcoming original TV shows.
Apple has set aside $1 billion for its TV efforts, with a global team working on high-quality dramas that reports have compared to Stranger Things and Westworld, in terms of scale. Due to the amount of money it's putting into the initiative, Apple is expected to distribute the shows via subscription service of some kind, and with the recent expansion of Carpool Karaoke into TV we now have a potential hint at what Apple might do when launching its next set of shows.
Apple started off leaning into Apple Music as its home for new shows, with a "TV & Movies" category in the Browse tab, so it's been somewhat unclear how the company will go about launching its own streaming TV service. Possibilities include keeping the shows within Apple Music and bundling a TV category into user subscriptions, launching a completely new streaming service and connecting it to iTunes somehow, or making the service and shows available in the existing TV app.
That last option appears like a solid guess now that the entirety of Carpool Karaoke is rolling out on TV. When the app is opened this week, Apple gives Carpool Karaoke prime placement on the "What to Watch" tab, along with an exclusive tab bar that highlights the free episodes of the show. One of the advantages of Apple TV and the TV app is a quick snapshot of every app that a show or film is available on, and for Carpool Karaoke instead of just "Music," it's now "Available on TV."
This means that when you click the play button, you won't be diverted to another app to stream the show since it'll be playing directly in TV, similar to how purchased movies and TV shows from iTunes work in the app (on the other hand, Planet of the Apps does not have an "Available on TV" label and still must be watched in Music). If combined with its upcoming plan to offer subscriptions to other streaming services in TV, Apple could then let users subscribe to its own service within the app, with a dedicated area for shows exclusive to the company.
Apple's weekly rollout model for episodes of Carpool Karaoke could also be a hint at how some shows might debut on the dedicated streaming service. Following the first two episodes, Apple will now put one episode onto the TV app every Friday until the season is finished at episode 19. Streaming networks vary in episode distribution strategy, with Netflix popularizing the all-at-once model while Hulu chooses to release episodes of its shows, like The Handmaid's Tale, one episode per week.
Every Friday, Apple will add a new episode of Carpool Karaoke into TV
The tricky thing is that Apple Music itself does connect to the TV app, so even if some shows initially launch bundled into Apple Music, you'll still be able to keep them organized in TV (like you can with Planet of the Apps right now), with the main difference simply being the actual location of streaming the series. Of course, we won't know for sure how we'll be watching Apple's shows until the company lays down its plans for the rollout, which could launch as early as March 2019 according to the latest rumor.
Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming iOS 11.4 update to developers, one week after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after releasing iOS 11.3, a major update that introduced several new features.
Registered developers can download the new iOS 11.4 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.
The iOS 11.4 update introduces a new ClassKit framework for educational institutions, which supports new features announced at Apple's March 27 education-focused event.
For regular users, the iOS 11.4 update adds features that were originally present in the iOS 11.3 beta but removed ahead of release.
It includes support for Messages on iCloud, designed to store your iMessages in iCloud rather than on each individual device, allowing for improved syncing capabilities. Currently, incoming iMessages are sent to all devices where you're signed in to your Apple ID, but there is no true cross-device syncing.
Messages on iCloud will allow you to download all of your iMessages on new devices, and a message deleted on one device will remove it on all devices. Older messages and attachments are also stored in iCloud rather than on-device, saving valuable storage space.
The iOS 11.4 update also includes AirPlay 2 features, with the Apple TV once again available in the Home app. With AirPlay 2, the same audio content can be played in multiple rooms on devices that support AirPlay 2. AirPlay 2 includes a feature that lets you ask Siri on one device to play content on another AirPlay 2-enabled device. So, for example, you can ask Siri on iPhone to play content on your Apple TV in another room if you're running the iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4 betas.
There were initially signs of support for HomePod stereo sound in the first iOS 11.4 beta, a long-promised feature, but stereo sound didn't work properly and the mention was removed in the second beta. It's not clear if it will return for the update's release.
For the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, there is a new (PRODUCT)RED wallpaper available, which is not available on iPhone X.
iOS 11.3, the previous update to iOS 11, introduced a new Battery Health feature for monitoring the status of your iPhone's battery, Business Chat for iMessage, which lets you communicate with companies directly in the Messages app, ARKit 1.5 with augmented reality improvements, new Animoji on iPhone X, Health Records from participating medical providers, and more.
Update: Apple has also released a new version of iOS 11.4 for public beta testers.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 11.4 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS 11.4, paired with iOS 11.4, reintroduces AirPlay 2 features that were present in early tvOS and iOS 11.3 betas but were removed ahead of release. With AirPlay 2, the same audio content can be played on multiple devices (like the Apple TV) throughout your home, and audio playback can be controlled via the iPhone or through Siri commands. After installing iOS 11.4 and tvOS 11.4, the Apple TV is also once again be listed in the Home app.
There were no other new features discovered in the first four tvOS 11.4 updates, and it's likely it focuses on bug fixes and other small improvements. Apple's tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, and we may not find any other new additions.
We'll update this post should new features be introduced in the fifth beta of tvOS 11.4.
Update: Apple has also made the fifth beta of tvOS 11.4 available to its public beta testing group.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS 4.3.1 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General --> Software update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
Shortly before watchOS 4.3.1 was introduced, Apple stopped allowing developers to update Apple Watch apps built on the original watchOS 1 SDK. In watchOS 4.3.1, there's an alert when launching a watchOS 1 app that warns that the app may not be compatible with future versions of watchOS. This suggests Apple will drop support for watchOS 1 apps entirely in the future, just as it did with support for 32-bit iOS apps in iOS 11.
Code hidden within watchOS 4.3.1 also suggests Apple is working on introducing support for custom third-party watch faces, but this is likely a feature that would be introduced as part of a major watchOS 5 update rather than through watchOS 4.3.1.
There were no major new features discovered in first four watchOS 4.3.1 betas, which is unsurprising as this is a minor 4.x.x update. It's likely this update focuses primarily on bug fixes to address issues discovered since the release of watchOS 4.3.
Apple does not provide detailed release notes for watchOS, so we may not know what's included in the update until it sees a public release.
The new macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 beta can be downloaded through Apple Developer Center or the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store with the proper profile installed.
macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 introduces support for Messages on iCloud, a feature that was previously present in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 betas before being pulled ahead of the release of the update. Messages on iCloud is also available in iOS 11.4.
The Messages on iCloud feature is designed to store your iMessages in iCloud for improved syncing. Right now, incoming iMessages are sent to all devices where you're signed into your Apple ID, but it's not true cloud-based syncing because your old messages don't show up on new devices nor does deleting a message remove it from all of your devices, both features enabled through Messages on iCloud.
Messages on iCloud also allows your older iMessages and attachments to be stored in iCloud rather than on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, saving valuable storage space.
The update also likely includes bug fixes and performance improvements for issues that weren't addressed in macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, but as Apple does not provide detailed release notes for macOS High Sierra beta updates, we may not know exactly what's included until the new software is provided to the public.
No other major outward-facing changes were found in the first four betas of macOS High Sierra 10.13.5, but we'll update this post should any new features be found in the fifth.
The previous update, macOS High Sierra 10.13.4, brought support for external graphics processors (eGPUs) along with Business Chat in Messages and several other bug fixes and smaller feature improvements.
Update: The fifth macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 beta is also available for public beta testers.
iPhone SE 2 rumors are running rampant, but there is little consensus about what to expect should the device be real.
The latest word comes from Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing Chinese accessory makers who claim production has yet to begin for the second-generation iPhone SE. In fact, Apple is apparently still considering a final design for the device among the several different prototypes it is said to have tested.
The report claims that at least one of those prototypes has an iPhone X-esque design, including a nearly full screen display with no home button and a notch, while other prototypes are believed to have a similar design as the current iPhone SE, except with a glass back, presumably to allow wireless charging.
Ben Geskin recently shared photos of what appears to be iPhone display glass with a shallow cutout resembling the TrueDepth sensor housing on iPhone X, but in a follow-up tweet, he said his "main source" says that the new iPhone SE will have the same design and display as the current model, but with a glass back.
I have to say, that my main source is saying that SE2 will have the same design (and display) as the first SE, but with a glass back.
— Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) May 10, 2018
Meanwhile, MacRumors obtained renders from case maker Olixar last week that depicted a new iPhone SE with an iPhone X-esque display, but still with an aluminum, flat-edged frame like the current model and iPhone 5s. Olixar said its renders are based on information obtained from a "reliable source" in China.
The renders suggest the iPhone SE's notch would be approximately half as wide as the one on the iPhone X, likely making it too slim to house facial recognition sensors. One possibility is that the iPhone SE does move to an edge-to-edge design, with a notch, but without any of the Face ID technology.
As we said at the time, however, it's hard to imagine that Apple would include Face ID on the iPhone SE without significantly raising its price, as such a move would likely cannibalize sales of the iPhone X lineup.
And without Touch ID or Face ID, it's unclear how authentication would work on the new iPhone SE. Chinese company Vivo's new X20 Plus UD became the first smartphone with an in-display fingerprint sensor early this year, but Apple seemed to have elected against that approach early on with the iPhone X.
In whatever form it arrives, the accessory makers believe the new iPhone SE is more likely to launch in the third quarter of 2018, suggesting the device could be unveiled alongside a new iPhone X and iPhone X Plus in September. If true, however, Apple has likely already finalized the design of the device.
A handful of earlier reports and regulatory filings had suggested the new iPhone SE could be unveiled in May or at WWDC 2018 in June.
It's unclear how the Chinese accessory makers obtained their information, but they could be confusing one of the prototypes with the rumored 6.1-inch iPhone. That device is expected to have some iPhone X features like Face ID, but lack an OLED display, stainless steel frame, and 3D Touch to achieve a lower price point.
All in all, it's a confusing mess right now. Apple often prototypes several iPhone models, and it could even have some fake versions passing through the supply chain to throw off leakers. But where there's smoke, there's often fire, so specifics aside, it sounds like a new iPhone SE of some kind is in the works.
Apple hasn't truly updated the iPhone SE since it launched in March 2016, beyond doubling its available storage capacities a year later. The device currently starts at $349 in the United States with 32GB of storage.
Wi-Fi Alliance today announced a new certification program called "EasyMesh," which will allow users who own mesh network products to choose from devices across different brands, while still ensuring reliable Wi-Fi coverage (via PCWorld). This way, customers will no longer need to stay within a single-vendor ecosystem dictated by the brand of the hub router, and can branch out to add on access points to their network that might have better performance, or other advantages.
So with EasyMesh certified products, if you own a Linksys Velop router then you can extend coverage across your home using a Netgear Orbi access point. Right now, users can only add products onto mesh networks that work with the main network gateway. For EasyMesh, the limitation as of now is company adoption, so users will have to wait for each mesh system maker to introduce EasyMesh compatibility into their devices.
According to Wi-Fi Alliance marketing vice president Kevin Robinson, EasyMesh is implemented in software, "so there should be no need for new hardware," which could speed up adoption rates. Still, Robinson pointed out that it will be up to each company to decide about adding EasyMesh into existing products. He also stated that companies will also be able to "differentiate their products with unique features or performance" and went on to break down the main components of EasyMesh.
“Interoperability has been core to Wi-Fi’s success,” said Wi-Fi Alliance marketing VP Kevin Robinson in an embargoed interview last week. “A standardized approach enables great economies of scale.” Robinson explained that EasyMesh has two main components: The controller and the agent.
“The controller resides in one device on the network—in either a gateway or an access point—where it controls and manages all the devices on the network and how they connect to each other. Agents are in the mesh access points, and they organize with each other and provide information to the controller about how the network is operating.”
In the announcement, the Alliance described EasyMesh as a system that will be familiar to any mesh network user. The program monitors network conditions and "self-adapts as needed," and it can guide internet-connected devices to the optimal access point in order for the user to have the best possible connection. Of course, the main advantage is that EasyMesh accomodates Wi-Fi extending access points across various brands, making the creation of an in-home Wi-Fi network far easier.
Wi-Fi EasyMesh networks accommodate a greater selection of devices across brands and are also extensible, making it easy for users to introduce new Wi-Fi EasyMesh access points into their network. Wi-Fi EasyMesh access points today will maintain interoperability with future Wi-Fi EasyMesh networks, providing an enhanced user experience for years to come.
“Wi-Fi EasyMesh offers both service providers and Wi-Fi users a consistent approach to multiple AP solutions," said Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance. “Wi-Fi Alliance is delivering a standardized solution to a market-leading product category enabling a strong ecosystem for interoperable, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices.”
Mesh networks have become increasingly popular over the last few years, thanks to their ability to easily extend Wi-Fi signals throughout a home. Some well-known brands include eero, Linksys Velop, Google Wi-Fi, Luma, and Netgear Orbi, which just announced a new 2-in-1 modem router system earlier this month.
Apple itself never offered a Wi-Fi mesh system, and the company officially got out of the router market completely in April with the discontinuation of the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule. As an alternative Apple sells the tri-band Linksys Velop system on Apple.com, and the new dual-band system will be launching tomorrow, May 15, although it's still unclear if it will also be up on Apple's website.
Apple has been hit with a class action lawsuit over "defective" keyboards in recent MacBook and MacBook Pro models.
The lawsuit, filed in Northern California district court, alleges that the low-profile, butterfly-switch keyboards in 2015-and-later MacBook and 2016-and-later MacBook Pro models are "prone to fail," resulting in "non-responsive keys" and other issues, according to court documents obtained by MacRumors.
The lawsuit was filed by law firm Girard Gibbs LLP on behalf of MacBook Pro owners Zixuan Rao and Kyle Barbaro, residents of San Diego, California and Melrose, Massachusetts respectively.
The proposed class:
All persons within the United States who purchased, other than for resale, a model year 2015 or later Apple MacBook, or a model year 2016 or later MacBook Pro laptop, equipped with a "butterfly" keyboard.
The complaint notes that keys can become unresponsive when small amounts of dust or debris accumulate under or around them:
Apple's butterfly keyboard and MacBook are produced and assembled in such a way that when minimal amounts of dust or debris accumulate under or around a key, keystrokes fail to register. […] As a result of the defect, consumers who purchased a MacBook face a constant threat of non-responsive keys and accompanying keyboard failure. When one or more of the keys on the keyboard fail, the MacBook can no longer serve its core function: typing.
The lawsuit alleges that "thousands of consumers have experienced this defect," and highlights over 20 complaints shared by users on the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors Forums, and Reddit. The complaint also cites a Change.org petition about this issue that currently has over 22,000 signatures.
One of the comments included from a MacRumors reader in May 2015:
The C key on my new MacBook has a subtle but noticeable problem. I noticed yesterday morning that typing C wasn't always registering. I played around with the key and discovered that pressing the top of the key registered a normal click like the rest of the keys, but pressing at the bottom of the key was mushy with no click.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple is "aware of" the keyboard issues, either through "pre-release testing," customer complaints, or a combination of the two, but has "failed and continues to fail to disclose" the defect to customers:
Apple knew that the MacBook is defective at or before the time it began selling the affected models to the public. Complaints of keyboard failures began to come in shortly after the 2015 MacBook was launched. Despite awareness of the keyboard defect, Apple equipped future model MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops with the butterfly keyboard, and continued selling these laptops to consumers at premium prices.
Apple is said to "continuously monitor" complaints on websites like MacRumors:
Apple has been aware of these serious keyboard problems through the discussion pages hosted on Apple’s website as early as May 2015, the month after the MacBook was released. Apple continuously monitors those web pages. Apple also regularly monitors other web pages, including MacRumors, on which consumers complained about keyboard problems beginning on April 15, 2015, just five days after the MacBook came to market.
MacRumors first highlighted keyboard issues with the 2016 MacBook Pro over a year ago, including non-functional keys, strange high-pitched sounds on some keys, and keys with a non-uniform feel. The issues are back in the spotlight again after AppleInsider shared data on failure rates of the keyboards a few weeks ago.
The lawsuit acknowledges that Apple provides a support document with instructions to clean the keyboard of a MacBook or MacBook Pro with "an unresponsive key or "a key that feels different than the other keys," but notes that the steps "do not fix the keyboard defect or prevent the keyboard from failing."
When a customer takes their MacBook or MacBook Pro to a Genius Bar, the complaint alleges that Apple "routinely refuses to honor its warranty obligations," or is unable to permanently fix the problem when it does.
In the United States, Apple charges an out-of-warranty fee of $700 to replace the keyboard on affected MacBook Pro models, as the process requires replacing the entire top case assembly, which also houses the trackpad and speaker grilles. The fee is less if the notebook is covered by an AppleCare+ plan.
One of the two named plaintiffs in the lawsuit:
Mr. Barbaro took his laptop to the Genius Bar on September 11, 2017. A Genius Bar technician inspected the keyboard and confirmed that the space bar and caps lock keys were unresponsive. The technician offered to send the laptop to Apple's service depot for repairs. Mr. Barbaro sent his computer in, and after about one week, Mr. Barbaro received the repaired MacBook. He continued to use the MacBook for ordinary tasks until December 2017, when the space bar again became unresponsive in the same way as the first time his MacBook manifested the keyboard defect.
Mr. Barbaro returned to the Genius Bar to seek assistance. At the Genius Bar, a technician examined the laptop and determined that it would cost over $700 to repair the problem. The technician informed Mr. Barbaro that his warranty had expired and that he would be responsible for the full cost of the repairs. Mr. Barbaro declined to pay for the repairs. He still has the MacBook. It remains defective.
Apple is accused of, among other things, violating California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and fraudulent concealment.
The complaint requests that Apple pays punitive damages in an amount to be proven at trial, publicly discloses the defect, and reimburses customers for all costs attributable to remedying or replacing defective MacBook or MacBook Pro models. A jury trial has been demanded in Northern California district court.
Our Take: Apple has yet to launch a repair program for MacBook Pro keyboard issues, either publicly or internally, suggesting that the number of customers affected might not meet its threshold for doing so. But, given the increased attention and lawsuit, Apple may feel obligated to take action soon enough.
Thursday, May 17 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, and ahead of the event CNET has spoken to individuals with disabilities, accessibility advocates, and Apple's own director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, Sarah Herrlinger, to discuss the company's efforts in this field.
Showing off the wheelchair workouts on Apple Watch, two-time U.S. Paralympian Austin Pruitt explained how he uses a racing wheelchair in a stationary workout routine to help him keep in shape. Pruitt has cerebral palsy from the knees down, but he continues to compete in the Paralympic Games by racing in a wheelchair, and the Apple Watch has replaced bulky trackers in his workout routines.
Photo taken by Sarah Tew via CNET
He said he used to set up a bunch of trackers on his chair to log his workouts, but now uses just an Apple Watch instead.
"This has everything," he told me. "This has my wheelchair and my walking, all in one."
Apple added a "Wheelchair" setting to the Apple Watch in watchOS 3, allowing the device's activity options to be customized for wheelchair users. This means that controlling and pushing a wheelchair contributes to all-day calorie goals, "time to roll" notifications remind users when to be a bit more active, and new wheelchair-specific workouts provide customized sessions for users like Pruitt.
According to Herrlinger, accessibility updates (like the wheelchair setting in Apple Watch) are something the company tries to add into its devices every year.
"Every year we try to add in new things. We do look at how can we make it slightly better year over year," Sarah Herrlinger, Apple's director of global accessibility policy and initiatives, said about the company's work on its iOS and MacOS operating systems.
Other popular accessibility options on Apple products include VoiceOver on iPhone, which describes what's on the device's screen for visually impaired users. Apple's home automation platform, HomeKit, is also featured on its accessibility web page since it can help a wide variety of users accomplish tasks like turning on lights, starting a coffee pot, or changing the temperature by speaking near an iOS device or HomePod.
Apple is expected to continue to celebrate and promote Global Accessibility Awareness Day throughout the week, if previous years are any indication. Around this time last year, the company highlighted the event with new "Designed for" videos, a series of interviews CEO Tim Cook gave with three accessibility activists, and a concert at One Infinite Loop where Stevie Wonder performed.
Security researchers are warning users of PGP/GPG email encryption plugins not to use the software, after critical vulnerabilities were discovered that could potentially be used reveal the plaintext of encrypted emails.
The official advice from security researchers is to disable and/or uninstall the affected software until the vulnerabilities are disclosed and fixes can be issued. In the meantime, users are advised to seek alternative end-to-end encrypted channels such as Signal to send and receive sensitive content.
This short how-to guides users through the steps necessary to remove the popular open-source encryption plugin GPG Tools (GPGMail) from Apple Mail. It requires deleting a "bundle" file used by the app. Users' existing encryption keys are not affected by the procedure and will remain on their hard disk. GPGTools has also since published a temporary workaround that it believes mitigates against similar so-called "Efail" attacks.
How to Uninstall GPG Tools from Apple Mail
Quit Apple Mail if it is running (Mail -> Quit Mail in the menu bar).
Click on the desktop and in the Finder menu bar, select Go -> Go to Folder....
In the Go to Folder dialog that appears, type /Library/Mail/Bundles and click Go.
Delete the GPGMail.mailbundle file by either dragging it to the trash in your dock or by right-clicking (Ctrl-clicking) it and selecting Move to Trash in the contextual dropdown menu. If you don't see the mailbundle file, return to the previous step but type ~/Library/Mail/Bundles in the Go to Folder dialog (note the tilde (~) character denotes your home folder).
Enter your administrator password if prompted to confirm the action.
After following the above steps, the GPG Tools email plugin will be gone from Apple Mail the next time you launch the client.
A warning has been issued by European security researchers about critical vulnerabilities discovered in PGP/GPG and S/MIME email encryption software that could reveal the plaintext of encrypted emails, including encrypted messages sent in the past.
The alert was put out late on Sunday night by professor of computer security Sebastian Schinzel. A joint research paper, due to be published tomorrow at 07:00 a.m. UTC (3:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 12:00 am Pacific) promises to offer a thorough explanation of the vulnerabilities, for which there are currently no reliable fixes.
There are currently no reliable fixes for the vulnerability. If you use PGP/GPG or S/MIME for very sensitive communication, you should disable it in your email client for now. Also read @EFF’s blog post on this issue: https://t.co/zJh2YHhE5q#efail 2/4
— Sebastian Schinzel (@seecurity) May 14, 2018
Details remain vague about the so-called "Efail" exploit, but it appears to involve an attack vector on the encryption implementation in the client software as it processes HTML, rather than a vulnerability in the encryption method itself. A blog post published late Sunday night by the Electronic Frontier Foundation said:
"EFF has been in communication with the research team, and can confirm that these vulnerabilities pose an immediate risk to those using these tools for email communication, including the potential exposure of the contents of past messages."
In the meantime, users of PGP/GPG and S/MIME are being advised to immediately disable and/or uninstall tools that automatically decrypt PGP-encrypted email, and seek alternative end-to-end encrypted channels such as Signal to send and receive sensitive content.
Cook challenged students to "think different" rather than accept the status quo, and to leave the world better than they found it, by following in the footsteps of leaders like Steve Jobs, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr.
He also reflected on Apple's commitment to the environment, privacy, immigration, and gun control, supporting the Me Too movement against sexual harassment and students involved in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
An excerpt from his speech:
The pace at which progress is possible has accelerated dramatically. Aided by technology, every individual has the tools, potential, and reach to build a better world. That makes this the best time in history to be alive. Whatever you choose to do with your life, wherever your passion takes you, I urge you to take the power you have been given and use it for good. Aspire to leave this world better than you found it.
I didn't always see life as clearly as I do today. But I've learned that the greatest challenge of life is knowing when to break with conventional wisdom. Don't just accept the world you inherit today. Don't just accept the status quo. No big challenge has ever been solved, and no lasting improvement has ever been achieved, unless people dare to try something different. Dare to think different.
I was lucky to learn from someone who believed this deeply—someone who knew that changing the world starts with following a vision, not a path. He was my friend and mentor, Steve Jobs.
Steve's vision was that great ideas come from a restless refusal to accept things as they are, and those principles still guide us at Apple today. We reject the notion that global warming is inevitable—that's why we run Apple on 100 percent renewable energy. We reject the excuse that getting the most out of technology means trading away your right to privacy. So we choose a different path: collecting as little of your data as possible, and being thoughtful and respectful when it's in our care.
Cook is a 1988 graduate of Duke's Fuqua School of Business and a member of the university's Board of Trustees.
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 is making its "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" television show available for free via the TV app, according to a new trailer the company shared on its YouTube channel this week (via Billboard).
Free episodes of the show will be available through the TV app starting on May 11 at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time, giving those who don't have an Apple Music subscription a chance to watch it.
Right now, "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" is limited to Apple Music subscribers who have subscribed to a free trial or who pay the $9.99 per month fee for the service. Starting later today, the series will be available to watch in the TV app on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV even if you don't have an Apple Music subscription.
Apple plans to release new free episodes of "Carpool Karaoke: The Series" each Friday, so the entire series won't be available at once.
"Carpool Karaoke: The Series" is based on the Carpool Karaoke segment made popular by "The Late Late Show With James Corden." The show pairs up different celebrities, musicians, and athletes, putting them in a car together to sing popular songs.
Apple has released 19 episodes of "Carpool Karaoke" thus far, and the show was approved for a second season back in February.
In the United States, the default Siri voice is an American female voice, but if you've never delved into Siri's settings you might not know that you can change that voice to something else that you might prefer more.
Tap an option to hear an audio demonstration of what the voice sounds like.
Leave the option checked to select it and exit out of the Settings app.
These settings are available in all countries where Siri can be used, but not all options may be available in all countries. The voices you have access to will depend on where you live and the language your iOS device is set to.
In the United States with an iPhone set to the English language, you can choose from an American, Australian, or British accent in either a male or a female voice.
If you use Siri on a Mac, you can also change the voice there. Just open up System Preferences, choose the Siri option, and use the dropdown menu under "Siri Voice" to choose something new.
Mother's Day is coming this Sunday, May 13, and many accessory companies have deals lasting through Sunday -- and even Monday -- for any last-minute shopping that you might be doing for your mom and other moms. We've rounded up a quick list of some of the sales below, as well as offers from the major carriers, and even some discounts happening on Apple's iTunes Movies store.
Accessories
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.
Twelve South - Get a free Inspire New Mac Candle with any purchase of BookBook (iPad, iPhone, MacBook) or Journal for iPhone
Pad & Quill - Save 15 percent on select items, stack promo code PQ16 to add 10 percent off and total 25 percent off regular prices
Seidio - Buy one case, get one 50 percent off (ends 5/14)
Starting today, May 11, T-Mobile has a few BOGO deals: buy one 64GB iPhone 7, 7 Plus, or 8 and get one of equal or lesser value; and buy one 256GB iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X and get one $700 off. Stipulations include that the iPhones must be purchased on T-Mobile's Equipment Installment Plan, one line has to be ported in, and a qualifying smartphone has to be traded in to get up to $700 back via mail in rebate. The trade-in value will be received as a one-time credit.
The carrier also has a specific Mother's Day promotion: when purchasing an iPhone on an EIP, along with either an iPad or Apple Watch on a data plan, T-Mobile offers $215 off the iPad/Apple Watch via 24 monthly bill credits. The offer lasts through Sunday and stacks with the other deals, so you can do a BOGO iPhone deal and double the Mother's Day offer, totaling $430 off the price of two iPads or Apple Watches. Visit T-Mobile's deals hub for more information on the offers.
AT&T
On AT&T's website, the carrier is offering the 64GB iPhone 8 for 50 percent off with the purchase of a new line and eligible service, with a discount that will be received in monthly bill credits, allowing for a max credit of up to $350. The credit can also be applied to the 256GB iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X. There's also a combo 6th generation iPad + iPhone offer, where customers can get the 32GB iPad for $99.99 (requires 2-year agreement and activation on voice/data plan) when purchasing an iPhone on AT&T Next.
Verizon has its own BOGO sales as well, so its customers can buy one iPhone and get the 64GB iPhone 8 at no extra cost, with no trade-in required. Verizon is also selling the iPhone SE starting at $10/month for the 32GB model, paid over the course of 24 months and a one-time activation fee of $30. Note that most of Verizon's offers do require activation of a new line of service.
The carrier shared its own page for Mother's Day ideas as well, pointing customers towards products like the Apple Watch Series 3, 2018 iPad, iPhone cases, and more.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Choetech to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 5W or 7.5W Qi-based wireless charger that's compatible with the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and future iPhones with wireless charging support.
Choetech is a company that offers a range of affordable iPhone and iPad accessories on Amazon, including several wireless chargers. Today's giveaway comes just ahead of Mother's Day, and Choetech is offering MacRumors readers a selection of chargers perfect for moms and everyone else.
The company's newest charger is a little bit unique because it features a sweet little panda design on the front. Available in black, Choetech's Panda charger, priced at $19.99, has a silicone panda embossed into the front, which is designed to hold your iPhone in place while it's charging.
Choetech has designed the Panda charger with 7.5W support, so it is able to charge the iPhone X, 8, and 8 Plus faster than standard 5W chargers. 7.5W is the fast charging option available on iPhones that support wireless charging. For Android devices, 10W quick charging is also available. You do need to pair it with a proper adapter to get quick charging, though.
Choetech says that the charger also includes additional features to prevent overcharging and to keep the iPhone cooler while you're charging.
I tested Choetech's Panda charger ahead of the giveaway, and I can confirm that I saw charging speeds that were a bit quicker than 5W charging speeds, so if you're looking for a charger that's affordable, fast, and a bit out of the ordinary, the Panda charger is worth checking out.
For those who aren't fans of pandas, Choetech also offers a few other Qi-based charging options, but these do not support the faster 7.5W charging specification. Wireless charging speeds are based on a wide range of factors, though, and there's not always much of a difference between 5W and 7.5W charging. Wireless charging is also often used in situations where fast charging is not required, such as overnight, making 5W chargers an adequate choice.
Choetech's 5W Wireless Charger Pad with Anti-Slip Rubber, priced at $12.99, is available in pink, blue, and black. It's a standard square-shaped Qi charger that's affordable, sized right, and that works well thanks to the rubber design in the center that holds the iPhone in place.
Chotech's Aluminum Alloy Wireless Charging Pad, priced at $12.99, is a circular wireless charger that has a built-in smart lighting sensor. The sensor turns off when the room gets dark so it can be used on a night stand, and it is compact in size, approximately the size of a coffee cup coaster. This is an attractive charger that's made from aluminum, and the lights add a touch of style.
We have 25 Choetech Qi-based wireless chargers to give away, and MacRumors readers will be able to choose the design of their choice from the three options above. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter 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, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (May 11) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on May 18. The winners will be chosen randomly on May 18 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Choetech is also offering MacRumors readers an exclusive 45 percent discount on the 7.5W Panda charger, dropping the standard $19.99 price to $10.99. Just enter the promo code MACRUM31 at checkout on Amazon.com to get the discount.
Security researchers are warning users of PGP/GPG email encryption plugins not to use the software, after 
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.
Under $10: Movie Moms
