MacRumors

Apple has added banners to its United States website and iTunes Store in an effort to encourage its customers to donate to those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Similar to past relief efforts, users can choose to donate $5, $10, $25, $50, $100, or $200, and Apple will transfer 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Red Cross, which is providing relief efforts for people in the path of Hurricane Harvey. All donations will be processed as normal iTunes purchases through a connected Apple ID.

Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted about the donations early this morning, as rescue workers in Houston and other parts of southeast Texas attempt to help residents trapped in their homes by "catastrophic flooding." Harvey made landfall late Friday night as a Category 4 hurricane and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, which is expected to stay in the region over the next few days.

Apple has had several Lexus SUVs equipped with sensors and cameras out on the road to test its self-driving software platform since April, but MacRumors reader Amy, who lives near one of Apple's offices in Sunnyvale, California, recently spotted one of Apple's Lexus SUVs with a new LIDAR setup.

Amy sees Apple's autonomous SUVs on a regular basis in the Sunnyvale area, which was previously rumored to be the spot where Apple is conducting all of its "Project Titan" research. The Lexus in question is parked directly outside of Apple's Sunnyvale location.

The vehicle has a different LIDAR arrangement than we've seen previously, with far more sensors and cameras at the top. Apple also appears to have added new Lexus models to its testing fleet. Prior vehicles spotted were 2015 Lexus 450h SUVs, while this vehicle is a 2016 or 2017 Lexus 450h with a new design.

As can be seen in the photos and video, there are two main LIDAR setups at the front and the back of the vehicle, each surrounded by four other components laden with sensors and cameras.

The LIDAR systems on the car are designed to send out laser beams to allow the car to accurately detect its surroundings, essentially creating a 3D map of the environment around the vehicle.

GPS sensors allow the car to orient itself relative to its surroundings, helped along by radars located at the front and back of the car to measure distances to objects and wheel sensors to measure wheel movements. Cameras located near the LIDAR sensors let the car detect traffic lights, people, cars, and other moving objects.

It's a highly complex system, and Apple's SUVs are collecting enormous amounts of data every second and then processing it with Apple's unique software to pilot the car.

While Apple is testing self-driving vehicles, there are people in the vehicles at all times ready to take over should something go wrong. The photos we're sharing today clearly depict both a driver and a passenger monitoring the car's progress.

Apple's car project started off with the company planning to develop a complete autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, but internal strife, leadership issues, and other problems led Apple to shift focus.

Under the leadership of Apple's Bob Mansfield, the company is now working on an autonomous driving platform that could potentially be used in third-party vehicles.

Along with the SUVs, rumors suggest Apple will soon test its self-driving technology in a self-driving campus shuttle designed to ferry Apple employees between different Apple offices in the Bay Area.

Samsung yesterday unveiled its new Galaxy Note 8 in New York, introducing a device with a 6.3-inch AMOLED Infinity Display, 12-megapixel dual rear cameras, a new S Pen, a 10nm processor, 6GB RAM, IP68 water resistance, and a few features cribbed from Apple, including a "Live Focus" photo mode for adjusting depth and dual rear cameras with telephoto and wide-angle lenses.

MacRumors videographer Matt Gonzalez attended Samsung's launch event and was able to get some hands-on time with the device this afternoon. Because Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 will directly compete with Apple's upcoming "iPhone 8," we decided to compare Samsung's device with an iPhone 8 dummy to compare and contrast the design elements.

We're expecting the iPhone 8 to have a greater screen to body ratio, with slim bezels all around (so no infinity design) and no prominent top and bottom bezels aside from a notch that will house the front-facing camera and the sensors necessary to enable facial recognition.

When it comes to colors, the Galaxy Note 8 is available in midnight black, orchid gray, deep sea blue, and maple gold. Apple, meanwhile, is rumored to be planning to release its 2017 iPhones in a black, silver, and a new shade of gold that's similar to a copper color.

Like the iPhone 8, the Note 8 features a glass front and back with a metal band around the edges, with the glass enabling an inductive wireless charging feature. Inductive charging has long been available in Android devices, and is expected to make its first appearance in Apple's 2017 iPhone lineup.

Neither the Note 8 nor the iPhone 8 have a physical home button, with the Note 8 instead sporting an on-screen home button that can detect pressure and offer haptic feedback to simulate a press. We're also expecting Apple to implement a similar virtual home button on the iPhone 8.

Samsung's Note 8 features a fingerprint scanner on the back of the device, while the iPhone 8 may have no fingerprint scanning functionality at all. Samsung also augments its fingerprint technology with a facial and iris scanner, which we're also expecting in the iPhone 8, but rumors suggest Apple will have a better implementation that's far more secure.

The Galaxy Note 8 is equipped with a top-of-the-line 10nm processor and 6GB RAM, while Apple's iPhone 8 is expected to feature an A11 chip (also built on a 10nm process) and somewhere in the range of 3GB RAM. The Galaxy line often outspecs the iPhone line on paper, but Apple's deep integration between hardware and software always causes the iPhone to outperform the Galaxy in the real world, and we expect that to be the case with the iPhone 8.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is already available for pre-order and will start shipping out on September 15, which is likely close to when Apple will unveil its own 2017 iPhone lineup. Samsung plans to sell the device for $930 to $960 depending on the carrier, a price point on par with the rumored price point of the high-end OLED iPhone, which could cost somewhere around $1,000.

For a closer look at Apple's 2017 iPhone plans, make sure to check out our dedicated iPhone 8 roundup.

Apple today announced that its App Development with Swift curriculum will now be offered in more than 30 leading community college systems across the United States in the 2017-2018 school year.

The full-year course, available for free on the iBooks store, teaches students how to build apps using Apple's open source programming language Swift. Apple says the course takes students with no programming experience and enables them to build fully-functional apps of their own design.

“We’ve seen firsthand how Apple’s app ecosystem has transformed the global economy, creating entire new industries and supporting millions of jobs,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We believe passionately that same opportunity should be extended to everyone, and community colleges have a powerful reach into communities where education becomes the great equalizer.”

The community college systems adopting the App Development with Swift curriculum in the fall include Austin Community College District, Northeast Mississippi Community College, Northwest Kansas Technical College, and additional campuses in the Alabama Community College System.

“We’re thrilled to have Apple join our mission to make Austin more affordable for people who already live in the city,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “Apple is going to be a force multiplier in the community’s ongoing efforts to lift 10,000 out of poverty and into good jobs over the next five years.”

Austin town mayor Steve Adler said Apple CEO Tim Cook is in Austin today. Cook will visit the Austin Community College District, meet with employees, and speak with local app developers at tech accelerator Capital Factory in downtown Austin, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

Multiple rumors have suggested the upcoming "iPhone 8" could be the most expensive that Apple has ever released, with several analysts calling it a "premium" device costing upwards of $1,000. While not exactly contradicting those rumors, a report out this week indicates Apple's OLED iPhone line-up may in fact start at a fraction below that figure.

In a column for The New York Times, Brian X Chen quotes anonymous sources who reveal that among Apple's refreshed iPhones next month will be a "premium model" priced "at around $999".

Chief among the changes for the new iPhones: refreshed versions, including a premium model priced at around $999, according to people briefed on the product, who asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Apple made room for a bigger screen on that model by reducing the size of the bezel — or the forehead and the chin — on the face of the device. Other new features include facial recognition for unlocking the device, along with the ability to charge it with magnetic induction, the people said.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber believes Chen's source indicates the iPhone 8 will indeed start at $999, with a higher storage capacity model at $1099 and maybe another at $1199. Based on alleged leaks earlier this week, these price points could correspond with 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB, respectively.

One other possible scenario previously suggested by Goldman Sachs analyst Simona Jankowski is that the iPhone 8 will be available in 128GB and 256GB capacities, for $999 and $1,099, respectively (the 256GB iPhone 7 Plus already sells for $969). It's unclear how these prices will reflect in other countries, in particular the U.K., where many Apple products now mirror dollar prices in pound sterling.

Factors like the OLED display, inductive wireless charging, new biometric features, and camera improvements – including a 3D sensing capability – are believed to have driven up the price, but Apple is also thought to be pitching the OLED iPhone as either a luxury item or a "pro" level device, or perhaps a mixture of both.

Reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the OLED iPhone will cost in excess of $1,000, as does an inside source that spoke to Fast Company, so nothing is confirmed yet. Apple is expected to send out media invites next week to its September iPhone launch event, which could fall on September 12, according to the most recent rumors.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is on work-related travel this week, and his trip appears to include a stop in Austin, Texas on Friday, based on both flight information and comments shared by the city's mayor Steve Adler.

No sources have confirmed this information, however, so treat this rumor with a proverbial grain of salt for now. Apple typically announces its September events in late August by sending invites to members of the media via email, and Cook simultaneously announcing the event would certainly be out of the ordinary.

The tipster informed us that Apple may have selected Austin due to its growing presence of AR/VR startups, so it's possible Cook's announcement could be related to ARKit. Cook has repeatedly expressed his profound interest in augmented reality. Or, it's quite possible he might not announce anything at all.

Earlier today, Cook visited Cincinnati Test Systems in Harrison, Ohio, a small city in the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. CTS is a leading manufacturer of leak testing equipment that helped ensure the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2 are as water resistant as advertised.

Cook then met with Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in Waukee, Iowa, part of the Des Moines area, shortly after Apple announced plans to build a 400,000-square-foot data center in the city at a cost of $1.3 billion. While in the area, Cook also visited Waukee High School and an Apple retail store in West Des Moines.

Apple has hosted special events in September for five consecutive years, dating back to the iPhone 5 introduction in 2012. This year's event is rumored for September 12, but September 6 would also be a suitable date.

Update: At a town hall meeting, Austin mayor Steve Adler said Cook will be announcing a training program of some kind that will be launched across the United States. Cook likely has other plans on his agenda throughout the day. Skip to the 48:15 mark in this video for Adler's comments.

Update: Apple today announced that its "App Development with Swift" curriculum will be adopted by more than 30 community college systems across the United States, including the Austin Community College District. It's possible Cook has other announcements to share later today.

(Thanks, Scott H. and Joe D.!)

Apple will introduce a fifth-generation Apple TV with 4K video support at an event planned for September, reports Bloomberg. The device is said to feature a faster processor to support 4K streaming, which has twice the resolution in each dimension of the 1080p streaming supported on the current fourth-generation Apple TV and four times as many pixels.

In addition to 4K support, which will only be available on a 4K television, the new set-top box will support High Dynamic Range (HDR) video for brighter, more accurate colors.

Apple is also said to be testing a new version of its TV app that is designed to better highlight live TV content, aggregating live shows from apps that offer live streaming, and it is establishing deals with content makers to provide 4K video.

In order to play 4K and HDR content, Apple will need deals with content makers that can provide video in those formats. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant has begun discussions with movie studios about supplying 4K versions of movies via iTunes, according to people familiar with the talks. The company has also discussed its 4K video ambitions with content companies that already have apps on Apple TV, another person said.

We've known Apple has had a new Apple TV with 4K support in the works for some time, and while there were hints that a launch was imminent, there was no confirmation that the device would be introduced in September prior to today.

The Apple TV was last updated in October of 2015, which is when the redesigned fourth-generation set-top box with Siri Remote and a full App Store was introduced.

Along with a new 4K Apple TV, we're also expecting to see a third-generation Apple Watch with LTE support and three new iPhones, including a radically redesigned 5.8-inch iPhone with an OLED display and facial recognition at Apple's September event.

Apple is putting the finishing touches on its Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, and a new video shared today by drone pilot Duncan Sinfield shows the company's recent progress on landscaping and other final construction projects.

Much of the interior of the building is outfitted with furniture, and work is largely completed on the solar panels on the roof and the window shades that will protect the building from bright sunlight to moderate the inside temperature.

The Steve Jobs Theater, where Apple will host events, appears to be nearly complete, but there's still construction equipment in the area, so it's not quite clear if it will be ready in time for Apple's September iPhone event.

Along with the main drone video showing off Apple's progress, Sinfield has also published a 360-degree video. The video doesn't work in Apple's Safari browser, but if you use Chrome you can rotate the video to get a full view of the campus. On an iPhone, the YouTube app can be used with tilt gestures for a more complete picture of Apple Park.

Apple Park will be the home of approximately 12,000 Apple employees. Other Apple employees will work at the company's Infinite Loop campus and at other office locations in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Jose, and San Francisco.