MacRumors

Japan Display is planning to raise $517 million through third-party share allocations and asset sales so it will have the funds to supply LCD screens for new iPhones, reports Nikkei.

Last year, Japan Display lost business because of Apple's shift to OLED, so the company sought partnerships to begin producing OLED displays, but with Apple planning to continue to use LCDs for some devices, Japan Display is in need of working capital to purchase inventory and to begin production on the LCDs Apple now needs.

Rumors have suggested Apple is planning on introducing two OLED iPhones (5.8 and 6.5 inches) and one 6.1-inch LCD iPhone next year, with the LCD device to be positioned as a low-cost option alongside the two more expensive OLED devices.

With Japan Display again planning to invest in LCDs, it could be in trouble in the future should Apple opt to abandon LCD technology for OLED technology entirely, says Nikkei.

Expecting the U.S. tech company to keep shifting toward OLEDs, the supplier began exploring capital partnerships to obtain the massive funds necessary to invest in producing the advanced tech.

However, the iPhone X has proven a flop, and Apple appears to be sticking with LCDs for some models due out this fall, leaving Japan Display in need of working capital to secure inventory and production capacity to supply those screens.

Previous rumors have suggested Apple is interested in Japan Display's Full Active LCDs, which are said to match or exceed some of the advantages of OLED at a lower cost.

Full Active panels have a smaller bezel around the screen than traditional LCDs and they have enough flex that they can be used in curved or angled designs.

All three of Apple's rumored 2018 iPhones are expected to adopt full-screen designs with minimal bezels, much like the iPhone X. The Home button will be eliminated in each, with Apple adopting Face ID across its 2018 iPhone lineup.

Apple today told developers that it is offering a set of tools to help them fulfill data requests made by users in the European Union or other places around the world to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that goes into effect in May.

Following the implementation of the GDPR developers will need to comply with customer requests for accessing, managing, restricting, and deleting data. To facilitate this, Apple says developers can let users manage data that's associated with an app and stored in iCloud by using native APIs and Web APIs.

You can let users manage data that's associated with your app and stored in iCloud by using native APIs and Web APIs.

Providing User Access to CloudKit Data
Give users access to the data stored by your app on their behalf.
When a user requests a copy of the data associated with their Apple ID, it includes only the data that Apple maintains directly, such as documents in iCloud Drive. Data stored in third-party CloudKit containers are not included in any export that Apple provides. Developers should provide their own method for users to get a copy of data stored in their CloudKit containers.

Responding to Requests to Delete Data
Provide options for users to delete their CloudKit data from your app.

Apple too will be implementing new features to comply with the new European regulations. Starting in Early May, the company will introduce an updated Apple ID website that will allow users to download all of their data stored with the company.

Apple also plans to allow customers to use the site to correct personal information, disable Apple ID accounts, and permanently delete an Apple ID. These tools will be available in Europe first before expanding to other areas of the world.

Griffin has a new wireless charging accessory available for purchase as of today, the Griffin PowerBlock Wireless Charging Pad.

Designed for the iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and Android devices that support wireless charging, the PowerBlock Wireless Charging Pad offers up to 15W of charging power. Griffin says Qi-enabled devices will charge faster with the PowerBlock than with a standard 5W wireless charger.

While the PowerBlock supports up to 15W, the iPhone X, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus support a maximum of 7.5W of charging power. Griffin says the PowerBlock supports Samsung fast wireless charging, but it does not specifically mention faster 7.5W wireless charging on the iPhone. We've reached out to Griffin for clarification and will update this post when we hear back.

Like most wireless chargers, the PowerBlock is a simple square-shaped puck with a Qi-based wireless charging coil inside. It features a felt top to keep your iPhone in place while it's charging and looks stylish when it's not in use. LEDs on the device let you know when your iPhone is charging and when it's done.

At $60 the Griffin PowerBlock is comparable in price to options from Belkin and Mophie, but more expensive than other wireless charging options from companies like Anker and Ravpower.

We took a look at dozens of wireless chargers in our wireless charging guide, which is well worth checking out to see all of the available options.

Though the normal price of the PowerBlock Wireless Charging Pad is $59.99, customers can save 15 percent through April 2 by using the promo code WIRELESS when checking out.

We've got additional deals on other wireless charging pads available in our Deals roundup.

Update: Griffin says the PowerBlock Wireless Charging Pad supports 5W, 10W, and 15W wireless charging. 7.5W is not yet supported, but will be in the future. Griffin says Apple users will not experience significant charging time differences when using the PowerBlock Wireless Charging Pad vs a 7.5W compatible charging pad.

For this week's giveaway, we've once again teamed up with BlackPods to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a AirPods that have been custom-painted in black or space gray. We've partnered with BlackPods to give away several sets of AirPods, and they're always our most popular giveaways.

If you haven't come across BlackPods before, the company takes a regular set of boring white AirPods and then paints them in one of three sleek, unique shades of black or gray using a proprietary painting system.

BlackPods uses a multi-phase painting process for a high-quality coating of paint that's not going to chip, fade, scuff, or otherwise get damaged from regular usage. Each set of BlackPods is completed by hand and given a rigorous inspection to ensure a flawless finish.

When BlackPods first launched, there were two colors -- the BlackPods Classic with a high-gloss finish and the BlackPods Stealth, with a matte satin finish -- but BlackPods this year introduced a stylish new Space Gray shade that has an iPhone-style metallic finish.

BlackPods cost $279 for the original high gloss finish or $299 for matte black or space gray, which is a $120+ premium over standard AirPods, but it's one of the only ways to get AirPods in a darker shade that better matches Apple's Space Gray iPhones.

If you already have AirPods, BlackPods has a service for the painting process alone. You can send in your AirPods and BlackPods will paint them for you. It takes about 10 days and it costs $99 to $119, with that price covering the cost of both the AirPods and the AirPods Charging Case.

BlackPods are repainted AirPods, so the full AirPods functionality remains intact, with a W1 chip for simple pairing, a long battery life, a built-in accelerometer for ear detection, iCloud support for device switching, and gesture support.

We have one set of BlackPods to give away to a MacRumors reader, with the winner able to choose a Stealth, Classic, or Space gray finish. 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 winners and send prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook 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 (March 30) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on April 6. The winner will be chosen randomly on April 6 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.

The Chainsmokers: Memories is a new short documentary series that's available on Apple Music starting today. There are six videos in total available to watch right now, each ranging in length from just over two minutes to five and a half minutes.

The videos in the series follow The Chainsmokers' Do Not Open worldwide arena tour and the rollout of singles like "Sick Boy," "You Owe Me," and "Everybody Hates Me," which are part of a new album coming in December of 2018.

While the first six episodes are available today and focus on the tour, Billboard says additional episodes could cover The Chainsmokers' Las Vegas residency at the XS Nightclub along with time spent in the studio.

A group of criminals in China were caught smuggling 500 million yuan ($79.8 million) worth of refurbished iPhones from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, using drones connected via cables to transport the smartphones. Reported by the Legal Daily (via Reuters), customs officers in Shenzhen caught the group and ceased its illegal actions, arresting 26 total suspects in the process.

The group was using drones to fly two 660-foot cables between Hong Kong and the mainland as a method of transporting the iPhones. They typically operated after midnight and into the morning hours, and "only needed seconds" to transport small bags that held 10 iPhones or more using the cable-connected drones. In one night, they could reach a quota of as many as 15,000 iPhones transported.

According to a news conference held by the customs officers, this marks "the first case found in China that drones were being used in cross-border smuggling crimes."

Shenzhen customs was quoted by the Legal Daily as saying it would closely monitor new types of smuggling with high-tech devices and enhance their capability with technical equipment, including drones and high-resolution monitors, to detect smuggling activity.

Drone regulations are said to be "an important task" for Chinese officials, with the government publishing a series of strict rules in 2017 after drones were found to be interfering with aircraft flight paths. Civilian drone owners are now required to register any drone "up to a certain weight" using their real names.

While using drones might be new, the act of individuals attempting to smuggle iPhones out of Hong Kong has certainly been around for years. In early 2015, a man tried to smuggle 94 iPhones into mainland China by strapping them onto his body and under his clothes. Smuggling operations pop up frequently because of higher import taxes, which cause the iPhones to be more expensive in the mainland than they are in Hong Kong.

Twitter this week updated its iOS and Android apps with a new feature called "Timestamps," which the company said will make it easier to share brief moments from longer live videos.

Previously, Twitter users had to direct their followers to specific time codes in a live video so that people knew which moment they were referring to. The Timestamps update is a direct response to that, according to product lead for Periscope Mike Folgner.

Now, when users tap the share sheet extension on a live video, Twitter displays a playback track that they can scrub through to find the exact moment they want their followers to watch. Then they can tap the "new tweet" button, type in any commentary on the video clip, and press "tweet." The clips can also be sent via direct message or copied and shared through a link.

So, we built Timestamps which lets anyone Tweet a live or replay video starting from the exact moment they want to discuss.

People have always used Twitter to talk about the things they experience. With Timestamps, now we can show rather than just tell everyone what’s happening.

People who see the tweet will be able to watch the specific moment shared within, and if the broadcast is still live they can skip forward in time by tapping "live." Folgner said the feature is available across all live videos, "whether from a professional content publisher or someone broadcasting from their phone."

Timestamps are available now on Twitter for iOS [Direct Link] and Android, Twitter.com, and Periscope.

MyFitnessPal parent company Under Armour today announced that MyFitnessPal has been the victim of a hacking incident, which has seen personal details of approximately 150 million user accounts accessed in a data breach.

MyFitnessPal is a popular health and fitness iOS app and website that's used by many iPhone and iPad owners, and it is consistently among the top Health and Fitness apps in the App Store.

The breach, which happened in late February, included usernames, emails, and encrypted passwords. Credit card numbers from paying customers were not accessed.

Under Armor has already been sending emails and in-app messages to its customers who were affected by the breach. The company says it is working with "leading data security firms" to assist in its investigation.

MyFitnessPal users will be required to change their passwords.

On our YouTube channel, we've got a monthly series that highlights new, interesting, fun, and useful apps that we think are worth downloading and checking out.

There are so many apps on the iOS App Store, which makes it hard to find new content, and it can also be easy to overlook great apps that are a bit older. We've designed our app lists to include apps - both old and new - that we personally recommend and have used over the course of the month.

• Pocket Penguins (Free) - Here in the Bay Area, we have a great place that's part zoo, part science museum, and part research institute called the California Academy of the Sciences. The California Academy of Sciences is home to a bunch of endangered African penguins (as part of a breeding program), which you can watch through the Pocket Penguins app. It's a penguin livestream that's on 24/7, and it's a fun second screen activity (there's an Apple TV app too) or something to do when you need a wildlife breather. If you like the penguins, you may also like the stingray feed.
• Hop (Free) - There's a popular game called Hop, but we're talking about the email app in this week's video. Hop is a team-based email app that's designed to make your email more like a chat conversation than a traditional email inbox. It's supposed to make sending and managing emails much faster for those of us who need some assistance cutting down on the inbox time.
• Pod Calendar (Free) - Pod Calendar is a free app that's a simple, light alternative to the standard Calendar app on the iPhone and iPad. It uses color coding for all of your events so it's easy to see what's going on at a glance, and it uses natural language for adding new entries quickly. There's support for multiple calendars, multiple reminders, an interaction history for your contacts, and tools for sending quick emails and messages.
• Zedge Wallpapers (Free) - As the name suggests, this is an app for downloading wallpapers. When we upload videos, we get a lot of questions about the wallpaper we're using. A lot of the time, the wallpapers in our videos are from this app. Check it out if you're looking for a fresh look for your iPhone - there are thousands to choose from.
• PUBG (and Fortnite) (Free) - Unless you're living under a rock, you've heard of PUBG and Fortnite, both of which are battle royale-style games that are super popular right now. The idea is to kill or be killed, with the aim of the game to be the last person standing. PUBG and Fortnite both came out on iOS recently, with PUBG available to everyone and Fortnite available as a beta. You might not think a battle royale game would work on an iOS device, but both of these games are surprisingly good and worth checking out.

If you have favorite iOS apps, make sure to share them with us. We'll check out what you have to recommend and we may just include them next month. Want more apps? Check out our February recommendations.

Zendesk is partnering with Apple to introduce support for the Business Chat beta feature that's available in the Messages app on iOS devices running the new iOS 11.3 update.

With Business Chat integration, retailers who use Zendesk tools for customer support will be able to interact with customers using the Messages app, providing more prompt and responsive support.

"Today's customer expects to communicate with businesses in the same way they do with friends, on whatever channel is most convenient for them." said Caitlin Henehan, VP & GM of Zendesk Chat. "Zendesk's integration with Apple Business Chat Beta will allow customers to engage with businesses on a much more personal level through Message. Companies will be able to provide timely responses and interact on the channel that is familiar and accessible to the consumer."

First announced when iOS 11.3 was previewed in January, Business Chat is designed to allow iPhone, iPad, and macOS users to communicate directly with businesses right within the Messages app. Business Chat allows users to chat with businesses, schedule appointments, and make purchases.

As with most of its services, Apple focused on privacy with Business Chat. No business is provided with a user's contact information and chats can be ended at any time.

In addition to Zendesk support, several major companies are supporting Business Chat at launch, including Lowe's, Discover, Hilton, and Wells Fargo. Additional businesses are likely to begin adopting the feature in the near future.

Business Chat is currently in beta and is available to users who are running iOS 11.3 in the United States.

A few weeks ago MacRumors announced a partnership with accessory maker Twelve South, offering spring break travelers the chance to get five vacation-friendly items discounted by 15 percent. That sale will end tomorrow, March 30, so be sure to head over to TwelveSouth.com and use the promo code MacRumorsSpringBreak on any of the items listed below before the code expires.

• CableSnap - $16.99, down from $19.99

• Compass 2 - $25.49, down from $29.99

• PlugBug World - $38.24, down from $44.99

• BookBook CaddySack - $42.49, down from $49.99

• TimePorter - $42.49, down from $49.99

Customers browsing Twelve South this week should also note that the company has discounted its BookBook case for iPad and iPad Pro by $20 following the launch of the sixth-generation iPad on Tuesday. The case fits the new 2018 iPad as well as the 9.7-inch iPad Pro first released in 2016, and comes in Brown ($59.99, down from $79.99) and Rutledge ($79.99, down from $99.99).

RAVPower also has a sale ending tomorrow, this one on a pair of wireless chargers at Amazon, with savings of 20 percent hitting both the HyperAir stand and HyperAir pad. We reviewed both stands recently and came away impressed with each device, although the HyperAir stand just beat out the HyperAir pad in our charging time tests.

If you're still on the lookout for a new charging mat for an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X, head over to Amazon and use promo code MACRPC69 to bring the stand down to $39.99, from $49.99, and use promo code MACRPC66 to bring the pad down to $30.59, from $39.99.

Anker typically has numerous sales on Apple-related accessories happening at Amazon, and this week the company is offering 30 percent off USB-C charging and power accessories that should make nice companions with Apple's recent line of MacBooks. There's also a collection of portable chargers, power strips, and iPhone cases up for sale.

Below you'll find a list of Anker's latest deals, including the dates they expire and the promo codes needed for each sale. Note that prices exclude shipping and handling fees, but Amazon Prime members will get the usual 2-day free shipping.

Expires April 8, use code ANKEBEST

• Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable 3ft - $7.69, down from $10.99

• Anker Powerline+ USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable 6ft - $9.79, down from $13.99

• Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C Cable 3ft - $6.99, down from $9.99

• Anker Powerline II USB-C to USB-C Cable 6ft - $8.39, down from $11.99

• Anker PowerPort Wireless 10, Qi-Certified Charging Pad - $18.19, down from $25.99

• Anker Premium 5-Port 60W USB Wall Charger, USB-C with Power Delivery - $37.79, down from $53.99

• Anker Quick Charge 3.0 39W Dual USB Wall Charger - $16.79, down from $23.99

Other Anker Sales

• PowerCore II 20,100mAh Portable Charger - $35.99 with code ANKERPC2, down from $49.99 (exp. 4/20)

• 12 Outlets + 3 USB Ports Surge Protector - $26.99 with code SUPERPWR, down from $34.99 (exp. 4/13)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Breeze Case - Gunmetal - $6.99 with code BLCK9015, down from $8.99 (exp. 4/10)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Breeze Case - Rose Gold - $7.99 with code PINK9015, down from $9.99 (exp. 4/10)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Silicone Case - Black - $8.99 with code BLCK9027, down from $15.99 (exp. 4/10)

• iPhone 7/8 Plus Silicone Case - Pink - $8.99 with code PINK9027, down from $15.99 (exp. 4/10)

• Slim Profile Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard - White - $17.99 with code ANKER721, down from $21.99 (exp. 4/1)

Head over to our full Deals Roundup for more sales information, including a free $25 e-gift card from Best Buy with the purchase of the new 9.7-inch iPad, along with the retailer's ongoing discounts on MacBook Air, iPad mini 4, and more.