It was another interesting week for Apple news, with Apple finally launching Smart Battery Cases for its latest iPhone 11 lineup after several leaks from within the company's own software, and this time they come with an unexpected twist: a dedicated camera button.

Other news this week included word of an app-related Apple media event early next month, rumors about an update to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, an interesting anecdote from Apple's former ad chief about the time he accidentally walked off with Steve Jobs' laptop, and more.

Apple Launches New Smart Battery Cases for iPhone 11 Lineup With Dedicated Camera Button

Almost exactly two months after the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max launched, Apple has released new Smart Battery Cases for the trio of devices for $129 each.

iphone 11 pro max battery case hand
According to Apple, the cases are designed to provide up to 50 percent longer battery life to each iPhone when fully charged for longer talk time, internet use, and audio and video playback. New this year is a dedicated camera button on the case that is designed to launch the Camera app whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked.

We went hands-on with one of the new cases to check out the feel and looks and test out the new camera button, which should come in handy for lots of users.

Apple is offering the soft, silicone cases in black, white, and pink sand, though the iPhone 11 version comes only in black or white.

Apple to Hold December 2 Event to Honor 'Favorite Apps and Games of 2019'

Well, this was unexpected. Apple has invited the media to a "special event" on Monday, December 2 at 4 p.m. ET in New York City, where it will "honoring" its "favorite apps and games of 2019."

applemediaevent
No hardware announcements are expected at the event, and Apple has yet to even list the event on its website, so it sounds pretty low key.

Apple usually shares "best of" lists for the App Store, iTunes Store, and its other storefronts in early December, so it appears that Apple simply plans to announce the winners in person this year as well. But that won't stop us from dreaming of a surprise or two!

13-Inch MacBook Pro With Scissor Keyboard Expected in First Half of 2020

Following the 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple reportedly plans to release a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a scissor switch keyboard in the first half of 2020. Presumably, this would include a physical Esc key and inverted-T arrow key layout.

16 inch macbook pro scissor switch keyboard
While there have been hopes of a 14-inch MacBook Pro, the report claims the display size will remain 13.3-inches. However, given DigiTimes is not the most reliable of sources, we would not entirely rule out the possibility of a slightly larger display just yet.

Apple refreshed most of its 13-inch MacBook Pro lineup in May, followed by the entry-level model in July.

Apple's WWDC App Rebranded as 'Apple Developer' App With Year-Round Content

Apple has rebranded its WWDC app as the Apple Developer app with a new focus on year-round content for the developer community.

appledeveloperapp
Apple says that the new Apple Developer app will provide "in-depth information from Apple experts all year round," with the app featuring developer news, videos, and more for all of its software platforms.

The app will continue to be the official hub for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose.

Former Apple Employee Shares Incredible Story of Accidentally Stealing Steve Jobs' MacBook From His Office

Apple's former vice president of mobile advertising Andy Miller has shared a fascinating story about accidentally stealing Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' laptop, mouse, and mouse pad from his office.

steve jobs macbook air
The situation apparently played out during a heated meeting in Jobs' office, serving as a good example of how intense Apple's iconic CEO could be. Miller resigned from Apple in late 2011, shortly after Jobs passed away.

16-Inch MacBook Pro Hands-On: Benchmark and Performance Tests

Apple's new 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ uses the same 9th-generation Intel processors as the 15-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models released in May, but there's a new thermal architecture that Apple says boosts performance.

16inchmacbookprothumbnailbenchmark
On our YouTube channel, we went hands-on with the new 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ to test those claims, putting it through real world tests and benchmarks.

Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for new Apple-related videos every week!

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in a Few Months With These 12 New Features

Thursday June 26, 2025 2:00 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are around three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
CarPlay Ultra Climate Controls

Here's Which Vehicle Brands Will and Won't Offer Apple's CarPlay Ultra

Friday June 27, 2025 9:52 am PDT by
Apple last month announced the launch of CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. There was news this week about which automakers will and won't offer CarPlay Ultra, and we have provided an updated list below. CarPlay Ultra is currently limited to newer Aston Martin vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. Fortunately, if you cannot...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Tuesday June 24, 2025 3:40 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...