MacRumors

Barclays has confirmed that it will launch Apple Pay within the next 45 to 60 days, based on a two-week-old email dated January 12, suggesting the large British bank will support the iPhone-based mobile payments service by no later than March 28.

The launch date was provided by Barclays CEO of Personal and Corporate Banking Ashok Vaswani in what appears to be a legitimate email sent to customer Oli Foster-Burnell, and later reported by Engadget. We can verify the executive has emailed customers about Apple Pay in the past.

Barclays is the only financial institution among the "Big Four" banks in the U.K. that has yet to adopt Apple Pay. The country's participating issuers include the Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank, MBNA, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Tesco Bank, TSB and Ulster Bank.

Apple Pay launched in the U.K. in July 2015 at more than 250,000 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Barclays is perhaps the most notable holdout from the group of banks supporting the mobile payments service. The bank serves over 48 million customers.

Apple has added refurbished Apple TV 4 models to its online store for refurbished products, less than a week after refurbished 12-inch Retina MacBook models became available.

The base model with 32GB storage is available for $129, compared to its regular $149 price, while the 64GB model costs $169, down from $199. The total savings are between $20 and $30.

While these are Apple's best prices for the new Apple TV, RadioShack is currently selling brand new 32GB and 64GB models bundled with an HDMI cable online for only $119.98 and $169.98 respectively. There is a $5.95 shipping fee on all orders.

The fourth-generation Apple TV was released in October 2015, and features an App Store, Siri and tvOS software. Earlier today, Apple seeded the second beta of tvOS 9.2, which introduces support for Bluetooth keyboards, app folders, a new look for the App Switcher interface, MapKit, additional Siri languages and more.

(Thanks, Jeremy!)

Apple today provided developers with the second beta of an upcoming 9.2 update to tvOS, the operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV and powers its built-in App Store. Today's tvOS 9.2 beta 2 comes two weeks after Apple released the first beta of tvOS 9.2 and just hours after the release of tvOS 9.1.1, a minor update that follows tvOS 9.1.

tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes or Apple Configurator. Those who have already installed the first tvOS 9.2 beta will be able to download the update over the air.

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tvOS 9.2 is a major update for the tvOS operating system. It introduces support for Bluetooth keyboards, allowing a keyboard to be paired to the Apple TV for text entry. Bluetooth keyboard support is a major feature that was missing from previous versions of tvOS and its addition should make it much easier to do tasks like entering passwords on the fourth-generation Apple TV.

Along with Bluetooth keyboard support, the tvOS 9.2 update introduces support for grouping apps into folders on the Home screen like on iOS devices, plus it includes a new look for the App Switcher interface.

tvOS 9.2 also includes support for the Podcasts app included in tvOS 9.1.1, introduces MapKit so developers can incorporate maps into their tvOS apps, and it adds Siri support for US Spanish (in the US only) and French Canadian (in Canada only). UK English, Australian English, and US English are also now available as Siri options in the UK, Australian, and US Storefronts when English is set as the tvOS language.

What's New in tvOS 9.2 beta 2:

iCloud Photo Library - Full iCloud Photo Library access is available on the Apple TV with the second tvOS 9.2 beta installed. It can be enabled through the iCloud section of the Settings menu. In the current public version of tvOS, users can only view Photo Stream content on the Apple TV.

Live Photos - With iCloud Photo Library access comes support for Live Photos. Live Photos saved to an iCloud Photo Library can be played by pressing on the trackpad on the Siri Remote.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming iOS 9.3 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first iOS 9.3 beta and more than a month since the public release of iOS 9.2.

The second iOS 9.3 beta is available as an over-the-air update and through the Apple Developer Center.

As a major .1 update to the iOS 9 operating system, iOS 9.3 introduces quite a few new features. There's a new Night Shift mode that cuts down on the amount of blue light iOS users are exposed to in the evening hours by automatically shifting the iPhone or iPad display to a warmer (yellower) color spectrum, and there are several new features designed to improve the iPad for Education program.

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Several apps and features are also being updated. In-line video and a landscape view for the iPhone are available in the News app, which now offers more personalized recommendations and faster updates. Health includes a new Apple Watch-style "Activity" view that displays activity and goals, while Notes now has an option to password protect individual entries.

Apple Music on CarPlay now includes New and For You sections for better music discovery, and a Nearby feature in CarPlay Maps offers improved access to information about what's close by. Paired with watchOS 2.2, an iPhone running iOS 9.3 is able to support multiple Apple Watches, and for iPhone 6s users, there are new Quick Actions for the Weather, Settings, Compass, Health, App Store, and iTunes Store apps, along with new Peek and Pop gestures for the App Store.

What's new in iOS 9.3 beta 2:

Control Center Night Shift Toggle - As hinted at in the iOS 9.3 preview page provided to Canadian users, iOS 9.2 beta 2 introduces Night Shift controls in the iOS Control Center, accessible by swiping up from the bottom of an iOS device. Night Shift is denoted by a new eye-shaped icon in between the icons for the timer and the calculator on the iPhone. Tapping on the icon brings up options to turn the feature on or disable it until the next day.

Night Shift is denoted by a new eye-shaped icon in between the icons for the timer and the calculator on the iPhone. Tapping on the icon brings up options to turn the feature on or disable it until the next day. In the video below, you can see Night Shift's Control Center toggle in action.

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Night Shift Settings - In the Settings app under Display & Brightness, Night Shift has been moved to its own submenu. Tapping on "Night Shift" now opens up a menu that features all of the Night Shift controls. In the first beta, Night Shift was not in its own section.

Apple Music Playlists - In the Apple Music section of the Settings app, there's a new feature that lets users choose whether Apple Music songs added to playlists will also be added to iCloud Music Library. With this new toggle turned off, songs can be added to playlists without being added to a user's library.

Quick Actions - The 3D Touch Quick Action for the Settings app no longer offers an option to change the wallpaper.

iOS 9.3's features will be released to the public this spring following the conclusion of the beta testing period.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 2.2 update to developers, two weeks after seeding the first watchOS 2.2 beta and more than a month after releasing watchOS 2.1, the first major update to the watchOS 2 operating system that runs on the Apple Watch.

The second watchOS 2.2 beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on an iPhone running the iOS 9.3 beta by going to General --> Software update. To install the update, the Apple Watch must have 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the Apple Watch charger, and it must be in range of the iPhone.

watchOS 2.2, along with iOS 9.3, introduces support for pairing multiple Apple Watches with a single iPhone. Both updates are required, with each watch running watchOS 2.2 and each iPhone running iOS 9.3.

There are were no other obvious outward-facing changes introduced in the first watchOS 2.2 beta aside from an update to the Maps app, but the update undoubtedly includes under-the-hood performance updates and bug fixes to address issues that have been discovered since the release of watchOS 2.1.

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming OS X 10.11.4 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first OS X 10.11.4 beta and a week after releasing OS X 10.11.3.

The second OS X 10.11.4 beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center or via the Software Update Mechanism in the Mac App Store.

OS X 10.11.4 includes a couple of new features, such as the ability to support password protected notes in the Notes app, but like the recent OS X 10.11.3 update, it appears to focus primarily on under-the-hood bug fixes and performance improvements with few noticeable outward-facing changes.

We'll update this post with any new features that are discovered in the second beta of OS X 10.11.4.

Apple today released the third update to tvOS, the operating system designed to run on the fourth-generation Apple TV. tvOS 9.1.1 is a minor update that likely includes bug fixes and performance updates to address issues discovered since the launch of tvOS 9.1, which was released to the public in December of 2015.

The new 9.1.1 update can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update. Those who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to the new 9.1.1 operating system automatically.

tvOS 9.1.1 is available a month and a half after the release of tvOS 9.1. Like the first minor tvOS update, tvOS 9.0.1, tvOS 9.1.1 focuses on under-the-hood improvements, but it does introduce one major change -- a new Podcasts app for the Apple TV.

tvOS 9.1.1 comes as Apple is testing the second major update to the tvOS operating system, tvOS 9.2. Apple has thus far seeded one beta of tvOS 9.2 to developers, which includes new features like support for Bluetooth keyboards, app folders, a revamped app switcher, and more.

The next-generation iPad Air 3 could adopt the iPad Pro's four-speaker design and gain an LED flash next to the rear-facing camera, according to leaked design drawings shared with French website Nowhereelse.fr. The website cannot fully guarantee the veracity of the sketches, but the report does mention its source has been reliable on two out of three occasions in the past.

If the design drawings prove to be true, the iPad Air 3 would have two speakers on both the top and bottom of the tablet like the iPad Pro. The inclusion of rear-facing LED flash seems more trivial, since the iPad is not a camera device in the traditional sense, but some owners do use the tablet to take photos, and Apple may be looking for ways to combat declining iPad sales.

Apple is rumored to announce the iPad Air 3 at a March media event, possibly alongside a new 4-inch iPhone and Apple Watch updates. Little is known about the iPad Air 3, beyond a report saying it will lack 3D Touch, but plausible updates could include a faster A9 or A9X processor, Oxide TFT display, Smart Connector and improved cameras.

Oxide TFT display technology would allow for more uniform color and brightness, and improved contrast, on the iPad Air 3. The tablet could also adopt the iPad Pro's variable refresh rate technology to preserve power when static images are on the screen, enabling the iPad Air 3 to have longer battery life.

Apple has not updated its 9.7-inch tablet since releasing the iPad Air 2 in October 2014.

Following the departure of Steve Zadesky, hiring for Apple's "Project Titan" Apple Car is reportedly on hold as Apple executives are not happy with the progress being made on the development of the vehicle, reports AppleInsider.

Citing a "previously reliable source" with knowledge of what's going on at Apple, the report suggests a hiring freeze for Project Titan was implemented after a recent progress review conducted by Apple's Chief of Design, Jony Ive. Executives are said to be unhappy with the project's direction, with Jony Ive having "expressed his displeasure."

AppleInsider's information is in line with a report from The Wall Street Journal that covered the departure of Steve Zadesky, Apple's VP of Product Design. Zadesky was rumored to be in leading the development of Apple's rumored electric vehicle, hiring hundreds of employees to work on the project.

While Zadesky's departure is said to be due to personal reasons, The Wall Street Journal suggested there's tension on the Apple Car team, leading to difficulties establishing clear goals for the project. Apple executives have reportedly urged the team to try to meet ambitious deadlines, which some employees feel are unattainable.

Apple has hired hundreds of employees to work on its rumored electric car project, recruiting talent from companies like Ford, Tesla, GM, Samsung, and NVIDIA. Apple may be aiming to hold off on making additional hires until a new leader for the project can be established.

Rumors have suggested Apple is aiming to have its final engineering specifications for the Apple Car completed by 2019 or 2020, but its internal issues could potentially result in delays.

Apple will announce its first quarter earnings tomorrow for the 2016 fiscal year, a three-month period that ended December 31, 2015. Financial analysts predict Apple's quarterly revenue will range between $74.6 billion and $82.4 billion, but some market watchers are unsure if Apple will top the record 74.5 million iPhones it sold in the year-ago quarter, due to perceived lower iPhone 6s sales.

iPhone 6s sales concerns might be more evident in Q2 2016, however, as Apple's newest products and services, including the Apple Watch, Apple Music and the new Apple TV, coupled with the busy holiday shopping season, fuel projections that Apple will again report the most profitable holiday quarter in not only the iPhone maker's nearly 40-year history, but of any company ever.

Apple's guidance is between $75.5 billion and $77.5 billion in quarterly revenue, while the consensus among professional analysts is around $76.5 billion.

Fortune has compiled a list of predictions from both amateur and professional analysts, along with Apple's guidance in orange.

Apple has never experienced a year-over-year decline in iPhone sales, so the next few quarterly earnings results will be interesting to follow. MacRumors will be providing live coverage of Apple's Q1 2016 earnings conference call with CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri on Tuesday at around 2:00 p.m. Pacific (5:00 p.m. Eastern). The earnings report will be released around 1:30 p.m. Pacific (4:30 p.m. Eastern).

Apple's next-generation 4-inch iPhone is more likely to include variants of the A9 and M9 motion coprocessor chips, allowing for always-on Hey Siri, according to 9to5Mac.

The report claims the so-called "iPhone 5se" will likely replace the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Apple's fall 2016 smartphone lineup, while the iPhone 5s will then be discontinued.

Because the iPhone 7 will include a faster chip potentially known as the A10 processor, Apple likely does not want its new 4-inch iPhone to fall two processor generations behind in just six months.

9to5Mac and other sources originally expected the new 4-inch iPhone to have an A8 chip with M8 motion coprocessor, but Chinese website MyDrivers last week said the device will have an A9 chip instead. Apple has allegedly tested multiple prototypes with both A8 and A9 chipsets, likely fueling the conflicting reports.

Today's report also claims the new 4-inch iPhone will have 16GB and 64GB storage models available, which again corroborates Chinese website MyDrivers. Other possible specs reported elsewhere include a 1,624 mAh battery, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth 4.2, Apple Pay, VoLTE and 802.11ac WiFi, but 3D Touch appears unlikely.

The next-generation 4-inch iPhone reportedly entered mass production last week, ahead of a rumored March event announcement, alongside the iPad Air 3 and Apple Watch updates including new bands and possibly other minor improvements. The smartphone is expected to ship in late March or early April.

Following reports that Apple will release a new 4-inch iPhone in March or April, a user named Gijs Raggers has shared a photo of the alleged smartphone next to an iPhone 5 on Dutch website One More Thing. The photo was posted on the website's discussion forums, where anyone can sign up and contribute.

The purported 4-inch iPhone appears to be the same size as the iPhone 5, but otherwise looks identical to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s externally, including its curved glass edges, thinner bezels, relocated FaceTime camera, pill-shaped volume buttons and power button moved to the right side.

The veracity of the photo cannot be confirmed, but Gijs Raggers previously leaked photos of the original iPad Air in August 2013, nearly three months before the tablet was announced. Many other photos and videos of the tablet surfaced around the same time, however, so take that as you will.

While most rumors suggest the new 4-inch iPhone's upgraded tech specs will be similar to the iPhone 6, including A8 and M8 chips, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and NFC for Apple Pay, the photo conflicts with reports claiming the device will look similar to the last-generation iPhone 5s design.

It also sounds questionable for Apple to call its new 4-inch iPhone the "iPhone 5se" if the device truly resembles an iPhone 6. That may very well be the name, but the oft-rumored "iPhone 6c" name, or even the "iPhone 6 mini" name suggested in our forums, would seem to be more fitting name choices in that scenario.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a note to investors today, a copy of which was obtained by MacRumors, in which he reaffirmed Apple will release a new 4-inch iPhone and iPad Air 3 in the first half of 2016. Both devices, and new Apple Watch bands, could be introduced at a March media event in San Francisco.

Apple VP of Product Design Steve Zadesky, who was believed to be leading Apple's electric vehicle development efforts since 2014, has informed colleagues that he will be leaving the company, according to The Wall Street Journal. He remains at Apple for now.

Zadesky, a former Ford engineer, joined Apple in 1999 and worked on the iPod and iPhone during his 16-year career in Cupertino. He is also named on several U.S. patents and documents related to Liquidmetal, a malleable alloy which Apple owns the exclusive rights to.

His impending departure from Apple is said to be for personal reasons, rather than an indication of his performance at the company, and marks a setback for Apple's electric vehicle plans:

Still, the pending departure marks a setback for one of the most talked-about projects in the technology field. Apple has become the most valuable company in the world making consumer electronics products, but moving into the automotive sector poses big new challenges.

Apple has aggressively recruited engineers and other talent from Tesla, Ford, GM, Samsung, A123 Systems, Nvidia and elsewhere to work on the rumored "Apple Car" project, which has allegedly been called "Project Titan" internally. Just days ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk even called the "Apple Car" an "open secret."

Last year, Apple also had discussions with a secure Bay Area testing facility for connected and autonomous vehicles, and met with the California DMV to review self-driving vehicle regulations. Further speculation arose when Apple registered a trio of auto-related domain names, including apple.car, apple.cars and apple.auto, earlier this month.

Apple's electric vehicle could be approved for production by 2020, but some employees reportedly believe it "might take several more years" for the iPhone maker to develop a truly differentiated electric vehicle. The project has encountered some challenges internally due to a lack of clear goals, according to the report.