NHS COVID-19, a contact tracing app created by the UK government, is rolling out to residents of England and Wales as of today, with the app available from the iOS App Store.
The app's debut comes a week and a half after the UK government said that it would launch on September 24, and a month and a half after the app became available to NHS Volunteer Responders, Isle of Wight residents, and Newham residents, all of whom have been testing the app.
Like other apps that take advantage of the Exposure Notification API from Apple and Google, NHS COVID-19 is designed to track who people come into contact with each other using Bluetooth, providing a notification if one of those people later comes down with the coronavirus.
Along with using a Bluetooth-based solution, NHS COVID-19 will let users scan QR codes to register visits to locations like stores and restaurants to aid in contact tracing, with UK businesses being encouraged to display QR posters for visitors to scan.
NHS COVID-19 will be available on iPhones running iOS 13.5 or later as well as compatible Android smartphones, which are able to interface with each other. Downloading the app will provide instructions on making sure notifications are enabled and the feature is functional.
The NHS did not initially plan to use Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API and was instead pursuing a different solution, but after the announcement of the API the NHS changed course and decided to work on an app using the Apple/Google API after all.
Exposure Notification apps have already launched in Scotland and Ireland, as well as in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Poland, and other countries. In the United States, Virginia, North Dakota, Arizona, Delaware, Nevada, Alabama, Wyoming, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have launched apps that use Apple's Exposure Notification API.
More information on Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API, such as how it works and where it's available, can be found in our guide.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News 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.
Upcoming Apple TV+ movie "The Sky Is Everywhere" is set to star Cherry Jones and Jason Segel, reports Variety. "The Sky Is Everywhere" is a film Apple is working on through its partnership with film studio A24, and it is based on the young adult novel of the same name.
The movie will follow a high schooler named Lennie Walker who is coping with the sudden death of her older sister. Segel will play "Big," Lennie's eccentric and compassionate uncle, who is described as "the town Lothario" who runs a hot air balloon company.
Jones will play "Gram," Lennie's "warm and loving grandmother" who raises her. Jones is known for "Succession" and Apple TV+ show "Defending Jacob," while Segel has recently been in "Our Friend."
"The Sky Is Anywhere" is being adapted by Jandy Nelson, who wrote the novel. A24, the film studio working on the movie, is known for films that include "The Lighthouse," "Midsommar," "Mid90s," and "Eighth Grade."
Apple is also partnering with A24 on "On the Rocks," a movie directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Bill Murray and Rashida Jones.
Apple's upcoming iPhone-centric event could perhaps be held on Tuesday, October 13, according to information shared with MacRumors by an employee at a UK cellular carrier.
There's no way for us to confirm the dates at this point in time nor are we sure on the credibility of the source, but even without a rumor, Tuesday, October 13 is a good guess based on Apple's historic launch timelines, preference for Tuesday launches, and penchant for holding events during the second week of the month.
The employee claimed that Apple would accept pre-orders directly after the event and launch the new iPhones on October 16, but that would be an unusually short time between the event and the launch date. It's quite possible that the source is confusing the pre-order and launch date timelines, with pre-orders actually set to happen on the 16th. If that's the case, a launch would logically follow on October 23, and that's what other sources have suggested.
The October 13 date has also been shared by AppleInsider in a report sourcing information from a Dutch mobile operator, and Jon Prosser, a leaker with a mixed track record when it comes to Apple's plans, also claims the event will take place on October 13 followed by pre-orders on the 16th and a launch on the 23rd.
If there is an October 13 event followed by an October 23 launch, we may not see all of the new iPhone 12 models at the same time. Rumors have suggested that we should expect a staggered launch with some iPhone models coming out in October and others coming out at a later date, perhaps in November.
It's likely that the 5.4 and 6.1-inch low-cost iPhones will be available first in October, followed by the Pro models at a later date due to supply and production constraints. There's some confusion over this point, however, as DigiTimes has suggested Apple could release the two 6.1-inch iPhone models (one low-cost and one Pro) ahead of the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 "mini," as it is rumored to be called, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.
With the prospective October 13 date less than three weeks away, we could be seeing event information and invites from Apple within the next week or so.
It's worth noting that Amazon's Prime Day is rumored to be on Tuesday, October 13, which would be a notable conflict, so there's still a possibility that the October 13 Apple event date is inaccurate.
In September 2020, Apple updated its popular Apple Watch lineup, introducing an entirely new model of Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE. This new model offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years, but at a much more competitive price starting at $279. As an even lower-cost option, Apple continues to sell the Apple Watch Series 3, which first arrived in 2017, for $199.
As these two models composite the lower-cost Apple Watch offerings and share many features, including a Retina Display, water resistance, and an optical heart sensor, it may not be immediately clear which model is better for you. Is it worth purchasing the older, cheaper Series 3 to save some money? Our guide helps you to decide which of these two Apple Watch models is best for you.
Comparing the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 3
Many of the features of these two lower-cost Apple Watch models are the same. Apple lists these identical features of the two models:
Similarities
Retina OLED display, with brightness of 1,000 nits
Dual-core processor
Optical heart sensor
High and low heart rate, and irregular heart rythmn notifications
Emergency SOS
Water resistance up to 50 meters; "swimproof"
18-hour "all-day" battery life
Apple's breakdown shows that the two models share a large number of features. Even so, there are meaningful differences between the Apple Watch Series SE and the Apple Watch Series 3 that are worth highlighting, such as display size, Fall Detection, and the always-on altimeter.
S5 SiP with 64‑bit dual-core processor; W3 wireless chip
Digital Crown with haptic feedback
International Emergency Calling, Emergency SOS, Fall Detection and noise monitoring
4G LTE and UMTS, Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth 5.0
GPS/GNSS, compass and always-on altimeter
50 percent louder speaker; built-in mic
32GB capacity
Apple Watch Series 3
42mm or 38mm case size
Second-generation Retina OLED display, 1,000 nits
GPS model
S3 SiP with dual-core processor; W2 wireless chip
Digital Crown
Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
Altimeter
Built-in speaker and mic
8GB capacity
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see exactly what the Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 3 have to offer.
Displays
Both the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 3 have Retina displays with a brightness of 1,000 nits. The Apple Watch SE's display is, however, 30 percent larger than that of the Series 3. This is because the display has thin borders and curved corners. The larger display allows for larger and easier-to-read app icons and fonts, while watch face complications can be more precise and informative. A variety of watch faces are also optimized for the larger display.
Moreover, the Apple Watch SE's display is an LTPO display, which stands for "low-temperature polycrystalline oxide." This technology allows the device to dynamically change the screen's refresh rate for improved battery life.
The superior display of the Apple Watch SE is among the main reasons to buy the more expensive device. More than anything, the larger display makes the Apple Watch SE feel like a distinctively more modern device than the Apple Watch Series 3, and it adheres to Apple's newer design language with curved corners. The Apple Watch Series 3's screen is practical, if not as attractive as that of the SE, and will be suitable for those new to the Apple Watch. Wherever possible, potential customers should prefer the Apple Watch SE when it comes to the display.
S5 vs. S3 Processor
Both models contain a dual-core processor, but the Apple Watch SE's S5 chip delivers up to two times faster performance than the Apple Watch Series 3. This means the Apple Watch SE can launch apps in as little as half the time it takes on the Apple Watch Series 3.
The S3 chip powers the Apple Watch Series 3. It enables quick launch times and Siri to speak through the built-in speaker. The S5 chip is a 64-bit processor, and being two generations newer than the S3, sees significant performance and efficiency improvements.
The S5 is clearly a much better processor than the S3, but it is worth remembering that for the kinds of tasks performed on the Apple Watch, processing power is not massively important. The S3 will still be perfectly effective for daily tasks, although the S5 is likely to be supported for much longer and handle updates to watchOS more deftly.
When it comes to the processor, you should only consider the Apple Watch SE if you want maximum performance and are concerned about how the chip will cope with updates over time. Otherwise, the Apple Watch Series 3 will be perfectly sufficient.
Health Monitoring
The Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 3 have an optical heart sensor. This allows both devices to alert you if they detect unusually high or low heart rates or an irregular rhythm, as well as measure your current heart rate.
With the same capabilities to record cardiovascular health, there is no reason to favor the more costly Apple Watch SE when it comes to health monitoring.
Safety and Emergency
Apple Watches have a number of safety and emergency features. Both models allow you to quickly call for help and alert your emergency contacts if you need to. With the Emergency SOS feature, users can swiftly and easily call for help and alert the emergency services with a push of the side button.
Beyond this, the Apple Watch SE has considerably better safety and emergency features. Only the Apple Watch SE can perform international emergency calling, fall detection, and noise monitoring.
Cellular models of Apple Watch SE can complete international calls to emergency services, regardless of where the device was originally purchased or if the cellular plan has been activated.
Fall detection uses a custom algorithm and the latest accelerometer and gyroscope in the Apple Watch SE to detect when a user falls over. By analyzing wrist trajectory and impact acceleration, the Apple Watch SE sends the user an alert after a hard fall, which can be dismissed or used to initiate a call to emergency services. If the watch senses immobility for approximately 60 seconds after the fall, it will automatically call emergency services and play an audio message that provides the user's location as latitude and longitude coordinates, in addition to sending a message to their emergency contacts.
The Noise app alerts you when decibels reach levels that could damage your hearing. To provide enhanced insights into hearing health, Apple Watch SE uses the latest-generation microphone to measure ambient sound levels in a user's environment. The device can then send a notification if the decibel level of surrounding sound has risen to a point that could cause damage, and users can check noise levels at any time through the Noise app or Noise watch face complication.
Although the Apple Watch Series 3 has the basic Emergency SOS feature, it is clear that the Apple Watch SE pulls ahead regarding safety and emergency features. If international emergency calling, fall detection, and noise monitoring are among your most valued Apple Watch features, then you should get the Apple Watch SE. If you want your Apple Watch to mainly serve as a fitness tracker and for notifications, for example, this will be much less important and the Apple Watch Series 3 will be sufficient.
Storage
Apple Watch SE contains four times more storage than the Apple Watch Series 3, with 32GB instead of just 8GB. If you plan on downloading large amounts of music, podcasts, or photos to your Apple Watch, the Apple Watch SE would be the much more convenient option. Generally, storage is not a priority on the Apple Watch, so 8GB may be enough for many users.
Other Technology
The Apple Watch SE has a next-generation always-on altimeter to provide real-time elevation all of the time by using a new, more power-efficient barometric altimeter, along with GPS and nearby Wi-Fi networks. This allows for the detection of small elevation changes above ground level, up and down to the measurement of 1 foot, and can be shown as a new watch face complication or workout metric.
The Apple Watch Series 3, on the other hand, also features a barometric altimeter, but it lacks "always-on" functionality and is not as precise. The Series 3 can still use its altimeter to assist with tracking activity, flights climbed, outdoor workouts, and elevation gain.
Only the Apple Watch SE has a compass to provide users with better directions and compass headings, in addition to incline, latitude, and longitude. For activities like hiking or climbing, the Apple Watch SE has a lot more to offer.
The Apple Watch SE also features the latest second-generation speaker and microphone, which are optimized for better sound quality for phone calls, Siri, and Walkie-Talkie, along with Bluetooth 5.0. Comparatively, the Apple Watch Series 3 contains the earlier first-generation speaker and microphone, and Bluetooth 4.2.
In addition, the Apple Watch SE has a Digital Crown with haptic feedback, which generates incremental clicks with a mechanical feel as it is rotated. The Apple Watch Series 3's Digital Crown offers no haptic feedback, and simply spins as needed.
Design
While the two Apple Watches may superficially appear to look quite similar, there are in fact a large number of differences in terms of design. The casing of the Apple Watch SE has a more refined design than Apple Watch Series 3, with an inset side button and completely different placement for microphones and speakers.
Most strikingly, the Apple Watch SE is 0.7mm thinner than the Apple Watch Series 3. Although this may seem like a small difference, the Apple Watch SE's redesigned casing and more gentle curves make it look considerably thinner than the Series 3. The Apple Watch Series 3 is up to about five grams lighter, however.
Despite having different case sizes of 44mm or 40mm, and 42mm or 38mm, both the Apple Watch SE and the Apple Watch Series 3 support the same band sizes.
The Apple Watch SE is available in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold, while the Apple Watch Series 3 is only available in Silver and Space Gray.
If you want a thinner, more modern design, or simply the gold color option, you should consider the Apple Watch SE. If thickness is not a priority for you, the Apple Watch Series 3 may be more appropriate, and it will still work with bands for later models.
Cellular
Only the Apple Watch SE is available with cellular connectivity from Apple. If you are planning to add an Apple Watch to your iPhone's cellular plan, you will need to get the Apple Watch SE with cellular for it to work.
Apple originally sold cellular versions of the Apple Watch Series 3, but has since discontinued them. Now, the only lower-cost Apple Watch with cellular option from Apple is the Apple Watch SE. You may, however, be able to find a cellular Apple Watch Series 3 for sale via a third-party reseller.
Family Setup
The Apple Watch SE is compatible with a new feature called "Family Setup" in watchOS 7. Family Setup allows family members who do not have an iPhone, which is otherwise needed to be paired with the device, to have an Apple Watch. Apple has implemented a number of features to make Apple Watch more suitable for kids or older adults, such as "Schooltime," to help children stay focused while in the classroom, or a simplified configuration process for older people.
If you are planning to use Family Setup, you will have to get the Apple Watch SE, as it is not available with the Apple Watch Series 3.
Other Apple Watch Options
Apple also offers the Apple Watch Series 6. If you are willing to pay a premium for more features, you may want to consider the Apple Watch Series 6, which starts at $399. This device comes with a range of advanced features such as an always-on display, a faster S6 chip, and the ability to take ECGs and monitor blood oxygen levels. The Apple Watch Series 6 also offers a variety of unique color options, including (PRODUCT)RED and Blue, and finishes, such as stainless steel or titanium.
If you were already siding with the Apple Watch SE, it may be worth exploring the more premium Apple Watch Series 6. If you are looking for the cheapest possible Apple Watch, then the Series 6 will not be suitable.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Apple Watch SE is a device that has a lot more to offer than the Apple Watch Series 3 across the board. If you can afford to spend the additional $80, you will get a wearable that feels considerably more modern and developed, with a host of additional features.
If you are new to the Apple Watch or only have basic needs, the Apple Watch Series 3 allows you to get a capable device for the lowest possible price.
However, it is vital to remember that the Apple Watch Series 3 is now a fairly old device. Apple Watch Series 3 is the oldest device to support watchOS 7, which means that it will be the next Apple Watch to lose support for new operating systems. If you plan to keep your Apple Watch for some years, you should probably not get the Apple Watch Series 3, since you would be buying a device that is already three years old, and will likely not fare well in terms of support for future updates and software features.
For the overwhelming majority of people, the Apple Watch SE will be the best choice. You should only get the Apple Watch Series 3 if cost is a pressing priority, or perhaps if it is an introductory Apple Watch for a child or an older person. With a mind to the multitude of features that the SE offers over the older Series 3, the additional $80 for the Apple Watch SE is certainly worth it.
Apple on Tuesday updated one of its support documents to emphasize that the new silicone rubber Solo Loop for the Apple Watch may increase in length over time, as mentioned in fine print at the bottom of the Solo Loop product page.
Apple has also updated its printable Solo Loop sizing guide with more specific instructions, as noted by 9to5Mac's Michael Steeber. The guide now advises users to wrap the sizing tool tightly around their wrist where they would typically wear their watch, and to make sure that the tool feels snug and does not slide up or down.
If the arrows on the sizing tool end up pointing to a line between two numbers, the sizing guide now advises users to choose the smaller of the two numbers. The guide has been updated with a few visuals to help customers.
Apple updated its Solo Loop size guide today. No changes to the actual numbers, but more detailed instructions and illustrations were added to help you size correctly: pic.twitter.com/f4mMXFG0Pp
— Michael Steeber (@MichaelSteeber) September 23, 2020
Keep in mind that Apple's notice that the Solo Loop may increase in length over time does not apply to the Braided Solo Loop made with polyester yarn.
Apple says the Solo Loop and Braided Solo Loop are stretchable, single-piece bands designed for an "ultracomfortable fit," with each available in nine sizes. Choosing the right size is important, as customers who order an Apple Watch with a Solo Loop in the box are required to return the entire device if the band does not fit correctly.
Mariah Carey has been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for Apple TV+ show "The Oprah Conversation," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The virtual interview takes a look at Carey's new memoir, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey." Although Winfrey has interviewed Carey several times previously, this new interview is said to be a more intimate discussion with personal anecdotes.
Previous episodes of the Oprah Conversation have interviewed Emmanuel Acho, host of "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," Professor Ibram X. Kendi, author of "How to Be an Antiracist," and Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative.
The Christmas special will feature Mariah Carey and a "star-studded lineup of surprise guest appearances" offering a "magical holiday journey to enliven the Christmas spirit around the world." It will combine music, dancing, and animation, driven by a "universally heartwarming story."
The episode of The Oprah Conversation featuring Mariah Carey debuts tomorrow on Apple TV+.
Popular calendar app Fantastical today received an update with support for new iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 features, including Home Screen widgets and Scribble.
A dozen customizable widgets are available, providing users with the date, a monthly calendar, scheduled events and tasks, and even the weather at a glance. All of the widgets are free to use, while widgets that incorporate Fantastical Premium features like conference call detection require a subscription for $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year.
Scribble support allows iPad users to handwrite in any field with the Apple Pencil and have it automatically converted to text.
The full release notes for version 3.2:
- Widgets for iOS 14! 12 new and customizable widgets to view the date, weather, calendar, upcoming events, and tasks right on your home screen. - Support for Scribble on iPadOS 14 - Support for new date and time pickers on iOS 14 - Recurring events are now shown more prominently when viewing hidden items - Short back-to-back events are now less likely to overlap in Day and Week views - Fixed an issue where sync to Google could get stuck in some situations - Fixed an issue where sync errors on Zoom accounts sometimes wouldn't be shown - Fixed an issue where notifications for recurring events could disappear suddenly - Fixed an issue where deleting an event in the Apple Watch app wouldn't sync to the phone - Various fixes and improvements
Amazon is offering the new 32GB Wi-Fi 10.2-inch iPad for $299.00, down from $329.00 in Space Gray, Silver, and Gold. This is a match of Walmart's ongoing offer on the same iPad model, which was introduced on the day the tablet launched last Friday.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
In regards to the 32GB cellular model, you can save $14.41 at the checkout screen on Amazon for the gold model, marking the device down to $444.59, a new low price. Amazon also has a discount on two models of the 128GB Wi-Fi iPad, available for $395.00, down from $429.00. There are currently no deals on the 128GB cellular models.
The big addition to the new 10.2-inch iPad is an upgraded A12 Bionic processor with Neural Engine. According to Apple the A12 Bionic chip offers 40 percent faster CPU performance and twice the graphics capability, which makes the iPad up to two times faster than the top-selling Windows laptop and three times faster than the top-selling Android tablet.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.
Apple's introduction of widgets on the Home Screen in iOS 14 has driven a surge in interest among users looking to customize their iPhone, and that has reportedly had a knock-on effect for Pinterest, whose iOS app has seen record downloads as users flock to its content seeking design inspiration.
As reported by TechCrunch, App Store intelligence firm Apptopia was first to note the impact of the iOS 14 customization trend on Pinterest. According to its data, Pinterest saw a record high number of daily downloads on September 21, with around 616,000 new installs globally.
Offering similar numbers, market intelligence firm Sensor Tower estimated 680,000 Pinterest installs across iOS and Android the previous day, as users searched for photos to use for custom icons or wallpapers to go with their new widgets.
Sensor Tower estimates that Pinterest's downloads record was actually broken on September 20, with around 800,000 installs worldwide, or a 32 percent week-on-week growth from the 607,000 installs it managed on September 13, a few days before iOS 14 was released to the public.
The interest has also caused Pinterest to jump from number 47 on the Top Free iPhone Apps charts in the App Store to number 7 in just two days. The app currently sits at number 1 in the Lifestyle category on iPhone, although it has hovered around the number 1 and number 2 position since February 2020.
The report notes that the driving motivation for the growth in Pinterest installations can be seen on Pinterest's home page, which has been showcasing the new iOS 14 customization possibilities available to users.
The Pinterest home page today showcases iPhone design trends as one of its "Daily Inspirations," where the collection "Trending wallpapers and aesthetic homescreen ideas" is currently sitting at the top of the page. Here, users are finding iPhone backgrounds and sharing other custom designs and icon sets for people to use in their own creations.
One possible Home Screen customization that has taken on a life of its own is the ability to create custom icons using Apple's Shortcuts app. The process involves creating a Shortcut to open an app, and then adding an image to that Shortcut on the home screen.
A TechCrunch spokesperson said that Gen Z has been the main reason for the surge in interest, as this group grew 50 percent year over year in June 2020 and they tend to use Pinterest as a resource for design inspiration.
A number of Apple Watch owners who have updated to watchOS 7 are reporting an issue involving missing GPS mapping data after recording exercise in Apple's wrist-based Workout app.
Several MacRumors readers have been in touch to highlight the problem, which was first noted in a thread on Apple's support communities by a user who upgraded their iPhone XS Max to iOS 14 and Apple Watch Series 4 to watchOS 7.
Later, I went for a walk. I used the Outdoor Walk activity on my Watch, but this time didn't take my iPhone. When I returned, and attempted to upload the activity to Strava, I received a warning that no GPS/route data was present. I checked the Fitness and Health apps, and sure enough, there was no route on the map - only the starting point.
I spoke to someone at Apple Support and they suggested I turned off/back on a couple of related privacy settings. I have since tried another Outdoor Walk activity, without the phone present, and the problem persists - no GPS/route data.
My wife also tried the same this evening, after upgrading her iPhone X and S4 Watch too. She had the same results - i.e. with just the Watch, no GPS/route information was saved with the activity.
The thread currently runs 16 pages and includes multiple users reporting similar issues with tracking GPS data on Apple Watch Series 3, 4, and 5 models.
In the majority of cases, users record a workout on their watch while leaving their iPhone at home, but when they later look at the Activity app it only shows the workout's starting point on the GPS map, and nothing else. Some users are also reporting sync issues with Strava and problems with additional workout stats, including heart rate information.
It's not clear what's causing the problems, but Apple is apparently aware of them, so hopefully a solution is on the way in watchOS 7.1, the beta of which went out to developers last week.
Twitter has rolled out a new Share Tweet pop-up menu in its official iOS app after it began testing the feature with some users last month.
The new-look sharing menu gives users quick access to Twitter contacts that were recently used in Direct Messages, as well as shortcuts to apps such as Messages, WhatsApp, and Gmail.
The native iOS Activity view (formerly called the Share Sheet) can still be accessed using the "Share via..." option at the end of the row of options in the Share Tweet menu, or users can long press the Action button in Twitter to bring up the Activity view directly.
The new Share Tweet definitely offers a more compact set of options than the native iOS Activity view, but users who have customized their Action extensions will note that it doesn't provide the same customization options as the latter, and it doesn't include AirDrop links either.
To access the new Share Tweet menu, make sure you've updated to version 8.37 of the official Twitter app on iOS.
Following his report earlier this week indicating that Apple will be accelerating adoption of mini-LED displays in its iPad and Mac notebook lineups thanks to better than expected development from potential secondary supplier Sanan Optoelectronics, analyst Ming-Chi has released a new report today sharing a bit more perspective on the mini-LED display market as it relates to Apple.
Kuo says that Epistar remains Apple's initial partner for mini-LED chips, but that Sanan and others should be able to quickly join Apple's supply chain as existing patents are not expected to serve as significant barriers to entry. As a result, mini-LED efforts by Apple and its suppliers have effectively moved from the "technology development" stage to the "economies of scale/cost" stage.
While Sanan has seen rapid development of its mini-LED capabilities that could allow it ship large quantities of the chips to Apple in the first half of 2021, Kuo says that Epistar has experienced some yield issues that have led Kuo to reduce his fourth-quarter 2020 display shipment estimates by 50% to between 300,000 and 400,000.
Kuo has said that Apple has at least six iPad and Mac products with mini-LED displays in its pipeline for launch by the end of 2021, but he indicates that the initial batch of displays coming through the end of 2020 will be for an iPad Pro.
Apple's mini LED dies will be mass-produced in 4Q20, but due to yield issues related to the production process of display module materials, the 4Q20 display shipments have been revised down by 50% to 300,000-400,000. We believe that the mini LED display in 4Q20 will be used for the new iPad Pro.
Kuo has long predicted that a high-end 12.9-inch iPad Pro would likely be Apple's first mini-LED product.
As indicated in his earlier report, Kuo sees fierce price competition among Apple's mini-LED suppliers in 2021, predicting that Apple's costs for the mini-LED dies will drop by 50% in 2021 and a further 35% in 2022.
Mini-LED displays, which use on the order of 1,000 to 10,000 individual LEDs, can offer deeper, darker blacks, brighter brights, richer colors, and better contrast compared to traditional LED-based displays, though the technology comes at a significant increase in cost for the time being.
After announcing last week that it would be launching its online store in India on September 23, the store has now gone live, opening up direct sales for Apple in a largely untapped market with significant growth potential.
As in other countries, Apple's Indian online store offers a full range of Apple products and accessories, with shopping assistance from Apple Specialists, free no-contact delivery, a trade-in program for iPhone sales, free one-on-one online training sessions with certain product purchases, build-to-order Mac options, and multiple payment options.
Apple's latest Apple Pay Promo allows Jimmy John's customers who spend $10 or more to redeem a free drink with their purchase using Freaky Fast Rewards and Apple Pay.
Jimmy John's customers can get the deal when they spend at least $10 when ordering ahead in the Jimmy John's app, on the jimmyjohns.com website, or in store, with the free drink available through September 27.
The deal is valid only at participating locations, and the Freaky Fast Rewards program from Jimmy John's is required to place a qualifying order that's paid for with Apple Pay. One reward is available per Freaky Fast Rewards account.
Following the release of iOS 14 last Wednesday, Apple has stopped signing iOS 13.7, which means downgrading to iOS 13 after upgrading to iOS 14 is no longer possible.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.
As of Monday, iOS 14 was installed on approximately 26 percent of active iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices, and earlier today, the first jailbreak for iOS 14 devices was released. The jailbreak only works with devices that have an A9 chip and earlier because of new security mitigations put in place by Apple.
iOS 14 is the current publicly available version of iOS that people can download, but there's also a version of iOS 14.2 that has been provided to developers and public beta testers. iOS 14.2 introduces a new Shazam Music Recognition feature for the Control Center, while also bringing some other Apple Music-related Control Center tweaks.
We've been following along with some of the creative alternative Home Screen designs that MacRumors readers have come up with and thought we'd even try to build out a custom app icon and home screen setup to mimic an old school Mac design. In the video up above, you can check out our superficial attempt at making iOS 14 look like Mac OS X Aqua, arguably one of the most iconic Mac looks.
Widgets are simple enough to use and hundreds of apps are now updating with innovative widgets that you can add to the Today Center and the Home Screen with just a few taps. Widgets run the gamut from weather to fitness to finance and travel, so there's a good chance most of your favorite apps have widgets you can incorporate into a design.
There are also apps that are dedicated just to making different customizable widgets with unique styles and functions, such as Widgetsmith, or Widgeridoo, which are essential to custom designs. We've used Widgetsmith for our OS X setup because it lets us create widgets with custom graphics.
Widgets are simple enough to use, but taking a Home Screen design to the next level requires custom icons, something possible through Apple's Shortcuts app. Custom icons are more pretty than useful, and everything you create a custom icon for will route through the Shortcuts app, which is less than ideal.
We've seen custom designs that have taken hours upon hours to create, and even our own Aqua theme took quite some time to complete, so expect to invest some time if you want a unique iPhone Home Screen. Our setup looks fantastic and is reminiscent of an old-school Mac, but it's worth noting that it's not particularly functional. Most of our widgets are really just for show, so creating a design that's nice looking and useful is a real effort.
If you want to recreate our "Mac OS X Aqua theme" for the iPhone, we've got a link to the assets available here. All the elements, however, are really just a carefully crafted illusion. But we'd love to see a developer build functional Mac OS X Dashboard styled widgets, and for Apple to allow for transparency in icons and widgets.
Have you made an awesome Home Screen setup that you want to share? Post it down below in the comments, and feel free to share your icon skins, wallpapers, and widget setups.
Apple today announced its latest Apple TV+ series, "High Desert," an upcoming half-hour comedy from Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette.
"High Desert" will follow Peggy (who will be played by Arquette), a former addict who decides to make a new start after the death of her mother, whom she lived with in the desert town of Yucca Valley, California. Peggy decides to make a life-changing decision to become a private investigator.
Along with starring in the series, Arquette will serve as executive producer, while Ben Stiller will direct and serve as an executive producer as well.
"High Desert" is Apple's second TV series created in partnership with Stiller and Arquette following "Severance," which is an upcoming workplace thriller.
Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month, but Apple is continuing to offer a free year of service to customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch.
Apple today updated its iWork apps designed for iOS devices, introducing new iOS 14 features and support for Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.
All three of the apps now support the Scribble feature that was introduced in iPadOS 14, allowing Apple Pencil owners to handwrite anywhere in any text field within the iWork apps, with the written text then converted right into typed text.
The new feature will let Apple Pencil users write out Pages documents, Numbers spreadsheets, and Keynote presentations without having to swap over to the keyboard to fill in data.
Apple has also added new editable shapes in each of the apps along with support for the redesigned iOS and iPadOS 14 image picker. Full release notes for each app are below:
Pages
Use Scribble to write by hand with Apple Pencil, and your words will automatically convert to text. Requires iPadOS 14.
Select from new report templates to help you get started.
Enhance your documents with a variety of new, editable shapes.
Easily find pictures and videos using new zoom and search capabilities in the redesigned image picker. Requires iOS 14 or iPadOS 14.
Keynote
Use Scribble to write by hand with Apple Pencil, and your words will automatically convert to text. Requires iPadOS 14.
Use the new Outline View to focus on the structure and flow of your content without other distractions.
Play YouTube and Vimeo videos right in your presentations.
Movie export now supports a wide selection of formats and frame rates.
Hold the option key while dragging an object to duplicate it.
Easily find pictures and videos using new zoom and search capabilities in the redesigned image picker. Requires iOS 14 or iPadOS 14.
Enhance your presentations with a variety of new, editable shapes.
Numbers
Use Scribble to write by hand with Apple Pencil, and your words will automatically convert to text. Requires iPadOS 14.
Forms are now easier to create and customize. Add a form to any table or use the new Basic Form template.
Improved performance when working with large tables.
Easily find pictures and videos using new zoom and search capabilities in the redesigned image picker. Requires iOS 14 or iPadOS 14.
Enhance your spreadsheets with a variety of new, editable shapes.
Apple has also updated the Mac versions of Pages, Keynote, and Numbers with new report templates and editable shapes.
All of the new updates are available from the iOS App Store and macOS App Store as of this morning.
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