Apple has been granted a patent that could well hint at a new design direction for the controversial Smart Case that comes with Apple's AirPods Max (via Patently Apple).
When Apple unveiled its $549 high-end AirPods Max headphones last year, the included Smart Case stirred up plenty of online chatter for its odd appearance and poor overall protection when compared to the traditional hard cases that come with other premium headphones.
Apple's much-lampooned case birthed an avalanche of memes, which have irreverently compared it to all sorts of things, from handbags to lingerie, and even body parts. The mixed reception has led many to wonder if Apple will rethink its design in future models, and a newly approved patent may offer a possible idea of where Apple could take things next.
Filed by Apple in June 2017 and approved today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the patent summarizes various implementations of "Enclosures with flexible magnetic closures and clasps," but the accompanying "merely illustrative" images leave the reader in little doubt about the specific use case Apple has in mind.
In its example for a headphones case, the patent describes a full-coverage two-part housing that opens and closes via a pair of magnetic "mating strips" that run along the seam, and a magnetic clasp at the top. Meanwhile inside, a separator divides a pair of headphone earcups, while a headband can be seen arching over the separator.
The images offer a top and side view of the headphone case, along with a perspective view, and they all look like a much more traditional design compared to the current one-piece folded-over design, which left some reviewers feeling that Apple de-prioritised function in its pursuit of iconic fashion.
As with all patents, this one could well come to nothing, but Apple may well be planning a new version of AirPods Max for the company to include features that it reportedly had to leave out because of development challenges and production issues.
Early rumors indicated the headphones would feature interchangeable headbands, touch pads for controls, and no specific left and right orientation, but these features did not make it into the final product.
It's possible that a future version of the AirPods Max will include the functionality that was left out of the first launch version, but all we know so far is that additional color options are in the works for a future launch.
Apple is working on an Apple Watch Series 8 model with a larger display, according to DSCC's Ross Young and Haitong International Securities's Jeff Pu.
In October last year, Young suggested that the Apple Watch Series 8 could come in three display sizes. Now, responding to a query about the rumor on Twitter, Young claims that the additional display size joining the Apple Watch lineup will be 1.99-inches in size diagonally.
Likewise, in a note to investors seen by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu mentioned that Apple supplier Luxshare will be the "sole supplier" for a "high-end" 2-inch Apple Watch model this year. It seems likely that the 1.99-inch display size presented by Young has simply been rounded up by Pu.
A 1.99-inch Apple Watch display size compares to 1.691-inches on the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7 and 1.901-inches on the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7. The new display size would offer an additional 0.089-inches of space diagonally over the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7, which is almost a five percent increase.
It is possible that the slightly larger display size relates to the rumored redesign for the Apple Watch Series 8 with flat edges. Earlier this year, the leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro," who correctly said that the Apple Watch Series 7 would feature a rounded design like the Apple Watch Series 6, claimed that Apple was working on a "flat front glass display" for the Apple Watch Series 8. It seems plausible that an Apple Watch design with flat edges, first raised by leaker Jon Prosser in 2021, would feature a slightly larger flat top surface area, which could explain a five percent display size increase, although this remains speculation.
It is also of note that Young and Pu's claims could also line up with rumors about this year's "rugged" Apple Watch model, which is expected to join the Apple Watch lineup alongside the other Series 8 models. Flagship Apple Watches have historically only ever been offered in two size options, so a third, larger display size could correlate with a new, additional Apple Watch "Explorer Edition" variant, especially if this is also the model to offer a new design with flat edges.
Apple is still working on an iMac with a larger display and a more powerful chip aimed at the professional market, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman suggested that Apple is working on at least two iMac models, likely using the "M3" series of chips. Gurman says that Apple will likely launch an updated 24-inch iMac featuring the standard M3 chip in 2023 and is continuing work on a high-end iMac model:
I also still believe that Apple is working on a larger-screened iMac aimed at the professional market. I'd imagine this will use a variation of the M3 chip, likely an M3 Pro and M3 Max. That would match the chips inside of the MacBook Pro. I don't think the combination of a Mac Studio or Mac mini plus an Apple Studio Display cuts it for many pro users who want more screen real estate.
In March 2021, Apple discontinued the iMac Pro, and in March 2022, it discontinued the 27-inch Intel-based version of the iMac, leaving the 24-inch iMac with the M1 chip as the only remaining iMac model. For now, Apple has effectively replaced the 27-inch iMac with the Mac Studio and its matching Studio Display and some sources claim that there is no high-end iMac in development, but Gurman is among the pundits claiming that a more powerful, larger iMac is still on the way.
A 24-inch iMac with the M2 chip has been missing from Gurman's forecast of upcoming M2 Macs on Apple's product road map, which includes new Mac mini models with M2 and M2 Pro chips, new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and a new Mac Pro tower with M2 Ultra and "M2 Extreme" chips. Gurman expects an updated 24-inch iMac to be among the first M3 series of Macs, which will include an updated 13-inch MacBook Air, an all-new 15-inch MacBook Air, and potentially a new 12-inch notebook that is "still in early development."
Gurman previously said that the launch of the new high-end iMac "won't be anytime soon," and use of M3 series chips would indicate that may not emerge until 2023 at the earliest. The M3 family of chips are expected to be built on TSMC's 3nm technology, unlike the M1 and M2, which are built using a 5nm process. The more advanced manufacturing process is expected to bring significant performance and efficiency improvements.
The offer, first spotted by Michael Burkhardt on Twitter, has been available since June 22 and allows first-time Apple Music Student Plan subscribers to order a pair of Beats Flex earphones for free after paying for the first month's subscription.
After 30 days of the subscription, eligible students will receive an email from Apple with instructions to order the Beats Flex earphones for free. Subscribers may be given the option to redeem earphones in a color of their choice, but Apple may also send whatever is available depending on stock levels.
The Beats Flex offer is only available in the United States and the United Kingdom, cannot be combined with other Apple Music offers, and cannot be used by anyone who has previously subscribed to Apple Music. The offer is available for a "limited time" with no further details on when it may end. See Apple's terms and conditions for more information.
While past rumors have indicated the upcoming second-generation AirPods Pro will feature a built-in heart rate and body temperature sensor, Bloomberg'sMark Gurman has cast doubt on those rumors turning out to be true, saying instead such a feature is unlikely to come anytime soon.
"Over the past few months, there have been rumors about this year's model gaining the ability to determine a wearer's heart rate or body temperature. I'm told that neither feature is likely to arrive in the 2022 upgrade," Gurman writes in his latest Power On newsletter. Gurman adds that both features have been explored within Apple and could arrive someday.
Just last month, a rumor from 52Audio said that the AirPods Pro 2 would be able to measure heart rate and body temperature from within the ear. That same report said the AirPods Pro 2 would feature USB-C, an updated H1 chip, and Find My functionality. It remains to be seen if other aspects of the report will turn out to be accurate.
Apple has not given the AirPods Pro any updates since its launch in 2019 other than a new MagSafe charging case last fall. Apple is widely expected to announce a new version of the AirPods Pro later this year, possibly around the time it launches the iPhone 14 and new Apple Watch models this fall.
Apple CEO Tim Cook is on the guest list for this year's Sun Valley Conference, which begins Wednesday in the resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho, according to Deadline. Known as "summer camp for billionaires," the conference allows tech and media moguls to negotiate deals between leisure activities like golfing and whitewater rafting.
Cook (center) at the 2016 Sun Valley Conference (via Bloomberg News)
Cook has attended the retreat several times over the years, often alongside Apple's services chief Eddy Cue, but it has yet to be confirmed if he will be present this year. Apple's negotiations have typically been kept under wraps, but the conference provides the company with an opportunity to secure media deals for services like Apple TV+.
Other tech CEOs invited this year include Tesla's Elon Musk, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon's Andy Jassy, and Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, the report claims.
Hosted by investment bank Allen & Company, the conference has served as a catalyst for some major deals in the media industry, ranging from Disney acquiring ABC in 1995 to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' purchasing The Washington Post in 2013. This year's event reportedly takes place from July 5 through July 9, with private discussions to begin July 6.
The upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 will be able to tell a wearer if it believes they have a fever due to a higher than normal body temperature thanks to a new built-in sensor, according to Bloomberg's reliable Mark Gurman.
Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman says that the Apple Watch Series 8 will feature a new body temperature sensor, given that the sensor passes Apple's internal testing.
Gurman notes, however, that he believes the sensor is "a go" for both the standard Series 8 and a new "rugged model" designed for athletes. Unlike a traditional dedicated thermometer, the Apple Watch will not give users a direct reading of their current body temperature but will instead directly alert users if it believes they have a fever.
You can expect some new health-tracking features in this year's Apple Watch. In April, I reported that Apple has been aiming to add body-temperature detection to its Series 8 model, assuming the capability passes muster during internal testing. I now believe the feature is a go for both the standard Apple Watch Series 8 and a new rugged edition that's aimed at extreme sports athletes.
In January, Gurman said that internal chatter of a body temperature sensor for the Apple Watch Series 8 had slowed down. Since then, enthusiasm for the feature has apparently increased within Apple, helping push development forward. Apple has frequently added new sensors and health capabilities to the Apple Watch, with the last addition being the blood oxygen sensor in the Apple Watch Series 6.
Besides the new body temperature sensor, the Apple Watch Series 8 is expected to maintain the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7, including the same processor as the Series 6 and 7. Gurman today noted that the Apple Watch Series 8 might include updated displays in the higher-end models.
The M2 MacBook Pro has started making its way into customers' hands and we're learning more about how it performs in a variety of situations, but all eyes are really on the upcoming M2 MacBook Air which has seen a complete redesign and should be arriving in a couple of weeks.
Other top stories this week included a host of product rumors including additional M2 and even M3 Macs, an updated Apple TV, and a revived HomePod, so make sure to read on below for all the details on these stories and more!
Apple Plans to Launch MacBook Air With M2 Chip on July 15
Apple previously announced that the new MacBook Air would be available in July, but did not provide a specific date.
The new MacBook Air has been redesigned with a larger 13.6-inch display, a notch, a flatter appearance, and new Starlight and Midnight color options. The notebook features MagSafe 3 charging, an upgraded 1080p camera, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a Magic Keyboard with physical Fn keys, a Touch ID button, and more.
Pricing starts at $1,199 in the United States, while the previous MacBook Air remains available for $999.
Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro With M2 Chip Has Significantly Slower SSD Speeds Than Previous Model
YouTube channels such as Max Tech and Created Tech tested the 256GB model with Blackmagic's Disk Speed Test app and real-world tests and found that the SSD's read and write speeds are around 50% and 30% slower, respectively, compared to the previous model.
M2 Pro Mac Mini, New Apple TV With A14 Chip, and More Rumored to Be in Development
Gurman listed several other new Apple products in the works, including a new Apple TV with an A14 chip and an increased 4GB of RAM. Most of the products are expected to launch between late 2022 and mid 2023.
New Version of Original HomePod to Return Next Year
Gurman said the new HomePod will be closer to the original model in terms of size and audio performance, as opposed to being a new HomePod mini. He also said the new HomePod will feature an updated display on the top of the speaker, potentially with multi-touch functionality.
Video Comparison: M2 MacBook Pro vs. M1 MacBook Pro
The video provides a look at the M2 MacBook Pro's overall performance, SSD speeds, and more compared to the previous model. Both machines have a 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM in our comparison.
Kuo: Apple's Work on 5G Modem Chip 'Failed,' Qualcomm to Remain Supplier for 2023 iPhones
For years, rumors have suggested that Apple is working on its own 5G modem for future devices, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo this week claimed that Apple's efforts have "failed" so far and said that Qualcomm will remain Apple's modem supplier for 2023 iPhones.
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.
Apple in iOS 15 introduced Focus mode, an expansion of Do Not Disturb that allows you to set up different permissions for apps, contacts, and more depending on what you're doing. You can have separate tasks for when you're at work, when you're studying, when you're at home, and more.
In iOS 16, available now, Apple has improved Focus with new features, and this guide covers everything that you need to know about using Focuses in iOS 16.
Improved Focus Setup
Setting up a Focus is more straightforward than it was before, with a new personalized setup experience for each Focus that you create.
Apple used to drop you right into a confusing array of options for doing things like allowing people and apps for notifications, but now there's an explainer that lets you know how all the Focus features work, and a streamlined process for selecting your options.
With the Silence Notifications section, you can choose the apps and the people that are able to contact you when a Focus is turned on, and Apple has added options to allow or silence notifications from select people, which wasn't an option previously. With iOS 15, you could only choose allowed apps and allowed people, rather than specific people and apps to silence.
Note: Silence lists are only available on devices running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. Devices running iOS 15 and earlier cannot access silence lists.
Apple walks you through choosing who to allow calls from as well, plus you can go through the customize screens interface, set Focus schedules, and add filters to block out certain email inboxes in Mail, Safari Tab Groups, and more, which we outline in the sections below.
Customize Screens
With iOS 16, you can customize everything about your Focus, including what the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Apple Watch face look like. You can select from any of the Lock Screens that you've created, linking it to a Focus mode. You can also create a new Lock Screen from the Gallery.
For the Home Screen customization, you can select any one of your existing app pages to serve as your main Home Screen for the Focus mode. So if you want to create a Home Screen with specific apps for a Focus, you'll first need to set up an app page by rearranging your apps.
As for the Apple Watch, if you are an Apple Watch owner, you can select one of your Apple Watch faces to activate on your wrist for a specific Focus mode.
If you've set up a custom Lock Screen, Home Screen, or Apple Watch face for your Focus and change your mind, just tap on the "-" symbol to clear it.
Linked Lock Screens and Focus Modes
You can create custom Lock Screens in iOS 16, and each Lock Screen can be associated with a different Focus. That means you can set a Lock Screen to coincide with a Focus, giving your phone a different look throughout the day.
If you have a work focus, for example, you can set up a Lock Screen with the style and widgets that are useful for your job, and then when at home, you can have an entirely different setup. You can do the same thing on the Apple Watch.
To associate a Focus with a Lock Screen, open up the Lock Screen interface by long pressing on an unlocked iPhone's Lock Screen, scroll to the Lock Screen of your choice, and then tap on "Focus" to choose which Focus mode to associate the Lock Screen with.
After that, the Lock Screen will have a little icon at the bottom that lets you know which Focus it is linked to. Then, to activate the Focus, you can just swap over to that Lock Screen, so it's super easy to change Focus modes.
Note that you can also go through this setup process in the Focus section of the Settings app. Just open it up, select the Focus you want to use for a Lock Screen, and choose the "Customize Screens" option that's described up above.
When you're creating a Focus, Apple says that iOS can suggest Lock Screens for the Focus option, like a photo Lock Screen when you're home, and a more data-central set of options for when you're at work. Apple also offers suggestions for Home Screen pages that have the apps and widgets that are most relevant to the Focus you're selecting.
Focus Filters
Focus Filters are an entirely new feature in iOS 16. With this option, you can choose to filter out content within apps, displaying a specific Mail account or Calendar, if you have multiple. When you use a Focus with a filter set, the app with the filter will only show what you've selected, hiding everything else.
Here's what you can filter out with Focus Filters:
Calendar - If you have different calendars set up for work and family, you can associate just one calendar with a Focus so you see only relevant events when that Focus is activated.
Mail - You can choose any of your Mail accounts to associate with a Focus, and with this activated, when you're in that Focus, the Mail app will only show the accounts you've selected. It's useful if you want to filter out personal emails while working, and vice versa.
Messages - The Messages app can be set to hide all messages except for the messages from the People list that you created for the particular Focus mode. So if you have a "Personal" Focus that filters out all contacts from work, you won't see their messages in the Messages app with the Personal Focus turned on.
Safari - Safari can be set to only show a specific Tab Group when a Focus is turned on. You'll need to set up the Tab Group ahead of time in the Safari app.
Dark Mode - You can choose Dark mode or Light mode for a Focus.
Low Power Mode - You can opt to have Low Power mode activated or deactivated with a Focus.
Apple made a Focus Filter API for developers so third-party apps can allow the same specific filtering options within a Focus as Apple's own app. If you use a third-party email app, for example, you'll be able to select a mailbox to show within that app provided the developer adds the Focus Filter API.
Focus Status
Apple has made it easier to control whether apps can let people know that you have a Focus activated and are silencing notifications. With the "Focus Status" section, you can choose which Focus modes are permitted to share that you have your notifications silenced.
You can block a Focus mode from sharing that information, so people won't be informed that your notifications are off if they try to message you. This was possible to set in iOS 15, but in iOS 16, it's simpler to get to and manage.
As mentioned up above, Silence and Allow lists are available in the Focus app in iOS 16, which may be one of the most notable quality of life improvements. Rather than just selecting people or apps that are allowed to notify you, you can also select people or apps that are not allowed to notify you with a specific Focus.
If you wanted to block out a specific person or app prior to iOS 16, there was no easy way to do so because you could only allow contacts and apps. For example, if you wanted to block out just the Messages app in iOS 15 while leaving everything else accessible, you would have to "allow" every other app. That's not the case in iOS 16, as you can choose apps (or people) to silence.
TikTok is working on a plan to better safeguard the data of its U.S. users, the company said in an open letter [PDF] to several U.S. Senators that have expressed concern that the China-based app is a national security risk.
Shared by The New York Times, the letter outlines a multi-pronged undertaking called "Project Texas," aimed at strengthening data security. TikTok says that 100 percent of U.S. user data is stored in an Oracle cloud environment located in the U.S., and it is working with Oracle on more advanced data security controls that will be finalized "in the near future."
TikTok is planning to delete U.S. data from its servers and store information with Oracle exclusively. The company says all data sharing outside of the United States will be pursuant to "protocols and terms approved by the U.S. government."
The broad goal for Project Texas is to help build trust with users and key stakeholders by improving our systems and controls, but it is also to make substantive progress toward compliance with a final agreement with the U.S. Government that will fully safeguard user data and U.S. national security interests. We have not spoken publicly about these plans out of respect for the confidentiality of the engagement with the U.S. Government, but circumstances now require that we share some of that information publicly to clear up the errors and misconceptions in the article and some ongoing concerns related to other aspects of our business.
Concerns over TikTok have heightened over the last two weeks following a BuzzFeed News report that suggested TikTok engineers in China had access to the data of U.S. users between September 2021 and January 2022. "Everything is seen in China," said one TikTok employee in recordings reviewed by BuzzFeed, with the recordings also referencing a "Master Admin" engineer in China who "has access to everything."
Given the concerns over U.S. data access, the United States Federal Communications Commission earlier this week asked Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores because of a "pattern of surreptitious data practices."
TikTok in its letter confirmed that some China-based employees are indeed able to access data from U.S. TikTok users, "subject to a series of robust cybersecurity controls" overseen by a U.S.-based security team. TikTok says that it has an internal data classification system and approval process in place that assign levels of access based on the sensitivity of the data. It will work with the Biden Administration going forward to continue to limit data access.
In response to a question on why TikTok does not plan to block all U.S. user data from the view of employees in China, TikTok said that "certain China-based employees will have access to a narrow, non-sensitive set of TikTok U.S. user data" in order to ensure global interoperability. Employees will also be able to develop the TikTok video recommendation algorithm using U.S. data, though training of the algorithm will be limited to Oracle's servers.
TikTok promises that access will be "very limited" and will not include "private TikTok U.S. user information." TikTok says that it has not been asked to provide data to the Chinese government, and would not provide data if the CCP requested information.
Apple and Google have not as of yet responded to the FCC's request to remove the TikTok app from their app stores.
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.
Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs is to be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House today announced.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the United States' highest civilian honor, presented to individuals "who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors."
President Biden has long said that America can be defined by one word: possibilities. These seventeen Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation – hard work, perseverance, and faith. They have overcome significant obstacles to achieve impressive accomplishments in the arts and sciences, dedicated their lives to advocating for the most vulnerable among us, and acted with bravery to drive change in their communities – and across the world – while blazing trails for generations to come.
[...]
Steve Jobs (d. 2011) was the co-founder, chief executive, and chair of Apple, Inc., CEO of Pixar and held a leading role at the Walt Disney Company. His vision, imagination and creativity led to inventions that have, and continue to, change the way the world communicates, as well as transforming the computer, music, film and wireless industries.
The presidential honor for Jobs comes alongside sixteen other recipients, including Simone Biles, Sister Simone Campbell, Julieta García, Gabrielle Giffords, Fred Gray, Father Alexander Karloutsos, Khizr Khan, Sandra Lindsay, John McCain (posthumous), Diane Nash, Megan Rapinoe, Alan Simpson, Richard Trumka (posthumous), Wilma Vaught, Denzel Washington, and Raúl Yzaguirre. The awards will be presented at the White House on Thursday, July 7.
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.
Monday is Independence Day in the U.S., and stores and online retailers nationwide are celebrating with deals on a wide variety of products. Of particular note for Apple fans, Amazon has several good deals on Apple products, while third-party accessories are also on sale at various retailers.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Belkin is offering 15% off select chargers and earbuds with discount code 4JULY2022.
Sonos is offering 15%–40% off a variety of refurbished speakers. All refurbished Sonos products come with the same one-year warranty as brand-new units and come in "pristine" packaging with all manuals and accessories.
Brydge is currently running a sale on several models of iPad keyboards, MacBook docks, cases, cables, and more, including extra deep discounts on open-box units.
Satechi is running a summer sale with discounts on several USB-C hubs chargers, and more.
Twelve South has discounted a broad array of its Apple-focused accessories including stands, BookBook cases, AirFly, and more.
eBay is offering an extra 20% off a variety of tech, home, and other products with discount code JULYSAVINGS (max discount $250).
Hyper is taking 20% off select USB-C hubs, battery packs, and more with discount code JULY2022, while other products are up to 50% off.
Anker has a "Power Deals" promotion going on right now that offers up to 30% off of various chargers, power strips, cables, and more. Many of the deals are also available through Amazon.
Apple today increased the price of iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models in Japan by up to 25 percent.
The price hikes, first reported by Nikkei Asia, have been triggered by a fall in the value of the yen and a widening interest rate gap between Japan and the United States.
The iPhone 13 previously started at 98,800 yen (~$730) in Japan, but now costs 117,800 yen (~$870), an increase of almost 20 percent. The latest iPhone SE with 64GB of storage now costs 5,000 yen (~$37) more than before at 62,800 yen (~$464). The 128GB iPhone 13 Pro now costs 22,000 yen (~$162) more than before at 144,800 yen (~$1,069).
Apple raised the prices of Macs in Japan last month by over 10 percent alongside the launch of the M2MacBook Pro, so no Mac product lines were further increased in price today, although iPad and iPad Air models increased by 10,000 yen (~$74) each.
Apple today released a new ad for Apple Watch Series 7 highlighting the device's durability when exposed to various wearing conditions.
In the ad titled "Hard Knocks," a number of scenarios are played out involving people either intentionally or accidentally exposing their Apple Watch to various weather conditions, liquids, and physical impacts.
Some examples include someone diving into a pool from a height, someone running for a bus and getting their wrist caught in the door, and a person falling while ice skating.
"The most durable Apple Watch ever," reads the tagline of the ad, which runs for 1 minute and 38 seconds, and features music by Jack White, "Power of My Love."
According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a version of the Apple Watch "with a rugged casing" that's aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who use the watch in more extreme conditions than day to day wear. It will feature the same functionality as a standard Apple Watch, but with improved impact resistance and protection. Apple is expected to launch the rugged Apple Watch in 2022.
Citizens of European Union countries can keep avoiding mobile roaming fees when using their devices across borders within the bloc, after lawmakers extended the regulation to last until at least 2032.
Mobile customers generally haven't had to worry about roaming charges when using their phones in the EU, with most phone tariffs counting calls, texts, and data used in EU countries as equivalent to domestic use since 2017.
The regulation was due to end on July 1, so the EU has extended it for a decade. That means European consumers can keep avoiding most extra fees when traveling within another of the 27 EU Member States, but there are also some new additions to the regulation, including a requirement that citizens have access to the same services abroad in the EU as at home when the same networks and technologies are available.
As TechCrunch notes, while this quality of service provision covers 5G, it doesn't guarantee the same mobile network speed when roaming (network speeds can vary), but the Commission says the new rules "aim to ensure that when similar quality or speeds are available in the visited network, the domestic operator should ensure the same quality of the roaming service."
In addition, the updated regulation aims to increase transparency by requiring network providers to better inform customers about the types of services that can still incur additional costs when roaming, such as calling customer service numbers, help desks, and insurance companies. Customers should receive an SMS text regarding any additional roaming charges.
In case it isn't already clear by now, this regulation won't apply to mobile customers based in the United Kingdom, as a result of the country's exit from the European Union. With the exception of Virgin Media O2, most networks in the U.K. have since reintroduced roaming charges when traveling in the EU, and most charges are around £2 per day.
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.
Former Apple vice president of corporate law Gene Levoff has pleaded guilty to six counts of securities fraud for insider trading, according to a Department of Justice (DOJ) press release (via The Verge).
The former Apple lawyer "misappropriated material, nonpublic information about Apple's financial results and then executed trades involving the company's stock" from February 2011 to April 2016, says the release.
Levoff also served on Apple's Disclosure Committee from September 2008 to July 2018. In this position, he was supposed to be responsible for ensuring that other Apple employees were compliant with Apple's insider trading policies, including enforcement of "blackout periods" around the time of Apple's earnings reports.
Instead, he allegedly secured profits for himself worth approximately $227,000 and avoided losses of around $377,000. Apple terminated his employment in September 2018. The SEC previously filed a civil complaint against Levoff based on the same conduct.
The six securities fraud counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Levoff's sentencing is scheduled for November 10.
After briefly taking down the Apple Store, Apple today began offering U.S. customers a $50 gift card with every Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD purchase made through its online store.
The promotion runs for the next two weeks from July 1 to July 14, and the gift card can only be used for a future Apple purchase. In other words, customers can't use it to knock $50 off the Apple TV they are buying. The Apple TV must be bought through Apple's online store, and the promotion is only open to individual customers.
Apple doesn't regularly offer promotions of this kind, but the company may be clearing inventory to make way for a new Apple TV model. Apple is working on a refreshed version of the Apple TV with an updated A14 chip and 4GB RAM, with the device set to be launched as soon as 2022, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that Apple is working on a 2022 refresh of the Apple TV. Kuo believes that the new Apple TV will have an improved cost structure, which suggests a lower price point that is more competitive with other streaming media players.
Apple today began selling refurbished Mac Studio models for the first time in the United States, Canada, and select European countries, such as Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
In the United States, two refurbished Mac Studio configurations are currently available, including one with the M1 Max chip (10-core CPU and 24-core GPU) for $1,799 (down from $1,999 brand new) and one with the M1 Ultra chip (20-core CPU and 48-core GPU) for $3,599 (down from $3,999 brand new). Inventory on Apple's refurbished store fluctuates often, with additional configurations likely to be added over time.
Apple says every certified refurbished Mac undergoes full functionality testing, is put through a thorough cleaning process and inspection, and is repackaged in a new box with manuals and a power cord. Apple's refurbished products are covered by Apple's one-year limited warranty and 14-day return policy, and are eligible for AppleCare+ coverage. AppleCare+ for the Mac Studio is priced at $169 or $59.99 per year on a rolling basis.
Released in March 2022, the Mac Studio resembles a taller Mac mini, with holes on the back and bottom of the enclosure for airflow. Available with up to a 20-core CPU and up to a 64-core GPU, the Mac Studio is the fastest Mac ever based on benchmarks.
On the back of the Mac Studio, connectivity options include four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, one 10-Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack with support for high-impedance headphones. On the front, there is an SD card slot, along with two USB-C ports or two Thunderbolt 4 ports depending on the configuration.
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