Apple today announced that LEGO Star Wars Battles from TT Games and Warner Bros. Games is coming soon to Apple Arcade for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. A specific release date has not yet been shared, but users can sign up to be notified when the game is available by tapping on the "get" button on the game's Apple Arcade listing.
Developed by TT Games Brighton and published by Warner Bros. Games, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, the tower defense game will task players with leading their favorite LEGO Star Wars characters into fast-paced, competitive battles. Players will mix and match characters and vehicles from all eras of the Star Wars galaxy and build LEGO towers on the battlefield as they attempt to destroy their opponent's base.
Players can collect iconic characters such as Luke Skywalker, Rey, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader, and a variety of vehicles and starships, including the Millennium Falcon. As players progress and level up, they will unlock different arenas based on familiar Star Wars locales, including Scarif, Naboo, Hoth, Endor, Geonosis, and more.
"Our team has been working to bring mobile players a new and wholly original LEGO Star Wars experience, exclusively on Apple Arcade," said Jason Avent, Studio Head at TT Games Brighton. "LEGO Star Wars Battles blends real-time multiplayer matches, striking visuals and the charm of LEGO Star Wars in fun, fast-paced gameplay."
Priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, Apple Arcade provides access to a catalog of over 200 games without ads or in-app purchases across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, with additional titles added periodically.
Hyper today announced the launch of a set of HyperDrive USB-C hubs that are designed for Apple's 24-inch M1 iMacs, and the hubs are unique because they come with faceplates available in each iMac color.
The HyperDrive 5-in-1 Hub features two 5Gb/s USB-C data ports, two 5Gb/s USB-A data ports, and one 5Gb/s USB-A port that also offers 7.5W charging for small devices. It's priced at $50.
The HyperDrive 6-in-1 Hub has a more varied assortment of ports for those who need connectivity beyond USB. There's a 4K 60Hz HDMI port, a microSD card slot, an SD card slot, a USB-C 10Gb/s data port, a USB-A 10Gb/s data port, and a USB-A 10Gb/s data port that also offers 7.5W charging. The 6-in-1 USB-C hub is priced at $80.
Each hub is about 5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide, and they are designed to clamp to the front of the iMac by using one of the rear USB-C ports. The hubs are sold with seven color matching faceplates so you can choose the one that works with your iMac.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Hyper. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple will be donating to Hurricane Ida relief and recovery efforts on the ground after the devastating category four storm made landfall in Louisiana over the weekend, according to a tweet from Apple CEO Tim Cook.
"Our thoughts are with everyone in Hurricane Ida's path, especially those sheltering in Louisiana, and we're grateful for the first responders who are helping keep communities safe," said Cook. He did not provide any further details about the donation plans, including how much money the company will be donating or to who and where the funds will be distributed.
Our thoughts are with everyone in Hurricane Ida’s path, especially those sheltering in Louisiana, and we’re grateful for the first responders who are helping keep communities safe. Apple will be donating to relief and recovery efforts on the ground.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) August 30, 2021
Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on Sunday with 150 mph wind speeds, becoming the second most intense hurricane to strike the U.S. state, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm has caused extensive damage in parts of Louisiana and resulted in nearly one million people being without power in New Orleans and elsewhere.
Apple routinely donates to relief efforts following natural disasters around the world, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.
Tapbots today released version 6.3 of Tweetbot for the iPhone and iPad, with the key new feature being a "Behaviors" menu in the app's settings that contains several toggle switches for fine tuning your Tweetbot experience.
For example, while tapping the status bar in the Tweetbot app will bring you to the top of your timeline by default, users who dislike this feature can now turn it off in the "Behaviors" menu by toggling off "Tap to Top."
Here's everything in the "Behaviors" menu to start:
- Enable/Disable Tap to Top. By default, tapping the status bar will bring you to the top of your timeline. If this happens by accident and bugs you, you can now turn this feature off. - Enable/Disable Drag & Drop Tweets. If you always accidentally invoke the drag and drop feature and wish there was a way to turn that off, now you can! - Enable/Disable Swipe to Switch Themes. Swiping up or down with two fingers normally switches to the next or previous theme. If this happens by accident far too often you can now turn this feature off. - Enable the ability to Customize All Tabs. For years many of you have asked for the ability to customize all the tab buttons in Tweetbot. Well, finally you can now turn this option on and set your tab menubar exactly how you wish. - Before, the short right swipe on a tweet gesture was configurable between liking or retweeting. Now you can also customize this gesture to open link to tweet, copy link to tweet, copy tweet text, add to reading list, or be disabled completely.
The latest version of Tweetbot also features additional iPad keyboard shortcuts, a new custom app icon, a new "Harvest" light theme, and more.
South Korea has delayed voting on a bill that would ban Apple and Google from requiring developers to use their in-app purchasing systems, a move that would open the door to allowing third-party payment methods, representing a possible significant threat to Apple and Google's app marketplace business models.
The bill, coming in the form of an amendment to the existing Telecommunications Business Act, was widely reported to have been voted on today. However, the National Assembly's schedule and agenda lacked mention of the amendment, instead focusing on other bills on the press, economy, and more. A date for the assembly to vote on the bill has not yet been set.
The bill, if it passes, will aim to stop Apple and Google from unfairly exploiting their position to "force a provider of mobile content, etc., to use a specific payment method," according to a readout of the bill.
It would also be the first time any government takes substantive legislative steps to regulate and control Apple and Google's app distribution platforms. Both platforms have been under increased scrutiny in recent years, with lawmakers, developers, and others calling out the need for regulation and a crackdown on behavior possibly deemed as "anti-competitive."
Apple's in-app purchasing system has been at the center of scrutiny ever since game developer Epic Games, in August of last year, avoided Apple's App Store policy by implementing a direct payment method in its hit game Fortnite. Apple's current App Store policy bans developers from allowing users to use payment methods other than the platform's, which gives Apple a 15% to 30% commission on all digital purchases made.
Apple has defended its system in the wake of the controversy, saying that it protects users from fraud and potential scams and offers developers an easy way to charge users for services and products without a need for significant overhead.
The bill has gained increasing support in the past few weeks, including from the Coalition for App Fairness. The coalition consists of Epic Games, Spotify, developers, and vocal anti-Apple critics taking issue with how Apple operates its App Store and the nature of its products. Earlier this month, the head of the coalition met with lead South Korean officials to lend their support for the bill.
It remains unclear how Apple and Google will respond or adjust their app marketplaces in South Korea once the bill does pass. Apple utilizes a single App Store policy for all the countries in which the App Store operates. Unless the company offers developers in South Korea a different set of rules, which could be a slippery slope for international developers, the company may be forced to alter its ways globally.
In brief remarks to reporters on Thursday, Han Sang-hyuk, the chairman of South Korea's Communications Commission, said his committee and colleagues are "fully aware of the concerns of Apple and Google" and that South Korea will work with both companies to implement the bill.
Apple charges all developers a $99 annual fee to be registered developers on its platforms. The company's commission charge for in-app purchases is one of just a few ways it collects revenue from the App Store. For the third quarter of this year, Apple recorded an all-time revenue record for its services business, including the App Store of $17.5 billion.
Last week, Apple settled with developers to changes to the App Store, including a change in App Store policy that will allow developers to email users about payment methods available outside of the platform. The updated policy allows users to opt into communication from developers informing them of payment methods outside the platform, bypassing the need for developers to give Apple a 30% commission.
Critics of the App Store have called the new policy a minimal change in the overall scheme of the App Store. Spotify's chief legal officer, Horacio Gutierrez, said that Apple's new policy fails to "address the most basic aspects of their anticompetitive and unfair App Store practices." Gutierrez goes on to say that Apple is "attempting to distract policymakers and regulators and slow down the momentum that’s building around the world to address their behavior."
The government of Australia is considering creating new laws that could more heavily regulate digital payments systems such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and WeChat Pay (via Reuters).
An Australian government-commissioned report into digital payments systems has made a number of recommendations, one of which suggested actively regulating Apple Pay and other similar digital payments services. Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that the recommendations would be carefully considered:
Ultimately, if we do nothing to reform the current framework, it will be Silicon Valley alone that determines the future of our payments system, a critical piece of our economic infrastructure.
Under current Australian law, the likes of Apple Pay are not classified as payment systems, putting them outside payment regulations. Classifying Apple Pay as a payment system would clarify the regulatory status of digital wallets in Australia and allow the government to explicitly designate big tech companies as payment providers.
Other recommendations, contingent on classifying Apple Pay as a payment system, look to establish a strategy for the country's wider payments ecosystem with a single, integrated licensing framework.
Australian banks such as the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia have previously raised concerns around the growth of digital wallets with "competition issues" and purported safety implications. Earlier this year, an Australian Parliamentary Committee considered forcing Apple to open up the iPhone's NFC chip to support third-party payment systems in an effort to promote competition.
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 has today shared a trailer for "The Problem with Jon Stewart" and announced a companion podcast for the show, ahead of its premiere on Thursday, September 30.
Stewart himself stars in and executive produces the current affairs show, in what will be the former "Daily Show" host's first series since he left Comedy Central in 2015. Apple describes the series as follows:
"The Problem With Jon Stewart" is a multiple-season, single-issue series, taking a deep dive on the issues affecting us most. In this new Apple Original series, Stewart will be in conversation with the people who are impacted by the issue — as well as those who have a hand in creating the impact. Together, they will discuss a more productive path towards action.
The Problem With Jon Stewart has been anticipated for almost a year, with Stewart having signed a multi-year partnership with Apple TV+. In July, Apple shared a short teaser for the show on Twitter that poked fun at the billionaire space race.
The show is also set to be accompanied by a podcast series that will be available via Apple Podcasts and RSS, the company has today announced.
The companion series podcast will extend the conversation from each episode, featuring staff members from across the show who will bring us interviews with activists in the space, the facts on the issue, and yes, lots of jokes.
A new episode of The Problem with Jon Stewart will follow on Apple TV+ every other week from September 30. The first episode of the companion podcast will also debut on September 30, with new episodes every week where available.
Apple TV+ has another high-profile movie project in the works, reports Deadline. Titled "Ghosted," the upcoming romantic action adventure will star Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson.
The movie will be directed by Dexter Fletcher (director of "Rocketman") and produced by Skydance studios, with a script by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese, the writers of the Deadpool films and "Zombieland," and most recently "Escape from Spiderhead."
Apple has been working to secure the rights to multiple high-profile films to attract customers to Apple TV+. The company has also inked deals for "Killers of the Flower Moon" with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, "Emancipation" with Will Smith, "Bride" with Scarlet Johansson, "Snow Blind" with Jake Gyllenhaal, "Sharper" with Julianne Moore, and "Kitbag" with Joaquin Phoenix.
Clubhouse, the online audio app that this year became a social sensation, is rolling out spatial audio support for iOS users.
Hear ye, hear ye 🔊 spAAaAaAatial audio on Clubhouse!
It's like surround sound, but w/ your own headphones. A more vibrant, human experience! Plus makes it much easier to tell who's talking.
thanks to @juberti for this one 👏 rolling out now on iOS, Android coming soon! pic.twitter.com/Zit6F9ijRK
— Clubhouse (@Clubhouse) August 29, 2021
The company announced the feature on Sunday in a tweet, in which it offered a brief demo and explained that spatial audio is "like surround sound, but with your own headphones."
In the example, individual speakers on a Clubhouse call can be heard as if their voices are in separate locations within a three-dimensional space around the listener, making it seem like everyone is situated in different places in the same a room. Clubhouse explained that users won't hear spatial audio when they're on stage, only when they're in the audience. Also, Android support is coming soon.
To be clear, this isn't Apple's version of spatial audio, which includes head tracking to make it sound like the sound is coming from your iPhone or iPad, but it shows just how much spatial audio has caught on since Apple began touting the concept.
Powered by AirPods Pro or Max and based on Dolby Atmos, Apple's implementation uses the gyroscope and accelerometer in the headphones and the iOS device to track the motion of your head and your device's position, then compares the motion data, and remaps the sound field so that it stays anchored to your device even as your head moves.
With iOS 15 set to launch next month, Apple plans to add spatial audio to FaceTime calls. Like the Clubhouse version, adding spatial audio will make it feel like you're sitting in the same room as the person you're speaking to, and in group calls, friends will sound spread out in the room.
Apple TV+ hit "Ted Lasso" was the most-awarded series at the inaugural Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards today, picking up four major awards including Best Streaming Series, Comedy.
The full slate of awards for "Ted Lasso" included:
Best Streaming Series, Comedy
Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy — Jason Sudeikis (Ted Lasso)
Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy — Brett Goldstein (Roy Kent)
Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy — Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Welton)
Apple TV+ scored another win in the Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Drama category, with Rupert Grint capturing the award for playing Julian Pearce in M. Night Shyamalan's "Servant."
While Apple TV+ still offers a relatively limited amount of content compared to other major streaming services, its shows have been faring well with critics and award judges. "Ted Lasso" has of course been the breakout hit and has been nominated for a total of 20 Emmy Awards this year.
The iPhone 13 will feature low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication connectivity to allow users to make calls and send messages in areas without 4G or 5G coverage, according to the reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo explained that the iPhone 13 lineup will feature hardware that is able to connect to LEO satellites. If enabled with the relevant software features, this could allow iPhone 13 users to make calls and send messages without the need for a 4G or 5G cellular connection.
The iPhone 13 reportedly features a customized Qualcomm X60 baseband chip that supports satellite communications. Other smartphone brands are apparently currently waiting until 2022 to adopt the X65 baseband chip necessary to implement satellite communications functions.
SpaceX's Starlink is a purveyor of LEO internet connectivity that some readers may already be familiar with, but the LEO satellite communication service provider that is "most likely to cooperate with Apple in terms of technology and service coverage" is said to be Globalstar. Qualcomm has purportedly been working with Globalstar to support the n53 band in future X65 baseband chips.
Kuo explained that the "simplest scenario" for providing LEO connectivity to users is if individual network operators work with Globalstar. This means that customers of a partner network operator could use Globalstar's satellite communication service on the iPhone 13 directly through their network operator with no additional contracts or payments required.
Kuo added that LEO satellite communications is a technology comparable to mmWave 5G in terms of its impact on the network industry and that Apple may leverage both technologies. Kuo says that Apple is "optimistic" about the trend of satellite communications and set up a specific team for research and development of technologies related to it "some time" ago.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported on the existence of this team in 2019, explaining that Apple was looking into new ways to beam data like internet connectivity directly to iPhones and other devices. Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly made the project a company priority, with the main aim to beam data directly to a user's iPhone without reliance on wireless carriers and network coverage.
In 2017, Apple hired two Google executives with satellite expertise, who are believed to have been leading the team dedicated to satellites and related wireless technologies.
The company is believed to have plans to bring LEO satellite communications to more devices in the future to "provide innovative experiences." These may include Apple's mixed reality head-mounted display device, electric vehicle, and other IoT accessories, according to Kuo.
Along with an increase in size for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 7, which is rumored to feature larger 41mm and 45mm sizes, Apple plans to include new watch faces that take advantage of the larger displays.
In the latest publication of his "Power On" newsletter, Bloomberg'sMark Gurman has put his weight behind recent rumors suggesting that thanks to smaller bezels and a flat-edged design, the upcoming Apple Watch will feature larger case sizes.
Compared to the current 40mm and 44mm sizes, the Series 7 will be offered in 41mm and 45mm variants. Gurman says that Apple plans to make the larger screen real-estate worthwhile by bundling it with new Apple Watch faces that utilize the larger displays.
This year's watches will come in 41-millimeter and 45-millimeter sizes, up from 40 and 44 millimeters. I'm told that Apple will bundle multiple new watch faces to take advantage of the bigger screen, including an updated Infograph Modular face. This will be the second time in the Apple Watch's history that the company has increased the display size, following the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2017.
The new Apple Watch faces will be exclusive to the Series 7 and will likely not be made available through a software update for older models.
Besides cosmetic changes, the Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to include improved performance and battery life. The Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to be unveiled at an all-digital Apple Event in September alongside the iPhone 13. Learn more about what we're expecting this fall using our guide.
Apple has made season one of mystery drama "Home Before Dark" available to watch for free on Apple TV+ for a limited time, no subscription required.
The official announcement, delivered on Saturday in a tweet, comes three weeks after the conclusion of the second season.
"Home Before Dark" is a drama series about Hilde Lisko, a child journalist who published a newspaper called the Orange Street News in her hometown of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
The series follows the young girl as she moves from Brooklyn to the small lakeside town her father is from, where she unearths a cold case that everyone else in the town had attempted to bury.
A mystery inspired by the reporting of a real nine-year-old journalist. When a young girl and her family move back to the small town her father left behind, her pursuit of the truth leads to the unearthing of a long-buried cold case.
In real life, Hilde Lysiak was the first to report on a murder in her town of Selinsgrove, which gave her paper, Orange Street News, national and international media attention. Season 2 premiered on June 11.
Apple TV+ is available for a $4.99 per month subscription for the whole family, though Apple offers a free year of service with the purchase of an iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod touch, or Apple TV.
One of the most highly anticipated features coming to macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15 is Universal Control. Universal Control enables users to use a single Mac's input devices across multiple iPads or Macs.
While the feature was previewed at WWDC in June, it's yet to make an official appearance in any developer beta of macOS Monterey or iPadOS 15, leading to speculation that the feature may be delayed to a future update to the operating systems. However, in the latest macOS Monterey beta released on August 11, Universal Control can be enabled and used between two Macs.
To enable it, users will need to follow the steps outlined in this GitHub post, which requires running a series of Terminal lines, altering system settings, and running commands to enable "Ensemble," Apple's internal codename for Universal Control.
Universal Control is not yet officially enabled in the latest macOS beta, and the steps needed to enable it are complex. We don't advise users to attempt to enable it because it may damage crucial system files and their machines.
From MacRumors' testing of Universal Control, while it's not officially supported, the feature works as demoed at WWDC, with minimal lag and latency when switching between devices. Although, there are still some technical issues. For example, Universal Control in its final form will allow a user's Mac to seamlessly detect another Mac or iPad placed next to it, allowing users to move their mouse and keyboard between devices automatically.
In the latest beta, users must first select their accompanying Mac within System Preferences -> Displays -> Add Display, and select their device under "Link Mouse and Keyboard." Additionally, Universal Control will allow users to drag and drop files, photos, videos, and more between devices, which is not yet present in the latest beta. From our testing, despite Universal Control working between two Macs, iPadOS does not yet support the feature, even in the newest beta.
macOS Monterey beta five was released on August 11, while iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and watchOS 8 are already on their seventh round of developer betas. Apple has indicated that several iOS 15, macOS Monterey, and iPadOS 15 features, such as SharePlay, won't be available at launch. Apple has previously previewed features at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June, only to delay them until a subsequent update later on in the year.
On macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15's preview page, Apple has not yet indicated that Universal Control will be delayed, suggesting it intends to release it with the initial versions of its operating system this fall.
We're just weeks away from when Apple will announce the iPhone 13, which we're expecting to feature some considerable upgrades, including design, performance, cameras, and more. Like every year, rumors, leaks, and reports about what Apple has in store are abundant, with some more credible than others.
Rumors about the next iPhone typically begin emerging early in the year, meaning they may get forgotten as the months go by and the new iPhone launch approaches. To help readers of MacRumors, we've compiled this top five list consisting of some rumors about the iPhone 13 that you may have missed from the rumor news cycle.
Apple's plans for product improvements are subject to change over the course of the development process, so some of the older rumors may not be accurate under Apple's current plans. Additionally, the rumors below come from leaker Max Weinbach, who has a mixed track record when it comes to his previous claims of Apple’s plans.
Matte Black and Bronze Color Options
Apple is planning a new matte black color option for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, according to a rumor that surfaced in March of this year. The rumor suggests that the current graphite option will be tweaked to include a darker, blacker tone, giving it a matte black finish.
According to that same rumor, Apple could also be planning a bronze color option, which could come in a tweaked version of the current gold option rather than an additional color option for customers. The rumor comes from leaker Max Weinbach, who accurately reported in January of last year, that the high-end 2020 iPhone lineup would feature an all-new navy blue color option.
Apple has offered new color options with its yearly iPhone updates in the past. On top of that, given we aren't expecting any significant design changes this year, offering new or tweaked color options could be Apple's way to help people differentiate the newer handsets from older models.
Anti-Fingerprint Coating for Stainless Steel Edges
One of the hallmark features of the iPhone 12 was the return of the flat-edged iPhone design, last seen on a flagship iPhone with the iPhone 5S in 2013. On the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, the edges are stainless steel, and as customers quickly learned as they received their new iPhones last year, it can be very prone to get fingerprints and smudges quickly.
Seemingly aware of the annoyance, Apple is planning a new anti-fingerprint coating for the stainless steel edges on the upcoming iPhones, according to a rumor from earlier in the year. While no specific details were given, the new coating could come as part of an updated manufacturing process, helping to reduce the visibility of fingerprints and smudges in day-to-day use.
Apple engineers and designers working on new iPhones are users of the products themselves, so it's likely that the issue of fingerprints and smudges has come up within Apple. Given that, it wouldn't be entirely surprising to see Apple take some steps to help increase the durability of the stainless steel edges, but what awaits to be seen is how effective the rumored coating is against fingerprints and smudges.
Built-In Beamforming Microphones
According to Weinbach, Apple plans to bring its beamforming microphone technology, currently in the AirPods lineup, to the iPhone 13. The technology will improve the quality of the microphones on the iPhone, resulting in better calls and recordings.
It is certainly possible that Apple could bring its beamforming technology to the iPhone, possibly marketing it towards improving video recordings and audio. Apple has heavily pushed the iPhone, especially higher-end models, as an all-in-one tool for professional videographers.
Stronger MagSafe Magnets
With the iPhone 12 last year, Apple introduced MagSafe for the iPhone. MagSafe on the iPhone opens a wide range of possibilities for easily attaching accessories to the back of the device. Apple has released an assortment of cases, a battery pack, and more for the MagSafe ecosystem. In some cases, however, customers have found the MagSafe magnets to be weak. With the iPhone 13, Apple is rumored to be reinforcing its MagSafe magnets to make them stronger.
Apple is expected to remove the Lightning port from the iPhone in a few years, and MagSafe seems to be Apple's solution for a portless future. With Apple's long-term intent for customers to increasingly rely on MagSafe, it will need to ensure the magnets and technology are strong and up to standard.
Apple has pushed aggressively in the past few years to improve the image quality and capabilities of the iPhone. Last year, the company focused on low-light photography, thanks to LiDAR, improved lenses, and advanced image signal processing. This year, we've heard a significant amount of information about the camera improvements Apple has planned for the iPhone 13, including ProRes and portrait mode for videos.
Additionally, Apple could focus on astrophotography, or photography of astronomy, for the upcoming iPhones. A rumor from February suggested that the iPhone 13 will automatically detect when a user is pointing to the sky and accordingly adjust exposure and other camera settings.
With Apple's push to continuously improve photography on the iPhone, this rumor seems plausible, especially when considered that an updated suite of camera features could be the iPhone 13's biggest selling point.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the rumors we've heard about over the past few months in the lead-up to the iPhone 13's launch next month. More recent and reliable reporting has suggested the new iPhones will have a smaller notch, 120Hz variable refresh rate displays, and more. Check out our comprehensive iPhone 13 roundup for everything we know about the upcoming iPhones.
August is rapidly drawing to close, which means Apple's annual iPhone launch event is right around the corner. iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 rumors are continuing to circulate, and we're also hearing about Mac updates likely coming a bit later.
Apple is also finishing up work on its upcoming software updates like iOS 15, with some late-addition features starting to go live in beta while others have been pushed back a bit. Finally, this week saw a $100 million class action lawsuit settlement that will see Apple provide payments to small developers while the company makes a few other minor changes and commitments with its App Store policies, so read on for all the details on these stories and more!
iPhone 13 Said to Go on Sale September 17
We're likely just a few weeks away from Apple unveiling its iPhone 13 lineup, and this week saw several last-minute rumors about what we can expect from the next-generation devices.
Next-Generation 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Said to Have Equal Performance
Apple is widely rumored to be planning new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models powered by a faster version of the M1 chip, and rumor has it that both sizes of the notebook will have equal performance, suggesting that they will use the same chip.
Other features expected include the return of an HDMI port and SD card reader, flatter edges, physical Fn keys instead of the Touch Bar, a magnetic power cable, and more.
Redesigned 'M1X' Mac Mini With Additional Ports Expected to Launch in the 'Next Several Months'
While the Mac mini was already updated with the M1 chip in November 2020, rumor has it that a higher-end version of the desktop computer is in the works, as the transition to Apple silicon continues.
Under the terms of the deal, Apple will let developers use communication methods like email to tell customers about payment methods available outside of iOS apps, and it will expand the price points that developers can offer for apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. Apple also plans to create a $100 million "fund" for small developers as part of the settlement, and it will release annual transparency reports on the app review process.
iCloud+'s New Custom Email Domain Feature Now Available in Beta
Starting with iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, users with a paid iCloud+ storage plan can personalize their iCloud email address with a custom domain name, such as johnny@appleseed.com, and the feature is now available to users in beta.
The report claimed that in January 2020, a group of seven robbers hid a cellular Apple Watch under the bumper of a car they believed belonged to a wealthy drug-runner to track the vehicle's location and steal the cash.
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 today announced the launch of a new service program that addresses an issue that can cause some iPhone 12 and 12 Pro devices to experience sound issues.
According to Apple, a "very small percentage" of iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models may experience sound problems because of a component that can fail on the receiver module. Affected devices were manufactured between October 2020 and April 2021.
iPhone 12 and 12 Pro owners who have a device that does not emit sound from the receiver when making or receiving phone calls may be eligible for free service. iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max models are not affected and are not part of the service program.
Those who have an iPhone experiencing issues can make an appointment at an Apple retail location, or find an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple Support can also be contacted to arrange a mail-in repair.
iPhone 12 or 12 Pro models that have damage that impairs the ability to complete the repair, like a cracked screen, will need to have that issue fixed prior to receiving service. Apple says the repair program covers affected iPhone 12 or 12 Pro devices for two years after the first retail sale of the device.
Apple made some notable improvements to the Health app in iOS 15, primarily focused on helping iPhone users care for elderly parents and others who might need additional medical oversight and help.
There are extensive sharing features that let users keep an eye on the health data of a loved one, plus bonus features like walking steadiness metrics and improvements to how lab results are presented. This guide highlights all of the new additions in the iOS 15 Health app.
Walking Steadiness
Walking Steadiness is a new health metric that uses data culled from the iPhone to provide insight into a person's risk of falling down.
It uses algorithms that assess balance, strength, and gait, using metrics like walking speed, step length, and walking asymmetry data.
iPhone users are able to opt in to receive a notification when walking steadiness risk is high. The feature also offers up curated exercises to improve walking steadiness.
Lab Result Improvements
Lab results imported into the Health app from a healthcare provider now include much more information on what the lab tests for, the result received, what the result received means, and how the result compares to prior tests.
It provides a clear visual on whether a lab result is normal or out of range so you can see at a glance if something is off. Lab highlights are shown in the health summary, and important labs can be pinned for quick access.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Test Results
iOS 15 supports digital storage of COVID-19 vaccination records. Healthcare providers or states can offer a QR code that iPhone users can scan to upload their vaccination records to the Health app.
COVID-19 test results are also supported.
Blood Glucose Highlights
Users who monitor their blood glucose levels can receive highlights that display blood glucose during sleep and during exercise. Apple has added interactive charts to make it easier for users to view and analyze their blood glucose data.
Health Trends
In the Health app, the Trend feature analyzes shared data and provides details at a glance on how health metrics are progressing, such as heart rate and activity level. In iOS 15, users can opt to receive notifications when a new trend is detected in health data.
Sharing Features
The iOS 15 Health app adds multiple sharing options for sharing your health data with your family members.
Share Health Data
Health data can be shared with others starting in iOS 15, so family members can exchange health info or a child can better care for an elderly parent. iPhone users can choose specific health data to share, including heart health, activity, labs, vitals, medical ID, cycle tracking, research studies, and more.
When data is shared, only a summary of each topic trend is shared rather than each data point. So, for example, the person who is seeing shared data with will see an overall heart rate summary if heart rate information is shared, but not all heart rate data.
Data that's shared shows up in the Health app of the other person so it's quick and easy to access. Whenever updated health information is available, the person who is seeing shared data will receive a notification to view it.
Health trend information is also shared when health data is shared, and there's a built-in Messages feature for discussing health changes and metrics.
Share Notifications
Apple will send notifications when shared health info is updated, but notifications are also sent for high heart rate and irregular heart rhythms, so if an elderly parent has an emergency, their caretaker can be notified. Apple warns that notifications are not immediate, and could take time to appear.
Notifications can also be sent for significant changes in shared data categories, such as a large decline in activity or sleep, which is useful for lending extra assistance to those who need it.
Share Health Data with Doctors
Doctor's offices and hospitals that participate in Apple's Health Records feature can sign up to be able to access patient data. From there, patients can choose to share their data with their doctors, and data is viewable in a dashboard in the health provider's health records system.
This is opt-in and participating medical facilities need to use both Health Records and the data sharing features.
Guide Feedback
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