MacRumors

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 will come in larger 41mm and 45mm case sizes, replacing the current 40mm and 44m options offered since the Apple Watch Series 4, according to a leaker on popular Chinese platform Weibo.

The account sharing the information goes by UnclePan, who has shared information regarding Apple's plans in the past. According to a post from the leaker this week, the upcoming Series 7 will be offered in 41mm and 45mm case sizes.

Up until the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple had offered 38mm and 42mm case sizes. With the Series 4 in 2018, which included a larger display, the case sizes got larger with 40mm and 44mm options, replacing the older sizes. A hallmark feature of the Apple Watch that has carried through each generation has been compatibility with older Apple watch bands.

Since the Series 4, all Apple Watch bands have been compatible across each generation for the same case size. According to the leaker, this will still be the case with the Apple Watch Series 7, allowing bands designed for 40mm and 44mm Apple Watches to work with the newer 41mm and 45mm sizes.

The increase in case sizing is not entirely surprising, as the upcoming Apple Watch is expected to feature smaller bezels and a flat-edged design, allowing for a greater surface area of the display.

According to Apple leaker Jon Prosser, beyond an updated flat-edged design with a larger display, the Apple Watch Series 7 will be offered in a new green case color. Prosser, earlier in May, shared renders of what the upcoming Apple Watch could look like.

The Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 13 at a digital Apple Event next month. In the coming months, other new products we're expecting include new iPads, updated AirPods, a high-end Mac mini, and redesigned MacBook Pros.

In late April, Spotify began testing a Podcast Subscriptions program as a way for creators to offer paid subscriber-only content to listeners, and today the streaming music service announced this monetization option is now available to all U.S. creators. Spotify said creators can mark episodes as subscriber-only and publish them to Spotify and other platforms through its podcast creation platform Anchor.

Spotify also announced that it plans to expand the Podcast Subscriptions program internationally starting September 15 of this year.

Spotify said its model is built to maximize revenue for creators, who will receive 100% of subscription revenue minus payment processing fees until 2023, when the company plans to implement a 5% fee on subscription revenue.

Two changes are being made to the program to benefit creators: additional pricing tiers for subscription fees and the option to download a list of email addresses for subscribers so creators can further engage with their audiences.

Apple rolled out its own Podcasts Subscriptions feature worldwide in June, with the company receiving 30% of a subscriber's revenue in the first year and 15% if they remain subscribed for longer than one year. Creators are also required to enroll in the Apple Podcasters Program for $19.99 per year in order to offer subscriptions.

Benefits of Apple Podcasts Subscriptions for creators include the ability to offer subscriptions for individual shows or for groups of shows through a "channels" feature, the choice to offer fully paid subscriptions or freemium subscriptions with a mix of free and paid episodes, and availability in over 170 countries and regions today. Apple Podcasts Subscriptions also has options for soliciting subscriber email addresses.

On this day ten years ago, Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of the company he built and officially named Tim Cook as Apple's new head. Two months later, Steve Jobs passed away and the future of Apple lay solely on the shoulders of Tim Cook.

‌Tim Cook‌ took over Apple at a turbulent time when Jobs was battling pancreatic cancer and the company's future seemed uncertain. Questions were widespread after ‌Tim Cook‌ took over, including whether Cook would continue in the footsteps of Jobs or create a new vision for the future of Apple.

A day after he became CEO, Cook sent a letter to Apple employees, promising that despite Jobs no longer being at the helm, Apple "is not going to change."

The first device that launched with ‌Tim Cook‌ as CEO was the iPhone 4S in 2011, which was announced one day before Jobs' death. Jobs had overseen the development of the device, but it was the first ‌iPhone‌ that had launched under ‌Tim Cook‌.

The first ‌iPhone‌ to have been fully developed under ‌Tim Cook‌ was the ‌iPhone‌ 5 in 2012. The ‌iPhone‌ 5 represented a major turning point in the ‌iPhone‌'s history, as it was the first time since the ‌iPhone‌ 4 in 2010 that the device got a significant redesign. The ‌iPhone‌ 5 featured an all-new thin design and was the first ‌iPhone‌ with a larger display.

Two years later, the Apple Watch was announced as Cook's first "One more thing" product announcement, a phrase that Jobs had pioneered and used only to signify major revolutionary products. The Apple Watch was not only the first completely new product from Apple in the post-Jobs era; it was also the first new product for Apple under Cook.

Cook's second "One more thing" reveal would arrive in 2017, the year that marked the tenth anniversary of the first ‌iPhone‌. For this special occasion, Apple announced the ‌iPhone‌ X, featuring the biggest redesign to the ‌iPhone‌ in its history.

In the years that followed, Apple under Cook would release new products and services, and would go on to become the world's first trillion-dollar company. Looking forward, Cook has said he doesn't expect to remain Apple's CEO for the next ten years, but his influence on the company is surely not done just yet.

The upcoming 14-inch MacBook Pro is set to be more expensive than the current 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ and both the 14 and 16-inch models will offer the same performance, according to the leaker known as "Dylandkt."

The leaker shared the information on Twitter, explaining that both of the upcoming ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, expected to come in 14 and 16-inch sizes, will feature the same performance due to having the same "M1X" chip.

Currently, the 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ offers a significant performance improvement over the high-end 13-inch models due to its more powerful Intel chips and better thermals, so bringing the two model sizes to parity could be a major boost for owners of the smaller, more portable model.

In addition, the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ will apparently be more expensive than the current 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌. Dylandkt clarified to MacRumors that this relates to the entry-level 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ model with the M1 chip, which starts at $1,299.

‌Dylandkt‌ also told MacRumors that the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ will be priced around the current high-end 13-inch model, which it is expected to replace in the lineup, but will be priced much more closely to the 16-inch model due to their similar feature sets and performance.

The current high-end 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, which still features Intel chips, starts at $1,799. A base configuration with 1TB of storage is also available for $1,999. The current 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, which is not expected to see a price rise, starts from $2,399. This means that the 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ could be priced in the region of $2,000.

‌Dylandkt‌ has correctly predicted details about a number of Apple's product launches. As early as November 2020, Dylandkt claimed that the next-generation iPad Pro would feature an ‌‌M1‌‌ chip. This was five months before the device emerged. Before the launch of the 24-inch ‌iMac‌ earlier this year, ‌Dylandkt‌ correctly predicted that the new, redesigned ‌‌iMac‌‌ would replace the smaller entry-level ‌‌iMac‌‌ only and feature an ‌‌M1‌‌ chip rather than an M1X.

The new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models are expected to debut around October, offering new designs, brighter panels with higher contrast, an improved webcam, function keys with no Touch Bar, more ports, and a MagSafe connector for charging. For more on what to expect, be sure to check out our dedicated MacBook Pro rumor guide.

Google-owned Fitbit appears to be readying an update to its Charge fitness tracker lineup, based on a leaked video and renders of the wearable shared online.

With a price tag said to be $179, the Fitbit Charge 5 will be $50 more expensive than the current Charge 4, but there are some obvious hardware changes on the way that have more in common with the Fitbit luxe, not least being a full-color rounded display that traces the curve of the ergonomic wrist strap.

The images suggest the device will have capacitive touch areas on the sides, and according to the leaked video, the Charge 5 will additionally have built-in GPS and ECG sensors, as well as an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor that claims to track your stress levels.

The EDA sensor plays into the company's Daily Readiness Score, which is a subscriber-only Fitbit Premium feature ($10 per month or $80 per year). The score is based on your exercise history, sleep, and heart rate, and is used to recommend what exercise routine you should undertake each day.

Every device purchased comes with a six-month trial of Fitbit Premium, which is clearly competing with Apple Watch and its Apple Fitness+ integration, with guided workouts and programs on offer on top of sleep tools and other health insights.

The Fitbit Charge will be available in at least three colors, and there's no word on the specific release date for the fitness tracker-cum-smartwatch, but Google is likely to place it strategically around the launch of the Apple Watch Series 7 that's expected to be announced in the next month or so.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to join other tech executives in a cybersecurity meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden next week, reports Bloomberg.

The meeting will focus on the efforts by private companies to improve cybersecurity following a surge in online attacks over the course of the last year, an official familiar with the event told Bloomberg.

The executives could discuss efforts undertaken by critical infrastructure entities, including those in the banking, energy and water utility sectors, to improve cybersecurity and collaborations with the government. The tech executives are likely to discuss how software can drive better security in the supply chain, the senior official said.

The meeting will include Cook and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, with executives from Google, Amazon, IBM, Southern Co., and JPMorgan Chase & Co also invited to attend.

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.

Facebook is re-adding voice and video calling features to its main Facebook app after moving the features to Messenger back in 2014, reports Bloomberg.

Users in some countries including the United States are now able to make voice or video calls directly from the Facebook app. As of now, Facebook is testing the feature, which is meant to cut down on the number of times that Facebook users need to swap over to the Messenger app.

Messenger and Facebook used to be a single app, but in 2014, Facebook split them into separate apps and removed Messenger functionality from Facebook. Customers were forced to download the Messenger app to send private messages to other Facebook users or to make phone calls using the Facebook platform.

Facebook has also been testing adding a limited version of the Messenger inbox to the main Facebook app, further expanding what can be done without having to switch to Messenger.

Connor Hayes, director of product management at Messenger said that Facebook is beginning to consider Messenger as a service rather than a standalone app. "You're going to start to see quite a bit more of this over time," Hayes told Bloomberg. He said that Messenger is the "connective tissue" for people to communicate regardless of which service they're using. Facebook believes that a unified messaging infrastructure will keep its users engaged in the Facebook ecosystem rather than using alternative services like iMessage.

Facebook combined messaging between Instagram and Messenger last year, a feature that the company also plans to bring to WhatsApp. Deep integrations could make it harder for the Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp apps to be split should Facebook lose the antitrust lawsuit it is facing. The United States FTC has accused Facebook of a social networking monopoly and has called for the company to divest Instagram and WhatsApp to bolster competition.

Apple appears to be expanding on the native Apple Maps review functionality that it first introduced in iOS 14, allowing ‌Apple Maps‌ users in the United States the option to review places of interest, restaurants, and other locations.

In the ‌Apple Maps‌ app in iOS 14 and iOS 15, U.S. users can now see an option to provide a thumbs up or thumbs down for most locations. Tapping on the thumbs up/down icon brings up a secondary interface for providing thumbs up and thumbs down ratings for various categories like products, customer service, food, atmosphere, and more, based on the location being reviewed.

Users also have the option to upload photos of the location to the ‌Apple Maps‌ app to be added to the maps listing.

At the current time, the ‌Apple Maps‌ native rating system is displayed alongside the Yelp ratings that are provided for various locations. Apple may eventually be planning to replace Yelp and TripAdvisor integrations, but will need to build up a database of ratings before that will be possible.

There are no options for written reviews at this time, however, so it is not clear if Apple plans to entirely replace Yelp.

Native rating options in the ‌Apple Maps‌ app appear to be new for users in the United States, but Apple has been testing the feature in other countries like the UK and Australia for some time now. Ratings may also be available in additional countries based on the Ratings and Photos Terms legal site for Maps that was shared on Reddit.

In the latest episode of hit Apple TV+ comedy series "Ted Lasso," Jeremy Swift's character Higgins briefly poked fun at actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchasing Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC last year.

As noted by Deadline, Reynolds and McElhenney responded over the weekend by tweeting a letter that sarcastically threatens legal action against Apple TV+ over the joke.

"While we hold the incomparable Jeremy Swift in no ill regard and are honored to be mentioned on the platform that's brought us high-quality programming ranging from Mythic Quest season one to Mythic Quest season two, we must insist that you cease and desist from the casting of any doubt regarding our commitment to the club, the fans and the entire Wrexham community," the letter reads in part.

For context, McElhenney is one of the creators of "Mythic Quest," so he is sarcastically pumping up his own Apple TV+ series.

Reynolds and McElhenney added that, in order to avoid legal action, Apple was required to send two large boxes of Ted Lasso's biscuits to Wrexham AFC's stadium prior to the club's season opening match on Saturday. Apple TV+ responded with a tweet saying that it has a team of 2,000 lawyers furiously baking. It would be humorous if Apple actually delivered on the promise, but sadly the actors have yet to follow up with any evidence.

Apple TV+ is priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year and provides access to a growing library of original TV shows and movies, including "Ted Lasso," which has been a massive hit for the service and a strong marketing asset. The first season of the show won multiple major awards and the second season is currently underway.

T-Mobile today announced that new and existing Magenta and Magenta MAX customers can receive 12 months of Apple TV+ for free starting this Wednesday, August 25 in the United States. T-Mobile has launched a promotional page with further details.

The offer can even be redeemed by users who already pay for Apple TV+. Once you redeem the offer, your paid Apple TV+ subscription will pause and the free one-year period will begin. Once the free period ends, standard billing will resume. T-Mobile's offer can also be stacked with any free trial included with the purchase of a new Apple device.

Magenta, Magenta MAX, and T-Mobile for Business customers can login to the T-Mobile app or my.t-mobile.com and navigate to Rate Plan Details to redeem the offer starting Wednesday. Look for a "one year of Apple TV+ on us" banner. T-Mobile customers still on the Sprint billing system can redeem by visiting T-Mobile's promotions page and entering the promo code 2021APPLETVP1 into the redemption field.

Eligible plans for T-Mobile customers include Magenta, Magenta MAX, and other Magenta plans, as well as Business Unlimited Advanced and Business Unlimited Ultimate. The offer extends to select Sprint plans, including Unlimited Plus, Unlimited Premium, and others.

Apple TV+ is regularly priced at $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The streaming service provides access to Apple's growing library of original TV shows and films, including the hit comedy series "Ted Lasso" starring Jason Sudeikis.

T-Mobile recently suffered a massive data breach that exposed personal information about nearly 50 million customers.

Apple today announced that it will make an unspecified donation to the National Park Foundation for each qualifying Apple Pay purchase at an Apple Store, on Apple.com, or in the Apple Store app in the United States from August 23 through August 29.

The promotion is limited to the first 100,000 transactions and it is subject to a $10 minimum purchase with Apple Pay, according to fine print on Apple's website.

This is at least the fifth consecutive year that Apple has ran this promotion in support of the National Park Foundation, the official charitable partner of the National Park Service in the United States. Apple CEO Cook has expressed his appreciation for national parks, and in an interview last year he said that Apple Park has conference rooms named after U.S. national parks, such as the Grand Canyon room near his personal office.

On August 25, all U.S. national parks that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission in celebration of the National Park Service's birthday. On August 28, Apple Watch users around the world can earn an Activity Challenge award themed after national parks by completing a hike, walk, run, or wheelchair workout of a mile (1.6km) or longer.

Despite having tested and worked on the technology, Apple has decided not to include an under-screen Touch ID sensor with the upcoming iPhone 13, continuing to leave customers with Face ID as the only biometric authentication option for the ‌iPhone‌.

Apple had been testing ‌Touch ID‌ technology that would have allowed the company to place the sensor under the display on the ‌iPhone‌, allowing users to simply put their finger on the display to authenticate. While Apple regularly tests and researches new ideas and technologies, reports earlier in the year had suggested the company was on track to include ‌Touch ID‌ under the display with the 2021 iPhones.

Now, however, Apple's plans have shifted dramatically, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports in his latest Power On newsletter, an under-screen ‌Touch ID‌ sensor "won't make the cut" for the ‌iPhone‌ 13. Gurman states that Apple's eventual goal is to embed ‌Face ID‌ under the display rather than ‌Touch ID‌.

The second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE is currently the only ‌iPhone‌ within the lineup that features ‌Touch ID‌, but it has made a recent reappearance in the iPad. With the latest-generation iPad Air, Apple engineers were able to embed ‌Touch ID‌ into the Power Button. Apple could choose to bring that same technology to future low-end iPhones while keeping ‌Face ID‌ exclusive to higher-end models.

The reasons for Apple's decision to scrap its initial plan to include ‌Touch ID‌ with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 remains unknown; however, the company may not have felt that the technology is mature enough yet to go mainstream in its flagship iPhones. Alternatively, the company may have felt less pressure to include the feature following the launch of iOS 14.5, which allows customers to unlock their iPhones with their Apple Watch.

• Unlock with Apple Watch Not Working? Here's How to Fix the Problem

The global health crisis and daily wearing of a face mask increased demand for ‌Touch ID‌, as ‌Face ID‌ doesn't work while a user is wearing a face covering. Apple addressed the problem with iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4, allowing customers to unlock their ‌iPhone‌ while they're wearing a mask, as long as they have an Apple Watch.

While the lack of an under-screen ‌Touch ID‌ sensor will be disappointing for some, Apple is still planning some considerable upgrades with the ‌iPhone‌ 13. The new iPhones will focus heavily on camera capabilities, including ProRes and portrait mode for videos. The new handsets will also include a smaller notch, larger batteries, and improved performance.

Effective next year, pricing for all commercial plans of Microsoft 365 will be increased as a way to compensate for the "increased value" Microsoft's suite of tools has provided to customers over the last ten years, Microsoft has announced.

In a blog post late last week, the company says the new changes are the first time it has substantively increased the price of Office 365 since it launched a decade ago. Microsoft notes some of the ways that Microsoft 365 has grown in prominence over the last year, including that it has added 24 different apps to its suite of tools.

Since its launch a decade ago, Office 365 has grown to over 300 million commercial paid seats. Along the way, we have continuously re-invested to meet the changing needs of our customers. Four years ago, we introduced Microsoft 365 to bring together the best of Office, Windows, and Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS). That same year we added Microsoft Teams as the only integrated solution where you can meet, chat, call, collaborate, and automate business processes—right in the flow of work.

In fact, since introducing Microsoft 365 we have added 24 apps to the suites—Microsoft Teams, Power Apps, Power BI, Power Automate, Stream, Planner, Visio, OneDrive, Yammer, and Whiteboard—and have released over 1,400 new features and capabilities in three key areas.

The pricing increases are small, consisting of only $2-$4 hikes, and are as followed:

Microsoft 365 Business Basic (from $5 to $6 per user), Microsoft 365 Business Premium (from $20 to $22), Office 365 E1 (from $8 to $10), Office 365 E3 (from $20 to $23), Office 365 E5 (from $35 to $38), and Microsoft 365 E3 (from $32 to $36).

All of the changes will apply globally on March 1, 2022.