As of today, YouTube has stopped supporting the YouTube app on third-generation Apple TV models, which means the YouTube channel is no longer available as a native option for watching YouTube on this Apple TV model.
Now that the app is defunct, third-generation Apple TV users will need to AirPlay YouTube content from a compatible Apple device like an iPhone or iPad to watch YouTube on the big screen.
The app's removal is limited to the third-generation Apple TV models. YouTube stopped supporting the second-generation Apple TV models back in 2015. The fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models are not impacted as they have access to the tvOS App Store and the tvOS YouTube app.
Various app developers have slowly been phasing out support for the third-generation Apple TV. In May 2020, HBO's apps were removed, and last week, the MLB app was pulled.
Those who have a third-generation Apple TV that are thinking of upgrading might want to hold off, as there is a refresh rumored to be coming later this year.
The new Apple TV is expected to feature a faster processor and more storage space, plus there could be a new remote control and U1 chip integration to allow it to better interface with other Apple devices. There could also be a gaming focus, with Apple rumored to be working on hardware that would support console-level games.
Apple this week introduced a new service that's designed to make it quick and easy for iCloud users to transfer their stored photos and videos to Google Photos.
As outlined in an Apple support document, you can go to Apple's privacy website and sign in to see the "Transfer a copy of your data" option. If you select this and go through all the steps, Apple will transfer your iCloud photos and videos to Google Photos.
Transferring photos and videos from iCloud Photos does not remove the content you have stored with Apple, but it provides a backup method and stores a copy of the content on Google Photos.
The transfer process takes between three and seven days, with Apple verifying that the request was made by you. To do the transfer, you must have two-factor authentication turned on for your Apple ID account and you must have a Google Photos account with enough storage to complete the transfer.
Smart Albums, Live Photos, photo stream content, some metadata, and some RAW photos are not able to be transferred, but formats including .jpg, .png, .webp, .gif, some RAW files, .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, and .mkv are compatible.
Only the most recent edit of a photo is transferred rather than the original version, and duplicates appear as just one photo. Images are transferred in their albums whenever possible, but videos are transferred separately.
Apple's transfer service is available to customers in Australia, Canada, the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States at this time.
The Arizona House of Representatives today passed HB2005, a state bill that would provide developers with an alternative to Google and Apple's in-app purchase options by allowing developers to use their own payment solutions within apps.
Last week, the Arizona House Committee advanced the bill, and now it has also been approved by the House of Representatives. It will next be heard by the Arizona Senate.
JUST IN: The Arizona House of Representatives has passed a bill requiring app stores to allow third-party payments. The bill now moves to state's Senate. pic.twitter.com/KUhjP7DgLK
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) March 3, 2021
Apple and Google have been lobbying aggressively against the bill for weeks now because it would let developers use third-party payment options to avoid the 15 to 30 percent cut that Apple takes from app purchases an in-app payments.
In a hearing last week, Apple chief compliance officer Kyle Andeer called HB2005 a "government mandate that Apple give away the App Store."
"This would allow billion-dollar developers to take all of the app store's value for free, even if they're selling digital goods, even if they're making millions or billions of dollars doing it. The bill is a government mandate that Apple give away the app store."
Apple last month successfully fought back against a similar bill in North Dakota, which would have paved the way for third-party app store options.
Like the North Dakota bill, the Arizona bill was backed by the Coalition for App Fairness, a group that includes companies like Epic Games, Spotify, Basecamp, and Tile, all of whom have had significant issues with Apple's App Store rules. There's a similar bill in Minnesota that Apple is also battling against.
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.
When the iPhone first launched in 2007, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs had no plans to allow developers to create native apps for the iPhone, instead suggesting they rely on web apps. Developers weren't happy with the decision, and by October 2007, Apple decided that it would make a software developer kit and a full App Store available to developers by February 2008.
In the lead up to the launch of native iPhone apps, popular music streaming app Pandora was growing rapidly and was eager to be the first to get an app on the iPhone by any means necessary, according to an in-depth look at Pandora's history shared today by Vice's Tyler Hayes.
Ahead of the iPhone's debut, Pandora had been working to get its streaming radio service on flip phones with carriers like Sprint and AT&T, an effort that wasn't particularly successful. Once the iPhone was announced, Pandora knew it was the new big "music player" device and the company's mobile development resources needed to be focused on the iPhone.
Then Apple Senior Vice President Scott Forstall invited Pandora co-founder Tim Westergren and his CTO, Tom Conrad, to lunch in Cupertino. After an hours-long talk over what Pandora had learned putting streaming audio apps on flip phones, Conrad asked Forstall what Pandora could do to get a head start on a mobile app. Forstall's response was surprising - jailbreak an iPhone.
"What, if anything, can we do at Pandora to get ready for the next generation of iPhone that includes an app store and native APIs?" asked Conrad. "Forstall said, it wouldn't be a waste of your time to jailbreak some iPhones and use the kind of back door toolkits that were being distributed by other people to build a native Pandora app while we get our act together at Apple on something more formal."
Pandora's engineers did just what Forstall suggested, jailbreaking a series of iPhones and getting to work on a Pandora iPhone app ahead of when Apple released official support for native apps. When the App Store launched in 2008, Pandora was the first radio app that was available, and the work paid off - nine months later, Pandora was installed on 21 percent of iPhones.
The full Vice piece from Tyler Hayes is well worth a read for those who are interested in Pandora's early days, early battles over royalty rates, and its efforts to remain relevant as music services like Spotify and Apple Music dominate the market.
Apple today seeded the third betas of new iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5 updates to public beta testers, with the new betas coming two weeks after the release of the second betas and just a day after Apple provided the third beta software to developers.
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS 14.5 updates over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website on an iOS device.
iOS 14.5 adds a new feature that lets you unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch when you're wearing a mask, alleviating the need to use a passcode to get into an iPhone with Face ID when you have a mask on. Using this feature requires both iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4, and it is opt-in. It can be activated in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode.
Dual-SIM 5G support is now available globally on iPhone 12 devices, so if you have more than one phone number associated with your iPhone, both lines can now take advantage of 5G networks. Previously, Dual-SIM functionality was limited to LTE in all countries except for China.
With iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and watchOS 7.4, AirPlay 2 support is available for Apple Fitness+, which lets a workout played on the iPhone or the iPad to be AirPlayed to an AirPlay 2-compatible smart TV or set-top box.
The latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers are compatible with the iPhone and the iPad after updating, and there's a new feature that lets Siri make an emergency call for you.
iOS 14.5 includes a Waze-like crowdsourcing feature for reporting accidents, hazards, and speed checks along a route in Maps when getting directions.
There's a new "Report" button available in the Apple Maps app that lets you tap to report an accident, hazard, or speed trap at your location in the Apple Maps app, which is a feature that mapping app Waze offers. This is available directly on the iPhone and in CarPlay.
iOS and iPadOS 14.5 add a new feature for choosing a default streaming music service to use with Siri. So if you prefer Spotify over Apple Music, for example, you can now choose Spotify as the default app to use with Siri and all Siri song requests will go through Spotify without the need to add "on Spotify" to the end of Siri requests.
Though not in the update as of yet, iOS 14.5 has code that suggests Apple is adding Family Sharing functionality for the Apple Card, allowing multiple users to share a single card. iOS 14.5 is the update where Apple will officially enable App Tracking Transparency, so developers will need to ask for and receive a user's permission to track their activity across apps and websites for ad targeting purposes.
The iOS 14.5 beta addresses the green tint issue that some iPhone owners have been experiencing, with Apple confirming that the beta has "optimizations" to help with the issue.
"iOS and iPadOS 14.5 beta 2 includes an optimization to reduce the appearance of a dim glow that might appear at reduced brightness levels with black backgrounds," reads Apple's iOS 14.5 beta notes.
Some iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models exhibit a gray or green glow when viewing black backgrounds, an issue that Apple said it was investigating back in November. For some users, there are improvements thanks to the optimizations, but for others, the issue still appears to exist, so Apple may have some further work to do.
Apple has said that iOS 14.5 will be released to the public in the early spring, so we can expect to see a launch at some point in March, with the spring season officially starting on March 20. Apple has also seeded a new beta of tvOS 14.5 to fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV users who are signed up for the public beta.
Apple today seeded the third public beta of an upcoming macOS Big Sur 11.3 update to its public beta testing group, with the new software coming two weeks after the second public beta and a day after Apple provided the third beta to developers.
Public beta testers can download macOS Big Sur 11.3 from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website. Those who want to test the update can sign up on Apple's site.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 brings new customization options for Safari, adding a way to rearrange the different sections on the Start Page like Favorites, Reading List, Siri Suggestions, Privacy Report, and more. Developers also have access to a new integration to develop features for the Start Page.
The update includes optimizations for using iOS apps on M1 Macs. When running iPhone and iPad apps on M1 Macs, there's a Touch Alternatives preference pane to set keyboard commands for touch input alternatives, plus iPadOS apps launch with a larger window if the Mac's display allows for it. Touch Alternatives can be enabled for iPhone or iPad apps by clicking on the app's name in the menu bar and then selecting the Preferences option. Touch Alternatives let you customize taps, swipes, and drags with keyboard commands.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for the latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X/S controllers for use with macOS games.
In the Reminders app, reminder lists can be sorted by Due Date, Creation Date, Priority, or Title, and there is an option to print lists by going to File > Print. Reminders can also be moved manually across lists with drag and drop, something that wasn't possible before.
Apple added a new "Made For You" library shortcut in Apple Music for finding personal mixes and Replay playlists, and the Listen Now section has been updated with support for highlighting live events.
There's also a new autoplay feature in the Apple Music app that lets the streaming service to continue to play music after a playlist or music queue ends. Apple Music sources music similar to what's in a person's Apple Music library, with the feature mimicking the autoplay option added to Apple Music in iOS 14.
With autoplay enabled, Apple Music audio will not end even after a playlist or album is over. To check that it's on, play a playlist or album and then click on the three dot/line menu button in the upper right hand corner. From there, make sure the infinity symbol is toggled on.
In the Apple News app, there's a redesigned Apple News+ tab with a dedicated "For You" section and a new Browse tab that makes it easier to browse through available content. The new For You section is designed to help Apple News+ users find favorite magazines and newspapers much faster, plus it adds new tools for managing downloaded issues.
There's an updated "Support" interface when accessing "About This Mac." The new design includes details on your warranty and it allows for starting a repair right from the Mac interface.
macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds support for HomePod Stereo pairs, allowing a set of paired HomePods to be set as the default sound output option, with the two HomePods showing up as a single selectable speaker rather than separate as in prior versions of macOS.
Code in the update suggests that the Optimized Battery Charging feature will now make sure the Mac's battery is fully charged before a scheduled calendar event. The Mac will charge to 100 percent three hours before a calendar event's start time.
Optimized Battery Charging is designed to preserve the lifespan of the Mac's battery by limiting the amount of time that a Mac sits at 100 percent battery.
In Safari, there's support for WebM video playback, allowing users to play WebM videos using Apple's browser. WebM is a niche video format designed to be a royalty-free alternative to the H.264 codec used in the MP4 format. WebM allows video files to remain small without sacrificing quality and can be played with little processing power, making it ideal for webpages and browsers.
Code in found in the third macOS Big Sur 11.3 beta suggests that Rosetta could be removed from some M1 Macs in some select regions after the software is released. There's a mention that "Rosetta is no longer available in this region. Applications requiring Rosetta will no longer run," but no additional information is available at this time.
There are also appear to be new assets that suggest a feature for mapping game controller buttons to keyboard layouts, and there's a Game Center toggle to enable or disable connections with friends, which lets games set you up with your friends or prevents apps from accessing that info.
More on macOS Big Sur can be found in our macOS Big Sur roundup. The software is expected to see a release this spring.
Twelve South today launched the new HoverBar Duo, an adjustable stand that securely holds the iPad or iPhone, priced at $79.99. The accessory has dual functionality: it can sit on a desk as a weighted stand, or you can attach it to a shelf with the included shelf clamp.
Compatible iPads include all generations of the iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini, as well as any iPhone. The HoverBar Duo features an adjustable clamp design, with arms that stretch to fit any iPad or iPhone.
Twelve South is pitching the accessory as both a work companion for drawing with an Apple Pencil on the iPad or taking Zoom calls, as well as a way to easily read recipes in the kitchen.
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Netflix has today announced the launch of its "Fast Laughs" feature, available now in the video streaming service's iOS app (via iPhone in Canada).
Fast Laughs offer "a full-screen feed of funny clips from our big comedy catalog including films, series and stand-up from comedians like Kevin Hart and Ali Wong," according to Netflix director of product innovation Patrick Flemming. Netflix says that the mobile-only section will provide up to 100 new curated clips per day.
To access the feature, users will find a new "Fast Laughs" tab in the Netflix app. Clips will auto-play and the feed effectively resembles TikTok with vertical scrolling. The view includes a "LOL" button, which releases a burst of "Face with Tears of Joy" emojis when tapped.
Netflix users can customize their Fast Laughs feed by adding series, films, and stand-up specials to their lists. Individual clips from Fast Laughs can also be easily shared via iMessage, WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and more.
Fast Laughs acts as an entry point to begin watching a comedy show immediately, but it also functions as a destination to watch standalone entertaining moments. The Fast Laughs feature is unavailable on Netflix kids' profiles, and users are able to filter displayed content based on their set maturity level.
Fast Laughs is available now for users in English-speaking countries such as the U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and Ireland. The feature is also expected to come to the Netflix app for Android at some point in the future.
Amazon today has a collection of discounts on accessories for the iPad, including notable sales on the Smart Folio and an ongoing $100 best-ever price on the Magic Keyboard. Additionally, if you're on the hunt for AirPods, there are a few solid sales on the Bluetooth headphones this week.
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.
Smart Folio
The first accessory on sale today is Apple's Smart Folio for the 10.9-inch iPad Air (fourth generation) in White, priced at $39.00, down from $79.00. At half off, this is one of the best prices we've seen on this official Apple accessory, and it's available to ship out today.
If you own an iPad Pro, there are also a few Smart Folio discounts, but none as steep as the iPad Air model. You can get the 11-inch iPad Pro Smart Folio for $64.95 in Black, down from $79.00. The 12.9-inch model is at $83.88 in Black and Pink Sand, down from $99.00.
Magic Keyboard
The second sale is a popular ongoing discount on the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch iPad Pro and fourth generation iPad Air. This accessory is priced at $199.00 on Amazon, down from $299.00, remaining the best price we've ever seen.
Likewise, the 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard is also still seeing a discounted price, but it's not as good as the smaller version of the accessory. It's available for $329.00, down from $349.00. We've seen this accessory marked down to about $315.00 in the past, but today's deal is far more common and one of the best around if you're in the market for the 12.9-inch option of the Magic Keyboard.
AirPods
In AirPods sales, Amazon has a few solid offers on the regular AirPods and AirPods with Wireless Charging Case. To start, you can get the AirPods with Wired Charging Case for $119.99, down from $159.00. The best price we've seen so far in 2021 is about $110 for this model, so Amazon's sale this week isn't too far off and still a decent deal.
If you want to invest in the wireless option, Amazon has the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case at $149.99, down from $199.99. These aren't discounted as often as the cheaper pair, and although today's price isn't a lowest-ever deal, it's made for one of the first major discounts in 2021 on this model.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones. Additionally, our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
WhatsApp is testing the ability for images within chats to self-destruct, allowing the receiver to only view images once, without the ability to save them to their device.
Screenshots shared by WABetaInfo, who frequently leaks and reports on WhatsApp's plans and upcoming features, show an interface in which the sender can choose an image to self-destruct. If an image is chosen to self-destruct, the receiver will have a one-time chance to view it and not be able to save or export the image to their device.
WhatsApp is working on self-destructing photos in a future update for iOS and Android. • Self-destructing photos cannot be exported from WhatsApp. • WhatsApp didn't implement a screenshot detection for self-destructing photos yet.
Same concept from Instagram Direct. ⏱ pic.twitter.com/LLsezVL2Hj
— WABetaInfo (@WABetaInfo) March 3, 2021
WABetaInfo says that WhatsApp has not implemented screenshot detection, which would alert the sender if a screenshot of the self-destructing photo was taken. WhatsApp's approach to the feature is similar to Instagram Direct stories, in which case an image or video is only viewable once before it expires. Other popular messaging apps such as Telegram have already included self-destructing images for some time.
Apple today shared a trailer for an upcoming original series "Calls," told entirely through 12-minute phone conversations. The series will be an English adaption of the French series of the same name that was created by Timothée Hochet.
Apple describes "Calls" as a "groundbreaking immersive television experience that masterfully uses only audio and minimal abstract visuals to tell bone-chilling snackable stories." The series will chronicle the "mysterious story of a group of strangers whose lives are thrown into disarray in the lead-up to an apocalyptic event."
Apple explains further:
Launching in a binge model worldwide, all nine 12-minute episodes are told through a series of phone calls that use sharp writing, compelling voice talent and graphics to aid in transcribing the darkly dramatic conversations onto the screen. These relatable scenarios transport the audience into familiar situations that quickly become surreal with thrilling and frightening moments. Featuring Lily Collins, Rosario Dawson, Mark Duplass & more, Calls proves that the real terror lies in one's interpretation of what they cannot see on the screen and the unsettling places one's imagination can take them.
The series will feature appearances from Lily Collins, Nick Jonas, Pedro Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Mark Duplass, Riley Keough, and others. Apple says all nine 12-minute episodes will be released on Apple TV+ on March 19.
Anker has introduced a new collection of discounts on Amazon today, this time focusing on a wide array of wall chargers and surge protectors. You'll find Anker's popular PowerExtend Strip surge protectors starting at $23.79, as well as a few PowerPort Strip accessories (which include USB-A ports) from $24.64.
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The other group of devices on sale focus on USB-C accessories, including Anker's PowerPort accessories which all feature at least one USB-C port and pair with Apple's newest iPhones for fast charging. You'll find that all of the prices below have been automatically applied on Amazon, so you won't need any specific coupon codes this time around.
The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max, expected later this year, will feature an improved ultra-wide lens with the additions of sensor-shift image stabilization and autofocus, according to sources cited by DigiTimes.
The iPhone 12 Pro features standard dual optical image stabilization for the Wide and Telephoto lens. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the first iPhone to include sensor-shift optical image stabilization for its Wide lens. Sensor-shift optical image stabilization shifts the sensor itself instead of the lens, resulting in a sharper image with better image quality.
According to DigiTimes, Apple will include sensor-shift OIS for both the Wide and Ultra Wide lens on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. An earlier report suggested that Apple will also bring the Wide lens with sensor-shift OIS to the remaining models in the lineup. The new lenses will also include autofocus, according to the report.
In November of last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuoclaimed that the Ultra Wide lens for the iPhone 13 Pro models willalso benefit from a wider ƒ/1.8 aperture, compared to ƒ/2.4 on iPhone 12 Pro models. The iPhone 13 lineup is expected to consist of four models, all benefiting from a LiDAR Scanner, a 120Hz ProMotion display, and more.
The purported new Apple Pencil appears to share a very similar design to the current, second-generation Apple Pencil, which is shorter than the previous version and charges inductively on the side of an iPad.
The updated Apple Pencil appears to have a glossy finish, much like that used on the first-generation Apple Pencil or AirPods, rather than the matte white finish used on the second version of the accessory.
The other notable difference is the Apple Pencil's tip. The first and second-generation Apple Pencil have small, screw-on tips that are able to be easily replaced when worn out. This updated model seems to have a considerably larger tip component, with a much longer section that screws into the Apple Pencil itself. It is unclear why a new version of the Apple Pencil may have a redesigned tip, but it is likely indicative of internal design changes.
The redesigned head may signal that new functionality is coming to the Apple Pencil's tip. In July last year, Apple applied for a patent regarding an Apple Pencil tip that would allow the device to sample colors from the real world via a color sensor, so it is clear that Apple is interested in expanding the utility of its iPad stylus.
All in all, the image suggests that the new Apple Pencil's upgrades may be more focused on the internals of the accessory rather than any significant external design changes. Nevertheless, it is not unreasonable to expect some added functionality over the current model to justify a new iteration of the device.
GameOn, Amazon's mobile gameplay recording platform, has been released on iPhone and iPad. The app lets game players capture video clips from a range of mobile titles that support screen recording and share them on the platform or to other sites.
Amazon is the owner of Twitch, one of the market's biggest platforms for gameplay streaming. However, Twitch features long videos that can last hours, whereas GameOn enables gamers to capture short-form video clips lasting from 30 seconds to five minutes long.
As noted by TechCrunch, the two streaming platforms are completely disconnected, using separate branding and different channels, and Amazon has been partnering with GameOn streamers to focus entirely on mobile gaming while promoting challenges unique to the app.
GameOn allows users to edit videos to add commentary or include a stream of their own face while they play, using the front-facing camera on their iPhone or iPad. There's also a Recall Recording feature that lets gamers record the last 30 seconds or up to two minutes of action.
The clip capture platform is compatible with over a thousand mobile titles, including PUBG Mobile, as well as various games by Playrix, Square Enix, Rovio, and Storm8 Studios.
Amazon GameOn went live in November 2020, but was limited to the Android platform. Its late arrival on iOS is likely due to Amazon having to jump through more hoops to comply with Apple's more stringent App Store policies relating to screen recording.
Apple is expected to launch a sixth-generation iPad mini in the first half of 2021, possibly as soon as this March, based on long-standing rumors. However, a new rumor out of Asia that has gainedtraction in the last 24 hours suggests an "iPad mini Pro" will arrive in the second half of this year.
According to a post on Korean blog Naver, whose rumor track record is unknown, the device features an 8.7-inch display, which is housed in a chassis that has an increased width and reduced height compared to the existing iPad mini 5.
This so-called "iPad mini Pro" has allegedly passed Apple's initial R&D and product planning stages of development, and is currently in design "P2" stage, with Apple set to begin design validation tests (DVT) soon. In a typical product roadmap, Apple would then submit it for production validation tests before green-lighting the device for mass production.
In a potentially related rumor, occasional Chinese leaker Kang on Tuesday claimed a "full-screen, smaller-sized iPad" was currently in the P2 design stage and still awaiting engineering validation tests. No further details were given. At any rate, such a device would still need to overcome several hurdles before any launch.
The iPad mini most recently got a refreshed design in 2015 with its fourth iteration. While the device did receive a minor update in 2019 with the A12 Bionic chip, a True Tone display, Bluetooth 5.0, and Apple Pencil support, the iPad mini is considered overdue for an update.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in May 2020 that the next-generation iPad mini will have a display that measures in at 8.5 to 9 inches, up from the current 7.9-inch screen size, while a recent report from Japanese site Mac Otakara, citing supply chain sources in China, said that the next iPad mini will have an 8.4-inch display. Similar 8.x-inch iPad mini sizes have been reported by other sources.
However, unlike the iPad Pro and iPad Air, which have in recent years shed their large bezels and home buttons for a more modern all-screen design, the sixth-generation iPad mini will reportedly stick with its current design language. Mac Otakara's report explains that the iPad mini will enlarge its display by reducing its bezels, but it will look similar to the iPad Air 3, with a Touch ID Home Button, large top and bottom bezels, and a Lightning port.
Mac Otakara believes that this refreshed iPad mini will see a March launch, so it could perhaps debut at an event later this month, if Apple sticks to recent tradition. This also fits in with Kuo's claim that the next iPad mini will come in the first half of 2021.
Interestingly, Kuo has said in the past that Apple is working on an iPad mini with a mini-LED display, but it seems unlikely that the iPad mini 6 would gain this significantly upgraded display considering that it has not yet come to any other Apple device. That said, today's "iPad mini Pro" rumor doesn't reference mini-LED at all.
Apple is accelerating adoption of mini-LED in its iPad and Mac notebook lineups, and the iPad Pro is expected to be the first product to get a mini-LED display. Kuo has previously said that production of a mini-LED version of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro began in the fourth quarter of 2020, with a launch expected in the first half of 2021.
DigiTimes also believes a mini-LED iPad Pro will launch in early 2021, as does Korea's ETNews. Whether or not a mini-LED "iPad mini Pro" will follow, and how such a device would fit into Apple's current iPad lineup, remains to be seen.
The Australian government has approved ECG functionality on the Apple Watch, giving Apple the all-clear to launch the feature for Apple Watch users in the country, according to a regulatory document first spotted by The 8-Bit.
Earlier last month, the Apple Watch's irregular heart rhythm notification received approval in Australia, although ECG did not. Irregular heart rhythm is a feature that periodically reads your heart rhythm in the background and alerts you if it detects signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Both parts work in tandem as users who receive an irregular heart rhythm notification are advised to take an ECG for a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of their heart condition.
With regulator hurdles now out of the way, it's unclear when Apple will roll the feature out for users in Australia. Apple is currently testing watchOS 7.5, and although there's been no indication thus far, the update could include support for ECG in Australia. watchOS 7.4 is expected to debut in the early spring alongside iOS 14.5, which will introduce the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch, amongst other features.
In a newly granted patent, Apple envisions a type of connectivity port using an iteration of its magnetic MagSafe charger to charge an iPhone, potentially paving the way for a future without Lightning.
Submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday (via Patently Apple), the patent outlines a three-pinned MagSafe charger, similar to the ones found in older MacBook computers. Apple discusses multiple different pin designs that would connect the charger to the device. The patent shows a pin that is more round in one image, while another shows a more flat-surface design.
The patent itself doesn't mention or reference an iPhone by name, but an image in the filing depicts what seems to be the bottom of an iPhone with the MagSafe charger concept. Compared to the current Lightning port on the iPhone, MagSafe has its advantages. Based on a set of magnets, MagSafe allows the device to easily detach from the charger if it gets tripped on or yanked.
With the iPhone 12 lineup, Apple reintroduced MagSafe in the form of large circular magnets on the back of the device. Currently, Apple is marketing MagSafe on the iPhone as a place to charge and attach various accessories.
The patent could entail Apple's long-term vision of turning the current MagSafe charge on the back of the device as a place for accessories, such as a battery pack, and leave the magnetic MagSafe charger on the bottom in place to charge the iPhone. Implementing the concept on a lighter-weight device like an iPhone would presumably require a detaching mechanism using weaker magnets with more give.
This week, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuopoured cold water on hopes that Apple would switch the iPhone to a USB-C connector anytime soon. Kuo states that USB-C has lower specifications compared to Lightning and MagSafe. Kuo specifically says that if an iPhone in the future abandons Lighting, it would immediately adopt a portless design with MagSafe.
Apple is expected to bring MagSafe back to the Mac, according to both Bloomberg and Kuo. The version of MagSafe expected to debut in the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will likely feature a similar design to previous iterations and offer faster-charging speeds. Learn more about MagSafe's history and potential future uses in our comprehensive MagSafe guide.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
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Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
