MacRumors

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.

Get Ready to Take Pictures of the Stars

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.

First, it was reported that an under-screen Touch ID fingerprint scanner did not make the cut for iPhone 13 models, despite being tested. It was subsequently reported that iPhone 13 models will become available to pre-order on Friday, September 17 in select countries, which makes an event on Tuesday, September 14 and an iPhone release on Friday, September 24 appear most likely.

September is just around the corner, so be sure to catch up on the latest rumors with our iPhone 13 roundup.

Apple Watch Series 7 Rumored to Come in Larger 41mm and 45mm Sizes

Alongside the iPhone 13, we'll likely see the introduction of Apple Watch Series 7 models, which will reportedly come in larger 41mm and 45mm sizes.

These larger sizes would be part of an overall redesign of the Apple Watch this year with slimmer bezels around the display and flatter edges. The next Apple Watch is also rumored to have a new green color option and it could also feature new health and fitness capabilities.

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.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to launch a redesigned Mac mini with a so-called "M1X" chip and additional ports compared to the current model at some point in the "next several months."

Apple Pays $100 Million to Settle Developer Lawsuit and Agrees to Multiple App Store Changes

Apple has announced plans to make several changes to the App Store in order to settle a class-action lawsuit that was brought against Apple by developers in the United States.

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.

For those who missed the announcement back at WWDC in June, iCloud+ is Apple's new branding for paid iCloud storage combined with new features like Hide My Email and iCloud Private Relay, the latter of which is now labeled as a beta feature.

Apple Watch Used to Steal $500,000

An Apple Watch was reportedly used by a crew of robbers to steal $500,000 in cash in New York last year.

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.

Apple announced its AirTag tracking accessory just four months later, but the robbers have already been caught.

MacRumors Newsletter

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.

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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

Have questions about the Health app features in iOS 15, know of a feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert today penned a letter to T-Mobile customers apologizing for the recent data breach that impacted more than 50 million current, former, and prospective T-Mobile users.

Data that included names, phone numbers, addresses, birth dates, social security numbers, driver's license and ID info, IMEI numbers, and IMSI numbers was stolen and has been offered for sale.

"We didn't live up to the expectations we have for ourselves to protect our customers," wrote Sievert. "Knowing that we failed to prevent this exposure is one of the hardest parts of this event. On behalf of everyone at Team Magenta, I want to say we are truly sorry."

He went on to say that T-Mobile is "disappointed and frustrated" and that keeping customer data safe is a responsibility that is taken "incredibly seriously." Preventing attacks is a "top priority" for the company.

The hacker who claims to have attacked T-Mobile's servers yesterday said that T-Mobile's security is "awful." The hacker said that he discovered an unprotected T-Mobile router in July and used that to access T-Mobile's data center in Washington, where he was able to get in using stored credentials.

Sievert said that T-Mobile is coordinating with law enforcement on a criminal investigation, and that the company is unable to disclose specific details at this time.

What we can share is that, in simplest terms, the bad actor leveraged their knowledge of technical systems, along with specialized tools and capabilities, to gain access to our testing environments and then used brute force attacks and other methods to make their way into other IT servers that included customer data.

T-Mobile has now notified every current T-Mobile customer about the data breach, and is working to notify former and prospective customers. Those affected can visit T-Mobile's website dedicated to the attack, which provides tools for signing up for free McAfee ID Theft Protection, setting up Scam Shield, and using the Account Takeover Protection service.

In an attempt to prevent future attacks, T-Mobile has entered long-term partnerships with cybersecurity experts at Mandiant and with consulting firm KPMG LLP. T-Mobile is planning a multi-year investment into beefing up its security.

Apple is further pushing its employees in the United States to get vaccinated now that the Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, reports Bloomberg.

Apple has launched a new internal web page, sent out an employee memo, and is holding internal talks as part of its vaccination campaign.

"Apple is asking everyone who has access to the vaccine and is able to get vaccinated to do so as soon as you can," the company said in the memo, which was sent to staff Thursday evening. Sumbul Desai, Apple's vice president of health efforts, and Kristina Raspe, vice president in charge of real estate, are also hosting talks to encourage employees to get the shots.

The webpage Apple has created explains the delta variant and how getting vaccinated can help prevent its spread. Apple is also offering vouchers for employees to get vaccinated through Walgreens, and it is providing on-site vaccinations in the San Francisco Bay Area and Austin, Texas. Apple gives employees paid time off for vaccine appointments and paid sick leave for those who experience side effects.

Apple is not mandating that its employees get vaccinated, which is a departure from other tech companies in the area. Both Google and Facebook are requiring employees to be vaccinated, but according to Bloomberg, Apple has not done so for the sake of employee privacy.

Earlier this month, Apple implemented more frequent testing for corporate and retail employees, asking them to take COVID-19 tests up to three times per week.

Apple initially planned to have employees return to work for three days a week in September, but with cases continuing to ramp up, corporate employees will be able to work from home until at least January 2022.

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.

Google today shared a new Pixel 5a ad that's meant to parody some of the product intro videos that former Apple design chief Jony Ive used to make to highlight new iPhone features.

In the video, Google spends a full two minutes describing the design of the Pixel 5a's headphone jack in exaggeratory language, and as noted by CNET, there are even two moments where the video uses Ive's British pronunciation of aluminum. From the video description:

Calling this perfectly-symmetrical, technological marvel, a "headphone jack" may feel like an understatement...but technically, that's what it's called, so... fair enough. Behold! The Headphone Jack, on the Google Pixel 5a with 5G.

Since Jony Ive is no longer Apple's design chief and does not make Apple's product videos, it's not clear why Google has opted to make a video imitating him two years after he left the company. A video promoting the headphone jack is also an unusual choice as fervor over the component has died down now that many high-end smartphones have eliminated it, including Google's own flagship Pixel models.

The $449 Pixel 5a goes on sale today. In addition to a headphone jack, it features a 6.3-inch display with hole punch camera cutout, IP67 water resistance, 5G connectivity, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip.

Google's Pixel 5a competes with the $699 iPhone 12 mini and the $399 ‌iPhone‌ SE at the current time, but Apple plans to release an upgraded 5G version of the iPhone SE for 2022.

Apple in just a few weeks is expected to release the Apple Watch Series 7 alongside new iPhone 13 models, and it's looking like this could be one of the most exciting design updates we've had to the Apple Watch in a few years.

We're not expecting new health features this year, and if there are new health sensors, Apple has kept them under wraps, but multiple rumors have indicated that the Apple Watch Series 7 is getting a new design.

The upcoming Apple Watch could feature a flat-edged design that's similar to the design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and the iPad Pro. Leaked renders said to be based on CAD drawings have depicted iPhone-12 style flat curves, a thinner Digital Crown, and new speaker design on the left side of the watch.

Bloomberg says the Apple Watch will have thinner display bezels with the display using a new lamination technique that brings it closer to the front cover, and with this new casing and display technology, the upcoming models are expected to come in 41mm and 45mm sizes, just a bit larger than the current 40mm and 44mm size options.

The display of the 45mm model measures in at 1.8 inches according to rumors, up from the 1.73-inch display in the prior model. We don't yet know the size of the 41mm model, but it's likely to see a similar small size increase.

Rumors have been mixed on thickness. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch could be a bit thicker overall, but not in a way that's noticeable to users, but leaked renders suggested it would be 1.7mm thinner, which is a decent thickness decrease. We'll have to wait to see on the exact casing dimensions.

Apple is rumored to be considering new color options for the Series 7 and it could come in a green aluminum shade. Last year, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Series 6 in blue aluminum.

Inside, the Apple Watch Series 7 will feature an upgraded S7 chip that could use double-sided technology to cut down on its size. The smaller S7 chip could leave more room for additional battery life and other components, and the new Apple Watch is expected to gain improved wireless connectivity and a better U1 Ultra Wideband chip.

There's a possibility that we could get a new, more durable version of the Apple Watch this year. Bloomberg says that Apple is considering a rugged version of the Apple Watch that's aimed at athletes, hikers, and others who are more likely to damage their Apple Watches. It's not clear if this model is coming in 2021 or 2022, though.

As for new software, the Apple Watch Series 7 will run watchOS 8, which adds Focus mode, new Mindfulness features, Home and Wallet improvements, and more. Apple will also add new "Time to Run" and "Audio Meditation" features that will join the "Time to Walk" feature released earlier this year.

Based on past launch dates, the most likely date for the event that will see the unveiling of the Apple Watch Series 7 and the ‌iPhone‌ 13 models is Tuesday, September 14, but the week after that is also a possibility. Either way, we don't have much longer to wait before Apple reveals the first of its fall device launch lineup.

For this week's giveaway, we've once again teamed up with Throwboy to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of Throwboy's pillows, which are modeled after classic Apple products and make fun decorations for Apple enthusiasts.

Throwboy's pillows are plush, squeezable versions of Apple products like the original iPhone, first iPod, Classic Macintosh, iMac G3, and more. Pillows are priced at $30 to $40, and the main Iconic collection features designs modeled after five of the most notable Apple products Apple has released to date.

Each Throwboy pillow features intricate embroidery to match the detailing on the Apple product it's modeled after. The 1998 Pillow is designed to look just like an ‌iMac‌ G3 with bright Bondi Blue-style fabric and embroidered details that include a CD slot, power button, handle, and more.

The 1984 Pillow modeled after the Classic Macintosh has a rainbow logo, floppy disk drive, and iconic square shape, while the 1977 Apple II Pillow features embroidered keys, a rainbow logo, and other detailing to make it unmistakable as a plush Apple II.

Throwboy's 2001 Pillow looks like the original iPod with click wheel embroidery, while the 2007 Pillow looks just like the 2007 ‌iPhone‌ with a silver body, a home button, and thick black bezels.

There's even a plush version of Apple's classic Finder Icon, and the multi-colored Spinning Wheel (of death) pillow is a life size version of the classic Mac icon that we've seen at one time or another.

All Throwboy pillows are soft, squishy, and ideal for use as a throw pillow on a couch, bed, or chair. These pillows also make great gift ideas for Apple enthusiasts, and they brighten up your office space. For the month of August, use the promo code "AUGUST" when checking out to get a 15 percent discount.

We have 10 of Throwboy's pillows to give away, and each winner will be able to pick their favorite pillow. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (August 27) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 3. The winners will be chosen randomly on September 3 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Twitter has started rolling out its new Ticketed Spaces feature to iOS users, the company has announced.

Twitter Spaces allow users to host live audio discussions that other users can listen in to. Now, some Twitter users on iOS will be able to create Ticketed Spaces that have a small fee to join, allowing hosts to make money from sales directly on the popular social media platform.

Users over the age of 18 who have hosted at least three Spaces in the past 30 days and have at least 1,000 followers have been able to apply to host Ticketed Spaces since June, but the feature has not been live until now.

Hosts receive 67 percent of the proceeds from ticket sales, with 30 percent going to Apple as an in-app purchase fee and three percent going to Twitter. If a host's total lifetime earnings on Twitter pass $50,000, then Twitter plans to raise its commission rate to 20 percent.

It is not clear how many users are now eligible to host Ticketed Spaces or when Twitter plans to roll out the functionality to all users. Even so, any iOS user is able to buy a ticket to join a Ticketed Spaces session.

Apple on Thursday evening announced it has reached a $100 million settlement that, pending court approval, will resolve a class action lawsuit from U.S. developers who alleged that Apple has a monopoly on the distribution of iOS apps and in-app purchases.

As part of the settlement, some U.S. developers would be entitled to receive a payment from Apple, so long as they meet certain requirements.

Who is eligible for a payment from Apple?

According to law firm Hagens Berman, which brought the lawsuit against Apple in 2019, the class includes any current or former U.S. developer of an iOS app that earned less than $1 million through the U.S. App Store in paid downloads and/or in-app purchases/subscriptions per calendar year between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021.

How can I submit a claim for a payment from Apple?

Eligible developers will be able to submit a claim through the website SmallAppDeveloperAssistance.com once the settlement has received court approval.

When can I submit a claim for a payment from Apple?

Developers can sign up on SmallAppDeveloperAssistance.com to be notified when the site launches. No specific timeframe has been provided, but in a court filing, law firm Hagens Berman proposed that the claims period begin within 45 days after court approval. Developers would then have a proposed 120 days to submit a claim.

How much will my payment be from Apple?

Eligible developers will be able to receive a payment between $250 and $30,000 from Apple depending on their total App Store earnings between June 4, 2015 and April 26, 2021, as outlined in the chart below from the settlement filing.

According to law firm Hagens Berman, a 100% claims rate is not likely, meaning that not all eligible developers will file for a payment from Apple. In that event, the law firm said the minimum payment amounts will increase proportionally, meaning that eligible developers may ultimately receive a larger payment from Apple.

Any leftover funds after payments to developers who submitted a claim would be sent to Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization that works to close the gender gap in computer science and programming, according to the settlement filing.

Why did Apple agree to this settlement?

According to the settlement filing, class members who do not opt out "expressly agree to the appropriateness of Apple's commission structure" for the App Store, including the Small Business Program. Class members also release their claims against Apple, including any claim that they were "overcharged" by virtue of Apple's commission on paid app downloads and/or in-app purchases/subscriptions through the App Store.

Can I opt out of the settlement?

Yes. Developers who opt out of the class action lawsuit will not be eligible for a payment from Apple but will retain their individual rights to sue Apple for the claims alleged in the complaint. Details on the opt-out process will likely be shared on the settlement website once it is live, or developers can contact law firm Hagens Berman.

Where can I get more details about the lawsuit?

The class action lawsuit, Cameron et al v. Apple Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in June 2019. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presided over the case. The original complaint is available on CourtListener and more details are available on law firm Hagens Berman's website.

Images purporting to show counterfeit clones of upcoming Apple Watch Series 7 models have been shared online, giving a closer look at the device's expected redesign.

The images, shared in a tweet from the user known as "Majin Bu," show counterfeit clones of the Apple Watch Series 7 in Space Gray, Silver, and Space Black. The design of the clones closely matches the redesign that is expected to bring squared-off edges to the Apple Watch, much like those of the iPhone 12 lineup, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and 24-inch iMac.

Although the units in the images are clones and not legitimate Apple devices, they may give the best impression yet of what we can expect the new Apple Watch design to look like in the real world. Majin Bu explained that these Apple Watch Series 7 clones will sell for around $60 in China.

The design of the Apple Watch Series 7 has only been seen thus far in renders that were reportedly based on leaked images and alleged industry-sourced CAD renders, featuring two long speaker grilles along the left side of the device, squared-off edges, and a thinner casing.

Although the Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to be 1.7mm thinner than the Series 6, it is worth bearing in mind that this change may not have been carried over to the clones and the smartwatches depicted in these images may look thicker than the authentic devices.

Clones of popular Apple products are commonly made in China, often in the hopes of duping customers into thinking that they are the real thing. The issue is so widespread that Apple has a team whose sole focus is to crack down on counterfeit products and prevent them from being sold.

Earlier this year in March, images of third-generation AirPods clones emerged online. Given that these AirPods have yet to launch over half a year later, it goes to show how far in advance counterfeit manufacturing operations in China take place. Nevertheless, the range of images showing third-generation AirPods clones have given the clearest look yet at the expected design of the new wireless earbuds.

The Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to be unveiled by Apple as soon as next month, likely alongside the ‌iPhone‌ 13 lineup, offering improved display technology and Ultra Wideband connectivity, a faster processor, a bigger battery, and more.

It's no secret that Apple and Google have a considerable monetary agreement that ensures Google's position as the default search engine on Apple's devices. In a new investor note by financial advisor Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi, the analyst claims Google's payment to Apple to maintain the status quo could reach $15 billion in 2021, up from $10 billion last year.

First reported by Ped30, Sacconaghi's note estimates that Google's payments to Apple could continue increasing on-year and approach $18-20 billion in 2022. The Bernstein analyst bases his numbers on Apple's public filings as well as a bottom-up analysis of Google's traffic acquisition costs.

Google's agreement with Apple in the search and advertising markets has been in place for over a decade, but with Google's search engine dominance coming under increasing scrutiny in recent years, Bernstein analysts believe the agreement could face a regulatory risk.

In addition, Yahoo and Microsoft have both been interested in inking a deal with Apple to overthrow Google as the default search engine on iOS devices, and the analysts suggest Google's huge payments to Apple are made to ensure Microsoft doesn't outbid it.

We see two potential risks to GOOG’s payments to AAPL: (1) regulatory risk, which we believe is real, but likely years away; we see a potential 4-5% impact to Apple’s gross profits from an adverse ruling; & (2) that Google chooses to stop paying Apple to be the default search engine altogether, or looks to renegotiate terms and pay less. We have noted in prior research that GOOG is likely paying to ensure Microsoft doesn’t outbid it. That said, with payments likely to approach $18 – $20B in FY 22, it not implausible that Google could revisit its strategy.

Last year, the U.S. Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google, claiming the Mountain View-based company has used anticompetitive and exclusionary practices in the search and advertising markets to maintain an unlawful monopoly. One of the main complaints against Google is its deal with Apple that allows Google to be the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser and other search tools.

Last year, Sacconaghi argued Apple should purchase a search engine outright to put pressure on Google. Sacconaghi's reasoning was that Apple doesn't have many alternatives to Google, with its only leverage being a swap to Bing. However, the analyst also warned that such a move could trigger regulatory oversight that could ultimately block the acquisition, putting Apple in a worse position than before.

Speculation mounted in 2020 that Apple was planning to launch its own search engine, after increased activity was noted from its web crawler, but the uptick was later put down to Apple's efforts to improve Siri and Spotlight search results, and the rumor has so far come to nothing.

Apple today announced plans to make several changes to the App Store in order to settle a class-action lawsuit that was brought against Apple by developers in the United States.

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.

Apple says that the settlement will make the ‌App Store‌ an "even better business opportunity for developers" while maintaining the safety of the ‌App Store‌.

"From the beginning, the App Store has been an economic miracle; it is the safest and most trusted place for users to get apps, and an incredible business opportunity for developers to innovate, thrive, and grow," said Phil Schiller, Apple Fellow who oversees the App Store. "We would like to thank the developers who worked with us to reach these agreements in support of the goals of the App Store and to the benefit of all of our users."

To establish a settlement, Apple and the developers involved in the lawsuit have come to an agreement that "identifies seven key priorities shared by Apple and small developers." Apple will implement the following measures, as outlined in court papers:

• Apple will maintain the ‌App Store‌ Small Business Program in its current structure for the next three years. Businesses earning less than $1 million annually will continue to pay a reduced 15 percent commission, while developers earning over that target will pay the standard 30 percent commission.
• ‌App Store‌ search results will continue to be based on objective characteristics like downloads, star ratings, text relevance, and user behavior signals. Apple will maintain the current ‌App Store‌ search system for at least three years.
• Apple will allow developers to use communications like email to share information about payment methods available outside of their iOS apps. Developers will not pay Apple a commission on purchases taking place outside of the app or the ‌App Store‌. Users must consent to the communication and can opt out.
• Apple will expand the number of price points available to developers for subscriptions, in-app purchases, and paid apps from fewer than 100 to more than 500. Developers had complained about the $0.99 minimum price available in the ‌App Store‌ and the inability to offer price points not ending in $0.99, so that may change.
• Apple will maintain the option for developers to appeal the rejection of an app based on perceived unfair treatment. Apple will add content to the App Review website to help developers better understand the appeals process.
• Apple will create an annual transparency report based on ‌App Store‌ data, which will provide meaningful statistics about the app review process, including the number of apps rejected for different reasons, the number of customer and developer accounts deactivated, objective data regarding search queries and results, and the number of apps removed from the ‌App Store‌.
• Apple is paying $100 million to developers to settle the lawsuit, and the money is being distributed as part of a "Small Developer Assistance Fund." Developers can claim between $250 and $30,000 based on their historic ‌App Store‌ participation. Eligible developers must have earned $1 million or less through the U.S. storefront for all of their apps in every calendar year in which the developers had an account between June 4, 2015, and April 26, 2021, a figure that encompasses 99 percent of U.S. developers. More information will be provided at a later date, and there is a settlement website, but it is not yet working.

The class-action lawsuit dates back to 2019 when a group of iOS developers accused Apple of using its ‌App Store‌ monopoly to impose "profit-killing" commissions. The lawsuit took issue with Apple's 30 percent cut of ‌App Store‌ sales, and was largely addressed with the late 2020 announcement of the App Store Small Business Program that cut the commission that small developers have to pay to 15 percent.

The developers who filed the lawsuit were also unhappy with Apple's minimum $0.99 purchase price for apps and in-app purchases, and they took issue with the $99 Apple Developer fee.

Apple will be implementing these changes pending approval from Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is overseeing the case. Rogers is also handling the ongoing Epic v. Apple lawsuit.

Samsung earlier this month unveiled the new Galaxy Z Fold 3, its latest flagship foldable smartphone. We thought we'd check out the Z Fold 3 to see the technology improvements that Samsung has made to its foldable smartphone lineup.

Foldable smartphones are still expensive, and as a Samsung flagship, the Z Fold 3 is priced starting at $1,799.99, which is more than you have to shell out for some computers. Of course, this is meant to serve as both a phone and a tablet, so there's a little more versatility than your average smartphone.

Design wise, the Z Fold 3 is Samsung's best foldable device yet because the camera is under the display for an all-display design. It looks great and while it's not entirely hidden, it maximizes available screen space.

The Z Fold 3 is a book-like device where the two sides come together in an inward fold. When folded, the outside display measures in at 6.2 inches, and when unfolded, it has a full 7.6-inch display inside. We found the display to be brighter, sharper, and more vibrant than Samsung's Z Fold 2.

Other than the fold and the in-display camera, the Z Fold 3 is basically on par with other smartphones. It has a 120Hz display, three 12-megapixel rear lenses, and a 10-megapixel front camera. It features IPX8 water resistance, a 4,400mAh battery, and a protective display film that's more durable than Samsung's past foldable devices.

The Z Fold 3 is Samsung's first foldable that supports the S Pen, and Samsung designed an S Pen just for the new smartphone. It has a tip that's designed to retract a bit while you're writing to prevent damage to the display, and it features the same S Pen functionality available with other Samsung devices. The S Pen is an optional add-on, though, so there's no dedicated storage.

As for the folding functionality, Samsung did a better job with the hinge this year and the folding mechanism feels more durable and like it will better hold up to damage.

At this price point, the Z Fold 3 is still a niche device that most people aren't going to want to pay the price for, but it's a definite improvement over the prior Z Fold 2. Samsung now has a few years of foldable device development on Apple, so it will be interesting to see how Apple's foldable iPhone measures up should one ever see a release.