Apple today reminded developers that App Store apps that allow for account creation must also allow users to initiate deletion of their account from within the app starting early next year. The requirement applies to all app submissions starting January 31, 2022.
The requirement follows updates to the App Store Review Guidelines in June. Apple encouraged developers to review any laws that may require them to maintain certain types of data, such as electronic health records, sales records, and warranty records.
As discovered earlier this week, Apple also confirmed that a revamped "Report a Problem" link has returned to App Store app pages on iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey so users can more easily report concerns with apps they've downloaded, such as scams. This feature is currently available for users in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, and Apple says it will expand to other regions over time.
"Problematic apps diminish the App Store experience for users and developers, and we're constantly expanding techniques to identify even more types of problematic content for removal," said Apple. "If we suspect that a developer has engaged in purposeful manipulation, fraud or abuse, we will notify them and take action. Consequences may include removal of apps and may impact their Apple Developer Program membership."
Apple on Tuesday released firmware version 4A400 for the second-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. On the AirPods Pro, the update enables a new Conversation Boost feature that Apple previewed at WWDC earlier this year.
Apple says Conversation Boost is designed to help people with mild hearing challenges stay more connected in conversations. The feature uses the AirPods Pro's beam-forming microphones to boost the volume of a person talking in front of you, making it easier to listen to a face-to-face conversation, and there is also an option to reduce ambient noise.
How to Turn On Conversation Boost
To turn on Conversation Boost, the AirPods Pro must be updated to firmware version 4A400. AirPods Pro firmware updates are installed over the air, but there is no manual way to force an update. In general, AirPods Pro connected to an iPhone or iPad should automatically update to the latest firmware version after a fairly short period of time. It may help to keep the AirPods Pro in their charging case and connected to a power source.
You can check your AirPods Pro firmware by following these steps:
Connect your AirPods Pro to your iOS device.
Open the Settings app.
Tap on General.
Tap on About.
Tap on AirPods.
Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."
Once the AirPods Pro are updated, Conversation Boost can be turned on by following these steps on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 15 or iPadOS 15:
The European Commission is planning to charge Apple with anticompetitive behavior with regards to Apple Pay, since it is the only payment service that can use the iPhone's Near-Field Communication (NFC) chip, Reuters reports.
EU antitrust investigator Margrethe Vestager has been investigating Apple Pay since June last year, but the European Commission has since centered its focus on the NFC chip alone, according to individuals familiar with the matter speaking to Reuters.
The NFC chip in the iPhone and Apple Watch enables tap-and-go contactless payments, but Apple Pay is the only payment service that can use this hardware. On Android devices, multiple payment services can offer contactless payments using the NFC chip, but on the iPhone, no rival services are allowed to leverage the NFC hardware.
The Commission's preliminary concerns also reportedly include Apple's terms and conditions on how Apple Pay should be used in merchants' apps and on websites. Concerns may have been raised by Apple Pay's wide reach and better user experience on the iPhone compared to other services, and accelerated by the growth of contactless payments during the global health crisis.
The EU competition enforcer is now believed to be preparing a statement of objections to charge Apple with anticompetitive conduct, which is expected to be sent to the company next year. The antitrust charge could put Apple at risk of a large fine and force it to open the NFC chip to rival payment systems in Europe. Similar investigations have also been opened in Australia.
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.
LG Display has begun developing an OLED panel for a 12.9-inch iPad model that features improved brightness, longevity, and durability, according to The Elec.
The Elec recently reported that Apple is preparing to release two new iPad Pro models with low-power LTPO OLED displays in 2023 or 2024. The new models could feature improved ProMotion with a wider range of refresh rates.
Further to that report, The Elec is now claiming that LG Display is planning to begin production of a 12.9-inch OLED display for an iPad between the end of 2023 and 2024. Samsung Display is also expected to be preparing to supply panels for the OLED iPad Pro models alongside LG Display, now that the OLED iPad Air that Samsung was working on for 2022 has reportedly been canceled.
LG Display is reportedly planning to use LTPO TFT technology to make the OLED panel up to two times brighter and prolong its working life by up to four times. Since consumers keep iPads for longer than iPhones, longevity and durability are said to be important goals for the display.
The panels are expected to use the same Gen 6 substrates used in the iPhone 13 Pro models, which already support LTPO TFT technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz. This could allow for a much wider range of refresh rates between 10Hz and 120Hz.
As per the previous report, Apple is currently planning to launch 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPads that use OLED panels in 2023 or 2024. The iPad Pro now appears to be Apple's focus for its first tablets with OLED displays, rather than the iPad Air. That being said, the report notes that Apple could still choose to use OLED technology on the iPad Air first due to pricing and supply volume.
Today we're tracking a few notable discounts across Apple and Beats products, including the first straight cash markdown on the AirTag 4-pack.
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.
AirTag
At Woot, you can get the AirTag 4-pack for $94.99, down from $99.00. While this isn't a particularly steep discount, it is one of the first times we've tracked any deal on the AirTag 4-Pack, so if you've been holding off now is a great time to buy the accessory.
The AirTag 4-pack comes with a one year Apple Manufacturer Limited Warranty, and has a delivery estimate between October 13 and October 15. Amazon Prime members get free standard shipping as well, but you don't need to be a Prime member to get the deal.
Beats
As part of its new pre-holiday "Epic Daily Deals" event, Amazon today expanded the sale to include a few Beats headphones at notable low prices. This starts with the Powerbeats Pro at $159.95, down from $199.95 in Black, Cloud Pink, Glacier Blue, Ivory, Lava Red, and Navy.
This is a match of the previous Amazon all-time low price, and overall the second-best price we've ever tracked on the headphones. This deal will last one day only, and expire later tonight.
Similarly, you can get the Beats Studio Buds for $124.95, down from $149.95 in Black, Red, and White. This sale doesn't have a specific end date, but it's under the Epic Daily Deals banner so if you're interested be sure to make your purchase soon.
Following complaints of "jelly scrolling" on the iPad mini 6 display, another issue has gained traction online that also has to do with the device's 8.3-inch Liquid Retina LCD panel.
A poster on Reddit brought attention to a discoloration and distortion issue that they were having when touching the screen with the iPad in portrait orientation.
I got my 64gb Wi-Fi iPad Mini 6 just about a week ago and noticed that there seems to be an LCD clearance issue – if you put your mini in vertical orientation (with the power button on the top right) push very lightly on the screen and you will see distortion and discoloration about an inch down and in from the top right. On most models this will happen in three spots along the top of the display (when vertical).
The Redditor claims they received a replacement from Apple, except the new device had the same problem, "but worse." While a handful of users replied to the original poster saying they were experiencing a similar issue – although for one or two, it was reportedly evident in another part of the display – most users who engaged with the post were unable to replicate it on their own device.
For what it's worth, MacRumors was unable to reproduce a similar distortion effect around the area suggested in the top-right corner of the iPad mini's screen. It is possible to create distortion where the finger makes contact anywhere on the display, but only by exerting unwarranted pressure. But then the same effect is demonstrable on any LCD panel when applying undue pressure, so we were unconvinced that what we were seeing was evidence of a mass defect with the panel in the iPad mini 6.
Users seeing a similar issue as to the one demonstrated in the above video have the option of taking their iPad mini 6 to an Apple Store or Repair Center to ask for a replacement unit.
As for the jelly scrolling issue, Apple has said that the effect is normal behavior for an LCD screen, and that likely means the company does not plan to offer replacements for users who are seeing this issue. For that reason, those unhappy with the iPad mini's display should make sure to return the tablet within its 14 day return window.
In a new interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he's worried about the "endless, mindless scrolling" behavior that social media inspires people to undertake and is generally concerned that people are "using technology too much."
The interview conducted with Bustle touched heavily on Apple's support of Shine, an app designed to fight social stigmas around mental health issues and is "another powerful example of how technology can be used to help improve people's lives," according to Cook. During the interview, Cook said that "mental health is a crisis" and that he tackles the day-to-day stress of being Apple's CEO by meditation and "being out in nature and feeling so insignificant in the world."
Talking about online and technology addiction, Cook repeated a claim he's made previously, having said that "technology should serve humanity and not the other way around" and that he's fundamentally worried that people are using technology too much, and Apple's aim is to try and help them.
I've always thought that technology should serve humanity and not the other way around. And I always worried about people using technology too much. And so, we came out with Screen Time to try to give people a true reading of the amount of time they're really spending on their devices because generally, it's a lot more than they say.
Cook went on to state that the "endless scrolling" of social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, although not mentioned directly, are surrounding users with "negativity." He said that Apple wants its customers to enjoy their products to connect with family and friends, not to use them for "endless, mindless scrolling."
Aza Raskin, the creator of the infinite scrolling mechanism on social media, said in 2019 that he is "so sorry" for his invention, adding that he regrets what it's done to society. He said the goal with the idea was to help create the "most seamless experience possible for users," but that regrettably, it has turned out to be a ploy to "keep them online for as long as possible."
The Shine app with a "mission to make caring for your mental health easier, more representative, and more inclusive" was crowned Apple's best app of 2020 is available to download for free on the App Store [Direct Link].
Safari 15 has faced a barrage of complaints about its controversial new design, and while Apple has listened to user feedback and reversed some changes or made them optional, many users still struggle to discern an active tab from a background tab on the Mac browser because of the inverted shading.
Unfortunately for users who do not like the new design, Apple has not made any changes to the shading of tabs in either the Safari 15.1 beta or the latest version of the experimental Safari Technology Preview browser.
Fortunately however, developer Zhenyi Tan was inspired by John Gruber's Daring Fireballarticle about the issue and has since come up with a simple Safari extension called ActiveTab that provides a solution.
ActiveTab simply makes it easier to spot the active tab in Safari on Mac by drawing a line underneath it. There are eight colors to choose from, and the line below the tab can be customized to be between 1 and 7 pixels wide.
As Zhenyi notes, the extension works best with the "Separate" tab layout selected and "Show color in tab bar" disabled in the Tab section of Safari's Preferences. Zhenyi also cautions that ActiveTab will not work reliably if you have so many tabs in a window that the tab bar becomes scrollable.
ActiveTab is available for $1.99 on the Mac App Store, with no in-app purchases, no ads, and no tracking.
Back on launch day for the iPhone 13 last month, a number of Apple Card users had difficulties placing orders for their devices, with many of those users ultimately resorting to different forms of payment in order to ensure their orders went through in a timely fashion.
As shared by a number of MacRumors readers, Apple today sent out emails to affected customers, letting them know that they will be credited with the 3% Daily Cash they would have earned on their iPhone 13 purchases even though they were unable to complete their purchases with their Apple Cards.
You successfully completed your iPhone pre-order with a payment method other than Apple Card. We understand that your initial purchase attempt with Apple Card was declined and you didn’t earn 3% Daily Cash.
We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced and want to make it up to you. We are providing you a credit for the Daily Cash on the initial payment of your iPhone 13. You’ll see this appear as a Balance Adjustment in the Wallet app. This will also appear on your October monthly statement.
If you would like to continue earning Daily Cash back on future iPhone payments with your Apple Card, please visit citizensoneloan.com to update your payment method.
If you have any questions, contact an Apple Card Specialist.
The 3% Daily Cash credits are already going through, with users able to check the Wallet app to confirm their credit has been received.
The new 4A400 AirPods Pro and AirPods Max firmware that was released this afternoon adds expanded Find My integration that Apple first promised as an iOS 15 feature back in June.
With the update, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max are able to take advantage of the Find My network, allowing them to be located through connections with the Apple devices owned by other people.
Prior to now, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max were listed in the Find My app, but if they were out of Bluetooth range, they would only display last known location. Through the update, the Find My network will provide an approximate location for the AirPods to help you get within Bluetooth range to track down your headphones using the Play a Sound feature.
Apple device users are largely underwhelmed by the iPhone 13 lineup and the Apple Watch Series 7, according to the findings of a new survey by SellCell.
The survey asked 5,000 iPhone users aged 18 or over in the United States between September 23 and 30 what they thought of the recently announced iPhone 13 models and Apple Watch Series 7.
64 percent of users said that the iPhone 13 lineup is "not very" or "not at all" exciting. 21.5 percent felt that the iPhone 13 models are "somewhat" exciting, and only 14.4 percent said that they are "extremely" or "very exciting."
A minority of respondents, 23.3 percent, intend to upgrade to an iPhone 13 model, which is a 20.5 percent drop from a pre-launch survey conducted two months ago that put purchase intent for the iPhone 13 as high as 43.7 percent. This indicates a significant decline in interest around the iPhone 13 after it was announced.
Among the 23.3 percent that intend to upgrade to an iPhone 13 model, the 6.1-inch iPhone 13 Pro is overwhelmingly the most popular pick with 42.5 percent of responses. The 6.7-inch iPhone 13 Pro Max was the next most popular with 26.3 percent, followed by the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13 with 22 percent.
The 5.4-inch iPhone 13 mini continues the trend of the iPhone 12 mini, with just 9.2 percent of respondents intending to buy the smallest iPhone 13. Apple's smallest iPhones have struggled to gain traction with a significant proportion of consumers over the past year, leading to the expectation that Apple will discontinue the 5.4-inch model size in 2022 in favor of a new, larger 6.7-inch "iPhone 14 Max" model.
Of the 23.3 percent that plan to upgrade, the main reason to do so was the ProMotion display and longer battery life for 34.1 percent and 25.3 percent of respondents, respectively. 26.2 percent said that there was no clear reason to buy an iPhone 13 model but they were simply due an upgrade or were locked into a yearly upgrade or trade-in program.
The iPhone 13's camera improvements, such as larger sensors and Cinematic mode, have been among the features most heavily promoted by Apple this year, but just 5.4 percent of respondents planning to upgrade cited the camera improvements as the main reason to upgrade.
Likewise, the new 1TB storage option was only credited by 3.2 percent of users as a reason to upgrade. The much-decried notch, which finally saw a 20 percent reduction in size on the iPhone 13 models, was commended by only 1.5 percent of respondents as a main reason to upgrade.
Of the 76.8 percent of existing iPhone users who are not interested in buying an iPhone 13 model, 29.3 percent said that the lack of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner was the main factor for holding off. 19.5 percent said that there were no major features to warrant an upgrade, but other criticisms included the lack of an always-on display, a notch-free design, 120Hz on the standard models, and a USB-C port.
New color options, such as Sierra Blue and Starlight, were the main reason to upgrade for 1.1 percent of respondents. On the other hand, 2.4 percent said that dislike of the available color options was the main reason for not upgrading.
36.8 percent of those that are not planning to upgrade said that they are waiting for the iPhone 14 instead. 16.1 percent are switching to an Android device, with 45.1 percent of these users planning to buy a Google device, 41.8 percent planning to buy a Samsung device, and 8.4 percent planning to buy a OnePlus device.
With regards to the other products that Apple announced at its California Streaming special event last month, 18.2 percent of iPhone users are planning to buy a new iPad following the launch of the sixth-generation iPad mini and ninth-generation iPad.
Like the iPhone 13, the Apple Watch Series 7 also appears to have underwhelmed users according to the survey, despite its larger display, more durable design, and faster charging. Just 7.5 percent of iPhone users said that they are planning to buy an Apple Watch Series 7 model. Pre-orders for the Apple Watch Series 7 open on Friday, October 8.
Apple today released new firmware updates for the second-generation AirPods, the AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max. All three of the AirPod models are now running 4A400 firmware, up from 3E751 for the standard AirPods, 3E756 for the AirPods Max, and 3E751 for the AirPods Pro.
Apple has also released new 4A394 firmware for the Beats Solo Pro, Powerbeats 4, and Powerbeats Pro.
Apple does not offer information on what's included in refreshed firmware for the AirPods Pro, so we don't know what improvements or bug fixes the new firmware brings. The update likely adds Conversation Boost to the AirPods Pro.
Conversation Boost is an iOS 15 feature that uses the beamforming microphones in the AirPods Pro to boost the volume level of conversations, which is ideal for those with mild to moderate hearing challenges.
There's no standard way to upgrade the AirPods software, but firmware is generally installed over-the-air while the AirPods are connected to an iOS device. Putting the AirPods in the case, connecting the AirPods to a power source, and then pairing the AirPods to an iPhone or an iPad should force the update after a short period of time.
You can check your AirPods or AirPods Pro firmware by following these steps:
Connect your AirPods or AirPods Pro to your iOS device.
Open the Settings app.
Tap General.
Tap About.
Tap AirPods.
Look at the number next to "Firmware Version."
If we find notable changes after the firmware updates are installed, we'll share details, but the software likely includes performance improvements and bug fixes.
Apple CEO Tim Cook today reflected on Steve Jobs in a touching memo to employees that was obtained by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Jobs passed away 10 years ago today at the age of 56 following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
In the memo, Cook said that Jobs was a husband, a father, a friend, and a visionary who left an extraordinary legacy behind, adding that not a day goes by that he doesn't think about him. Apple's former design chief Jony Ive shared similarly heartfelt comments about Jobs this week, describing him as the most inquisitive human he has ever met.
Cook's full memo reads as follows:
Team,
Today marks the 10th anniversary of Steve's passing. It's a moment to celebrate his life and to reflect on the extraordinary legacy he left behind.
Steve believed that "people with passion can change the world for the better." That's the philosophy that inspired him to create Apple. And it lives in us today.
Steve was so many things: brilliant, funny, and wise, a husband, a father, a friend, and, of course, a visionary. He challenged us to see the world not for what it was, but for what it could be. And he helped so many people, myself included, see the same potential in ourselves. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him.
This year, as much as any other, we're reminded of the profound impact our products have on the world. I feel so lucky that we spend our days creating wildly innovative tools that connect people, inspire them to think differently, and empower them to make their own dent in the universe, too. It's one of the many gifts that Steve gave to all of us.
I wish Steve were here to see the way his spirit lives on in all of your amazing work. But most of all, I wish he could see what you do next. Steve once said that his proudest achievements were the ones that were yet to come. He spent every day imagining a future that no one else could see and working relentlessly to bring his vision to life.
Steve was a singular figure, but he taught us all how to soar. I miss him, and I will cherish him always.
A number of banks are currently pressuring Visa to make changes to the way it processes some payments made via Apple Pay, moves that would reduce the fees the banks pay to Apple for certain transactions, reports The Wall Street Journal.
At the heart of the issue are automatic recurring payments like memberships and streaming services. Visa is aiming to change the way it issues tokens for Apple Pay cards such that Apple would only receive a transaction fee on an initial subscription payment and not on subsequent transactions.
When Apple introduced Apple Pay in 2014, the iPhone had already clobbered music players, cameras and GPS systems. Banks and card networks worried it also would displace card payments.
Banks agreed to pay Apple 0.15% of each purchase made by their credit cardholders. (They pay a separate fee on debit-card transactions.) Those fees account for most of the revenue that Apple makes from its digital wallet, according to people familiar with the matter.
Aside from the fee arrangement, Apple garnered several other concessions from credit card issuers as it rolled out Apple Pay, and in exchange, Apple agreed not to launch its own credit card network to go up against Visa and Mastercard.
With the launch of Apple Card in partnership with Goldman Sachs, Apple has become more of a direct competitor to other banks, and some bank executives have reportedly been angered by Apple's move and are seeking ways to reduce the payments they make to Apple.
Apple has unsurprisingly informed Visa that it objects to the proposed change that would reduce the fees it receives on recurring transactions, so it remains to be seen whether Visa will follow through on its plans, which are scheduled to go into effect next year.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has previously stated that Apple's greatest contribution to mankind will be related to health, but Insider's Blake Dodge today reported that the company's health team has faced internal issues and a series of high-level departures.
The report, based on conversations with 11 current and former Apple employees and the review of dozens of documents, claims that Apple's health team has faced organizational problems that have left the group "without clear direction and struggling to mesh Apple's hardware-oriented culture with the practices of the medical business."
Some of the employees cited in the report said colleagues faced negative treatment after raising concerns, while some employees expressed concerns about inaccurate information reaching Apple's senior leadership, including Apple's COO Jeff Williams, who oversees both the Apple Watch and the company's broader health initiatives.
In a statement, Apple said many of the assertions in the story "are based on incomplete, outdated, and inaccurate information," adding that "any and all allegations of retaliatory behavior are investigated thoroughly and handled with appropriate corrective actions."
Insider's report provides more details about specific allegations from within Apple's health team.
Apple is now the most popular watch brand among upper-income teenagers in the United States, a new survey by Piper Sandler has shown.
Teen smartwatch ownership has climbed from 30 percent in the fall of 2020 to 35 percent in the fall of 2021. 30 percent of teens now own an Apple Watch, an increase of five percent from the same time last year. Apple now has an 86 percent market share among teen smartwatch owners.
Rolex was previously the reigning most popular watch brand among upper-income teens, but Apple is now the most popular watch brand in this demographic. In the spring of this year, only 13 percent of teens intended to buy an Apple Watch, but this has now increased slightly to 15 percent.
The survey also showed that 30 percent of teens use a fitness app when working out, and 50 percent of these users use an Apple app. In addition, AirPods are owned by 67 percent of teens.
87 percent of teens own an iPhone and 88 percent expect their next smartphone to be an iPhone. These are almost record-high levels. 20 percent of teens currently own an iPhone 12 model, but the iPhone 13 lineup is expected to motivate upgrades and more than 22 percent of teens expect to upgrade to an iPhone 13 model this year.
Apple Pay is the second most popular payment method among teens, but cash is still the most popular. This means that Apple Pay is now more popular than the likes of prepaid cards and PayPal.
Around half of the teenagers in the U.S. are concerned about being tracked online, but 56 percent are not interested in iCloud+, which offers privacy features such as Hide My Email and iCloud Private relay.
The findings are part of Piper Sandler's semi-annual "Taking Stock With Teens" survey, which highlights the trends and brand preferences from 10,000 teens with an average age of 15.8 years across 44 U.S. states, and research cited in an investor note seen by Apple 3.0.
VMware today kicked off a new promotion that's taking 15 percent off everything on its online store through Friday, October 8. This savings event covers software like VMware Fusion 12 Pro, VMware Fusion 12 Player, VMware Workstation 16 Pro, and more.
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.
For commercial use, the VMware Fusion 12 Player software is priced at $126.65, down from $149.00. If you're upgrading from Fusion 10 or greater, you can pay $67.15 for Fusion 12, down from $79.00.
If you're interested in Fusion 12 Player for personal use, a personal use license is free with a valid MyVMware account. Only those who intend to use the software in a commercial setting will need to pay for the license.
You can also get VMware Fusion 12 Pro at the discounted price of $169.15, down from $199.00 for a commercial use license. The Pro version of the software includes a license to run on up to three machines, along with other features.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple is planning two new iPad Pro models with low-power LTPO OLED displays for release in 2023 or 2024, according to Korean website The Elec. The report claims that one of the new models will likely have a 12.9-inch display.
While the iPad Pro has featured ProMotion since 2017, the device supports a smaller range of refresh rates between 24Hz and 120Hz. Following in the footsteps of the iPhone 13 Pro, the switch to LTPO OLED display technology could pave the way for future iPad Pro models to support a wider range of refresh rates between 10Hz and 120Hz.
Refresh rates supported by 2017 and newer iPad Pro models:
120Hz
60Hz
40Hz
30Hz
24Hz
Refresh rates supported by the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max:
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.
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.
