Joe Rossignol

Joe joined MacRumors as an Editor in January 2015, based out of Toronto, Canada. He has been writing about Apple since 2008, with bylines at 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, and many other tech-focused publications.

Joe has been cited by major media outlets, including Bloomberg News, CBS, CNBC, CNN, NBC, Reuters, TechCrunch, and The Washington Post. Many of his headlines have been featured by tech news aggregator Techmeme.



PSA: Google Calendar Experiencing Syncing Issues With Apple Calendar

Friday August 23, 2019 10:10 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Google and Apple calendars are not playing friendly right now. As alerted to us by multiple MacRumors readers, there appears to be a syncing issue with Google Calendar and Apple's Calendar that began within the past 24 hours or so. The issue prevents Google Calendar entries from appearing in Apple's Calendar app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices. @MacRumors have you heard anything about this? No responses from @AppleSupport or @Google but many people posting the same issue on here and forums.— Ian Laverick (@djianlaverick) August 23, 2019 The underlying cause is unknown at this time, but anecdotal customer reports across the Google support forums and Twitter suggest that the issue is on Google's end. In any case, a fix is likely in the
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ZENS Unveils AirPower-Like Wireless Charger With 16 Coils to Charge Two Devices Anywhere on Mat

Friday August 23, 2019 7:57 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Dutch brand ZENS today unveiled a wireless charging mat with 16 overlapping coils, allowing two devices to be charged anywhere on the mat. The ZENS Liberty will be able to charge any Qi-enabled devices, with the 16 coils providing a total output of 30W, while a built-in 2.4A USB port will be able to charge an additional device. Designed with high-grade aluminum, the mat will be powered by a 45W power adapter that connects via USB-C. Other wireless charging mats released to date have fewer coils, resulting in devices needing to be placed in specific spots on the mat to charge. This is the closest alternative we have ever seen to Apple's canceled AirPower mat, which would have been able to charge three devices placed anywhere on the mat, including an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Of course, the ZENS mat will not have the same level of software integration with Apple devices. Apple canceled the AirPower in March, noting that "after much effort," the mat failed to achieve its "high standards." An earlier report from Sonny Dickson claimed the AirPower would have been equipped with 21 to 24 coils, but reports claimed the mat suffered from overheating and potentially dangerous electromagnetic interference issues. ZENS says the mat will be available in November for $139.99, with a limited edition version with see-through glass set to be offered for
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Android 10 Announced as Google Drops Dessert-Inspired Names

Thursday August 22, 2019 8:21 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Google today announced its next major version of Android will be named Android 10, as the company has decided to move past dessert-inspired names for the operating system like Ice Cream Sandwich, Lollipop, and Marshmallow. Android's new logo Android's naming scheme is now consistent with iOS. Android is only on version 10 though, compared to iOS 13, because Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and KitKat were all considered version 4.0 through version 4.4.4 releases between 2011 and 2014. Android also launched over a year after the original iPhone. Until now, Android 10 was expected to be named Android Q, but there are few well-known desserts that start with that letter, perhaps contributing to Google's decision to switch to a numbered scheme. Google also admitted that the dessert names "weren't always understood by everyone in the global community." Google has also revamped the Android logo for the first time since 2014 and shared a video to unveil the new branding: The final beta of Android 10 was seeded earlier this month. The update will be publicly released in the third
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2019 iPhones Said to Have Improved Shatter Resistance, Multi-Angle Face ID That Works Flat on Tables

Thursday August 22, 2019 5:03 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu have shared expectations for Apple's fall product lineup and beyond, revealing new details plus existing rumors about upcoming iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, HomePod, and AirPods models. Starting with the iPhone, the report claims the widely rumored triple-lens rear camera system on the higher-end models will enable a larger field of view for capturing ultra-wide-angle photos and videos, in addition to improving low-light photos. New editing tools while recording video are also expected. The high-end iPhones will look nearly identical to the current models from the front, but at least some colors on the back will have a new matte finish, according to the report. Interestingly, he adds that the new iPhones should better withstand drops due to an unspecified "new shatter-resistance technology." The report claims a new multi-angle Face ID sensor that captures a wider field of view will enable users to unlock the next iPhones more easily, even when the devices are laying flat on a table for example. Other features outlined for 2019 iPhones include "dramatically enhanced" water resistance and faster A13 processors with a new co-processor known internally as "AMX" or "matrix." As for the next iPhone XR, the report corroborates rumors of it gaining a dual-lens rear camera and a new green color option. As for the iPad, the report claims both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will be refreshed in 2019 with improved cameras and faster processors. The report also backs the rumor of a 10.2-inch iPad launching later this year.
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Apple Files Several Unreleased Apple Watch and iPhone Models in Eurasian Database

Wednesday August 21, 2019 7:58 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Just weeks away from its annual September event, Apple has filed several unreleased iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac model numbers with the Eurasian Economic Commission today, according to filings uncovered by MacRumors. There appears to be over a dozen new iPhone models listed as running iOS 13, including A2111, A2160, A2161, A2215, A2216, A2217, A2218, A2219, A2220, A2221, A2223, A2296, and A2298, as well as four new Apple Watch models listed as running watchOS 6, including A2156, A2157, A2092, and A2093. All of those iPhone models except A2296 and A2298 were previously filed in May as running iOS 12, and have now been updated to reflect that they are running iOS 13, while the Apple Watch listings have never been seen before. As for the Mac, 11 model numbers have been filed, but all of them have either been released or were already filed in June as running macOS Mojave and have merely been updated to reflect macOS Catalina. At least one of these models could certainly be the 16-inch MacBook Pro rumored to launch this fall. The filings do not reveal specific product names, so we cannot confirm details like whether the Apple Watch models are considered Apple Watch Series 5 models, but new models of some kind are evidently coming. Leaked assets from watchOS 6 recently revealed upcoming titanium and ceramic Apple Watch finishes. The new iPhone and Apple Watch models will very likely be unveiled in September, while the new Macs will likely arrive in October or later. There are also some already-released products on the list that have been filed as running
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Chase Pay App to Shut Down in Early 2020, Will Become Limited to Websites and Apps

Wednesday August 21, 2019 6:53 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Chase Bank today announced that it will be shutting down its Chase Pay app for iOS and Android in early 2020, at which point the QR code-based payment service will no longer be available for use in stores. Chase said it is shifting its focus to expanding Chase Pay's presence in more merchant apps and websites, including Grubhub and the new Chase Center venue app launching for the upcoming Golden State Warriors season. "We continue to focus on our customers and they are using the Chase Pay button on merchant websites and in merchant apps, and now their tap-to-pay Chase cards more than ever," said Eric Connolly, head of Chase Pay. "So, we're shifting our focus to expand Chase Pay's presence in more merchant apps and websites." Chase Pay failed to gain significant traction in stores, likely because it is less convenient than contactless payment solutions like Apple Pay and Google Pay. In fairness, Chase has also offered Apple Pay since 2014. Chase began informing customers about this news by email
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2019 iPhones Said to Feature Larger Batteries Up to 3,500 mAh, Next iPhone XS May Have Dual Nano-SIM in China

Wednesday August 21, 2019 5:43 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is widely expected to unveil three new iPhones in just under three weeks, and ahead of time, Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes has shared a laundry list of its expectations for the devices. The paywalled report corroborates several existing rumors, including the 2019 iPhones having the same display sizes as the 2018 lineup, including 5.8-inch OLED, 6.5-inch OLED, and 6.1-inch LCD models. All three iPhones are said to feature Face ID, with no changes to the notch area and no 3D Touch. DigiTimes also expects the 2019 iPhones to feature A13 processors manufactured based on TSMC's 7nm process, two-way charging of wearables like the Apple Watch and AirPods on the back of the iPhones, and new colors, in line with a previous rumor of new green and lavender finishes for the next iPhone XR. The report adds that battery capacities will increase to around 3,200 mAh, 3,500 mAh, and 3,000 mAh for the next iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR respectively, which would be around 20 percent, 10 percent, and two percent larger than the batteries in the equivalent 2018 iPhones. Korean website The Elec previously claimed the next iPhone XR will sport a 3,110 mAh battery, which could still be accurate given that DigiTimes appears to be roughly estimating its reported capacities. And, of course, more cameras. The next iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max models are widely expected to sport triple-lens rear cameras, while the next iPhone XR is rumored to gain a dual-lens rear camera. On the higher-end models, the third lens is rumored to enable a "0.5x"
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Apple Watch Bands Largely Sold Out Ahead of Usual Fall Refresh

Tuesday August 20, 2019 1:12 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
While it has yet to be announced, we're likely just three weeks away from Apple's annual September event at Steve Jobs Theater, where the company is expected to unveil new iPhone and Apple Watch models. Alongside new Apple Watch models, Apple typically refreshes its assortment of bands available for the device, and this year will likely be no exception. Lending credence to this, a significant number of Apple's summer 2019 bands are now out of stock, as is usually the case leading up to a seasonal band refresh. Apple Watch bands listed as currently unavailable or sold out include the Sport Band, Sport Loop, Modern Buckle, and Leather Loop in a variety of colors and sizes, as well as many Nike and Hermès options. Apple Watch bands have been refreshed with new colors nearly every season, with brighter options like Canary Yellow in the spring and summer and darker shades like Storm Gray in the fall and winter. In fall 2018, Apple introduced three new Sport Band colors, five new Sport Loops, a gold Milanese Loop, and more. Tuesday, September 10 is the widely predicted date of Apple's event, with invites to the media likely to be issued towards the end of August. MacRumors will have live coverage of the keynote as
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Apple Arcade Games Leaked in Hands-On Video Ahead of Fall Launch

Tuesday August 20, 2019 10:32 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple Arcade is set to launch this fall, providing iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV users with access to a library of over 100 games on a subscription basis, with no ads or additional in-app purchases. Last week, 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo managed to gain access to an internal early access program for Apple Arcade intended for Apple employees. This has led to many details about the service leaking out, including its likely price of $4.99 per month with a one-month free trial in the United States. Now, 9to5Mac's Jeff Benjamin has shared a video in which he goes hands-on with six games coming to Apple Arcade, including Way of the Turtle, Down in Bermuda, Hot Lava, Kings of the Castle, Sneaky Sasquatch, and Frogger in Toy Town. Note that these are pre-release beta versions of the games. More details and screenshots of each game can be found over at 9to5Mac. For more on Apple Arcade, read our guide.
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Apple's Health Team Reportedly Facing Disagreements Over Direction, Leading to Some 'High-Profile Departures'

Tuesday August 20, 2019 9:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple's health team has faced a series of "high-profile departures" in the past year due to internal disagreements about direction, according to CNBC's Christina Farr, who cites multiple people familiar with the matter. The report explains that some Apple employees feel the company could be taking on more ambitious health-related projects like a telemedicine service or simplified insurance billing, while others are satisfied with Apple's focus on wellness and prevention like its ECG app for the Apple Watch:Tension has been increasing in the health care team in recent months, according to eight people familiar with the situation, although that undercurrent started several years ago. Some employees have become disillusioned with the group's culture, where some have thrived while others feel sidelined and unable to move their ideas forward. Four of the eight noted that some employees hoped to tackle bigger challenges with the health care system, such as medical devices, telemedicine and health payments. Instead the focus has been on features geared to a broad population of healthy users.The report acknowledges that it is unclear if the attrition rate within the health team is higher than that of other teams at Apple, so part of this could be normal day-to-day differences in opinions and turnover that a large company faces. When the ECG app for the Apple Watch was unveiled last year, the report claims that some employees were "frustrated" by the negative reaction from some doctors and others in the medical industry, as these employees are said to have pushed for a
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Apple Says Simulated Gambling Apps Will Be Rated 17+ in All Countries Starting Today

Tuesday August 20, 2019 7:30 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
In an email to developers today, received by MacRumors, Apple has announced that apps marked as having "Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling" will be rated 17+ in all countries and regions starting today. Gambling apps meeting certain related criteria will also be newly available to users in South Korea, but only to users 19 years of age or older. Apple's full email:Dear Developer, In an effort to open up additional opportunities for developers, we've worked with the government of the Republic of Korea on making more apps available on the App Store in the Republic of Korea. And to ensure that our global age rating system continues to help make the App Store safe for kids, apps that feature Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling will be rated 17+ in all countries and regions starting August 20, 2019. If your app meets at least one of the criteria below, you'll be able to offer it on the App Store in the Republic of Korea to users 19 years of age or older. You'll need to enter a Rating Classification Number from the Game Rating and Administration Committee in App Store Connect, and can do so starting August 20. Apps with a number entered at this time will be published later this week. If you don't have a Rating Classification Number, you can apply for one now. - Apps in the Casino subcategory with age rating 17+ - Apps in the Games or Entertainment categories with Frequent/Intense selected for at least one of the following content descriptions: -- Simulated Gambling -- Sexual Content or Nudity -- Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or Reference -- Realistic
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Apple Card Extending 3% Daily Cash to More Merchants, Starting With Uber and Uber Eats

Tuesday August 20, 2019 6:34 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Timed with the Apple Card launching widely in the United States today, Apple has announced that customers will now receive three percent Daily Cash when they use the Apple Card with Apple Pay for Uber and Uber Eats purchases. Apple says additional merchants and apps will begin to offer three percent Daily Cash in the coming months. The three percent reward was initially limited to purchases made directly with Apple, including at Apple Stores, Apple.com, the App Store, the iTunes Store, and for services like Apple Music and iCloud storage subscriptions. All other purchases made with the Apple Card via Apple Pay will continue to receive two percent Daily Cash, while purchases made with the physical, titanium Apple Card qualify for one percent Daily Cash. To apply for an Apple Card, simply open the Wallet app on an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or later, tap the plus button in the top-right corner, and follow the on-screen steps. The process takes just a few minutes, and if approved, your digital Apple Card will be ready for purchases immediately. Daily Cash is unlimited and paid out daily to your Apple Cash account. For more details, make sure to check out our Apple Card guide.
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Apple Pay Now Available to Danske Bank Customers

Tuesday August 20, 2019 5:37 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Danske Bank, the largest bank in Denmark, today announced it now offers Apple Pay. Apple Pay is now available to all Danske Bank personal and business customers in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, with support for both Visa and Mastercard cards. To set up a card with Apple Pay, open the Wallet app on a compatible iPhone and tap the plus button in the top-right corner. Once activated, Danske Bank cardholders can use their iPhone or Apple Watch to make purchases at stores that accept contactless payments, as well as on websites and in apps that accept Apple Pay. Apple Pay launched in Denmark in October 2017, and with Danske Bank now on board, an additional 2.7 million customers now have access to the service in the Nordic region. Apple Pay will be available in more than 40 countries and territories by the end of 2019, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook. (Thanks, Christian Schweizer and Poy!)
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Apple Has 500 Employees in Korea, Supports 325,000 Jobs in Country

Monday August 19, 2019 5:40 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today revealed job creation figures in South Korea for the first time since entering the country two decades ago, as noted by The Korea Herald. In a new page on its website, Apple says it has created and supports 325,000 jobs in South Korea, including 500 direct employees, 125,000 jobs through partners in the country like component manufacturers and product distributors, and 200,000 jobs through the App Store ecosystem. Apple's direct employees in the country include designers, customer service representatives, marketing specialists, hardware and software engineers, and retail staff at its Garosugil store in Seoul. Apple adds that Korean developers have earned 4.7 trillion won in worldwide revenue through the App Store since 2008. Last week, Apple claimed that it now supports 2.4 million jobs in the United States.
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Trump Says Tim Cook Made 'Good Case' That Tariffs Would Put Apple at Disadvantage With Rivals Like Samsung

Sunday August 18, 2019 4:14 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple CEO Tim Cook and U.S. President Donald Trump met for dinner on Friday evening, and Trump has since told reporters that the two discussed the impact of U.S. tariffs on Apple products imported from China. Melania Trump, Donald Trump, and Tim Cook in August 2018 Trump said Cook "made a good case" that tariffs could put Apple at a disadvantage given that rival Samsung's products would be less impacted by the tariffs, according to Reuters. "I thought he made a very compelling argument, so I'm thinking about it," Trump said, speaking at an airport in Morristown, New Jersey. The U.S. plans to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on approximately $300 billion of Chinese imports on September 1, but last week it delayed the tariff to December 15 for products including the iPhone, iPad, and MacBooks. Other products like the Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod are still set to be impacted September 1. In a letter to the Trump administration in June, Apple urged against the tariffs, claiming that they would reduce the company's contribution to the U.S. economy and weigh on its global competitiveness. Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues 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.
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Kuo: Apple Watch Series 5 Lineup to Launch in Fall With OLED Displays Supplied by Japan Display

Friday August 16, 2019 8:52 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Japan Display will supply OLED displays for new Apple Watch Series 5 models slated to launch in the second half of 2019, according to the latest prediction from well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a research note with TF International Securities shared with Chinese media outlets today, Kuo forecasted that Japan Display will gradually increase its proportion of OLED display orders for the Apple Watch, starting with 15-20 percent of orders in 2019 and reaching 70-80 percent in 2021. Kuo believes that Apple will also gradually increase the proportion of LG's supply of OLED displays for iPhones, and tap Chinese manufacturer BOE as an additional supplier, in a bid to diversify its supply chain. Apple Watch Series 5 models will likely be unveiled next month alongside a trio of new iPhones. This would hardly be a surprise, as Series 1 through Series 4 models all launched in September, but specific rumors about Series 5 models have actually been relatively quiet, so this is nice reassurance. For example, Kuo previously said a "new ceramic casing design" would be "added" to the Apple Watch lineup, but he did not explicitly mention Series 5 models. Reuters also reported that Japan Display would begin supplying OLED displays for the Apple Watch, but likewise did not specify Series 5 models. Looking farther ahead, rumors suggest that Apple Watch Series 6 models will adopt MicroLED displays in
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Apple Store in Zurich Moving to New Location on August 31

Thursday August 15, 2019 8:35 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple today announced that its retail store in Zurich, the most populous city in Switzerland, will be moving at the end of the month. Apple's upcoming store at Rennweg 43 via MacPrime As noted by Swiss blog MacPrime, Apple Bahnhofstrasse will be relocating to Rennweg 43 on Saturday, August 31, just down the street from its current Bahnhofstrasse 77 address. The new store will still be just steps away from Bahnhofstrasse, a main downtown street in Zurich known for shopping. Apple Bahnhofstrasse originally opened in 2009. Apple has three other stores in Switzerland in Basel, Geneva, and the outskirts of Zurich. The move was highlighted by Storeteller on Twitter.
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Apple Reportedly Seeking Large Office Space in New York City

Thursday August 15, 2019 7:12 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple is searching for a large office in Manhattan with between 200,000 and 500,000 square feet of space, according to New York real estate site The Real Deal. One source cited in the report believes Apple may end up securing up to 750,000 square feet of space, suitable for up to 5,000 employees by rule of thumb. 55 Hudson Yards render The report, highlighted by Cult of Mac, claims Apple has considered a range of properties such as 50 Hudson Yards, One Madison Avenue, and the under-redevelopment James A. Farley Building on Eighth Avenue. While other tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon each have a sizable presence in New York City, Apple has leased a smaller 45,000-square-foot office on Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District since 2011. Apple has also rented a six-story loft mansion on Duane Street in Tribeca to hold briefings with the media. Earlier this year, the New York Post reported that Apple was in advanced talks for about 60,000 square feet of space at 55 Hudson
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Corephotonics Sues Apple Again Over Dual-Lens Cameras in iPhone 7 Plus and Later [Updated]

Thursday August 15, 2019 5:50 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Update: Corephotonics has filed an additional lawsuit against Apple in August 2019, alleging that the dual-lens camera systems in the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max infringe on 10 of its patents. Original story from November 2017 follows. Corephotonics, an Israeli maker of dual-lens camera technologies for smartphones, has filed a lawsuit against Apple this week alleging that the iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus infringe upon four of its patents. The patents, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office between November 2013 and June 2016, relate to dual-lens camera technologies appropriate for smartphones, including optical zoom and a mini telephoto lens assembly. • U.S. Patent No. 9,402,032 • U.S. Patent No. 9,568,712 • U.S. Patent No. 9,185,291 • U.S. Patent No. 9,538,152Corephotonics alleges that the two iPhone models copy its patented telephoto lens design, optical zoom method, and a method for intelligently fusing images from the wide-angle and telephoto lenses to improve image quality. iPhone X isn't listed as an infringing product, despite having a dual-lens camera, perhaps because the device launched just four days ago. Corephotonics showed off some of its technologies at Mobile World Congress last year. In particular, it demonstrated software capable of combining the images of two separate camera lenses to create a more detailed picture, including the ability to optically zoom up to 5x with no moving parts. Corephotonics, founded in 2012, describes itself as a pioneer in the development of dual
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App Store 'Today' Stories Now Fully Available on the Web

Thursday August 15, 2019 5:43 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple redesigned its App Store app in iOS 11, introducing a new "Today" tab with editorials about featured apps and developers, tips and how tos, and more to help customers discover new and useful apps. As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple recently extended these Today stories to the web, making the content fully accessible on the desktop. The new two-column layout features a title card on the left and content on the right, ranging from text and images to app lists and links. Previously, the web previews simply directed users to the App Store on an iOS device. Today stories can be read on the web by opening a story from an iOS device, scrolling down to the bottom, and tapping "share
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