MacRumors

Apple last week sent a letter to a group of U.S. senators who had questioned the privacy and security of the COVID-19 app and website that Apple designed in partnership with the CDC, the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA.

In the letter [PDF], published on Friday and highlighted today by Bloomberg, Apple provided specific answers to each of the questions the senators had asked, and clarified that the app and website were built with privacy as a priority.

Consistent with Apple's strong dedication to user privacy, the COVID-19 app and website were built to protect the privacy and security of users' data. As you note, use of the tools do not require a sign-in or association with a user's Apple ID, and users' individual responses are not sent to Apple or any government organization. Access to important information and guidance regarding individual health or the health of a loved one should not require individuals to compromise their privacy rights. Rather, it is in times like these, that our commitment to protecting those rights is most important. Our COVID-19 app and website were designed with that in mind.

The senators asked for specific details on Apple's agreements with the federal government and/or state governments, with Apple clarifying that Apple entered into an agreement with HHS through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health and the CDC for the development of the website.

Strong privacy terms were included, such as express consent required for any data transfer, the aggregation and de-identification of any information received by the CDC, and an agreement that any information obtained by the app is strictly to be used for improving the COVID-19 Triage Tools that are included.

The letter clarifies that the app and the screening site are not covered or subject to HIPAA laws in the United States as no health insurance companies or health care providers are privy to the information.

Apple says it does not collect any information entered into the website or the app, and applies the same data minimization principles to the COVID-19 tool as it does to other products. The only data that is stored is data necessary to support the operation of the app, which includes non-personally identifiable analytics information regarding the use of the website and app, such as total number of visits, whether crashes have occurred, and whether the screener tool has been started, canceled, or completed.

Apple confirmed that it commits to refrain from using data collected on the website and app for commercial purposes, and will never sell information to third-parties. Apple's full letter to the U.S. senators can be read on the web for those interested.

The COVID-19 app and website have been available since late March, and Apple recently improved both tools with links to state guidelines and self-care information. Apple late last week also announced a new partnership with Google that will see the two tech companies developing a privacy-focused opt-in contact tracing tool that will be added to iPhone and Android smartphones.

Anker recently announced pricing and availability for two new HomeKit-compatible indoor security cameras under its Eufy brand.

Both cameras feature 24/7 live video recording with up to 128GB of local storage, 2K resolution, two-way audio, motion tracking with customized activity zones, instant alerts, and multi-user access. A stationary version will be available for $39.99, while a pan-and-tilt version with 360° horizontal panning, 100° vertical tilting, and 8X zooming will retail for $49.99.

Anker says both cameras will be available on Amazon in mid-May.

Apple's refreshed iPhone lineup will add 5G to as many as four new models, at least two of which will have flat stainless steel edges and a flat screen, similar in design to its latest iPads, reports Bloomberg this morning.

This year’s successors to the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max will be joined by two lower-end models to replace the iPhone 11. At least the two high-end devices will have flat stainless steel edges instead of the current curved design as well as more sharply rounded corners like the iPad Pro introduced in 2018. Reminiscent of the iPhone 5 design, the new handsets will have flat screens rather than the sloping edges on current models, said the people asking not to be identified because the plans aren’t public.

The report adds further weight to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's expectation that some of Apple's 2020 iPhones will include a square-edged stainless steel frame. Notably, Apple adopted a similar design for the 2018 iPad Pro, which features a more industrial band around the sides compared to previous models.

Today's report also corroborates rumors that Apple will add a 3D camera to the ‌iPhone‌ and is aiming to reduce the size of the notch at the top of the screen that houses the TrueDepth camera. Recently leaked images said to depict the ‌iPhone‌ 12 picture a notch that is approximately 1/3 smaller than the current notch, in addition to a redesigned rear camera array.

Rumors suggest some of the new ‌iPhone‌ models coming in 2020 will feature the LiDAR Scanner feature that Apple added in the 2020 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, which will serve to enhance future augmented reality experiences.

At least some of the new iPhones could be released several weeks later than normal, though still within the typical fall window, according to Bloomberg's sources. Apple reportedly hasn't informed suppliers of any significant delays, and the company's engineers are expected to travel to China and finalize product designs in May.

Bloomberg's report also reiterates rumors that Apple is developing a smaller, less expensive version of its HomePod smart speaker for release as early as this year, as well as Tile-like so-called "Apple Tags" that will let users track real-life objects. Based on assets found in iOS 13.2 and trademarking details dug up by MacRumors, Apple seems to be planning to call its tracking accessory the "AirTag."

Apple is additionally working on a new version of the MacBook Pro, Apple TV, refreshed budget iPads and a new iMac, people familiar with its product roadmap informed the media outlet.

Apple has recently registered the domain name AppleCoronavirus.com, according to a WHOIS record discovered by MacRumors. The new record indicates that Apple took possession of the domain name on Friday.

The record's domain information lists Apple Inc. as the registrant organization. The registrar is CSC Corporate Domains, a firm that protects domain names for large corporations, and is used by Apple for its domain name registrations.

While the domain does not currently point to an active website, the registration of the domain occurred on the same day Apple and Google announced a joint effort of creating COVID-19 contact tracing technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the virus around the world.

Apple's Mac shipments are estimated to have been down over 20 percent in the first quarter of 2020, according to new data shared by Canalys this week. The shuttering of businesses and factories around the world has caused "severe delay in production and logistical issues", leading to a worldwide PC shipment fall of eight percent year on year.

Top vendor rankings remained stable, with Lenovo continuing to lead the PC market with 12.8 million units shipped. HP came second with 11.7 million units, followed by Dell with 10.5 million units.

Apple shipped an estimated four million Macs in the first quarter of 2019, dropping to 3.2 million in the first quarter of 2020, a decline of 21 percent. This is a greater year-over-year decline than seen by any of the other top five vendors, including Lenovo, HP, Dell, and Acer.

In spite of falling shipments, demand has soared in the first quarter of 2020, driven by remote working and learning requirements from strict lockdown measures across the world. Canalys predicts that vendors will report healthy profits over the coming weeks, with operating margin percentages reaching all-time highs.

Canalys also notes that "many other home technologies" have seen major growth amid the shift to working and learning from home. This includes headphones, webcams, printers, and monitors, as well as home-working software solutions for collaboration, virtual desktops, remote access, and security. Apple, however, does not produce products for many of these categories.

According to Canalys analyst Ishan Dutt, PC industry demand is unlikely to remain as strong as it was in the first quarter.

As we move into Q2, the production constraints in China have eased. But the spike in PC demand seen in Q1 is not likely to be sustained and the rest of the year looks less positive. Few businesses will be spending on technology for their offices, while many homes will have been freshly equipped. A global recession has begun – businesses will go bankrupt, with millions newly unemployed. Even governments and large corporations will have to prioritize spending elsewhere.

Canalys data is based on supply chain analysis and consumer surveys. Apple no longer discloses ‌iPhone‌, iPad, and Mac sales, which means that analyst estimates cannot be confirmed by specific sales data.

Apple Maps will soon directly display COVID-19 testing locations alongside information specific to the site.

Apple today launched an online portal for healthcare providers, labs, or other businesses, to register as COVID-19 testing locations. The ‌Apple Maps‌ team will then review the application, and upon approval the location will appear in ‌Apple Maps‌. Although the process is similar to the ‌Apple Maps‌ Connect portal normally used by businesses to add information to ‌Apple Maps‌, this new service includes information specific to COVID-19 testing sites.

Testing locations will appear with a red medical glyph icon and a unique "COVID-19 Testing Site" card. ‌Apple Maps‌ will display the place name, associated healthcare provider, contact number and website, as well as information about the type of testing location. Apple is also asking applicants to state whether the testing location will require a doctor's referral or a scheduled appointment.

Apple does not say exactly how long it will be before testing locations will begin to appear in Maps, but assures that it is working quickly to verify and add as many testing locations as possible. The feature appears to be international.

Apple and Google yesterday announced a partnership on opt-in COVID-19 contact tracing technology for iPhone and Android smartphones.

While we're still patiently waiting for the new low-cost iPhone SE drop, the rumor mill has continued to churn with new iOS 14 leaks and additional rumors about upcoming products.

Among other news this week was an ongoing issue with Apple sending replacement AirPods earbuds with an unreleased firmware version that prevents pairing with the user's existing earbud, and some new content options to help keep you busy and entertained during quarantine.

Check out our roundup below and the video above for details on these stories and more!

iOS 14 Could Offer Home Screen Widgets, Wallpaper Customizations

A leaked build of iOS 14 has revealed that Apple may be planning to introduce home screen widgets on the iPhone and iPad. While a form of widgets already exists in the Today View, accessible by swiping right on the first page of the home screen, this new feature would allow widgets to be moved around freely like app icons.

iOS 14 also might allow users to select dark, dim, blurred, and normal versions of a wallpaper, and interact with select content and experiences in third-party apps without installing the apps.

Leaker Claims New 13-inch MacBook Pro Coming as Soon as Next Month

Apple plans to refresh the 13-inch MacBook Pro in May, according to Jon Prosser, host of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech.

Prosser says there is a strong possibility that a larger 14-inch display could be one of the new features, following in the footsteps of the 16-inch MacBook Pro replacing the 15-inch model last year.

The refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro is also expected to feature Apple's more reliable scissor-switch Magic Keyboard.

Analyst Expects Apple to Launch New iPhone SE in Mid-April, 6.7-Inch iPhone 12 in October

Apple's development schedule for iPhone 12 models will likely be pushed out slightly due to current travel restrictions and cargo flight delays, which could result in delayed availability of the highest-end 6.7-inch model, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

Pu expects the iPhone SE to drop around the middle of this month, but the main fall lineup could once again see some split release dates as we've seen a few times in recent years. He believes that the expected 5.4-inch and two 6.1-inch models will be available in September, but that the highest-end 6.7-inch model might not be ready to launch until October.

Apple Sending Replacement AirPods With Unreleased Firmware, Rendering Them Unusable

Over the last few weeks, customers who require a replacement AirPod from Apple have in some cases been receiving an AirPod running firmware version 2D3, which is not a version of the AirPods firmware that has been publicly released.

Due to this issue, affected customers are unable to pair the new AirPod with the existing AirPod, leaving the pair of AirPods unable to be used together.

Six iPad and iPhone Apps and Games to Keep You Entertained at Home

If you're stuck at home and are looking for things to do, our latest YouTube video has some suggestions for various apps and games that we've found fun during our quarantine period.

We're highlighting podcast apps, a few games, and a couple of other options that will hopefully help keep you or your family members entertained this week. Some of these are for iPhone and iPad, while some are ‌iPad‌ only.

Apple has also made some of its Apple TV+ content available free of charge, and it's been ramping up educational content for kids and adults alike.

2020 iPad Pro Confirmed to Lack a U1 Ultra Wideband Chip

Last week, we laid out evidence suggesting that 2020 iPad Pro models do not contain a U1 Ultra Wideband chip, including the lack of any mention of the chip in tech specs or Apple's press materials, the absence of software support for U1 features, and more.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber has since followed up on the situation, and he has "confirmed with a little birdie who would certainly know the answer" that the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models indeed do not have a U1 chip.

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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Apple today sent out emails to Apple Card holders letting them know that the three percent cash back perk at Walgreens has been expanded to include drive-thru ordering until June 30. When using the physical ‌Apple Card‌ to make a payment through the drive-thru ordering feature, Walgreens shoppers will get three percent cash back.

Apple and Walgreens are also continuing to offer three percent cash back when making touchless payments with ‌Apple Card‌ using Apple Pay in-store and when using ‌Apple Card‌ to shop online at Walgreens.com or in the Walgreens app.

‌Apple Card‌ owners have been able to get 3 percent daily cash back when making purchases of all eligible health, beauty, personal care, household, and seasonal products at Walgreens and Duane Reade since September 2019.

iOS devices accounted for 44 percent of all U.S. smartphone activations during the first calendar quarter of 2020, the highest number of activations Apple has seen in a single quarter since 2016.

According to the data sourced from Consumer Research Intelligence Partners, Google's Android operating system was responsible for 56 percent of all activations due to the higher number of Android smartphones out in the wild.

Market share numbers for iOS and Android have largely remained stable over the course of the last few years with just minor fluctuations in activations due to operating system loyalty.

In the quarter ending in March, 89 percent of Android users remained with Android, while 91 percent of iOS users stayed with iOS when activating a new mobile phone. iOS and Android loyalty rates have also fluctuated little over the course of the last three years as people tend to stick with the operating systems they're familiar with.

"Operating system loyalty is stable at very high levels," added Mike Levin, Partner and Co-Founder of CIRP. "For the past four or so years, around 90% of new mobile phone activations stayed with the buyer's previous operating system. Despite Apple's efforts to attract Android users to iOS, and Android handset manufacturers' similar efforts to attract iPhone customers, operating system usage is among the stickiest of all consumer affinities."

CIRP's data was based on a survey of 500 U.S. subjects from April 1 to April 9 that activated a new or used smartphone in the January to March 2020 period. Given the small sample size, there is certainly some margin of error to these numbers, but the data provides a reliable look at activations and loyalty over time as it uses the same survey each quarter.

Apple and Google today announced a joint effort that will see them using Bluetooth technology to help governments and health agencies reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world.

Apple says that user privacy and security will be central to the design of the project. Participation will be opt-in, and privacy, transparency, and consent are "of the utmost importance of this effort."

Since COVID-19 can be transmitted through close proximity to affected individuals, public health officials have identified contact tracing as a valuable tool to help contain its spread. A number of leading public health authorities, universities, and NGOs around the world have been doing important work to develop opt-in contact tracing technology. To further this cause, Apple and Google will be launching a comprehensive solution that includes application programming interfaces (APIs) and operating system-level technology to assist in enabling contact tracing. Given the urgent need, the plan is to implement this solution in two steps while maintaining strong protections around user privacy.

Starting in May, Apple and Google will release APIs that enable interoperability between Android and iOS devices using apps from public health authorities. These apps will be available for users to download from the iOS App Store and Google Play.

In the coming months, Google and Apple will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into their underlying platforms. Apple says that this solution is more robust than an API and will allow more individuals to participate, if they choose to opt in, and it will enable interaction with a broader ecosystem of apps and government health authorities.

All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.

All information about the work being conducted by Apple and Google will be openly published and built in consultation with interested stakeholders. Initial details on the contact tracing technology are available on Apple's new webpage for the feature, which has links to technical documentation on Bluetooth specifications, cryptography specifications, and the framework API.

TechCrunch has specific details on how the tracking procedures will work. A random, rotating identifier will be assigned to a person's phone, and it will be transmitted via Bluetooth to other nearby devices.

The identifier, which rotates every 15 minutes and has no personally identifiable information, will pass through a relay server that can be run by health organizations worldwide. The list of identifiers a person has been in contact with doesn't leave the phone unless the user explicitly decides to share it. Users that test positive will not be identified to other users, Apple or Google.

All identification matching is done on device, allowing users to see within a 14-day window, whether their iPhone has been near the device of a person who has self-identified as having tested positive for COVID-19. Users who are notified that they have been exposed will then receive steps on what to do through a public health app.

Apple and Google are not using any location data for the tracking feature, including from the users who report being positive. The tool is meant to determine not where affected people have been, but rather if they've been around other people so that those people will know to self isolate due to the exposure.

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.

Apple today launched a new "Today at Apple (at Home)" program that replaces the popular "Today at Apple" sessions that are hosted in its retail stores.

The new Today at Apple (at Home) website features creative projects created by Creative Pros from Apple Store locations all over the world, with all of the tutorials able to be completed at home. Sessions, which are presented as short videos, include drawing playful portraits with iPad, capturing striking photography with iPhone, and shooting photos with personality with ‌iPhone‌, and Apple will likely add additional fun projects in the future.

Apple will likely be providing these creative videos for people until it is able to begin reopening its Apple retail locations around the world. All Apple stores outside of China have been closed since March 14, and there is no word yet on when stores will be able to open again.

Apple yesterday also introduced a series of new activities designed for children and families, all of which can be done using an ‌iPad‌, and it has provided remote learning tutorials for parents and teachers to allow them to better adjust to remote teaching techniques.

Apple today shared a new video ad called "Creativity Goes On," which highlights people working from home, learning from home, FaceTiming one another, and more, with Apple products.

The video focuses on the ways that people are keeping entertained and communicating with one another while social distancing.

We have always believed deeply in the power of creativity. Now, more than ever, we're inspired by people in every corner of the world finding new ways to share their creativity, ingenuity, humanity and hope.

In the video's description, Apple highlights some of the stay at home tools and features that it has created for people, such as a new "Today at Apple (at Home)" initiative, activities for children, remote learning tutorials, and more.

Apple's development schedule for iPhone 12 models will likely be pushed out slightly due to current travel restrictions and cargo flight delays, which could result in delayed availability of the highest-end 6.7-inch model, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

In a research note with Chinese research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Pu said he believes that the current "EVT" or "Engineering Verification Test" stage of iPhone 12 development may have been extended by two weeks to late April for the 5.4-inch model and 6.1-inch models, and to mid-May for the 6.7-inch model.

As a result, Pu currently expects the 5.4-inch and two 6.1-inch models to be available in September, followed by the 6.7-inch model in October. This two-phase rollout would be similar to 2018, when the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max were released in September, followed by the iPhone XR in October. And in 2017, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus launched in September, followed by the iPhone X in November.

Pu also believes that Apple's widely rumored iPhone SE successor will launch in mid-April, suggesting that the device could be announced as early as next week. The new iPhone SE is expected to be an upgraded version of the iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch display, Touch ID home button, A13 chip, 3GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage.