Facebook is testing a new app that's designed to help friends and families in the U.S. to coordinate phone calls or set up group calls with up to eight people.
"Catchup," built by Facebook's internal R&D group, differs from other group chat apps, in that the calls are audio-only, not video, and displays users' status to indicate they're available to talk.
Catching up has never been this easy. See who's available and effortlessly join one-on-one and group calls. Never play phone tag or make an appointment to call someone again. Keep in touch more, think about it less. Any time you're free to talk, CatchUp!
According to TechCrunch, the app appears to take cues from the recently highly popular Houseparty app. For its part, Facebook says the app was built so that people can make calls when they know the other person is free, because not knowing is "one of the key reasons people no longer make phone calls."
CatchUp won't need a Facebook account to use the service — the app works with your phone's contacts list. The app also gives users privacy settings so they can control who can join 1-on-1 and group calls.
HBO Max launched today, and is now available on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad. WarnerMedia's new streaming service, which replaces HBO Now, combines HBO content with shows and films from Warner Bros and Turner TV.
The service is available as a native app on the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K, but second and third-generation Apple TV owners will need to AirPlay HBO Max content from an iOS device to the TV to watch.
New HBO Max customers who have an iPhone, Apple TV, iPad, or Mac will be able to subscribe to the service, priced at $14.99 per month, using in-app purchases on Apple devices.
HBO Max feature more than 10,000 hours of programming, and costs $14.99 per month during the first year. In 2021, WarnerMedia also plans to launch an ad-supported version of the service that is more affordable.
Quibi has added AirPlay support, allowing iPhone users to stream content from the short-form mobile video service to Apple TV and AirPlay-compatible smart TVs.
Quibi features "movie quality" original shows that are framed to fit phone screens and come in episodes of 10 minutes or less to cater for on-the-go lifestyles. The service first announced it would offer support for streaming protocols in May, but didn't specifically mention Apple's AirPlay.
Quibi chief producer Tom Conrad revealed the new feature in a tweet announcing Quibi version 1.3. Conrad said the company is "working hard" to bring Chromecast support to the service sometime in June.
Sure we designed Quibi for on-the-go, but these days visiting the family room is like a day trip… so AirPlay support is live for iOS in Quibi 1.3. Working hard on Chromecast too which will be available in June.
— Tom Conrad (@tconrad) May 26, 2020
Since its launch in early April, Quibi has accrued an impressive 1.3 million active users, but as The Verge points out, that's far short of the 10 million subscribers Disney Plus picked up on its first day.
Quibi for iPhone is available to download from the App Store [Direct Link] with a free 14-day trial.
Apple has acquired exclusive streaming rights to all 96 episodes of "Fraggle Rock," and has ordered a reboot of the series, reports Vulture.
Apple in April unveiled "Fraggle Rock: Rock On," a shortform show from the Jim Henson Company that featured characters from the "Fraggle Rock" series. Apple has now inked a more extensive deal that will include a formal reboot of "Fraggle Rock" with full-length episodes.
The new series will feature original puppet stars like Gobo, Red, Boober, Mokey, Wembley, and Uncle "Traveling" Matt, and it will be produced by the Jim Henson Company. Existing "Fraggle Rock" episodes, produced between 1983 and 1987, will be coming to Apple TV+ on Wednesday, May 27, and will mark the first time that Apple has offered older content on its platform.
A report from Bloomberg last week suggested that Apple is planning to purchase older movies and shows for the Apple TV+ streaming service in an attempt to build a back catalog of content that will allow it to better compete with Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.
Vulture claims that an Apple TV+ source said the company "remains uninterested" in using Apple TV+ as a repository for old shows and movies from other suppliers, but it made sense to offer older "Fraggle Rock" episodes alongside new content rather than having original episodes available from another platform and the new episodes on Apple TV+.
Apple TV+ provides original movies and TV shows for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, plus there's a free year of service for those who have recently purchased an Apple device. For those who don't qualify for the free year, Apple offers a one-week free trial. Check out our step-by-step instructions for getting up and running from various devices.
Update: All original Fraggle Rock TV shows are available to stream on Apple TV+.
The first app that takes advantage of the Exposure Notification API developed by Apple and Google has launched in Switzerland, according to a report from the BBC.
A team of app developers working on contact tracing app called SwissCovid have rolled out the app in a beta capacity for members of the Swiss army, hospital workers, and civil servants. After the app is tested and approved by MPs, it will see a wider public rollout, which could happen by mid-June.
Latvia also soon plans to introduce an app that uses the API, but other European countries are hesitant. The digital affairs ministers for Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal recently published a joint letter that criticizes the Apple/Google API for the restrictions put in place, mainly the decentralized device-to-device notification approach and the lack of location data collection.
"The use of digital technologies must be designed in such a way that we, as democratically elected governments, evaluate it and judge it acceptable to our citizens and in accordance with our European values," read the letter. "We believe that challenging this right by imposing technical standards represents a misstep and a missed opportunity for open collaboration between governments and the private sector."
Apple released the Exposure Notification API as part of iOS 13.5 last week. At the time, Apple said that several U.S. states and 22 countries had requested and received access to the API, with more expected to join.
In the United States, there are no apps available that take advantage of Exposure Notification as of yet, but Alabama, South Carolina, and North Dakota all plan to use the API. The UK, Australia, multiple European states, and several U.S. states, such as Utah, have opted out of using the API.
The Exposure Notification feature in iOS 13.5 is deactivated by default and cannot be used without an app created by a public health authority. It is also privacy focused and collects no personally identifiable data or location information, with more details available in our Exposure Notification guide.
Apple today released macOS Catalina 10.15.5, the fifth update to the macOS Catalina operating system that was released in October 2019. macOS Catalina 10.15.5 comes two months after the launch of macOS Catalina 10.15.4, which introduced Screen Time Communication Limits.
macOS Catalina 10.15.5 is a free update that can be downloaded from the Mac App Store using the Update feature in the System Preferences app.
The macOS Catalina 10.15.5 update introduces a new Battery Health Management feature for Mac notebooks. Battery Health Management is meant to extend the overall lifespan of a Mac's battery by reducing the rate of chemical aging.
Battery Health Management analyzes the battery health of a laptop and its charging pattern, and in some cases, it will preserve battery longevity and health by not charging a MacBook to its full capacity. Keeping a MacBook charged at its full capacity at all times can reduce battery health.
When a Mac is used plugged in and the battery is kept full all the time, the Battery Health Management feature will kick in and stop short of a full charge.
Battery Health Management is an optional feature that can be disabled through the System Preferences app, with instructions available in our how to.
The macOS Catalina 10.15.5 update also addresses an issue that caused large data transfers to RAID volumes to freeze up the Finder app. With the update, large data transfers will no longer cause Finder to become unresponsive.
After installing macOS Catalina 10.15.4, some Mac users began experiencing occasional system crashes, primarily caused by large file transfers. The new update should successfully fix the problem. Apple's full release notes for macOS Catalina 10.15.5 are below.
macOS Catalina 10.15.5 introduces battery health management in the Energy Saver settings for notebooks, an option to control automatic prominence of video tiles on Group FaceTime calls, and controls to fine-tune the built-in calibration of your Pro Display XDR. The update also improves the stability, reliability, and security of your Mac.
Battery Health Management - Battery health management to help maximize battery lifespan for Mac notebooks - Energy Saver preference pane now displays battery condition and recommends if the battery needs to be serviced - Option to disable battery health management - For more information, please visit https://support.apple.com/kb/HT211094
FaceTime Prominence Preference - Option to control automatic prominence on Group FaceTime calls so video tiles do not change size when a participant speaks
Calibration Fine-Tuning for Pro Display XDR - Controls to fine-tune the built-in calibration of your Pro Display XDR by adjusting the white point and luminance for a precise match to your own display calibration target
This update also includes bug fixes and other improvements. - Fixes an issue that may prevent Reminders from sending notifications for recurring reminders - Addresses an issue that may prevent password entry on the login screen - Fixes an issue where System Preferences would continue to show a notification badge even after installing an update - Resolves an issue where the built-in camera may not be detected when trying to use it after using a video conferencing app - Addresses an issue for Mac computers with the Apple T2 Security Chip where internal speakers may not appear as a sound output device in Sound preferences - Fixes a stability issue with uploading and downloading media files from iCloud Photo Library while your Mac is asleep - Resolves a stability issue when transferring large amounts of data to RAID volumes - Fixes an issue where the Reduce Motion Accessibility preference did not reduce the speed of animations in a FaceTime group call
Belkin today announced that several of its new wireless charging accessories that first debuted at CES are now available for purchase on Amazon and from other third-party retailers.
The Soundform Elite Smart Speaker + Wireless Charger, priced at $300, combines wireless charging capabilities with speaker technology from Devialet. It looks a bit like a HomePod with the top cut off to provide a wireless charging spot for an iPhone, and it works with Google Assistant.
Belkin's Boost Charge 3-in-1 Wireless Charger, priced at $120, can charge an iPhone, AirPods, and an Apple Watch all at once. It has a sleek, compact design with an upright charging platform for an iPhone, a charging puck for the Apple Watch, and a space between the Apple Watch's band to charge the AirPods.
Available for $50, Belkin's Dual Wireless Charging Pads offer fast 7.5W charging for two iPhones at once through a single charging pad that has a dual-device design.
All of the wireless chargers listed above are available for purchase from Belkin and from Amazon as of today.
Apple's iPhone 11 was the most in-demand smartphone during the first quarter of 2020, even as the world weathered a global pandemic, according to new research shared today by research firm Omdia.
Apple shipped an estimated 19.5 million iPhone 11 models during the quarter, thanks to the more affordable price tag of the device along with its robust feature set.
"For more than five years--even amid shifting conditions in the wireless market and the global economy--one thing has remained consistent in the smartphone business: Apple has taken either the first or second rank in Omdia's global model shipment ranking," said Jusy Hong, director of smartphone research at Omdia. "Apple's success is the result of its strategy to offer relatively few models. This has allowed the company to focus its efforts on a small number of products that appeal to a broad selection of consumers and sell in extremely high volumes."
Samsung's Galaxy A51 was the second most popular smartphone with 6.8 million units shipped, followed by the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and Note 8 Pro, with 6.6 and 6.1 million units shipped, respectively.
Apple's iPhone XR, which was the best-selling smartphone in the year-ago quarter, took the fourth spot with 4.7 million units shipped. The iPhone XR was more popular than the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, though it's worth noting that those two smartphones were counted individually rather than together.
Apple shipped an estimated 4.2 million iPhone 11 Pro Max models and an estimated 3.8 million iPhone 11 Pro models, for a combined total of 8 million smartphones shipped. Had those been counted as a combined total, the two models would have placed second in the shipment rankings.
Omdia is a research firm that was established following the merger of the research division of Informa Tech and the IHS Markit technology research portfolio.
Apple is planning to approximately 100 more retail stores in the United States this week in states that include California, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and more.
Apple first began reopening stores in the United States on May 11, and right around 25 stores have opened up at the current time. Many of the Apple Stores that will be reopening starting tomorrow will be limited to store pickups and repairs.
In the Bay Area where Apple is located, for example, stores that include Apple Burlingame, Apple Corte Madera, Apple Hillsdale, and Apple Union Square, the flagship San Francisco location, are reopening, but only for pickups and repairs.
Customers will not be allowed in the store, as local guidelines state that non-essential stores with a sidewalk storefront are only able to provide curbside pickup of orders at this time. Stores located in malls are not able to open up as of yet, so retail locations like Valley Fair will remain closed. In other areas, though, stores will be able to reopen for customers.
Apple in a statement to 9to5Mac said that it is committed to reopening its stores "in a very thoughtful manner."
This week we'll return to serving customers in many US locations. For customer safety and convenience, most stores will offer curbside or storefront service only, where we provide online order pick-up and Genius Bar appointments. Others will be open for walk-in customers and we encourage everyone to check their local store webpage for more information about hours at their preferred location. Customers can also visit apple.com for support by phone or chat.
We are committed to reopening our stores in a very thoughtful manner with the health and safety of our customers and teams as our top priority, and we look forward to seeing our customers again soon.
Apple Store employees across the United States have been preparing for the store openings over the course of the last week, and were trained on new procedures for handling products and interacting with customers over the weekend.
9to5Mac has a full list of the stores that are set to reopen this week, and details on whether customers are able to enter the store or if the location is limited to pickups.
Arizona (In-store Service & Sales):
- Arrowhead (Glendale) - Chandler Fashion Center (Chandler) - La Encantada (Tucson) - SanTan Village (Gilbert) - Scottsdale Fashion Square (Scottsdale) - Scottsdale Quarter (Scottsdale)
California (In-store Service & Sales):
- Carlsbad (Carlsbad) - Fashion Valley (San Diego) - North County (Escondido) - Otay Ranch (Chula Vista) - State Street (Santa Barbara) - UTC (San Diego)
California (Storefront Service & Sales):
- 4th Street (Berkeley) - Apple Park Visitor Center (Cupertino) - Bay Street (Emeryville) - Broadway Plaza (Walnut Creek) - Burlingame (Burlingame) - Chestnut Street (San Francisco) - Corte Madera (Corte Madera) - El Paseo Village (Palm Desert) - Fashion Island (Newport Beach) - Infinite Loop (Cupertino) - Irvine Spectrum Center (Irvine) - Los Gatos (Los Gatos) - Palo Alto (Palo Alto) - Promenade Temecula (Temecula) - Stanford (Palo Alto) - Union Square (San Francisco) - Victoria Gardens (Rancho Cucamonga)
California (Curbside Service & Sales):
- Brea Mall (Brea) - Hillsdale (San Mateo) - Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo) - Santa Rosa Plaza (Santa Rosa) - South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa) - The Oaks (Thousand Oaks)
Florida (In-store Service & Sales):
- Aventura (Aventura) - Boca Raton (Boca Raton) - Brickell City Centre (Miami) - Coconut Point (Estero) - Dadeland (Miami) - Lincoln Road (Miami Beach) - The Falls (Miami) - The Galleria (Fort Lauderdale) - The Gardens Mall (Palm Beach Gardens) - Waterside Shops (Naples) - Wellington Green (Wellington)
- Country Club Plaza (Kansas City) - Saint Louis Galleria (St. Louis) - West County (St. Louis)
Nevada (In-store Service & Sales):
- Summerlin (Las Vegas) - Summit Sierra (Reno) - Town Square (Las Vegas)
New Mexico (Storefront Service & Sales):
- ABQ Uptown (Albuquerque)
New York (Curbside Service & Sales):
- Eastview (Victor)
Ohio (Storefront Service & Sales):
- Crocker Park (Westlake) - Easton Town Center (Columbus) - Eton (Woodmere) - Kenwood Towne Centre (Cincinnati) - Polaris Fashion Place (Columbus) - Summit Mall (Akron) - The Greene (Beavercreek)
Oregon (Storefront Service & Sales):
- Pioneer Place (Portland)
Pennsylvania (Storefront Service & Sales):
- Shadyside (Pittsburgh)
South Carolina (In-store Service & Sales):
- Haywood Mall (Greenville)
Tennessee (Storefront Service & Sales):
- Cool Springs Galleria (Franklin) - West Town Mall (Knoxville)
Texas (In-store Service & Sales):
- Barton Creek (Austin) - Baybrook (Friendswood) - Domain Northside (Austin) - First Colony Mall (Sugar Land) - Highland Village (Houston) - Houston Galleria (Houston) - La Cantera (San Antonio) - Memorial City (Houston) - North Star (San Antonio) - The Woodlands (The Woodlands) - Willowbrook Mall (Houston)
Texas (Storefront Service & Sales):
- Cielo Vista Mall (El Paso) - Knox Street (Dallas) - NorthPark Center (Dallas) - Galleria Dallas (Dallas) - Southlake Town Square (Southlake) - University Park Village (Fort Worth)
Utah (Storefront Service & Sales):
- City Creek Center (Salt Lake City) - Fashion Place (Murray) - Station Park (Farmington)
Virginia (In-store Service & Sales):
- Lynnhaven Mall (Virginia Beach) - MacArthur Center (Norfolk)
On Friday, an App Store bug surfaced that caused newly updated apps to fail to open when tapped, with users receiving a message stating "This app is no longer shared with you."
The problem affected dozens of apps that had received updates, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, TikTok, and others. There was no fix at the time except for offloading an affected app and then re-downloading it, which was a hassle to do for every impacted app.
On Sunday morning, iPhone and iPad owners began noticing dozens of pending app updates in the App Store, including for many apps that had already been updated. The updates extended back as far as 10 days and appeared to have been released to address the bug causing apps to fail to open.
Apple today confirmed to TechCrunch that the "No Longer Shared" bug has been addressed and fixed for all affected customers, but did not provide details on what the problem was.
Customers who had apps that would not open should be able to use them again after downloading the relevant updates from the App Store. Apps can be updated by opening the App Store, tapping on your profile picture, swiping down to refresh, and then tapping the "Update All" option.
Despite Apple's focus on diversifying its suppliers for various components in its products, Samsung Display is expected to still provide nearly 80 percent of the OLED displays used in this year's "iPhone 12" lineup, according to a preview of a DigiTimes report that will be published in full tomorrow.
Samsung Display has obtained nearly 80% of the overall panel orders for Apple's next-generation iPhone series tentatively dubbed iPhone 12 slated for launch later this year, according to industry sources. LG Display and BOE are other panel suppliers for the upcoming iPhones.
Samsung was the exclusive display supplier for Apple's first OLED iPhone, the iPhone X back in 2017. LG came on board the following year as a second supplier, and BOE is now reportedly entering Apple's supply chain for the 2020 phones as Apple goes all-OLED in its flagship lineup for the first time.
Apple is widely rumored to be launching four new iPhone models in the usual September or October timeframe, although supply constraints and delays in production ramp-up may lead to a somewhat staggered release as we've seen in recent years.
Of the four new models coming this year, rumors have indicated that Samsung will supply the displays for three models: the 5.4-inch entry-level iPhone 12 and 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch "iPhone 12 Pro" models. The fourth new model, a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 with similar specs to the entry-level model, is where BOE and LG are said to be supplying displays.
Update May 27: The full report is now available, with DigiTimes repeating many of the display specs that have previously been rumored. Samsung is reportedly planning to ship 30-35 million displays for the 5.4-inch model and 15-20 million displays for each of the high-end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch models.
As previous sources have indicated, LG Display and BOE are expected to split the display supplies for the low-end 6.1-inch model, with LG supplying the vast majority with 18-23 million panels while BOE provides just two million.
The Society for Information Display today announced its selections for the 26th Annual Display Industry Awards, and Apple has once again taken one of the top spots, this time with its Pro Display XDR that debuted last year alongside the revamped Mac Pro.
The Pro Display XDR was one of three display products named "Displays of the Year," alongside Samsung's foldable display and BOE's dual-cell LCD panel that offers improved contrast ratio, minimum brightness, and color depth compared to traditional LCDs.
Pro Display XDR from Apple With its massive 32-inch LCD panel, 6K Retina resolution, and over 20 million pixels, Apple Pro Display XDR sets a new bar for the capabilities of a professional display. Designed for pro users who rely on color accuracy and true-to-life image reproduction, such as photographers, video editors, 3D animators and colorists, Pro Display XDR delivers the most comprehensive set of features ever offered on a display in its price range, paving the way for pros in every role across a workflow to unlock their creativity. Featuring P3 wide color and 10-bit color depth, Pro Display XDR is expertly calibrated at the factory to ensure billions of colors can be reproduced with exceptional accuracy. And features such as built-in reference modes make it easy to match the viewing requirements of content creation workflows. With 1000 nits of full-screen sustained brightness and 1600 nits peak, a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and an Apple-designed backlight system for optimized light shaping, Pro Display XDR sets a new industry standard for incredible reference-quality imaging at a fraction of the size, weight, and cost of traditional reference monitors.
While Apple has positioned the $5000+ Pro Display XDR as competing against reference monitors which can cost several times that amount, some professionals have argued it falls short of that standard. The Pro Display XDR does, however, perform well for its price point, with strong color accuracy, gamut coverage, and sustained brightness.
Anker today has a new Gold Box deal on Amazon, with 10 discounts across portable batteries, Lightning and USB-C cables, and wall chargers. In total, you can save up to 37 percent off of these accessories, and all of the discounts will expire later tonight.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple plans to release several higher-end devices with Mini-LED displays in 2021, including a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the first quarter, a new 16-inch MacBook Pro in the second quarter, and a new 27-inch iMac in the second half of the year, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst at Chinese research firm GF Securities.
This timeframe lines up with one shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who recently said that Apple suppliers are slated to begin mass production of related components between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, suggesting that the majority if not all of the Mini-LED devices will be released next year.
A few months ago, Kuo said that Apple plans to release six Mini-LED products by the end of 2021, including 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, a 27-inch iMac Pro, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a 10.2-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini. The analyst said these displays will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays used on the latest iPhones, including improved contrast and dynamic range.
Switching to Mini-LED displays will also allow Apple to distance itself from the Samsung-dominated OLED display market, according to research firm TrendForce, which also expects a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display to launch in 2021.
Apple lost its top spot to Huawei in the Chinese tablet market in the first quarter of 2020 as the health crisis battered local sales, according to a new report today (via South China Morning Post).
China's tablet shipments plunged 30 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, based on data from research firm IDC. Huawei was the only brand to see positive year-on-year growth, up 4.3 per cent in the quarter ended March 31 to 1.5 million units.
The Chinese electronics giant's success saw it topple Apple as the top tablet brand for the quarter, with a 40.2 percent share of China's market compared to 31.5 percent for Apple.
Xiaomi, Microsoft and Lenovo all saw their sales slump in the same quarter, according to IDC, accounting for 5.5 percent, 3.2 percent and 1.7 percent, respectively.
In March, Nikkeireported that iPad stocks were running low in China because parents were buying them to help with e-learning at home in response to school closures. Local labor shortages had also reportedly seen suppliers struggle to meet production demands, amid government-imposed lockdown restrictions.
Typically that would be positive news for Apple, but with suppliers severely affected by the global health crisis, the company was unable to keep iPad stocks plentiful to meet the increased demand.
Apple will use a Lightning port instead of USB-C in the upcoming "iPhone 12," but it will be the last major series of Apple's flagship phones to do so, with models set to combine wireless charging and a port-less Smart Connector system for data transfer and syncing in the iPhone "13 series" next year.
The above claim comes from occasional Apple leaker and Twitter user "Fudge" (@choco_bit), who last month shared alleged leaked iPhone 12 images showing a revised rear camera array with LiDAR scanner, a smaller front notch, and Home screen widgets.
Fudge claims that Apple has tested iPhone prototypes with USB-C ports, but that these models "won't be making it to production." Instead, Apple will stick with Lightning for one more year before replacing the port with a Smart Connector.
Shame the USB-c prototype iPhone 12's arent making it to production. 1 more year of lightning 🥳😭
Oh well, at least smart connector on 13 series
— Fudge (@choco_bit) May 25, 2020
Claims of port-less future iPhones aren't new. Apple designers are said to ultimately be aiming to remove most of the external ports and buttons on the iPhone for a clean, streamlined device with fewer points of potential hardware failure.
Indeed, if wireless charging technology improves in the interim, Apple could potentially get rid of wired charging all together – and rumors do indicate Apple will release an iPhone without a Lightning port in 2021.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the highest-end iPhone model coming in 2021 will offer a "completely wireless experience." Charging would, presumably, be done all wirelessly through charging accessories, Qi-based or otherwise. (Whether the 2021 iPhone would be Apple's so-called "iPhone 13" series or an "S"-style revision of this year's upcoming "iPhone 12" is unknown.)
The addition of a Smart Connector, however, is a separate rumor. The use of a Smart Connector could conceivably complete the transition to a totally wireless system for iPhone, with everyday charging and data transfer occurring over induction and wireless, and the Smart Connector providing a way to attach accessories and cover restore and recovery needs via special adapters.
for clarification, smart connector thing on 13 series wont be the intended way to charge. Youll be expected to go wireless charging mainly. D6x series (iphone 13 series) hasnt really begun proper development yet so iphone magsafe more of a plan atm. Portless is coming either way
— Fudge (@choco_bit) May 26, 2020
Apple introduced the Smart Connector with the 2015 iPad Pro and updated it for the 2018 redesign. It lies flush with the bezel and has three pins providing power, data, and grounding. It's not impermeable though, which is something that Apple would need to work on to maintain its iPhone water resistance rating.
All of this could of course be irrelevant in the event that Apple surprises everyone and launches an iPhone with USB-C this year, suggesting that's where its future lies for now. Given the course and aim of Apple's iPhone development, that seems unlikely, but we won't know for sure until September or October, when Apple is expected to launch its latest flagship lineup.
Rumors have suggested Apple will complete its transition to an all-OLED iPhone lineup in 2020 with one new 5.4-inch device, two 6.1-inch models, and one 6.7-inch handset. The 6.7-inch iPhone and one 6.1-inch model are thought to be higher-end OLED devices with triple-lens cameras, while the 5.4 and 6.1-inch models will be lower-end iPhones with dual-lens cameras and a more affordable price tag.
In an internal memo last week, obtained by MacRumors, Apple has indicated that it will assist its third-party repair partners around the world with COVID-19-related expenses, such as cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment.
All eligible Apple Authorized Service Providers will receive a subsidy from Apple by way of increased payouts for each completed repair. The subsidy is retroactive and the length it is offered will depend on stay-at-home guidelines in each country. Service providers are encouraged to contact their Apple representatives for more details.
To find an Apple Authorized Service Provider in your local area, visit the Get Support page on Apple's website and follow the steps to initiate a repair.
The latest update focuses on improving the viewing of media. For example GIFs can now be paused and videos play inline with the feed, so users no longer have to tap them in order to see what's going on at a glance.
Users can also save and share GIFs, while sharing in general has been streamlined and improved within the app. For example, sharing the video file for Reddit videos now automatically merges the video and audio stream.
In addition, users can now share a comment or a post as an image by tapping Share as Image, which will stitch together as many screens as necessary. The option also supports sharing image posts, which is useful for posts that would benefit from having the title merged with the image for context.
Apollo's latest update also adds iPadOS 13.4 cursor support, and plays nice with the new Reddit awards system and Reddit Polls.
Elsewhere, there are five new app icons to check out, bug fixes, improvements to viewing comments, and more.
Apollo is available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store [Direct Link] as a free download without ads, with optional in-app purchases available to unlock enhanced features such as multiple accounts, gestures, Touch ID or Face ID authentication, and GIF scrubbing.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Former Apple intern 
