MacRumors

Google has updated its Gmail app for iPad to add long-awaited Split View support, meaning the app can now be used in Apple's multitasking split screen mode alongside another app.

Gmail Multitasking
Google announced the introduction of Split View support in a blog post, saying the feature is available now to all users.

When using an iPad, you're now able to multitask with Gmail and other iOS applications. You can use Gmail and Google Calendar at the same time with Split View to check your schedule before replying to an email to confirm a meeting time. Or, you can easily drag and drop pictures from Google Photos into an email without leaving Gmail.

Before you attempt to use Split View, make sure multitasking is enabled on your ‌iPad‌: Launch the Settings app, go to Home Screen & Dock > Multitasking and select Allow Multiple Apps.

To use Split View when the Gmail app is open, bring up the Dock with a short swipe up from the bottom of the screen, then touch and hold another app icon and drag it up, over to the left or right edge of the screen, then release your finger.

Gmail can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Gmail

Apple's third-generation AirPods will adopt a compact system-in-package (SiP) solution similar to AirPods Pro, according to the latest research note from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.

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Apple is expected to launch new entry-level AirPods with a form factor design similar to ‌AirPods Pro‌ in the first half of 2021, and Kuo's latest note advances his earlier prediction by underlining the need for SiP technology to integrate the earbuds' audio features into the smaller casing. Introduced in 2019, ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature a different in-ear design to AirPods, with shorter stems below the ear.

Based on the so-called "AirPods 3" arriving in the first half of next year, Kuo believes current-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ part suppliers should see component shipments grow an estimated 50 percent to 100 percent year over year. The existing second-generation AirPods are expected to be discontinued when the new models are launched.

Amkor, JCET and Huanxu Electronics are in line to supply the SiP components, while Shin Zu Shing is expected to supply the AirPods case hinge, said Kuo.

Overall AirPods shipments are projected to slow in 2021, with growth expected at 28 percent year on year, compared to an expected 65.1 percent growth year on year in 2020, which Kuo believes will be stimulated by Apple's decision to sell the "iPhone 12" without wired EarPods included in the box.

Related Roundup: AirPods 4
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

Apple CEO Tim Cook will participate in an antitrust hearing held by the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee on Monday, July 27 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, the Judiciary Committee announced today. The hearing is part of an ongoing U.S. antitrust investigation that involves competition in digital markets.

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The hearing, labeled "Online Platforms and Market Power, Part 6: Examining the Dominance of Amazon, Facebook, Google and Apple," will also include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. There will be a live stream of the questioning available on YouTube.

Since the antitrust investigation launched last year, the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee has been investigating tech companies. Apple's App Store policies have been under scrutiny, and Apple has been questioned about the removal of certain apps, how search ranking results are determined, how the in-app purchase mechanism works, whether apps are allowed include in-app links to non-Apple payment systems, and Apple's policies on setting non-Apple apps as default.

Ahead of the hearing the committee has been soliciting opinions from ‌App Store‌ developers and there has been a recent focus on the 30 percent cut that Apple takes from in-app subscription purchases. Cook is likely to be questioned about Apple's ‌App Store‌ policies, including the subscription-based rules that have recently made headlines.

In a statement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler and Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline said that it is essential to hear testimony from the CEOs of the four tech companies in the antitrust investigation.

"Since last June, the Subcommittee has been investigating the dominance of a small number of digital platforms and the adequacy of existing antitrust laws and enforcement. Given the central role these corporations play in the lives of the American people, it is critical that their CEOs are forthcoming. As we have said from the start, their testimony is essential for us to complete this investigation."

The investigation into Apple's ‌‌App Store‌‌ practices is in the early stages as the Justice Department is focusing resources on a separate investigation into Google's dominance in digital advertising, but the committee's goal with the hearing is to generate a report with recommendations on legislative action.

Apple is assessing a new Hong Kong security law that makes "subversion" of the government illegal and raises concerns about the criminalization of protests, reports Bloomberg.

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China last week implemented legislation allowing local authorities to supervise and regulate internet access in Hong Kong. The new measures criminalize acts that were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law, such as the ongoing protests.

In a statement, Apple said that it already requires content requests from local law enforcement authorities to be submitted through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the U.S. and Hong Kong. Apple also says that it has not received requests for Hong Kong user data since the law went into effect last week, though it is under assessment.

"Apple has always required that all content requests from local law enforcement authorities be submitted through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in place between the United States and Hong Kong," the company said. Under that process, "the U.S. Department of Justice reviews Hong Kong authorities' requests for legal conformance."

Earlier today, tech companies that include WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter said they would pause the processing of requests for user data from Hong Kong law enforcement agencies due to the implementation of the new security law.

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.

Ireland today released "COVID Tracker Ireland," a COVID-19 contact tracing app that takes advantage of Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API.

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The app, which is opt in, says that users will be alerted if they come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. Those exposed will be able to track their symptoms, get advice on what to do, and choose to anonymously warn others they've been in contact with.

The app downloads a list of anonymous IDs every two hours from those who have contracted coronavirus, letting users in Ireland get alerts as soon as possible. Alerts will be triggered if a user has been within two meters of a person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, so long as both parties have the COVID app installed.

Alerts will advise people who have been exposed to coronavirus to limit their movements and get tested. The app will not inform users who they came into contact with during the exposure notification nor the place where it happened.

According to the app's release notes, Ireland is employing a three prong approach to exposure notification, which includes contact tracing for identifying those who have been in close contact with a person that has coronavirus, COVID check-in for those with coronavirus to share their symptoms and how they feel, and updates and information such as the latest facts and figures on coronavirus in Ireland.

As with all apps that use the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API, usage is opt-in and privacy is a focus. Even after opting in, choosing to share a coronavirus diagnosis is also optional. All data collected is stored on the device itself, and name, location, and movements are not tracked.

In a statement to Ireland's The Journal, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the app could be a "really powerful part of the toolkit" for fighting coronavirus.

"It allows every single person to play an extra part. It will allow us to get on with contact tracing in a matter of hours, it will allow people who have the app to completely control their own data, there will be no centralisation of data," Donnolly said.

"The people themselves can choose if they want to anonymously share with close contacts that they have tested positive. It's a very, very powerful tool. We'll be getting into more of the detail tomorrow and we'll be really encouraging as many people as possible to download and use it."

Along with Ireland, several other countries have released apps that use Apple and Google's ‌Exposure Notification‌ API, including Switzerland, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, while other countries, such as the UK, have apps in the works.

The UK did not originally plan to use Apple and Google's solution, but in mid-June, the National Health Service said that it would adopt the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API after all.

Ahead of the launch of new iPhones we often see dummy models created based on leaked schematics and specifications, with those models designed to let case makers create cases for the new devices ahead of their release. We got our hands on a set of dummy models that represent the iPhone 12 lineup, giving us our first close look at the ‌iPhone‌ 4-style design and the different size options.


Dummy models like these often turn out to be accurate, and given that these line up with the glut of rumors that we've had about the 2020 iPhones so far, the dummies are likely to represent what we can expect to see this fall in terms of size and overall body design.

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Apple is rumored to be releasing four iPhones in 2020: a 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12, a 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12, a 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. The two "Pro" devices in 6.1 and 6.7-inch sizes will be higher-end, more expensive devices, while the 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ and other 6.1-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be more affordable similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 11.

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All of the 2020 iPhones are expected to feature a new design that more closely resembles the ‌iPhone‌ 4 or the iPad Pro with a square-edged frame and a front and back glass body, which can be seen in the dummy models. It's a clean, sturdy design that will be a welcome departure from the rounded corners we've had for iPhones since the launch of the ‌iPhone‌ 6.

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‌iPhone‌ 12 dummy on right, 2020 ‌iPhone‌ SE on left

The 5.4-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be the smallest ‌iPhone‌ that Apple has released since the original ‌iPhone‌ SE. It's bigger than the original ‌iPhone‌ SE, but with its all-display design, it's smaller than the 4.7-inch 2020 ‌iPhone‌ SE and of course much smaller than the 5.8-inch ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro.

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Original ‌iPhone‌ SE on left, ‌iPhone‌ 12 dummy in middle, 2020 ‌iPhone‌ SE on right

Though smaller than the 4.7-inch ‌iPhone‌, it has a larger display because Apple is doing away with the bezels and the Touch ID Home button. All iPhones in 2020 will have full-screen OLED displays with Face ID and minimal bezels.

The 6.1-inch dummy model is larger than the 5.8-inch ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, as is expected, and it is similar in size to the ‌iPhone‌ 11, which was also a 6.1-inch device. Size wise, it's not too far off from existing iPhones, but the feel of the phone in the hand is different because of those flat edges.

The 6.7-inch model is the largest ‌iPhone‌ that Apple has ever released, and it's noticeably bigger than the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max. For those who prefer larger displays, the 6.7-inch ‌iPhone‌ will be appealing.

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‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ and ‌iPhone 12 Pro Max‌ dummy

Apple's two lower-end ‌iPhone‌ models (5.4 and 6.1-inch) are expected to have dual-lens camera setups, while the higher-end models will have triple-lens cameras. There are also rumors that the Pro models could feature the same LiDAR Scanner introduced in the ‌iPad Pro‌.

That LiDAR Scanner is not pictured in these dummy models, and that's because these are designed for case makers. Case makers care about the size of the rear camera bump, but what's in that bump doesn't matter to them.

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‌iPhone‌ 12 dummies next to ‌iPad Pro‌ camera setup

For that reason, these camera setups are not likely to accurately represent the actual camera modules added in the 2020 iPhones. The same goes for the front-facing camera setup. There have been rumors that the notch will be smaller and that the notch is the same size on these dummies is not necessarily an indication that those rumors are untrue.

There's one other major design change worth noting. There's a new cutout area underneath the power button on some of the dummy models, which is believed to be necessary for the 5G antenna on the devices. All of the 2020 iPhones are expected to support 5G speeds.

For more on what to expect in the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup, including more detailed rumors on colors, camera setups, features, and accessories, make sure to check out our iPhone 12 roundup.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple has inked a deal with the Maurice Sendak Foundation and plans to create Apple TV+ kids shows and specials based on the popular book "Where the Wild Things Are," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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Under the terms of the deal, Apple and The Maurice Sendak Foundation will "reimagine new children's series and specials based" on the author's illustrations and books, which include "Where the Wild Things Are," "In the Night Kitchen," "Outside Over There," and "The Nutshell Library."

This is the first time that the Maurice Sendak Foundation has established a multi-year overall agreement with a streaming television service. Writer, director, and Sendak collaborator Arthur Yoinks will work with Apple to develop various projects.

There's no word on what Apple paid for access to Maurice Sendak's characters, but Apple has also signed overall content deals with the Jim Henson Company for a Fraggle Rock series, Sesame Workshop for various TV shows like "Helpsters," and WildBrain (formerly DHX Media) for Peanuts content like "Snoopy in Space."

Back in 2009, director Spike Jonze worked with Maurice Sendak for a "Where the Wild Things Are" film, and it sounds like Apple's deal will focus on television content rather than another movie.

With so many apps available for iPhone on the App Store, it doesn't take long before you download so many that managing them can start to get a bit tiresome and unwieldy. Having multiple pages of apps extending off the initial Home Screen can be a burden, especially if you like to organize what you can see on the screen into any sort of meaningful order.

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Fortunately, in iOS 14 and later, Apple allows you to hide individual pages of apps from sight. This not only gives your ‌iPhone‌ a tidier look and feel, but it also serves to bring the App Library closer to your initial ‌Home Screen‌, making it that much easier to access using fewer swipes.

How to Hide iPhone App Pages on the Home Screen

  1. Long press on a blank area of the ‌Home Screen‌ or any additional page of apps.
  2. Once in jiggle mode, tap the app page dot icons just above the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap to uncheck any app pages that you want to hide.
  4. Tap Done in the top-right corner of the screen to finish.
  5. Tap Done in the top-right corner to exit out of jiggle mode.

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To reinstate any app pages you hid using this method, simply follow the steps again, but in step 3, check the app pages you want to unhide instead.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Messages, one of the quintessential apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, is the home of iMessages, Apple's exclusive device-to-device messaging protocol indicated by those well-known blue chat bubbles.

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If you're an ‌‌iPhone‌‌ user you know how the Messages app works, but in iOS 14, the Messages app is getting some useful new features that are worth highlighting. Read on for a rundown of everything that's new, and make sure to check out our included how tos for instructions on how to use all of the new features.

Updated Interface

Messages in iOS 14 has an updated main interface that lets you choose to see all messages in one feed, all messages from your known senders list, or messages from unknown senders that are not in your contact list.

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You can get to these different views by tapping on the "Filters" button in the main conversation list in the Messages app.

There's also a new feature that lets you see typing indicators in the conversation list without needing to tap into a conversation, so you can see all of your contacts who are typing at a glance.

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Pinned Chats

Your most important conversations can be pinned to the top of the Messages app by swiping to the right on any of the conversations in the main chat list.

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Pinning a conversation turns it into a circle at the top of the Messages app, putting it front and center. You can pin a total of nine conversations.

Icons for pinned chats are dynamic, so you can see the photo of the participant overlaid with recent unread messages, Tapbacks, and typing indicators. Fun fact: Typing indicators on pinned chats will line up with the mouths for people who have a portrait photo or a Memoji selected as their shared image.

Both single person conversations and group conversations can be pinned, and each one has the same dynamic icon feature.

The images in pinned conversations are those that the people you're chatting with have chosen to share with you. Shared profile photos are a feature that was introduced back in iOS 13. Group chats will have the photo that has been selected for the group, and iOS 14 introduces new group photo customization options.

Inline Replies

Inline replies is a feature that's designed to make it easier to organize chats that involve multiple people and/or multiple subjects.

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If you're in a chat with several people and there are conversations going on that cover multiple topics, you can make it clear who you want to reply to by using an inline reply.

Make an inline reply by long pressing on the message that you want to reply to and choosing the "Reply" option.

Inline replies will show up threaded under the original reply, and if you tap on one, you can see the entire conversation separate from the main chat conversation. Inline replies can be used in single person conversations or in group chats, but they're most useful in multi-person chats.

Mentions

Mentions in the Messages app are designed to let you direct a message to a specific person in a group chat to get their attention or to make it clear who you're speaking to in a multi-person conversation.

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Mentions are available in both single person chats and group conversations, but are most useful in group chats.

You can mention someone by typing their specific name as it appears in contacts, so if your friend is Eric and you want to mention Eric, you'd type in his name, wait for it to turn gray, and then tap it to turn the name into a mention. The person you're mentioning needs to be in the chat with you, of course.

Names that will function as mentions turn blue, so you know that the mention feature is working. Note that you can use @eric if you want to highlight someone's name, but the @ isn't necessary. It is, however, sometimes more convenient to use @ because it turns the name into a mention automatically without the need to tap on it.

With the mentions feature, you can mute noisy group chats but then activate a setting that alerts you when someone mentions your name, so you won't miss out on important bits of the conversation that are directed specifically at you. Go to Settings > Messages > Notify Me to get a notification when your name is mentioned in a muted conversation.

Memoji

Apple's Memoji feature lets you create a custom avatar that resembles you or how you prefer to be seen. In iOS 14, Apple has added hew hairstyles, headwear, and age options so your Memoji can look more like you than ever before.

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There are also masks so your Memoji can wear a mask as many of us are doing these days, and there are new Memoji stickers available to represent hugs, fist bumps, and blushing.

Macs have long had an emoji interface that includes a search option, and now iOS devices do too. When you tap on the Emoji or Globe button to bring up the emoji interface, there's now a search bar available where you can search through emoji by keyword to find exactly what you're looking for.

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Group Chat Customizations

iOS 14 allows icons to be picked in a group chat in addition to a name, allowing for greater customization of your group conversations so you can tell them apart. Just open the info tab of any group conversation to customize it.

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You can choose a custom photo, letter, Memoji, Animoji, or emoji to serve as an icon for a group chat, as well as customizing the background color for the icon.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Messages, know of an iOS 14 feature we left out, or or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Related Forum: iOS 14

Amazon and B&H Photo today have a few discounts on the 16-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2020. For the latter notebook, you'll find the 1TB model (16GB RAM, 10th gen processor) for $1,799.00, down from $1,999.00.

New 13inch MacBook Pro DiscountNote: 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.

Amazon's deal for this model has a shipping estimate of July 8 relating to the Space Gray version of the notebook. At B&H Photo, you'll find this notebook on sale in both colors and ready to ship today, although there is a limited supply at this price.

For the 16-inch MacBook Pro, these retailers are also discounting the 1TB model to $2,499.00, down from $2,799.00 [Amazon / B&H Photo]. This sale is one that has reappeared over the past few months since the launch of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it remains the best price for this version of the high-end notebook.

We've begun tracking the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our new "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Sanho Corporation's HYPER brand today is announcing general availability of its HyperJuice USB-C charger, which it bills as the world's first 100-watt charger that uses gallium nitride (GaN) technology for a more compact design.

hyperjuice gan charger

The new 100W HyperJuice GaN charger is a four-port charger with two USB-C ports capable of delivering up to 100 watts and two USB-A ports delivering up to 18 watts. The charger's intelligent power system will balance delivery to multiple devices, up to the maximum total of 100 watts.

The HyperJuice GaN charger raised over $3.3 million between crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, and with nearly all of those crowdfunded pre-orders having shipped out, the charger is now available for general sale.

hyperjuice gan charger comparison
The HyperJuice has about the same footprint as a credit card, although substantially thicker, measuring 85.3 x 60.8 x 28.9 mm and weighing 208 grams. Folding prongs for U.S. outlets are built into the charger, but Type G and Type C adapters are included for compatibility with outlets in other countries such as in Europe.

The HyperJuice 100W GaN Charger has a recommended price of $99.99 and is available now through Hyper Shop, B&H Photo, and other retailers.

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.

Tag: Hyper

Tom Hanks' WWII drama "Greyhound" is set to premiere on Apple TV+ this Friday, July 10, and ahead of that debut the actor gave an interview with The Guardian discussing the film.

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"Greyhound" was originally planned to see a theatrical release this summer, and was repeatedly delayed in the wake of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Apple won the streaming rights to the film, and in the new interview Hanks gave his honest opinion regarding the project's shift from big screen theatrical blockbuster to direct-to-streaming film.

But Greyhound has been an especial labour of love for [Hanks], one he sweated over for almost a decade, and it is one of those sweeping war movies that really should be seen on the big screen. So the change in plans has been, he says, “an absolute heartbreak. I don’t mean to make angry my Apple overlords, but there is a difference in picture and sound quality.”

Hanks himself approved of the deal with Apple, so his frustration lies less with ‌Apple TV‌+ than with the overall state of many theatrical releases going directly to streaming platforms. In terms of Hanks' filmography, this marks the first time one of Hanks' starring movies has gone directly to streaming.

Besides acting in the lead role of naval career officer George Krause, Hanks also wrote the screenplay, which is based on the C.S. Forester novel "The Good Shepherd." The film is set during the early days of the United States' involvement in World War II, and follows Krause, who is in command of Navy destroyer Greyhound, as he leads a convoy of Allied ships against an attack by German U-boats.

In another tidbit from today's interview, Hanks notes that "the cruel whipmasters at Apple" asked him to sit in front of a blank wall in his home for the video call with The Guardian.

Apple TV+ is having a similarly negative impact on Hanks’ appearance in this interview. Even though he is in his office, “the cruel whipmasters at Apple” decided the background needed to be a blank wall, presumably so nosy journalists like me wouldn’t spend the whole encounter snooping at Hanks’ bookcases. Against the eerily empty backdrop, he looks, Hanks rightly says, as if he’s in “a witness protection programme. But here I am, bowing to the needs of Apple TV.”

Head to The Guardian to check out the full interview, where Hanks discusses his classic roles in films like Apollo 13 and much more.

Verizon's popular deal on the AirPods Pro has returned this week, allowing shoppers the chance to get Apple's Bluetooth headphones for $219.99, down from an original price of $249.99. This remains the lowest price we have ever seen for new AirPods Pro.

AirPod Pro Deal 219Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This time, the discount on Verizon has been automatically applied, so all you have to do is add the AirPods Pro to your cart and check out to get the deal. Verizon supports free two day shipping, and some retail stores are offering same-day pick-up for some locations across the United States.

AirPods Pro are Apple's high-end headphones, with support for Active Noise Cancellation. The AirPods Pro also have overall better sound quality than the AirPods, and custom silicone ear-tips that provide a more snug fit for different ear sizes.

We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Amid rumors and hints of a forthcoming update for the iMac, supplies of Apple's current 27-inch ‌iMac‌ continue to dwindle with mid- and high-end stock configurations now seeing shipping estimates pushed back into September.

imac 27 shipping september
The 27-inch ‌iMac‌ has seen tight supplies and extended shipping estimates for months now, but the situation has been gradually worsening to the point where new buyers can now expect to wait nearly two months to receive their machines.

Rumors of an imminent ‌iMac‌ update date back to March when reliable leaker CoinX indicated that one was coming "soon." A few weeks later, word of a new 23-inch iMac coming in the second half of the year surfaced, while Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted that a "substantial" iMac refresh potentially including a redesign would be coming later in the year.

As WWDC approached, occasional leaker Sonny Dickson claimed that a redesigned iMac with "iPad Pro design language" would be arriving at the conference, but it failed to materialize, leaving considerable uncertainty about when we should expect an update to arrive.

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MacRumors mockup of an ‌‌iMac‌ in the style of an iPad Pro

Lurking in the background is Apple's transition to Apple Silicon in its Mac lineup, as noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that a redesigned 24-inch ‌iMac‌ will be one of the first machines to make the move, and Apple announced that the first Apple Silicon-based Macs will be released before the end of the year.

Kuo also said that the current Intel-based ‌iMac‌ will get one more update in the third quarter of this year, which would be between now and the end of September, and we have in fact seen a recent Geekbench benchmark for an apparent unreleased ‌iMac‌ equipped with unreleased Intel Comet Lake-S and AMD graphics processors.

So when will we see the next ‌iMac‌ update? It's hard to say at this point. We've heard no specific rumors of an update coming in the very near future, but with Apple rumored to be releasing an Apple Silicon-based ‌iMac‌ before the end of the year, it would seem this last Intel version should come sooner rather than later. Even a refresh right now would leave a relatively short update cycle unless the Apple Silicon-based ‌iMac‌ coming at the end of the year is intended to be sold alongside Intel-based models during a transition period.

Related Roundup: iMac
Buyer's Guide: iMac (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iMac

WhatsApp has suspended its processing of requests for user data from Hong Kong law enforcement agencies, in response to China's imposition of a new national security law on the city, reports The Wall Street Journal.

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The company is "pausing" such reviews "pending further assessment of the impact of the National Security Law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with human rights experts," a WhatsApp spokeswoman said in response to a Wall Street Journal query on Monday.

The decision by WhatsApp comes after China fast-tracked legislation that allows local authorities to supervise and regulate the city's previously unrestricted internet. The controversial new law, which took effect on Tuesday, criminalizes acts that were previously considered protected speech under Hong Kong law.

As the report notes, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter have operated freely in Hong Kong for many years, allowing residents of the semi-autonomous metropolitan area to express political views online, outside the grip of China's "Great Firewall" that restricts internet use on the mainland. The fear is that the new law brings Hong Kong another step closer to the authoritarian digital censorship that ringfences mainland internet users.

Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram have been blocked in China for years, with the country's government favoring home grown alternative services that it can more easily regulate. Encrypted messaging service Telegram was also blocked inside China after it became popular with the country's human rights lawyers, while several domestic VPNs – which are commonly used to evade censorship and access services abroad – were shut down after authorities said they were unauthorized to run.

Western powers have condemned the imposition of the new security law in Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom considers it to be a "clear and serious" violation of the Joint Declaration that was signed between the two countries when the former colony was handed back to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule.

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.

reddit ios appThe Reddit app has become the latest iOS app to be caught clipboard snooping, or accessing the contents of devices' clipboards without user permission.

"We tracked this down to a codepath in the post composer that checks for URLs in the pasteboard and then suggests a post title based on the text contents of the URL," a Reddit spokesperson told The Verge. "We do not store or send the pasteboard contents. We removed this code and are releasing the fix on July 14th."

Several popular third-party apps have been called out for surreptitiously copying the clipboard, thanks to a feature in iOS 14 beta that alerts users when apps attempt to do so. Apps that have been caught reading user clipboards for no discernible reason include LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter, Starbucks, Overstock, and more.

LinkedIn said the clipboard copying behavior of its app is a bug and a fix is in the works. TikTok claimed the clipboard access was used as fraud detection to identify "repetitive, spammy behavior," and subsequently released an iOS update to remove it.


Ahead of the release of ‌iOS 14‌ beta, two developers issued a report alerting users that ‌iPhone‌ and iPad apps were accessing clipboard content behind the scenes. Apple's new ‌iOS 14‌ feature was added in response, and there's no longer a way for apps to quietly read the clipboard without users being alerted to the fact.

Until iOS 14 is released to the public, users who are concerned about clipboard snooping are advised to overwrite their clipboard's contents after they've used it to paste sensitive information like passwords, credit cards, bank account information, crypto keys, and so on. This can be done simply by highlighting a word on any web page or in any app and selecting "Copy" in the pop-up menu.

Tag: Reddit
Related Forum: iOS 14

Today at Apple's "Made in LDN" program is set to return this summer, offering young people in London a range of educational sessions and a creative outlet.

apple made in ldn

A collaboration with the creative arts youth organisation Spotlight and the Mayor of London, Apple's creative sessions give young artists in London the opportunity to learn about the music industry from experts. Spotlight's youth artist record label, Spotlight Sounds, has gathered professionals such as Aitch, Nadia Rose, Young T & Bugsey, and others to collaborate. The sessions will be curated by DJ Carly Wilford.

Participants will learn how to build their reputation as an artist, write lyrics, produce music videos, and more. Towards the end of the sessions, participants will be able to showcase their music to industry professionals such as Kali Claire.

The "Music Survival" series of creative sessions will run from July 27 to August 28. Since hosting the sessions in Apple Stores is now difficult due to social distancing measures, Apple has moved them online. Registration opens on July 6 for artists aged 16-25 in the London area, with limited spaces available. A two-minute video, including a sample of music and the applicant's creative story, is required as part of the application.

Last year, when the program launched, thousands of participants visited Apple's London flagship stores for creative sessions. Afterwards, a curated gallery of youth work was publicized in the "Made in LDN Showcase."

In this week's App Recap, we've highlighted books app "Bookly," productivity app "Sepnia," and health and fitness app "Watch to 5K" as three apps that are worth checking out. We've also compiled a list of apps that received major updates this week.

App Recap Bookly Sepnia Watch to 5K e1593993576209

Apps to Check Out

  • Bookly (iOS, Free) - Bookly is an app that promotes making reading a habit through a reading timer, achievements, and detailed statistics that include both weekly and monthly progress reports. Users also have the ability to set goals and reminders to help stay on track. Bookly intelligently calculates how long it will take for users to finish the text based on their current pace. Although Bookly is free to download, users looking to get the most out of the app can subscribe to Bookly Pro, which includes tracking for an unlimited number of books, iCloud support, and more. Bookly Pro is available in one month, six month, and 12 month subscription options priced at $4.99, $19.99, and $29.99 respectively or a one-time upgrade of $49.99.
  • Sepnia (iOS, Free) - Productivity app Sepnia lets users combine calendars and todo lists in a simple manner. Users can add and schedule both tasks and reminders to help organize day-to-day events. Sepnia conveniently displays the exact time remaining until it's time to begin the next task at hand, which can be helpful with managing a busy schedule. Although the app is free to download, the ability to add notes to tasks, manage categories, create routines, and add an unlimited number of actions is limited to subscribers of Sepnia's pro version, which is priced at $1.99 per month with a seven day initial free trial.
  • Watch to 5K - Running Program (watchOS, $2.99) - Watch to 5K is a fitness app that can be used to coach users up to running a 5K in just nine weeks by following the Couch to 5K program. The app works with music and podcasts playing in the background and will intelligently lower the volume as run progress updates are pushed to the user. Aside from being able to track distance, calories, heart rate, and average speed, Watch to 5K will store run sessions in the Health app on the Apple Watch's paired iPhone. The app also encourages users to stay motivated with progress tracking and trophies that are awarded when runs are completed.

App Updates

  • BMW Connected - The BMW Connected app was updated this week with the ability to add a BMW Digital Key to the Wallet app on an iPhone. Users with a proper vehicle and device running compatible software will be able to lock and unlock the car by holding their iPhone up to the door handle. An iPhone can also be used to start the vehicle when placed in its smartphone tray.
  • Pocketdex for Pokémon GO - Popular Pokémon GO companion app Pocketdex recently received a new update with the addition of the Raids tab that allows users to see raid bosses that are currently available. Additionally, users can receive notifications when raid bosses change. The app's new IV Scanner will intelligently scan Pokémon splash screens in the Pokémon GO app to obtain the exact IV of users' Pokémon, which will consequently send a push notification from Pocketdex with Pokémon information.
  • WhatsApp - WhatsApp this week announced a new update that brings both the ability to scan contacts using a QR code and Dark Mode support for the app's web and Mac versions. The update also introduces several new video call improvements, animated sticker packs, and more.

Know of a great new app that we've missed? Let us know in the comments and we'll check it out for next week's App Recap.