MacRumors

Apple has announced it is awarding $10 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to COPAN Diagnostics, a market leader in sample collection kits that play a critical role in COVID-19 testing across the United States.

The funding aims to allow COPAN to rapidly accelerate the supply of sample collection kits for hospitals across the U.S., expanding production from several thousand today to more than one million kits per week by early July.

Apple says it will also support COPAN's expansion to a new, larger facility in Southern California that will be built out with advanced equipment that Apple is helping to design.

"We feel a deep sense of responsibility to do everything we can to help medical workers, patients, and communities support the global response to COVID-19," said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. "COPAN is one of the world's most innovative manufacturers of sample collection kits for COVID-19 testing, and we're thrilled to partner with them so they can expand as we work to address this critical issue for our nation. I couldn't be prouder of our teams for bringing all of their energy, passion, and innovative spirit to supporting the country’s COVID-19 response."

"We're excited to forge this new relationship with Apple, whose teams are already making a huge difference with our efforts to scale up the production of our sample collection and transport kits," said Norman Sharples, CEO of COPAN Diagnostics. "Collection and transport kits are a critical component in the fight against COVID-19. At COPAN, we're excited and grateful for this partnership with Apple as our strong beliefs of innovation, quality, and excellence in manufacturing and design are perfectly aligned. Apple's operational expertise will help us increase delivery of important pre-analytical tools for medical professionals across the country at this critical time."

Apple is sourcing equipment and materials for the project from companies across the U.S., including equipment Apple is helping design from K2 Kinetics, based in York, Pennsylvania, and MWES in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Apple has donated several million dollars toward the global COVID-19 response, including Global Citizen and America's Food Fund. It has also designed and distributed almost 10 million face shields, sourced over 30 million face masks for healthcare professionals, and developed a COVID-19 exposure notification API for use by public health authorities around the world.

CEO Tim Cook announced Apple's $1 billion Fund for Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in May 2017. The other major benefactor since then has been Corning, the makers of Gorilla Glass).

Apple's development of mini-LED display based hardware has not been significantly affected by the global health crisis but it may have delayed adoption of the technology in the short-term, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note with TF International Securities today, seen by MacRumors, Kuo said mini-LED chip, panel, assembly, and terminal assembly are expected to begin mass production in the third quarter of 2020, the fourth quarter, the end of the fourth quarter, and the first quarter of 2021, respectively.

"We believe that investors do not need to worry too much about the extension of the mini LED schedule, because mini LED is a key technology that Apple will promote in the next 5 years, so even if the short-term schedule is affected by the new coronary pneumonia, it will not damage the long-term positive trend."

Apple is said to be planning four to six products with mini-LED displays over the next two to three years, according to Kuo. The analyst previously said Apple planned to release a high-end 12.9-inch iPad Pro with an A14X chip in the third quarter of 2020 and an updated 16-inch MacBook Pro with a mini-LED display in the fourth quarter.

However, today's note suggests Apple's roadmap for the mini-LED versions of these products may have been pushed back slightly. In March, DigiTimes said that Apple would launch multiple Mac notebook models with mini-LED backlit displays by the end of 2020, while Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to introduce a new 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ in October or November, but without specifying which display technology it would use.

Along with a mini-LED 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, Kuo believes Apple is planning to introduce a 14.1-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ with a mini-LED display, although he hasn't provided launch information for the 14.1-inch model that Apple is working on, beyond suggesting there are several mini-LED devices in the works.

Future mini-LED displays will use approximately 10,000 LEDs, with each one below 200 microns in size. Mini-LED 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 good wide color gamut performance, high contrast and dynamic range, and local dimming for truer blacks.

In today's note, Kuo advised investors to pay attention to the trend of mini-LEDs and reiterated that they are positively looking at the growth momentum of Apple's mini-LED product roadmap.

The analyst estimates that Apple mini-LED product shipments will grow significantly by about 300 percent and 225 percent in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Apple's active mini-LED product strategy will also force competitors to launch similar products in the next few years, which is also the key to accelerating the growth of mini-LED applications, according to Kuo.

Strong online sales ensured a growth in worldwide smartwatch shipments in the first three months of this year, despite the impact of the global health crisis, according to a new report by Strategy Analytics.

Shipments grew 20 percent year on year in the first quarter, reaching 13.7 million units, up from 11.4 million units in the previous quarter. Apple Watch retained its dominant top spot with 55 percent market share, following by Samsung, with Garmin rising to third place.

In Q1 2020, 7.6 million Apple Watch units shipped, a 23 percent increase from the 6.2 million shipped in the same quarter a year ago. Apple Watch's market share was up marginally from 54 percent to 55 percent.

Samsung shipped 1.9 million smartwatch units, up from 1.7 million last year, but its market share declined from 15 percent to 14 percent, due to a combination of the health crisis in South Korea and strong competition from Garmin and other rivals.

Garmin shipped 1.1 million units, compared to 800,000 units a year ago. That's a 38 percent increase year on year and a growth in Garmin's market share from 7 to 8 percent.

Strategy Analytics predicts a slowdown in growth in the second quarter of 2020, with a recovery in the second half of the year as retail stores reopen and consumers look to smartwatches to help monitor their health.

Steven Waltzer, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics, said, "Global smartwatch shipments grew 20 percent annually from 11.4 million units in Q1 2019 to 13.7 million in Q1 2020. Despite considerable headwinds from the Covid-19 scare, global demand for smartwatches continued to grow. Smartwatches are selling well through online retail channels, while many consumers have been using smartwatches to monitor their health and fitness during virus lockdown."

Apple is expected to launch Apple Watch Series 6 this fall with more rumored health-related features taking top billing, including blood oxygen level tracking, sleep tracking, and a new fitness app.

Multiple iPhone and iPad users are seeing their apps crashing at launch as of this afternoon, and the issue appears to be caused by a faulty Facebook SDK that the apps are using.

There are multiple complaints about apps crashing continually on iOS devices on the MacRumors forums, and a wide range of apps appear to be impacted. Google's Waze app, for example, won't launch, and there have been complaints about apps that include Pinterest, Spotify, Adobe Spark, Quora, TikTok, and others.

Multiple developers on GitHub have attributed the problem to a Facebook software development kit used by the apps for sign-in purposes. Apps are failing to open even when users do not use the Facebook login options included.

It's not clear when the issue will be fixed, but with so many apps affected, it could be addressed shortly. Facebook will likely be able to fix the problem over the air with a server update.

Higher-end models of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro unveiled this week are able to take some advantage of higher-wattage power adapters, as revealed in regulatory labels for the new machines.

Apple's 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models have shipped with a 61-watt USB-C power adapter since 2016, with the machines typically rated to draw at that maximum of 20.3 volts and 3 amps. You've long been able to safely use higher-wattage power adapters, but the maximum power draw remains capped by the machine itself, so it won't charge any faster.

For the first time, the higher-end 2020 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models with 10th-generation Intel processors carry a dual power rating of 20.3V/3.0A and 20.2V/4.3A, meaning that these models can also accept Apple's 87-watt power adapter that previously shipped with the 15-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌. Many other Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C accessories like docks and displays can also deliver 87 watts to connected computers.

The lower-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ configurations with 8th-generation processors remain rated for 61 watts, and all models ship with a 61-watt power adapter.

While it's reasonable to think that the higher-end ‌MacBook Pro‌ models might be able to charge more quickly using an 87-watt adapter than they do with the 61-watt adapter they ship with, sources tell MacRumors that this isn't the case. The maximum charging speed configured on the machine remains the same, so you won't see any difference.

Where users might be able to see a bit of benefit with a higher-wattage adapter is for those running demanding apps that generate high transient workloads. Under these situations, there's a bit more headroom for an 87-watt adapter to deliver additional power to the machine. Still, the vast majority of users won't be bumping against the limits of the included 61-watt adapter, especially on a frequent basis, so those users won't see any benefit.

So while the change won't have a real-world impact on anyone but a few professional-level users regularly maxing out the capabilities of their machines, those who are curious about the new power ratings stamped on the bottom of their machines at least have an explanation.

Sonos today announced the Arc, a new $799 premium soundbar option that features Dolby Atmos support and AirPlay 2 compatibility. The Arc replaces the Playbar, with Sonos also discontinuing the Playbase.

Available in black or white, the Arc features a curved grille, with its longer 45-inch design aimed at users who have large TVs. Sonos says the Arc can be mounted discreetly or placed on top of furniture.

The Arc is equipped with 11 drivers to provide multi-directional audio, along with 8 elliptical woofers, 3 silk-dome tweeters, and a far-field microphone array for voice assistant activation (it supports Google Assistant and Alexa). Arc tuning was done with Oscar-winning sound engineers to emphasize the human voice, ideal for use with TV shows and movies.

Sonos' Trueplay software tunes the Arc to the acoustics of the room that it's in, while the app provides adjustable EQ settings. A night mode reduces the intensity of loud sound effects.

Sonos has also introduced the new $699 third-generation Sonos sub and the $499 Sonos Five, which is designed to replace the Play:5.

Along with the new products, Sonos today announced the upcoming launch of its S2 app, which will work with the new Arc, Sonos Five, and Sonos Sub, along with other Sonos devices. The S2 app includes support for higher resolution audio like Dolby Atmos, plus it features improved security and a revamped design.

The new Sonos app will work with most products, but it leaves behind the original Play:5, Zone Players, Gen 1 Connect devices, the CR200, and the Bridge.

Sonos plans to release the Arc on June 10, and it will be compatible with the Sonos S2 app when it launches. The Arc is available for pre-order on the Sonos website as of today, as are the Sonos Sub and Sonos Five.

Google's new wire-free version of the Pixel Buds started shipping out in late April, and we picked up a pair to see how Google's wire-free earbuds compare to the AirPods and the AirPods Pro.

When it comes to price and feature set, Pixel Buds are more similar to the AirPods than the ‌AirPods Pro‌. The Pixel Buds are priced at $179, in between the pricing of the standard AirPods ($159) and the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case ($199).

They're not as expensive as the ‌AirPods Pro‌ and that's because there is no Active Noise Cancellation included in the Pixel Buds.

Design wise, though, the Pixel Buds have a little more in common with the ‌AirPods Pro‌ than the AirPods, featuring silicone tips (with multiple size options) that fit into the ears. AirPods, of course, have no silicone tips and are unlike most other earbuds on the market.

Google gave the Pixel Buds a unique design with a matte white Mentos-shaped body that sits outside of the ears and provides a small surface for gestures. Google actually made Pixel Buds before, but this is the first version without a wire - the prior model had a wire between the two earbuds.

There's a little stem that sticks out of the top of the Pixel Buds that provides a tight but comfortable in-ear fit to keep them in place. We found the Pixel Buds to be comfortable to wear, but as with any in-ear headphone, ear fatigue sets in after long periods of use and there can be some ear pain. For shorter listening periods, the Pixel Buds were comfortable, as are the AirPods and the ‌AirPods Pro‌ for most people.

The little Mentos-like puck on the outside is useful. One tap for play/pause, double tap for the next track, and triple tap to go back. There's also an option to control the volume by sliding from left to right, a useful feature missing from the AirPods.

When it comes to sound quality, the Pixel Buds work well for music and videos. There's separation between the low, mid, and high frequencies, and different instruments can be heard clearly. Lack of bass has been a complaint with the Pixel Buds, but we thought they sounded better than the AirPods and close to the ‌AirPods Pro‌.

Our Pixel Buds had a major issue, though, and it appears we may have had a faulty pair. With no music playing, there's a high-pitched hum coming from the right earbud. It cuts out when music is playing, but can be heard during calls. We'll be getting a new pair from Google and will provide an update here in this article on whether that pair is functional.

Like AirPods and ‌AirPods Pro‌, Pixel Buds come with a wireless charging case that adds additional battery life. It's a little bit egg shaped and closer in size to the skinny AirPods case than the wider ‌AirPods Pro‌ case.

Pixel Buds are meant to last up to five hours before needing to be recharged, with the case adding up to 24 hours of listening time. The case charges over USB-C or a Qi-based wireless charging mat, while AirPods are limited to Lightning or Qi charging if the wireless case was purchased.

When paired with an iPhone, Pixel Buds are equivalent to any other Bluetooth earbuds with no special features, but when used with an Android, there's more functionality to work with.

There's a fast pair option for holding the case near the phone to pair, much like with the AirPods, and the Pixel Buds link to a Google account for management and tracking purposes. If Pixel Buds get lost, they can be tracked via the app, which also provides a toggle for Adaptive Sound and other settings that can be tweaked.

Adaptive Sound, by the way, is meant to tune the audio based on your surroundings and it's in lieu of noise cancellation, which is not a Pixel Buds feature. Pixel Buds also include real-time language translation, which is neat, and access to Google Assistant through a gesture, which is great for Google Assistant users.

For ‌iPhone‌ users, there's no reason to purchase the Pixel Buds over the AirPods or ‌AirPods Pro‌ just because the AirPods have so much more to offer in terms of quick pairing, device switching, range, and ‌iPhone‌ integration, but for Android users, Pixel Buds are worth considering.

With the Adaptive Sound, wire-free fit, charging case, gesture support, and fast pairing options, Pixel Buds are the closest thing to AirPods on an Android.

In addition to introducing Face ID changes for mask usage and the Exposure Notification API, iOS 13.5 adds a new feature for sharing Medical ID information.

Today's iOS 13.5 beta prompts users to review their Medical ID settings when opening the Health app, introducing options to share Medical ID info during an emergency call and on the Lock screen.

Based on the text accompanying the feature, enabling the option sends Medical ID information to emergency dispatchers who answer an emergency call. Apple says it will provide emergency services personnel with key info like allergies, language, and medical conditions.

iPhone and Apple Watch can automatically send the information in your Medical ID to the dispatcher who answers your call.

This can speed up the process of getting the care you need.

This feature can be toggled on when adjusting medical settings after updating, as can the option to provide access to Medical ID even when an iPhone is locked.

These settings can be adjusted in the Health section of the Settings app by tapping on Medical ID and then the "Edit" option.

According to Apple, when the Medical ID sharing feature is enabled, a call or text to emergency services shares location and encrypted Medical ID info with Apple.

Apple uses location to determine whether Enhanced Emergency Data is supported in your area, and if so, the Medical ID info is forwarded to a partner for delivery to medical services.

If Emergency Calls & SOS in Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services is disabled, the feature does not work.

Apple in the third iOS 13.5 beta introduced support for the Exposure Notification API it's developing with Google along with a toggle to enable it, and in the fourth beta of iOS 13.5 introduced today, Apple has tweaked the interface to make it more clear how exposure notification logging works.

In this beta, when accessing the ‌Exposure Notification‌ toggle located in the Health section of the Privacy part of the Settings app, Apple now makes it clear that the exposure notification logging feature can't be turned out without an accompanying app installed.

In a country where exposure notification is available, the new Exposure Logging toggle is grayed out and cannot be activated without an authorized app installed, as seen in the screenshot above.

You cannot turn on Exposure Logging without an authorized app installed that can send Exposure Notifications.

When enabled iPhone can exchange random IDs with other devices using Bluetooth.

The random IDs your device collects are stored in an exposure log for 14 days. This exposure log allows an app you authorize to notify you if you may have been exposed to COVID-19.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 you can choose to share your own device's random IDs with the authorized app so it can notify others anonymously.

In a country where there are no apps that take advantage of ‌Exposure Notification‌, there's different wording letting you know the feature is not available and no toggle to turn on at all.

Beta users in the United States and other countries will see the warning about ‌Exposure Notification‌ not being available in the country as of yet because there are no apps that take advantage of ‌Exposure Notification‌ that can be downloaded at this time.

When health apps that use the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API are released, the Privacy section of the Settings app will also list the active ‌Exposure Notification‌ app that's installed.

NBCUniversal's upcoming streaming service, Peacock, will be available on Apple devices that include the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Apple TV when it launches on July 15, NBC announced today.

Peacock will be fully integrated into the ‌Apple TV‌ app, and it will be available in the Watch Now section. Peacock content will be tracked by Apple's Up Next feature, and customers will be able to use Siri to search for Peacock shows and movies.

The new streaming service will have a free tier that offers 7,500 hours of movies, shows, and live programming like sports, news, reality, and late night shows. There will also be a Peacock Premium tier available for $4.99 per month with over 15,000 hours of content.

The $4.99 per month price point includes ads, but an ad-free experience is available for an additional $5 per month. Apple customers will be able to sign up for Peacock Free or upgrade to premium using the Peacock app on ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, iPod Touch, and ‌Apple TV‌.

Peacock will include popular movies like "Jurassic Park," "E.T.," and "Shrek," along with NBC TV shows like "Law & Order: SVU," "Parenthood," "30 Rock," "Parks and Recreation," "Two and a Half Men," "King of Queens," and more.

Apple today seeded the fourth betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.5 updates to developers, one week after seeding the third betas and over a month after releasing iOS and iPadOS 13.4 with iCloud Folder Sharing, iPad trackpad support, and more.

iOS and ‌‌iPadOS‌‌ 13.5 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer center or over the air after the proper developer profile has been installed.

iOS and iPadOS 13.5 introduce the exposure notification API designed by Apple and Google, which is designed to allow public health authorities to create COVID-19 contact tracing apps that are meant to slow the spread of the virus.

The API Apple has introduced is for health-related apps that will incorporate the new API, but there is a toggle in the Settings app that is designed to allow users to opt out of participating in COVID-19 exposure notifications.

Along with laying the ground work for the exposure notification API and accompanying apps, iOS 13.5 makes it easier to unlock an iPhone with a passcode when wearing a mask, as many people are wearing face coverings at the current time.

With the update, the passcode interface pops up more quickly when an ‌iPhone‌ detects that a mask is obscuring the face after a user swipes upward, so it's quicker to get into an ‌iPhone‌ using a passcode than before.

There's also a tweak to Group FaceTime, with Apple introducing a new toggle to disable the feature that automatically enlarges the tile of the person who is speaking. By default, Group ‌FaceTime‌ has a dynamic view with a tile for each person, and the person speaking has a larger tile while other tiles fade into the background.

An "Automatic Prominence" section in the ‌FaceTime‌ portion of the Settings app allows this to be disabled, displaying all of the people using ‌FaceTime‌ in a grid with equal-sized windows regardless of who is talking. A tile can be enlarged with a tap.

Earlier betas have introduced a new Apple Music feature that allows ‌Apple Music‌ songs to be shared on Instagram Stories. Tapping the Share button on a song in ‌Apple Music‌ creates a story with a song title, album name, and animated background, but at this time there is no way to get to ‌Apple Music‌ from the shared information.

iOS 13.5 also patches two security vulnerabilities that affect the Mail app on the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌. One vulnerability allowed an attacker to remotely infect an iOS device by sending emails that consume a significant amount of memory, while another allowed remote code executions.

The update may also address an issue with Personal Hotspot that prevents it from working for some people and it could also fix a VPN-related vulnerability, both of which are bugs that Apple has promised to address in upcoming iOS updates.

Ring today announced a new Ring Video Doorbell with improved night vision, updated motion zones, support for 1080p HD video, and a new solar charger accessory. The new Ring Video Doorbell still does not support Apple HomeKit.

Similar to previous models, the new doorbell can be hardwired into an existing doorbell spot, or powered by batteries. It connects to the Ring smartphone app, allowing you to keep track of who is at your door. The new device also supports two-way talk with noise cancellation, three preset modes (Home, Away, and Disarmed), and Privacy Zones to exclude areas of the camera's field-of-view.

A classic is a classic for a reason––it’s tried and true, reliable, and delivers on its promise. Yet every now and then, a classic deserves an upgrade. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce you to the new and improved Ring Video Doorbell. With 1080p HD video, better image quality in day and night modes, and updated motion zones, this second generation Ring Video Doorbell takes your home security to the next level. And all for the same affordable price.

Additionally, a new Solar Charger device can be purchased separately. This accessory is installed first on the frame of the door, and built-in solar panels can provide charge to the Ring Video Doorbell, as long as your front door is in a sunny spot.

The new Ring Video Doorbell can be pre-ordered today for $99.99, and it will begin shipping on June 3. It's available in Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze on Ring's website and on Amazon. The Solar Charger isn't up for pre-order yet, but it will cost $49.99 and launch sometime in July.

Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi recently spoke with TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino about the iPad's new cursor functionality, introduced alongside trackpad and mouse support in iPadOS 13.4.

Federighi said the iPad's new cursor experience was inspired by the Apple TV:

"There was a process to figure out exactly how various elements would work together," Federighi says. "We knew we wanted a very touch-centric cursor that was not conveying an unnecessary level of precision. We knew we had a focus experience similar to Apple TV that we could take advantage of in a delightful way. We knew that when dealing with text we wanted to provide a greater sense of feedback."

And:

"Part of what I love so much about what's happened with iPadOS is the way that we've drawn from so many sources. The experience draws from our work on tvOS, from years of work on the Mac, and from the origins of iPhone X and early iPad, creating something new that feels really natural for iPad."

When using a trackpad, the cursor displays as a circle on the screen, popping up only when you have a finger on the trackpad. The circle then morphs into various other shapes when interacting with various elements of iPadOS:

"So we came up with a circle that elegantly transforms to accomplish the task at hand. For example, it morphs to become the focus around a button, or to hop over to another button, or it morphs into something more precise when that makes sense, like the I-beam for text selection."

And:

"We set out to design the cursor in a way that retains the touch-first experience without fundamentally changing the UI," Federighi says. "So customers who may never use a trackpad with their iPad won't have to learn something new, while making it great for those who may switch back and forth between touch and trackpad."

MacRumors recently went hands-on with the cursor experience, providing a closer look at various trackpad gestures and more.

iPadOS 13.4 introduced the new cursor experience and trackpad support on all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 and later, the fifth-generation iPad and later, and the iPad mini 4 and later. Keyboards with built-in trackpads released so far include Apple's Magic Keyboard, Logitech's Combo, and Brydge's Pro+.

Lamborghini today announced that all iPhone and iPad users will be able to view the new Huracán EVO RWD Spyder using Augmented Reality and Apple's AR Quick Look.

Apple users can visit the Lamborghini website from tomorrow on their ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌, tap "See in AR" next to the announcement of the Huracán EVO RWD Spyder, and then the vehicle will be viewable in AR. Users can rotate and expand the size of the car in order to look more closely at interior and exterior details, and take pictures of it in their environment.

According to Lamborghini, this AR Quick Look feature will soon be available for its entire range of vehicles. Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller commented on the launch of the AR feature, mentioning that the companies wanted people to be able to view the new Lamborghini model without having to leave their homes.

“Apple cares deeply about the people of Italy and our friends at Lamborghini. We are inspired by their commitment to return to work safely during this critical time,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing.

“Apple and Lamborghini share a great passion for design and innovation. We are excited to support the launch of the new Lamborghini with Apple’s augmented reality technology, so that their fans around the world can experience it from the safety of their own homes.”

To use AR on an ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌, you'll need iOS 11 or later and a device with an A9 processor or later. This includes the ‌iPhone‌ 6 and later, iPad Pro, ‌iPad‌ (5th generation or later), iPad mini (5th generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation), and iPod touch (7th generation).