MacRumors

LG today announced that AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are now available through a firmware update on select 2019 OLED and NanoCell 4K UHD smart TVs with ThinQ AI capability in the United States. The remaining 4K UHD TV series in LG's 2019 lineup are expected to receive these features in October.

lgtvsairplay2
LG began rolling out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit on July 25, but the firmware update was not available in the United States until July 29.

AirPlay 2 support enables users to stream videos, music, podcasts, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to a compatible LG smart TV, with no Apple TV necessary. And with HomeKit, users can easily control the TV's power, volume, source, and more using Siri or the Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

AirPlay 2 and HomeKit are also available in beta on select Vizio smart TVs, and both features will be rolling out to select Sony models later this summer. Samsung also offers AirPlay 2, but not HomeKit, on select TVs.

Many customers have petitioned LG to offer AirPlay 2 and HomeKit on its older smart TVs, but the company has not budged so far, noting that it "cannot guarantee" that pre-2019 models "will be able to deliver a seamless user experience." LG did note that it "may be a possibility in the future."

Apple today announced it has opened registration for three new art-based augmented reality experiences at its stores around the world.

ar walk apple
First up, select Apple stores in San Francisco, New York, London, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo will be hosting interactive "[AR]T Walks" featuring augmented reality works by some of the "world's premier contemporary artists."

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Second, every Apple Store will be offering a 90-minute in-store "[AR]T Lab" session that teaches the basics of creating augmented reality using Swift Playgrounds. Attendees will go hands-on with "whimsical objects and immersive sounds" created by New York artist and educator Sarah Rothberg.

Third, an augmented reality art installation will be viewable in every Apple Store worldwide. Using the new "[AR]T Viewer" feature in the Apple Store app, users can initiate artist Nick Cave's interactive "Amass" piece, allowing them to experience a "universe of positive energy."


The new sessions and experiences will be available beginning Saturday, August 10, free of charge. Visit the Today at Apple website to register.

apple music icon for ios 100594580 origRock band Tool this week announced that it will be putting its back catalog of albums on all streaming platforms beginning this Friday, August 2 (via Pitchfork). This is believed to include Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Prime Music, and more.

This also means that the band's albums will be available to purchase on the iTunes Music Store and other digital music stores. In the announcement tweet, the band shared a video that included previous albums like Lateralus and Opiate, along with an image of the August 2 streaming date.

Tool also announced the name of its next album, Fear Inoculum, which will release on August 30.


Tool is one of the latest bands to finally allow its music to be available on streaming platforms. Over the years, streaming platforms like ‌Apple Music‌ have gained music from The Beatles and Def Leppard, after years of users being unable to stream their music.

Apple is expanding its long-running "Shot on iPhone" marketing campaign with a new series of "On Tour" videos and billboard ads featuring 16 musicians and bands from around the world, according to Adweek.

As part of the campaign, Apple has shared three new videos that provide an up-close and behind-the-scenes look at concerts hosted by rock band Florence and the Machine, singer FKA twigs, and jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington. The mini documentaries were shot by ‌iPhone‌ users, some with the help of "additional hardware and software."


In addition to YouTube, the videos will be available on Apple Music and IGTV.

Musicians and bands featured in the campaign include FKA twigs, Chai, Kacey Musgraves, Kamasi Washington, Florence and the Machine, Idles, Lizzo, Travis Scott, Tierra Whack, Leon Bridges, Skrillex, Sebastian Yatra, Jay de la Cueva, Gaye Su Akyol, Little Big, and Tyler, the Creator, according to Adweek.

on tour 1
on tour 2
on tour 3

Images via Adweek

Over the years, Apple has used its "Shot on ‌iPhone‌" campaign to feature photos shot by everyday ‌iPhone‌ users, portraits of NHL players, the Cuban surfing community, the Chinese New Year, and much more.

Apple today released the fifth beta of iOS 13 to developers, bringing new bug fixes and adding and refining various iOS 13 and iPadOS features.

In the fifth beta, changes and updates are getting more minor than changes made in earlier betas, but beta 5 still has some notable additions and feature removals worth highlighting.

- iPad Home Screen - in iPadOS, there's a new feature in the Settings menu that lets you customize the Home screen. You can set the app grid to be 4x5 or 6x5, which results in bigger or smaller icons. The "More" setting shows up to 30 smaller app icons, while the "Bigger" setting shows up to 20 larger app icons.

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- Share Sheet - The Share Sheet in iPadOS and iOS 13 has been updated adding sections for your Favorite shortcuts, the current app that's open, and "Other Actions." Each section is grouped together, making it easier to navigate the various options in the Share Sheet.

ios13b5sharesheet
- Share Sheet Shortcuts - As noted by MacStories' Federico Vittici, Shortcuts are now able to be added to the Favorites list in the Share Sheet.

- Home App Backgrounds - There are new backgrounds that you can use within the Home app on iOS devices.

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- Shortcuts App - The Automations section has been removed from the Shortcuts app temporarily. It will be re-added in a later beta.

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- Light/Dark Mode - After installing this beta, Apple will ask you if you want to enable Light Mode or Dark Mode. This is presumably something new users will see when installing iOS 13 for the first time once it launches. There's also a smoother, more streamlined animation when swapping between Light and Dark mode in the Settings app.

- Move Goals - There are new Move Goals awards in the Activity app for hitting your Move Goals 1250, 1500, 1750, and 2000 times.

activityappmovegoals
- Open Tab Action - The "Open Tab" popup option when 3D Touching on a link in Safari has returned.

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- LTE Icon - The LTE/4G/5GE icon on the iPhone is now larger and sized to match the other icons at the top right of the ‌iPhone‌'s display.

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- Volume - You can adjust the volume on the ‌iPhone‌ and the iPad more finely following the beta 5 update. There are 34 levels of volume now, allowing for smaller adjustments to the sound. The volume slider also offers haptic feedback when maximizing or minimizing the volume, and it's skinnier.

Know of a feature that's new in iOS 13 beta 5 that we left out? Make sure to let us know in the comments and we'll update this article. For more on what's new in iOS 13, make sure to check out our iOS 13 roundup.

Related Forum: iOS 13

Two of the iPhones set to be released in 2020 will feature 3D sensing rear camera setups with time-of-flight (ToF) camera lenses, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who shared the info in a note to investors that was obtained by MacRumors.

A time-of-flight camera system measures the time that it takes for a laser or LED to bounce off of objects in a room, providing an accurate 3D map of the surroundings.

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All three of the new iPhones are also expected to feature a front-facing camera system with Face ID, which deviates a bit from some rumors that have suggested an under-display fingerprint sensor could be coming to some 2020 iPhone models.

We predict that three new 2H20 iPhone models will all be equipped with front Face ID, and two of the new models will provide rear ToF. We estimate that shipments of iPhone models equipped with front and rear VCSEL (front structure light and rear ToF) will be 45mn units in 2020.

We've previously heard multiple rumors suggesting a time-of-flight camera system for the 2020 iPhones, including info from Kuo himself, but this is the first time that he's specified that he expects the 3D sensing camera system to be available in just two of the three upcoming 2020 iPhones.

Kuo goes on to say that a rear time-of-flight camera would bolster photo quality and offer new and improved AR applications. Apple and Huawei are believed to be the "most aggressive brand vendors" supporting 5G and ToF in 2020.

The current 3D sensing capabilities used in the front-facing TrueDepth camera system rely on infrared cameras and a dot projector to create a 3D image, but ToF systems use lasers technology, calculating the time it takes for a laser to bounce off of surrounding objects to create a 3D image of what's around you. ToF offers up more accurate depth perception, resulting in better placement of virtual objects, and it should offer up improved images thanks to the more advanced depth information.

Previous rumors from Bloomberg have suggested that the rear camera in Apple's 2020 iPhones, which will use use VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) technology, will be able to scan objects up to 15 feet away, mapping out wide areas. ‌Face ID‌ currently works at about 25 to 50 centimeters away.

Kuo said in a prior investor's note that implementing ToF would require 5G connectivity because Apple would want to use the feature to create a "revolutionary AR experience." All 2020 iPhones are expected to feature 5G chips.

Rumors suggest Apple is planning to release three iPhones in 2020, but in new sizes. Apple is said to be working on 5.4 and 6.7-inch high-end iPhones with OLED displays, which would presumably be the devices to adopt the 3D-capable rear camera systems, and a lower-cost 6.1-inch model with an OLED display.

More information on what to expect in the 2020 iPhones can be found in the dedicated what's next section of our 2019 iPhone roundup.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple today seeded the fifth betas of iOS 13 and iPadOS to developers for testing purposes, almost two weeks after releasing the fourth betas and more than a month after unveiling the new operating system at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Registered developers will need to download the profile for the iOS 13 and iPadOS betas from Apple's Developer Center. Beta 4, like earlier betas, can be downloaded over-the-air once the proper profile has been installed.

test iOS 13
Apple split iOS 13 and iPadOS into separate updates in 2019, one designed for iPhone and one designed for iPad. iPadOS is identical to iOS 13 in almost every way, though there are some iPad-specific features such as new multitasking capabilities. For the most part, the two operating systems share the same features.

iOS 13 is a huge update with a long list of new features. Perhaps the most noticeable outward-facing change is a systemwide Dark Mode that changes the entire look of the operating system from light to dark, darkening everything from system elements to apps.

dark mode ios 13 collage
Apple overhauled the Photos app, introducing a new ‌Photos‌ tab that curates your entire ‌Photos‌ library and shows you a selection of highlights organized by day, month, or year, and there are revamped Photo editing tools.

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For the first time, you can edit video right in the ‌Photos‌ app, cropping, rotating, applying filters, and adjusting lighting and color. There's a new High-Key Mono lighting effect, and for Portrait Lighting in general, intensity can be adjusted.

There's a less obtrusive volume HUD, a new Find My app that combines ‌Find My‌ ‌iPhone‌ and ‌Find My‌ Friends and lets you track your devices even with they don't have an LTE or WiFi connection.

findmyapp
A Sign In with Apple feature (not yet active) gives you a convenient and data safe way to sign into apps and websites, providing an alternative to Facebook and Google sign in options. Apple's even able to generate single-use randomized email addresses so you don't have to give your real info to apps and websites.

signinwithapple
Maps features a new street-level "Look Around" mode and a Collections feature for making lists of places, Reminders has been entirely overhauled to make it more functional, there's a profile option in Messages along with new Memoji and Animoji stickers, and Siri has a new voice.

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CarPlay in iOS 13 has been overhauled with a new look, multiple sets of AirPods (or Powerbeats Pro) can be connected to the same phone so you can share music with a friend, ‌Siri‌ on HomePod can detect multiple voices for multi-user support, and ‌HomePod‌ also supports Handoff.

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There are a ton of additional new features and changes coming in iOS 13, and for a full rundown of what you can expect, you should check out our iOS 13 roundup. Each new beta brings new features and changes to iOS 13, and the fourth beta added a rearrange apps Quick Action, added new 3D Touch settings, tweaked the Share Sheet, and more.

The beta testing period will allow Apple to work out bugs ahead of the release of iOS 13 and iPadOS, and it will let developers build iOS 13 and iPadOS features into their apps ahead of a public release coming this fall.

Related Forum: iOS 13

Apple today seeded fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 13 update to developers, almost two weeks after seeding the fourth beta and more than a month after unveiling the tvOS 13 software at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the new tvOS 13 developer beta can be downloaded onto the ‌Apple TV‌ via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

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tvOS 13 introduces an updated Home screen aimed at making it easier to discover new content. Apps are now able to play full-screen video previews right on the Home screen, similar to Netflix.

Multi-user support is available for the first time, letting more than one profile exist on the ‌Apple TV‌ so each family member can have their own customized ‌Apple TV‌ interface with separate recommendations, music playlists, and Watch Now lists.

Switching between profiles can be done with the new Control Center, which offers up profiles, the time and date, search, a Now Playing widget, AirPlay controls, and a sleep option.

tvOS 13 gets the ‌Apple TV‌ ready for Apple Arcade, Apple's new gaming service that's coming to the ‌Apple TV‌, iOS, iPadOS, and macOS later this year. ‌Apple Arcade‌ will offer unlimited access to more than 100 new and exclusive games, for one subscription fee.

As part of the ‌Apple Arcade‌ preparations, Apple has implemented support for the Xbox Wireless Bluetooth Controller and the PlayStation DualShock 4 Controller, both of which can be connected to an ‌Apple TV‌ over Bluetooth.

There are new under the sea themed screensavers created in partnership with the BBC Natural History Unit, which also created "Blue Planet." There's also a new Picture-in-Picture feature. Picture-in-Picture lets you continue to watch TV shows or movies while using a different app, adjusting settings, or otherwise navigating through the tvOS 13 operating system.

tvos13pictureinpicture
tvOS 13 is available to registered developers and public beta testers at this time and will see an official public launch this fall alongside iOS 13, iPadOS, macOS Catalina, and watchOS 6.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Caution)

Anker has debuted its latest Gold Box deal of the day on Amazon, offering ten charging accessories for up to 35 percent off. The Gold Box includes discounts on Lightning Cables, car chargers, USB-C hubs, and more.

Anker 35 off sparseNote: 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.

As with all of Amazon's Gold Boxes, the Anker sale will last for one day only and expire later tonight. Each accessory has been automatically discounted so you won't need any discount codes in this sale.

Anker Gold Box 7/29

Cables

Car and Wireless Chargers

USB-C Accessories

Check out our full Deals Roundup for even more Anker discounts, as well as other Apple-related sales and bargains.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Ahead of the launch of its new flagship smartphone, the Pixel 4, Google has been sharing details on the device to get ahead of leaks.

The design of the Pixel 4 was unveiled in June, and today, Google offered up a look at some of the features that will be included in the new smartphone, including Face Unlock and Motion Sense.


Face Unlock is designed to unlock the Pixel 4 much like Face ID unlocks modern iPhones, and the Pixel 4 is even using a 3D sensing camera similar to the iPhone X and later.

There are two Face Unlock IR cameras, an ambient light/proximity sensor, a Soli radar chip that powers Face Unlock and other features, a dot projector, and a Face Unlock flood illuminator.

The Face Unlock feature on the Google Pixel 4 will support secure payments and app authentication, which is unique as most Android devices do not have a secure enough facial recognition system to allow it to be used for payments.

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Google says that it is designing its facial recognition system differently than Apple's, making it a more fluid experience that works in any orientation.

According to Google, when you reach for the Pixel 4, the face unlock sensors are activated, recognizing that you want to unlock your phone. If the face unlock sensor recognizes you, the phone will open as you pick it up, all in one motion.

Google suggests this is superior to other methods such as the ‌Face ID‌ unlocking sequence on iPhones. "Other phones require you to lift the device all the way up, pose in a certain way, wait for it to unlock, and then swipe to get to the homescreen," read's Google's blog post on the feature. "Pixel 4 does all of that in a much more streamlined way."

As with ‌Face ID‌, Face Unlock works on device, so no facial recognition data is shared with Google or Google services. Google says that face data is stored in the Pixel's Titan M security chip, which sounds similar to the Secure Enclave used in Apple's iPhones.

The aforementioned Soli radar chip is designed to sense small motions around the phone, which enables the sensors to activate when you reach for the device and also powers a new Motion Sense feature. Motion Sense will allow users to skip songs, snooze alarms, and silence phone calls by waving a hand in front of the phone.

Rumors have suggested that Apple is also working on iPhones that will incorporate touchless gesture controls for release in the future, though we've heard little about the feature and it's not known when iPhones with this functionality might launch.

As with Google's Motion Sense feature, rumors about Apple's work on gesture-based controls indicate that ‌iPhone‌ users would be able to navigate the operating system by moving their finger close to the screen without actually tapping it.

There's no official word on when Google will launch the Pixel 4, but past Pixel devices have come out in October, so it's likely that this year's launch will also be in October. That'll allow Google to release its new flagship device approximately a month after Apple unveils its new 2019 ‌iPhone‌ lineup in September.

We're likely just six weeks away from Apple unveiling a trio of new iPhones, and on cue, the supply chain is preparing for the new devices.

2018 iphone trio
As it has for the past several summers, Apple's primary manufacturer Foxconn is ramping up its seasonal hiring spree, according to the Economic Daily News. The report claims Foxconn is offering a one-time bonus of 4,500 Chinese yuan, or roughly $650, to employees who renew their contracts right now.

Foxconn needs as many hands on deck as possible at its factory in Shenzhen, China to assist with mass production of the upcoming iPhones, as Apple's first-week sales will likely be in the millions of units as usual.


Apple is widely expected to debut three new iPhones in September with the same 5.8-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.5-inch sizes as the 2018 lineup.

Tag: Foxconn
Related Forum: iPhone

B&H Photo and Best Buy are discounting the new 13-inch MacBook Pro by as much as $250 this week, providing a few new low prices for the 2019 notebook.

macbook pro 13 inch 2019Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

The sale starts with the 13-inch MacBook Pro with 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD for $1,199.99, down from $1,299.00. When it comes to 15-inch models of the 2019 MacBook Pro, Amazon also has some notable discounts.

2019 MacBook Pro

13-Inch

  • 1.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD - $1,199.99, down from $1,299.99 [B&H / Best Buy] ($100 off, lowest ever)
  • 1.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD - $1,299.99, down from $1,499.99 [Best Buy] ($200 off, lowest ever)
  • 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD - $1,649.00, down from $1,799.00 [B&H] ($150 off)
  • 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD - $1,849.00, down from $1,999.00 [B&H] ($150 off)

15-Inch

  • 2.6 GHz 6-Core, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD - $2,149.99, down from $2,399.00 [Amazon] ($249 off)
  • 2.3 GHz 8-Core, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD - $2,549.00, down from $2,799.00 [Amazon / B&H] ($250 off)

Apple updated the MacBook Pro in May with new 8th and 9th-generation Intel processors and an upgraded butterfly mechanism made from new materials. Apple also just updated the entry-level MacBook Pro with 8th-generation Intel processors, a Touch Bar, Touch ID, and a T2 Security Chip, just like the more expensive 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pros.

Our full Deals Roundup has more of the best discounts and bargains going on right now.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

16-inch MacBook Pro rumors continue to surface, with hit-or-miss industry publication DigiTimes today reporting that the notebook will feature an "ultra-narrow bezel" design and launch in September.

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The report suggests that the narrow bezels will allow for the 16-inch MacBook Pro to be roughly the same overall size as the current 15-inch model. Taiwanese contract manufacturer Quanta Computer is expected to assemble the notebook, according to the unnamed supply chain sources cited.

Multiple reports have claimed the 16-inch display will be supplied by LG and have a resolution of 3,072×1,920 pixels.

Last week, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the 16-inch MacBook Pro will also feature a scissor mechanism keyboard, as Apple finally begins to transition away from its troubled butterfly mechanism keyboard design.

16-inch MacBook Pro rumors are beginning to consolidate, but there are still a few conflicting details. This is the second report to mention a September release date, for example, but Apple typically unveils new Macs in October. Either way, it looks like the notebook is coming in the fall.

Kuo believes the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro will live on with refreshes in 2020.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro 14 & 16"
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

The three iPhones expected to launch in 2020 will feature support for 5G, according to a new note to investors shared today by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and obtained by MacRumors.

Kuo originally said that two of the three new iPhones coming in 2020 will support 5G, but now believes that Apple will offer 5G in all models to better compete with lower-cost Android smartphones that will support 5G. Kuo also says that following Apple's acquisition of Intel's smartphone modem chip business, Apple has more resources for developing the 5G iPhone.

2020 iphone triad

We now believe that all three new 2H20 iPhone models will support 5G for the following reasons. (1) Apple has more resource for developing the 5G iPhone after the acquisition of Intel baseband business. (2) We expect that the prices of 5G Android smartphones will decline to $249-349 USD in 2H20. We believe that 5G Android smartphones, which will be sold at $249-349 USD, will only support Sub-6GHz. But the key is that consumers will think that 5G is the necessary function in 2H20. Therefore, iPhone models which will be sold at higher prices have to support 5G for winning more subsidies from mobile operators and consumers' purchase intention. (3) Boosting 5G developments could benefit Apple's AR ecosystem.

Kuo says that he expects all three new iPhone models coming in 2020 to support both mmWave and Sub-6GHz spectrum to meet the requirements of the American market, but it is not clear if Apple will launch a ‌5G iPhone‌ that only supports Sub-6GHz, which would allow for a lower price. He says Apple may not have enough development resources for such a project.

Apple may have the intention to launch the 5G iPhone, which only supports Sub-6GHz, to gain market share by lowering the cost/price for markets which only support Sub-6GHz (e.g., Chinese market). However, 5G iPhone, which only supports Sub-6GHz and the version which supports mmWave & Sub-6GHz are regarded as different projects even though they share the same form factor design.

For those unfamiliar with 5G networks, there are actually two different kinds of 5G. mmWave technology is the super fast 5G that's most often talked about, but not all 5G networks are going to use mmWave technology in all areas because it's best suited to denser urban areas.

In rural and suburban areas, 5G technology will be on mid-bands and low-bands, called sub-6GHz 5G. It's still faster than 4G, but not as fast as mmWave. When 5G finishes rolling out, there will be some areas with mmWave technology where data transfer speeds will be lightning quick, coupled with other more expansive areas that are closer to 4G LTE speeds.

Over time, low-band and mid-band 5G speeds should also get much quicker, but at launch, won't be as fast as mmWave, which is most often in the spotlight.

Apple is planning to use modem chips from Qualcomm in its 2020 ‌5G iPhone‌ lineup, despite its recent acquisition of Intel's smartphone modem chip business. Apple is working on its own modem chips, but that technology isn't going to be ready until 2021.

Along with 5G technology, the 2020 iPhones could be available in new sizes. In a previous note, Kuo said that Apple is going to release 5.4 and 6.7-inch high-end iPhones with OLED displays along with a 6.1-inch model with an OLED display. More information on what to expect in the 2020 iPhones can be found in the dedicated what's next section of our 2019 iPhone roundup.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple today registered two unreleased iPad models in the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database, using the model identifiers A2200 and A2232, according to listings uncovered by MySmartPrice and confirmed by MacRumors.

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Both ‌iPad‌ models are listed as running iPadOS, suggesting the devices will launch this fall.

The two identifiers follow five other new ‌iPad‌ model numbers that were added to the database earlier this month. As with the previous identifiers, it's unclear which models these numbers refer to, but it's worth noting that Apple has already released a new iPad mini and 10.5-inch iPad Air this year.

That leaves possible revisions to Apple's two iPad Pro models, which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects will enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2019 or the first quarter of 2020.

There's also the prospect of a potential successor to the entry-level $329 ‌iPad‌: A recent rumor suggested mass production of a new 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ was set to start this month, so a launch could in the offing this fall.

ipad 2019 models late july eec
In addition to today's ‌iPad‌ filings, Apple also registered several Mac models, but all of them reference machines that are already available, suggesting the filings are simply being updated to reflect models shipping with macOS Catalina, also due to be released in the fall.

Similar EEC filings have preceded the launch of new Apple products on numerous occasions, including multiple ‌iPad‌, ‌iPad Pro‌, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods models. The filings are legally required for any encrypted devices sold in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

This week saw some big news stories including the release of iOS 12.4 with a neat new wireless data migration functionality to easily and securely set up a new iPhone, rumors about a 16-inch MacBook Pro and upcoming iPhones, the 20th anniversary of the iBook, Apple's acquisition of Intel's modem business, and more.

Read on below for a recap of all of this week's most significant news.

Apple Releases iOS 12.4 With New Wireless iPhone-to-iPhone Data Migration Feature and More

Apple publicly released iOS 12.4 this week with a handful of new features, including an iPhone-to-iPhone wireless data transfer option and Apple News+ improvements. Notably absent from the release notes was the Apple Card, which is slated to launch this summer.

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watchOS 5.3 is also out, fixing a Walkie-Talkie security bug and expanding the ECG app to Canada and Singapore, as are macOS 10.14.6 and tvOS 12.4. Last, minor new versions of iOS 9 and iOS 10 were pushed out to older devices to address an upcoming GPS time rollover issue.

16-Inch MacBook Pro With Scissor Keyboard Expected to Launch Later This Year

Rumors point to Apple releasing a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an all-new design in October, and according to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the notebook will include a scissor mechanism keyboard.

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Apple has been using butterfly mechanism keyboards since the original 12-inch MacBook launched in 2015, but they have garnered a very bad reputation due to issues with sticky, unresponsive, and repeating keys.

Kuo expects the scissor keyboards to expand to the entire MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lineups in 2020.

2019 iPhones Said to Feature Revamped Taptic Engine and Front-Facing Slo-Mo Video Recording

We're likely just six weeks away from three new iPhones, and while many features have been widely rumored, new details continue to surface.

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This week, we heard that 2019 iPhones may feature a revamped Taptic Engine and front-facing slo-mo video recording. That's in addition to triple-lens rear cameras, larger batteries, and more.

Looking further ahead, another rumor this week suggested that 2020 iPhones will feature "ProMotion" displays with a faster 120Hz refresh rate. This technology debuted on the iPad Pro in 2017.

iBook Turns 20

This week marked the 20th anniversary of Steve Jobs unveiling the original iBook at the 1999 Macworld Expo in New York City.

ibook imac to go
The original iBook featured a unique clamshell-like design and a colorful rubber coating. Initial colors included Blueberry and Tangerine, with later models available in Graphite, Indigo, and Key Lime.

Notably, the iBook was the first mass consumer product with support for wireless networking, aka Wi-Fi. To go wireless, customers needed to purchase an optional $99 AirPort wireless card and a $299 AirPort base station.

Apple Confirms Plans to Acquire the Majority of Intel's Smartphone Modem Business

As rumored, Apple has announced that it plans to acquire the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business, subject to regulatory approvals.

Intel 5G Modem
Approximately 2,200 Intel employees will join Apple, and Apple will also gain intellectual property, equipment, and leases. The transaction is valued at $1 billion and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The acquisition will certainly benefit Apple's cellular technologies team, with the first 5G-enabled iPhone expected in 2020.

Hands-On With the New July 2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro

Apple earlier this month refreshed its entry-level $1,299 13-inch MacBook Pro, bringing its features more in line with higher-end models.

2019macbookpro
On our YouTube channel this week, we went hands-on with the new model to take a look at what's new, including a Touch Bar, Touch ID, a processor bump, an updated keyboard material, and more.

Subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for new Apple videos every week!

$10,000-Plus 18-Karat Gold Apple Watch Edition Sales Fizzled After Just Two Weeks

Remember the super-fancy, $10,000-plus 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition?

apple watch edition video promo
A report this week claimed that sales of the Edition model were "in the low tens of thousands" of units, with "few after the first two weeks." The line was discontinued after just 16 months on the market.

In related Apple Watch news, a rumor this week suggested that 2020 models may be equipped with Micro-LED displays.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

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

Safari is one of the most important apps on the iPhone and iPad, allowing iOS users to access the web on their devices. Safari is one of the apps that routinely gets updated when new versions of iOS are released, and iOS 13 is no exception.

Safari in iOS 13 offers a whole range of useful updates, from an updated start page to a new download manager. Below, we walk through all of the new and important features in Safari in iOS 13.


Revamped Start Page

Safari in iOS 13 has a revamped start page (the page that's available when you open a new Safari window or tab) that now incorporates Siri Suggestions and other features.

safari start page in iOS 13
The start page includes access to your favorite websites as usual, but ‌Siri‌ Suggestions also surface relevant websites in your browsing history along with frequently visited sites, links sent to you in the Messages app, and more.

The new start page is designed to let you get to what most interests you quickly, and it makes sure you don't forget to check out websites recommended to you by friends and family.

Website View Menu

In the Smart Search field where you can search or type in URLs, there's a new icon on the left denoted by two As.

safari view menu in iOS 13
Tapping on this icon opens up the new Website View menu, where you can access the following controls:

  • Text Size Options - Adjust the size of the text on the website you're on.
  • Enable Reader View - Enable Reader View on the website you're on, which gets rid of ads and formatting for a clean book-style reading interface.
  • Hide Toolbar - Eliminates the Toolbar so you can see the webpage you're on full screen.
  • Request Desktop Website - Loads the desktop version of a website instead of the mobile version. This feature is for the ‌iPhone‌, as the ‌iPad‌ now automatically loads desktop versions of websites instead of mobile versions. This turns into "Request Mobile Website" if the desktop site is already loaded.
  • Website Settings - Provides access to individual settings for each website. You can set the site you're on to load in Reader view automatically or to always load as a desktop website. You can also enable or disable content blockers on a per-site basis, and toggle access to the camera, microphone, and your location. You can view sites where you've customized the settings in the Safari section of the Settings app under "Website Settings."

Website Settings

In the Safari section of the Settings app, there are new per-site controls that let you adjust everything from page zoom to privacy settings for all of the websites you visit (with settings for individual sites customizable using the View Menu mentioned above).

safari website settings in iOS 13
Custom settings you've set will also be listed here along with the toggles to control all websites by default. Available settings:

  • Page Zoom - Sets the page zoom level for all websites from 50 percent to 300 percent. The default is 100 percent.
  • Request Desktop Website - Lets you enable Request Desktop Site for all websites by default.
  • Enable Reader View - Lets you enable Reader View for all websites by default. Sites with a Reader mode will always load in that view.
  • Enable/Disable Content Blockers - Lets you toggle on or toggle off content blockers for all websites.
  • Camera Access - Controls camera access. Available settings are Ask, Deny, and Allow.
  • Location Access - Controls location access. Available settings are Ask, Deny, and Allow.
  • Microphone Access - Controls microphone access. Available settings are Ask, Deny, and Allow.

If you've enabled some of these settings on a per-site basis using the View Menu, such as turning on Request Desktop Site for MacRumors.com, you can disable the presets or delete them in the Website Settings section using the Edit menu for each category.

There's also an option to clear all settings when using this view.

Photo Upload Resizing

When uploading a photo to a website in Safari, you can now choose what size image to upload. Options include Actual Size, Large, Medium, and Small, with each option providing the file size at the bottom of the display once it's selected.

safari photo uploads

Saving Open Tabs as Bookmarks

Safari in iOS 13 includes a new feature that lets you bookmark all of your open tabs. To get to it, long press on the bookmark icon at the bottom of the Safari window, and then choose "Add Bookmarks for [x] Tabs."

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Selecting this will provide you with an interface where you can choose a new folder name and location for the bookmarks to be saved.

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You can open up all the bookmarks that you've saved into new tabs (or bookmarks from any other folder) by opening up the Bookmarks interface, long pressing on the folder, and selecting the new "Open in New Tabs" option. There's also an option to copy the contents, which has also been added in iOS 13.

When you start typing the address of a website that's already open in another tab, Safari will direct you to the open tab in iOS 13 rather than opening up a new tab. This makes sure you don't open unnecessary tabs.

Automatically Close Safari Tabs

If you want to set your Safari tabs to automatically close after a set period of time, there's a new option to do so in the Safari section of the Settings app.

safari setting to automatically close tabs in iOS 13
Open up Settings, choose Safari, scroll down to where it says "Close Tabs" and select the option that you want. The default setting is manual, which means tabs won't close unless you close them yourself, but you can also set tabs to clear automatically after one day, one week, and one month.

Redesigned Share Sheet

The Share Sheet in iOS 13 has been redesigned, making options like Copy, Add to Reading List, Add Bookmark, and more easier to get to with a new list-style view.

Multiple contact suggestions are also included in the Share Sheet now, including people you've recently spoken to in Messages and AirDrop devices that are nearby.

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There's a new feature for sharing an entire web page as a link, a PDF, or in Reader view from the Share Sheet, and through the "Options" interface, you can choose whether to send content as a PDF or a Web Archive. By default, though, iOS 13 will pick "the most suitable format" for each app or action.

Sign In With Apple

Apple in iOS 13 introduced a new Sign In with Apple feature that's a privacy-focused alternative to existing sign-in options from companies like Twitter, Google, and Facebook.

Sign In with Apple is designed to let you sign in with various apps and websites using your existing Apple ID as an authentication method. Unlike sign in options from Google, Twitter, and Facebook, Apple's new option doesn't track or profile you when using Sign In with Apple.

signinwithapple
With Sign In with Apple, there's no need to create a login name or email address when signing up for a new website account. Sign In with Apple is authenticated via Face ID or Touch ID, and your information is further protected with two-factor authentication.

If you don't want to share your email address with an app or service that uses Sign In with Apple, Apple has created a "Hide My Email" feature to let you create unique single-use email addresses that forward to your real email address while keeping it inaccessible to third-party apps and services.

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Sign In with Apple is designed to work in Safari on iOS, Safari on Mac, in apps, and on other platforms.

Weak Password Warnings

When signing up for a new website account, if you attempt to use a weak password, Safari gives you a warning and suggest a stronger password.

Stronger Encryption

In iOS 13, Safari history and open tabs that have been synced to iCloud are protected with end-to-end encryption, which means that no one but you can access your browsing history.

Enhanced Anti-Fingerprinting Protections

Apple has bolstered anti-fingerprinting protections in Safari in iOS 13, adding new protections related to browser fonts. Anti-fingerprinting techniques prevent companies from tracking your web browsing activities from website to website.

Download Manager

Safari features a new Download Manager that matches the Download Manager in Safari for desktop. When you choose to download a file, such as an image, a little download icon is displayed in the top right corner of the display.

safaridownloadsmanager
Tapping on the icon will let you see a list of files that you've downloaded, and tapping on the magnifying glass next to any file opens its enclosing folder.

By default, your downloaded Safari files are saved in a "Downloads" section of the Files app, but you can customize the file storage location by opening up the Settings app, selecting the Safari section, and tapping on the "Downloads" section.

downloadmanagersafarifilelocation
You can choose to save files in iCloud Drive, on your ‌iPhone‌, or in another location such as a different ‌iCloud‌ folder, Dropbox, or another cloud service.

Items in your Safari Download Manager can be set to be deleted after one day, upon successful download, or manually. One day is the default.

Safari on iPadOS

While all of the above features are available on both the ‌iPhone‌ and the ‌iPad‌, there are some additional changes and updates that were added into iPadOS, the version of iOS 13 that's designed to run on the ‌iPad‌.

Desktop Websites

All websites on the ‌iPad‌ now display in desktop mode rather than mobile view, better mimicking the viewing experience that you get on a Mac.

ipadprodesktopsitesafari

Keyboard Shortcuts

Safari on iPadOS introduces 30 additional shortcuts that can be used when browsing, similar to the shortcuts that can be used for Safari on a Mac.

The new keyboard shortcuts work with the Smart Keyboard from Apple or any third-party Bluetooth keyboard.

  • Use default font size in Reader (Command + 0)
  • Open link in background (Command + tap)
  • Toggle downloads (Command + Alt/Option)
  • Open link in new window (Command + Alt + tap)
  • Use selection for Find (Command + E)
  • Email this page (Command + I)
  • Open link in new tab (Command + Shift + tap)
  • Decrease Reader text size (Command + -)
  • Zoom in (Command + +)
  • Zoom out (Command + -)
  • Save webpage (Command + S)
  • Change focused element (Alt/Option + tab)
  • Focus Smart Search field (Command + Alt/Option + F)
  • Dismiss web view in app (Command + W)
  • Increase Reader text size (Command + +)
  • Download linked file (Alt + tap)
  • Add link to Reading List (Shift + tap)
  • Close other tabs (Command + Alt/Option + W)
  • Scroll around screen (arrow keys)
  • Paste without formatting (Command + Shift + Alt/Option + V)
  • New Private tab (Command + Shift + N)
  • Actual size (Command + 0)
  • Open search result (Command + Return)
  • Toggle bookmarks (Command + Alt/Option + 1)

Full Toolbar in Split View

When using Safari in Split View, the full toolbar is now displayed. In iOS 12, the search bar was visible, but none of the additional tools for doing things like accessing bookmarks, getting to the Share Sheet, and more.

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Creating New Windows

iOS 13 supports multiple windows from the same app in Split View, and to create two Safari windows, you can drag a link from one Safari window into to another to open Split View or Slide Over.

Dragging a link into a multitasking window with another app already open will open Safari as the secondary window. So, for example, you can open up Messages, receive a link, and drag it to create a Split View interface that has Safari (with the webpage in the link) and Messages open.

Guide Feedback

Have questions about Safari, know of an iOS 13 Safari feature we left out, or want to offer feedback on this guide? Send us an email here.

Contractors that are working on Siri regularly hear confidential medical information, drug deals, recordings of couples having sex, and other private information, according to a report from The Guardian that shares details collected from a contractor who works on one of Apple's ‌Siri‌ teams.

The employee who shared the info is one of many contractors around the world that listen to ‌Siri‌ voice data collected from customers to improve the ‌Siri‌ voice experience and help ‌Siri‌ better understand incoming commands and queries.

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According to The Guardian, the employee shared the information because he or she was concerned with Apple's lack of disclosure about the human oversight, though Apple has several times in the past confirmed that this takes place and the practice has been outlined in past reports as well.

The whistleblower said: "There have been countless instances of recordings featuring private discussions between doctors and patients, business deals, seemingly criminal dealings, sexual encounters and so on. These recordings are accompanied by user data showing location, contact details, and app data."

In a statement, Apple confirmed to The Guardian that a small number of anonymized ‌Siri‌ requests are analyzed for the purpose of improving ‌Siri‌. A small, random subset (less than 1 percent) of daily ‌Siri‌ activations are used for grading, with each clip only lasting for a few seconds.

"A small portion of Siri requests are analysed to improve Siri and dictation. User requests are not associated with the user's Apple ID. Siri responses are analysed in secure facilities and all reviewers are under the obligation to adhere to Apple's strict confidentiality requirements."

Apple has not made its human-based ‌Siri‌ analysis a secret, but its extensive privacy terms don't appear to explicitly state that ‌Siri‌ information is listened to by humans. The employee said that Apple should "reveal to users" that human oversight exists.

The contractor who spoke to The Guardian said that "the regularity of accidental triggers on the watch is incredibly high," and that some snippets were up to 30 seconds in length. Employees listening to ‌Siri‌ recordings are encouraged to report accidental activations as a technical problem, but aren't told to report about content.

Apple has an extensive privacy policy related to ‌Siri‌ and says it anonymizes all incoming data so that it's not linked to an Apple ID and provides no information about the user. Still, the contractor claims that user data showing location, contact details, and app data is shared, and that names and addresses are sometimes disclosed when they're spoken aloud. To be clear, Apple says that all ‌Siri‌ data is assigned a random identifier and does not include location or contact details as stated by the contractor.

As well as the discomfort they felt listening to such private information, the contractor said they were motivated to go public about their job because of their fears that such information could be misused. "There's not much vetting of who works there, and the amount of data that we're free to look through seems quite broad. It wouldn't be difficult to identify the person that you're listening to, especially with accidental triggers - addresses, names and so on.

While Apple's ‌Siri‌ privacy policy and security documents do not mention human oversight specifically, they are detailed and provide information on how ‌Siri‌ recordings are used.

As stated in Apple's security white paper, for example, user voice data is saved for a six-month period so that the recognition system can use them to better understand a person's voice. The voice data that's saved is identified using a random identifier that's assigned when ‌Siri‌ is turned on, and it is never linked to an ‌Apple ID‌. After six months, a second copy is saved sans any identifier and is used by Apple for improving ‌Siri‌ for up to two years. A small number of recordings, transcripts, and associated data without identifying information is sometimes used by Apple for ongoing improvement of ‌Siri‌ beyond two years.

Apple's privacy website has a ‌Siri‌ section that offers up more info, explaining that all ‌Siri‌ queries are assigned a random identifier not associated with an ‌Apple ID‌. The identifier is reset whenever ‌Siri‌ is turned off and then on again, and turning ‌Siri‌ off deletes all user data associated with a ‌Siri‌ identifier.

When we do send information to a server, we protect your privacy by using anonymized rotating identifiers so that searches and locations can't be traced to you personally. And you can disable Location Services, our proactive features, or the proactive features' use of your location at any time.

Those concerned about ‌Siri‌ triggering accidentally on devices like the iPhone, Apple Watch, and HomePod can turn off the "Hey ‌Siri‌" feature and can instead activate ‌Siri‌ manually, and ‌Siri‌ can also be turned off entirely.