Apple has signed a multi-year content deal with Lee Eisenberg, the co-creator, executive producer, and co-showrunner of Apple TV+ series "Little America," reports Variety.
Eisenberg will be launching a new production company, Piece of Work Entertainment, and he will create digital media projects exclusively for Apple TV+.
Eisenberg is one of several film industry creators that have inked deals with Apple. Apple has content deals with Alfonso Cuaron, Jon Chu, Justin Lin, Jason Katims, and more.
Along with "Little America," Eisenberg is known for his work on "The Office," where he served as a writer and co-executive producer. He has also worked on screenplays that include "Year One" and "Bad Teacher."
"Little America," Eisenberg's first Apple TV+ show, is set to debut this Friday on January 17. "Little America" is an anthology series that highlights the stories of immigrants, and it was produced by Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani, and Emily V. Gordon, among others.
The series has received largely positive reviews from critics, who have called it the best Apple TV+ show yet. "Little America" has already been renewed for season 2.
Apple plans to release one 5.4-inch, one 6.7-inch, and two 6.1-inch iPhone models in 2020, according to UBS analysts Timothy Arcuri and Munjal Shah. While the analysts expect all four iPhones to be equipped with OLED displays, they believe other features like camera specifications and RAM will vary by model.
In a research note shared with MacRumors, the analysts provided an overview of the four iPhones they expect in 2020:
6.7-inch iPhone: triple-lens rear camera with 3D sensing and 6GB of RAM
6.1-inch iPhone: triple-lens rear camera with 3D sensing and 6GB of RAM
6.1-inch iPhone: dual-lens rear camera and 4GB of RAM
5.4-inch iPhone: dual-lens rear camera and 4GB of RAM
5G is expected to be a key feature of high-end iPhones in 2020. UBS conducted a survey of over 9,000 consumers across the United States, Germany, Japan, China, and the United Kingdom and found that 22 percent of respondents view 5G support as something that is worth upgrading smartphones for.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS 10.15.3 update to developers for testing purposes, nearly a month after seeding the first beta and over a month after releasing the macOS Catalina 10.15.2 update.
The new macOS Catalina beta can be downloaded using the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after installing the proper software from the Developer Center.
We don't yet know what improvements the third update to macOS Catalina will bring, but it will likely focus on performance improvements, security updates, and fixes for bugs that weren't able to be fixed in the macOS Catalina 10.15.2 update.
macOS Catalina 10.15.3 has code in it that suggests a new "Pro Mode" is coming to Apple's Macs. Pro Mode appears to be an optional setting that overrides fan speed limits and energy saving restrictions to improve performance. The code says that apps "may run faster" but battery life could decrease and fan noise could increase.
It's not entirely clear if Pro Mode is coming to Macs in the 10.15.3 release, but the code is there so it is a possibility.
We didn't find any other new changes in the first beta of macOS Catalina 10.15.3, but we'll update this post if there's anything new in the second beta.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 6.1.2 update to developers, almost a month after releasing the first beta and over a month after releasing the watchOS 6.1.1 update with bug fixes.
Once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center, the new watchOS beta can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update.
To install the update, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it must be placed on the charger, and it has to be in range of the iPhone.
There's no word yet on what features are included in the watchOS 6.1.2 beta, and there were no new features discovered in the first beta, but we'll update this article should anything new be found in the second beta.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 13.3.1 update to developers, close to a month after seeding the first beta and several weeks after releasing the tvOS 13.3 update.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 13.3.1 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS updates are typically minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes. Apple provides little to no information on what's included in tvOS beta updates, so we may not discover anything new after installing the software.
While we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.3.1 updates to developers, almost a month after seeding the first betas and several weeks after the release of iOS 13.3 with Communication Limits for Screen Time.
iOS and iPadOS 13.3.1 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer center or over the air once the proper developer profile has been installed.
There's no word yet on what's in the iOS 13.3.1 update, but it likely includes bug fixes for issues unable to be addressed in the iOS 13.3 update. Specifically, it could address some issues with Communication Limits, fixing a workaround with the Contacts app that allowed children text someone who contacted them from an unknown number. There's also a new "Play Again" button when replaying content that you've already watched in the TV app.
No other notable new features were found in the first betas of iOS and iPadOS 13.3.1, but we'll update this article should anything new be found in the second betas.
Starting today, Instagram is bringing direct messaging options to the web. As noted by The Verge, a small number of Instagram's global users can access their direct messages from the Instagram website in addition to the iPhone app.
The rollout today to a limited number of customers is just a test, though depending on how it goes a wider rollout could come in the future.
Direct messaging on the web is almost identical to direct messaging through the iPhone, so the interface will be familiar to Instagram users. You can start a DM with someone from a profile page or the DM screen, and there are options to create groups.
Double tapping likes a message, there's an option to see how many unread messages are available, and photos from the desktop can be shared in DMs. Notifications for DMs can also be received if notifications are enabled for the Instagram site in the browser.
Apple today released the rack mount version of the Mac Pro, offering a design that is suited to a rack configuration. Priced starting at $6,499, the rack mount Mac Pro features all of the same configuration options as the standard Mac Pro.
Rather than feet or wheels, the rack mount version of the Mac Pro uses stainless steel slide rails that allow it to be slotted into a rack. The machine features the same 3D lattice design for maximizing airflow and top handles for accessing the internals.
The base model of the rack mount Mac Pro is the same as the base model standard Mac Pro featuring a 3.5GHz 8-core Intel Xeon W processor, 32GB RAM, and 256GB of storage.
Apple is developing 5G-enabled iPads with mmWave support, according to sources cited by industry publication DigiTimes.
A paywalled preview of the report claims Taiwan's Advanced Semiconductor Engineering will supply antenna-in-package technology for the 5G iPads, in addition to 5G iPhones. While not specified, it is almost certain that these models would be iPad Pros given 5G is a high-end feature with higher production costs.
mmWave or millimeter wave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, making it best suited for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.
The complete report should be published by tomorrow, and we will update this post if there are any additional details to share.
Update: The full report is now available and it speculates that 5G iPads could be released as early as the second half of 2020.
Nomad today unveiled the Base Station Stand, a single device wireless charger designed to charge Qi-based products like the iPhone and the AirPods.
The Base Station Stand, priced at $100, can only charge one device at a time, but it is equipped with two charging coils to offer both horizontal or vertical iPhone charging as well as AirPods and AirPods Pro charging.
Most stand-based Qi wireless chargers are equipped with one coil and are meant to charge the iPhone only in an upright orientation, so a stand that can charge in either orientation and also has the capacity to charge AirPods is useful.
The Base Station Stand offers up to 10W of charging, though Apple's iPhones max out at 7.5W. It ships with a USB-A to USB-C cable, it features a machined aluminum frame and a leather charging pad, and it comes with an 18W wall adapter with US, UK, and EU plugs.
Apple on Monday released Xcode 11.3.1 with bug fixes and improvements, including reducing the size of dependency files produced by the Swift compiler, which can improve incremental build times and disk usage for targets with many source files. Full release notes are posted on Apple's developer website.
As with Xcode 11.3, version 11.3.1 supports developing apps for iOS 13.3, iPadOS 13.3, macOS 10.15.2, watchOS 6.1, and tvOS 13.3.
It has been nearly one month since Apple seeded new betas for its software platforms, which is an unusually long time. The first betas of iOS 13.3.1, iPadOS 13.3.1, macOS 10.15.3, watchOS 6.1.2, and tvOS 13.3.1 were seeded on December 17, but no further builds have been made available since then.
Apple always stops seeding betas over the holidays, but the cycle usually resumes in early January, including January 7 in 2019, January 3 in 2018, and January 9 in 2017, so there is a bit of a delay this year.
On an Xcode-related note, Apple has reminded developers that, starting April 2020, apps submitted to the App Store must use an Xcode storyboard to provide the app's launch screen and must have an interface that supports any display size. Apple also strongly encourages supporting multitasking on iPad.
Apple:
Apps should look great on all models of iPhone and iPad, regardless of display size or aspect ratio. With features like Xcode storyboards and Auto Layout, your app’s interface elements and layouts automatically fit the display. As announced at WWDC19, starting April 2020, apps submitted to the App Store must use an Xcode storyboard to provide the app’s launch screen and must have an interface that supports any display size.
Support for Multitasking on iPad is strongly encouraged. Adding support for multiple windows, and adopting Multitasking capabilities, including Slide Over, Split View, and Picture in Picture, will ensure your app delivers a modern and complete experience on iPadOS.
Apple says it has addressed an Xcode bug in the storyboard canvas that could cause the development tool to crash.
Amazon has introduced a new discount on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, discounting both base configurations of the notebook to notable low prices. Specifically, these new discounts are the lowest prices that we've ever tracked for the 16-inch MacBook Pro among the major Apple resellers online.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can get the 512GB 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,149.00 ($250 off) or the 1TB 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,499.00 ($300 off). Due to the discounts, some models are seeing delayed shipping estimates on Amazon. As of writing, the 512GB model won't ship until February 5, but there appears to be more stock for the 1TB model in Silver.
On December 16th, Apple released a new firmware update for the AirPods Pro bumping the firmware from 2B588 to 2C54. After the updates, there were several anecdotal reports that the AirPods Pro noise cancelation may have been affected adversely by the update. Adding to the confusion is that Apple has since pulled the 2C54 update, so not everyone with AirPods Pro may have the latest update.
Users asked tech review site RTINGS.com to reevaluate their previous testing of the AirPods Pro with the new firmware to confirm any changes in the new firmware.
RTINGS published its findings today and does confirm that the 2C54 firmware objectively worsens the AirPods Pro active noise canceling feature:
Update 01/10/2020: After updating to Firmware 2C45, we retested the headphones and our results showed a fairly significant drop in isolation performance, primarily in the bass-range. This means that with ANC turned on, these headphones won't do nearly as good a job blocking out the low engine rumbles of planes or buses as they did before this update. This review reflects these changes.
The news is not all bad, however. In other areas of testing, the 2C54 Firmware appears to improve performance in frequency response and bass accuracy. Note: RTINGS incorrectly refers to the firmware as version 2C45, not 2C54.
Apple pulled the 2C54 firmware only days after its release, so it is presumably working on the issues described. You can tell what firmware version you have by going to Settings -> General -> About -> AirPods Pro.
Japanese site Mac Otakara today shared a somewhat confusing rumor about Apple's 2020 iPhone lineup, suggesting the 5.4-inch iPhone that Apple is working on will be sized similarly to the iPhone 8.
Citing Apple suppliers exhibiting at CES, Mac Otakara says that Apple "might be developing Face ID models beside Touch ID models as an updated version of iPhone 8."
This confusingly seems to refer to the low-cost "iPhone SE 2" or iPhone 8 successor Apple has in development, but a further mention of the 5.4-inch iPhone with Face ID suggests that it actually refers to the higher-end 5.4-inch device rumored for the fall of 2020.
The body size returns to iPhone 7, and the receiver size is in between the iPhone 11 series and the iPhone XS series. The rear camera is much bigger compared to iPhone 8, and the LED True Tone flash size returns to iPhone 7.
By employing TrueDepth camera, the verticle width of the active area size for the display expands and thus becomes 5.4-inch size, and the possibility of it being the model buzzed about increases.
Prior rumors have indicated that Apple is working on devices in multiple sizes for its flagship 2020 iPhone lineup, including a 5.4-inch iPhone, a 6.1-inch iPhone (or two devices in this size, based on one rumor), and a 6.7-inch iPhone.
Mac Otakara says that the 5.4-inch iPhone will have an iPhone 7 body size and a rear camera that's "much bigger compared to iPhone 8." By using the TrueDepth camera system and eliminating the Home button, the display's active area measures in at 5.4 inches, though the device's size will be similar to the iPhone 8.
The iPhone 8 (and the iPhone 7) features a 4.7-inch display along with thick top and bottom bezels that provide room for the front-facing camera and the Home button. By eliminating the bezels, Apple can offer a larger display in a smaller body. The 5.4-inch iPhone will be the smallest iPhone Apple has offered since the 2017 iPhone 8.
There are mixed iPhone rumors right now, but in a nutshell, it seems that Apple will release four to five new iPhones in 2020. The first will come in the spring of 2020 and will be an "iPhone SE 2" or iPhone 8 successor is meant to be a low-cost iPhone with Touch ID and a single-lens camera. This iPhone won't have Face ID and will continue to have thick top and bottom bezels.
In the fall, Apple will introduce three or four new flagship iPhones in 5.4, 6.1, and 6.7-inch size options, and these iPhones will feature edge-to-edge displays, 5G connectivity, multi-lens cameras, and more. Early rumors suggested we should expect three iPhones in the fall of 2020, but a JPMorgan analyst recently said there could potentially be two 6.1-inch iPhones, a prediction that was quickly corroborated by noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple's 2020 fall lineup will be similar to the 2019 iPhone lineup, with iPhones available at multiple price points starting at around $700, while the rumored early 2020 iPhone 8 successor could be priced as low as $399.
The PAX South gaming convention is set to take place this Friday in San Antonio, Texas, and Apple is listed as one of the exhibitors.
At the event, Apple will have a booth for "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet," an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy that follows a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular online game.
"Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet" was created by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, known for their work on long running TV show "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." McElhenney will star in the show as the gaming company's creative director, but Day does not have a role.
"Mythic Quest" also stars F. Murray Abraham, Danny Pudi, Imani Hakim, Charlotte Nicdao, David Hornsby, Ashly Burch, and Jessie Ennis.
This will mark Apple's first time at PAX South, and some of the show's stars could potentially be in attendance at the event. "Mythic Quest" is set to launch on Friday, February 7, while PAX South will take place from January 17 to January 19.
Apple today informed developers about the release of a new Reality Converter App, which is designed to allow users to convert, view, and customize USDZ 3D objects on the Mac.
Common 3D file formats like .obj, .gltf, and .usd can be dragged and dropped into the Reality Converter app, which offers up a converted USDZ result that can be then be edited and customized.
The app supports adding textures and editing file metadata, along with previewing USDZ objects under a variety of lighting and environment conditions.
The Reality Converter app is in beta right now and can be downloaded from Apple's developer website.
Apple's worldwide Mac shipments were down in the fourth quarter of 2019, according to new PC shipping estimates shared this afternoon by Gartner.
Apple shipped an estimated 5.26 million Macs during the quarter, down from 5.43 million in the year-ago quarter, a decline of three percent.
Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q19 (Thousands of Units)
Apple's market share was also down, dipping from 7.9 percent in Q4 2018 to 7.5 percent in Q4 2019. The drop in Apple's shipments comes as the overall PC market saw growth for the first time since 2011, driven by demands for Windows 10 upgrades.
Apple maintained its position as the number four PC vendor in the world, trailing behind Lenovo, HP, and Dell, all of which saw year-over-year growth.
Lenovo was the top PC vendor with 17.5 million shipments and 24.8 percent market share, followed by HP with 16.1 million shipments and 22.8 percent market share and Dell with 12.1 million PCs shipped and 17.2 percent market share.
Asus and Acer came in after Apple with around four million PCs shipped each and 5.8 and 5.7 percent market share, respectively. Aside from a small drop in Asus shipments, Apple was the only major PC vendor to see Q4 2019 shipments fall.
Apple's Market Share Trend: 1Q06-4Q19 (Gartner)
Apple fared a bit better in the United States, with shipments that were about stagnant. Apple shipped 2.13 million Macs in the U.S., up 0.8 percent from the 2.11 million that it shipped in the fourth quarter of 2018. Apple is the number four vendor in the U.S., coming in after HP, Dell, and Lenovo, with Microsoft coming in behind Apple. Overall U.S. PC shipments were also up 4.6 percent year over year.
Gartner's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q19(Thousands of Units)
For all of 2019, Apple's worldwide Mac shipments were down 0.9 percent, with Apple shipping an estimated 18.4 million Macs during the year compared to 18.5 million in 2018. Apple's overall 2019 market share came in at 7 percent, with Apple securing the number four spot after Lenovo (63 million PCs shipped), HP (58 million PCs shipped), and Dell (44 million PCs shipped).
Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2019 (Thousands of Units)
In the future, Gartner believes the PC market will continue to decline, despite the growth this year, though new technologies like foldable PCs are "something to keep an eye on."
Product innovation is one of the key factors that will enable the overall PC market to maintain sustainable growth. We've already started to see this through the 'foldable laptops' introduced at CES this past week along with initiatives that make PCs as easy as smartphones by allowing users to always be connected and ensuring a worry-free battery life. Such innovations that change user behavior and create new product segments are something to keep an eye on in 2020 and beyond,
IDC also released its own shipment estimates this afternoon, noting a similar decline in sales from Apple. IDC's data suggests Apple shipped 4.72 million Macs in Q4 2019, down from 4.98 million in the year-ago quarter.
IDC also notes the same decline in total 2019 shipments compared to 2018, suggesting Apple shipped an estimated 17.7 million Macs during the year, down from 18 million in 2018.
It's important to note that data from Gartner and IDC is estimated and not reflective of Apple's sales, though historically, it has not been far off. We used to be able to check estimated shipment data when Apple provided quarterly earnings releases with actual Mac sales information, but Apple no longer breaks out unit sales for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it impossible to determine exact sales numbers.
Apple's sales were down in 2019 despite the release of multiple new MacBook models, including the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the new Mac Pro. It's not yet clear what Apple is planning for 2020, but thus far we haven't heard rumors of Mac upgrades that suggest a significant boost in sales is on the horizon.
Apple's Macs could soon have the option for a "Pro Mode" that boosts performance according to data found in the macOS Catalina 10.15.3 beta.
Released in December, the beta contains code discovered by 9to5Mac that references an optional Pro Mode that appears to override fan speed limits and energy saving restrictions to improve performance. Code in the beta says "Apps may run faster, but battery life may decrease and fan noise may increase" when Pro Mode is turned on.
As with Do Not Disturb, Pro Mode is a temporary option that is set to turn off the next day after being enabled, likely to make sure Macs are running in optimal conditions.
The code found in the beta seems to suggest Pro Mode is coming to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, but MacRumors has also received an anonymous tip suggesting the Mac Pro will also get a Pro Mode option that will override maximum fan speed software limits for improved thermal performance.
More information on Pro Mode should be available when macOS Catalina 10.15.3 sees a release, provided this is the update where it will be introduced.
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