MacRumors

Alongside of the release of iOS 13.2, a major new update that introduces a long list of new features and changes, Apple has also debuted a new software update that's designed for the HomePod.

The new ‌HomePod‌ software will be installed automatically on the ‌HomePod‌ after you update to iOS 13.2, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following the instructions in our HomePod software how to.

homepod duo
After installing the software update, the ‌HomePod‌ will be able to distinguish between different voices for the first time. That means Siri is able to recognize the voices of everyone in the family, which will allow each person in the home to listen to their own music, playlists, radio stations, and more.

‌HomePod‌ now supports Handoff, so you can hand off music, phone calls, and podcasts from the iPhone to the ‌HomePod‌ and vice versa. If you come home from work, for example, and are listening to music on the ‌iPhone‌, you can beam it right over to the ‌HomePod‌ so you can continue listening without missing a beat. You can also add music to your HomeKit scenes after upgrading to iOS 13.2.

The new software brings a new Ambient Sounds feature that lets you play relaxing soundtracks like rain falling, nature sounds, white noise, and more, plus you can set sleep timers to fall asleep to these new Ambient Sounds or to music.

iOS 13.2 provides support for new HomePod features:

- The ability for HomePod to recognize the voices of different family members to provide a personalized experience
- Handoff music, podcasts, or phone calls by bringing your iPhone close to HomePod
- Add music to your HomeKit scenes
- Play relaxing high-quality soundtracks with Ambient Sounds
- Set sleep timers to fall asleep to music or Ambient Sounds

For more on the ‌HomePod‌, make sure to check out our HomePod roundup.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

Apple today released tvOS 13.2, the first major update to the tvOS 13 operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 13.2 comes more than a month after the launch of tvOS 13.

‌tvOS 13.2‌, which is a free update, can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ by going to System -> Software Update. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to ‌tvOS 13‌.2 automatically.

appletv4k2
We didn't find any new features in tvOS 13.2 during the beta testing period, making it unclear what's included in the update, but it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements.

Details on the update will be provided through Apple's tvOS support document, but haven't been added just yet.

tvOS 13 was a major update introducing multi-user support, a Control Center, ocean-themed screensavers, and more. Details on tvOS 13 can be found in our tvOS 13 roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Apple today announced that it is releasing new AirPods Pro earbuds on October 30. As rumored, updated new accessory features an all new-design with an AirPods-style shape and silicone ear tips to support active noise cancellation technology, along with a $249 price point.

airpodspro
Apple says that the AirPods Pro have been engineered for "comfort and fit" and each earbud ships with three different sizes of silicone ear tips that conform to the contours of the individual ear, offering up a comfortable fit and a "superior seal."


Apple has designed an Ear Tip Fit Test to make sure that users get the best audio experience. After putting the ‌AirPods Pro‌ in each ear, Apple's software will leverage the built-in microphones to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what's coming from the speaker driver. Apple says that in just seconds, its algorithm will be able to tell whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit or should be adjusted for a better seal.

airpodsproinear
Inside, there's an "innovative vent system" that's designed to equalize pressure to minimize discomfort common with other in-ear designs. Apple also says that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ are both sweat and water resistant with an IPX4 rating. That means they'll hold up to some light splashing and sweating, but submersion should be avoided.

Despite rumors of multiple color options that include black and green, it appears that Apple is selling the ‌AirPods Pro‌ only in white. Due to the larger in-ear design, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ also feature a larger, redesigned charging case to accommodate them.

“AirPods are the best-selling headphones in the world. The one-tap setup experience, incredible sound and iconic design have made them a beloved Apple product, and with AirPods Pro, we’re taking the magic even further,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “The new in-ear AirPods Pro sound amazing with Adaptive EQ, fit comfortably with flexible ear tips and have innovative Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. We think customers are going to love this new addition to the AirPods family.”

The AirPods feature an Active Noise Cancellation feature that uses two microphones (one outward facing to detect environmental noise and one inward facing towards the ear) combined with "advanced software" to adapt to each ear and headphone fit and customize sound signal 200 times per second. Apple says that this setup removes background noise for a "uniquely customized, superior noise-canceling experience."

airpodsprocase
A built-in Transparency mode offers users the option to listen to music while still hearing the environment around them, for situations like biking in traffic or listening for an important train message. Transparency mode takes advantage of the vent system in the AirPods to leave just the right amount of noise cancellation.

airpodsprointernal
Swapping between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode can be done using a new force sensor system that Apple has added to the stem of the ‌AirPods Pro‌. This force sensor can also be used to play, pause, or skip tracks and answer and hang up phone calls. The mode can also be controlled through the Control Center on iPhone and iPad, or by tapping the AirPlay icon on Apple Watch while music is playing.

airpodsprocontrolcenter
According to Apple, ‌AirPods Pro‌ have been engineered to deliver superior sound quality with Adaptive EQ, a feature that automatically tunes the low and mid frequencies of the music to the shape of an individual's ear for what Apple says is a "rich, immersive listening experience."

There's a custom high dynamic range amplifier that's able to produce clear sound while also extending the ‌AirPods Pro‌ battery life, plus it powers a custom high-excursion, low-distortion speaker driver designed to optimize audio quality and cut down on background noise.

‌AirPods Pro‌ are equipped with the Apple-designed H1 chip featuring 10 audio cores able to power real-time noise cancellation and deliver high-quality sound while also processing "Hey Siri" commands. Battery life is the same as the AirPods 2, lasting for up to five hours in standard mode. When Noise Cancellation is active, ‌AirPods Pro‌ offer up to four and a half hours of listening time and three and a half hours of talk time.

airpodsproexpanded
The H1 chip also supports hands-free "Hey ‌Siri‌" commands and it allows for Audio Sharing so two people who have ‌AirPods Pro‌ can watch the same movie or listen to the same song with an ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.

The included Wireless Charging Case (which does indeed support Qi-based wireless charging) can deliver more than 24 hours of listening time and over 18 hours of talk time. A USB-C to Lightning cable is also included in the box for charging purposes.

The ‌AirPods Pro‌ can be ordered immediately from Apple.com and the Apple Store app and will be arriving to Apple retail locations on Wednesday, October 30. The first orders are offering up Thursday, October 31 arrival dates.

Apple plans to continue to sell the AirPods with Charging Case ($159) and the AirPods With Wireless Charging Case ($199) alongside the ‌AirPods Pro‌.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

Update: Fitbit today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Google for approximately $2.1 billion.

James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit:

More than 12 years ago, we set an audacious company vision – to make everyone in the world healthier. Today, I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved towards reaching that goal. We have built a trusted brand that supports more than 28 million active users around the globe who rely on our products to live a healthier, more active life. Google is an ideal partner to advance our mission. With Google's resources and global platform, Fitbit will be able to accelerate innovation in the wearables category, scale faster, and make health even more accessible to everyone. I could not be more excited for what lies ahead.

Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President, Devices & Services at Google:

Fitbit has been a true pioneer in the industry and has created terrific products, experiences and a vibrant community of users. We're looking forward to working with the incredible talent at Fitbit, and bringing together the best hardware, software and AI, to build wearables to help even more people around the world.

Fitbit will continue to remain platform-agnostic across both Android and iOS, and the company says Fitbit health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads.

The transaction is expected to close in 2020, subject to regulatory approvals.



Google is in talks to acquire popular fitness tracker maker Fitbit, according to Reuters, which could help the company better compete with the Apple Watch along with its existing Wear OS smart watch platform.

apple watch vs fitbit
The report claims there is no certainty that the negotiations between Google parent company Alphabet and Fitbit will lead to any deal, and the exact price that Google has offered for Fitbit is unknown at this time.

Google does not currently sell any own-brand fitness trackers or smart watches, but its Wear OS platform runs on smart watches sold by several third-party brands, such as LG, Huawei, and Fossil.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Tags: Fitbit, Google
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

After an all-time-low price hit the AirPods with Charging Case last week, a few new retailers have now discounted the more expensive AirPods with Wireless Charging Case. You can get the Qi-compatible version of the 2019 AirPods for $164.99, down from $199.00 ($34 off) at both Amazon and Adorama this week.

airpodshandsonNote: 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.

This is one of the lowest prices we've ever tracked on the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case among the major Apple resellers, which previously sat at $169.00 for a few weeks on Amazon. For those interested in the standalone Wireless Charging Case, Adorama offers the accessory for $64.99, down from $79.00 ($14 off), which represents another low price in this sale.

Apple updated the AirPods in March 2019 with with "Hey Siri" support and various connectivity improvements thanks to the updated H1 chip. We routinely keep track of the most notable AirPods discounts in our dedicated Best Deal on AirPods guide, so be sure to check it often if you're on the hunt for new AirPods.

Otherwise, our full Deals Roundup has a wide-ranging recap of all the best Apple-related sales happening right now.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Ahead of Apple TV+ launching on Friday, reviews are now out for some of the first series premiering on the streaming video service, including The Morning Show, See, Dickinson, and For All Mankind.

apple tv plus series banner
Most reviews have panned The Morning Show and See, opinions were mixed about Dickinson, and For All Mankind was acclaimed.

The Morning Show

- Variety: "Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston can't salvage this politically muddled, underthought, and underwhelming streaming misfire."

- The Hollywood Reporter: "After a brutally dull pilot and a meandering second episode, there are distinct hints in the third hour of a more satisfying and confident The Morning Show, one that actually gets value out of leading ladies Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon."

- Rolling Stone
- Vanity Fair
- Entertainment Weekly
- The Telegraph
- TVLine
- TV Guide
- Deadline
- Decider
- CNET
- AppleInsider
- CNN

See

- Variety: "Spiraling away from narrative control as its first three episodes unreel, this series, about a post-apocalyptic future in which nearly everyone is blind, wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, among others, on a story that starts from a position of fun, giddy strangeness and drags itself forward at a lugubrious pace."

- The Hollywood Reporter: "As you'll find is a trend with this first batch of Apple TV+ originals, See isn't close to a good show thus far, but it does just enough to make you believe that under the right circumstances, there might be a good show here somewhere, eventually."

- The Telegraph
- TVLine
- TV Guide
- Deadline
- Decider
- CNET
- AppleInsider
- IndieWire
- The Guardian

Dickinson

- Variety: "Given the show's scattered narrative and stylistic approach to Emily's life and work, its biggest strength by a long shot is its star […] Even when the show around her starts to crumble under its own ambitious weight, [Hailee] Steinfeld usually finds a way to carry it."

- The Hollywood Reporter: "The writing is well-informed by historical research, with episodes based on many real events from her early life. But in wanting to be both a serious teen drama and a black comedy simultaneously, the half-hour show instead comes off as tonally incongruous, awash in wry hipster flatness."

- The Telegraph
- TVLine
- TV Guide
- Collider
- Deadline
- Decider
- CNET
- AppleInsider

For All Mankind

- Variety: "Of the original series launching Apple’s streaming TV service Monday, 'For All Mankind' is by far the strongest, especially because it makes the most of its budget and subsequent capacity to dream a bit bigger than most."

- The Hollywood Reporter: "The Apple TV+ series is a solid effort at epic, alternate-history storytelling, but feels a bit derivative and moves too slowly."

- The Telegraph
- TVLine
- TV Guide
- Deadline
- Decider
- CNET
- AppleInsider
- Collider
- IndieWire

Apple TV+ is Apple's upcoming subscription-based streaming video service, launching November 1 in over 100 countries and regions.

Apple TV+ will be available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and other platforms, including online at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. Since September 10, customers who purchase any iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, or Mac can get one year of Apple TV+ for free.

Spotify today announced that its streaming music service has reached 113 million paying subscribers as of September 30, up from 108 million as of June 30. Spotify's monthly active user count also increased to 248 million through September, inclusive of users listening to its free, ad-supported tier.

spotify devices
In a letter to shareholders, part of its third quarter earnings results, Spotify said that publicly available data indicates that it is adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as Apple Music:

We continue to feel very good about our competitive position in the market. Relative to Apple, the publicly available data shows that we are adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as they are. Additionally, we believe that our monthly engagement is roughly 2x as high and our churn is at half the rate.

Apple Music had 60 million paying subscribers as of late June, according to Apple's services chief Eddy Cue. Spotify has remained nearly twice as large as ‌Apple Music‌ in terms of paying subscribers over the last year.

Apple is ramping up hiring for a team working on new HomeKit-based devices and software, having posted at least 15 openings for engineering positions on the team in the last month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

apple tv homepod
The report claims the efforts are headed by Andreas Gal, the former CTO of Mozilla who joined Apple last year following the iPhone maker's acquisition of Silk Labs, an artificial intelligence startup that had created a privacy-focused security camera and smart home hub system.

Details are vague, but one possibility is said to be new smart home devices beyond the HomePod speaker. Apple is also said to have explored creating a wide range of smart home accessories, such as modules for opening and closing windows, cabinets, and doors, but those efforts were reportedly put on hold.

Back in July, we reported on a rumor that Apple is considering using a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on its 2020 iPhones, allowing for a smoother on-screen experience. DigiTimes now reports that industry observers believe many 5G-era smartphones are likely to use upgraded displays capable of up to 120Hz refresh rates, reigniting speculation that next year's iPhones could use Apple's ProMotion display tech.

2020 iphones pro motion
However, DigiTimes notes that whether Apple will adopt displays with a 120Hz refresh rate "remains to be seen."

The arrival of 5G is ushering in hardware upgrades to support related applications and services. It is expected more 5G smartphones will come with displays offering high refresh rates that can enhance user experience. It remains to be seen whether Apple will launch its first 5G iPhone in 2020, or will adopt displays with 120Hz refresh rate...

The DigiTimes article bases its prediction on the penetration rate of over 120Hz panels in the gaming notebook segment. Observers note that this has surpassed 30 percent and is still growing, which is prompting panel makers to step into the sector and develop panels with refresh rates ranging from 120Hz to 240Hz.

The gaming-oriented Razer Phone 2 has such a panel with a fast refresh rate, while Asustek's ROG Phone II, which launched in the second half of 2019, also boasts one. ‌DigiTimes‌ also notes that the Google's Pixel 4 comes with a 90Hz display and Sharp's recently released Aquos R3 features a 6.2-inch IGZO 120Hz display, while several Chinese brands are expected to roll out models with higher refresh rates in 2020.


Having a similar display on a new iPhone without sacrificing battery life would obviously be a big draw. Apple already uses variable refresh rate technology in its iPad Pro models, and markets the tech under the moniker "ProMotion," which it says dynamically adjusts the display to the movement of content for fluid scrolling, greater responsiveness, and smoother motion. It does all this on the fly, which means it also conserves battery life.

Of course, Apple's ‌iPad Pro‌ models use LCD panels rather than OLED, and rumors have suggested Apple will complete its transition to an all-OLED iPhone lineup in 2020 with new 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch devices.

If Apple is indeed in discussion with Samsung and LG to bring a ProMotion-style screen to a new breed of OLED iPhones, as one leaker claimed earlier this year, then it would raise next year's smartphone performance bar even higher.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple's "iPhone SE 2" is scheduled to go into mass production in January 2020 and will launch at the end of March, according to the latest information from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iphone se and iphone 8
The timing basically tallies with Kuo's previous reports on the so-called "‌iPhone‌ SE 2," in which he predicted a Q1 2020 release for the device, which is expected to start at $399.

Relying on historical patterns in Apple's product release schedule to predict future launches is not without risk, but March has traditionally been the launch month of Apple's more affordable ‌iPhone‌.

The original ‌iPhone‌ SE was announced on March 21, 2016, pre-orders began on March 24 and the device was officially released on March 31, 2016. It was re-released almost a year later on March 24, 2017 with larger storage capacities. Apple has also held special launch events in the last week of March for the last two years.

Specs for the new low-end ‌iPhone‌ are said to include:

  • 4.7-inch display
  • A13 CPU (same as ‌iPhone‌ 11)
  • 3GB LPDDR4X RAM
  • 64GB and 128GB options
  • Space Gray, Silver and Red colors
  • Home button
  • No 3D Touch

Kuo expects the device to look similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 8 and believes it will be a popular upgrade option for existing ‌iPhone‌ 6 and ‌iPhone‌ 6S owners, serving as a "key growth driver" for Apple in 2020. He believes these customers have low desire for new features like Face ID and multiple cameras, suggesting the "‌iPhone‌ SE 2" will stick with Touch ID and a single-lens rear camera.

In terms of shipments, Kuo estimates that monthly shipments of the ‌iPhone‌ SE 2 will be between 2 million and 4 million. Kuo also expects the ‌iPhone‌ SE 2 will use a liquid crystal polymer LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) antenna design to facilitate transmission efficiency.

According to other industry sources, LG is in talks with Apple to supply LCD displays for the successor to the ‌iPhone‌ SE, with the panels currently undergoing last-minute quality checks.

Of course, "‌iPhone‌ SE 2" might not be the final name of the device, with ‌iPhone‌ 8s and ‌iPhone‌ 9 speculated as other possibilities. With a larger 4.7-inch display, the device won't be as portable as the original ‌iPhone‌ SE, which will surely disappoint fans of that model.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple has started advising iPhone 5 owners to update to iOS 10.3.4 before November 3, otherwise several key functions like iCloud and the App Store will no longer work on their device because of a time rollover issue.

Apple iPhone 5 white
Back in July, Apple released updated versions of iOS for older iPhones and iPads models, including the ‌iPhone‌ 5, to address an issue that could impact GPS location performance and lead to the system date and time being incorrect. The GPS time rollover issue began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019, but Apple's affected devices aren't impacted by the problem until just before midnight UTC on November 3, 2019.

For ‌iPhone‌ 5 and the fourth-generation iPad with Wi-Fi and Cellular, the 10.3.4 update is required to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on correct date and time including ‌App Store‌, ‌iCloud‌, email, and web browsing. An iOS 9.3.6 update is available for the also-affected ‌iPhone‌ 4s and cellular models of the original iPad mini, the ‌iPad‌ 2, and the ‌iPad‌ 3.

From Apple's support document:

Starting just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019, iPhone 5 will require an iOS update to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on correct date and time including App Store, iCloud, email, and web browsing. This is due to the GPS time rollover issue that began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019. Affected Apple devices are not impacted until just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019.

If ‌iPhone‌ 5 models in particular are not updated by November 3, 2019, Apple says users will have to back up and restore using a Mac or PC in order to update, because over-the-air software updates and ‌iCloud‌ Backup will not work.

If you have an ‌iPhone‌ 5, check to make sure your device has updated successfully by following these steps.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌ 5.
  2. Tap General -> About.
  3. Look for the number next to Software Version.

The updated software version should be 10.3.4.

Related Forum: iPhone

"AirPods Pro" will come in as many as eight colors, including White, Black, and a new Midnight Green finish to match iPhone 11 Pro models, according to a Chinese-language report from the Economic Daily News.

airpods pro midnight green black concept

AirPods Pro concept via EverythingApplePro

Google's machine translation of the report is not easy to decipher, so the source of the information is unclear. Eight colors would certainly be a lot, although it is not out of the question given that Apple has made Beats headphones like the Solo3 available in over a dozen colors over the years.

AirPods b298@3xThe report also backs rumors that the AirPods Pro will feature active noise cancellation and water resistance. Last month, in the iOS 13.2 beta filesystem, MacRumors discovered an icon depicting never-before-seen, in-ear AirPods with rubber ear tips that would presumably help to block out ambient noise.

Apple plans to release the AirPods Pro in time for the holiday shopping season this year, according to the Economic Daily News, with the report claiming the earphones could be unveiled as early as next week.

This is not the first time the Economic Daily News has reported that Apple plans to release new AirPods in a black color, as the publication made the same claim back in February. A month later, Apple released second-generation AirPods with Hey Siri support, up to 50 percent more talk time, and an optional wireless charging case, but the black color was nowhere to be seen.

However, it is worth noting that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple originally planned to release the second-generation AirPods in 2018, but they were delayed, so it is possible the black color was always intended to be for these third-generation AirPods with noise cancellation and water resistance.

Indian blog MySmartPrice also said black AirPods were in the works back in February, claiming they would feature a matte finish with improved grip. Combined with last week's Economic Daily News report claiming that the AirPods Pro will sport a new metal design, perhaps the earphones and their charging case will look similar to the back glass of iPhone 11 Pro models, complete with matching colors.

Leaked photos, knockoffs, and accessories all point towards the AirPods Pro charging case being wider to accommodate the ear tips.

airpods 3 leak 1
As higher-end earphones, the AirPods Pro will likely have improved sound. Last week's Economic Daily News report also claimed that the AirPods Pro will feature multiple listening modes, suggesting they could have the same Transparency feature as the new Beats Solo Pro, which turns on the external microphones so the wearer can hear outside noise without pausing music playback.

Unsurprisingly, higher-end AirPods would likely have a higher price tag than the current AirPods. Economic Daily News estimates pricing may start at around $259, which would be $100 more than the current AirPods with a wired charging case. However, supply chain reports are usually guessing about pricing.

Apple typically unveils redesigned products during its keynotes, but an October event is looking unlikely this year, so possibilities include Apple announcing the AirPods Pro with a press release, hosting an unprecedented November event, or waiting to unveil them at its typical March event next year.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

October is rapidly drawing to a close, and while time has run out for Apple to announce a media event for this month, there are still a number of known and rumored product launches in the works. This week saw fresh rumors about the so-called "AirPods Pro," the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the Mac Pro.

Looking further ahead, we're continuing to hear about the "iPhone SE 2" for early next year, while this week also saw the 18th anniversary of the iPod's introduction.

Accessory Maker Releases 'AirPods Pro' Cases Matching Rumored Noise-Cancelling Design

While it looks unlikely that Apple will be hosting an October event this year, rumors suggest at least a few new products are still on the horizon, including the so-called "AirPods Pro."

airpods pro cases
MacRumors already discovered an icon of in-ear AirPods with rubber ear tips, lending credence to rumors that Apple is planning to release higher-end AirPods with active noise cancellation and improved water resistance, and last week a Chinese report claimed they will sport a new design and be released by the end of October, perhaps via press release.

At least one accessory maker is already capitalizing on the rumors with a few cases for the "AirPods Pro," with the product images depicting a wider charging case as previously leaked.

16-Inch MacBook Pro Said to Launch by End of October With Ultra-Slim Bezels and Scissor Keyboard

Last week, Apple effectively leaked the long-rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro itself by way of an icon discovered in the macOS Catalina 10.15.1 beta. The icon, created earlier this month, depicts a slightly larger MacBook Pro with slimmer bezels around the display.

15 vs 16 macbook pro icon

15-inch MacBook Pro icon on left, possible 16-inch MacBook Pro icon on right

And now this week, hit-or-miss industry website DigiTimes has a fresh claim that the 16-inch MacBook Pro will be released by the end of October, noting that Quanta Computer has already begun volume shipments of the notebook to Apple. It won't be long before we know if this rumor will pan out.

New Mac Pro Nearing Release as Apple Advises Technicians How to Place Computer in DFU Mode

Apple previewed an all-new Mac Pro at WWDC in June, and said the computer will be available to order this fall, but it has yet to specify a release date.

2019 mac pro side front view
This week, however, Apple updated its Mac Configuration Utility for authorized technicians with an option for the new Mac Pro, and our source believes this likely signals an imminent release.

The new ‌Mac Pro‌ is a powerhouse, with up to 28-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 1.5TB of ECC RAM, and up to a 4TB SSD. A new design includes a stainless steel frame with smooth handles and an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. Pricing will start at $5,999.

Camera Comparison: iPhone 11 Pro Max vs. Pixel 4 XL

Both the iPhone 11 Pro Max and Google's Pixel 4 XL have high-end camera systems, so we decided to compare the camera quality of the two devices to see if one has an edge over the other.

pixel4iphone11cameracomparison
Given how advanced smartphone cameras have become, the two devices both perform well, but there are some advantages to each that we discuss.

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

iPhone SE 2 Rumors Continue to Mount as LG Reportedly in Talks to Supply LCDs for Device

Rumors are coming in fast and heavy about the so-called iPhone SE 2, with a report this week claiming that LG is in talks with Apple to supply LCD displays for the device, expected to launch in early 2020.

iphone se and iphone 8
In a research note this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone SE 2 will feature an upgraded antenna design for improved wireless transmission. Kuo previously said the device will resemble the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch display and Touch ID, but with a faster A13 Bionic chip and 3GB of RAM.

The budget device isn't necessarily going to be named the iPhone SE 2, especially given it sounds like it will be a larger device. Other names speculated include the iPhone 8s and iPhone 9.

iPod Turns 18: Here's What People Thought in 2001

This week marked the 18th anniversary of Steve Jobs unveiling the original iPod. While the iMac started Apple's renaissance in 1998, it was the launch of the iPod in 2001 that truly set Apple on a path towards becoming the world's most valuable company.

ipod say hello
While many people were thrilled about the iPod, others were not so impressed. We've rounded up a sample of some comments about the iPod from the MacRumors forums, The New York Times, and elsewhere on the day the device was announced.

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!

With the release of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple introduced a number of new text editing taps and gestures that can be performed on both iPhones and iPads. These taps and gestures make it quicker and easier to do things like select text, copy and paste, undo and redo edits, and move the cursor around the screen.

iphone
They do take some getting used to though, especially if you're a veteran of the text editing taps and gestures that have been available in iOS for a while. That's why we've compiled the following list to help you get to grips with them until they become second nature. Keep reading for the full rundown.

How to Move the Cursor Around the Editing Window

Moving the cursor works similarly to how it did in earlier versions of iOS, but Apple has tweaked it to improve its behavior. For example, it's now a lot better at snapping to lines and between words as you move it around. You can also now tap and hold the cursor and it will get bigger on the screen so you can see it more easily. Here's how it works.

text

  1. Start typing some text in an app that supports it.
  2. Touch and hold the cursor until it gets bigger.
  3. Drag the cursor to the desired location.
  4. Remove your finger from the screen.

How to Move the Cursor With the Virtual Trackpad

You can turn the onscreen keyboard into a virtual trackpad that allows you to quickly move the cursor through the text without taking your finger off the display. Note that the way this works on your device depends on whether it has 3D Touch (iPhone 6s and later) Haptic Touch (‌iPhone‌ XR, ‌iPhone‌ 11, ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max) or a long press (all iPad models).

virtual trackpad on iphone 11

  1. On an ‌iPad‌ or ‌Haptic Touch‌ device, press and hold on the spacebar. On a device with ‌3D Touch‌, press and hold anywhere on the keyboard.
  2. Drag your finger over the blanked-out keyboard to move the cursor through the text to the desired location.

Note that on an ‌iPad‌, you can also touch the keyboard with two fingers and move your fingers around to relocate the cursor.

How to Select Text

When you select text using one of the methods described below, a contextual edit menu will appear above the selection, providing you with fast access to cut, copy, and paste, as well as formatting, Look Up, Share, and other options depending on the app you're using.

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  • To select a word, double tap it. Alternatively, tap and hold it until you feel the haptic feedback.

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  • Triple tap any word within a sentence and the whole sentence will be selected.

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  • Quadruple tap a word to select the paragraph in which it appears.

How to Use Intelligent Selection

Intelligent selection is a new feature that lets you quickly select phone numbers, addresses, or email addresses while editing text. Bear in mind that the feature doesn't work when you're simply viewing text – you must be in an editing app for intelligent selection to be available.

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Simply double tap anywhere on the contact information to select it all in one go. Note that intelligent selection is limited to a single line, so if an address uses hard returns to go over two or more lines, it will only select the line that you tapped on. (Note: The address in the example is a single line that runs on.)

How to Adjust a Text Selection

When you've selected a word or sentence, you can adjust the selection using the anchor points on either end.

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Simply press and hold your finger on the left or right anchor point, then drag it to make the selection larger or smaller.

How to Cut, Copy, and Paste Using Gestures

In iOS 12 and earlier, you had to select text and then use the contextual editing menu bar to cut, copy or paste it. In iOS 13, you can use gestures instead. First, select some text, then do one of the following:

  1. To copy, pinch with three fingers.
    text

  2. To cut, perform the copy gesture twice until the text disappears, ready to be pasted from the clipboard.
  3. To paste some text that you've just copied or cut, pinch out with three fingers until the text appears again.
    text

How to Display the Clipboard Bar

Have you noticed the menu bar that appears briefly whenever you perform one of the cut, copy or paste gestures described above? That's the clipboard bar, which offers you an alternative way to cut, copy, and paste text as well as undo and redo edits.

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You can reveal the clipboard bar anytime you like when editing text. Simply select some text, then tap and hold the screen using three fingers.

How to Undo and Redo Edits Using Gestures

  1. Make sure you're in text editing mode (unless you have a physical keyboard connected, the onscreen keyboard will be showing).
    text

  2. To undo an edit, perform a three finger swipe leftwards across the editing area.
  3. To redo an edit, perform a three finger swipe rightwards across the editing area.

How to Scroll Through Text Faster

If you're editing a particularly long piece of text like a document or a threaded email, you can scroll a lot faster by grabbing the scroll bar directly.

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When the scroll bar is visible, press and hold it with your finger and move it up and down the edge of the screen to move rapidly through the text.

Related Forum: iOS 13

New images of the rumored AirPods Pro appeared on SlashLeaks this evening. The new images don't reveal anything new, but do show what appears to be an assembled AirPods Pro charging case in higher quality images than have previously leaked.

airpods pro charging case
Previously leaked images were of lower quality showing the plastic enclosures of the upcoming AirPods. The original leaks were initially dismissed until icons matching the design were found a recent iOS 13.2 Beta release.

Multiple reports have suggested that the new higher end AirPods could be launching imminently. These new AirPods are expected to have noise canceling technology as well as a higher price tag than the current AirPods. Some retailers have even started selling cases for the new design.

Update: The Weibo account these images originated from are reported to claim these are fake/knockoffs of the new AirPods, but regardless, the design is still believed to be representative.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

Apple this afternoon shared a new "Privacy on iPhone" ad on its YouTube channel, highlighting the company's support of customer privacy.

The spot is a simple overview of a city that zooms across office buildings, homes, and more, before centering on a girl with an iPhone 11 Pro Max, all while a voice over talks about the importance of privacy.

Right now, there is more private information on your phone than in your home. Think about that. So many details about your life right in your pocket. This makes privacy more important now than ever.

Your location, your messages, your heart rate after a run. These are private things. Personal things. And they should belong to you. Simple as that.

The video ends with the tagline "Privacy. That's ‌iPhone‌," and in the video description, Apple says that privacy should be simple and straightforward.

We believe your privacy should never be something you have to question. It should be simple, straightforward, and understood.

Apple has uploaded several other privacy-focused videos in the "Privacy on ‌iPhone‌" series, including several that have a comedic tone. This most recent video is is more serious, focusing on Apple's core privacy beliefs.

Apple has long said that it believes privacy is a "fundamental human right," and the company makes efforts to minimize customer data collection. Apple's privacy policies are available on its dedicated privacy website.

Google earlier this month unveiled the Pixelbook Go, a new premium Chromebook that's similar to a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro, but Chrome OS.

In our latest video, we went hands-on with the Pixelbook Go to see how it measures up to Apple's ‌MacBook Air‌ (the two have similar price points) and whether or not it can serve as a ‌MacBook Air‌ replacement.


Design wise, the Pixelbook Go looks rather similar to a MacBook featuring a lightweight chassis, a large trackpad, a 13-inch display with slim side bezels and a thicker top/bottom bezel, a keyboard with speaker grilles at each side, and a similar hinge mechanism.

A G logo at the top and a wavy, bumpy textured feel at the bottom sets it apart from the ‌MacBook Air‌. Like Apple's MacBooks, the Pixelbook Go offers a simple, clean design.

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Pricing on the Pixelbook Go starts at $649 for an Core M3 processor and 64GB of storage, but we tested the upgraded Core i5 model with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, which is priced at $849. That's the model most similar to the entry-level ‌MacBook Air‌, which comes with a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor, 128GB of storage, and 8GB RAM for $1,100.

The Pixelbook Go is cheaper than the ‌MacBook Air‌, but there are some areas where it is definitely lacking in comparison. When it comes to the display, for example, it's adequate, but the HD quality just doesn't measure up to the ‌MacBook Air‌'s Retina display. There is an upgraded version of the Pixelbook Go with a 4K display, but that machine is priced at $1,400.

One area where the Pixelbook Go shines is its keyboard. The keyboard doesn't look too different from a MacBook keyboard, but it's super quiet thanks to Google's Hush Keys feature, satisfying to type on, and has the perfect amount of key travel. There are also custom keys, including a key for activating Google Assistant. There are speakers located to each side of the keyboard, and the sound quality is solid. The speakers are a touch louder than the ‌MacBook Air‌'s speakers at maximum volume, but the ‌MacBook Air‌ wins out when it comes to sound quality.

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There's a MacBook Air-style trackpad on the Pixelbook Go, but MacBook competitors often have a hard time replicating the feel of Apple's trackpad, and the Pixelbook Go is no exception. There's a physical trackpad button that feels clunky and outdated compared to Apple's Haptic Trackpad.

The Pixelbook Go offers up to 12 hours of battery life, which is the same claim that Apple makes about the ‌MacBook Air‌. In practice, we see around five to eight hours of battery life from the ‌MacBook Air‌ depending on usage, and the Pixelbook Go has been hitting around eight hours.

There are two USB-C ports on Pixelbook Go (one on each side) along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is the same general port setup the ‌MacBook Air‌ offers, though the ‌MacBook Air‌ supports Thunderbolt 3.

What really sets the Pixelbook Go apart from the ‌MacBook Air‌ is the operating system. While the ‌MacBook Air‌ runs the full version of macOS, the Pixelbook Go uses Chrome OS. Chrome OS is a Linux-based OS that supports Chrome apps and some Android titles, but it is in general more limited in scope than macOS.

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Chrome OS is designed for everyday tasks like browsing the web, creating documents, taking notes, and sending emails rather than more specialized tasks like photo and video editing. Technically, most people who buy something like an entry-level ‌MacBook Air‌ are probably primarily using it for the same purposes, but you do have a bit more flexibility with macOS.

The option to download Android apps has made Chrome OS more useful over the course of the last several years, and there are, for example, apps for photo and video editing, though we wouldn't recommend them for regular full-time usage.

All in all, for most people, the upgrade to the ‌MacBook Air‌ over the Pixelbook Go may be worth the price differential given the better screen quality and the option to use macOS, though it's still much cheaper than the ‌MacBook Air‌ when it comes to the entry-level $649 option. The Pixelbook Go is one of Google's nicest Chromebooks in terms of design, hardware, and the complete Google experience, so it is likely the better choice for those who prefer a Google ecosystem.

What do you think of the Pixelbook Go? Would you use it over a ‌MacBook Air‌? Let us know in the comments.

Tags: Chrome, Google

Apple plans to use a low-power backplane technology called LTPO for future iPhones, according to Korean website The Elec. The backplane is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display.

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From the report:

Apple, meanwhile, is moving to more widely apply LTPO panels to its iPhones. This means it needs to find ways to work together with Samsung Display, which is holding its own in terms of both technological prowess and production capacity in the small and mid-sized OLED sector.

LTPO, or low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, has an Oxide TFT structure that uses up to 15 percent less power than LTPS, or low-temperature polysilicon, the backplane technology that Apple currently uses. Naturally, that could contribute to longer battery life on future iPhones.

Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5 models already feature LTPO displays. Apple's website says the technology enables Series 5 models to have the same up-to-18-hour battery life as Series 4 models despite having an always-on display:

The low temperature poly-silicon and oxide display features a reinvented pixel architecture that lets the screen refresh rate dip from 60Hz to a power-sipping 1Hz when the watch is inactive. A new low-power driver, ultra-efficient power management, and a new ambient light sensor work together so the display can stay always on with up to 18 hours of battery life.

Apple's transition to OLED started small with the original Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone X in 2017, so it would not be surprising if LTPO expands from the Watch to the ‌iPhone‌ as early as next year.

Related Forum: iPhone