MacRumors

Apple today announced it has released two new Pride-themed Sport Bands for the Apple Watch, including a Sport Band and Nike Sport Band in 40mm and 44mm sizes. Both of the bands are available starting today on Apple.com and at select Apple Store locations.

The bands can be paired with new matching Pride watch faces coming in watchOS 6.2.5, which remains in beta testing.

Through this effort, Apple and Nike said they are proud to support LGBTQ advocacy organizations worldwide, including GLSEN, PFLAG, The Trevor Project, Gender Spectrum, The National Center for Transgender Equality, and ILGA World, which brings together more than 1,500 member organizations in more than 150 countries and regions.

Last year's Pride band was a nylon Sport Loop.

China could put Apple on an "unreliable entity list" alongside other U.S. companies, in a series of punitive countermeasures the country is prepared to take against U.S. moves to block shipments of semiconductors to Huawei, claimed a report over the weekend.

According to the Global Times, the Chinese government's mouthpiece, the list would be a first step toward launching a series of investigations and imposing restrictions on U.S. companies such as Apple, Qualcomm, and Cisco.

"China will take forceful countermeasures to protect its own legitimate rights," if the US moves forward with the plan to bar essential suppliers of chips, including Taiwan-based TSMC, from selling chips to the Chinese tech giant, the source told the Global Times in an exclusive interview.

The measures include adding related US companies to China's "unreliable entity list," imposing restrictions on or launching investigations into US companies like Qualcomm, Cisco and Apple according to Chinese laws and regulations like Cybersecurity Review Measures and Anti-monopoly Law, and suspending airplane purchases from Boeing, said the source.

According to comments made last year by a Chinese ministry of commerce official, once a company is added to China's "unreliable entity list" it would face necessary legal and administrative measures and the Chinese public would also be warned against dealing with it to reduce risks.

Beijing's latest tit-for-tat threat comes after the U.S. commerce department announced rules last week that limit U.S. companies from supplying semiconductors, parts, and processor designs to Huawei and its affiliates. The rules also apply to third-parties if they know they will eventually be used in Huawei products.

The move prevents Taiwan-based TSMC from purchasing U.S. supplies for chips that are used in Huawei phones. Nikkei reported on Monday that TSMC has already moved to stop new orders from Huawei, although TSMC told Reuters the reports were "purely market rumor."

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple will reopen more than 25 stores across the U.S. and 12 stores in Canada this week, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The decision follows a published letter on Sunday from the company's senior VP of retail, Deirdre O'Brien, detailing the safety measures that Apple is taking as it gradually re-opens stores across the globe. These include temperature checks conducted at the door, limited occupancy, and a renewed emphasis on one-to-one service. As an alternative to entering some physical stores, customers can also expect to see curb-side pickup and drop off options.

Apple has already opened over 100 stores globally, with many of those stores located in China, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Australia as nationwide lockdowns ease.

Apple's store list includes the following openings for this week:

United States
May 18

• California: Roseville, Arden Fair (Sacramento), Higuera Street (San Luis Obispo)
• Colorado: The Promenade Shops at Briargate (Colorado Springs)
• Florida: Altamonte Springs (Altamonte), St. Johns Town Center (Jacksonville), Florida Mall (Orlando), Millenia (Orlando)
• Hawaii: Ala Moana (Honolulu), Kahala (Honolulu), Royal Hawaiian (Honolulu)
• Washington: Bellevue Square (Bellevue), Alderwood (Lynnwood), University Village (Seattle), River Park Square (Spokane), Tacoma Mall (Tacoma), Southcenter (Tukwila)

May 20

• California: Valley Plaza (Bakersfield), Fashion Fair (Fresno), Vintage Faire (Modesto), Del Monte (Monterey)
• Oklahoma: Penn Square (Oklahoma City), Woodland Hills (Tulsa)

May 21

• Arkansas: The Promenade at Chenal (Little Rock)
• Florida: Brandon, University Town Center (Sarasota), International Plaza (Tampa)

Canada
May 20

• British Columbia: Metrotown (Burnaby), Coquitlam Centre (Coquitlam), Richmond Centre (Richmond), Guildford Town Centre (Surrey), Oakridge Centre (Vancouver), Pacific Centre (Vancouver)
• Manitoba: Polo Park (Winnipeg)
• Nova Scotia: Halifax Shopping Centre (Halifax)

May 21

• Alberta: Chinook Centre (Calgary), Market Mall (Calgary), Southgate Centre (Edmonton), West Edmonton (Edmonton)

Apple Senior Vice President of Retail & People Deirdre O'Brien today published a letter regarding Apple's approach on the reopening of retail stores. O'Brien mentioned that over 100 stores globally have already reopened their doors.

The letter notes that when a store does reopen, face coverings will be required for both Apple employees and customers. Apple will also be providing face coverings to those who do not bring their own.

In addition to face coverings, temperature checks will be taken at store entrances and posted health questions will help in screening one who may have been exposed to COVID-19. O'Brien also mentions that deep cleaning on surfaces, display products, and highly trafficked areas will take place frequently throughout the day.

Customers who do enter Apple's retail stores will have "plenty of space," according to O'Brien. Apple will be limiting occupancy in each store, which will help in renewing Apple's focus on "one‑on‑one, personalized service at the Genius Bar and throughout the store."

O'Brien also details Apple's approach to serving its customers more effectively. As an alternative to entering some physical stores, customers can expect to see curb-side pickup and drop off options. As usual, customers can continue to place orders online for an at home delivery. After opening its first US stores last week, Apple will continue to reopen its US stores on a gradual basis.

In this week's App Recap, we've highlighted two apps worth checking out. We've also compiled a list of apps that received major updates this week.

Apps to Check Out

• Usage: System Activity & Info (iOS, Free) - Although not a particularly new app, Usage recently received a major update with version 3.0 in which the app was completely redesigned using SwiftUI. Complete with a sleek and modern design, Usage now features both an extended functionality with device and battery information and deeper, more detailed view of metrics.The app creates metrics based on network activity, connection speed, data usage, and more. Usage also allows users to customize the app to their own likings through six different color options, options to order the various metrics, and four customizable today widget options. Usage is free to download and features no ads, but users looking for the most functionality can purchase the app's compare feature for $1.99, which provides a detailed hardware breakdown of your device and allows you to compare it with any other iPhone. It is also worth pointing out that users can unlock the premium compare feature for one day by simply sharing the app!
• Backdrops (iOS, Free) - Backdrops is a new wallpaper app that features original, high quality designs by the Backdrops team. The app features a wide variety of different wallpapers themes including abstract, scenery, geometric, dark AMOLED friendly, and more. Users can also upload and submit their own wallpapers to be featured in the Community tab. Although free to download, the app does feature a Backdrops Pro in-app purchase for $3.99 which removes ads and unlocks exclusive wallpaper collections. Backdrops also supports Sign in With Apple, so users who sign up for an account using an Apple ID have the option to mask their personal email address.
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App Updates

• Apple Store - The Apple Store app was revamped this week with Dark Mode support. Apple has continued to add ‌Dark Mode‌ support to all of its apps after first introducing the feature in iOS and iPadOS 13.
• Logic Pro X (Mac) - Apple this week released Logic Pro X version 10.5 with a new Live Loops feature first introduced in GarageBand for iPhone and iPad, a completely redesigned sampling workflow, new beat-making tools, and many other new features. In addition, the app received several performance improvements, and Apple has referred to the new update as being the "biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X."
• Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (iPad) - Microsoft this week updated its Word and PowerPoint apps with Split View, which now allows users to open two documents simultaneously side-by-side. Split View can be accessed by touching and holding on a document in any file view and then dragging it to the left or right side of the screen.
• Norbyte (iOS) - Developer Norbyte this week updated its painting apps HuePaint and iPastels with support for Apple's universal purchases feature, so buying the app once will allow you to have access to it across all of your devices.
• Slack (iOS) - The Slack iPhone app this week was updated with both a redesigned interface and a new navigation bar. In addition to these new features, some of the app's swiping gestures have improved.
• Spark - The Spark email app this week received an update with full mouse and trackpad support for iPadOS. In addition, users who participate in Spark for Teams are now able to react to emails and chats of shared conversations with emojis.
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• Spotify - Spotify this week updated its app with a new Group Session feature, which allows two or more Premium users in the same location to share control over the music that's being played. The new feature can be used after the person in charge taps the Connect menu in the bottom left corner of the Play screen which shares the scannable QR code with additional users. Once connected, participants can play, pause, skip, and select tracks to add to the queue with Spotify's controls.
• Twitter - Twitter this week announced a new feature that makes it easier for users to recognize retweets with comments. On Twitter's iPhone and iPad apps, all retweets with comments are now shown in a list that can be accessed by tapping on a tweet and then choosing the "Retweets" option.
  

  Don’t miss the Tweets about your Tweet. Now on iOS, you can see Retweets with comments all in one place. pic.twitter.com/oanjZfzC6y — Twitter (@Twitter) May 12, 2020

Ubisoft Entertainment this week levied a lawsuit against Apple and Google, accusing them of selling a "ripoff" of its popular video game Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, reports Bloomberg.

Ubisoft filed a complaint in federal court in Los Angeles, claiming that the game "Area F2," developed by Qookka Games, is a "near carbon copy" of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege, aiming to "piggyback" off its popularity. Ubisoft said that it has notified Apple and Google that Area F2 is infringing its copyrights, but both companies have refused to remove the game from the Google Play and Apple App stores.

As one of Ubisoft's most valuable intellectual properties, Rainbow Six: Siege is played as a competitive e-sport, has 55 million registered players worldwide, and according to Ubisoft’s copyright infringement claim, is played by more than three million users every day. Ubisoft argues that the lawsuit can't be "seriously disputed" and that "virtually every aspect of AF2" is copied from Rainbow Six: Siege, "from the operator selection screen to the final scoring screen, and everything in between."

Ubisoft did not elaborate on why it is suing the app store operators for enabling distribution of the game rather than developer Qookka Games itself for the initial infringement. Qookka Games, owned by Alibaba’s Ejoy, is located in China, potentially making an international copyright claim more difficult. It remains unclear whether Ubisoft plans to file a separate lawsuit against the developer, in addition to app store operators.

Area F2 has over 75,000 reviews on the Google Play Store, and more than 2,000 on Apple's App Store, and many reviews on both platforms directly note the similarities to Ubisoft's title. Google and Apple have not yet responded to Bloomberg's requests for a comment.

With the release of iPadOS 13.4 in March 2020, Apple introduced official Bluetooth mouse and trackpad support for iPads. The update added support for Apple's own standalone keyboards, mice and trackpads, as well as third-party input devices. It also paved the way for the release of Apple's own Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, which launched ahead of schedule in late April.

Apple's new Magic Keyboard isn't the only iPad keyboard case with a built-in multi-touch trackpad, though. In this regularly updated article, we round up all the current all-in-one case options for ‌iPad‌ owners looking to take advantage of keyboard and trackpad input.

1. Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

Starting with Apple's own, the $300 Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically to ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ and includes a floating design that works on either a lap or a desk, and an integrated trackpad for controlling an onscreen pointer, which allows users to enhance their workflows in multiple ways.

• Testing Apple's New Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

It features cantilevered hinges for smooth adjustments of the viewing angle up to 130 degrees, including a full-size keyboard with backlit keys and a scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm travel. The only real drawback is that the layout lacks a row of function keys, so users have no dedicated key for adjusting some system settings, including keyboard backlight brightness.

• Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro Reviews and Unboxing Videos

USB-C pass-through charging leaves the USB-C port on the ‌iPad Pro‌ free for other accessories. It's also backwards compatible with both of Apple's 2018 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ 12.9-inch (3rd generation) and the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ 11-inch (1st generation).

The biggest complaint about the new Magic Keyboard has been the weight, which adds quite a lot of bulk to the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌. In fact, the 12.9-inch model paired with a Magic Keyboard is heavier than a MacBook Air.

2. Brydge Plus Pro Keyboard

Long before Apple introduced trackpad support in iOS 13.4, Brydge announced an ‌iPad Pro‌ keyboard with a built-in multi-touch trackpad. The trackpad was originally included to take advantage of the AssistiveTouch features in iPadOS, but now that Apple provides broader trackpad support, Brydge allows users to update their device's firmware to take advantage of the added functionality, using the Bridge Connect app.

The Brydge Plus Pro keyboard attaches to the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ using a set of hinges that allow the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌'s angle to be adjusted to suit. Like the ‌iPad Pro‌, it's made entirely from aluminum, so the two match up well.

• Testing Brydge's New Pro+ Keyboard With Trackpad for iPad Pro

The full-size QWERTY keyboard features LED-backlit keys with three levels of brightness. It also features dedicated ‌iPad‌ controls, including a Siri button and options for accessing the Home screen, locking the ‌‌iPad‌‌, adjusting brightness, controlling media playback, and more.

There are cases available for the latest-generation 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models for $200 and $300 respectively, but unlike Apple's Magic Keyboard, the Brydge connects via Bluetooth 4.1 instead of the Smart Connector. As such, it has to be charged separately, and has an advertised three-month battery life per charge.

3. Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case with Trackpad for iPad, iPad Air, and 10.5-Inch iPad Pro

Logitech keyboard cases with built-in trackpads for the 10.2-inch ‌iPad‌ and the 10.5-inch iPad Air are both priced at $150. Thanks to design input from Apple, the keyboards connect to the ‌Smart Connector‌ on each ‌iPad‌, meaning no batteries are required. The keyboard case for the 10.5-inch ‌iPad Air‌ is also compatible with the older 10.5-inch ‌iPad Pro‌.

The full-sized keyboards feature an integrated trackpad with Multi-Touch gesture support, backlit keys, a kickback stand with 50-degree tilt, and four usage modes for typing, viewing, reading, and sketching.

• Hands-On With Logitech's New Keyboard Case With Trackpad for iPad Air

There's also a row of function keys, with other options available for accessing the Home screen, adjusting screen brightness, accessing search, and accessing media controls. The case adds some protection to the ‌iPad‌ and includes a holder for the original Apple Pencil or Logitech Crayon.

Design wise, the keyboard case has a Microsoft Surface look and feel to it thanks to the fabric build, offering full protection for the ‌‌iPad‌‌ except for the section where the keyboard connects. With the keyboard attached, the ‌‌iPad‌‌ is protected when the case is closed up and not in use.

4. Logitech Folio Touch Keyboard Case With Trackpad Designed for 11-inch iPad Pro

The Logitech Folio Touch is Logitech's first keyboard with trackpad designed for the ‌11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌‌ (2018 and 2020 models) and it serves as an alternative to Apple's own Magic Keyboard. Logitech previously released the Combo Touch, a keyboard with trackpad that works with the 7th-generation ‌iPad‌, the ‌‌iPad‌‌ Air, and the 10.5-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌.

Similar in design to the Combo Touch, the Folio Touch features a case that wraps around the ‌‌iPad‌‌ along with a laptop-like keyboard with a built-in trackpad that works with the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌'s trackpad support. There's also an adjustable kickstand to allow for greater positioning flexibility, an ‌Apple Pencil‌ holder, and four use modes that include typing, viewing, sketching, and reading.

• Logitech's $160 Folio Touch vs. Apple's $300 Magic Keyboard

The keyboard is powered by the ‌Smart Connector‌ on the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ so it doesn't need to be charged and doesn't need to connect over Bluetooth. When not needed for typing, the keyboard can be folded back behind the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌, a feature not available with Apple's own Magic Keyboard.

Logitech is selling the Folio Touch for $160. Apple's Magic Keyboard for ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ is much more expensive at $300, so the Folio Touch definitely has affordability in its corner.

5. Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard Case With Trackpad for 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021)

Logitech's Combo Touch Keyboard for the 11-inch and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models announced in April 2021 offer a more affordable alternative to the Magic Keyboard that Apple sells.

Priced at $199 for the 11-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ and $229 for the 12.9-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌, the Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard provides a full folio case with attached keyboard and touchpad that can be used with the new ‌iPad‌ models.

The keyboard is detachable and an integrated stand allows it to be used in various typing, viewing, sketching, and reading modes. It connects to an ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ using the ‌Smart Connector‌, so there's no need for pairing or charging a battery.

The Combo Touch is sized to fit Apple's newest iPads, with separate options available for older tablets. At $199 or $229, it is a good deal more affordable than Apple's Magic Keyboard, though there are sometimes deals available on the Magic Keyboard from third-party retailers.

The Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ is priced at $299, and the version for the 12.9-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ is priced at $349. The Magic Keyboard is available both in black and white, with white being a new color option this year.

Logitech's Combo Touch only comes in gray. The 11-inch version can be purchased from the Logitech website, and a version for the 12.9-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ is coming soon.

Brydge 12.9 Max+ (Coming June 2021)

Compatible with the third, fourth, and fifth-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ models, the Brydge 12.9 MAX+ is a Bluetooth keyboard case that connects to the back of the ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌ magnetically, similar to the Magic Keyboard, but it doesn't have the same elevated angling and instead uses a flatter, more typical laptop design.

The keyboard has a row of shortcut keys above the number row for controlling screen brightness, accessing media controls and emoji, and more. Meanwhile, the trackpad is much larger than the one on Apple's Magic Keyboard, and more comparable to the trackpad on the MacBook Pro.

Note that this is a Bluetooth keyboard. In other words, it doesn't connect to the ‌Smart Connector‌ like the Magic Keyboard, so it will need to be manually charged at times. Shipping in June, the Brydge 12.9 MAX+ is priced at $250, which is $100 cheaper than Apple's Magic Keyboard for the 12.9-inch ‌‌iPad Pro‌‌. The Brydge 12.9 Max+ will be available in space gray, silver, and black.

Several users of popular email app Edison Mail this morning are reporting that they are able to see email accounts of other users within the iOS app. In what appears to be a major privacy breach, users report that after enabling a new sync feature, they have full access to these other email accounts.

The new sync feature was recently rolled out by Edison to allow connected email accounts to show up across all of your devices, but clearly something has gone significantly wrong with the feature.

Users have also reported being able to see that other devices are linked to their accounts, indicating that others are able to see their emails.

Edison has yet to reply to any of the tweets from users reporting the issue, but at this time it certainly seems advisable for Edison Mail users who have enabled the sync feature to delete their email accounts from the app.

While it's unlikely that users would be able to directly see the passwords of others' email accounts, affected users may still want to change the passwords on their email accounts for some added peace of mind until more details on exactly what the issue is surface.

Update 8:35 a.m.: Edison has started replying to users on Twitter to say that the company is "urgently working to resolve this technical problem" and has reverted the change that introduced the problem for a "small percent of our users" yesterday.

(Thanks, Chris!)

Verizon continues to lower the price of Apple's AirPods Pro, now offering the Bluetooth headphones for $219.99, down from an original price of $249.00. This is $5 under AT&T's current price on the headphones, and the lowest price we have ever seen for new AirPods Pro to date.

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

Like previous Verizon discounts, you'll need to add the AirPods Pro to your cart to see the $30 discount. Verizon supports free two day shipping, and some retail stores are offering same-day pick-up for some locations across the United States.

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

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

With Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro now out the door and there still being about six weeks until WWDC, much of the Apple news this week focused on rumors. We heard new information about larger displays for Apple's cheaper iPad models, the so-called Apple Glasses, and Apple's high-end "AirPods Studio" headphones.

Other rumors included new upcoming colors for Apple's Powerbeats Pro lineup, a timeframe for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and details on the iPhone 12 Pro, while we also saw a major update to Apple's Logic Pro X audio editing software. Check out the video above and read on below to catch up on this week's biggest stories!

Apple Glasses Said to Launch in 2022 at Earliest, New 10.8-Inch iPad and 9-Inch iPad Mini in 2020-2021

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was back at it this week with new details about upcoming products over the next two years. First, he expects new 10.8-inch iPad and 8.5-to-9-inch iPad mini models to launch in the second half of 2020 and the first half of 2021, respectively. Like the new iPhone SE, Kuo believes these iPad models will be more affordably priced and equipped with the latest generation A-series chips.

In line with other reports, Kuo also expects that so-called Apple Glasses will launch in 2022 at the earliest and offer an innovative augmented reality experience. Apple is believed to be working on two different head-worn products, including a bulkier headset and a thinner and sleeker pair of glasses.

Jon Prosser, who has shared a number of accurate or corroborated rumors in recent months, differs a bit from Kuo when it comes to timing, however, as he says the glasses are currently "aimed for March–June 2021."

Apple's Over-Ear Headphones May Be Called 'AirPods Studio' and Cost $349

Apple's rumored high-end over-ear headphones will be called AirPods Studio and retail for $349, according to leaker Jon Prosser. A separate report this week claimed that the headphones will feature head and neck detection and custom equalizer settings with low, medium, and high frequency adjustments available.

Another rumor this week suggested that Apple will soon release its existing Powerbeats Pro in four new colors, including Cloud Pink, Spring Yellow, Glacial Blue, and Lava Red.

Comparing the 13-Inch MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air and iPad Pro

Earlier this month, Apple refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro with a more reliable Magic Keyboard, faster 10th-generation Intel processor options, up to 80 percent faster graphics performance, up to 32GB of RAM, double the storage on standard configurations, and more.

In one of our latest videos, we compared the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the recently refreshed MacBook Air and iPad Pro, looking at performance, design, software, and other considerations. We also shared a detailed feature-by-feature comparison of the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air.

14-Inch MacBook Pro Now Rumored to Launch in 2021

Apple ended up sticking with the same size display when it refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Magic Keyboard and faster processor options earlier this month, but a 14-inch model might still be on the table.

An anonymous Twitter account with a fairly accurate track record this week suggested that the 14-inch MacBook Pro will launch at some point in 2021.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously said that Apple plans to release at least six Mini-LED products by the end of 2021, including both 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Altogether, these rumors could suggest that a 14-inch MacBook Pro with Mini-LED backlighting will be released at some point next year.

iPhone 12 Pro Rumored to Feature 120Hz ProMotion Display, 3x Camera Zoom, and Improved Face ID

iPhone 12 Pro models will feature a ProMotion display, allowing for a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother motion content and greater responsiveness, according to leakers Max Weinbach and Jon Prosser. The feature debuted on the iPad Pro in 2017.

On the contrary, display analyst Ross Young has claimed that low-power LTPO backplane technology is essential for the iPhone to support ProMotion, as it would allow for a variable refresh rate as low as 1Hz to preserve battery life. Young does not expect Apple to adopt LTPO on iPhones until 2021, and thus he does not expect the iPhone to support ProMotion until next year.

Weinbach also expects iPhone 12 Pro models to feature 3x optical zoom for photos and improved Face ID for unlocking the device from a wider range of angles.

Logic Pro X 10.5 Released With Live Loops, New Beat-Making Tools, and More

Apple this week announced the release of Logic Pro X version 10.5 with a new Live Loops feature first introduced in GarageBand for iPhone and iPad, a completely redesigned sampling workflow, new beat-making tools, and many other new features.

Live Loops allows users to organize loops, samples, and recordings into a new musical grid. From there, tracks can be further refined using all of the professional production features in Logic Pro X. Remix FX enhances Live Loops with a collection of electronic effects that can be performed in real time over individual tracks or the entire song mix.

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!

Apple in March agreed to pay $500 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the company of "secretly throttling" older iPhone models, and now the settlement has been preliminarily approved by a judge.

According to Law360, U.S. District Judge Edward J. Davila in a Zoom hearing provided preliminary approval but said that he wants to extend the final approval deadlines due to the ongoing health crisis. Apple's lawyers have been instructed to propose a new date for a settlement approval hearing that will take place sometime in December.

If the settlement is approved, it will put an end to dozens of lawsuits that were levied against Apple and ultimately consolidated into one class-action suit in May 2018. The lawsuits were filed against Apple after Apple confirmed that it introduced software to throttle the maximum performance of some older ‌iPhone‌ models with chemically aged batteries no longer capable of supporting full power to prevent these devices from shutting down unexpectedly.

Apple 2017 released iOS 10.2.1 with performance management software that had the throttling built in, but made little mention of the change in the software's release notes. The throttling was discovered by Primate Labs founder John Poole when he noticed lower than expected benchmark scores, and there was a major public outcry after it was discovered Apple was limiting performance.

Apple apologized for its lack of communication and ultimately launched a battery repair program that dropped the price of battery replacements to $29 through the end of 2018. Because the throttling kicks in when an ‌iPhone‌ has a degraded battery, a battery replacement effectively fixes the issue.

Apple in iOS 11.3 introduced a new feature that allows users to see the current health of their batteries, and it turned off the performance management feature by default until an unexpected shutdown occurs. Though agreeing to settle the case, Apple has maintained that it did nothing wrong legally.

If approved, the settlement will provide every affected ‌iPhone‌ user in the class with $25. The amount could increase or decrease somewhat depending on legal fees and the aggregate value of the approved claims. If the payouts, attorney fees, and expenses don't add up to at least $310 million, class members could receive up to $500 apiece until that minimum is reached.

Apple has email addresses for most class members, so attorneys for both sides believe there will be a high claims rate.

The lawsuit includes all former or current U.S. ‌iPhone‌ owners that have the ‌iPhone‌ 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and SE, running either iOS 10.2.1 or later or iOS 11.2 or later, and who ran these versions of iOS prior to December 21, 2017.

Apple is planning to use mini-LED displays for much of its product lineup, adding the technology to multiple Mac notebooks and iPads. Mini-LED displays will bring some useful technology improvements to Apple's products, as outlined in our guide below.

What is Mini-LED?

LCD panels used by Apple use LEDs, or light-emitting diodes inside for backlighting purposes to light up the display. Mini-LEDs, as the name suggests, are smaller diodes that are less than 0.2mm.

A device like a TV features an LCD panel with LEDs for backlighting, with the panel used to control where light is displayed on the screen. Depending on what's on the display, the LEDs are lit up fully or dimmed down for dark scenes. Apple's MacBook models currently use a strip of LEDs at the bottom, while the new Pro Display XDR uses multiple LEDs, 576 to be exact. A mini-LED display will be somewhat similar to the Pro Display XDR, but with more LEDs.

Compared to a traditional LCD that uses multiple LEDs, a panel light with mini-LEDs uses many more LEDs, which means there are more total dimming zones to work with. A traditional display might use hundreds of LEDs, but a mini-LED display could have more than a thousand. Apple, in fact, is said to be exploring mini-LED displays that use 10,000 LEDs, each one below 200 microns.

Mini-LED Improvements

Because there are more LEDs and more dimming zones, mini-LED displays can offer deeper, darker blacks, brighter brights, richer colors, and better contrast because there's more control over what's displayed on the screen with so many LEDs.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that Apple's transition to mini-LED will allow for thinner and lighter product designs that offer a lot of the same benefits as OLED. Mini-LEDs are close to the deep blacks and better HDR provided by OLED, but without the burn-in or degradation issues.

LED-backlit LCDs are much more power efficient than the cold cathode fluorescent lighting used for LCD panels in the past, and mini-LED LCDs will have additional power efficiency gains.

Mini-LED vs. Micro-LED vs. OLED

Though the names are similar, there are notable differences between micro-LED and mini-LED displays. Mini-LED is the same as LED backlighting that's used today but with many more LEDs for more dimming zones, while micro-LED is similar to OLED with self-emissive pixels that can each be independently lit.

Apple is working on micro-LED technology as well, but mini-LED will come first in iPads and Macs because micro-LED technology is so expensive right now.

OLED stands for organic light-emitting diode, and in an OLED display, every pixel or subpixel lights up individually in a specific color or switches as power is applied or turned off, allowing for the deepest blacks and the best contrast. micro-LED is similar, but it is made from an inorganic material that does not decay as fast as OLED.

OLED is superior to mini-LED technology because it produces more even lighting with no pixel groups involved, but micro-LED is believed to be superior to OLED because it can offer higher levels of brightness and there are no issues that can lead to screen burn in or drops in brightness over time.

Apple uses OLED displays in its iPhones, but OLED is also a technology that has so far proven to be too expensive to be used for the larger displays of Macs and iPads. Apple may be planning to skip OLED all together in its Macs and iPads, going from mini-LED technology to micro-LED eventually.

Micro-LED is the future technology to look forward to, but mini-LED is the technology that Apple is ready to debut in the near future.

Products with Mini-LED Displays

Apple has been working to implement mini-LED technology for the iPad and Mac lineups, and the following products have mini-LED displays:

• 16-inch MacBook Pro
• 14.1-inch MacBook Pro
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Mini-LED Future

The first mini-LED products came out in 2021, and there are currently Macs and iPads with mini-LED displays. Apple is planning to expand its mini-LED product lineup going forward, transitioning much of the Mac and ‌iPad‌ lineup to mini-LED technology.

Guide Feedback

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Apple this week shared a series of inspiring videos tied to its "Everyone Can Create" and "Everyone Can Code" initiatives on its YouTube channel in Brazil. The titles and captions are in Portuguese, but some of the videos have English narration.

The first video interviews students on what creativity means to them, while the other videos highlight students using Apple's free Swift Playgrounds app to learn how to code in classrooms around the world, including in Orange, California; Blackpool, England; Osaka, Japan; Querétaro City, Mexico; and Sainte-Julie, a suburb of Montreal, Canada.

Everyone Can Create is designed to allow teachers to easily incorporate creativity into their existing lesson plans in any subject, including language arts, math, science, history, social studies, and coding. The series of guides teach students to develop ideas through drawing, music, video, and photos on the iPad.

Everyone Can Create resources are available through Apple Books, while the Swift Playgrounds app is available on the App Store.