MacRumors and Mophie are back with another fresh discount code, exclusively available to our readers. In the new sale, you can save 25 percent on one item on Mophie's website using the code MACRUMORS25.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Mophie. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
If you place multiple items in your cart, the code will take 25 percent off of the highest-priced item, so if you've been waiting to buy one of Mophie's portable batteries, wireless charging mats, or battery cases, now is the perfect time.
This new discount will run through New Year's Eve, concurrently with our existing 20 percent discount on Zagg's entire website, including Zagg itself, Mophie, Braven, Invisible Shield, iFrogz, Gear4, and Halo. The new Mophie code for 25 percent off is specifically for Mophie products and will not work on the other brands.
Additionally, these two codes will not stack, and the new Mophie code will not work on items that are already on sale. There are plenty of useful Mophie products that you could use the code on, so to give you some ideas we've created a quick list of some Mophie accessories below, but be sure to check out the company's website for even more holiday shopping ideas.
For more of the best Apple-related sales and bargains, head to our full Deals Roundup. You can also find the best Black Friday sales in our dedicated Black Friday Roundup.
While not yet reflected on Apple's website, Apple Pay's Express Transit mode has been functional on at least some tube and bus routes in London since last Tuesday or so, according to multiple MacRumors readers.
One reader said the Express Transit mode works on Transport for London's U5 bus route between Hayes and Uxbridge, as well as at the Ealing Broadway and Farringdon stations serving the London Underground and National Rail. Not all stations support Express Transit mode yet, so this could be early testing.
Despite this, Transport for London has advised customers that Express Transit mode is "not currently an option" as recently as Thursday, although it said it is having "positive discussions with Apple" about enabling the feature. Apple and Transport for London did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Express Transit mode eliminates the need for users to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode or even wake their device when they pay for rides with Apple Pay. Simply hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless reader until you feel a vibration and payment has been completed.
Apple Pay with Express Transit mode is also available in New York City, Portland, Beijing, Shanghai, and where Suica is accepted in Japan.
Apple today shared a "first look featurette" of upcoming Apple TV+ show "Truth Be Told," which stars Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul.
The show focuses on podcaster Poppy Parnell (Spencer) who is trying to reopen a murder case that she was involved in solving 18 years earlier, which put Warren Cave (Paul) behind bars.
When new evidence compels podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) to reopen the murder case that made her a national sensation, she comes face to face with Warren Cave (Aaron Paul), the man she may have mistakenly helped to put behind bars. Her investigation navigates urgent concerns about privacy, media and race.
"Truth Be Told" is based on the novel by Kathleen Barber, and it's said to provide a glimpse into America's obsession with true crime podcasts. The show aims to challenge its viewers to consider the consequences when the pursuit of justice plays out on a public stage.
Sarah Koenig, who created and produced "Serial," a podcast similar to the storyline in "Truth Be Told," consulted on the series. Other stars in "Truth Be Told" include Lizzy Caplan ("Masters of Sex"), Ron Cephas Jones ("This Is Us"), Mekhi Phifer ("ER"), and Elizabeth Perkins ("Big").
"Truth Be Told" is set to debut on Friday, December 6 on Apple TV+. It will join existing shows that include "The Morning Show," "For All Mankind," "Dickinson," and "See."
Dane Dehaan, known for his starring role in "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets," has joined the cast of upcoming Apple TV+ series "Lisey's Story," which is based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, reports Deadline.
Dehaan is joining Julianne Moore, who is playing Lisey, and Clive Owen, who will be taking on the role of Lisey's deceased husband and novelist Scott Landon.
"Lisey's Story" is a psychological horror with romance elements, split between Lisey's life in the present and her dead husband's life as she remembers it. Lisey starts to recall things about her husband that she had suppressed, while being terrorized in the present by a former fan of her husband's.
Dehaan will be playing the role of Jim Dooley, the aforementioned fan who is trying to get Lisey to release her husband's unpublished work.
"Lisey's Story" is a limited series that will feature eight episodes all written by Stephen King. There's no word on when "Lisey's Story" is set to be released, but given that it's still in the casting stages, we won't be seeing it on Apple TV+ until sometime next year.
Apple has an annual tradition of sharing a heartwarming holiday-themed video ahead of Thanksgiving in the United States, and this morning, Apple released its newest holiday video on YouTube.
The video starts out with a family that has two complaining kids going on a holiday trip, with the kids fighting until the iPads come out. The family arrives at their grandfather's house, who is still mourning the loss of his wife. The girls spend time with their grandfather and find old family photos, eventually putting together a slideshow of family memories and presenting it as a holiday gift to their grandfather.
The ad is designed to show off some of the capabilities of the iPad, such as creating and displaying a photo slideshow.It features the song "Married Life" by Michael Giacchino, which was used in well-known Disney Pixar film "Up."
"Sometimes, the best gifts can come from the most unexpected places," reads the tagline, with Apple linking to the iPad section of its website.
Many of Apple's holiday ads have won awards and accolades in the past. Last year's video was an animated spot featuring music from 16-year-old songwriter Billie Eilish, while in 2017, Apple did an ad featuring a woman dancing through a snowy city.
Apple Card users will now receive 3% Daily Cash when making purchases via Apple Pay at Nike stores, on Nike.com, in the Nike app, and across SNKRS, Nike Training Club, and Nike Running Club, according to TechCrunch.
3% Daily Cash only applies to Nike purchases made with the Apple Card via Apple Pay. The physical Apple Card only offers 1% Daily Cash.
3% Daily Cash was initially limited to purchases made directly with Apple, but partners now include Uber and Uber Eats, Walgreens, Duane Reade, T-Mobile, and Nike. Apple says additional partners will be added over time.
All other purchases made with the Apple Card via Apple Pay will continue to receive 2% Daily Cash.
To apply for an Apple Card, simply open the Wallet app on an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or later, tap the plus button in the top-right corner, and follow the on-screen steps. The process takes just a few minutes, and if approved, your digital Apple Card will be ready for purchases immediately.
Daily Cash is unlimited and paid out daily to your Apple Cash account. For more details, make sure to check out our Apple Card guide.
Just a few days out from Black Friday and Amazon is already matching one of the more notable discounts we're set to see this year, this one for the new 10.2-inch iPad. You can get the 32GB model with Wi-Fi for $249.99, down from $329, along with a few other configurations on sale.
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.
For the 32GB model, this is a sale we're expected to see across numerous retailers on Friday, including Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. The $80 discount is the lowest price we've tracked for the 32GB Wi-Fi model, so if you were planning on purchasing the 10.2-inch iPad on Friday, you can do a little early shopping on your list today.
If you're planning out your game plan for Friday, be sure to visit our Black Friday Roundup to find the best deals on Apple devices, accessories, and more.
Apple today announced that it will donate $1 to (RED) for every purchase made with Apple Pay on Apple.com, through the Apple Store app, or at an Apple Store worldwide through December 2, up to a total of $1 million.
Apple says 100 percent of all proceeds generated by (RED) partners goes to fund HIV/AIDS programs in Africa, as part of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Since 2006, Apple has raised over $220 million for (RED) through the sale of red-colored products and accessories.
In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1, many Apple Stores will also likely turn their logos red during the first week of December.
Apple has announced its annual four-day shopping event, offering customers up to a $200 Apple Store gift card with the purchase of select products between Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the United States.
Apple has yet to reveal the full terms for its offer. Last year, most Macs came with a $200 gift card, while previous-generation iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models were eligible for a $50 gift card. HomePod and Beats were also eligible for a $50 gift card, while the Apple TV was bundled with a $25 gift card.
Last year, the offer excluded the latest iPhone, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch models, as well as refurbished products, products purchased with an educational discount, and iPhones purchased via the iPhone Upgrade Program. AirPods, special edition Beats, and then-new MacBook Air and Mac mini models also did not qualify.
Apple's four-day shopping event runs November 29 through December 2 on Apple.com, by phone at 1-800-APPLE, and at Apple Stores.
The offer will also be available in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and several other countries, with gift card amounts varying.
As usual, there are better Black Friday deals on Apple products than what Apple offers itself, so be sure to check out our Black Friday roundup this week for all of the best discounts leading up to the big day. We'll also be highlighting various one-off deals throughout the week.
Update: As noted by MacGeneration, Apple is offering iTunes gift cards instead of Apple Store gift cards in some countries, such as France, Germany, and Switzerland.
It was another interesting week for Apple news, with Apple finally launching Smart Battery Cases for its latest iPhone 11 lineup after several leaks from within the company's own software, and this time they come with an unexpected twist: a dedicated camera button.
Other news this week included word of an app-related Apple media event early next month, rumors about an update to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, an interesting anecdote from Apple's former ad chief about the time he accidentally walked off with Steve Jobs' laptop, and more.
Apple Launches New Smart Battery Cases for iPhone 11 Lineup With Dedicated Camera Button
According to Apple, the cases are designed to provide up to 50 percent longer battery life to each iPhone when fully charged for longer talk time, internet use, and audio and video playback. New this year is a dedicated camera button on the case that is designed to launch the Camera app whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked.
We went hands-on with one of the new cases to check out the feel and looks and test out the new camera button, which should come in handy for lots of users.
Apple is offering the soft, silicone cases in black, white, and pink sand, though the iPhone 11 version comes only in black or white.
Apple to Hold December 2 Event to Honor 'Favorite Apps and Games of 2019'
No hardware announcements are expected at the event, and Apple has yet to even list the event on its website, so it sounds pretty low key.
Apple usually shares "best of" lists for the App Store, iTunes Store, and its other storefronts in early December, so it appears that Apple simply plans to announce the winners in person this year as well. But that won't stop us from dreaming of a surprise or two!
13-Inch MacBook Pro With Scissor Keyboard Expected in First Half of 2020
While there have been hopes of a 14-inch MacBook Pro, the report claims the display size will remain 13.3-inches. However, given DigiTimes is not the most reliable of sources, we would not entirely rule out the possibility of a slightly larger display just yet.
Apple refreshed most of its 13-inch MacBook Pro lineup in May, followed by the entry-level model in July.
Apple's WWDC App Rebranded as 'Apple Developer' App With Year-Round Content
Apple says that the new Apple Developer app will provide "in-depth information from Apple experts all year round," with the app featuring developer news, videos, and more for all of its software platforms.
The app will continue to be the official hub for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose.
Former Apple Employee Shares Incredible Story of Accidentally Stealing Steve Jobs' MacBook From His Office
The situation apparently played out during a heated meeting in Jobs' office, serving as a good example of how intense Apple's iconic CEO could be. Miller resigned from Apple in late 2011, shortly after Jobs passed away.
16-Inch MacBook Pro Hands-On: Benchmark and Performance Tests
Apple's new 16-inch MacBook Pro uses the same 9th-generation Intel processors as the 15-inch MacBook Pro models released in May, but there's a new thermal architecture that Apple says boosts performance.
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.
Apple on Wednesday unveiled new Smart Battery Cases designed for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, offering up extra battery life for its newest flagship smartphones.
The first Smart Battery Case orders are arriving to customers today and the cases are in stores, so we picked one up to give MacRumors readers a heads up on the features and the differences compared to last year's Smart Battery Cases.
Design wise, the Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models look identical to the prior-generation battery cases, with the exception of the square-shaped camera cutout to accommodate the dual and triple-lens camera systems in the new iPhones.
This year's case has the same bump at the back, which houses the battery that charges the iPhone, and it's about the same thickness as last year's model.
There are volume up buttons at the side, a power button, and, on the right side, a brand new button that's designed to be a camera control. You can press the button to automatically launch the camera app, regardless of whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked.
Pressing the button the first time opens up the camera app, but when the app is opened, pressing again takes a photo. Pressing and holding captures a QuickTake video, and the single press also works with the selfie camera.
Apple is offering the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max Smart Battery Cases in black, white, and pink sand, while the iPhone 11 Smart Battery Case is limited to black and white. The black shade of the new cases has shifted. Last year, Apple used a black case with a charcoal logo, but this year, the entire case is the lighter charcoal color with a deeper black logo.
There are two 1,430mAh battery cells inside of the iPhone 11 Pro Max version of the Smart Battery Case, up from the 1,369mAh battery cells used last year in the iPhone XS Max Smart Battery Case. The two battery cells are wired together into one battery, allowing the cases to offer 10.9Wh of energy (vs. 10.1Wh in the prior XS Max model).
Apple says that all of the new battery cases will add up to 50 percent more battery life to the iPhones, which translates to 9 hours of additional video playback for the 11 Pro, 10 hours of additional video playback for the 11 PRo Max, and 8.5 hours of additional video playback for the iPhone 11.
With the Smart Battery Case attached to an iPhone, the iPhone will drain the case first before using the built-in battery, and this is automatic and can't be shut off. Battery life of the case can be viewed on the Lock screen when placed on a charger or in the Today view of the Notification Center.
Charging the case can be done using a Lightning cable or a Qi-based wireless charger. The iPhone will always charge before the case when charging the two together. For those with Lightning-based headphones and accessories, the Lightning port on the Smart Battery Case does have passthrough capabilities.
Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this week sat down for an interview with ABC News after his visit to Texas with President Donald Trump, and today, ABC News has shared additional details from that interview.
Cook said that his focus is on policy over politics, and that he's focused on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which both Cook and Apple have been advocating for.
"No matter who is in the White House, the things I'm focused on are going to be the same. I am focused on DACA. We have 450 folks in Apple, employed at Apple, who are employed on DACA. I want those folks protected. Not just the 450 but the broader DACA people in America."
Cook in October signed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold DACA and protect dreamers in the United States. Cook in the interview said that he's going to continue to fight against the Trump Administration's efforts to rescind DACA.
"I will fight until my toes point up on the subject because I think that it is so core to who we are as a people that we not turn our back on people that came into the country as kids, they were brought here well before they could make a decision on their own. These people are the core of what an American is."
Cook also spoke on privacy, and reiterated comments that he's made many times before. Apple, said Cook, does not want to know personal details about your life and is not trying to "vacuum up all your data."
Cook went on to say that he's "very worried" that in a world where "nothing is private," then freedom of expression, a classic part of what it means to be American, "just evaporates."
On the topic of breaking up tech companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon, Cook said that he thinks there's too much focus on "fines and breakups" and not about how tech companies are collecting and using data that customers did not make an informed decision to give access to.
Note: Due to the political 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.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with designer Philip Lee of Classicbot to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a bundle that includes two of Lee's designer toys: the Classicbot Classic and the iBot G3.
Both the Classicbot and the iBot G3 are little robot toys that are modeled after classic Mac machines from Apple. The Classicbot Classic is modeled after the Macintosh Classic, sold in the early 1990s.
The Classicbot features a body that resembles a Classic Macintosh, along with movable arms and legs so it can be posed. There's a tiny mouse and a font suitcase that the Classicbot holds in a hand, and the detail is spectacular thanks to the precise injection molding technique used to make the toy.
Every part of the Classic Macintosh is included, from the display with two cute little robot eyes to the floppy disk drive and the vents, buttons, and ports on the back.
Classicbot Classic measures in at 10cm tall, and the arms, held on by magnets, can be removed for a more streamlined computer look.
Along with the Classicbot Classic, MacRumors readers who win the giveaway will get the iBot G3, which is modeled after Apple's iconic iMac G3, first introduced in 1998.
Available in either Bondi Blue or Tangerine, the iBot G3 features an anthropomorphized iMac with a face on the display, detachable arms, and movable legs.
As with the Classicbot Classic, the iBot G3 has been recreated faithfully, with an enclosure made from translucent plastic and impressive details like the CRT, ethernet ports, and ventilation fans.
The arms and legs can be detached and there's an included stand so it can be displayed in a more traditional computer shape as well. It comes with the iMac G3 mouse and keyboard.
Both the Classicbot Classic and the iBot G3 are designed to be figurines that are put on display, and they're the perfect desktop addition for any Apple lover. They also make great gifts. Philip Lee has a few other toys and figurines that MacRumors readers might be interested in, such as classic icon sets and Classicbot plushes.
Ahead of the holidays, we have five Classicbot Classic and iBot G3 sets to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (November 22) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 29. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 29 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple may have just released Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11 lineup, but there are plenty of people still using last year's devices. If you're an iPhone XS Max owner looking to boost your battery life, Amazon has just dropped the price of Apple's Smart Battery Case in black to $59, more than 50 percent off of Apple's $129 list price.
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.
The case is currently listed as in stock, but supplies may run out quickly so be sure to take advantage of the deal while it's available.
Update Nov 23: The iPhone XS Max case has sold out, but Amazon now has the iPhone XS Smart Battery Case in white on sale at the same $59 price point.
A legal battle between Apple and VirnetX that dates back nine years has seen a new development today, with a $503 million judgment from 2018 against Apple for patent infringement vacated by an appeals court and the case sent back to a lower court for reconsideration, reports Reuters.
The result is a mixed one for Apple at this point, with the appeals court finding only a partial reversal in affirming infringement by Apple on two counts and reversing on two other counts. The appeals court is sending the case back to district court to determine whether revised damages against Apple can be calculated or if a new damages trial will have to be held.
The case in question is just one of two involving Apple and VirnetX over communications security patents related to VPN, iMessage, and FaceTime. Apple is currently on the hook for $440 million in the other case, but appeals remain in progress.
Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates recently traveled to Asia to meet with manufacturers within Apple's supply chain, and today they shared their expectations for 2020 iPhones based on information they gathered.
In a research note viewed by MacRumors, the Barclays analysts said the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will likely have 6GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. They also expect both models to feature rear-facing 3D sensing and mmWave support for higher-performance 5G.
The base model iPhone 12 is expected to have 4GB of RAM, equal to the iPhone 11. While the iPhone 12 is also expected to be 5G enabled, the analysts did not indicate whether the device will support mmWave, sub-6GHz, or both.
Last, the analysts indicated that the so-called "iPhone SE 2" is still in the pipeline, with production apparently set to begin in February. The lower-cost device is expected to resemble the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch display and Touch ID home button, but with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM.
iPhone 12 models will likely be introduced in September as usual, while the new lower-cost iPhone is expected around March.
Barclays has proven to be a largely reliable source of information.
Amazon has restocked its supply of Apple's AirPods Pro at the price point of $234.98, down from $249.00. This $14 discount matches the all-time-low price we've previously seen on the AirPods Pro at Amazon.
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.
As of writing, the AirPods Pro are in stock and available to ship now, with an estimated arrival date between November 29 and December 2. Head to Amazon soon if you're interested, and be sure to check out our dedicated Best Deal on AirPods guide for all of the best discounts on Apple's entire line of wireless earphones.
Shipments of Apple's popular AirPods lineup are projected to double to 60 million in 2019, according to Bloomberg. The strong growth is due in part to "much higher" early demand for AirPods Pro than Apple had expected.
The $249 AirPods Pro -- which offer noise cancellation and water resistance -- have surpassed expectations and demand for them is pushing Apple’s assembly partners against capacity and technical constraints, a person familiar with the matter said. Multiple suppliers are competing for the business of manufacturing the Pro earphones, though some are still building up the technical proficiency.
After a ramp-up in popularity of the original AirPods, which debuted in late 2016, Apple has released two updates to the lineup this year, with second-generation AirPods in March and the new AirPods Pro just a few weeks ago.
Apple Watch and AirPods are the two cornerstones of Apple's push into wearables so far, and both have seen strong growth over the past few years. AirPods are the market leader in true wireless earphones, which are proving popular with consumers. While there are some competitors like Sony and Google already in the market, the launch of Microsoft's Surface Earbuds has been pushed back until at least March.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Mophie. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
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.
