Apple's new second-generation AirPods are beginning to arrive to customers around the world, and some early adopters have turned to the MacRumors forums and social media to share their first impressions of the earphones.
The new AirPods have the same outward design as the original and remain available in white only. Apple continues to include a one-meter Lightning to USB-A cable in the box with all second-generation AirPods.
Hey Siri
Powered by a new H1 chip, the new AirPods support hands-free Siri, enabling users to change songs, make phone calls, adjust the volume, get directions, and more by saying "Hey Siri." Siri can still be activated by doubling tapping one of the AirPods if enabled in Settings > Bluetooth on an iOS device.
First impressions about the new Hey Siri functionality are mostly positive so far. MacRumors forum member Moxxham from Australia wrote that "Hey Siri seems to work really well," even with loud music playing in the background, while Reddit user Lachlanhunt found the feature "works reasonably well."
Sound Quality
First impressions about overall audio quality are both subjective and anecdotal, with conflicting opinions as to whether the new AirPods sound better than the original. Reports range from users not noticing any difference all the way to feeling like the new AirPods are a huge improvement for sound.
HOLY CRAP the sound quality on the 2nd Generation Air Pods is WAY BETTER than the 1st gen. Listening to some Daft Punk, it’s a hell of a change, and here I wasn’t even expecting a real jump in sound quality. SHeeeeeeeesh
— Gaijinhunter (@aevanko) March 26, 2019
MacRumors forum member Kiky disagrees with the above tweet:
When listening to music, I could not make out any discernible difference between my AirPods 2 and my wife’s original AirPods. I bought the AirPods 2 mainly for the gym and casual wireless listening. They will replace my Jabra’s which have lousy latency issues and fatigue my ears after 30 mins or so.
At the very least, MacRumors reader Vladislav Kuznetsov and many others agree that features like Siri and FaceTime calls sound clearer:
Got new AirPods! Much better sound quality in FaceTime and Siri. Faster switching between devices. Worth upgrading from first gen only if your battery is dying.
— Vladislav Kuznetsov (@v1597psh) March 26, 2019
On a related note, Apple recently seeded a 6.3.2 firmware update for the first-generation AirPods, and some users on MacRumors and Reddit are speculating that the update has led to improved audio quality and faster connection speeds on the first-generation AirPods. Evidence is anecdotal at this point.
Early adopters are also noticing that the new AirPods switch more quickly between devices like the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac they are connected. Apple says the H1 chip makes switching between sources up to two times faster.
As far as battery life is concerned, more time will be needed for a proper comparison between the new AirPods and the original pair.
Apple says the new AirPods get up to three hours of talk time per charge, compared to up to two hours with the previous generation. Other battery life stats remain the same, with up to five hours of listening time per charge and more than 24 hours of total battery life from extra charges stored in the case.
The new AirPods are available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app with a wired charging case for $159, the same price as the original AirPods, and with a wireless charging case for $199. Apple says both options will be available at Apple Stores and select resellers starting this week.
MacRumors will be sharing our own second-generation AirPods hands-on video and impressions soon. Let us know your own first impressions in the comments section or by tweeting at us with a @MacRumors mention!
Apple's updated second-generation AirPods began arriving to customers around the world this morning, marking the official launch of the new earbuds.
The new AirPods have also made their way into stores and are available for in-store pickup. Many stores across the United States appear to have immediate availability of the AirPods, so if you want a set, you can pop into a retail location and get them today.
It's not clear how much available supply there is, but almost are stores are listing stock at the current time.
Retail stores are stocking the AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case ($199), AirPods 2 with standard Charging Case ($159), and the standalone Wireless Charging Case ($79) that adds wireless charging capabilities to your existing AirPods.
Apple's second-generation AirPods continue to be available solely in white, and there were no design changes introduced with the update. The AirPods are equipped with an updated H1 chip, which brings connectivity improvements. AirPods now connect more quickly to your devices, and swapping between devices is two times faster.
Bluetooth 5.0 is supported for improved range, and the new AirPods have a hands-free "Hey Siri" feature so you no longer need to activate Siri by tapping on one of the earbuds (though this option still exists).
The major new feature with the AirPods 2 is of course wireless charging, which, with the Wireless Charging Case allows the AirPods and case to be charged using any Qi-based wireless charging option. When the long-awaited and still missing AirPower is released, the new AirPods Wireless Charging Case will be required to charge AirPods with the accessory.
Apple today released an updated version of Shortcuts, introducing support for several new actions related to the Notes app. There are options for Create Note, Append to Note, Find Notes, and Show Notes, all of which can be incorporated into your shortcuts.
There's also a new Get Numbers input action for pulling numbers from text, and Get Time Travel includes more details like route name, arrival time, and distance. You can also now tap on the Library tab to get to the bottom of the shortcuts list more quickly.
Apple's full release notes for the new 2.2 Shortcuts update are below:
- Create and access Notes in your shortcuts with the new Create Note, Append to Note, Find Notes, and Show Note actions - Pull out numbers from text using the new Get Numbers from Input action - Tapping on the Library tab will now scroll to the bottom of your shortcuts list - Get Travel Time now returns more details, including route name, arrival time, and distance - Bug fixes and improvements
The Shortcuts app, introduced in iOS 12, is designed to allow iOS users to create multi-step shortcuts and automations using both first and third-party apps, with the shortcuts able to be activated using Siri commands.
Through Shortcuts, for example, you can create an automation to do something like turn on the thermostat at home using the Nest app, text your roommate that you're on the way with Messages, and open up the Maps app with directions home all with a single "I'm going home" Siri command spoken when leaving work.
Shortcuts are deeply customizable, with Apple's Shortcuts app providing a gallery of Shortcut suggestions along with the tools to create your own.
The aluminum stand also includes inserts to fit a wide range of other Apple notebooks. These include the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro (USB-C), the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Air with Retina Display, and the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.
Otherwise, the new BookArc looks and performs similarly to previous models, providing a place to rest your MacBook while you tether it to an external display for a more comfortable workflow. BookArc can also be used to charge and display a MacBook. Twelve South shared a video about the origins of BookArc, which was the company's first product.
The updated BookArc is available on Twelve South's website for $49.99, and will launch in retail soon. Existing BookArc owners can buy just the insert for the MacBook Air with Retina Display for $9.99.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Twelve South. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple yesterday shared plans to bring its Apple TV app to multiple smart TVs and third-party set-top boxes, including the Amazon Fire TV and Roku. The TV app will house Apple TV+, Apple's upcoming streaming service for its original content when it launches later this year.
Following Apple's announcement, Roku CEO Anthony Wood spoke to CNBC about Apple's decision to expand access to the TV app, expressing excitement that the content will be available on Roku devices.
Wood believes that Apple is "well-positioned" to be successful in the TV streaming market, despite its competitiveness, due to the company's large user base.
There were not a lot of details announced, but I think they're well-positioned to be successful. They've got a lot of experience with subscription services, they're investing a lot of money in content, and they've got a great brand and lots of loyal customers.
Wood went on to say that while Apple is counting on its iOS and macOS devices to "jumpstart" Apple TV+, the importance of smart TVs should not be ignored.
When you have a TV streaming service, you know, obviously they're counting on jumpstarting that with all of their iPhone and iPad and Mac customers, but actually, smart TVs are the way that most streaming services - long form streaming services - are viewed by customers. That's where they spend most of their hours.
Roku, says Wood, is the leading streaming TV platform, and if Apple wants to be successful, Apple needs to be on Roku and other similar platforms.
For any kind of service like that to be successful, you want to be on the leading streaming TV platforms and Roku is the leading streaming TV platform. We're the leading distributor of streaming content in the U.S.
According to Wood, there are no real negatives to Apple entering the streaming market for Roku because Roku supports all streaming services to offer its customers choice. Roku isn't betting on any one company to come out ahead in the streaming market because Roku "works with everyone" and benefits from a large amount of content being available.
Apple TV+ will launch in the fall, but ahead of its debut, the newly revamped TV app will become available in May. Apple plans to bring the TV app to multiple third-party platforms, starting with Samsung Smart TVs. Later in the year, it will expand to Amazon Fire TV devices, Roku devices, and smart TVs from Sony, LG, and Vizio.
Spotify today announced its latest acquisition, this one related to a podcast company called Parcast (via Reuters). This marks Spotify's third podcast-related acquisition in two months, and represents the company's ongoing plan to boost the music streaming platform as a hub for podcasts that can compete with Apple Podcasts.
Last month, Spotify purchased Gimlet Media for $300 million, acquiring the company's big-name podcasts like "Homecoming" and "Reply All." Around the same time, Spotify also purchased Anchor, a company that is more behind-the-scenes of the podcast world and lets its users record and create their own shows that can easily be shared online.
Parcast will be added to that list, and Spotify will now have ownership of its specialization in crime and mystery-themed podcast content, genres that are hugely successful in the market. Parcast is home to a big list of popular genres and podcasts, covering topics like cults, serial killers, haunted places, unexplained mysteries, extraterrestrials, and more.
These purchased shows will also join new and original podcasts created by Spotify, all of which will be curated by the team that built Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist algorithm. Eventually, the music streaming company hopes to become the Netflix of podcasts, able to provide recommendations on what to watch and house both third-party and exclusive first-party content.
Spotify first began its efforts to enter the podcast field around two years ago, when it said it was "coming after" Apple with a strong push into podcasts. The last few years have been marked as a so-called golden age for podcasts, causing many companies to look into entering the field.
Apple and Spotify have been in another dispute this year as well, after Spotify filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission. In the complaint, Spotify accused Apple of enforcing App Store rules that "purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience" and said that Apple acts "as both a player and referee to deliberately disadvantage other app developers."
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek particularly called out Apple's policy of charging a 30 percent "tax" on App Store purchases. This results in Spotify charging existing subscribers $12.99 per month for its Premium plan via the App Store just to collect nearly the $9.99 per month it charges normally. The spat continued with Apple claiming that Spotify provided "misleading rhetoric," and with Spotify stating that "every monopolist will suggest they have done nothing wrong."
For the podcast initiative, it's unclear when Spotify plans to launch the new part of its service.
Apple yesterday began sending emails to Apple Pay customers, warning them about new changes to the service that are taking effect immediately with iOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2. With the updates, Apple has ended support for sending money through Apple Pay Cash using a credit card (including the upcoming Apple Card).
Previously, users could link their credit card to fund person-to-person payments in Messages, which are then linked to Apple Pay Cash in the Wallet app. Now, Apple has stopped accepting credit cards as funding options for Apple Pay Cash effective March 25, 2019.
Apple Pay users can still send money using a debit card or their existing Apple Pay Cash balance. The company says that the update "will ensure Apple Pay Cash customers never have to worry about cash advance fees that may be charged by issuing banks."
In the same email, Apple discusses Apple Pay Cash Instant Transfers, which lets users quickly transfer money from an Apple Pay Cash balance to an eligible Visa debit card in the Wallet app. These transfers are processed within minutes and a 1 percent fee (minimum fee of $0.25 and maximum fee of $10) is deducted from the amount of each transfer. Traditional bank transfers still remain, offering free ACH bank transfers that take one to three business days.
Lastly, during yesterday's keynote Apple showcased a new name for Apple Pay Cash, now simply called "Apple Cash." The company highlighted the name change during the Apple Card segment of the event, explaining how Apple Card owners will be able to get Daily Cash rewards that instantly appear on their Apple Cash cards.
Jennifer Bailey, VP of Apple Pay: "So when you're buying your morning coffee, shopping for groceries, and any time you pay using Apple Card, you get Daily Cash. Not a month from now, but every day. So every day you spend, cash is added to your Apple Cash card, which is also in the Wallet app.
This simplifies the name, although the change has yet to appear as of iOS 12.2. It's possible the name change will show up alongside the launch of Apple Card this summer.
If you missed yesterday's event, or want a quick refresher, be sure to check out or six-minute recap of everything Apple announced at the event.
The issue has been noted by readers in the MacRumors forums and on social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit since early Tuesday. Apple appears to have informed some customers that it is aware of the problem and working on a fix, although its system status page does not yet reflect any issues.
There do not seem to be any workarounds that resolve the crashing for more than a few seconds, so affected users will likely have to wait on Apple for a fix, which developer Steve Troughton-Smith believes could arrive remotely.
Why is Apple News crashing today? Why, bad data pushed to the client, of course. Should be something they can fix remotely pic.twitter.com/YS6U3DNKih
— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) March 26, 2019
The crashing is likely related to some kind of technical hiccup following the rollout of Apple News+ yesterday. The subscription service offers unlimited access to hundreds of magazines and newspapers for $9.99 per month in the United States and $12.99 per month in Canada within the Apple News app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
More than 40 million Android smartphone owners around the world have now installed the Apple Music app from the Google Play Store, according to data shared this week by Sensor Tower.
It's projected that Apple Music will see 3.8 million installs on Android devices by the end of Q1 2019, up from 3.3 million in Q4 2018 and a year-over-year increase of 65 percent.
Apple has been able to grow its Android user base for Apple Music in mid-to-late 2018, following a few quarters of decline. Beginning in Q4 2017 and continuing through Q2 2018, Apple Music installs on Android dwindled from 3.3 million to 2.3 million.
Now, the current quarter is anticipated to be Apple Music's best yet for new user installs on Android.
New users of the app in 4Q18 were up 43 percent over 1Q18, and we project that 1Q19 installs will total 3.8 million for a year-over-year increase of 65 percent.
Google Play users in the United States account for approximately 28 percent of all Apple Music for Android installs to date, with India a distant second at about 7 percent to the total. Great Britain, Brazil, and Russia round out the app’s five largest markets at 6 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent of installs, respectively.
Apple Music first launched on Android in the fall of 2015, months after debuting on Apple devices. The Android app was just updated this week with a redesigned Browse tab to match iOS devices, and introduced support for Chromebooks.
German-based mobile bank N26 also announced today that Apple Pay is coming soon to customers in Austria:
Coming Soon! @N26 will bring #ApplePay, which is transforming mobile payments with an easy, secure and private to pay that’s fast and convenient to customers in Austria 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/iy3NK44Tli
— N26 (@n26) March 26, 2019
Apple Pay first launched in the United States in October 2014 and is also available in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, France, Japan, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Ireland, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates.
Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday said Apple Pay will be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019.
Apple has updated its Apple Music app for Android devices, introducing the redesigned Browse tab that debuted on iOS last week and new support for Chromebooks.
The new Browse tab has been tweaked to highlight an assortment of different playlists from various musical genres to make discovery quicker and easier. Android users will now find Apple's "Daily Top 100" playlist featured prominently at the top of the section, just below the traditional carousel of new music.
Apart from that minor refresh, the update brings official Chromebook support to the Android app, which basically means users can access Apple Music from Chrome OS on their Google notebook. According to the release notes, this version of Apple Music for Android also fixes various bugs, so users should also find it runs a bit more stable than previous versions.
Apple in March 2019 debuted second-generation AirPods, featuring several updates over the original massively popular wireless earbuds of the same name. Then, in October 2019, Apple launched the AirPods Pro, a higher-end version of its existing AirPods with a unique design, noise cancellation technology, better sound, and a more expensive $249 price tag.
If you've just received a version of AirPods earbuds, you'll be raring to use them to listen to music, take phone calls, use Siri, and more. Keep reading to learn how to set up and connect them to your devices.
Update Your Software
As mentioned, Apple's second-generation AirPods include new features not seen in the previous model, and AirPods Pro have additional features of their own, but to use them you'll need to make sure your devices are running the latest software.
On iOS devices:
If you want to use your new AirPods with an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, make sure you're running iOS 12.2 or later. If you've got AirPods Pro, make sure you're running iOS 13.2 or later or iPadOS 13.2 or later.
To check that your device's software is up to date, launch the Settings app and then select General -> Software Update, and download any available updates if necessary.
On Mac:
To use second-generation AirPods with your Mac, it needs to be running macOS 10.14.4 or later. For AirPods Pro, you need to be running macOS 10.15.1 or later. To check that your machine is up to date with the latest software, select System Preferences... from the Apple () menu in the top-left corner of the screen, and then click Software Update in the preferences window.
If your Mac finds an update is available, click the Update Now button to download the software and allow the software to install when prompted.
Set Up New AirPods on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Before you can begin using your new AirPods with your iOS devices, there are a few quick steps you need to perform.
Unlock your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. If your device is already unlocked, navigate to the Home screen.
Bring the AirPods or AirPods Pro case – with the AirPods inside – close to your device and open the case lid.
Wait for the setup animation to appear on your device's screen.
Tap Connect, then tap Done.
If you haven't set up "Hey Siri" already on your device, you'll be guided through the setup.
And that's all there is to it. Your AirPods or AirPods Pro should now pair seamlessly with your device whenever you go to use them. Note that if you're signed in to iCloud, your AirPods or AirPods Pro will be set up automatically with any of your supported devices that are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID.
Connect New AirPods to Your Mac
If you've set up your AirPods or AirPods Pro with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and your Mac is signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, then your AirPods should be ready to use with your Mac. In that case, all you you need to do is put your AirPods in your ears, click the Bluetooth icon in your Mac's menu bar, select your AirPods or AirPods Pro from the dropdown list, and click Connect.
If you don't see your AirPods in the Bluetooth menu, check out our dedicated how-to article on how to pair AirPods manually with your Mac and customize the gesture controls.
Connect New AirPods to Android Devices
You can use AirPods and AirPods Pro with Android smartphones and other devices. You won't be able to use "Hey Siri" but you can use them to listen and talk. Check out our special guideo learn how to use AirPods on Android, as well as the benefits, the downsides, and how well AirPods work on non-Apple devices.
Apple News+ is Apple's paid subscription service for the Apple News app. Apple News+ lets you access magazines and paywalled content from some news sites. You have to pay a subscription fee to access Apple News+, and it is an add-on service that lives right alongside Apple's existing free Apple News content. This guide covers everything that you need to know about Apple News+, from pricing and availability to news sites and magazines included.
Apple News+ Availability
Apple News+ content is available right in the Apple News app through the new Apple News+ tab that shows up on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch models running iOS 12.2 or later and Macs running macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later. Apple News+ is limited to Apple devices and it is not available on Android devices or PCs.
You need to be in the U.S., Canada, Australia, or the UK to be able to subscribe to and access Apple News content at the current time, though Apple has plans to expand it to additional countries in the future.
Apple News+ Pricing
Apple News+ costs $9.99 per month in the United States, $12.99 per month in Canada, £9.99 per month in the UK, and $14.99 per month in Australia. At the current time, there are no yearly subscription plans available.
The $9.99 per month fee gives your entire family of up to six people access to Apple News+ as long as you have Family Sharing set up. Family Sharing is available for any member of your family that has an Apple ID, but be aware that every person added to the Family Sharing group must share the same payment method, as there is only one debit or credit card allowed for the family sharing group.
Apple News Free Trial
Apple is offering a 30-day free trial for Apple News+, and we have instructions on how to sign up here. You won't get charged the monthly fee until the free trial expires.
How to Get to Apple News+ Content
All Apple News+ content is available in the Apple News app in the Apple News+ tab at the bottom of the display on an iPhone, or through Apple News+ option on the side bar on iPads and Macs.
The Apple News+ section houses all available Apple News content, including magazines and newspapers, though if you come across Apple News+ articles from magazines news sites like The Wall Street Journal while browsing through the standard Apple News interface, that content will all be available for free to you.
What's Included in Apple News+
The Apple News+ monthly fee gets you access to more than 200 popular magazines that cover a wide range of categories, including health, style and beauty, lifestyle, sports, finance and business, cars, entertainment, food, hobbies, home and garden, kids and parenting, news and politics, outdoors, science and tech, and travel.
Both past and current issues from a number of magazines are included. Based on a spot check, past issues seem to be available from March 2018 on, so no magazine is offering a full collection of past content. March 2018 is when Apple purchased Texture, the service that Apple News+ evolved from.
New issues of some magazines in Apple News+ are using a proprietary formatting designed just for Apple News+. It puts a table of contents right up front so you can see what articles are included and skip right to what you want to read, and it also supports full screen interactive media and other digital-first features.
Some magazines have not been updated with this new format and their issues are plain PDFs that you can swipe through with none of these new features. All older issues even from magazines that do support the new Apple News+ digital format are also in PDFs.
PDFs display all of the available pages in a magazine, but you'll essentially need to swipe through most of the magazine to see the specifics of what's available.
Subscribing to a Magazine
To add a magazine to the My Magazines section of Apple News and follow it, you need to search for it using the Apple News search interface and then tap on the heart button to favorite it. This will ensure that the magazine is displayed in the My Magazines section. If you've read a magazine that you've not hearted, it may still temporarily show up in the My Magazines section.
As of iOS 12.3 and macOS Mojave 10.14.5, you can also subscribe to a publication to follow directly from the Apple News+ catalog view by tapping on the "Follow" button.
Any magazine that you follow (aka have added a heart to) will be automatically downloaded to your device when a new issue is available.
Downloading a Magazine for Offline Reading
You can download any magazine in Apple News+ so that you can read it offline. When browsing through magazines, viewing new issues in the Apple News+ section, or looking at a magazine's overview with all of the available issues listed, tap on the little download icon next to any issue to make it available to read when you don't have a Wi-Fi or LTE connection.
All of your downloaded Apple News+ magazines can be found both offline and online in the My Magazines section.
Deleting a Magazine You've Downloaded
When Apple News+ launched, there was no option for deleting downloaded magazines, but Apple added the feature in iOS 12.4. To clear downloaded magazine issues, go to History > Clear > Clear All.
Apple News in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Australia continues to function as before for those who choose not to sign up for Apple News+. All of the content and news stories from your favorite news sites will still be available to read, you just won't get access to the magazines and paywalled content included in Apple News+.
For non-subscribers, there are essentially no changes to the Apple News app with the exception of a new Apple News+ tab to ignore. Apple News will continue to offer access to Top Stories, Trending Stories, and a feed of personalized news articles.
Existing Subscriptions
If you already subscribe to a magazine that's now offered in Apple News+, you'll probably want to cancel whatever subscription you have, whether it's through Apple or through another subscription service.
For some publications, like The Wall Street Journal, there is a possibility you'll want to keep the standalone subscription. While all of the WSJ's content is available in Apple News+, the app is only going to surface "general interest" articles, which could make it difficult to find the full range of content offered. WSJ archives also only persist for three days.
Printing
There is no built-in printing mechanism for the Apple News+ app, which makes it difficult to print copies of stories or get a printout of a recipe.
You can attempt to open a news story in Safari on the iPhone or iPad by tapping the three dot icon in the corner, choosing copy link, and pasting it into Safari. From Safari, you can tap on the share sheet button (square with an arrow) and then choose the "Print" option. It's worth noting that this method may not work for all articles, and it won't provide a print-friendly format.
Audio News
Apple News also comes with an audio news feature. Apple News editors release around 20 audio stories for per week across a wide range of interests, with stories narrated by professional voice actors. Apple News stories are limited to Apple News+ subscribers in the U.S.
Apple also released Apple News Today, a daily audio news briefing that recaps the news of the day. The feature is available Monday through Friday and is free for all Apple News users in the United States.
Local News
There's a curated local news experience available in the Bay Area, Houston, Charlotte, San Diego, San Antonio, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., where Apple provides coverage of topics important to local communities like dining and restaurants, weather, news and politics, and more.
Guide Feedback
See something we left out of our Apple News+ guide or have a question not answered here? Let us know in the comments or Send us an email here.
After upgrading to iOS 12.2, the newest version of iOS, AT&T users began seeing a "5GE" icon in place of "LTE" for their cellular connection.
This is AT&T's misleading name for an enhanced 4G LTE network, and as explained in the guide below, is not actual 5G connectivity.
Why am I seeing a 5GE icon?
According to AT&T, customers who upgrade to iOS 12.2 or later will see the "5GE" icon when connected to what AT&T is calling a 5GE network. This is an AT&T-only thing, so it's limited to AT&T customers.
It's also only showing up on iOS devices running iOS 12.2 or later, but the 5GE icon has also previously rolled out to some Android devices.
What is 5GE?
5GE, or 5G "Evolution" is the name that AT&T is using in areas where 4G LTE technologies like three-way carrier aggregation, 4x4 MIMO, and 256 QAM are available. These features making existing wireless networks faster, provided your smartphone supports them.
These are technologies that have already been in place on AT&T's network and networks from Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile. Your phone has probably already been connecting to AT&T's LTE networks with these capabilities even before AT&T added its 5GE icon.
AT&T, in fact, started rolling out support for these technologies in 2017, as did other U.S. carriers. AT&T says that in areas with these upgraded LTE technologies, customers can reach peak theoretical wireless speeds of up to 400 megabits per second, but in real-world usage that ends up being closer to 40 megabits per second.
These are LTE speeds that are available on many other carriers to customers using modern devices.
What's real 5G?
Real 5G networks offer much faster connection speeds and better performance. Carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are working on rolling out 5G mobile networks.
Actual 5G networks, when up and running with full coverage available, may be anywhere from 10 to 100 times faster than LTE networks. AT&T is working on true 5G, but it is not the same as the 5GE network being advertised.
So wait, my iPhone isn't connecting to a 5G network?
There are no iPhones in existence at the current time that are capable of connecting to a 5G network.
5G technology requires new modem hardware so until there is an iPhone with a 5G modem chip, no iPhones will work with 5G networks. Your current iPhone will not connect to 5G networks and will be limited to LTE.
I have an earlier version of iOS, will I see 5GE?
At this time, AT&T says that only devices running iOS 12.2 or later will display the 5GE icon. That doesn't mean your iPhone isn't taking advantage of AT&T's 5GE network, though, since the icon is merely cosmetic.
Where is 5GE available?
According to AT&T, "5GE" speeds are available in more than 400 markets, and by the first half of 2019, the upgraded LTE technology is expected to be available nationwide to more than 200 million customers.
Why is AT&T misleading customers?
AT&T's justification is that 5G technology "is an evolution" rather than a single event, which is a rather weak argument.
AT&T wants customers to know that they're on an upgraded LTE network with faster speeds than were possible a few years back ahead of the rollout of 5G, but using 5G terminology is an underhanded and confusing way of doing it. In short, it's a marketing tactic that's essentially designed to fool customers into thinking they're connecting to a faster 5G network, capitalizing on all the buzz around 5G technology right now.
Are other carriers using misleading 5G branding?
T-Mobile has made fun of AT&T's decision to call its LTE networks 5G, while Sprint has called it "blatantly misleading."
Verizon has taken out full page ads in major newspapers like The New York Times and has warned about the dangers of confusing terms.
"The potential for 5G is awesome, but the potential to over-hype and under-deliver on the 5G promise is a temptation that the wireless industry must resist."
"Verizon is making this commitment today: We won't take an old phone and just change the software to turn the 4 in the status bar into a 5. We will not call our 4G network a 5G network if customers don't experience a performance or capability upgrade that only 5G can deliver.
Sprint has also taken out full-page ads bashing AT&T's deception and has gone so far as to sue AT&T for the misleading branding. Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, the other three major carriers in the U.S., have no plans to introduce similarly confusing branding ahead of the rollout of 5G.
When will AT&T actually have a real 5G network?
Technically, AT&T has already started rolling out real 5G service in parts of 12 cities: Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Fla., Louisville, Ky., Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Raleigh, N.C., San Antonio and Waco, Texas.
AT&T plans to expand real 5G coverage to additional cities that include Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose during the first half of 2019. AT&T's 5G networks are denoted by a "5G+" icon.
But remember, even with 5G networks available from AT&T, devices also need to incorporate 5G chips to use them.
AT&T is also confusingly rolling out another network feature called LTE-LAA, a second upgraded version of LTE with peak theoretical speeds of 1 gigabit per second.
The National Advertising Review Board recommended that AT&T discontinue its 5GE marketing claims because it could be misleading to consumers, but AT&T said that it "respectfully disagrees" with the decision and has no plans to remove the 5GE icon from smartphones because it's not considered advertising.
Some Android smartphone manufacturers, including Samsung, started releasing 5G smartphones in 2019. Carriers have also started rolling out 5G networks, but it will take several years for 5G to get off the ground and for coverage to spread across the United States.
Apple today held its first ever services-centric event, where the company introduced several new and upcoming service products with no hardware announcements at all.
It took Apple almost two hours to introduce Apple News+, Apple Arcade, Apple Card, and Apple TV+, but we've recapped the entire event in just six minutes for our readers who want a no-frills overview of everything Apple announced today.
The only service that's available today, Apple News+, is designed to provide access to hundreds of magazines and a handful of paywalled news sources for $9.99 per month. Everyone on a Family Sharing plan can access Apple News+ for that $9.99 per month fee.
Apple Card is a new credit card Apple's offering in partnership with Goldman Sachs. Starting this summer, you can sign up for an Apple Card right on the iPhone and start using it immediately for Apple Pay purchases. You can make digital payments with Apple Pay using the card, but for non-Apple Pay payments, Apple is giving customers a slick titanium card with no visible credit card info like number and CVV (all of that info is in Wallet, though).
With Apple Card, you get 1% cash back for standard card purchases, 2% cash back for Apple Pay purchases, and 3% cash back for Apple purchases. Cash back is provided to you on a daily basis and you can use it for paying your balance, making purchases, or sending Apple Pay Cash in Messages. There are also unique budgeting and tracking tools for monitoring spending along with support via the Messages app. There are no fees, and Apple plans to offer low interest rates.
Apple Arcade is Apple's new cross-platform subscription gaming service that will provide access to more than 100 iOS games from publishers like Disney, Sega, LEGO, Cartoon Network, Konami, and more when it launches this fall in over 150 countries. Apple hasn't announced pricing, but an Apple Arcade subscription will include full access to all games with no additional in-app purchases necessary to unlock content.
Apple's final services announcement was Apple TV+, which will house all of the company's original TV content. Apple has more than a dozen original shows in the works from creators like Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and Oprah. Pricing hasn't been announced because it's not launching till the fall, but Apple TV+ will be available in Apple's revamped TV app, coming in May.
The new TV app, which will be available on iOS devices, Apple TV, Mac (in the fall) and third-party Smart TVs from Sony, LG, Samsung, and Vizio, features better than ever recommendations built on machine learning and a new "Channels" option that will let you subscribe to and watch content from providers like Starz, Showtime, and HBO.
Below, we've rounded up all of our coverage from today's event if you missed it:
Apple today unveiled its rumored premium Apple News subscription service, Apple News+. Apple News+ provides access to more than 300 magazines and a handful of paywalled news articles from sites like The Wall Street Journal all for $9.99 per month.
Signing up for an Apple News subscription can be done in the U.S. or Canada on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 12.2. Here's how:
Open up the Apple News App.
Tap on the "News+" tab at the bottom of the screen.
Tap on "Get Started."
Choose "Try It Free" to initiate a trial subscription. You'll be charged $9.99 per month when the 30-day trial period ends.
From there, you'll have access to a new "My Magazines" section of the app where you can see featured magazines, browse the entire collection, or select from various categories like Cars, Entertainment, Food, Health, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Outdoors, and more.
There are a selection of stories that are curated by Apple's editors and organized to highlight specific articles.
Apple News+ magazines provide animated covers and a table of contents right up top so you can select the articles that are most interesting to you.
The rest of the Apple News interface features rich, full-screen imagery and a digital-optimized reading experience for key stories.
Cancelling your Apple News+ Subscription
If you want to cancel your Apple News+ subscription so you don't get charged $9.99 per month after your trial period ends, here's how:
Tap on the "Following" tab in the Apple News app.
Tap on "Manage Subscriptions."
Tap on "Cancel Free Trial."
Make sure you don't cancel your Apple News+ subscription until you've finished giving the service a try because Apple says that your service ends immediately if you hit the cancel button. We recommend setting a calendar reminder to cancel before 30 days is up if you want the full trial experience.
Apple News+ content can be read on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with iOS 12.2 or macOS 10.14.4 required. You can also sign up for an Apple News+ subscription using these same steps in the Apple New+ tab in the macOS Mojave app.
Apple today released macOS Mojave 10.14.4, the fourth update to the macOS Mojave operating system that first launched in September. macOS 10.14.4 comes more than two months after the release of macOS Mojave 10.14.3, a minor bug fix update.
macOS Mojave 10.14.4 can be downloaded by going to the "Software Update" section of System Preferences. The update is free for all Mac users who have a machine that supports it.
macOS Mojave 10.14.4 introduces support for the new Apple News+ subscription service that is designed to allow Apple News users to sign up for unlimited access to news and magazines for a monthly fee. The update also brings Apple News to Canada, allowing Canadian Mac users to access news stories in French, English, or both.
macOS Mojave 10.14.4 includes support for Safari AutoFill using Touch ID and it offers automatic dark mode themes in Safari. If you have Dark Mode enabled in Mojave, when you visit a website that has an option for a dark theme after installing the update, it will be activated automatically. Full release notes for the update are below:
The macOS Mojave 10.14.4 update adds support for Apple News+, includes bug fixes and improvements, improves the stability and reliability of your Mac, and is recommended for all users.
Apple News+ - Apple News+ is a new subscription service that extends to the Apple News experience with hundreds of magazines and top newspapers - Our editors handpick top articles and magazine issues, and you also get personalized recommendations on the topics most interesting to you - Automatic downloads make it easy to read magazine issues offline - Apple News is now available in Canada, with a free experience that includes handpicked Top Stories, a personalized Today feed, and support for both English and French - Apple News+ is available in the U.S. and Canada, with dozens of additional Canadian Magazines.
Safari - Adds Dark Mode support for websites that support custom color schemes - Streamlines website login when filling credentials with Password Autofill - Allows push notification prompts only after interacting with a website - Adds a warning when an insecure webpage is loaded - Removes support for the expired Do Not Track standard to prevent potential use as a fingerprinting variable; Intelligent Tracking Prevention now protects against cross-site tracking by default
iTunes - Shows more editorial highlights on a single page in the Browse tab, making it easier to find new music, playlists, and more in Apple Music
AirPods
- Adds support for new AirPods (2nd Generation)
More - Supports Air Quality index in Maps for US, UK, and India - Improves the quality of audio recordings in Messages - Supports real-time text (RTT for phone calls made through a nearby iPhone on Mac - Provides enhanced support for external GPUs in Activity Monitor - Fixes an App Store issue that may have prevented adoption of the latest versions of Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iMovie, and GarageBand - Improves the reliability of USB audio devices when used with the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini models introduced in 2018 - Corrects the default screen brightness for MacBook Air (Fall 2018) - Fixes a graphics compatibility issue that may occur on some external displays connected to a Mac mini (2018) - Resolves Wi-Fi connection issues that may occur after upgrading to macOS Mojave - Fixes an issue where re-adding an Exchange account may cause it to disappear from Internet Accounts - Fixes an issue where AOL passwords may be frequently requested in Mail
For additional details on macOS Mojave, make sure to check out our macOS Mojave roundup.
After installing iOS 12.2, some Apple Watch Series 4 owners in the UK are seeing new ECG screens that suggest ECG functionality will expand to the Apple Watch in the country when watchOS 5.2 is released.
MacRumors readers Sam and Chris have seen ECG setup screens in the Apple Watch and Health apps on the iPhone after installing iOS 12.2. The app is not, however, available on the Apple Watch in the UK right now because Apple hasn't yet released watchOS 5.2, which is likely required for the feature to work.
There's new documentation in the Health app in iOS 12.2 under ECG's "Instructions for Use" that also hints at upcoming support for the UK and other European countries:
For US Regions: The ECG app is available on Apple Watch Series 4 with watchOS 5.1.2 or later, paired with iPhone 5s or later or iOS 12.1.1 or later.
For non-US regions: The ECG app is available on Apple Watch Series 4 with watchOS 5.2 paired with iPhone 5s or iOS 12.2 or later.
There's also a new CE mark for the ECG feature in iOS 12.2 in the same document, which, as 9to5Mac points out, indicates that Apple may be planning to expand ECG functionality to all European Economic Area countries that use the CE certification mark.
It's not yet clear when Apple will launch watchOS 5.2, but with iOS 12.2 already available, it could be coming in the near future. Apple has not updated the list of countries where ECG features are available, but it could be changed once watchOS 5.2 sees a release.
