During today's earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2019, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced a new feature that's coming to Apple Card later this year -- fee free iPhone payments.
Customers will be able to purchase a new iPhone using Apple Card and pay for it over 24 months with no interest. Customers will continue to get three percent cash back for the purchase as well.
There's no specific word on when the iPhone payment plan will be available, but Cook did say that it's coming this year, so it could perhaps be introduced ahead of the holiday season.
Cook said that Apple has been "thrilled" with the reception to Apple Card since its August launch. He said that Apple believes it was the "most successful launch of a credit card in the United States ever."
Apple today announced financial results for the third calendar quarter and fourth fiscal quarter of 2019.
For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $64.0 billion and net quarterly profit of $13.7 billion, or $3.03 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $62.9 billion and net quarterly profit of $14.1 billion, or $2.91 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share set a new fourth quarter record, while services revenue set an all-time quarterly record.
Gross margin for the quarter was 38.0 percent, compared to 38.3 percent in the year-ago quarter, with international sales accounting for 60 percent of revenue. Apple also declared an upcoming dividend payment of $0.77 per share, payable November 14 to shareholders of record as of November 11.
This quarter marks a full year since Apple changed the way it reports its results, with the company no longer providing unit sales data for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. As a result, Apple is only providing revenue figures for its various segments, leaving analysts to estimate unit sales based on their own calculations
For the full fiscal year, Apple generated $260.2 billion in sales with $55.3 billion in net income, compared to $265.5 billion in sales and $59.5 billion in net income for fiscal 2018.
“We concluded a groundbreaking fiscal 2019 with our highest Q4 revenue ever, fueled by accelerating growth from Services, Wearables and iPad,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “With customers and reviewers raving about the new generation of iPhones, today’s debut of new, noise-cancelling AirPods Pro, the hotly-anticipated arrival of Apple TV+ just two days away, and our best lineup of products and services ever, we’re very optimistic about what the holiday quarter has in store.”
Apple's guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 includes expected revenue of $85.5-89.5 billion and gross margin between 37.5 and 38.5 percent.
Apple will provide live streaming of its fiscal Q4 2019 financial results conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.
Today's the official launch date for the AirPods Pro that Apple surprised us with on Monday, so of course we went to pick some up at an Apple retail store this morning to give MacRumors readers a rundown of the new features and our first impressions.
In this video, we'll go over the new design, the AirPods Pro capabilities, and determine whether Apple's newest earbuds are worth the $249 price.
Design wise, the AirPods Pro are recognizable as AirPods, but there are some distinct differences compared to earlier AirPods. The stem, for example, is much shorter, and it now has a new Force sensor feature that supports gestures.
Squeeze the stem to play or pause your music, squeeze it two times to skip forward a track, and squeeze it three times to skip back. Pressing and holding will also switch between different listening modes, which we'll get to in a second.
The other major AirPods Pro design change is the inclusion of new silicone tips that are designed to fit inside of the ears. The AirPods Pro ship with silicone tips in three sizes, and the tips just snap right on and off. Apple has even designed a fit test that makes sure you're using the right size tip for your ear size.
We found the AirPods Pro to be comfortable and secure in the ears, though they definitely have a different feel from the original AirPods. Those silicone tips enable a key AirPods Pro feature -- Active Noise Cancellation. Apple has included Active Noise Cancellation in some Beats headphones in the past, but this is the first time the company has released earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation functionality.
Active Noise Cancellation worked well in our testing, drowning out the sound of a loud furnace fan and people in nearby offices. There's also a Transparency mode that Apple added, which tunes down Active Noise Cancellation so you can hear the environment around you.
Swapping between Active Noise Cancellation and the Transparency mode that lets you hear traffic, announcements, and more, can be done with a press and hold on the stem of the AirPods Pro. You can also turn it off and on using the Control Center on the iPhone.
Apple touts audio quality as a major improvement in the AirPods Pro, and they do indeed sound good. There is a noticeable difference in quality between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro, so if you were satisfied with the AirPods, you'll be even more impressed with the AirPods Pro.
There's an Adaptive EQ feature in the AirPods Pro, which Apple says automatically tunes the low and mid frequencies of the music to the shape of an individual's ear for a "rich, immersive listening experience." In practice, we were better able to distinguish between each instrument, and everything was crisp and clear.
It's worth noting that the AirPods Pro are IPX4 water resistant, which means they're going to hold up to sweat and perhaps some light splashing from the rain, but you shouldn't submerge them and should make an effort to keep them dry when possible.
There's an H1 chip in the AirPods Pro, which was also included in the AirPods 2, so all of the quick setup and device swapping features are present, plus hands-free "Hey Siri" commands are supported.
When it comes to the Wireless Charging Case for the AirPods Pro, it looks a lot like the standard AirPods case but it's fatter than the previous version because it needs to accommodate those silicone tips.
It has the same capabilities as the original case, offering up somewhere around 24 hours of battery life for the AirPods Pro, with a 5 minute fast charge feature that provides an hour of listening time. It can be charged using the included Lightning to USB-C cable or via a Qi-based wireless charger because it does support wireless charging.
As for the AirPods Pro themselves, the battery lasts for up to 4.5 hours with Active Noise Cancellation turned on, or up to five hours if it's disabled. If you're talking on the phone, expect 3.5 hours of talk time with ANC on.
AirPods Pro are $50 more than the AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case, and with the Active Noise Cancellation, comfortable fit, and superior sound, choosing AirPods Pro over AirPods 2 makes a lot of sense.
Whether or not they're worth the upgrade for those that already have AirPods is something everyone will need to decide for themselves. They sound great and have ANC, but the AirPods and AirPods 2 are also fantastic little headphones and some people may not need to upgrade if they're happy with what they have now.
Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors because we'll also be doing an in-depth comparison between the AirPods Pro, the standard AirPods, and the Powerbeats Pro in the coming days.
Apple is rumored to be working on a Tile-like Bluetooth tracking device called AirTags, which we've been seeing signs of in various versions of iOS for the last couple of months.
We have additional AirTags screenshots to share today, sent in by a MacRumors reader. The updated images are similar to images that we found in an early version of iOS 13 back in September, but with some updates that are more in line with the current look of the Find My app.
Both screenshots depict an updated Find My app with a bar at the bottom for "People," "Devices," "Items," and "Me." The earlier screenshots that we saw didn't have the "Me" option in the bottom bar, suggesting Apple was still in the process of refining the look of the app.
The placeholder suitcase emoji that was used in the original screenshot has also now been updated with a backpack emoji.
The screenshots are otherwise the same, referring to the AirTags by their codename, "B389." The AirTags setup process, as we discovered earlier this week in a separate screenshot, will consist of pulling the tab on the AirTag and then bringing it close to the iPhone to begin the setup process.
From there, the AirTags will presumably connect to the iPhone and that's when users will see the "Add" option with Apple's wording: "Tag your everyday items with [AirTags] and never lose them again."
The AirTags name was first unveiled earlier this week in assets found in the iOS 13.2 update. We've also previously seen placeholder images that suggest the AirTags could perhaps be small, circular white tags that can be attached to items to make them locatable through the Find My app.
AirTags will connect to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and more via Bluetooth, and will leverage the ultra-wideband U1 chip in the newest iPhones for more precise indoor tracking that's unmatched by competitors like Tile.
We're also expecting an augmented reality component that will take advantage of a device's camera to pinpoint exactly where an item might be. Longer-range tracking will also be available, and AirTags will likely take advantage of the offline crowd-sourced tracking feature that was added in iOS 13.
We don't yet know when AirTags might be released, but Apple has been adding new AirTags info to each beta, so there's a possibility that we could potentially see AirTags launch before the end of the year.
We've been hearing rumors about the 16-inch MacBook Pro for months now, and saw possible reference images of the device in the macOS Catalina 10.15.1 beta.
Now macOS Catalina 10.15.1 is out, and it appears the update was hiding even more 16-inch MacBook Pro secrets -- including an image of the machine's updated Touch Bar and Touch ID layout.
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature a Touch ID power button that's separate from the Touch Bar, as first found by 9to5Mac. That's a design change that's distinct from the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which has its Touch ID button positioned as an extension of the Touch Bar.
There have also been hints based on the previously leaked images that the 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature a separate ESC key that is an actual physical key that's no longer a part of the Touch Bar. That's not confirmed in the image found today, but given that the Touch ID button is separate, it would make sense for the escape key to be separate as well.
GIF depicting current MacBook Pro and the new 16-inch MacBook Pro design
The original 16-inch MacBook Pro icon that was discovered earlier in October has now been removed from macOS Catalina 10.15.1, which suggests that the images being found in the update are not signs of an imminent release as previously thought.
We were expecting the 16-inch machine to see a launch in October, but the month is close to over and Apple made no announcements beyond the AirPods Pro this week, so it's not entirely clear when the new MacBook Pro is going to launch.
It could, of course, still come in November or December, but historically, Apple hasn't done many late fall updates. Chances of a fall event also seem highly unlikely because October is almost over and Apple hasn't held a non-October fall event.
A recent investor's note from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested a new MacBook with a scissor keyboard is going to launch in the late second quarter or early third quarter, and given that he previously said the 16-inch MacBook Pro would use such a keyboard, it's possible (but not confirmed) he's referring to the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
In that case, we would be waiting until 2020 for the new higher-end 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple's original high-end AirPods Pro feature several improvements over the second-generation AirPods, including active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and water and sweat resistance. To help decide between the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, read our side-by-side comparison of the earphones below.
AirPods vs. AirPods Pro Differences
AirPods Pro features in bold:
$249 vs $129
Three Ear Tip Sizes vs. One
Noise Cancelation vs. None
Water Resistance vs. None
Design and Fit Differences
AirPods Pro sport an in-ear design with three sizes of soft, flexible silicone tips that click into place, including small, medium, and large. Meanwhile, the standard AirPods have a one-size fits all design. While many people found this adequate, some users had issues with the original AirPods design falling our or hurting their ears. Apple says the new tips are designed to conform to your ear shape, keeping the AirPods Pro secure, while a vent system equalizes pressure to minimize discomfort.
AirPods Pro also have a feature named the Ear Tip Fit Test that checks the fit of the earphones in your ears to determine which size of ear tips provides the best seal and acoustic performance. Ear Tip Fit Test can be accessed by tapping the info icon next to your AirPods Pro in Settings > Bluetooth.
Apple says advanced algorithms work together with the inward-facing microphones in each AirPod to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what is coming from the speaker driver. In just seconds, the algorithm detects whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit, or should be adjusted.
AirPods Pro and AirPods both have a familiar white plastic design with a stem dropping below the ear. However, while the regular AirPods are also placed in the ear, they do not have silicone ear tips.
Size and Weight Differenes
AirPods Pro are very slightly heavier than regular AirPods at 5.4 grams per earphone versus 4.0 grams, respectively. Apple says the AirPods Pro are engineered for comfort and fit, something many early reviews back.
AirPods Pro Only: Noise Cancellation and Transparency Modes
AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, removing background noise and allowing a user to focus on what they're listening to.
Two microphones assist with this feature. The first is outward-facing and detects external sound, which the AirPods Pro then cancel out with anti-noise before it reaches the listener's ear. A second inward-facing microphone listens toward the ear so that the AirPods Pro can cancel out any remaining noise detected.
Apple says the noise cancellation feature continuously adapts the sound signal 200 times per second for the best results.
If a user wants to hear something around them, they can simply press and hold the force sensor on the stem of the AirPods Pro to jump between active noise cancellation and "Transparency" mode, which lets outside sound in when necessary, such as when paying for a coffee or talking to someone nearby.
AirPods Pro have a "force sensor" on the stem to switch between active noise cancellation and Transparency mode. Press the force sensor once to play, pause, or answer a phone call; press twice to skip forward; press three times to skip back; and press and hold to switch between the listening modes.
The regular AirPods do not have a force sensor, active noise cancellation, or a Transparency mode.
Sound Quality Improvements in AirPods Pro
Apple says the AirPods Pro deliver "superior sound quality" thanks to "Adaptive EQ," which automatically tunes the low- and mid-frequencies of the music to the shape of an individual's ear.
Apple on the AirPods Pro:
A custom-built high-excursion, low-distortion driver delivers powerful bass. A super efficient high dynamic range amplifier produces pure, incredibly clear sound while also extending battery life. And Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to suit the shape of your ear for a rich, consistent listening experience.
Early reviews have generally agreed that the AirPods Pro sound better than the regular AirPods, but there will always be some subjectiveness.
AirPods Pro also feature an expanded mesh microphone port that Apple says improves call clarity in windy situations.
Battery Life Similar
Apple says the AirPods Pro last up to 4.5 hours per charge with noise cancellation and Transparency mode enabled. With those features disabled, the AirPods last up to five hours, consistent with the regular AirPods.
AirPods Pro also provide up to 3.5 hours of talk time per charge, up slightly from three hours with the second-generation AirPods.
Both the AirPods and AirPods Pro come with charging cases that provide additional charges for more than 24 hours of total listening time and more than 18 hours of total talk time. AirPods Pro have a wider charging case to accommodate the ear tips, but the battery does not appear to be much larger.
Added Water Resistance in AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro feature IPX4-rated water resistance, while the AirPods have no water resistance rating.
The "4" in "IPX4" means "water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect." Apple says the AirPods Pro are "sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise," so the earphones should not be submerged in any amount of water or else damage may occur.
What's in the Box for Each
AirPods Pro come with a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, whereas regular AirPods have a Lightning to USB-A cable. AirPods Pro also ship with three sizes of ear tips, a wireless charging case, and documentation.
"Hey Siri" and Bluetooth: Same
Both the second-generation AirPods and AirPods Pro feature an Apple-designed H1 chip that enables hands-free "Hey Siri" support for calling someone, controlling music playback, having messages read aloud, and more with voice commands. The first-generation AirPods do not support this feature.
Both the AirPods and AirPods Pro support Bluetooth 5.0.
Pricing Difference
In the United States, AirPods Pro are priced at $249 with a wireless charging case. The second-generation AirPods are available for $129. In other words, the AirPods Pro are $120 more expensive than AirPods.
AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Bottom Line
The regular AirPods are a perfectly fine choice for truly wireless earphones, with roughly the same battery life as the AirPods Pro. Choose the higher-end AirPods Pro if you desire improved sound, noise cancellation, and water resistance.
This article shows you how to perform an AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test, which checks the fit of your AirPods ear tips to determine which size provides the best seal and acoustic performance.
How Does the AirPods Ear Tip Fit Test Work?
Unlike previous generation AirPods, AirPods Pro come with three sizes of silicone tips for a customizable fit. These tips help to form a seal appropriate for optimizing the audio experience and the noise cancelling and Transparency modes, so it's important that you choose the right size tip for your ears.
The Ear Tip Fit Test is designed to help you with that, by testing the quality of the seal and identifying the best ear tip size for you. After placing AirPods Pro in each ear and running the test, algorithms work together with the microphones in each AirPod to measure the sound level in the ear and compare it to what's coming from the speaker driver.
The algorithm detects whether the ear tip is the right size and has a good fit, or should be adjusted to create a better seal. Here's how to perform the test.
How to Run the AirPods Pro Ear Tip Fit Test
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap Bluetooth.
Under My Devices, tap the information icon (the circled "i") next to AirPods Pro in the list.
Tap Ear Tip Fit Test.
Tap Continue.
Make sure you're wearing both AirPods, then press the blue Play button at the bottom of the screen.
Check your Ear Tip Fit results under the corresponding left and right AirPod images. A good seal is shown in green, while a sub-optimal seal shows up in yellow.
Tap Done.
If you get a yellow result for an AirPod, adjust the earbud or try a different ear tip, then run the test again to see if it's been fixed.
This article explains how to customize the functions assigned to AirPods Pro gestures. Bear in mind that iOS devices need to be running iOS 13.2 in order to support AirPods Pro. You can check that your device is updated by launching the Settings app and going to General -> Software Update.
Apple's AirPods Pro wireless earbuds feature a new, innovative force sensor on each stem that responds to gestures which you can use to play/pause and skip tracks, answer and hang up phone calls, and switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes.
By default, you can press and hold either AirPod Pro stem to cycle between the Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes (you'll hear a tone when switching between the two functions). You can also customize the press-and-hold gestures by accessing onscreen menus on your connected iOS device. Here's how it works.
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap the name of your AirPods Pro, just under your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, then tap the information icon (the circled "i") next to AirPods Pro in the list.
Under "Press and Hold AirPods," tap Left or Right, depending on which AirPod you want customize.
To activate Siri with a press-and-hold gesture, tap Siri.
To change the Noise Control features that are activated via a press-and-hold gesture, tap Noise Control so that it's ticked, then tap the functions below that you want to assign to it: The options are Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off (which disables noise cancellation and transparency mode).
Note that you can assign more than one noise control feature to the press-and-hold gesture on either earbud – pressing and holding the stem will cycle between the selected modes.
This article explains how to control the noise cancellation feature on Apple's AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. Bear in mind that iOS devices need to be running iOS 13.2 in order to support AirPods Pro. You can check that your device is updated by launching the Settings app and going to General -> Software Update.
How Active Noise Cancellation Works on AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro are Apple's first in-ear headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which is designed to adapt to the shape of your ear and block out the outside world so you can focus on what you're listening to.
When ANC is active, an outward-facing microphone on each earbud detects external sound, which is then countered by corresponding inverted audio frequencies to cancel the sound before it reaches your ears.
Unlike previous generation AirPods, AirPods Pro also come with three sizes of silicone tips for a customizable fit. These tips help to form a seal appropriate for optimizing the ANC feature, so make sure you've chosen the right size for your ears.
How to Control Noise Cancellation on AirPods Pro
There are three methods you can use to control the Noise Cancellation feature on AirPods Pro. The first method involves using the Force sensors on the AirPods themselves with default settings, while the second and third methods are accessed via onscreen menus on the connected iOS device.
Method 1:
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Press and hold either AirPod Pro stem to cycle between Noise Cancellation and Transparency, the latter of which lets outside sound in.
You'll hear a tone when switching between the two functions.
If you want, you can customize the press-and-hold gesture on the AirPods Pro earbuds, and even use it to turn off the noise control features completely. Click here to learn how.
Method 2:
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
Tap the name of your AirPods Pro, just under your Apple ID banner. Alternatively, tap Bluetooth, then tap the information icon (the circled "i") next to AirPods Pro in the list.
Under Noise Control, tap Noise Cancellation, Off, or Transparency, depending on your preference.
Method 3:
Allow your AirPods to connect to your iPhone or iPad in the usual way, by opening the case next to your device and inserting the buds in your ears.
Open Control Center on your iOS device: On an iPad with a Home button, double-tap the Home button; on iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen; and on a 2018 iPad Pro or iPhone X and later, swipe down from the upper right of the screen.
Press and hold the Control Center volume bar (a pair of earbuds will be visible inside of it to indicate the AirPods Pro are connected.)
Use the strip of buttons at the bottom of the screen to switch between Noise Cancellation, Off, or Transparency, depending on your preference.
How to Control Noise Cancellation on Mac
If you've got your AirPods connected to a Mac running macOS Catalina, you can also control noise cancelling mode from the volume icon in the menu bar. Simply hover over your AirPods Pro in the Output Device list to reveal a submenu, where you can click Transparency, Noise Cancellation, and Off.
Did you know that AirPods Pro feature an Ear Tip Fit Test to help you choose the right size of eartips for your ears? Click here to learn how it works.
ShopRunner, a paid membership service that offers free two-day shipping from dozens of online brands, today announced that it is offering its shipping service free to customers who check out with Apple Pay at some ShopRunner retailers.
ShopRunner's service normally costs $79 per year, but it is a perk offered with many credit cards, including the Apple Card.
The benefit to the Apple Pay checkout is that no ShopRunner account is required to get the two-day shipping offer - you simply need to use Apple Pay as the payment option when checking out.
Retailers that include Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Chico's, White House Black Market, and Soma will begin offering free two-day shipping from ShopRunner with Apple Pay purchases starting next week, while additional popular brands like Cole Haan and Alice + Olivia will begin supporting the feature in December.
Customers will also be given the option to sign up for a complimentary ShopRunner membership by using the Sign in with Apple feature, which will presumably give ShopRunner access even on sites where Apple Pay is not a payment option.
Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey said that Apple is "thrilled" to work with ShopRunner on this new benefit.
"With Apple Pay, customers can make easy and secure purchases with just a glance or touch on their iPhone, iPad and Mac," said Jennifer Bailey, Vice President of Apple Pay. "We're thrilled to work with ShopRunner and leading retailers so that even more customers can quickly and conveniently shop online at their favorite brands as we head into the holidays."
ShopRunner works with hundreds of online shops for major brands like Adorama, Fresh, MacMall, Bloomingdales, Lancome, Jockey, American Eagle, Peets, and more, with a full list of partners available on the ShopRunner website.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced three years ago in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.
Safari Technology Preview release 95 includes bug fixes and performance improvements forShadow DOM, Images, WebRTC, Clipboard API, Picture-in-Picture Web API, Service Workers, Back-Forward Cache, and Web Inspector.
The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS Mojave and MacOS Catalina, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was released in October.
Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.
Apple today shared a new featurette for upcoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series "See," one of the first shows that will be available when Apple TV+ launches later this week.
The trailer gives an overview of the plot of the series, which is set 600 years after a viral apocalypse. The survivors are all blind and have reverted back to a tribal culture.
The series stars Jason Momoa as Baba Voss, the father of twins who are born with the mythic ability to see. Alfre Woodard is also in the series, playing the role of the spiritual leader of the tribe.
"See" has received less than stellar reviews from media sites so far. The Hollywood Reporter said that it "isn't close to a good show thus far," while Variety said that it wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard.
"Spiraling away from narrative control as its first three episodes unreel, this series, about a post-apocalyptic future in which nearly everyone is blind, wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, among others, on a story that starts from a position of fun, giddy strangeness and drags itself forward at a lugubrious pace."
Apple TV+ will launch on Friday, November 1 with "See," "The Morning Show," "For All Mankind," "Dickinson," and more. Apple plans to add additional TV shows over time, but at launch, content will be limited.
Apple TV+ will be priced at $4.99 per month, but it is free for students with an Apple Music subscription and those who have recently purchased an Apple TV, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Ford today previewed its new SYNC 4 infotainment system, including support for wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The new SYNC 4 system will be available on select Ford vehicles starting in 2020.
CarPlay on SYNC 3
The wireless solution works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing an iPhone to be connected to the CarPlay system without using a Lightning to USB cable. Ford joins BMW in offering wireless CarPlay, while brands like Alpine, Kenwood, JVC, and Pioneer also offer aftermarket receivers with wireless CarPlay.
CarPlay is Apple's in-car platform that enables iPhone users to access a range of apps from the dashboard, such as Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pandora, WhatsApp, and Downcast. Since iOS 12, third-party navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze are also supported.
While Apple has started making the first AirPods Pro deliveries to customers in some countries, those hoping to make a purchase in person can head to Apple's AirPods Pro product page and make a purchase for in-store pickup. Pickup is currently available in many countries where Apple has retail stores.
In the U.S., where most stores have yet to open, all stores we've checked are listed as having AirPods Pro available today, but if you want to guarantee to be able to walk in and pick some up, it's probably best to place an online order and select pickup at your local retail store. Store staff will then set aside a pair for you and you won't have to worry about supplies running out.
At one retail store we checked out this morning, there was a line of about four customers waiting roughly an hour before opening.
AirPods Pro became available for order on Monday with availability set for today. Many customers placing online orders were initially quoted delivery dates of Thursday, but quite a few of those have seen their orders move a bit more quickly and they will be arriving today.
Apple's new Mac Pro has received FCC approval today ahead of its release later this year. Apple's website still says the new Mac Pro is "coming this fall," but FCC approval could signal an imminent announcement.
The all-new Mac Pro is a powerhouse, with up to 28-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 1.5TB of ECC RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and up to AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo graphics with 64GB of HBM2 memory. The computer also has eight PCIe expansion slots for maximum performance, expansion, and configurability.
A new design includes a stainless steel frame with smooth handles and an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. The housing also has a unique lattice pattern to maximize airflow and quiet operation.
The new Mac Pro will start at $5,999 in the United States with an eight-core Intel Xeon processor, 32GB of ECC RAM, Radeon Pro 580X graphics, and 256GB of SSD storage. Apple will also be selling the 32-inch Pro Display XDR with 6K resolution for $4,999, with an optional stand to be available for $999.
Apple's new AirPods Pro wireless earphones have begun launching around the world today. To celebrate, the company shared a few images of customers trying on the AirPods Pro for the first time at Apple retail stores in Shanghai and Tokyo.
AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, IPX4 water and sweat resistance, H1 chip with "Hey Siri" support, and a new in-ear design that supports silicone tips in three different sizes. All of these upgrades have increased the price of the AirPods Pro to $249. That's compared to $159 for the regular AirPods and $199 for the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case.
If you're on the hunt for more pictures of the AirPods Pro, be sure to visit the MacRumors forums to find more images and first impressions of the new earphones. Our iPhone accessories forum is also a great place to discuss your AirPods Pro order and delivery status, impressions, and more.
Apple's 2020 iPhones will all use Qualcomm's newest and fastest 5G-capable modem chip, claims a new report out of Asia today.
Apple is expected to launch three iPhones next year in 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch sizes. According to Nikkei Asian Review, all three will carry the 5G modem chip designed by Qualcomm called the X55.
All three of the new iPhones will carry the most advanced 5G modem chip, known as X55 that is designed by U.S. mobile chip developer Qualcomm, four people familiar with the plan told Nikkei. The chip, which enables much faster downloads, faces such an increase in demand that there could be supply constraints, one person added.
The X55 chip offers 7Gb/s peak download speeds and 3Gb/s upload speeds, though these numbers are theoretical maximums and actual speeds will depend on carrier network. The chip is Qualcomm's first 5G chip that supports all major frequency bands, operation modes, and network deployments.
The X55 is also more power efficient than Qualcomm's X50 chip, which means it will draw less energy and will have less of an impact on battery life when connected to a 5G network.
Apple was originally planning to use Intel chips in its 2020 5G iPhones, but Intel is out of the smartphone chip business and Apple has no choice but to use Qualcomm's modem chips.
Apple aims to ship 80 million 5G-capable iPhones next year, claims the report. Apple typically ships between 75 and 80 million new iPhones each year, and it plans to close in on similar targets in 2020 and exploit 5G as a key sales driver, according to Nikkei.
"It will be the first time Apple introduces 5G iPhones ... There will be three of them and the company has set an aggressive sales target," one of the people familiar with the company's thinking said.
In July, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple will offer 5G in all three of its new flagship iPhone models to better compete with lower-cost Android smartphones that will support 5G.
Apple's embrace of 5G is expected to push carriers such as AT&T and Verizon to accelerate their investment in the rollout of 5G infrastructure and catch up with China's rapidly accelerating 5G capabilities.
By 2025, London-based GSMA estimates that China will have 600 million 5G subscribers, or about 40 percent of the global total, notes Nikkei, citing a Financial Times report.
Today's report also corroborates previous rumors that Apple will switch to a 5-nanometer fabrication process for its A14 processor next year. Apple has used a 7nm process since the A12 Bionic chip debuted in 2018, and TSMC has been Apple's exclusive supplier.
Having first announced HBO Max in June, WarnerMedia last night provided further details on the upcoming streaming service, which will combine HBO content with shows and films from CNN, TNT, TBS, The CW, TCM, Adult Swim, and much more.
AT&T has revealed that HBO Max will launch in May of 2020 with 10,000 hours of programming pre-loaded, and the service will cost $14.99 per month – the same price as HBO, but with much more content. From The Hollywood Reporter:
HBO Max will be filled with 10,000 hours of programming from across the media conglomerate’s divisions including such TV hits as Friends, The Big Bang Theory and South Park; Warner Bros. films including Joker; the full HBO catalog; and originals such as the previously announced Ansel Elgort drama Tokyo Vice, a Grease spinoff and a Gossip Girl sequel.
HBO's library of content will include all the big hits like Game of Thrones and Succession, along with classics like Sex and the City and Sopranos, as well as new releases like the forthcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. HBO Max will also have 1,800 film titles including all DC movies and, eventually, the full 2020 feature film slate.
AT&T will offer HBO Max for free to its existing 10 million HBO customers. WarnerMedia also revealed that it will offer the service as subscription-only in its first year, before launching an ad-supported version in 2021. There are also plans for live and interactive programming as well as special events.
The new $14.99 a month service will arrive almost two years after AT&T completed its acquisition of Time Warner, which owns HBO. It will compete with Apple TV+ and Disney+, which will cost $4.99 and $6.99 per month respectively when they launch in November.
Apple today 
