After an all-time-low price hit the AirPods with Charging Case last week, a few new retailers have now discounted the more expensive AirPods with Wireless Charging Case. You can get the Qi-compatible version of the 2019 AirPods for $164.99, down from $199.00 ($34 off) at both Amazon and Adorama this week.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This is one of the lowest prices we've ever tracked on the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case among the major Apple resellers, which previously sat at $169.00 for a few weeks on Amazon. For those interested in the standalone Wireless Charging Case, Adorama offers the accessory for $64.99, down from $79.00 ($14 off), which represents another low price in this sale.
Apple updated the AirPods in March 2019 with with "Hey Siri" support and various connectivity improvements thanks to the updated H1 chip. We routinely keep track of the most notable AirPods discounts in our dedicated Best Deal on AirPods guide, so be sure to check it often if you're on the hunt for new AirPods.
Otherwise, our full Deals Roundup has a wide-ranging recap of all the best Apple-related sales happening right now.
Most reviews have panned The Morning Show and See, opinions were mixed about Dickinson, and For All Mankind was acclaimed.
The Morning Show
- Variety: "Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston can't salvage this politically muddled, underthought, and underwhelming streaming misfire."
- The Hollywood Reporter: "After a brutally dull pilot and a meandering second episode, there are distinct hints in the third hour of a more satisfying and confident The Morning Show, one that actually gets value out of leading ladies Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon."
- Variety: "Spiraling away from narrative control as its first three episodes unreel, this series, about a post-apocalyptic future in which nearly everyone is blind, wastes the time of Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, among others, on a story that starts from a position of fun, giddy strangeness and drags itself forward at a lugubrious pace."
- The Hollywood Reporter: "As you'll find is a trend with this first batch of Apple TV+ originals, See isn't close to a good show thus far, but it does just enough to make you believe that under the right circumstances, there might be a good show here somewhere, eventually."
- Variety: "Given the show's scattered narrative and stylistic approach to Emily's life and work, its biggest strength by a long shot is its star […] Even when the show around her starts to crumble under its own ambitious weight, [Hailee] Steinfeld usually finds a way to carry it."
- The Hollywood Reporter: "The writing is well-informed by historical research, with episodes based on many real events from her early life. But in wanting to be both a serious teen drama and a black comedy simultaneously, the half-hour show instead comes off as tonally incongruous, awash in wry hipster flatness."
- Variety: "Of the original series launching Apple’s streaming TV service Monday, 'For All Mankind' is by far the strongest, especially because it makes the most of its budget and subsequent capacity to dream a bit bigger than most."
- The Hollywood Reporter: "The Apple TV+ series is a solid effort at epic, alternate-history storytelling, but feels a bit derivative and moves too slowly."
Apple TV+ is Apple's upcoming subscription-based streaming video service, launching November 1 in over 100 countries and regions.
Apple TV+ will be available on the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, and other platforms, including online at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial. Since September 10, customers who purchase any iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, or Mac can get one year of Apple TV+ for free.
Spotify today announced that its streaming music service has reached 113 million paying subscribers as of September 30, up from 108 million as of June 30. Spotify's monthly active user count also increased to 248 million through September, inclusive of users listening to its free, ad-supported tier.
In a letter to shareholders, part of its third quarter earnings results, Spotify said that publicly available data indicates that it is adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as Apple Music:
We continue to feel very good about our competitive position in the market. Relative to Apple, the publicly available data shows that we are adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as they are. Additionally, we believe that our monthly engagement is roughly 2x as high and our churn is at half the rate.
Apple Music had 60 million paying subscribers as of late June, according to Apple's services chief Eddy Cue. Spotify has remained nearly twice as large as Apple Music in terms of paying subscribers over the last year.
Apple is ramping up hiring for a team working on new HomeKit-based devices and software, having posted at least 15 openings for engineering positions on the team in the last month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The report claims the efforts are headed by Andreas Gal, the former CTO of Mozilla who joined Apple last year following the iPhone maker's acquisition of Silk Labs, an artificial intelligence startup that had created a privacy-focused security camera and smart home hub system.
Details are vague, but one possibility is said to be new smart home devices beyond the HomePod speaker. Apple is also said to have explored creating a wide range of smart home accessories, such as modules for opening and closing windows, cabinets, and doors, but those efforts were reportedly put on hold.
Back in July, we reported on a rumor that Apple is considering using a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on its 2020 iPhones, allowing for a smoother on-screen experience. DigiTimes now reports that industry observers believe many 5G-era smartphones are likely to use upgraded displays capable of up to 120Hz refresh rates, reigniting speculation that next year's iPhones could use Apple's ProMotion display tech.
However, DigiTimes notes that whether Apple will adopt displays with a 120Hz refresh rate "remains to be seen."
The arrival of 5G is ushering in hardware upgrades to support related applications and services. It is expected more 5G smartphones will come with displays offering high refresh rates that can enhance user experience. It remains to be seen whether Apple will launch its first 5G iPhone in 2020, or will adopt displays with 120Hz refresh rate...
The DigiTimes article bases its prediction on the penetration rate of over 120Hz panels in the gaming notebook segment. Observers note that this has surpassed 30 percent and is still growing, which is prompting panel makers to step into the sector and develop panels with refresh rates ranging from 120Hz to 240Hz.
The gaming-oriented Razer Phone 2 has such a panel with a fast refresh rate, while Asustek's ROG Phone II, which launched in the second half of 2019, also boasts one. DigiTimes also notes that the Google's Pixel 4 comes with a 90Hz display and Sharp's recently released Aquos R3 features a 6.2-inch IGZO 120Hz display, while several Chinese brands are expected to roll out models with higher refresh rates in 2020.
Apple is considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate screen on the iPhone in 2020, and is discussing with Samsung and LG. pic.twitter.com/4aoU303umu
— Ice universe (@UniverseIce) July 21, 2019
Having a similar display on a new iPhone without sacrificing battery life would obviously be a big draw. Apple already uses variable refresh rate technology in its iPad Pro models, and markets the tech under the moniker "ProMotion," which it says dynamically adjusts the display to the movement of content for fluid scrolling, greater responsiveness, and smoother motion. It does all this on the fly, which means it also conserves battery life.
Of course, Apple's iPad Pro models use LCD panels rather than OLED, and rumors have suggested Apple will complete its transition to an all-OLED iPhone lineup in 2020 with new 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch devices.
If Apple is indeed in discussion with Samsung and LG to bring a ProMotion-style screen to a new breed of OLED iPhones, as one leaker claimed earlier this year, then it would raise next year's smartphone performance bar even higher.
Apple's "iPhone SE 2" is scheduled to go into mass production in January 2020 and will launch at the end of March, according to the latest information from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
The timing basically tallies with Kuo's previous reports on the so-called "iPhone SE 2," in which he predicted a Q1 2020 release for the device, which is expected to start at $399.
Relying on historical patterns in Apple's product release schedule to predict future launches is not without risk, but March has traditionally been the launch month of Apple's more affordable iPhone.
The original iPhone SE was announced on March 21, 2016, pre-orders began on March 24 and the device was officially released on March 31, 2016. It was re-released almost a year later on March 24, 2017 with larger storage capacities. Apple has also held special launch events in the last week of March for the last two years.
Specs for the new low-end iPhone are said to include:
Kuo expects the device to look similar to the iPhone 8 and believes it will be a popular upgrade option for existing iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S owners, serving as a "key growth driver" for Apple in 2020. He believes these customers have low desire for new features like Face ID and multiple cameras, suggesting the "iPhone SE 2" will stick with Touch ID and a single-lens rear camera.
In terms of shipments, Kuo estimates that monthly shipments of the iPhone SE 2 will be between 2 million and 4 million. Kuo also expects the iPhone SE 2 will use a liquid crystal polymer LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) antenna design to facilitate transmission efficiency.
According to other industry sources, LG is in talks with Apple to supply LCD displays for the successor to the iPhone SE, with the panels currently undergoing last-minute quality checks.
Of course, "iPhone SE 2" might not be the final name of the device, with iPhone 8s and iPhone 9 speculated as other possibilities. With a larger 4.7-inch display, the device won't be as portable as the original iPhone SE, which will surely disappoint fans of that model.
Apple has started advisingiPhone 5 owners to update to iOS 10.3.4 before November 3, otherwise several key functions like iCloud and the App Store will no longer work on their device because of a time rollover issue.
Back in July, Apple released updated versions of iOS for older iPhones and iPads models, including the iPhone 5, to address an issue that could impact GPS location performance and lead to the system date and time being incorrect. The GPS time rollover issue began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019, but Apple's affected devices aren't impacted by the problem until just before midnight UTC on November 3, 2019.
For iPhone 5 and the fourth-generation iPad with Wi-Fi and Cellular, the 10.3.4 update is required to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on correct date and time including App Store, iCloud, email, and web browsing. An iOS 9.3.6 update is available for the also-affected iPhone 4s and cellular models of the original iPad mini, the iPad 2, and the iPad 3.
Starting just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019, iPhone 5 will require an iOS update to maintain accurate GPS location and to continue to use functions that rely on correct date and time including App Store, iCloud, email, and web browsing. This is due to the GPS time rollover issue that began affecting GPS-enabled products from other manufacturers on April 6, 2019. Affected Apple devices are not impacted until just before 12:00 a.m. UTC on November 3, 2019.
If iPhone 5 models in particular are not updated by November 3, 2019, Apple says users will have to back up and restore using a Mac or PC in order to update, because over-the-air software updates and iCloud Backup will not work.
If you have an iPhone 5, check to make sure your device has updated successfully by following these steps.
"AirPods Pro" will come in as many as eight colors, including White, Black, and a new Midnight Green finish to match iPhone 11 Pro models, according to a Chinese-language report from the Economic Daily News.
Google's machine translation of the report is not easy to decipher, so the source of the information is unclear. Eight colors would certainly be a lot, although it is not out of the question given that Apple has made Beats headphones like the Solo3 available in over a dozen colors over the years.
Apple plans to release the AirPods Pro in time for the holiday shopping season this year, according to the Economic Daily News, with the report claiming the earphones could be unveiled as early as next week.
This is not the first time the Economic Daily News has reported that Apple plans to release new AirPods in a black color, as the publication made the same claim back in February. A month later, Apple released second-generation AirPods with Hey Siri support, up to 50 percent more talk time, and an optional wireless charging case, but the black color was nowhere to be seen.
However, it is worth noting that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple originally planned to release the second-generation AirPods in 2018, but they were delayed, so it is possible the black color was always intended to be for these third-generation AirPods with noise cancellation and water resistance.
Indian blog MySmartPrice also said black AirPods were in the works back in February, claiming they would feature a matte finish with improved grip. Combined with last week's Economic Daily News report claiming that the AirPods Pro will sport a new metal design, perhaps the earphones and their charging case will look similar to the back glass of iPhone 11 Pro models, complete with matching colors.
As higher-end earphones, the AirPods Pro will likely have improved sound. Last week's Economic Daily News report also claimed that the AirPods Pro will feature multiple listening modes, suggesting they could have the same Transparency feature as the new Beats Solo Pro, which turns on the external microphones so the wearer can hear outside noise without pausing music playback.
Unsurprisingly, higher-end AirPods would likely have a higher price tag than the current AirPods. Economic Daily News estimates pricing may start at around $259, which would be $100 more than the current AirPods with a wired charging case. However, supply chain reports are usually guessing about pricing.
Apple typically unveils redesigned products during its keynotes, but an October event is looking unlikely this year, so possibilities include Apple announcing the AirPods Pro with a press release, hosting an unprecedented November event, or waiting to unveil them at its typical March event next year.
October is rapidly drawing to a close, and while time has run out for Apple to announce a media event for this month, there are still a number of known and rumored product launches in the works. This week saw fresh rumors about the so-called "AirPods Pro," the 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the Mac Pro.
Looking further ahead, we're continuing to hear about the "iPhone SE 2" for early next year, while this week also saw the 18th anniversary of the iPod's introduction.
While it looks unlikely that Apple will be hosting an October event this year, rumors suggest at least a few new products are still on the horizon, including the so-called "AirPods Pro."
At least one accessory maker is already capitalizing on the rumors with a few cases for the "AirPods Pro," with the product images depicting a wider charging case as previously leaked.
16-Inch MacBook Pro Said to Launch by End of October With Ultra-Slim Bezels and Scissor Keyboard
15-inch MacBook Pro icon on left, possible 16-inch MacBook Pro icon on right
And now this week, hit-or-miss industry website DigiTimes has a fresh claim that the 16-inch MacBook Pro will be released by the end of October, noting that Quanta Computer has already begun volume shipments of the notebook to Apple. It won't be long before we know if this rumor will pan out.
New Mac Pro Nearing Release as Apple Advises Technicians How to Place Computer in DFU Mode
Apple previewed an all-new Mac Pro at WWDC in June, and said the computer will be available to order this fall, but it has yet to specify a release date.
The new Mac Pro is a powerhouse, with up to 28-core Intel Xeon processors, up to 1.5TB of ECC RAM, and up to a 4TB SSD. A new design includes a stainless steel frame with smooth handles and an aluminum housing that lifts off for 360-degree access to the entire system. Pricing will start at $5,999.
Camera Comparison: iPhone 11 Pro Max vs. Pixel 4 XL
The budget device isn't necessarily going to be named the iPhone SE 2, especially given it sounds like it will be a larger device. Other names speculated include the iPhone 8s and iPhone 9.
iPod Turns 18: Here's What People Thought in 2001
This week marked the 18th anniversary of Steve Jobs unveiling the original iPod. While the iMac started Apple's renaissance in 1998, it was the launch of the iPod in 2001 that truly set Apple on a path towards becoming the world's most valuable company.
While many people were thrilled about the iPod, others were not so impressed. We've rounded up a sample of some comments about the iPod from the MacRumors forums, The New York Times, and elsewhere on the day the device was announced.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
With the release of iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple introduced a number of new text editing taps and gestures that can be performed on both iPhones and iPads. These taps and gestures make it quicker and easier to do things like select text, copy and paste, undo and redo edits, and move the cursor around the screen.
They do take some getting used to though, especially if you're a veteran of the text editing taps and gestures that have been available in iOS for a while. That's why we've compiled the following list to help you get to grips with them until they become second nature. Keep reading for the full rundown.
How to Move the Cursor Around the Editing Window
Moving the cursor works similarly to how it did in earlier versions of iOS, but Apple has tweaked it to improve its behavior. For example, it's now a lot better at snapping to lines and between words as you move it around. You can also now tap and hold the cursor and it will get bigger on the screen so you can see it more easily. Here's how it works.
Start typing some text in an app that supports it.
Touch and hold the cursor until it gets bigger.
Drag the cursor to the desired location.
Remove your finger from the screen.
How to Move the Cursor With the Virtual Trackpad
You can turn the onscreen keyboard into a virtual trackpad that allows you to quickly move the cursor through the text without taking your finger off the display. Note that the way this works on your device depends on whether it has 3D Touch (iPhone 6s and later) Haptic Touch (iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max) or a long press (all iPad models).
On an iPad or Haptic Touch device, press and hold on the spacebar. On a device with 3D Touch, press and hold anywhere on the keyboard.
Drag your finger over the blanked-out keyboard to move the cursor through the text to the desired location.
Note that on an iPad, you can also touch the keyboard with two fingers and move your fingers around to relocate the cursor.
How to Select Text
When you select text using one of the methods described below, a contextual edit menu will appear above the selection, providing you with fast access to cut, copy, and paste, as well as formatting, Look Up, Share, and other options depending on the app you're using.
To select a word, double tap it. Alternatively, tap and hold it until you feel the haptic feedback.
Triple tap any word within a sentence and the whole sentence will be selected.
Quadruple tap a word to select the paragraph in which it appears.
How to Use Intelligent Selection
Intelligent selection is a new feature that lets you quickly select phone numbers, addresses, or email addresses while editing text. Bear in mind that the feature doesn't work when you're simply viewing text – you must be in an editing app for intelligent selection to be available.
Simply double tap anywhere on the contact information to select it all in one go. Note that intelligent selection is limited to a single line, so if an address uses hard returns to go over two or more lines, it will only select the line that you tapped on. (Note: The address in the example is a single line that runs on.)
How to Adjust a Text Selection
When you've selected a word or sentence, you can adjust the selection using the anchor points on either end.
Simply press and hold your finger on the left or right anchor point, then drag it to make the selection larger or smaller.
How to Cut, Copy, and Paste Using Gestures
In iOS 12 and earlier, you had to select text and then use the contextual editing menu bar to cut, copy or paste it. In iOS 13, you can use gestures instead. First, select some text, then do one of the following:
To copy, pinch with three fingers.
To cut, perform the copy gesture twice until the text disappears, ready to be pasted from the clipboard.
To paste some text that you've just copied or cut, pinch out with three fingers until the text appears again.
How to Display the Clipboard Bar
Have you noticed the menu bar that appears briefly whenever you perform one of the cut, copy or paste gestures described above? That's the clipboard bar, which offers you an alternative way to cut, copy, and paste text as well as undo and redo edits.
You can reveal the clipboard bar anytime you like when editing text. Simply select some text, then tap and hold the screen using three fingers.
How to Undo and Redo Edits Using Gestures
Make sure you're in text editing mode (unless you have a physical keyboard connected, the onscreen keyboard will be showing).
To undo an edit, perform a three finger swipe leftwards across the editing area.
To redo an edit, perform a three finger swipe rightwards across the editing area.
How to Scroll Through Text Faster
If you're editing a particularly long piece of text like a document or a threaded email, you can scroll a lot faster by grabbing the scroll bar directly.
When the scroll bar is visible, press and hold it with your finger and move it up and down the edge of the screen to move rapidly through the text.
New images of the rumored AirPods Pro appeared on SlashLeaks this evening. The new images don't reveal anything new, but do show what appears to be an assembled AirPods Pro charging case in higher quality images than have previously leaked.
Previously leaked images were of lower quality showing the plastic enclosures of the upcoming AirPods. The original leaks were initially dismissed until icons matching the design were found a recent iOS 13.2 Beta release.
Multiple reports have suggested that the new higher end AirPods could be launching imminently. These new AirPods are expected to have noise canceling technology as well as a higher price tag than the current AirPods. Some retailers have even started selling cases for the new design.
Update: The Weibo account these images originated from are reported to claim these are fake/knockoffs of the new AirPods, but regardless, the design is still believed to be representative.
Apple this afternoon shared a new "Privacy on iPhone" ad on its YouTube channel, highlighting the company's support of customer privacy.
The spot is a simple overview of a city that zooms across office buildings, homes, and more, before centering on a girl with an iPhone 11 Pro Max, all while a voice over talks about the importance of privacy.
Right now, there is more private information on your phone than in your home. Think about that. So many details about your life right in your pocket. This makes privacy more important now than ever.
Your location, your messages, your heart rate after a run. These are private things. Personal things. And they should belong to you. Simple as that.
The video ends with the tagline "Privacy. That's iPhone," and in the video description, Apple says that privacy should be simple and straightforward.
We believe your privacy should never be something you have to question. It should be simple, straightforward, and understood.
Apple has uploaded several other privacy-focused videos in the "Privacy on iPhone" series, including several that have a comedic tone. This most recent video is is more serious, focusing on Apple's core privacy beliefs.
Apple has long said that it believes privacy is a "fundamental human right," and the company makes efforts to minimize customer data collection. Apple's privacy policies are available on its dedicated privacy website.
Google earlier this month unveiled the Pixelbook Go, a new premium Chromebook that's similar to a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro, but Chrome OS.
In our latest video, we went hands-on with the Pixelbook Go to see how it measures up to Apple's MacBook Air (the two have similar price points) and whether or not it can serve as a MacBook Air replacement.
Design wise, the Pixelbook Go looks rather similar to a MacBook featuring a lightweight chassis, a large trackpad, a 13-inch display with slim side bezels and a thicker top/bottom bezel, a keyboard with speaker grilles at each side, and a similar hinge mechanism.
A G logo at the top and a wavy, bumpy textured feel at the bottom sets it apart from the MacBook Air. Like Apple's MacBooks, the Pixelbook Go offers a simple, clean design.
Pricing on the Pixelbook Go starts at $649 for an Core M3 processor and 64GB of storage, but we tested the upgraded Core i5 model with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, which is priced at $849. That's the model most similar to the entry-level MacBook Air, which comes with a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor, 128GB of storage, and 8GB RAM for $1,100.
The Pixelbook Go is cheaper than the MacBook Air, but there are some areas where it is definitely lacking in comparison. When it comes to the display, for example, it's adequate, but the HD quality just doesn't measure up to the MacBook Air's Retina display. There is an upgraded version of the Pixelbook Go with a 4K display, but that machine is priced at $1,400.
One area where the Pixelbook Go shines is its keyboard. The keyboard doesn't look too different from a MacBook keyboard, but it's super quiet thanks to Google's Hush Keys feature, satisfying to type on, and has the perfect amount of key travel. There are also custom keys, including a key for activating Google Assistant. There are speakers located to each side of the keyboard, and the sound quality is solid. The speakers are a touch louder than the MacBook Air's speakers at maximum volume, but the MacBook Air wins out when it comes to sound quality.
There's a MacBook Air-style trackpad on the Pixelbook Go, but MacBook competitors often have a hard time replicating the feel of Apple's trackpad, and the Pixelbook Go is no exception. There's a physical trackpad button that feels clunky and outdated compared to Apple's Haptic Trackpad.
The Pixelbook Go offers up to 12 hours of battery life, which is the same claim that Apple makes about the MacBook Air. In practice, we see around five to eight hours of battery life from the MacBook Air depending on usage, and the Pixelbook Go has been hitting around eight hours.
There are two USB-C ports on Pixelbook Go (one on each side) along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is the same general port setup the MacBook Air offers, though the MacBook Air supports Thunderbolt 3.
What really sets the Pixelbook Go apart from the MacBook Air is the operating system. While the MacBook Air runs the full version of macOS, the Pixelbook Go uses Chrome OS. Chrome OS is a Linux-based OS that supports Chrome apps and some Android titles, but it is in general more limited in scope than macOS.
Chrome OS is designed for everyday tasks like browsing the web, creating documents, taking notes, and sending emails rather than more specialized tasks like photo and video editing. Technically, most people who buy something like an entry-level MacBook Air are probably primarily using it for the same purposes, but you do have a bit more flexibility with macOS.
The option to download Android apps has made Chrome OS more useful over the course of the last several years, and there are, for example, apps for photo and video editing, though we wouldn't recommend them for regular full-time usage.
All in all, for most people, the upgrade to the MacBook Air over the Pixelbook Go may be worth the price differential given the better screen quality and the option to use macOS, though it's still much cheaper than the MacBook Air when it comes to the entry-level $649 option. The Pixelbook Go is one of Google's nicest Chromebooks in terms of design, hardware, and the complete Google experience, so it is likely the better choice for those who prefer a Google ecosystem.
What do you think of the Pixelbook Go? Would you use it over a MacBook Air? Let us know in the comments.
Apple plans to use a low-power backplane technology called LTPO for future iPhones, according to Korean website The Elec. The backplane is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display.
From the report:
Apple, meanwhile, is moving to more widely apply LTPO panels to its iPhones. This means it needs to find ways to work together with Samsung Display, which is holding its own in terms of both technological prowess and production capacity in the small and mid-sized OLED sector.
LTPO, or low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, has an Oxide TFT structure that uses up to 15 percent less power than LTPS, or low-temperature polysilicon, the backplane technology that Apple currently uses. Naturally, that could contribute to longer battery life on future iPhones.
Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5 models already feature LTPO displays. Apple's website says the technology enables Series 5 models to have the same up-to-18-hour battery life as Series 4 models despite having an always-on display:
The low temperature poly-silicon and oxide display features a reinvented pixel architecture that lets the screen refresh rate dip from 60Hz to a power-sipping 1Hz when the watch is inactive. A new low-power driver, ultra-efficient power management, and a new ambient light sensor work together so the display can stay always on with up to 18 hours of battery life.
Apple's transition to OLED started small with the original Apple Watch in 2015, followed by the iPhone X in 2017, so it would not be surprising if LTPO expands from the Watch to the iPhone as early as next year.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Southern Straps to give MacRumors readers a chance to win one of the company's brown leather Apple Watch bands.
Southern Straps has a whole range of high-quality leather and nylon Apple Watch bands, including the brown leather band, which is made from a single piece of full-grain Italian leather. The leather hasn't been sanded, buffed, or snuffed, which gives it an attractive, unblemished finish.
Southern Straps uses vegetable dye to create a rich, long lasting color that's achieved without using harmful chemicals, and the band is hand stitched with durable waxed cord in the company's San Francisco factory.
The brown leather Apple Watch band fits all Apple Watch models and is available in 44mm, 42mm, 40mm, and 38mm sizes. The bands are also designed to fit most wrists from 14cm to 25cm. Southern Straps can be ordered with black, silver, or gold lugs to match the different colors of the Apple Watch casing.
Southern Straps offers a two-year warranty on all of its leather bands, offering a guarantee against wear and tear. The brown leather Apple Watch band is priced at $85 from Southern Straps, but we have five to give away to MacRumors readers.
To enter to win, 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 (October 25) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 1. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 1 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 has been meeting with United Airlines over upgrades for United's terminal at the San Francisco International airport, according to a Bloomberg article and multiple tweets from attendees at United's meeting with the media in Chicago.
United has been talking with Apple about potential design ideas for its customer waiting areas at the San Francisco airport, where Apple is known to be one of United's biggest customers thanks to all of the Apple employees that regularly fly out of SFO.
The plan is for Apple to help United reconfigure areas in the airport, though what that specifically means is unclear. Linda Jojo, executive vice president of United Airlines Holdings, mentioned spots Apple employees specifically visited as a hint to what might see a redesign.
"The Apple team in San Francisco has been in our baggage hold areas, customer service and the lobbies," she said. "I'm being deliberately vague," she added.
Earlier this year, United Airlines accidentally revealed that Apple is its biggest customer in San Francisco, spending $150 million on airline tickets each year and purchasing an average of 50 business class seats on flights to Shanghai on a daily basis.
Eve, known for its line of HomeKit-enabled smart home products, recently came out with an accessory called the Eve Extend, which is a Bluetooth range extender that's designed to work with existing Eve products.
Many of Eve's HomeKit devices work over Bluetooth, and while that often works fine, in larger homes, Bluetooth connectivity can be problematic because it can be limited in range. Bluetooth products need to be within range of an iPhone to be controlled, so for situations where Bluetooth connections are spotty, Eve came out with the Extend.
Not every household is going to need the Eve Extend, and it is a product that is specifically designed to work with existing Eve devices so it's a little bit more niche, but something worth exploring for those who have invested in the Eve ecosystem.
Eve has multiple Bluetooth products, so the Eve Extend, which costs $50, works with devices like the Eve Aqua, Eve Motion, Eve Flare, Eve Door, Eve Room (new model), Eve Energy, Eve Weather, Eve Degree, and Eve Button. Eve says it works with all Bluetooth Eve accessories with the exception of the 2015 Thermo and the 2015 Eve Room.
Eve Extend is a small square-shaped white plastic box that can be placed in a central location in the home to add WiFi connectivity to Bluetooth-enabled Eve accessories, allowing them to be controlled from anywhere. You can also use multiple Eve Extend boxes if a home is particularly large.
The Eve Extend needs constant power to work, and it comes with a micro-USB cable and a power adapter. I wasn't much of a fan of the Eve Extend's cord and I would have preferred a built-in plug for the device.
Since Eve Extend uses a cord and power adapter (I just plugged it into an iPad adapter), it can go anywhere in the house that it needs to go. If, for example, you have an outdoor Eve product that's often out of range such as the Eve Aqua, you can put the Eve Extend close to the outdoors, improving connectivity.
The Eve Extend is simple to set up, connecting to either a 2.4 or 5GHz WiFi network. Like other HomeKit products, it can be added to your setup by scanning the HomeKit QR code with your iPhone.
I didn't have issues setting up the Eve Extend, but I did come across some reviews from people who haven't been able to use it with Google WiFi systems, so there may be some setup problems that should be investigated prior to purchase.
The Eve Extend runs in the background so there's no need to control it, and it's not available in the Home app. You can access it in the Eve app, which also needs to be downloaded to set it up.
In the Eve app, you can see the accessories that are connected to the device and also add additional Eve accessories that you purchase after setting up the Eve Extend. Other than setting it up and assigning accessories, once something is connected to the Eve Extend, nothing else needs to be done.
Eve has always had one of the more comprehensive HomeKit apps on the market, and the app was recently improved following the launch of iOS 13. There's Dark Mode support and a redesigned navigation bar that makes it easier to get to all of your favorite devices. Eve's app is my go to for seeing all of my HomeKit products at a glance, even those that aren't Eve devices.
Eve Extend can connect to up to eight devices, and in my testing, it successfully extended the available Bluetooth range of each Bluetooth Eve accessory. I don't have a super large home and the Eve products I have are concentrated in my office, but to test it out I moved them to other areas of the house that are further away.
In addition to longer range, response times also seemed a bit quicker, with the Eve Flare responding faster to color changes and the Eve Room responding more quickly to Siri requests for room temperature.
Bottom Line
Eve Extend is expensive at $50 so it's not a perfect solution, but it is an ideal way to make Bluetooth Eve accessories that you've already purchased available reliably from day to day.
If you have an Eve setup and have run into connectivity issues due to the limitations of Bluetooth, the Eve Extend will solve the problem by allowing those devices to connect to WiFi for access anywhere.
It's worth noting that devices like newer iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod models are able to serve as a Home hub and perform a similar function relaying Bluetooth commands, so there's a chance you won't need the Eve Extend even with an extensive Bluetooth setup.
This is a device that's specifically designed for people who are having current issues with their Eve devices and want a simple solution that does not involve purchasing an additional Apple product.
eBay is finishing off its Friday Drops sales event this October with a new all-time-low price on Apple's latest AirPods With Charging Case, priced at $125.00, down from an original price of $159.00. At $34 off, this is the lowest price we've tracked on the 2019 AirPods, which have typically hit sale prices between $139.00 and $144.00.
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You can head to eBay today to purchase the low-priced AirPods, which are in brand new condition and include free shipping. Shoppers should note that this is not the version of the AirPods with a Wireless Charging Case, and can only be charged through a USB-to-Lightning cable (which is included in the box).
Anyone looking for the 2019 AirPods with Wireless Charging Case can still get that pair at a discount as well, thanks to an ongoing $30 off sale on Amazon. This version of the AirPods is priced at $169.00, down from $199.00, and as of yet we have not seen a better deal on the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case.
The eBay offer on the AirPods with Charging Case is expected to sell out fast, so be sure to head to eBay soon if you're interested. Our full Deals Roundup is also a great place to visit for even more Apple-related sales and offers.
Update 12:00 p.m. PT: eBay's AirPods offer appears to have already expired.
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The report also backs rumors that the AirPods Pro will 
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