Apple premiered its limited drama series "Truth Be Told" at The Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Monday night.
Octavia Spencer
Set to debut on Apple TV+ next month, the show stars Octavia Spencer in the role of Poppy Parnell, a podcaster who aims to reopen a murder case that she was involved in solving 18 years earlier that put Warren Cave (played by Aaron Paul) behind bars.
Spencer's character is unsure if she made a mistake when she helped put Paul's character (Warren Cave) in prison, and with her podcast, she tries to discover the truth and determine whether Cave was wrongfully convicted.
Based on the novel by Kathleen Barber, "Truth Be Told" is said to offer a unique glimpse into America's obsession with true crime podcasts and challenges its viewers to consider the consequences when the pursuit of justice is placed on a public stage.
Beginning December 6, the first three episodes of "Truth Be Told" will be available to watch on Apple TV+ in over 100 countries and regions around the world, with new episodes rolling out weekly, every Friday. You can watch the trailer for the series here.
Left to right: Haneefah Wood, Mekhi Phifer, Ron Cephas Jones, Annabella Sciorra, Elizabeth Perkins, Reese Witherspoon, Nichelle Tramble Spellman, Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, Michael Beach.
Apple TV+ costs $4.99 per month with a family of six able to watch for that price point. Apple is also providing customers who purchase an Apple TV, Mac, iPad, or iPhone with a free one-year subscription.
Apple banking partner Goldman Sachs has issued another statement regarding allegations made earlier in the week that some credit decisions for Apple Card have been made in a discriminatory manner on the basis of gender.
In a typed statement, an image of which was shared on Twitter on Monday night with the comment "We hear you #AppleCard," Goldman Sachs retail bank CEO Carey Halio said that the bank would take another look at credit lines for customers who expected higher limits.
"We have not and never will make decisions based on factors like gender," Halio said. "In fact, we do not know your gender or marital status during the Apple Card application process."
The CEO added that Goldman Sachs worked with a third-party to review its credit decisioning process "to guard against unintended biases and outcomes."
If you believe that your credit line does not adequately reflect your credit history because you may be in a similar situation, we want to hear from you. Based on additional information that we may request, we will re-evaluate your credit line.
Over the weekend, app developer David Heinemeier Hansson claimed on social media that his Apple Card credit limit was twenty times that offered to his wife, even though the couple has been married for many years, file joint tax returns, and live in a community property state where all income and assets acquired while married are considered jointly owned.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak also reported that his Apple Card credit limit was ten times that offered to his wife, with the Wozniaks in a similar financial situation where all assets are jointly owned.
In response, the New York State Department of Financial Services announced that it would would examine whether the algorithm used to make the credit limit decisions violates state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.
In Goldman Sachs' original response to the controversy, the bank maintained that factors like gender are never used in credit decisions and explained how members of a family could receive very different credit decisions.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Disney's new streaming service, Disney+, is now available in the United States and can be accessed across a range of supported devices, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Roku streaming boxes, Amazon Fire TV, and more. You can download the Disney+ app on iOS and tvOS, sign up for the service at $6.99/month or $69.99/year, and then begin watching your favorite Disney shows and movies.
At launch, Disney+ already has one of the biggest back catalogs of content among the major streaming services, stretching back over a half century to include classic Disney films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Bambi, and Miracle on 34th Street. Disney+ content ranges from 1937 to 2019, essentially including every film produced under The Walt Disney company umbrella, as well as its subsidiaries including Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.
In addition to classic content, Disney is producing new shows, movies, and documentaries for Disney+. Today you can watch new TV shows like The Mandalorian, Encore!, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Original movies include Noelle starring Anna Kendrick and the Lady and the Tramp reboot starring Justin Theroux and Tessa Thompson. There are also behind-the-scenes looks at aspects of the Disney company, including One Day at Disney, which highlights daily routines of cast members at Disney Parks.
Disney+ is launching just a few days after Apple debuted its own streaming TV service, which also uses the "plus" naming style, called Apple TV+. On Apple's service you can pay $4.99/month to watch a handful of original TV shows like The Morning Show, For All Mankind, Dickinson, See, Ghostwriter, Helpsters, and Snoopy in Space. Apple plans to add new shows and movies monthly, next up including Servant from producer M. Night Shyamalan and The Banker with Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie.
Disney+ is compatible with the Apple TV app, so all of the TV shows and movies you stream in the Disney+ app will be updated and added to Up Next in the TV app, which also syncs to iOS. For more information on Disney+ and all of the content that you can watch inside of the new service, check out Disney's website and head to the App Store to download the app on iOS today.
Disney+ is also now available in Canada and the Netherlands. The service will launch in Australia and New Zealand on November 19, 2019, followed by the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain on March 31, 2020.
Gurman says Apple is working on "a range of augmented and virtual-reality devices" based around a new 3D sensor system, which will arrive first on a new iPad Pro slated for release in the first half of next year, and followed by the 2020 iPhones later in the year.
A new iPad Pro for release as early as the first half of 2020 will feature a new module with two camera sensors, up from one on the current model, and a small hole for the 3-D system, letting people create three-dimensional reconstructions of rooms, objects and people. The Cupertino, California-based technology giant also plans to add the sensor to new high-end iPhones later in 2020, along with 5G networking capabilities, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products.
Moving beyond existing devices, Apple is said to be targeting 2021 or 2022 for the release of a combination VR and AR headset focused on "gaming, watching video and virtual meetings." A lighter weight set of AR glasses could follow as soon as 2023.
The 3D sensor system to be used in the upcoming is said to be a more advanced version of the current Face ID sensor, and Apple's engineering teams are working on creating linkages to the new "rOS" operating system for these headsets that will let them work with existing iOS devices.
Apple's widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro is likely still coming based on recent supply chain checks by IDC analyst Jitesh Ubrani and Forbes contributor Brooke Crothers, but release timing remains unclear. Crothers is a former contributor to CNET, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal in Asia.
16-inch MacBook Pro concept
"We were expecting an announcement in October," Ubrani said in an email, according to Crothers. October came and went without an announcement, but Ubrani added that his research firm is "starting to see early signs" of the notebook within Apple's supply chain. "However, the timing of this is still uncertain," he said.
Crothers said he has heard similar, writing that "a source in Asia who talks to the Apple supply chain told me over the weekend that the 16-inch [MacBook Pro] is in production but the release date is unclear."
Rumors suggest the 16-inch MacBook Pro will feature slimmer bezels around the display, a more reliable scissor switch keyboard, a standalone Touch ID sensor, and possibly a much-requested physical Esc key. Pricing is unknown, but would likely be higher than the $2,799 high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro.
Signify, the company behind the Philips Hue lights, in September announced a new Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, which brings a capability that many Hue users have wanted for years now: the ability to sync Hue lights with content that's playing on the TV for an immersive home entertainment experience.
There's already a Hue Sync app that lets Hue lights be tuned to Macs and PCs, but it's limited to computers. In the past, there have also been limited run light syncing features for "12 Monkeys" and "Sharknado 2" that were pre-programmed, but before the Hue Play Sync Box, there was no simple solution for on-the-fly syncing of Hue lights to content on a TV set.
The Hue Play Sync Box is a simple black box that plugs into a TV with an HDMI cable. It has a power port (and an included power supply) along with four HDMI ports that are designed to accommodate HDMI devices like Apple TV, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and more. It's just a black box, and nothing special to look at, because it's meant to be tucked away on an entertainment unit.
Any console or set-top box can be plugged into the Hue Play Sync Box, allowing it to analyze the colors and tune them to a Hue light setup, shifting colors and brightness to match the content on the TV screen. The box is basically passing video signal to the TV while also detecting the colors.
Setting up the Hue Sync was as simple as plugging it into my TV, plugging my devices into the box, connecting it to my existing Hue Bridge (on a 2.4GHz network) and then downloading and opening up the dedicated Hue Sync app. Using the Hue Sync Box requires a separate Hue Sync app, and it doesn't work with the standard Hue app.
In fact, when the Hue Sync is turned on (which can be done in the Hue Sync app) you're not able to control your lights with the standard Hue app. Though most Hue products show up in HomeKit, the Hue Sync isn't a HomeKit device, it's a standalone option that's just for Hue-branded lights.
Using the Hue Play Sync Box requires an existing Hue light setup (and Hue Bridge) around a television set, and it works best with the Hue Play, the Hue Lightstrip, the Hue Go, and other Hue lights bulbs that are deeply saturated and offer rich colors.
It technically works with any Hue lights, but some of the older bulbs don't have blues and greens that are particularly saturated, which can detract from the setup. Setting up the Hue Sync requires designating an Entertainment Area, which is basically selecting the lights that you want to change in tune with the colors on the TV.
I had mine set with a Hue Lightstrip, a Hue Go, and a few standard Hue bulbs that are located close to the TV in my office, which worked well, though I imagine it would be even better with a Lightstrip and a few of the Hue Play Light Bars.
There are three different sync modes for video, music, and games, along with three intensity levels: Subtle, Moderate, High, and Extreme. Subtle and moderate are the smoothest with fewer transitions that are ultimately less distracting. In High and Extreme modes, the colors change rapidly and it can be a bit distracting depending on what you're watching.
In general, I preferred to watch with the settings on Subtle for regular usage because the other settings were just too much shifting between colors. For a few colorful films I did experiment with the High and Extreme modes and it can make a movie more fun, but these aren't settings I'd want to use all the time.
I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between the video, music, and game modes, because there are no clear explanations in the app, but selecting these did tweak the colors somewhat between modes. By the way, using Sync mode requires activation in the app, though there is an option to do it on the box itself if that's closer (mine's behind the TV so the app is easier). There's no automatic activation mode.
There's an option to set a minimum preferred brightness level and there's an important setting in the "Advanced" section for minimum brightness. To prevent the lights from going off entirely when the screen shows scenes that are black, the minimum brightness setting should be activated to keep a minimum light level. During my testing, I found that there are a surprising number of completely black scenes that cause the lights to go off, which is distracting.
There are also a lot of just plain white/yellow colors in a lot of TV shows, so there are some situations where the Hue lights don't show off a lot of color. It certainly works the best and looks the best with shows and movies that have a lot of different colorful scenes, but the subtle white lighting changes can also make what you're watching more immersive.
I've been testing the Hue Sync for a couple of weeks now, and I haven't noticed much latency if any. My Hue lights change pretty much in the instant that the colors change on the TV screen.
I primarily used it with my Apple TV 4K on a 4K Sony TV, and it worked great. Everything was smooth and seamless, and the colors were detected and shifted regardless of the content that I was watching.
On my Nintendo Switch, the Hue Sync worked well. I tested it with Link's Awakening, and there were some neat video game features like a flash of light whenever I attacked an enemy, along with colors that matched the game environment.
I also tested with my PS4 Pro and had no problems getting the syncing features to work properly. With both my Nintendo Switch and my PS4 Pro, I saw no lag issues with the color changes. As mentioned above, that's with six active lights and a 4K TV (without Dolby Vision).
There's an automatic switching feature (activated in settings) that swaps between different HDMI inputs when a console or Apple TV is activated, which worked well for me, but switching via my remote did not work (since everything is technically routed through one of my TV's HDMI ports) so any manual switching between inputs needed to be done through the app.
Unfortunately there were a few occasions where the automatic switching feature did not work as expected (mostly with my PlayStation 4) and I had to use the app
Based on multiple reviews of the Hue Play Sync Box, some users with devices routed through sound bars and receivers have had issues (though it's supposed to work), so deeper investigation may be required before purchasing to make sure that it works with your particular setup. It does not work with built-in smart TV apps, so you're going to need an Apple TV, Fire Stick, Roku, or similar, which is something to be aware of. Content must pass through the box to the TV for it to work.
The Hue Sync Play Box supports 4K at 60Hz and HDR 10, but it does not support HDR10+ or Dolby Vision, so if you have a TV that uses HDR10+ or Dolby Vision, this may not be something that you want to invest in. It does support passthrough so you can still watch HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content, but it can't detect them to create the lighting effects.
Bottom Line
The Hue Play Sync Box is expensive and there are some bugs and issues that need to be worked out, but I think that people who have invested in Hue lights for their entertainment systems will enjoy what the box has to offer.
It's unfortunate that it does not work with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ because I suspect there is a good amount of overlap between people who have HDR10+/Dolby Vision capable devices and those who have a Hue setup that would make the Hue Play Sync Box worthwhile, but for those who can work with the limitations, it's a great way to make TV shows, movies, video games, and music more immersive.
Setup was simple for me, but I also have a simple TV setup without a sound bar and other additions, so there could be more complexity involved, and that's something to be aware of before purchasing. On the whole, I think many of those who love Hue lights will be pleased to have this option for content syncing, and I'm hoping some bug fixes and improvements will make the Hue Play Sync Box a more seamless experience in the future.
While the Apple Watch Series 5 lineup was released less than two months ago, rumors are already looking ahead to next year.
In a research note with investor firm TF International Securities, seen by MacRumors, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that 2020 Apple Watch models will feature faster performance, improved water resistance, and improved wireless transmission for potentially faster Wi-Fi and cellular speeds.
Kuo believes all of these advancements will be made possible by Apple's switch to liquid crystal polymer or LCP material for the flexible circuit boards in next year's Apple Watch models, expected to launch in the second half of the year as usual. Series 5 models and earlier use a material known as polyimide or PI.
Dongshan Precision, Avary Holding, and Flexium Interconnect will be the primary LCP suppliers, according to Kuo.
It would not be surprising if so-called Apple Watch Series 6 models feature a faster Apple-designed S chip, as the only known differences with the S5 chip in Series 5 models compared to the S4 chip in Series 4 models is a built-in compass and a new always-on display driver, so a performance bump will be due next year.
As for water resistance, Apple Watch Series 2 models are already suitable for swimming or showering and can be submerged to a depth of up to 50 meters. With further improvements, perhaps Series 6 models could be certified for some high-velocity water activities such as scuba diving or water skiing.
Today is Veterans Day in the United States and, as usual, Apple CEO Tim Cook has thanked veterans around the world for their service.
"Never was so much owed by so many to so few." — Winston Churchill. To the Veterans in my family, at Apple, and all around the world — we appreciate your service and sacrifice. 🇺🇸 #VeteransDay
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) November 11, 2019
Apple is also showing its support for Veterans Day with a short message on its website: "Here's to the brave ones. We're proud to honor America's veterans and service members this Veterans Day and every day."
As noted by Kyle Seth Gray, Apple Watch users can earn a special Veterans Day badge in the Activity app today by completing any workout for 11 minutes or longer. The annual Activity Challenge, limited to the United States, also awards users with a Veterans Day sticker for use in the Messages app.
Last, Apple has highlighted how iPhone app Healium AR is helping veterans manage anxiety. The augmented reality app was created by former TV journalist Sarah Hill, who is profiled in the Apple Newsroom story.
November 11 also marks similar Remembrance Day or Armistice Day commemorations in many other countries.
Amazon has introduced a notable low price on Apple's AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, now priced at $159.99, down from $199.00. At $39 off, this is one of the lowest price points we've ever seen for a new model of the 2019 AirPods, coming around $5 under the last sale on Amazon.
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.
These are the newest AirPods (outside of the AirPods Pro) that support "Hey Siri" functionality, include a new H1 chip, offer 50 percent more talk time, and are twice as fast at switching devices. Thanks to the Wireless Charging Case, you can also place them on any Qi-compatible wireless mat to charge the AirPods without needing a Lightning cable.
You can also purchase the AirPods with Charging Case from Amazon for $144.00, down from $159.00 ($15 off). Both Amazon and Adorama have the separate Wireless Charging Case for AirPods at $69.00, down from $79.00 ($10 off).
We're keeping track of deals like these and many more as we head into the holidays. You can find many more sales in our full Deals Roundup, and for Black Friday-specific offers be sure to head over to our Black Friday Roundup. You can also always keep track of AirPods deals in our guide right here.
While noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg, and others have claimed that Apple plans to release an augmented reality headset as early as 2020, a new report suggests that the head-mounted device may be a few years away.
Apple currently aims to release an augmented reality headset in 2022, followed by a "sleeker" pair of augmented reality glasses by 2023, according to The Information. The report claims the timeline was shared by Apple executives in an internal presentation to employees at Apple Park in October.
Interestingly, the meeting is said to have been large enough to fill the 1,000-plus seats at Steve Jobs Theater, suggesting that Apple may have a large team working on the project. The report claims the discussions were led by Apple's recently appointed AR/VR head Mike Rockwell, a former Dolby executive.
Google Glasses
The meeting is said to have reflected on some of the headset's planned features, including "3D scanning" and "advanced human detection."
The report claims Apple's headset will resemble Facebook's Oculus Quest virtual reality headset released earlier this year, but with a sleeker design, adding that Apple wants to "make heavy use of fabrics and lightweight materials" to ensure its headset is comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
The headset is said to feature a high-resolution display and cameras that will allow users to "read small type" and "see other people standing in front of and behind virtual objects." During the meeting, Apple executives allegedly said the technology will be able to map the surfaces, edges, and dimensions of rooms with greater accuracy than existing devices on the market.
"To illustrate these capabilities, attendees at the October meeting were shown a recording of a demonstration in which a virtual coffee machine was placed on a real kitchen table surrounded by people in a room," the report notes. "The virtual coffee machine obscured people standing behind it in the room."
Apple executives said the company plans to reach out to third-party software developers as early as 2021 to encourage them to build apps for the device, so the headset could end up being previewed earlier than 2022.
The headset, allegedly codenamed N301, appears to be only one of Apple's ongoing AR/VR projects. The other is said to be a pair of AR glasses codenamed N421, with current prototypes said to resemble high-priced sunglasses with "thick frames that house the battery and chips." The final design could change.
Instagram is to begin testing hiding content "likes" in the United States this week. The change will first be rolled out to a limited number of accounts in the U.S., and users of those accounts will still be able to see how many likes they got on their own posts.
"It's about young people," Mosseri said during the Wired panel. "The idea is to try to 'depressurize' Instagram, make it less of a competition and give people more space to focus on connecting with people that they love, things that inspire them."
"It means we're going to put a 15-year-old kid's interests before a public speaker's interest," he added. "When we look at the world of public content, we're going to put people in that world before organizations and corporations."
Hiding likes would fundamentally change the way Instagram works, as liking photos and garnering likes is one of the platform's main features.
Heads up! We've been testing making likes private on Instagram in a number of countries this year. We're expanding those tests to include a small portion of people in the US next week. Looking forward to the feedback!
— Adam Mosseri (@mosseri) November 9, 2019
The Facebook-owned, photo-based platform has conducted similar trials in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand. The removal of Instagram likes follows other recent user-focused changes, like the addition of a timer that shows users how long they've spent in the app, and the removal of the Instagram Activities feed.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Saturday praised Instagram's decision to bring its like-hiding experiments to the U.S., retweeting Mosseri's Friday tweet and adding the comment, "Great step."
Dorsey has previously questioned the wisdom of Twitter's own use of likes. At last year's WIRED25 summit, the Twitter chief said: "Right now we have a big Like button with a heart on it and we’re incentivizing people to want it to go up [to get more followers]. Is that the right thing? Versus contributing to the public conversation or a healthy conversation? How do we incentive healthy conversation?"
Twitter has since played down reports that it plans to kill off the like button, but has acknowledged that it continues to look at the function's use and how it fits in with the platform's aim to promote "healthy conversation."
Goldman Sachs and Apple have become involved in a controversy over credit decisions for Apple Card, amid complaints that those decisions appear in some cases to have been made in a discriminatory manner on the basis of gender, reports The New York Times.
The firestorm kicked off late last week when Ruby on Rails creator David Heinemeier Hansson indicated on Twitter that his Apple Card credit limit was twenty times that offered to his wife, even though the couple has been married for many years, file joint tax returns, and live in a community property state where all income and assets acquired while married are considered jointly owned.
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak also weighed in, reporting that his Apple Card credit limit was ten times that offered to his wife, with the Wozniaks in a similar financial situation where all assets are jointly owned.
In response, New York State Department of Financial Services Superintendent Linda Lacewell has announced that her office will be looking into the situation, and she offered additional information in a Medium post today.
I responded, announcing that the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) would examine whether the algorithm used to make these credit limit decisions violates state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. For the rest of the day, numerous Twitter users responded to David’s initial tweet, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (who indicated his credit limit is ten times higher than that of his wife), describing similar instances where men received higher credit limits than women. Confounding this is the “black box” problem, in which consumers have little visibility into how a decision is made or why they have been rejected.
New York law prohibits discrimination against protected classes of individuals, which means an algorithm, as with any other method of determining creditworthiness, cannot result in disparate treatment for individuals based on age, creed, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or other protected characteristics.
Goldman Sachs today responded to the controversy, maintaining that "factors like gender" are never used in credit decisions and explaining how members of a family could receive very different credit decisions. The statement did not, however, directly address Hansson's situation, which is understandable given financial privacy issues.
With Apple Card, your account is individual to you; your credit line is yours and you establish your own direct credit history. Customers do not share a credit line under the account of a family member or another person by getting a supplemental card.
As with any other individual credit card, your application is evaluated independently. We look at an individual's income and an individual's creditworthiness, which includes factors like personal credit scores, how much debt you have, and how that debt has been managed. Based on these factors, it is possible for two family members to receive significantly different credit decisions.
In all cases, we have not and will not make decisions based on factors like gender.
Goldman Sachs also noted that it is "looking to enable" the ability for users to share Apple Cards with other members of their families, although the company did not specify when that might occur.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple's new Mac Pro, still listed on Apple's website as "coming this fall," has been spotted in the wild this weekend at the studio of DJ and producer Calvin Harris.
New Mac Pro spotted in Calvin Harris Instagram video
On Saturday, Harris posted an Instagram story featuring some of his music and offering his followers a peek into his production studio, in which a Mac Pro with signature cheese grater case and carry handles can be seen sat on the floor next to a desk.
The sighting suggests Apple has shared the new high-throughput machine with creative professionals to give them a feel for its power and potential ahead of its public release, which could be any day now.
The all-new Mac Pro boasts 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.
Apple announced the Mac Pro on June 3, and the company has been teasing a fall release on its website ever since, without specifying a launch date. The machine received FCC approval on October 30, suggesting pre-order availability is not far away.
The Mac Pro starts at $5,999, so this machine is only for the most serious professional users. They could also twin it with the $6,000 Pro Display XDR, which is expected to be released at the same time.
The calendar has flipped over to November, which means Black Friday sales are looming and the Apple news pipeline is starting to slow down a bit, although we're still awaiting the launch of the new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR before the end of the year.
This week's biggest stories included a fix for multitasking issues on iOS, new high-profile app introductions from Microsoft and Adobe, and some more rumors about the so-called "iPhone SE 2" expected early next year.
Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 13.2.2 With Fix for Background Refresh Bug
Last week, we highlighted growing complaints from iOS users about multitasking problems, where it appeared poor RAM management was causing apps in the background to be closed out prematurely. While there had been some sporadic reports of the issue under previous versions of iOS 13, they seemed particularly bad under the recently released iOS 13.2.
That iOS 13.3 beta released this week includes a few other changes, including new Communication Limits for Screen Time that let you specify who your children can talk to and when with Phone, FaceTime, and Messages.
Microsoft Introduces Unified Office App for iOS and Android
Microsoft this week launched a beta of a new Office Mobile app for iOS and Android that brings together Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in a single app. The app adds some new features and makes it easier to work with different document types.
Outlook users also received some news this week, with a new "Play My Emails" feature for the iOS version of Outlook that uses AI to intelligently summarize and read out your incoming emails while analyzing any impacts on your daily schedule, while an upcoming revamp of Outlook for Mac will bring several design changes and feature improvements.
Adobe Launches Photoshop for iPad
Adobe has launched Photoshop for iPad, just over a year after the company announced it was bringing its flagship graphics editor to Apple's tablet platform. Photoshop for iPad is optimized for touch and mobile, but it will be immediately familiar to users of the desktop version.
Kuo: Apple Expected to Sell at Least 20 Million 'iPhone SE 2' Models in 2020
Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a new report this week outlining his expectations for the "iPhone SE 2," which is expected to launch early next year as an enhanced version of the iPhone 8 with Apple's latest A13 chip and more.
Kuo believes Apple will sell at least 20 million "iPhone SE 2" units in 2020, with a chance of hitting 30 million units. Previous rumors have suggested the device could sell for $399, offering a great upgrade path for budget-minded consumers and those in developing markets where Apple's latest flagships are out of reach.
When Might Apple Release an Arm-Based Mac?
We've been hearing for years that Apple may be planning to move away from Intel chips in its Macs and instead use Arm-based chips similar to those found in its iOS devices.
The shift to Arm-based chips would bring Apple's Mac processor design in-house and likely result in more efficient chips as Arm designs have significantly closed the performance gap on x86 chips like those made by Intel, all while maintaining efficient power usage.
We've put together a guide explaining the differences between Arm and Intel x86 chips, why Apple might be looking to make the shift, and when we might see that happen.
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.
ColorWare is offering the AirPods Pro in dozens of custom colors, ranging from solids to metallics in all colors of the rainbow. Jet black gloss, deep purple, yellow, orange, red, gold, silver, and more are options.
Each AirPod Pro earbud can be painted in a different shade, and the Wireless Charging Case can also be painted in a unique color. Users can choose between a matte or gloss finish.
A custom version of the AirPods Pro will cost $389, which is a $139 premium over the base $250 price tag. Customizing the AirPods Pro case as well costs an additional $50, for a total of $439.
ColorWare is using Apple's base AirPods Pro for the customization, so these have all of the standard features of the AirPods Pro such as Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive EQ, and more, with no change in functionality due to the painting.
To create AirPods Pro in custom colors, ColorWare disassembles them and then carefully custom paints each individual component. There is, unfortunately, no option for sending in existing AirPods.
All ColorWare work is guaranteed for 12 months, and 24 months with the purchase of an additional warranty. Returns are available for the first 30 days but are subject to a 25 percent restocking fee.
Apple in October 2019 debuted the AirPods Pro, a new higher-end version of its existing AirPods with an updated design, noise cancellation technology, a customizable fit with silicone ear tips, and a more expensive $249 price tag.
We've collected 14 of our favorite AirPods Pro tips to help you get the most out of Apple's latest and greatest wireless earbuds. Check out our video, keep reading, and you might discover a new trick or two.
1. Take Out Your AirPods Pro the Right Way
Have you found yourself getting frustrated trying to wrestle each AirPod Pro out of the case? Well, we're here to tell you "you're holding it wrong."
Apple has designed them in such a way that you simply have to push on the back of each earbud and it will swivel right out between your thumb and forefinger.
2. Enable Noise Cancellation for Better Audio
AirPods Pro are Apple's first in-ear headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which adapts to the shape of your ear and blocks out the outside world so you can focus on what you're listening to.
ANC relies on a feature called Ambient EQ, which Apple says adjusts the sound signal 200 times a second to optimize audio for your specific ear shape through the use of an internal-facing microphone.
When you turn off noise cancellation, Ambient EQ is also disabled, meaning sound quality is slightly degraded. So for the best Airpods Pro audio experience, it's better to keep noise cancellation on. By default, pressing and holding either AirPod Pro stem will cycle between Noise Cancellation and Transparency, or you can control the noise functions on your iPhone or iPad.
Open Control Center on your iOS device.
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.)
Tap Noise Cancellation in the strip at the bottom of the screen.
You can also control Noise Control functions by going to Settings -> Bluetooth and tapping the information icon (the circled "i") next to your AirPods Pro. And if you've got your AirPods connected to a Mac running macOS Catalina, you can control it from the volume icon in the menu bar.
3. Tap to Check Wireless Charge Status
AirPods Pro come with a wireless charging case, and you can charge it on most Qi-compatible third-party charging mats. The case also includes a neat new function for checking its charging status at any time.
Place the charging case face up on a charging mat – the light will turn on for a few seconds, then turn off as it starts to charge.
To check the charging status at any time, tap the case with your finger to make the light come on.
Take notice of the light's color: An amber light means it's still charging, and green means it's fully charged.
4. Activate Noise Cancellation on One AirPod
You can use noise cancellation when using only one AirPod Pro, which is useful if you like to take calls using just the one earbud.
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Accessibility -> AirPods.
Tap the toggle next to Noise Cancellation on One AirPod.
5. Access Noise Controls via Apple Watch
Most Airpods Pro users will know they can flip between the noise control features or turn them off entirely from iPhone's Control Center. It's less well-known that you can access the same functions on Apple Watch, too.
Make sure your Airpods Pro are connected to your iPhone and audio is playing.
Raise your wrist to wake your Apple Watch.
On the Now Playing screen, tap the icon with the triangle and three circles in the lower left corner.
Tap your AirPods Pro in the list.
6. Use AirPods Pro as a Remote Mic
AirPods Pro support Apple's Live Listen feature, which uses your iPhone as a microphone and relays what the iPhone picks up to the earbuds, even if the AirPods are in another room.
Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Select Control Center -> Customize Controls.
Tap the "+" button next to Hearing.
Launch Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (on iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen).
Tap the Hearing icon.
Tap Live Listen.
Place your iPhone close to the person(s) you want to hear...
7. Share Audio Between Two Pairs of AirPods
If you're running iOS 13.1 or later, Apple's Audio Sharing feature lets you share your device's Bluetooth audio with a second pair of AirPods, so two of you can listen to music together while running, or enjoy a movie on a plane without disturbing those around you.
With your AirPods on, start playing audio on your iPhone or iPad.
Launch Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen or up from the Home button on devices with a Home button.
In Control Center's audio playback controls, tap the icon with the triangle and three circles.
Bring your friend's AirPods inside their case close to your device and flip the lid open.
You should see a prompt on your device's screen offering to Share Audio with the second pair of AirPods.
8. Use One AirPod to Extend Listening Time
AirPods Pro offer excellent stereo audio output, but Apple has designed the wireless Bluetooth earphones so that you can also use them one at a time.
Insert one AirPod in your preferred ear and leave the other AirPod in the charging case – the H1 chip will automatically detect which one is in use.
When you hear the low battery tone from the AirPod you're wearing, swap it out with the fully charged one in your Charging Case.
Keep switching between them like this to continue listening for as long as your Charging Case has juice.
Note that when you use just a single left or single right AirPod, stereo signals are automatically converted to mono output, so you won't miss a thing.
9. Adjust Force Sensor Duration
If you're having difficulty engaging the AirPods' Force sensor by squeezing it between your fingers, try adjusting the duration to see if it makes it any easier.
Launch the Settings app on your connected device.
Select Accessibility -> AirPods.
Under "Press and Hold Duration," select Default, Short or Shorter.
10. Change AirPods Press Speed
The controls on AirPods Pro allow you to press once to play, pause or answer a phone call, press twice to skip forwards, and press three times to skip backwards. Like the press-and-hold gesture, if you're having trouble engaging these functions then you can adjust the press speed to make it slower.
Launch the Settings app on your connected device.
Select Accessibility -> AirPods.
Under "Press Speed," select Default, Slow, or Slowest.
11. Find Your Misplaced or Lost AirPods Pro
If you lose or misplace your AirPods Pro, you can find their last known location in the Find My app.
Open Find My app on your iOS device (or access it in any browser via iCloud.com).
Tap the Devices tab at the bottom of the screen.
Tap your Airpods Pro in the list.
Tap Play Sound if you're fairly sure your AirPod(s) are somewhere within earshot. If you don't know where you lost your AirPod(s), the last place they were connected will be shown on the map – tap Directions to get directions to the last known location.
12. Have AirPods Pro Announce Your Calls
If you receive a call on your iPhone (or an Apple Watch with cellular) when your Airpods Pro are connected, the ringing tone will interrupt whatever it is you're listening to.
To find out who's calling, normally you'd have to take out your iPhone or look at your Apple Watch, but you can have Siri announce who it is over your AirPods, saving you the trouble.
On your iPhone, launch the Settings app.
Tap Phone in the list.
Tap Announce Calls under the Calls heading.
Tap Headphones Only so that a tick appears alongside the option.
13. Check AirPods Battery Life
You can check the charge status of your AirPods using the Batteries widget in your iPhone's Today View, but when you're wearing your AirPods, just ask Siri "How is my AirPods' battery?" and you'll get an individual percentage level for each earbud. If you just opened your charging case, you'll get a percentage for that too.
You can also check the battery level of your AirPods from Apple Watch, whether they're paired with your iPhone or directly with your watch. To do so, swipe up on a watch face or when in an app to bring up Control Center, then tap the Apple Watch battery icon, indicated by a percentage.
Your AirPods' battery level will be displayed as a ring below the Apple Watch battery percentage, and if you place an AirPod in its charging case, you'll see individual percentage charges for the lot.
14. Reset Your AirPods Pro
If your AirPods aren't working as they should be – if you can't connect to them or if they won't charge, for example – you can reset them by following these steps.
Put your AirPods in their case and close the lid.
Wait 30 seconds, then open the lid.
On your iOS device, go to Settings -> Bluetooth and tap the circled "i" icon next to your AirPods.
Tap Forget This Device, and tap again to confirm.
With the AirPods case lid open, press and hold the button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until you see the status light flashing amber.
With the case lid open, place your AirPods close to your device and follow the steps on your device's screen to reconnect your AirPods.
Got any more AirPods tips or tricks we've not covered here? Let us know in the comments below.
In an ongoing effort to keep track of upcoming (and current) Black Friday sales, we've begun highlighting the biggest and best discounts offered by major retailers. Yesterday we started with Best Buy, and today we're moving on to Target.
Target's Black Friday sale is set to be massive and will extend across home furniture, clothing, video games, and of course electronics. Target will open its doors at 5 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving evening, close them at 1 a.m. Friday morning, and then re-open at 7 a.m. Friday morning.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Target. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Like most other stores, Target has also put some deals online ahead of time in what it's calling the "Black Friday Preview Sale," which lasts today and ends tomorrow night. Preview Sale items include everything from iPhone 11 models to weighted blankets, so be sure to head to Target for the full list. In this article, everything is considered an upcoming sale that isn't yet live unless otherwise noted to be part of the available Preview Sale.
It should also be noted that Target RedCard holders and members of its Circle loyalty program will gain early access to Black Friday deals beginning the day before Thanksgiving, November 27.
You'll also be able to get the new 32GB 10.2-inch iPad for $249.99, down from $329.99, representing the lowest-ever price on this model.
Next up, the retailer will offer the Apple Watch Series 3 starting at $169.99 and totaling $30 savings across multiple styles. The newest Apple Watch, Series 5, will remain priced at its regular point starting at $399.99 for GPS and $499.99 for cellular.
There will be a chance for some App Store and iTunes gift card savings. Target plans to offer buy one, get one 30 percent off on these gift cards, where the lower-priced gift card will be 30 percent off. There is no specification yet on which tiers will be on sale, but you can likely expect the usual $25, $50, and $100 tiers. Under this sale, purchasing two $50 iTunes gift cards will cost you a total of $85 for $100 iTunes credit, which is the typical 15 percent off sale we usually see.
Lastly, Target plans to offer the AirPods with Charging Case for $144.99, down from $159.99, and AirPods with Wireless Charging Case for $169.99, down from $199.99 [Preview Sale Now]. These aren't the lowest prices we've ever seen for either model, and in fact you can get them both for slight cheaper right nowon Amazon. Target lists the AirPods Pro, but there won't be a sale on the latest model and it will still cost $249.99.
Electronics
You'll find the usual array of smart home devices, headphones, streaming sticks, and more on sale at Target this Black Friday. We've rounded up some of the best offers in the lists below:
To start, Target shoppers should note that the retailer has a notable buy two, get one free "Mix and Match" eventhappening right now. With this offer, you can buy two products across video games, books, movies, board games, music, and children's activity kits, and get a third from any of these categories for free. For gamers and movie fans, this includes brand-new titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, The Outer Worlds, Toy Story 4, and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
If you were planning to buy a Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe this year, you can get a bundle of both for $299.99, netting you the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe copy for free. This is the same offer shared across all of the major retailers this year, including Best Buy (which throws in a screen protector) and Amazon. Target will also be selling Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Tennis Aces, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for $29.99 doorbusters.
$15 video games:
World War Z
Overwatch: Legendary Edition
The Division 2
Kingdom Hearts 3
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Crash Team Racing
Overcooked 2
Rainbow Six Siege
There will be over 100 total games on sale at this price...
$25 video games:
Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Control
Just Dance 2020
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD
There will be over 40 games on sale at this price...
$29.99 video games:
Fallout 76
Rage 2
Red Dead Redemption 2
There will be over 30 games at this price...
$35 video games:
Gears 5
Borderlands 3
Need for Speed: Heat
There will be over 10 games on sale at this price...
Target will also have Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on sale for $45, and you'll be able to save $5 on gaming subscription services like Xbox Live, PS Plus, and Nintendo Switch Online.
Console bundles include a 1TB PS4 with The Last of Us Remastered, God of War (2018), and Horizon: Zero Dawn at $199.99, down from $299.99. If you're looking for an Xbox, Target will have a doorbuster offering the 1TB Xbox One X with Gears 5 and a free $40 gift card for $349.99, down from $499.99. You'll also be able to purchase all of the main video game console controllers for $20 off: Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons ($59.99), DualShock 4 ($39.99), and Xbox Wireless Controller ($39.99) will all be on sale.
For this week's giveaway, we've once again teamed up with Throwboy to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a pillow from the Throwboy Iconic Pillow Collection, which features plush, squeezable versions of classic Apple products.
The Iconic Pillow Collection features five pillows that are modeled after the 1977 Apple II, the 1984 original Macintosh, the 1998 iMac G3, the 2001 iPod, and the 2007 original iPhone.
After a successful Kickstarter launch in 2018, Throwboy has been offering its plushie Apple products on its website for $39.99 or $189.99 for the full set.
Each of the Iconic pillows have been carefully embroidered with intricate detailing to ensure that they look like their hardware counterparts, and in a review we did earlier this year, we were impressed with the softness, huggability, and impressive detail.
Design details include a click wheel on the iPod with appropriate ports on the bottom, a rainbow logo and floppy disk drive on the 1984 pillow, speakers and a disk drive for the iMac G3, a Home button and speaker for the iPhone, and a full keyboard and display for the Apple II.
Each pillow also features the correct colors for each machine. The Apple II and the Macintosh are a light beige color, while the iMac G3 is in white and aqua. The iPod is white with a gray click wheel, and the iPhone is silver and black like the original model.
When it comes to size, these are the ideal throw pillows for a couch or a chair, making them a great decoration or gift idea for Apple fans. Each pillow is soft, squishy, and comfortable, both to hold and to lean against, but they're also firm enough to hold their shape. Photos of the pillows in action can be seen on Throwboy's Instagram account.
The Mac versions of the pillows are a bit larger than the iPod and the iPhone versions, but all work well as throw pillows or room decor. Throwboy also makes a few other fun pillows like a classic Mac Finder icon and the well-known spinning rainbow wheel.
We have 10 of the Iconic Pillows to give away to MacRumors readers, and each winner will be able to pick their favorite pillow. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (November 8) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 15. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 15 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
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.
Instagram is to begin testing hiding content "likes" in the United States this week. The change will first be rolled out to a limited number of accounts in the U.S., and users of those accounts will still be able to see how many likes they got on their own posts.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Target. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
