Apple is planning to launch a Mac trade-in program at its retail stores in the United States and Canada next week, reports Bloomberg.
The new program, which kicks off on June 15 in the United States and June 18 in Canada, will allow customers to exchange a Mac for credit that can be put on a gift card or used to cut the cost of a new computer.
Apple has long allowed Mac trade-ins on its website, but has not accepted Mac trade-ins in its retail store locations. The new Mac trade-in option will join in-store trade-in programs for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
According to Bloomberg, Apple may be introducing the program as a way to boost Mac sales by providing customers with an easier way to get a credit for an old machine. With the new trade-in program, customers will no longer need to hassle with doing a trade-in by mail, and can get an immediate credit when making an in-store purchase.
Anker's eufy brand is starting the rollout of HomeKit Secure Video support, which will allow eufyCam 2 and eufyCam 2C home security cameras to work with Apple's HomeKit Secure Video feature.
The 2.1.0.4h firmware update that enables HomeKit Secure Video will be rolling out starting today, but the full rollout will take two to three weeks, so it will be some time before it is available to all eufyCam 2 users.
With HomeKit Secure Video, recorded footage will be stored in iCloud with end-to-end encryption, and motion detection will be done on device. Video footage will be able to be viewed in the Home app, which will also deliver rich notifications when movement is detected.
HomeKit Secure Video does not have a monthly fee associated it with it, but it does require the 200GB or 1TB iCloud storage plans, priced at $2.99 or $9.99 per month, respectively. Though a higher-tier iCloud storage plan is required, video footage does not count against iCloud storage limits.
The 200GB works for a single HomeKit Secure Camera, while the 1TB plan works for up to five HomeKit Secure Cameras. Viewing footage from a HomeKit Secure Camera like the eufyCam 2 remotely requires a home hub, which can be a HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad.
The eufyCam 2 and 2C systems feature 1080p video recording, night vision, weatherproofing, and wire-free operation with a single charge lasting up to a year.
In the new iOS 13.6 beta released today, the Health app has gained a new "Symptoms" section that wasn't available in previous versions of iOS.
The section appears to allow users to add symptoms of various illnesses like body and muscle aches, appetite changes, coughing, dizziness, fainting, headache, nausea, and more.
Health app users are able to add symptom data through the Health app by tapping on the "Add Data" option, providing a way to track and log various illness-related symptoms over time.
Each symptom listed in the app comes with a description and the entry options vary based on the symptom in question, with options to add details like Severe, Moderate, Mild, Present, or Not Present.
The Health app previously had options for logging symptoms related to menstruation for the menstruation tracking feature, but this general symptoms feature is more extensive and will presumably allow patients to share more detailed health information with their doctors.
The second beta of iOS 13.6 that was released this morning adds more granular control over the downloading and installing of iOS updates (via Jeremy Horwitz).
In earlier versions of iOS, new software downloads automatically in the background and then can be installed through an Automatic Updates feature. In iOS 13.6, there are new toggles for customizing Automatic Updates.
You can now decide whether or not your iPhone or iPad can automatically download iOS updates when connected to WiFi, and when those updates are installed. There's a Download iOS Updates toggle for turning on automatic downloads over WiFi and an Install iOS Updates toggle for installing software updates overnight as an iPhone charges.
This new toggle will be a welcome change for those who do not want iOS updates to download automatically without permission, as this can eat up valuable storage space. Note that this option is enabled by default, so if you want to turn off automatic downloads, you'll need to toggle it off.
The Automatic Updates customization settings can be found by opening the Settings app, choosing the General section, tapping on Software Update, and then choosing the Customize Automatic Updates option.
This feature is limited to developers with the iOS 13.6 beta installed, but it will be available to everyone when the iOS 13.6 update is released.
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.6 updates to developers, one week after seeding the first betas and a couple weeks after releasing iOS/iPadOS 13.5 with Exposure Notification API, Face ID updates, Group FaceTime changes, and more.
iOS and iPadOS 13.6 can be downloaded from the Apple Developer Center or over the air once the proper developer profile has been installed. Note that Apple has changed the version number of this beta to 13.6. When it was first released last week, it was iOS 13.5.5.
Though the feature is not live yet, iOS and iPadOS 13.6 include signs of a new Apple News+ Audio feature, which will see Apple offering some news stories in an audio capacity.
Apple has been working with publishers to garner permission to create audio versions of some stories. Apple also plans to offer a recap of the day's top stories for subscribers to listen to.
Code in iPadOS 13.6 also suggests Apple is working on keyboard shortcuts that will allow users who have a Magic Keyboard or other attached keyboard to adjust the brightness level of the keys, but it's not clear if this will be a feature included in the update.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Catalina 10.15.6 update to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the first beta and two weeks after releasing macOS Catalina 10.15.5 with battery health management features for Macs.
The macOS Catalina 10.15.6 beta can be downloaded from the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after the proper profile has been installed from the Apple Developer Center.
There's no word yet on what improvements the new update to macOS Catalina brings, but it likely includes performance improvements, security updates, and fixes for bugs that weren't able to be addressed in the previous update. No new features were found in the first beta, but we'll update this article should anything new be found in the second beta.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 13.4.8 update to developers for testing purposes, one week after seeding the first tvOS 13.4.8 beta and three weeks after the release of the tvOS 13.4.5 update.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the tvOS 13.4.8 beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV through a profile that's installed using Xcode.
tvOS updates are generally minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements instead of major outward-facing changes. There's no word on what's included in tvOS 13.4.8 as of yet, and no new features were found in the first beta.
While we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so developers can download it on release.
Apple is now selling the Hatch Restore, a product that's described as an all-in-one iPhone-connected smart sleep solution.
The Hatch Restore offers the functionality of a bedside reading light, meditation app, sound machine, and sunrise alarm clock, which is meant to help users fall asleep and wake up refreshed.
The app offers a personalized sleep routine with "custom content" designed to prepare the mind and body for sleep. There's a soft-glow timed reading light for use at night, more than 31 sleep sounds to block noise, and a custom sunrise alarm. A dimmable digital clock plus volume and brightness buttons are included, with the Hatch Sleep app able to be used to set everything up. The Hatch Restore can be purchased from Apple's online store for $130.
Apple today also added multiple AirPods Pro, Mac, and iPad cases to its website, which includes several options from OtterBox, Incase, Tech21, and more.
The four new colors are Spring Yellow, Glacier Blue, Cloud Pink, and Lava Red, and they join the previous color options of Black, Ivory, Moss, and Navy. The new colors are available for delivery from Apple as soon as Thursday.
Powerbeats Pro are fitness-focused truly wireless earphones from Apple's Beats brand, offering an in-ear design with earhooks to help secure the them during vigorous activity. They offer IPX4 sweat and water resistance, Apple's H1 chip for easy pairing and switching between iCloud devices, and "Hey Siri" functionality. The earphones offer up to nine hours of battery life, with the charging case bringing total battery life up to 24 hours.
There are on-ear volume and track controls on each earbud, and four sizes of eartips are included to maximize comfort and provide a good seal in the ear, although the earphones don't offer any active noise cancellation.
Powerbeats Pro are priced at $249.95 for all colors, although they can occasionally be found on sale for around $200. For more details on Powerbeats Pro, check out our full review and hands-on videos, including a comparison to Apple's AirPods Pro.
Apple will complete the second phase of its "EVT" or "Engineering Validation and Testing" stage for its upcoming iPhone 12 lineup at the end of June and begin production of the models in July, according to a paywalled DigiTimes report.
The wording of the report suggests that all iPhone 12 models will enter production next month, but it is unclear if that will result in all models launching simultaneously. While it is likely that Apple announces its iPhone 12 lineup in September as usual, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and others have previously claimed that higher-end models with support for ultra-fast mmWave 5G will face a delayed launch due to production challenges.
Specifically, Kuo said that production of mmWave iPhones would be "pushed back" because of antenna-in-package design changes in early April. Lower-end iPhone 12 models are expected to support sub-6GHz 5G.
Apple is expected to release four new iPhones later this year, including two iPhone 12 models with 5.4-inch and 6.1-inch displays and two iPhone 12 Pro models with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays. All four models are expected to feature OLED displays, 5G support, and a smaller notch, while the two higher models are rumored to gain a LiDAR sensor.
WWDC is shaping up to see some significant Mac news, starting with word earlier today that Apple will be beginning its shift to its own Arm-based processors, and now leaker Sonny Dickson is claiming that Apple will be introducing a redesigned iMac at the event.
According to Dickson, the new iMac will have "iPad Pro design language" and thinner bezels similar to those seen on Apple's Pro Display XDR that accompanied the new Mac Pro last year. The iMac will unsurprisingly feature the custom T2 chip that has made its way across the rest of the Mac lineup to integrate several security and controller functions.
New iMac incoming at WWDC. iPad Pro design language, with Pro Display like bezels. T2 chip, AMD Navi GPU, and no more fusion drive
— Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) June 9, 2020
Dickson also says the revamped iMac will include graphics processors from AMD's Navi family introduced last year, and will go all-flash on the storage front with the discontinuation of the hybrid Fusion Drive system that has paired a smaller SSD with a larger traditional hard drive to balance speed and capacity.
Apple's iMac hasn't been updated in over a year, so it's certainly due for an update. Reliable leaker CoinX claimed in March that an iMac update was coming "soon," but hasn't shared any additional information on it since then.
Meanwhile, Intel announced new "Comet Lake" processors in late April that would be appropriate for the iMac, although we haven't heard specifically which processors Apple plans to include in the updated iMac.
Finally, an April rumor claimed that Apple is planning to introduce a lower-priced 23-inch iMac in the second half of this year, which has led to some confusion around timing for any iMac release. It remains to be seen if this 23-inch model is arriving at WWDC, and if so, what overall changes we may see to the size options considering the iMac is currently offered in 27-inch and 21.5-inch sizes.
Apple continues to gradually reopen its retail stores around the world as conditions allow, with all 20 of its locations in France resuming business starting today and several more to follow in the Netherlands and Sweden tomorrow.
Apple has now reopened over 300 of its 510 retail stores worldwide, according to 9to5Mac, although some locations in the United States subsequently closed again due to anti-racism protests across the country. The company's stores remain closed in the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Singapore, as well as in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Enhanced health and safety measures are in place, such as social distancing and reduced operating hours. Apple is also requiring that all employees and customers wear a face covering while inside the store and will provide one to customers who do not bring one. At some stores, sales and service are operating on a storefront or curbside basis only.
In a letter to customers last month, Apple said that it looks at all available data before deciding to reopen a store, including local cases, near and long‑term trends, and guidance from national and local health officials. Apple also said that it would not rule out the possibility of closing a store again should local conditions warrant.
Apple has updated its COVID-19 screening tool with an option for users to anonymously share their responses with Apple, state public health agencies, and the CDC, including their age, symptoms, and more, as noted by TechCrunch.
Apple says the information collected will be used to improve the tool and to better understand the spread of COVID-19. The company ensures that no personally identifiable information will be shared, such as your name or your phone number. Your information will also be aggregated with others' responses as an additional privacy measure.
Apple's commitment to privacy:
If you choose to share your responses, they will be provided to Apple in a way that does not personally identify you. Apple will then provide reports to the CDC and approved state public health agencies. Only information that has been both de-identified and aggregated will be provided to the CDC and state public health agencies. This means that no information that could identify you or your individual responses to the tool will be included. Information about the pre-existing conditions you select will also not be shared; only the total number of conditions that you select.
The CDC and approved state public health agencies may only use the information to improve the tool and for purposes related to managing the COVID‑19 pandemic. Further, the CDC and state public health agencies are required to comply with privacy and security protections, including not further disclosing the information and implementing appropriate safeguards.
Apple's screening tool allows users to answer a series of questions regarding risk factors, recent exposure, and symptoms and receive CDC recommendations on next steps, including guidance on social distancing and self-isolating, how to closely monitor symptoms, whether or not a test is recommended at this time, and when to contact a medical provider.
The tool, available online and as an iPhone app, also offers access to COVID-19 resources to help people stay informed and get support. For example, there are answers to frequently asked questions about the virus.
The screening tool can be used by anyone who is 18 years of age or older in the United States. Apple says the tool does not replace instructions from healthcare providers or guidance from state and local health authorities.
Apple plans to announce its upcoming shift to Arm-based Macs at its virtual WWDC event later this month, giving developers several months to prepare for the transition, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The report claims that the first Arm-based Macs will be released in 2021, adding that Apple plans to eventually transition its entire lineup of Mac notebooks and desktops to the custom-designed processors. This lines up with a timeframe shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said Apple plans to release several Arm-based Macs starting next year.
Arm-based Macs are expected to have several advantages over existing Intel-based Macs, including faster performance and reduced power consumption. Apple would also no longer be at the mercy of Intel's development schedule.
Gurman reiterates that Apple is developing at least three Mac processors, with the first based on the A14 chip in upcoming iPhone 12 models. TSMC is expected to manufacture the Mac processors based on its advanced 5nm process.
Apple's first Mac processor is expected to have 12 cores, including eight high-performance cores and at least four energy-efficient cores. Apple is said to be exploring Mac processors with more than 12 cores for further in the future, with the company apparently designing a second generation of Mac processors based on the A15 chip.
WWDC 2020 begins the week of June 22 as an online-only event. Apple has promised a virtual keynote, where it is expected to introduce iOS 14 and other new software, and seemingly its Arm-based Mac plans too.
Apple TV+ is considered to be "below average" for both value and original programming when it comes to customer satisfaction, according to new data shared today by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
Apple debuted in the 2019-20 U.S. annual index in 12th position, with a customer satisfaction rating of 74 out of 100, tying both Google Play and HBO.
Topping the index was Disney+ with a first-time score of 80 out of 100, which puts the new streaming service ahead of former leader Netflix, with 78 out of 100. Like Apple TV+, Disney+ launched in November.
Six months after its November 2019 launch, Disney+ had 54.5 million subscribers worldwide. The service has broad appeal to families with content spanning Walt Disney Studios, Pixar, Marvel, National Geographic, and the Star Wars universe—including the breakout series "The Mandalorian." According to viewers, Disney+ is a standout across much of the customer experience and its original content rates best in class.
Elsewhere this year, Hulu (now controlled by Disney) closed in on Netflix, up 1 percent to 77 out of 100. Likewise, the Apple TV app is up 1 percent to 77 for customer satisfaction.
Netflix remains the largest streaming service by far, with about 183 million subscribers worldwide. Apple hasn't released subscriber numbers and has a large number of non-paying customers as the company has been providing everyone who has purchased an Apple device since September with a free year of Apple TV+.
Apple is reportedly in the process of purchasing older movies and shows for its TV+ streaming service in a bid to build a back catalog of content, which will put it in a better position to rival the huge libraries available on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. As the ASCI report notes, it will be interesting to see if this improves customer satisfaction in the future.
The telecoms report shows that with more and more Americans stuck at home, video streaming overall has seen a boon in customer satisfaction among telecom industries. With a stable ACSI score of 76, video streaming now outpaces subscription TV by a gap of 12 points.
Google has rolled out several new transit features to Google Maps on iOS and Android that aim to help users travel safely as lockdown measures gradually ease in some countries following the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest version of Google Maps alerts users whose travel will be impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, including requirements like wearing a mask on public transport and whether a chosen route has checkpoints. The update was detailed in a Google blog post:
Getting from A to B can be more complicated these days. Because of COVID-19, it’s increasingly important to know how crowded a train station might be at a particular time or whether the bus is running on a limited schedule. Having this information before and during your trip is critical for both essential workers who need to safely navigate to work and will become more important for everyone as countries around the world begin to reopen.
While users of public transport will get crowd-sourced information on how busy services are, drivers will receive alerts about checkpoints and restrictions on their route, such as when crossing national borders, on the directions screen and after starting navigation if a route is affected by restrictions.
Google says the transit alerts are rolling out in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, France, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom and the U.S. where it has information from local transit agencies, with more coming soon.
In addition, users navigating to medical facilities or COVID-19 testing centers will get alerts reminding them to verify eligibility and facility guidelines to avoid being turned away or causing additional strain on the local healthcare system.
Starting this week, alerts for medical facilities will be available in Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines, South Korea, and the U.S., while testing center alerts will also be available in the U.S. Alerts are based on authoritative data from local, state, and federal governments or from their websites.
Apple has launched a new webpage showcasing the tight integration between iPhone and Apple Watch. "Add them together. Multiply their power," reads the minisite, which highlights the benefits that come with using the two devices in tandem.
Get directions on iPhone and a tap on your wrist when you need to turn. Check your heart rate on Apple Watch and track it over the last hour, day, month, or year on iPhone. When you put the two of them together, they add up to so much more.
Scrolling down the vector image-based page brings some of the more basic features into view first, like the ability to answer or decline a phone call or FaceTime call on Apple Watch, and then transfer it to your iPhone.
Messages are next, with Apple Watch features like quick replies, Tapback, emoji support and Scribbles covered, as well as the ability to ask Siri to compose or reply to an incoming message using your voice.
The site goes on to highlight the two devices' deep Camera app integration and the way you can use Apple Watch to remotely set up a shot on iPhone, including the ability to frame and shoot, zoom in and out, switch between the iPhone's front and back cameras, and switch between camera modes.
Elsewhere, Apple shines a light on the music capabilities of Apple Watch, such as Apple Music streaming, playlist support, and remote iPhone playback controls. There's also a section on Apple Watch health functions with iOS Health and Activity app integration, as well as mentions for handoff support in Maps, Find My, and Apple Pay.
Without disclosing anything new about iPhone and Apple Watch, the site does a good job of surfacing some lesser known features available to prospective customers who might be thinking about pairing the two devices.
Following the release of iOS 13.5.1 on June 1, Apple has stopped signing iOS 13.5, which means downgrading to that version of iOS is no longer possible.
iOS 13.5.1 included a fix for the vulnerability that enabled the unc0ver jailbreaking tool that was released on May 24. The unc0ver jailbreak was compatible with all versions of iOS up to iOS 13.5, but since it has been patched in iOS 13.5.1, it is not possible to jailbreak a device running the iOS 13.5.1 update.
Apple released a similar security fix for tvOS, watchOS, and macOS, patching the vulnerability across all devices.
Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to keep their operating systems up to date.
iOS 13.5.1, with the security fix, is the only current publicly available version of iOS that can be installed on iPhones and iPads. Apple has also seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS and iPadOS 13.5.5 updates to developers and public beta testers.
