MacRumors

Apple shares climbed to an all-time high at the close of Nasdaq trading on Tuesday, rising $10.53, or 3.16 percent, and hitting $343.99 per share. Apple now has a market value of almost $1.491 trillion.

Despite a bumpy start to the year, tech stocks have fared well during the global health crisis. Apple saw its stocks fall in February and March due to supplier constraints, store closures, and ongoing curbs on travel and transport, but demand for new devices was buoyed by increasing numbers of people working from home, and that saw Apple's share price surge again in April.

Tuesday's high came on the back of news that Apple plans to announce an upcoming shift to Arm-based Macs at its virtual WWDC event later this month.

Swapping over to its own house-made chips should allow Apple to release updates on its own schedule and with perhaps more frequent technology improvements. Apple should also be able to differentiate its devices from competing products with chips designed by its own internal teams, introducing even tighter integration between hardware and software.

There have been some mixed rumors on when Apple could launch the first Arm-based Macs. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple will release MacBook models with its own custom processors in the fourth quarter of 2020 or the first quarter of 2021.

Kuo expects Apple to release several Mac notebooks and desktop computers with custom designed Arm-based processors in 2021, so the custom processors won't be limited to just one machine. Bloomberg has said that Apple is aiming to release at least one Mac with a custom-designed Arm-based processor by 2021.

Apple is proceeding with a multi-phase plan to begin having employees return to its Silicon Valley campuses, and the first phase of the process will begin on June 15, Apple said in a memo to employees sent out this week.

According to Bloomberg, employees have been informed that the first phase will be "very limited" and people will only be allowed onto the campus on select days depending on their job.

Some Apple employees, like hardware and software engineers, began returning to Apple Park in May, but Apple is now ready to start its multi-phase plan that will see additional employees returning to the site. A second phase is expected to begin in July, though Apple has said that its plans are fluid and could change based on local and state stay-at-home orders. The first phase of employee return has already started in Apple offices outside of Silicon Valley.

Employees who return to Apple's campuses are being provided with an option to take a coronavirus nasal-swab test, and temperature checks are mandatory. Apple told employees that it will limit how many people are allowed in buildings and other work areas simultaneously, and masks will be required at all times across all of Apple's Silicon Valley offices.

Apple is having employees return to work earlier than many other major tech companies. Facebook and Google, for example, plan to allow most employees to work from home through the end of the year. Amazon will allow office workers to work from home until early October, and Twitter and Square plan to allow employees to work from home permanently if they choose to do so.

Some Apple senior executives have also been spending time at the campus as Apple prepares for WWDC and new product launches that will take place in the second half of 2020. Apple retail stores started reopening in May, and as of now, more than 300 stores worldwide have reopened.

On our YouTube channel, we have an ongoing video series designed to highlight new, interesting, and useful iOS apps that we think are worth downloading and checking out.

There are so many apps in the iOS App Store that it can be difficult to find new apps to download, plus it's easy to overlook great apps that are a bit older. This week's picks include apps for managing tasks, finding content on Netflix, and organizing your home, plus we've included some fun games.

• Tasks (Free) - Tasks is a to-do app that lets you create tasks that you need to work on, either immediately or over time. You can organize everything in your life into different categories like Family, Home, Office and more, with sub tasks that can be used for managing projects. Tasks can be managed by the list they're organized in or by date for those that are due soon. Plenty of features are available, like tags, multi-user support, date detection, image support, and more. Tasks is free, but unlocking "Plus" features requires an in-app purchase.
• New on Flix (Free) - Looking for something new to watch on Netflix? New on Flix is the app for you. It's not an official Netflix app and it's pretty simple - it just shows you what new content is added to Netflix every day. New on Flix is free, but you can pay $0.99 to remove ads.
• Homer (Free) - Homer is a digital binder that keeps track of everything needed to run your house. You can take pictures of appliance receipts and warranties, log repairs, take stock of the items in each room, make shopping lists for things you need, and more.
• Crashy Cats (Free) - Crashy Cats is an endless runner where the goal is to take on the role of a cat to jump, bounce, and fly through levels while knocking over as many things as possible. It's free to play, but there are in-app purchases for additional in-game "Fish" currency.
• SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit (Apple Arcade) - SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit is a new ‌Apple Arcade‌ game that's described as a platform runner. In the app, players take on the role of SpongeBob to defeat Plankton's minions and rescue SpongeBob's friends. There are familiar locations like Bikini Bottom, Glove World, and more, along with mechanics that include trampolines, zip lines, and transformation machines to morph SpongeBob into a range of silly forms. It's free and there are no ads, but a $4.99 per month subscription to ‌Apple Arcade‌ is required.

Have a favorite iOS app? Let us know in the comments. We're always looking for new iOS app ideas, and we'll check out suggestions from MacRumors readers. You can see our recommendations from previous months here, and don't miss our Mac app series featuring great Mac apps worth taking a look at.

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.

A eufyCam 2 security system with two cameras and hub is priced at $300 on Amazon, while a eufyCam 2C security system with two cameras and hub can be purchased for $187.

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.

Steve Moser contributed to this report.

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 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.

A list of what's new is below:

• Tech21 Clear Case for the 16-inch MacBook Pro ($90)
• Leather AirPods Pro Case from Native Union ($50)
• OtterBox Lumen Case for AirPods Pro ($35)
• OtterBox Symmetry 360 Case for iPad Air ($70)
• OtterBox Symmetry 360 Case for iPad ($70)
• Incase ICON Sleeve for 13-inch MacBook Air/Pro ($70)
• Lander Argo Sleeve for 13-inch MacBook Air/Pro ($70)

All of the case options can be found on Apple's website using the links above.

Following several leaks and their official announcement late last month, the four new colors of Powerbeats Pro wireless earphones are now available to order through Apple.

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.

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.