Disney+ is no longer offering seven-day free trials of the streaming service to new subscribers, reports French news site Numerama.
A Disney spokesperson suggested the ending of the free trial formed part of an initial investigation into different offers and promotions to best expand the service's user base.
"We continue to test and evaluate different marketing, offers and promotions to grow Disney Plus," the company said in a statement. "The service was set at an attractive price-to-value proposition that we believe delivers a compelling entertainment offering on its own."
It's not known exactly when Disney stopped offering the trial, but the decision comes ahead of the hotly anticipated July 3 premiere of "Hamilton," a movie based on Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical. Disney reportedly paid $75 million for worldwide rights to the movie, which will air over a year ahead of its original planned theatrical release.
Going forward, anyone wanting to watch "Hamilton" next month will have to pay for at least one month of Disney Plus, priced at $6.99, but that's unlikely to concern Disney.
The streaming service has amassed at least 50 million subscribers since its launch last November and has a significant edge over Apple's rival TV+ service, thanks to an established catalog of content that includes many popular Star Wars and Marvel franchises.
For example, "The Mandalorian," the key show Disney+ premiered with, received more attention than any of Apple TV+'s launch shows, including "The Morning Show," "Dickinson," "See," and "For All Mankind." In a bid to rival that interest, Apple is reportedly in the process of purchasing older movies and shows for Apple TV+ to build a back catalog of content.
Apple has not released subscriber numbers Apple TV+, which costs $4.99 a month, so there's no direct comparison to Disney+. Since September though, Apple has been providing a free year of service to anyone who purchases a new Apple device, so it will take at least a year before Apple has large numbers of paying subscribers.
Apple's 31st annual Worldwide Developers Conference will be unlike any WWDC before, because it's the first WWDC event that's going to be held in a digital-only capacity. That means it's free for all developers, but we're in uncharted territory when it comes to format.
Apple plans to hold a virtual keynote, which is set to take place on Monday, June 22. Though there's no physical event this year, Apple still has big plans for WWDC. Along with the usual software updates, rumors suggest Apple could unveil a redesigned iMac and give us our first glimpse at the custom-designed Arm-based chips it will use for future Macs.
Below, we've outlined everything that we're expecting to see from Apple at the digital keynote event.
Redesigned iMac
Rumors suggest Apple will unveil a new iMac at WWDC, with the machine featuring the first redesign that it has seen since 2012.
Sonny Dickson, a leaker who sometimes shares details on Apple's plans, says the updated iMac will use "iPad Pro design language" with much thinner bezels that are similar in size to the bezels on the Pro Display XDR.
A mockup of an iMac with thin bezels and an iPad Pro-like design
The iMac is rumored to include a T2 chip for security and controller functions, plus it will feature AMD Navi graphics and all-flash storage, with Apple eliminating the Fusion Drive. Intel in April announced "Comet Lake" chips that could be used in the updated iMac.
iMac size is unclear, but rumors have indicated that at least one model could measure in at 23 inches, bigger than the current 21.5-inch iMac. It's likely to be the same general size as the 21.5-inch model, but with slimmer bezels. The exact size for the larger iMac is unclear.
Rumors have been a bit mixed when it comes to release dates, with the 23-inch iMac rumors suggesting a launch in the second half of 2020, so it's not clear if both iMac sizes will be refreshed at the same time. One could come at WWDC and one could come later, or the WWDC timeline could be incorrect and we could be left waiting until later in the year for a new version of the iMac.
There have been rumors about Apple's work on custom-designed Arm-based chips for years now, and at WWDC 2020, Apple may finally be ready to unveil its efforts and details on its plan to replace Intel chips in Macs.
Bloomberg says Apple will unveil its custom chips at WWDC, but don't expect a Mac with an Arm-based chip right away - the first machine isn't expected to debut until 2021. Apple is making an early announcement to give developers time to prepare for the transition.
Apple has at least three Mac processors in development based on the A14 chip set to be included in the upcoming iPhone 12 models. The first Apple-designed Mac chips will feature 12 cores with eight high-performance cores and at least four energy-efficient cores.
Releasing its own custom-designed chips will allow Apple to untether itself from Intel, which will allow for more regular Mac updates as Apple will not have to rely on Intel's chip release schedule. Arm-based chips will feature faster performance and reduced power consumption, which could bring better battery life.
We don't typically know too much about new versions of iOS ahead of when they're released, but in 2020, an early version of iOS 14 leaked in March, giving us some insight into what Apple is working on for the update.
The features listed below were discovered in the software, but it's worth noting that some of these new additions may have been shelved due to delays caused by the global health crisis.
First and foremost, iOS 14 will focus on performance and quality due to the numerous bugs that were found in iOS 13, but there are still quite a few new features in the works.
Setting Third-Party Apps as Default
2020 might be the year that Apple will allow iPhone and iPad users to set third-party mail, browser, and music apps as their defaults instead of Apple's own apps.
The change would allow apps like Google Chrome and Gmail to be set as the default apps on iOS devices, so tapping on a link or an email address would not necessarily open Apple's own apps. The change would also allow music apps used with the HomePod to work with Siri, something limited to Apple Music at the current time.
Home Screen Redesign
Right now, all the apps are organized in a grid pattern on the iPhone, but Apple could introduce an Apple Watch-like option that allows installed apps to be viewed in a list, which would make it easier to manage apps.
The list will show all of the apps installed on the iPhone, with users able to select viewing filters to see app categories like recently used or apps with unread notifications.
Along with an optional list view, iOS 14 may also offer Home screen widget options, allowing for widgets that can be moved freely around the Home screen much like app icons.
Wallpapers could improve significantly in iOS 14, as Apple could be planning to add support for third-party wallpaper packs in the update. This would let developers create wallpaper options for iPhone and iPad that could be installed through the Wallpaper section of the Settings app.
Fitness App
Apple plans to bring a new fitness app to the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The app will let users download fitness-related videos that will walk them through workouts. Multiple workout types will be available, including indoor running, cycling, rowing, stretching, core training, strength training, outdoor walking, dance, and yoga.
New Features for the Messages App
Apple is testing new features for Messages, including a new Slack-like mention system that will let users tag contacts with their name, such as @eric or @dan. In a busy group chat, this will make it possible to mute the overall conversation but receive push notifications when someone uses an @mention with your name.
A mockup of @mentions in Messages in iOS 14
Also for group chats, Apple may be planning to add multi-person typing indicators so you can see everyone that's currently typing in chat with more than one person.
A mockup of group typing indicators in Messages in iOS 14
Apple could be planning to add support for the /me command that's currently limited to the Mac, and perhaps most exciting, there may be a new feature that will let users retract sent messages. That a message was retracted would be visible to both parties.
A mockup of iMessage retracting in iOS 14
Finally, there could be an option to mark a message as unread, which will let users retain the unread icon so a task or request isn't forgotten.
A mockup of Mark as Unread in Messages in iOS 14
New Augmented Reality App
There could be an all-new augmented reality app in iOS 14, which is designed to let users get more information about the world around them using AR. Based on code in iOS 14, the app could feature integrations with Apple Stores and Starbucks.
These integrations could let users do things like hold up an iPhone in an Apple Store to see AR information about the products, or scan a QR code to see detailed information about an object at Starbucks.
Apple-designed QR codes found in iOS 14
QR codes may work as triggers for AR experiences, and Apple-designed QR codes have been found in Apple's iOS 14 AR app, which is code-named Gobi. There are signs that the Gobi app could offer comparison shopping and promotions or content experiences based on specific locations.
iCloud Keychain
iCloud Keychain will include warnings whenever a password is reused in iOS 14, which should help encourage users to select different passwords for each site and service. Apple may also add a way to save two-factor authentication passwords, which would let iCloud Keychain generate two-factor authentication codes.
Clips
Apple is developing a feature that will let users interact with select content and experiences in apps without needing to have those apps installed. Apple has codenamed this feature "Clips," and it will allow users to scan a QR code linked to an app and interact with content from that app through a floating card on the screen.
The card will offer up options to download the full version of the app from the App Store or open content in app if it's already installed. Apple is testing Clips with OpenTable, Yelp, DoorDash, YouTube, and the PS4 Second Screen app from Sony.
As an example, a restaurant might have a scannable QR code that would open up the Yelp app or allow it to be installed to leave a review. A movie poster could offer a QR code that could be scanned to open up and play a YouTube video without the YouTube app needing to be installed.
New HomeKit Features
HomeKit may gain a new Night Shift for lights feature that would let HomeKit adjust the color temperature of HomeKit-connected lights based on the time of day. Early in the day, the lights would feature blue lighting to match the light from the sun, but at night, the lights would shift to a warmer, more yellow tone.
HomeKit Secure Video may be updated with facial recognition, allowing HomeKit cameras to be able to identify specific people.
Apple Pencil Updates
For iPadOS 14, Apple is adding a new PencilKit feature that will let users handwrite text in any text input field using the Apple Pencil, with the handwritten content then converted into standard text before it's sent.
The update could include support for Apple Pencil input on websites in Safari, allowing an Apple Pencil to be used for drawing and marking up as well as scrolling.
Updated Activity App
watchOS 7 is expected to bring a Kids Mode to the Apple Watch, and iOS 14 will feature a tweaked Activity app to accommodate the new mode. Instead of tracking active calories burned, the Activity app when used in Kids Mode will track movement time, which is a healthier metric for children.
Shot on iPhone Photos App Integration
Apple hosts Shot on iPhone photo challenges to collect high-quality Shot on iPhone images that can be used in videos and on billboards, and in iOS 14, Shot on iPhone contests could potentially be integrated into the Photos app. This would allow iPhone users to submit their photos and see challenge results right in the Photos app.
Safari Updates
Safari in iOS 14 might offer a built-in translation feature that would let users translate webpages without using a third-party app or service.
Apple Maps
Apple Maps in iOS 14 could provide additional information for select businesses, such as specific Genius Bar services offered by an Apple store, movie theaters with IMAX showtimes, and locations that offer discounts for children.
Find My
Find My in iOS 14 will include a notification feature that can provide alerts when someone doesn't arrive at a specific location at a scheduled time of day, so a parent can do something like set up an alert for when a child arrives at school at a certain time. If the child doesn't make it by the deadline, an alert would be sent.
CarPlay
CarPlay in iOS 14 might support custom wallpapers, displaying the wallpaper on the CarPlay interface. Wallpapers will be able to switch between light and dark mode based on the time of day.
Health App Sleep Tracking
The next-generation Apple Watch will feature Sleep Tracking, a feature that will integrate with the Health app on the iPhone. Users will be able to set a personalized sleep goal, and the Health app will provide recommendations on improving sleep.
Sleep tracking may not be unveiled until the fall with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 6, so this is a feature that we may not see when the iOS 14 beta releases.
Xcode
Apple could be developing a full version of Xcode that runs on iPads, but there's been some contention about whether or not this is a feature that's actually in the works.
CarKey
Apple is working on a "CarKey" feature that would allow the iPhone and Apple Watch to be used to lock, unlock, and start a car that has NFC capabilities. CarKey would let iPhone owners use their devices in lieu of a physical car key, and it's a feature that could be coming as part of iOS 14.
More Features
For a full list of all of the features that are rumored to be coming to iOS 14, make sure to check out our iOS 14 roundup.
macOS 10.16
Most of the leaks that we've seen have focused heavily on iOS and iPadOS 14, and little has been shared about macOS 10.16, which is as of yet unnamed. macOS 10.16 could, however, include some of the features that are coming to iOS 14, such as the changes to the Messages app.
There are even hints in iOS 14 that Apple is working on a Catalyst version of the Messages app for Mac, which would make the Mac Messages app much more similar to the iOS Messages app.
Other features rumored for iOS 14 that could come to the Mac include built-in translations for Safari, Shot on iPhone integration into Photos, reused passwords in iCloud Keychain, third-party default apps, and wallpaper collection support.
watchOS 7
For kids who wear Apple Watches, there's a new Kids Mode rumored for watchOS 7, which will include a new Activity mode that measures movement time instead of calories burned.
To go along with this, Apple will add a SchoolTime feature that will let parents manage which apps and complications on an Apple Watch are accessible during specific hours. General parental controls will also be available.
With the fitness app coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, the Apple Watch will be able to be used to track progress through various workout routines.
A Share Your Face feature may allow users to share specific Apple Watch faces and complication settings with one another, and there are new watch faces coming such as Infograph Pro with a tachymeter and an international watch face that shows flags from different countries.
When new Apple Watch models are released later this year, watchOS 7 could have new capabilities related to blood oxygen tracking and mental health capabilities, though not much is known about these new features at the current time.
We don't know much about tvOS 14 at all, but based on the iOS 14 leaks, we do know that the Apple TV will get a new fitness app. The update could also feature a new permanent audio option for the Apple TV, with users able to specify the HomePod or another speaker as the default audio option without having to manually choose it as an AirPlay 2 target each time audio is played.
There's little else to say about tvOS at this time, but we can perhaps expect new animated screensavers, which Apple adds to the Apple TV with each update. There have also been rumors suggesting Apple could add a Screen Time feature to the Apple TV to track how much time is spent watching television.
Other Possible Hardware Announcements
Apple has multiple other products in the works that are likely going to launch at some point in 2020, and Apple could use WWDC to debut them. We've heard no specific details about these devices coming at WWDC, though, so it's a bit of a long shot.
AirTags
Apple is creating Tile-like Bluetooth tracking tags that are designed to be attached to keys and wallets for tracking purposes, with lost items able to be searched for right in the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, Macs, and iCloud.
A mockup of what AirTags might look like
Apple plans to call these little tracking tags "AirTags," and hints of AirTags have been showing up in various versions of iOS since iOS 13 was in beta testing.
AirTags will work over Bluetooth and will have a built-in chip that lets them communicate with an Apple device, relaying the position of lost devices they're attached to. AirTags may also include ultra-wideband technology, which would allow them to work with the U1 chips in the latest iPhones.
With ultra-wideband support, AirTags would be able to provide more precise location information than Bluetooth alone, and there's also going to be a crowd tracking feature that will leverage other people's devices nearby to help you find what you've lost.
Images found in iOS 13 suggest AirTags will be small, circular white tags with an Apple logo, which will be able to attach to items using adhesive or an attachment point like a ring. AirTags will show up in the Find My app, and when an item is lost, there may be an AR component that will help you locate whatever's missing using the camera of an iPhone or iPad.
AirTag image found in iOS
We have no information on when Apple will launch the AirTags, but it's very possible they're tied to iOS 14 and could be introduced at WWDC or in the fall alongside new iPhones.
Apple is developing high-end over-ear headphones that are rumored to be called the AirPods Studio. The new headphones will join the AirPods lineup with the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro, and they will be Apple-branded and distinct from the Beats lineup.
A mockup of AirPods Studio
The AirPods Studio is said to feature Active Noise Cancellation, equalizer settings controlled though the iPhone, head and neck detection, and a $349 price tag.
Apple may also be working on multiple designs, one that's a higher-end premium version and one that's fitness-focused and made from lighter weight materials. According to Bloomberg, the headphones will feature magnetic ear cups and headband padding that can be swapped out, allowing for a customizable look.
Rumors have indicated the headphones will launch at some point in 2020, but a specific date has not been nailed down.
AirPower may have been nixed back in 2019, but there have been persistent rumors that Apple is working on some kind of wireless charging mat that could launch in 2020. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in January said that Apple is working on a "small wireless charging mat" with no other details provided.
Leaker Jon Prosser in March said that AirPower "isn't dead" and that the project is "back on internally," but it's not clear if he too was talking about the wireless charging mat that Apple has in development, nor is it clear if that product is the discontinued AirPower or something else entirely.
Bloomberg has also said that Apple is still exploring ways to make the AirPower work, so we could see some kind of AirPower product this year.
Refreshed Apple TV
We've been hearing rumors about a refreshed Apple TV for months, but there's so far been no word on when it's coming. Apple is definitely working on a refreshed model, perhaps with an A12X Bionic chip, new storage tiers, and possibly a new remote control, but it's not clear if it's going to be released at WWDC or later in the year.
Apple will livestream of the WWDC keynote available on its website, the Apple Developer apps, and through the TV app on the Apple TV, but for those unable to watch, we'll be covering the event on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
We'll also have in-depth coverage of all of Apple's hardware and software announcements throughout the week.
As Apple prepares to unveil its next-generation version of iOS, iOS 14, new iOS installation numbers indicate that iOS 13, the current update, is installed on 92 percent of all iPhones introduced in the last four years.
Seven percent of iPhones released in the last four years run iOS 12, and two percent run an earlier version of iOS.
When it comes to all iPhones, including those that were released more than four years ago, 81 percent of devices have iOS 13 installed. 13 percent are running iOS 12, and six percent are running an earlier version of iOS.
As for the iPad, 93 percent of all iPads introduced in the last four years run iPadOS, while five percent run iOS 12 and just one percent run an earlier version of iOS.
When counting all iPads still in use, 73 percent run iPadOS, 16 percent run iOS 12, and 11 percent run an earlier version of iOS.
Apple hasn't released updated iOS installation numbers since January, and over the course of the last several months, many more people have upgraded to the iOS 13 operating system.
At the end of January, iOS 13 was installed on 77 percent of iPhones released in the last four years, and 79 percent of iPads released in the last four years.
Apple will introduce iOS 14 on Monday, June 22 at its WWDC keynote, with the update set to be released in the fall alongside new iPhones. As work picks up on iOS 14, Apple will focus less on iOS 13 in order to add features and fixes to the new update.
The Hitch Crossbody Brief is a vertical briefcase that comes in either full ($259) or compact ($249) size options. The compact version of the Laptop Brief is designed to fit a MacBook Air or an iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard (or similarly sized devices), while the full is designed to fit devices similar in size to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which is Apple's largest notebook computer.
Available in either black ballistic or brown waxed canvas with full-grain leather accents, the Crossbody Brief is durable and designed to hold up well for years to come.
There are two built-in padded pockets lined with soft fabric to keep your devices safe, along with organizational pockets and a key hook to keep smaller accessories and devices organized. There's a front pocket that's meant to keep bulky items from bulging out, and the gold liner makes it easy to find items inside.
The Crossbody Brief can be worn as a crossbody bag as the name suggests, or held in the hand to serve as a vertical briefcase. The vertical construction is designed to evenly distribute weight to make it comfortable to carry, and when worn on the shoulder, there's an adjustable Supreme Suspension Strap.
The bag is weather resistant and it includes YKK zippers to keep water out, and when used with a luggage set, it can be placed over the handle of a suitcase with the passthrough back pocket.
Along with the Hitch Crossbody Laptop Brief, WaterField's Tech Pocket and Gear Pouch add-ons offer even more organizational options. The Gear Pouch, available in three sizes and multiple colors (starting at $39), is designed to keep all your cords, dongles, power adapters, and other small odds and ends together so they don't get lost in your bag.
There are multiple internal pockets to keep things neatly organized, along with a zip outer pocket and a main middle compartment for larger accessories. The Gear Pouch's compact design is meant to make it easy to fit inside other bags, and the three-quarter zipper lets you get to what you need fast.
The Tech Pocket, priced at $49, is similar to the Gear Pouch, but instead of a top zipper, there's a magnetic closure for those who prefer an accessory bag that's easier to get into.
Sized to hold dongles, adapters, earbuds, an iPhone, and more, the Tech Pocket is smaller and more compact. It has a soft, plush lining to keep your gear from getting scratched, and there's a quick access zippered front pocket for things like keys.
We have one Hitch Crossbody Laptop Brief, Tech Pocket, and Gear Pouch setup to give away to a lucky MacRumors reader. 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.
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The contest will run from today (June 19) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on June 26. The winner will be chosen randomly on June 26 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
As coronavirus outbreaks spike in some areas of the United States, Apple is planning to close retail stores located in Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, and South Carolina, according to Bloomberg.
Apple began reopening stores in the United States in May, and as of this week, 154 of the company's 271 stores had been reopened. Coronavirus cases are climbing in some places in the U.S., however, and Apple is reclosing locations in affected areas.
Apple will be closing eleven of its retail stores, including Southpark and Northlake Mall in North Carolina, Waterside Shops and Coconut Point in Florida, Haywood Mall in South Carolina, and Chandler Fashion Center, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Arrowhead, SanTan Village, Scottsdale Quarter, and La Encantada in Arizona.
Apple had reopened all 18 of its stores in Florida, five in Arizona, three in North Carolina, and one in South Carolina prior to the closures. Apple in a statement said that it is temporarily closing stores in "an abundance of caution" and is closely monitoring the situation. There is no planned date for reopening, and customers who have devices being repaired at these locations can pick them up this weekend.
Apple's retail chief, Deirdre O'Brien in a letter to customers amid of store openings said that Apple will only reopen stores when its confident it can safely serve customers.
Decisions to close or reopen stores are based on data evaluation, such as local cases, near and long-term trends, and guidance from national and local health officials. O'Brien warned that Apple would not hesitate to close stores again if coronavirus cases spiked. "These are not decisions we rush into -- and a store opening in no way means that we won't take the preventative step of closing it again should local conditions warrant," O'Brien said.
In stores that have reopened, Apple is implementing safety measures that include mandatory masks, social distancing, frequent cleaning, temperature checks, and more. In some locations, stores are open only for repairs and curb-side pickup, while others are open but with a limited number of people allowed in at one time.
Apple TV+ today launched the new film "Dads," which is a documentary about fatherhood seen through the lens of six men from around the world. The movie features interviews, home-movie footage, viral videos, and testimonials from celebrities like Patton Oswalt, Judd Apatow, and Will Smith.
"Dads" is directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, and the film also includes interviews with her father Ron Howard, her late grandfather, and her brother. You can find "Dads" on Apple TV+ on any device that supports the Apple TV app.
In other Apple TV+ film news, Apple today made "The Banker" free for anyone to watch. This means that even if you aren't subscribed to Apple TV+, as long as you have access to the TV app you can search for The Banker and watch it for free through June 30 (via Deadline).
"The Banker" premiered on Apple TV+ back in March, and it follows the true story of businessmen Bernard Garrett and Joe Morris, "who devise an audacious and risky plan to take on the racist establishment of the 1960s by helping other African Americans pursue the American dream."
Apple has made "The Banker" free to stream in honor of Juneteenth. Additionally, one episode of the documentary series "Dear..." and a few select films like "The Hate U Give" and "Selma" remain free to watch in the Apple TV app or from iTunes.
Amazon has a deal on Apple's 2020 MacBook Air, offering the 512GB notebook for $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00. This $100 off discount is a match of the previous low price tracked for this model of the MacBook Air, and it remains the best sale on the notebook among the major Apple resellers online.
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.
You can also find the 256GB model on sale at Amazon, priced at $899.99, down from $999.00. This sale is also available at B&H Photo, which is offering a few more colors at a discounted price, including Gold and Space Gray.
This model of the MacBook Air launched a few months ago in March and it has a new Magic Keyboard with scissor switches, faster processors for better CPU and GPU performance, and more storage space. The new Magic Keyboard features a refined scissor mechanism that's more reliable than the previous butterfly mechanism, and it offers up to 1mm of key travel for a stable key feel.
We've begun tracking the best monthly deals on all new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air notebooks in our new "Best Deals" guide. Be sure to visit the guide and bookmark it if you're on the hunt for a new Apple notebook; we'll be updating it weekly as we discover new MacBook offers across the web.
Pixelmator Photo for iPad was updated today to version 1.3, bringing new shortcut menus, customizable accent colors, and batch photo editing improvements to the app.
The new shortcut menus are activated using the touch and hold gesture, and add several functions that aim to make Pixelmator Photo more powerful.
When touching and holding a photo in the Photos library browser, for example, users can quickly share, favorite, duplicate, revert, or delete photos.
The new shortcut menus also allow users to copy and paste adjustments or apply batch workflows from the Photos or Files browsers.
Meanwhile, there are improvements to color adjustment present management, allowing users to create custom color adjustment preset collections and rearrange and remove them for a more personalized editing experience.
Elsewhere, Pixelmator Photo 1.3 includes a new Accent Color feature that lets users customize the color of buttons and other elements in the app. Batch editing has also been improved with a way to mark workflows as favorites and apply them in the Photos or Files browser.
Pixelmator Photo is available to download from the App Store [Direct Link] as a free update for existing users or for $4.99 for new customers.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman this morning filed a story detailing the internal divisions at Apple that led it to change the course of its AR and VR headset development.
Specifically, the report covers disagreements between former Apple design chief Jony Ive and Mike Rockwell, the executive heading up Apple's secretive 1,000-strong group devoted to VR and AR, regarding fundamental aspects of the headset, codenamed N301.
N301 was initially designed to be an ultra-powerful system, with graphics and processing speeds previously unheard of for a wearable product. The processing capabilities were so advanced—and produced so much heat—that the technology couldn’t be crammed into a sleek headset. Instead, Rockwell’s team planned to sell a stationary hub, which in prototype form resembled a small Mac, that would connect to the headset with a wireless signal. In Rockwell’s early version, the headset would also be able to operate in a less-powerful independent mode.
Ive balked at the prospect of selling a headset that would require a separate, stationary device for full functionality. He encouraged Rockwell and his team to redevelop N301 around the less powerful technology that could be embedded entirely in the device. Rockwell pushed back, arguing that a wireless hub would enable performance so superior that it would blow anything else on the market out of the water. The standoff lasted for months.
According to the report, Apple CEO Tim Cook ultimately sided with Ive, who didn't want Apple promoting technology that would take people out of the real world. As a result, the headset no longer communicates with a separate hub, making graphics unlikely to be as good as they might have been, and download speeds potentially slower.
Although the headset now in development is less technologically ambitious than originally intended, it's pretty advanced. It's designed to feature ultra-high-resolution screens that will make it almost impossible for a user to differentiate the virtual world from the real one. A cinematic speaker system will make the experience even more realistic, people who have used prototypes say.
Prototypes of the N301 are said to look like a smaller Oculus Quest, Facebook's VR headset, with a mostly fabric body but less plastic than the Quest. Apple's engineering teams are reportedly still testing the device on different head shapes to find the ideal fit, and the company hasn't settled on pricing.
Apple wants the headset to have its own App Store "with a focus on gaming and the ability to stream video content, while also serving as a sort of super-high-tech communications device for virtual meetings." Siri will control the headset, although it is also reportedly being tested with a physical remote.
The N301 headset 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." Ive, who left Apple last year after almost three decades at the company, is said to have preferred the concept of the N421 glasses.
Apple's augmented reality headset is expected to be released in 2022 followed by the sleeker pair of augmented reality glasses coming in 2023. You can read the full Bloomberg report here, and for everything we know on Apple's AR/VR plans, be sure to check our dedicated roundup.
In a U-turn by the popular videoconferencing platform, Zoom this week announced it will make end-to-end encryption available to all users, both paid and unpaid.
...we have identified a path forward that balances the legitimate right of all users to privacy and the safety of users on our platform. This will enable us to offer E2EE as an advanced add-on feature for all of our users around the globe -- free and paid -- while maintaining the ability to prevent and fight abuse on our platform.
To make this possible, Free/Basic users seeking access to E2EE will participate in a one-time process that will prompt the user for additional pieces of information, such as verifying a phone number via a text message. Many leading companies perform similar steps on account creation to reduce the mass creation of abusive accounts. We are confident that by implementing risk-based authentication, in combination with our current mix of tools -- including our Report a User function -- we can continue to prevent and fight abuse.
End-to-end encryption ensures no one but the participants and their devices can see and hear what is happening in a meeting, although it will exclude people who call in to Zoom meetings from a telephone line.
Zoom has attracted millions of free and paying customers amid the global health crisis, with stay-at-home measures causing a surge in the number of people working remotely.
Zoom originally said its initial decision to offer full encryption to premium users only had been based on "a combination of technological, safety and business factors," however in this case it appears as though public pressure won out and led the company to reconsider.
Apple already uses end-to-end encryption to protect FaceTime users as call data travels between two or more devices. Even Apple can't decrypt the call and listen in to user's conversations.
Russia this week lifted a nearly two-year ban on messenger app Telegram after it failed to prevent the encrypted platform from being widely used, reports Reuters.
Some Russian media portrayed the move as a capitulation, but the country's media regulator Roskomnadzor said the company had shown "willingness" to help with counterterrorism efforts.
"Roskomnadzor is dropping its demands to restrict access to Telegram messenger in agreement with Russia’s general prosecutor's office," it said in a statement.
The Telegram platform allows people to communicate with each other using end-to-end encryption, meaning no-one – not even Telegram – has access to messages sent between users.
In April 2018, Roskomnadzor began legal proceedings to block the app in the country, after Dubai-based Telegram refused to comply with requests that it hand over the encryption keys that would allow it to access users' data.
But despite blocking IP addresses and VPN services that Telegram may have used to hide traffic, the ensuing ban was largely ineffective.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said at the time that his company had chosen to do the "only possible thing" and refused to provide Russia with decryption keys to access user messages, "preserving the right of our users privacy in a troubled country."
Telegram has over 200 million users globally. They have included Kremlin staff, who used Telegram to coordinate conference calls with Vladimir Putin's spokesman. Many government officials also use the messenger app to communicate with media.
Apple today sent out a new Apple Pay promo email, offering Apple Pay discounts from merchants that include Burger King, Puma, Cole Haan, HBX, Oakley, 1stdibs, Stadium Goods, and Sunglass Hut.
The promotions provide discounts or credits for future purchases when using Apple Pay to check out in an app or on the web, with a list below:
Burger King - Get a $1 Whopper in the Burger King app.
Cole Haan - 20% off plus free shipping with code APPLEPAY.
HBX - 15% off full priced streetwear with code APPLEPAY.
Oakley - $25 off next purchase when spending $100+ on sunglasses.
Puma - 20% off shoes, apparel, and more with code APPLEPAY.
Sunglass Hut - 15% off select styles with code APPLEPAY.
1stdibs - $100 off luxury goods when spending $500+ with code APPLEPAY.
Stadium Goods - 10% off street stylus plus free shipping in the Stadium Goods app.
Apple also highlights Apple Pay partners who offer free shipping and returns, which includes Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Chico's, Soma, Tommy Hilfiger, and White House Black Market.
The deals will be available through July 1 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time when using Apple Pay in partner apps or websites in the United States. A full list of summer Apple Pay discounts can be found on Apple's website with links to each site and more information on the deals.
The Apple Watch, which can be worn while swimming and doing other water-based activities, has a neat feature that's designed to use the speakers to eject water, protecting the internal components.
The Slow Mo Guys, known for science and technology-related videos that take advantage of slow-motion cameras, today took a look at how the Apple Watch water ejecting feature works, featuring it up close and slowed down.
As the video demonstrates, the Apple Watch goes through 10 cycles where the speakers vibrate to push out all of the water inside. In slow motion, the force with which the water is expelled can be seen, and it's an impressive visual.
When planning to use the Apple Watch in the water or when a swimming workout is initiated, users can set a water lock feature that's designed to prevent the display from activating when exposed to water droplets.
When turned off, the feature, enabled through the Control Center, triggers the function that expels water from the speaker when the Digital Crown of the Apple Watch is turned. The water lock and water ejecting features are available on the Apple Watch Series 2 and later.
Ahead of Monday's WWDC Event, Apple has folded the "Apple Events" app on tvOS into the Apple TV app, which is where the WWDC keynote will be able to be watched.
Searching for the Events app in the tvOS App Store confirms the swap to the TV app, as does attempting to download the Events app for the first time. This appears to be a change that's rolling out at the current time, as opening up the Events app still shows the September 2019 event info.
With Apple sunsetting the Events app, the WWDC keynote and future events will be provided to Apple TV users in the Apple TV app. This also has the benefit of making the event stream available on non-Apple devices that have access to the Apple TV app, such as smart TVs.
Apple's WWDC keynote will kick off on Monday, June 22 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The keynote can be viewed in the Apple TV app, on the Apple Events website, in the Developer app, on the Developer website, or on YouTube.
Schiller says that there are "many things" that Hey's developers could do to make the app work within the existing App Store rules, and Apple would "love for them to do that."
Hey, an email app created by the team that developed Basecamp, is priced at $99 per year. Subscriptions for the service need to be purchased on the Hey website and are not offered in app because Hey's developers don't want to pay a 30 percent cut to Apple.
The current incarnation of the app offers no in-app purchases and no signup options. The app opens straight to a login screen that lets users know that they can't subscribe to the service in the app. Because Apple does not allow for outside links that skirt its in-app purchase options, Hey also offers no link to the website where users can sign up.
Schiller says that this is not an ideal app experience for users.
"You download the app and it doesn't work, that's not what we want on the store," says Schiller. This, he says, is why Apple requires in-app purchases to offer the same purchasing functionality as they would have elsewhere.
Apple does have a rule that requires apps that offer subscriptions and purchase options on the web and elsewhere to also provide in-app purchases so users can sign up right on an iPhone or an iPad, but the company makes an exception for "Reader" apps.
Netflix and Spotify, for example, have apps in the App Store where users can't sign up for their services in the app itself and must already have an existing account. Hey wanted to use the same exception as other "Reader" apps, which Apple views as apps that display external content like music, books, and movies, but Schiller says that Hey does not qualify as a "Reader" app.
"We didn't extend these exceptions to all software," said Schiller. "Email is not and has never been an exception included in this rule." According to Schiller, Apple made an error approving the original version of the Hey app, and it should have been rejected. Apple did actually reject Hey's Mac App Store app, but the iOS app slipped by.
TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino asked Schiller if he expects Apple to get a portion of the revenue of every business that has an app, regardless of whether it was iOS first, but he said "that's not what [Apple's] doing."
Schiller said that Hey's developers have a number of options to comply with Apple's rules to remain in the App Store, such as charging different prices in the app and on the web, or offering a free version with additional paid functions that could be purchased through the Hey website.
One way that Hey could have gone, Schiller says, is to offer a free or paid version of the app with basic email reading features on the App Store then separately offered an upgraded email service that worked with the Hey app on iOS on its own website. Schiller gives one more example: an RSS app that reads any feed, but also reads an upgraded feed that could be charged for on a separate site. In both cases, the apps would have functionality when downloaded on the store.
Apple also provided TechCrunch with a copy of the letter that was sent to the Hey team, which outlines the rules that Hey has violated and explains that Apple is happy to provide a platform for the team to distribute apps for free, so long as the rules are followed.
"Thank you for being an iOS app developer. We understand that Basecamp has developed a number of apps and many subsequent versions for the App Store for many years, and that the App Store has distributed millions of these apps to iOS users. These apps do not offer in-app purchase -- and, consequently, have not contributed any revenue to the App Store over the last eight years. We are happy to continue to support you in your app business and offer you the solutions to provide your services for free -- so long as you follow and respect the same App Store Review Guidelines and terms that all developers must follow."
Schiller's full comments on the situation, as well as Apple's complete letter to Hey, can be read over on TechCrunch, and a summary of the rejection and Hey's thoughts on the matter can be found here.
Microsoft is not involved in the investigation, but Microsoft joined the conversation today when president Brad Smith said at a Politico event (via Bloomberg) that it's time for regulators to take a look at app stores. Smith was careful not to name Apple or Google, but those are the two companies that have major digital software marketplaces and that are the focus of the investigation.
"They impose requirements that increasingly say there is only one way to get on to our platform and that is to go through the gate that we ourselves have created," Smith said. "In some cases they create a very high price per toll - in some cases 30% of your revenue has to go to the toll keeper."
"The time has come - whether we are talking about D.C. or Brussels - for a much more focused conversation about the nature of app stores, the rules that are being put in place, the prices and the tolls that are being extracted and whether there is really a justification in antitrust law for everything that has been created," Smith said.
Microsoft distributes apps through the App Store and Google Play stores and has a vested interest in lowering the fees that app developers must pay. Microsoft pays Apple 15 to 30 percent for any customers who subscribe to Office 365 through Apple's platform.
Some app stores, says Smith, have created "higher walls and far more formidable gates" than what existed 20 years ago when Microsoft itself lost a Windows antitrust case.
Apple is facing an antitrust investigation in the United States, which is nearing completion, as well as a separate investigation in the EU that was just announced earlier this week. Both investigations are looking at App Store fees and the competitive advantages Apple's own apps have on Apple platforms.
Apple's App Store fees are akin to "highway robbery," Representative David Cicilline told The Verge in the latest Vergecast episode.
Cicilline, who is the Chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Antitrust looking into the App Store agreements that Apple has with developers, spoke to The Verge alongside Basecamp CTO David Heinemeier Hansson, developer of the "Hey" app that Apple rejected for failing to offer in-app subscription options.
According to Cicilline, Apple's market power allows it to charge "exorbitant rents" that crush small developers. The antitrust committee has heard from "many people" afraid of economic retaliation.
"Because of the market power that Apple has, it is charging exorbitant rents -- highway robbery, basically -- bullying people to pay 30 percent or denying access to their market. It's crushing small developers who simply can't survive with those kinds of payments. If there were real competition in this marketplace, this wouldn't happen."
"Many people have come forward to share their experiences, who are terrified of economic retaliation, who are afraid they can't survive the economic retaliation that these large platforms can impose because of the power that they have, and we intend to pursue those allegations very seriously. This is a real problem in the marketplace. This is a direct consequence of enormous market power, the fact that Apple is the gatekeeper for these developers, and we have heard many, many examples."
The antitrust subcommittee began soliciting opinions from developers back in November, speaking with those who had been impacted by some of Apple's App Store decisions. Developers of parental control apps impacted last year by Apple's limitations on the use of Mobile Device Management capabilities were among those contacted, for example. Heinemeier Hansson, whose email app "Hey" is in the news this week, also testified in January.
Heinemeier Hansson has been vocal about Hey's rejection from the App Store. After approving the app earlier this week, Apple rejected two updates and told the Hey team that it needs to provide an option to subscribe in the app, which would give Apple a 30 percent cut of the subscription fee.
Hey attempted to skirt Apple's rules around subscriptions by not offering a subscription in the app while also not linking to an outside subscription offering, something that Netflix and Spotify also do. Apple said that Hey isn't classified as a "Reader" app and isn't allowed to operate in that manner, a confusing stance that blindsided the Hey team.
Heinemeier Hansson in the podcast again explains the series of rejections, and shares his opinions on Apple's App Store policies.
So if we had the power, if we have the choice to distribute software to the iPhone without going through the App Store, we would. We would just have a link on our website that said, "Here you go. That's how you download the app for the iPhone," and we'd be fine.
The problem with the iPhone is that Apple sits as a gatekeeper. It blew my mind when the EU announced their investigation because they were literally going through the points that we were having: the only way to get on the iPhone is through Apple. Apple is a gatekeeper. Apple shakes down businesses for these 30 percent, and no one has a choice.
Amid the antitrust investigation, Apple this week highlighted a study that said the App Store ecosystem supported $519 billion in billings and sales worldwide in 2019. Apple often promotes how much developers earn from the App Store, a number that has reached over $155 billion.
Apple created the hardware and the platform that allows developers to distribute apps, but Cicilline doesn't believe that entitles the company to collect such high fees. "You cannot simply allow someone merely because they invented a system or a product to continue to enjoy that kind of monopoly power," Cicilline said. "It's contrary to our laws. It's unfair to new developers, new startups, and it hurts consumers."
Cicilline says that the antitrust investigation is "nearing completion" and that a final hearing will take place in July. The committee has been aiming to get major tech CEOs, including Tim Cook, to testify. Cook has so far declined, but Cicilline says that he expects when the hearing happens, "all four CEOs" will be there. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai have agreed to participate.
At the end of the investigation, the group will generate a report on the status of competition in the digital market, which will feature "recommendations with respect to legislative action." Cicilline believes a solution to the App Store problems will require "regulatory action and statutory changes" and that it's something that "Congress has a responsibility to fix."
The full Vergecast interview with Rep. David Cicilline and David Heinemeier Hansson can be accessed on The Verge's website.
Apple's 31st Worldwide Developers Conference will be a digital-only event in 2020, with no physical gathering planned due to the ongoing global health crisis.
The virtual event starts a little later in the month than usual, on June 22, and is free for anyone. As with previous years, Apple is kicking off WWDC with a keynote on the first day, offering a look at some upcoming products and providing the first details on new operating systems.
Rumors have suggested we could potentially see a new redesigned iMac and an announcement about Apple's planned shift to Arm-based Macs. We're also expecting a first-look at next-generation versions of macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS.
You can watch Apple's WWDC 2020 Keynote live as it happens using one of the methods described below. The stream for the event starts at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time from Apple Park in Cupertino, California. For reference, here's when the event will begin based on other time zones in the United States and around the world:
Honolulu, Hawaii — 7:00 a.m. HAST
Anchorage, Alaska — 9:00 a.m. AKDT
Cupertino, California — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Phoenix, Arizona — 10:00 a.m. MST
Vancouver, Canada — 10:00 a.m. PDT
Denver, Colorado — 11:00 a.m. MDT
Dallas, Texas — 12:00 noon CDT
New York, New York — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto, Canada — 1:00 p.m. EDT
Halifax, Canada — 2:00 p.m. ADT
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — 2:00 p.m. BRT
London, United Kingdom — 6:00 p.m. BST
Berlin, Germany — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Paris, France — 7:00 p.m. CEST
Cape Town, South Africa — 7:00 p.m. SAST
Moscow, Russia — 8:00 p.m. MSK
Helsinki, Finland — 8:00 p.m. EEST
Istanbul, Turkey — 8:00 p.m. TRT
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — 9:00 p.m. GST
Delhi, India — 10:30 p.m. IST
Jakarta, Indonesia — 12:00 a.m. WIB next day
Shanghai, China — 1:00 a.m. CST next day
Singapore — 1:00 a.m. SGT next day
Perth, Australia — 1:00 a.m. AWST next day
Hong Kong — 1:00 a.m. HKT next day
Seoul, South Korea — 2:00 a.m. KST next day
Tokyo, Japan — 2:00 a.m. JST next day
Adelaide, Australia — 2:30 a.m. ACST next day
Sydney, Australia — 3:00 a.m. AEST next day
Auckland, New Zealand — 5:00 a.m. NZST next day
MacRumors will also provide a live blog both here on MacRumors.com and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, along with detailed coverage of everything Apple announces during the week.
Watch the Keynote on Mac, iPhone or iPad
You can watch the WWDC keynote on any Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch using Apple's native Safari browser. Bear in mind, to meet the stream's requirements, iOS devices must be running iOS 10 or later, while Macs need to be running macOS Sierra 10.12 or later.
You can watch the WWDC keynote via Apple's TV app on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Open the TV app on your chosen device.
Scroll down the Watch Now category and select WWDC 2020. Alternatively, type "WWDC" into the Search field and select WWDC 2020 from the results.
Click Play.
The app may tell you to tune in at your local time on June 22 to watch the event live. In the meantime, you could always watch the WWDC 2019 keynote while you wait.
Watch the Keynote on a Windows PC
If you don't have an Apple device handy, you can still watch the WWDC 2020 keynote on a PC running Windows 10. Open Microsoft Edge browser and follow this link to the WWDC 2020 Livestream.
While Apple offers no guarantees, other platforms may also be able to access the WWDC 2020 keynote using recent versions of Chrome or Firefox (MSE, H.264, and AAC codecs/extensions must be installed).
Watch on YouTube or in the Apple Developer App
Apple will also stream its keynote event on YouTube. A WWDC Special Event video has been added to its YouTube channel. The video lets you set reminders for the keynote, so you can get an alert ahead of when it starts, so you don't miss a thing.
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