MacRumors

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.

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 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.

Apple should purchase a search engine to put pressure on Google, Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said Monday in a research report that was shared by Barron's.

Apple and Google don't share details on the amount of money that Google pays to be the default search engine for iOS and Siri, but Sacconaghi estimates that it's around $7 to $8 billion per year, or 30 percent of the estimated $25 billion that Google generates in ad revenue from search on Apple devices.

Google has long paid Apple to prevent Apple from turning to other search engine options like Microsoft's Bing, but Sacconaghi believes that Google has the upper hand in business dealings because it could opt to end its Apple deal if it can convince 70 percent of iOS users to go to Google.com for searching even if it's not the default Safari option.

Apple doesn't have many alternatives to Google, with its only leverage being a swap to Bing, so Sacconaghi suggests that Apple should acquire its own search engine.

"Yes, Google is clearly the dominant force in search today. However, we suspect the company's fear of 'rocking the boat'--which could compromise $15 billion in profits it captures today from iOS--may ultimately limit its freedom of action with Apple. Conversely, Apple may be in a stronger position than at first glance, given it controls the keys to the kingdom on who can monetize iOS search. However, it remains uncomfortably dependent on Bing to act as a counterweight to Google--hence our suggestion that Apple acquire its own search engine."

As for which search engine, Sacconaghi thinks that DuckDuckGo, a privacy-focused search engine option, would be a good choice for Apple. Apple could, he speculates, buy it for under $1 billion, giving Apple a solid backup option that does not rely on Google or Microsoft.

"To be certain, we doubt an Apple-owned DuckDuckGo could ever generate profits sufficient to make back the $7 billion to $8 billion a year currently paid by Google. Nevertheless, Apple would still likely be better off than a worst-case scenario where it had no backup, and Google or Microsoft (one or the other) withdrew from the bidding process altogether."

DuckDuckGo would also be compatible with Apple's privacy values, offering iOS users a search option that is free from invasive ad tracking.

Sacconaghi warns that if Apple did attempt to purchase a search engine like DuckDuckGo, it could trigger regulatory oversight that could ultimately block the acquisition, putting Apple in a worse position than before. DuckDuckGo is also reliant on Bing, so Apple would need to make changes to be completely free of Microsoft's influence.

Apple previously used Bing for ‌Siri‌ and Spotlight on Mac and iOS, but in 2017 swapped over to Google for consistency across iOS and Mac devices. Apple has not been rumored to be seeking to make a search engine acquisition.

Along with releasing Apple Watch Sport Bands in new summer colors, Apple has debuted iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max cases that are available in most of the same shades.

The new cases can be purchased from Apple's online store for $39 using the links above. Updated colors include Seafoam, Vitamin C, and Linen Blue, which are light green, orange, and dark blue shades, respectively. There is no Coastal Gray Silicone case option, which is a band color that Apple just released.

Apple regularly refreshes the available colors of its case options designed for the iPhone, and this summer release comes just two weeks ahead of WWDC 2020, a digital-only event that will kick off on June 22.

Apple today updated its Sport Bands designed for the Apple Watch with new summer colors that include Seafoam, Vitamin C, Linen Blue, and Coastal Gray.

The new bands, which are priced at $49 each like other Sport Bands, can be purchased from Apple's online store and the bands should also be in Apple retail stores that are open in the near future. The bands are available in both 40 and 44mm size options.

Apple refreshes its Apple Watch band color options on a regular basis, renewing the available shades with each season. Often these refreshes come at events, and today's release comes just two weeks ahead of Apple's digital WWDC 2020 event.

Apple is continuing to offer the Sport Band in other colors that were made available earlier this year, and there appear to be no other band refreshes at this time.

MacRumors and Anker are partnering up again this month to offer our readers savings on useful accessories like USB-C to Lightning cables, portable batteries, wireless chargers, and wall chargers. All of the devices in this sale can be found on Amazon.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You can find the full list of over a dozen discounted accessories below. To see the sale prices, add the Anker products you want to your cart, then enter the relevant coupon codes during the checkout screen on Amazon. These discount codes will be live from today through Sunday, June 14, and only one coupon code can be used per order.

Wireless Chargers

• PowerWave Pad and Stand - $25.99 with code MRANKER24, down from $29.99
• PowerWave II Stand - $29.99 with code MRANKER29, down from $39.99

Portable Chargers

• PowerCore Slim 10,000 mAh - $23.99 with code MRANKER12, down from $31.99
• PowerCore Essential 20,000 mAh - $36.99 with code MRANKER81, down from $49.99
• PowerCore+ 26,800 mAh with 60W Charger - $99.99 with code MRANKER76, down from $139.99

Wall Chargers

• 60W PowerPort Atom III USB-C Charger - $23.99 with code MRANKER613, down from $39.99
• 30W USB-C Charger - $25.99 with code MRANKER017, down from $45.99
• PowerPort III 3-Port Charger - $35.99 with code MRANKER033, down from $49.99

Miscellaneous

• PowerLine+ II Lightning Cable (3ft, Black and Red) - $11.99 with code MRANKER52, down from $17.99
• PowerExpand+ 5-in-1 USB-C Hub - $24.99 with code MRANKER338 and on-page coupon, down from $32.99
• USB-C Powerstrip - $27.99 with code MRANKER332, down from $37.99

Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.

Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of Steve Jobs introducing the iPhone 4 and FaceTime at WWDC 2010 in San Francisco.

A few months prior to the keynote, photos of a prototype iPhone 4 were leaked by Gizmodo after an Apple engineer accidentally left the device behind at a bar in Redwood City, California, leading Jobs to quip "stop me if you've already seen this."

iPhone 4 featured an all-new design with a glass and stainless steel unibody and squared edges, with Jobs describing it as the thinnest smartphone ever at the time. It was also the first Apple product to feature a higher-resolution Retina display, with an average person unable to see individual pixels on the screen from an average viewing distance.

While its design was acclaimed, it was soon discovered that the iPhone 4 could experience signal drop when gripped in a way that blocked the antennas built into the frame. Jobs downplayed the issue in a press conference, noting that all smartphones have antenna weak spots, but Apple did offer a free bumper case to customers that helped to mitigate the problem. The following year, the iPhone 4S featured significant antenna upgrades.

Later in the keynote, Jobs introduced FaceTime, which he demonstrated by having a video call with Apple's recently departed design chief Jony Ive. Apple initially planned to make FaceTime an open standard, but that never happened, with some reports having claimed that patent lawsuits are at least partly to blame.

Rumors suggest that squared edges will make a comeback on iPhone 12 models later this year — a fitting way to mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone 4.

Amazon has removed the AirPods Pro from its website in the United States, making the noise-cancelling headphones unavailable to purchase on the Amazon marketplace. Whether the removal was accidental or on purpose is unclear, and as of writing you can still purchase the AirPods with Charging Case and AirPods with Wireless Charging Case for $139 and $169, respectively.

Signs of the AirPods Pro's availability on Amazon still remain, as seen on the landing page for AirPods. Text remains for the AirPods Pro, but any images have been removed and the link is no longer clickable. Additionally, you can also still purchase AirPods accessories on Amazon, like the standalone Wireless Charging Case.

A similar occurrence happened with the Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5 earlier in January, when Amazon silently pulled all listings for the smartwatches from its online store. A few hours after the removal, the Apple Watch did eventually return to Amazon, so there is a good possibility the same thing could happen with the AirPods Pro. Still, the AirPods Pro listing has been gone for at least 18 hours.

If you're shopping for deals on the AirPods Pro, Verizon is again offering the headphones for $219.99, down from $249.00. Like previous Verizon discounts, you'll need to add the AirPods Pro to your cart to see the $30 discount. Verizon supports free two day shipping, and some retail stores are offering same-day pick-up for some locations across the United States.

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.

Thanks, Shawn!