Arlo today unveiled its all-new Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight, the first wire-free variant of the camera on the market. Chosen as a CES 2020 Innovation Award Honoree, the device includes a variety of features that help identify who or what is outside a user's home or business.
The Pro 3's powerful LEDs illuminate a wide area and can be activated by motion or manually using the Arlo iOS app, from which users can zoom in on objects and see clear details and colors in 2K HDR, live or as recorded video.
Thanks to a dedicated ambient light sensor, the floodlight camera can also automatically measure the amount of surrounding light and dynamically adjust brightness accordingly, which has the added benefit of conserving battery life.
The camera has a 160-degree diagonal field of view, as well as color night vision with the option to see in traditional black and white, while two-way audio allows users to speak to and hear visitors.
A built-in smart siren can be manually triggered remotely or automatically during an event, and users can customize the floodlight and camera settings to suit. The camera is also powered by a long-lasting rechargeable battery for wire-free convenience.
The Arlo Pro 3 Wire-Free Floodlight Camera will be available to purchase in Spring 2020 at an MSRP of $249.99.
With 2019 coming to a close and the new year beginning, it's a great opportunity to step back for a minute to look back at the biggest news from last year (or even the last decade) and get a big picture of what we might see in 2020.
But taking in the big picture doesn't mean that the rumors stop, and recent days have seen a flurry of rumors about Apple's potential plans for new low-cost "iPhone SE 2" models, updated iPad Pro models, a (PRODUCT)RED Apple Watch, and even a high-end Mac targeted at the esports market.
What to Expect From Apple in 2020: New iPhones, Refreshed iPads, Apple Watch Series 6 and More
Happy New Year! 2020 is upon us, marking the start of a new decade. Rumors suggest Apple has a lot in the pipeline this year, including new low-cost iPhone models, iPad Pro models with triple-lens rear cameras, Apple Watch Series 6 models, and possibly even a gaming-focused Mac, and make sure you let us know what you'd like to see this year!
It's unclear if Apple will actually use "iPhone SE 2" branding or if that is simply a placeholder name for the unreleased devices. It has been speculated that the devices could also be branded "iPhone 9."
Sketchy Rumor Claims Apple Plans to Announce High-End Gaming MacBook or iMac at WWDC 2020
Details are slim, but the report claims that the computer may be a large-screen laptop or all-in-one desktop with a price tag of up to $5,000, suggesting that it could be either a MacBook Pro or an iMac Pro. The computer would supposedly be tailored towards esports, aka competitive video gaming.
WWDC 2020 will likely take place in June.
Renders Depict Alleged Design of 2020 iPad Pro Models With Triple-Lens Cameras
The report claimed the unreleased Apple Watch briefly appeared in an unspecified Apple database, and added that it would likely be an aluminum model with a similar red finish as the iPod touch.
(PRODUCT)RED supports funding for HIV/AIDS programs.
Hands-On With Salt's Apple TV Remote Replacement
Apple unveiled its Siri Remote for the Apple TV in 2015, but it's never been a particularly popular accessory. With that in mind, Swiss company Salt created an alternative Apple TV remote, which we managed to get our hands on over on our YouTube channel.
We're also continuing to play with our new Mac Pro over on our YouTube channel, this week installing a speedy new SSD via PCIe. The design of the new Mac Pro makes it a super simple process to add expansion hardware like this, and we'll be looking at more options in the days and weeks to come.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple's annual shareholders meeting is set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park at 9:00 a.m. on February 26, 2020, Apple said today in a filing with the SEC.
Apple has been holding its shareholder meetings at Steve Jobs Theater since 2018, and because space is limited, the company requires shareholders to pre-register for the event.
Shareholders can register to attend the meeting at Proxyvote.com starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 4, 2020. Apple says that registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The record date for the meeting is January 2, 2019, and only shareholders as of the record date who have registered in advance and have a valid registration confirmation will be allowed to enter the meeting or vote at the annual meeting.
Apple's annual shareholder meetings are not typically interesting to the general public, and Apple executives share little about Apple products. Apple CEO Tim Cook did make a few comments last year about Apple's services business and roadmap, so similar information could be shared this year.
Apple CEO Tim Cook earned over $11 million in salary in 2019 according to the 2019 proxy statement Apple filed with the SEC today.
Cook earned a base salary of $3,000,000 in addition to $7.7 million in incentives awarded for performance. Cook also received another $884k in "other compensation" for a total of $11,555,466.
Other compensation includes life term insurance premiums, contributions to a 401k plan, vacation cash out (totaling $92,000), $457,083 in security expenses, and $315,311 for his personal use of private aircraft.
Cook earned more than $4 million less than the $15 million he earned in 2018. The salary listed here does not include stock awards that were received in 2019, with Cook earning over $113 million from shares that vested in 2019.
Most other Apple executives received a base salary of close to $1 million, along with stock and incentives of $20 to $25 million. Luca Maestri, Kate Adams, and Jeff Williams earned over $25 million.
Angela Ahrendts, who left the company early in the year, earned $22 million, while her replacement, Deirdre O'Brien, earned $19 million.
All Apple executives earned significantly more than the median salary at Apple, which was $57,596 because of the large number of retail and support employees that work for Apple. Cook earned 201 times more than the average employee compensation.
The full proxy statement from Apple includes additional salary details, proposals that will be voted on at Apple's upcoming 2020 shareholders meeting set to be held on February 26, 2020.
When the Mac Pro became available for purchase a few weeks ago, we bought a base model and have since been demonstrating upgrades with third-party components for those interested in boosting their Mac Pro's capabilities without having to shell out for Apple's upgrades.
We covered upgrading the RAM in a Mac Pro in our last video, and today, we're demonstrating how to add additional SSD storage using one of the Mac Pro's PCIe slots.
The base model Mac Pro comes with 256GB of storage space, which isn't a lot in a professional machine. Luckily, it's easy to add additional storage if you purchase a compatible third-party SSD.
Completely replacing the SSD in a Mac Pro with a new one requires visiting an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider because the built-in SSD is tied to the T2 chip that provides encryption and other security benefits, but the existing storage can simply be augmented if you have a free PCIe slot.
The Mac Pro has eight PCIe expansion slots, which allow for extra USB ports, graphics cards, audio cards, and more storage, so that's an easy way to get additional storage space. Note that what we've done here means the SSD we're installing is extra storage space and not a boot disk - it's been added in addition to the existing 256GB SSD the base Mac Pro ships with.
We added a 4TB NVMe SSD from OWC, which is priced at $950. That's a good deal cheaper than the 4TB SSD upgrade option from Apple, which is priced at $1,400. You don't need to use OWC, but third-party SSD options are much more affordable than what Apple is offering.
Installing a new SSD is as simple as popping the case off of the Mac Pro, unlocking one of the PCIe slots, unscrewing the brackets and inserting the card. That's all there is to it. Once the case is back in place and the Mac Pro is booted up after installing a new SSD, the drive will show up on the desktop.
The OWC Accelsior 4M2 SSD we installed claimed to offer transfer speeds up to 6000MB/s. In our testing, we didn't quite see those speeds, but we did see write speeds at 4786MB/s and read speeds of 5360MB/s, which is much faster than the built-in SSD, which hit write/read speeds of 1312 and 2232MB/s, respectively.
When it comes to real life usage, that meant we were able to transfer 50GB of RAW video files to the OWC SSD in just about 20 seconds, a process that took 40 seconds with Apple's SSD. So it's entirely possible to get a faster SSD than what Apple's offering at a lower price. An OWC model is not required, of course, and for those with a Mac Pro interested in upgrading, it's worth doing some research to find the best price to save money.
We'll have more Mac Pro videos coming in the future, including a look at the Promise Pegasus R4i MPX RAID storage module designed for the Mac Pro.
Amazon has begun discounting the Apple Watch Series 5, with prices starting at $384 for aluminum models with the Sport Band. Sales on the newest Apple Watch model haven't been as frequent as those we've seen on the Series 3 and Series 4 models, so this is a solid option for anyone still considering the Apple Watch Series 5.
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.
The sale includes as much as $70 off the stainless steel cases for the Apple Watch Series 5, while the aluminum models are seeing $15 to $30 off original prices. We've rounded up a few of the deals below, but be sure to head to Amazon to see more of the sale.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Mujjo to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of the company's Leather Wallet Cases designed for Apple's iPhones, including the most recent iPhones (11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max) and older devices dating back to the iPhone 6s.
Priced at $42 to $50 depending on device, the Mujjo cases come in four attractive colors: Tan, Black, Monaco Blue, and Alpine Green, with Olive also being a color option for some older iPhone models.
All of Mujjo's cases are designed to be simple, clean, and slim, with each one made from full-grain vegetable-tanned leather. As with all leather cases, these cases will develop a custom patina over time with usage, for richer colors and a personalized feel. Mujjo's cases are sleek and slim, and won't add a lot of bulk to Apple's iPhones, but the leather still offers protection and grip to make the iPhone easier to hold.
The inside of each case is lined with Japanese microfiber to keep it safe from scratches, and all buttons are covered in leather. According to Mujjo, button designs have been tested for responsiveness and ease of use, so they continue to be easy to press despite the covering. The camera opening and mute button taper inwards, and the leather rises 1mm above the edge of the glass so there's a raised bezel to keep the iPhone's display safe.
Specific to the Wallet Cases, there's a slanted leather line at the back that's neatly stitched in place and able to hold two to three bank cards or ID cards so you can take what you need without having to carry a full wallet.
The design of the wallet portion of the case varies based on iPhone size. For the 11 Pro case, for example, the pocket is aligned in the center and puts your cards right under the camera. On the larger 11 Pro Max case (and cases for other large iPhones), the card pocket is placed at an angle, a look that better fits a bigger form factor.
While this giveaway focuses on the Wallet Cases, Mujjo also makes plain leather cases without the card pocket for those who do not need that functionality.
We have 10 of the Leather Wallet iPhone Cases to give away to MacRumors readers, and each winner will be able to pick the case that fits their iPhone and the color of the case. Mujjo has cases that fit the current iPhones and older iPhones dating back to the iPhone 6s, though case colors and details will vary for older iPhones.
To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (January 3) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 10. The winners will be chosen randomly on January 10 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple today added a new game to its Apple Arcade gaming service, introducing Doomsday Vault, a post-apocalyptic adventure game that tasks players with saving the plant life remaining on earth.
The aim of the game is to investigate desolate landscapes, abandoned buildings, and flooded cities to find seeds for critical plant species, taking them back to the Doomsday Vault.
The game, designed by Flightless Limited, features challenging puzzles, 3D environments, and helpful plant information, according to the App Store description.
Doomsday Vault, like all Apple Arcade games, can be downloaded and played by anyone with an Apple Arcade subscription. Apple Arcade costs $4.99 per month and allows up to six members of a family to play.
Apple today added updated engraving options for the AirPods Charging Case, allowing customers who purchase AirPods to choose to engrave emoji characters on their devices.
AirPods have always been able to be engraved, but the engravings were limited to text and there was no option to add an emoji character. Apple is highlighting the engraving options on its main site and when customers visit one of the AirPods product pages.
Customers who choose to personalize their AirPods during the purchase process can choose from several emoji characters, though not all emojis are available. Options like smiling face, face with tongue out, and thumbs up are available, as are multiple animals.
There's a ghost, unicorn, bear, skull, dragon, poop, snake, and others, including the animals from the Chinese zodiac. Customers can choose text or an emoji, but not both as the emoji is done in a larger style. Apple has also tweaked the text that can be added to the AirPods, bumping up the size.
Customization options with emoji are available for all AirPods models and apply to the Charging Case for each order.
IKEA has started rolling out a HomeKit software update for its FYRTUR electric blinds, part of its TRADFRI line of smart home products.
Multiple users on Reddit have indicated receiving a new 1.10.28 firmware update for their TRADFRI gateway, which allows IKEA smart home products to work with platforms like HomeKit. The rollout appears to be starting in the United States, so users in other countries may not see the firmware update yet.
Following the firmware update, the blinds should automatically appear as tiles in the Home app across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. HomeKit support enables users to raise or lower the blinds using the Home app or Siri, in addition to existing support for Google Home and the IKEA Home app.
FYRTUR blinds start at $129, while the TRADFRI gateway retails for $35.
MacSales is discounting Apple's HomePod to $189.88, down from the retail price of $299.00. This is for a brand-new HomePod (White), but there are caveats to the sale: the HomePod will come in "Bulk (Non-Retail) Packaging," which essentially means you won't be getting Apple's typical HomePod box, but instead a plain, nondescript box.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
MacSales includes a 1 Year OWC-fulfilled limited warranty with the HomePod, so you won't receive a warranty directly from Apple. That being said, MacSales is a trusted Apple reseller with a solid reputation so those who missed out on the holiday HomePod deals should visit OWC's website before the offer expires.
Once it's been added to your cart, you'll see the OWC instant rebate of $30 appear on the HomePod at the checkout screen. The Space Gray version is available for $194.88 as well.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
At least some new iPhones in 2020 will feature touch-integrated displays supplied by LG, according to Korean website The Elec:
LG Display is aiming to upgrade its production facilities for flexible, Gen-6 OLED panels for smaller displays at its E6 lines in Paju of Gyeonggi Province. For this, the firm will be adding new equipment by early 2020 to produce touch-integrated panels, while switching to the LTPO backplane technology.
As the E6 lines are known to be Apple-exclusive, the touch-integrated screens are to be supplied to the new iPhones to be launched next year, according to industry sources on Dec. 17.
This mirrors a recent report from Korean website ETNews, which claimed that so-called iPhone 12 Pro models will adopt a technology that allows touchscreen circuitry to be directly patterned on the OLED panel without the need for a separate layer, resulting in a thinner display and lower production costs.
ETNews said a lower-cost 6.1-inch model, presumably the iPhone 12, will stick with a traditional film-based display.
It is unclear if thinner displays would translate to thinner iPhones as a whole this year. Notably, the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are actually slightly thicker and heavier than the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, respectively, as Apple included larger batteries in its latest iPhones.
Today's report from The Elec also claims that LG is preparing to switch to LTPO backplane technology in the second half of 2020. The backplane is responsible for turning individual pixels on and off on the display.
LTPO, or low-temperature polycrystalline oxide, has an Oxide TFT structure that uses up to 15 percent less power than LTPS, or low-temperature polysilicon, the backplane technology that Apple currently uses. Naturally, that could contribute to more power efficient displays and longer battery life on 2020 iPhones.
Apple Watch Series 4 and Series 5 models already feature LTPO displays. Apple's website says the technology enables Series 5 models to have the same up-to-18-hour battery life as Series 4 models despite having an always-on display:
The low temperature poly-silicon and oxide display features a reinvented pixel architecture that lets the screen refresh rate dip from 60Hz to a power-sipping 1Hz when the watch is inactive. A new low-power driver, ultra-efficient power management, and a new ambient light sensor work together so the display can stay always on with up to 18 hours of battery life.
It is unclear if LG will be ready to mass produce LTPO displays in time for 2020 iPhones.
2020 is expected to be a big year for the iPhone, with rumors pointing to new display sizes and technologies, a redesigned metal frame similar to the iPhone 4, rear-facing 3D sensing, 5G support, up to 6GB of RAM, and more.
Ahead of next week's Consumer Electronics Show, Nanoleaf has announced the addition of several new products to its HomeKit-enabled lighting ecosystem, including the Nanoleaf Learning Series and new hexagon light panels.
The Nanoleaf Learning Series is described as an "all-in-one, interactive, intelligent lighting system for the home," designed to learn, sense and react to a user's needs to make it easier for customers to use smart home products.
Nanoleaf says that the Learning Series offers a "system of products" designed to "know when and there you need light" and "how you need it" with minimal need for manual controls. The Learning Series will include the Learning Switch, Learning Button, Learning Bulb, and Learning Gateway.
The Learning Series uses U-IQ technology, which combines a network of sensors (the Learning Series products) and an intelligent learning algorithm. With U-IQ, a room knows when you're approaching and the lights will gradually turn on before you enter. The lights will also change based on the existing light within the space, working in harmony with the sun.
Nanoleaf is aiming to eliminate reliance on apps, voice assistants, and physical switches for controlling smart lights, and the system will become more accurate with more Learning Series sensors installed.
Along with the Learning Series, Nanoleaf is also announcing a new line of interoperable Unified Light Panels, which will have shape interconnectivity.
The first lights in the Unified Light Panel line will include touch-reactive Unified Hexagons that will allow users to create all new configurations ranging from geometric layouts to replicas of characters and shapes.
The Hexagons will be shown off at the Nanoleaf booth and customers can sign up to be notified when pre-orders become available ahead of a spring 2020 launch.
To end the week, Amazon and Best Buy have a few discounts on Apple's newest iPads and MacBook Pro notebooks. You'll find as much as $600 off the MacBook Pro, up to $180 off iPad Air, and up to $70 off the 10.2-inch iPad.
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.
The products listed below represent the latest 2019 versions of each respective line and include numerous lowest-ever prices for select models. In total, you'll find deals on the 15-inch MacBook Pro, 16-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and iPad.
Note that certain devices on Amazon have lengthy shipping estimates, including the 15-inch MacBook Pro. This notebook won't be in stock until February 6, but if you're interested you can still place your order now to lock in the $600 discount before it expires.
Dutch brand ZENS today announced the availability of its AirPower-like wireless charging mat with 16 overlapping coils, allowing two devices to be charged anywhere on the mat.
The ZENS Liberty can charge any Qi-enabled devices, with the 16 coils providing a total output of 30W (2x15W) as well as supporting Apple and Samsung Fast Charge. Meanwhile, the built-in 2.4A USB port can be used to charge another device, including an Apple Watch using the optional Apple Watch USB-stick accessory.
The 16 overlapping charging coils give complete freedom of placement, allowing you to place two devices anywhere on the charging pad. For those who were wondering why the USB-port of the Liberty is placed on the top side of the charging pad, the Apple Watch USB-stick is the reason why. This add-on is specifically made for the Liberty so you can simultaneously charge an iPhone, AirPods and an Apple Watch with the Liberty, the ideal 3-in-1 wireless charger!
The USB-stick is made of the same aluminum as the Liberty and is placed in a vertical position in the USB-port of the Liberty to charge the Apple Watch in sleep-mode. The stick can also be connected to any USB-A-port to charge an Apple Watch without the mat. The USB-stick is officially MFi certified and works with Apple Watch Series 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The ZENS Liberty has a USB-C connection and comes with a 60W USB-C certified power adapter. Separate power plugs for the E.U., U.K. and U.S. are included to make the adapter suitable for global usage.
The mat is available either with a surface of high-quality woolen upholstery textile (Atlas by Kvadrat) or with a tempered glass surface revealing the overlapping coils within. The fabric version costs $139.99 (€139.99), while the Glass edition costs $179.99 (€179.99). Both models come with a three-year extended warranty. The Apple Watch USB-add-on is available separately for $39.99 (€39.99).
This is the closest alternative to Apple's canceled AirPower mat, which would have been able to charge three devices placed anywhere on the mat, including an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.
Apple canceled the AirPower in March 2019, stating that "after much effort," the mat failed to achieve the company's "high standards." An earlier report from Sonny Dickson claimed the AirPower would have been equipped with 21 to 24 coils, but reports claimed the mat suffered from overheating and potentially dangerous electromagnetic interference issues.
Expect a full review of the ZENS Liberty Wireless Charger on MacRumors soon.
Consumer spending on the App Store totaled a record $193 million on Christmas Day 2019, representing a 16 percent increase year on year, according to a new report by Sensor Tower.
Approximately $84 million was spent on the Google Play store, representing year-on-year growth of 2.7 percent. Apple's App Store accounted for 70 percent of spending between the two platforms, which amounted to $277 million combined.
That total represented combined year-over-year growth of 11.3 percent for the two stores, which brought in $249 million combined in user spending on Christmas Day in 2018.
Sensor Tower says the increase in spending was largely due to new mobile device owners and people who received App Store gift cards, with games being the most popular purchase.
The majority of mobile spending on Christmas, approximately $210 million, was focused on the Games category, which generated 76 percent of revenue across both stores and grew about 8 percent Y/Y from $195 million. PUBG Mobile from Tencent’s TiMi studio led in-game spending with $8.5 million, up 431 percent from the $1.6 million players spent in the game on Christmas 2018.
Other apps accounted for approximately 2 percent more of all spending this Christmas compared to a year prior, bringing in an estimated $67 million. The top non-game app for overall spending on Christmas was reportedly the dating app Tinder, which brought in a gross global revenue near $2.1 million.
The App Store makes up a huge portion of Apple's services business. It currently receives a 30 percent cut of all revenue that developers earn from the App Store, with the exception of subscription apps. For apps where a customer maintains a subscription for more than a year, developers are entitled to an 85/15 split, with Apple taking a 15 percent cut rather than a 30 percent cut.
LG today announced the upcoming debut of its 2020 8K TV lineup featuring eight new TVs in sizes ranging from 65 inches to 88 inches, all of which support Apple's HomeKit and AirPlay 2.
There are premium 77 and 88 inch LG Signature OLED 8K TVs along with 8K LG NanoCell TVs in 65 and 75-inch sizes. LG says that all of the TVs exceed the official 8K Ultra HD definition set by the Consumer Technology Association and are able to play native 8K content.
The new TVs work with Apple HomeKit and AirPlay 2, allowing them to interact with other AirPlay 2 devices and to be controlled via Siri voice commands. HomeKit support also means the new LG TVs will show up in the Home app.
LG's 2020 8K TVs include a new AI processor that takes advantage of deep learning for optimized picture and sound quality. The TVs are able to recognize faces and text on the screen, fine-tuning and sharpening for natural skin tones, better defined facial features, and clearer characters.
LG will be showing off its 8K TV lineup at the Consumer Electronics Show, which is set to kick off next week.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Apple's annual shareholders meeting is set to take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at 
Apple CEO 
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with OWC. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
