Apple has emailed some customers who had an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max scheduled for in-store pickup at an Apple Store today. The email says their orders "will not be ready for pickup" during their specified check-in time due to "last minute logistical issues," according to several MacRumors readers.
As a fluid situation, it's unclear how many customers are affected, how long orders may be delayed, or what the logistical issues are. We reached out to Apple for clarification, but didn't receive any new information to share.
It's certainly possible Apple may have enough in-store stock remaining later in the day to fulfill some or all of the delayed pickup orders.
There is some evidence to support last-minute logistical issues. Yesterday, some customers saw their order status updated to "Shipment to Hold" on Apple.com, while UPS indicated that some orders originally scheduled for Friday, September 21 delivery would be postponed until Monday, September 24.
For the most part, however, it seems iPhone deliveries are on schedule. MacRumors was informed that "Shipment to Hold" statuses were erroneous, while many UPS order delivery estimates have returned to Friday, September 21.
Still, it's possible that some percentage of iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max shipments from China have not arrived to Apple Stores in time for today's launch, but our guess is as good as anyone's at this point. Apple apologizes in its email and says it is "working quickly to resolve the issue."
Apple says it will alert customers via email as soon as their orders are ready for pickup:
Important update to your Apple pickup order
Thank you for your recent order with the Apple Store. We know you're excited to pick up your new product.
Unfortunately, due to some last minute logistical issues, your order will not be ready for pickup during your check-in time.
As soon as your order is ready for pickup, we'll let you know via email.
We apologize for the delay in getting your new product into your hands. We're working quickly to resolve the issue.
Apple
Apple Stores and authorized resellers may still have the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 available to purchase in limited quantities for walk-in customers today, as an alternative solution. Online pre-orders can be returned to any Apple Store within 14 days of delivery.
Apple has launched a new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max "experience" micro-site that puts its ".apple" top-level domain to use, as discovered on Reddit.
As noted by 9to5Mac's Benjamin Mayo, the address of the micro-site is simply experience.apple/iPhone, with Apple using its .apple top-level domain instead of .com. Apple acquired ownership of .apple in 2015, according to the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, but has rarely used it.
The micro-site itself is basic, with 3D renders of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max that rotate as you tilt your actual iPhone. The page also allows customers to compare top-level features, screen sizes, and Space Gray, Gold, and Silver finishes. "Learn more" links lead back to Apple.com when tapped.
Apple is promoting the micro-site as part of its marketing campaign for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS across social media. To check it out, tap on this link from Safari or Chrome on a mobile device.
As customers around the world begin getting their hands on the brand new iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4, Apple and CEO Tim Cook today shared images from the September 21 launch.
Cook started the morning by tweeting four images of customers in Apple's retail stores interacting with the Apple Watch Series 4 and iPhone XS, saying that he's thrilled for users to finally be able to try out the devices on their own.
Thrilled to get these new Apple products into the hands (and onto the wrists) of so many customers around the world. Can’t wait to hear what you think! pic.twitter.com/GHpaDFgqeO
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 21, 2018
Apple Stores globally open at 8:00 a.m. local time to allow customers to pick up their reserved devices and make walk-in purchases, and Apple posted pictures of customers at Apple Stores in Singapore, Japan, and Sydney.
Apple Orchard Road, Singapore
The images shared by Apple depict a line of hundreds of people waiting outside Apple Orchard Road in Singapore, and a few show customers inside once the store opened, with their new iPhone XS and Apple Watch Series 4 devices in hand.
Apple Orchard Road, Singapore
Apple Kyoto in Japan was busy as well, with many customers seen trying on the Apple Watch Series 4 in numerous styles.
Apple Kyoto, Japan
In Sydney, Australia, Apple shared a glimpse into the pre-launch preparations performed by employees in the store ahead of customers' arrival.
Apple Sydney
As usual, customers in New Zealand and Australia were the first to receive their iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch pre-orders due to the time zone differences. As the day moves on, United States users waiting outside Apple Stores will be able to begin purchasing the new devices at 8:00 a.m. local time, and deliveries will occur throughout the day.
iPhone XS on left and iPhone XS Max on right via iFixit
While the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have improved IP68-rated water resistance, iFixit says it could not find any obvious evidence of increased waterproofing, with the SIM tray gasket and other seals looking more or less the same. Dutch repair website FixjeiPhone had found the iPhone XS was a bit harder to open.
After removing the displays, iFixit uncovered a few differences with the iPhone XS Max compared to the iPhone XS, including a resized Taptic Engine and an extended logic board, with one of the display connectors moved to the bottom. It appears the iPhone XS Max also has a slightly louder earpiece for phone calls.
The teardown corroborates that the iPhone XS has a new single-cell L-shaped battery, while the iPhone XS Max battery remains two cells. As uncovered in Chinese regulatory filings, the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have battery capacities of 2,658 mAh at 3.81V and 3,174 mAh at 3.80V respectively.
iPhone XS Max on left and iPhone XS on right via iFixit
Since the L-shaped batteries have six sides, rather than four like a rectangle, iFixit says Apple has "notched" the internal corners of the batteries in the iPhone XS to prevent undue stress from thermal expansion.
"This dramatic shift opens up a lot of design possibilities, but the large notch is responsible for the decrease in capacity relative to the X," its teardown email says. "Only time will tell how this new cell performs with age."
Apple-designed power management chip labeled in green via iFixit
The teardown does not indicate whether the gigabit-class LTE modems in the latest iPhones are supplied by Intel and/or Qualcomm.
iFixit confirms the wide-angle sensor size has been increased by 32 percent in the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max. Pixel size has also been bumped, providing better low-light performance and contributing to the new "Smart HDR" feature.
iFixit gives the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max an overall repairability score of 6/10, with 10 being a perfect score. The repair experts say display and battery repairs remain a priority in the iPhone's design, but the all-glass design means the entire chassis must be replaced if the back glass cracks.
Update: A previous version of this article said both the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have "notched" battery designs, but iFixit says this is only true for the iPhone XS. The article has been corrected.
Microsoft has revealed that Skype is coming to Alexa devices. The partnership between Microsoft and Amazon means that owners of devices in Amazon's Echo range will soon be able to make outgoing Skype voice and video calls, accept incoming Skype calls, and also make SkypeOut calls to most phone numbers around the world.
Announcing the upcoming feature in a blog post, Microsoft said device owners will be able to say something like "Alexa, call Jimmy on Skype," or if Jimmy is calling you on Skype, they'll be able to say, "Alexa, answer."
This isn't the first time Amazon and Microsoft has seen fit to merge existing products and services. The two companies partnered on Alexa and Cortana integration last year.
"Since then, we've added Alexa integration on Xbox and are continuing to work together to bring the best of Skype and Alexa together to enable intelligent communications for our users," said Gaurav Sareen, corporate vice president for Microsoft. "We're excited to continue bringing the best of Microsoft and Amazon together."
Skype calling on Alexa will begin rolling out later this year.
With Apple Watch Series 4 models wending their way to Apple customers in the United States and many other countries today, some people have already picked up their orders and are sharing their first impressions of the new smartwatch online.
Apple Watch Series 4 owners on Reddit and the MacRumors forums appear to be particularly impressed by the larger screen and redesigned chassis.
Reddit user bluebear74 said that "coming from a S0 to S4 is amazing," and expressed surprise at the amount of information the bigger screen is able to display: "There's so many complications I don't know what to do with them all!"
Having previously used a Series 1 model, Reddit user KaiiXiang in Singapore said they were "really blown away" by the new watch's screen and responsiveness, although they noted that Siri "still sucks" since it's "either slow or fails to pick up what I say most of the time."
MacRumors forum member Jasonstevens said his new Series 4 "looks/feels amazing," although he found the haptic feedback on the Digital Crown less impressive: "It feels like it's just tapping my wrist not my finger."
Reddit user DisHowWeDo, who has small wrists (170mm) and had never owned an Apple Watch before, said they were "REALLY worried the 44mm would look huge on me," but ultimately found it to be "flipping perfect" and "definitely the right size."
Hermès Series 4 image by MacRumors forum member boardiesboi
Likewise, MacRumors forum member Suxamethonium was a little worried about the 44mm size when looking at it in the Apple Store app, but he now felt it was "pretty much perfect" for an average man's wrist. He also commented that the new watch faces "make much better use of all that real estate."
Perhaps surprisingly, several customers appear to have been caught off guard by the color of the Gold stainless steel Series 4 model, with one Reddit user calling it "quite pink... Like a rose gold." Another said they expected it to be a lot more gold and felt a bit disappointed, although they were "sticking with it," while MacRumors forum member defn felt the color "goes surprisingly well with a lot of watch bands."
Have you just become a new Apple Watch Series 4 owner? Feel free to share your first impressions and your photos in the comments below. We'll be sharing a hands-on video later today, so stay tuned to MacRumors.com.
We've seen dozens of iPhone XS and XS Max reviews from media sites that Apple invited to test the new smartphones ahead of their release, but now that the new iPhones have officially launched in the United States and other countries around the world, iPhone XS and XS Max first impressions from regular Apple customers are now available.
New iPhone XS and XS Max users on reddit, Twitter, and the MacRumors forums have been sharing their opinions on the two new devices, and for those awaiting their own new iPhone or considering a purchase, the impressions from average consumers provide interesting insight.
MacRumors reader shooter03 said that the larger display of the iPhone XS Max is "amazing" and exactly what he's after. "I'm like WOW!!" he wrote.
Image via shooter03
I had the 7+ then the X and I really missed the + size so that's why I went for the Xs+. Screen size is pretty mind blowing. As for hand size it fits me nicely ( I have sorta big hands ) feels a little lighter than the X which is weird. But all in all it's so nice.
shooter03 shared some iPhone XS Max photos he took of his dogs using Portrait Mode and the new Depth Control feature that lets you adjust the depth of field after taking a photo, which came out great.
Image via shooter03
Reddit user jtx660 who upgraded from an iPhone 7 said the display of the new iPhone is incomparable to the display of the iPhone 7, with vibrant, bright colors.
Image via reddit user jtx660
jtx660 also put together a video of his iPhone and shared a photo gallery to show it off.
First thing I noticed was definitely that huge OLED 6.5" panel. Its vibrant, extremely bright and immerse a f. After using it for 2 hours and switching back to the 7 Plus, the 7 Plus's 16:9 rectangle display felt slightly dated. The OLED panel is what really stood out the most.
Ok the camera. Holy crap, the auto focus is ridiculously quick. Putting my hand in front of the camera and taking it away, it focuses INSTANTLY (nearly). I'm amazed at how they were able to make it faster than the already fast 7 Plus' camera. I am yet to test the video 4K at 60fps and all those other features.
MacRumors reader sjperformance said he didn't notice a huge weight difference between the iPhone X and the iPhone XS Max, and that it didn't seem much bigger either. He also shared a photo of the iPhone XS Max next to the iPhone X.
Image via MacRumors reader sjperformance
I believe I'll be keeping the Max. Never liked how big the plus felt. Especially with those bezels and what not. To me X was perfect but after awhile I desired a bigger screen. With Max the weight difference doesn't bother me because X is heavy too.
The Max fits perfect inside my pockets. Didn't really feel a difference inside slim jeans I was wearing today. It does seem more faster smoother over my X running iOS12. I already use my X with 2 hands to text, emails, forums, etc. One handed only when viewing social media, reading something, an email. Barely use my X one handed. I'm used to 2 hands on my X therefore the Max feels normal to me. Having a huge screen with no bezels. No home button truly makes an immense difference. Y'all will enjoy it.
Have an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max? Feel free to share your first impressions and your photos in the comments below. We'll be sharing a hands-on video later today when the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch in the United States, so stay tuned to MacRumors.com.
A user guide included with the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max references the AirPower, suggesting that Apple has not yet shelved the much-anticipated charging mat.
Developer Gavin Stevens shared an image of the guide this afternoon, which clearly has a passage mentioning the AirPower.
"Place iPhone with screen facing up on AirPower or a Qi-certified wireless charger. You can also use the Lightning connector to charge iPhone and connect accessories."
It's not clear why Apple left the reference to the AirPower in the iPhone XS and XS Max manuals, but it perhaps suggests that the company planned to ship the charging accessory alongside the new iPhones.
AirPower was not mentioned at the September iPhone event, despite expectations that it would be, and it's been more than a year since the device was first announced.
AirPower is meant to charge the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time. A recent report suggested Apple has run into a number of issues that need to be solved before the AirPower can be offered for sale, including heat management, inter-device communication, and mechanical and interference problems.
The AirPower reportedly produces too much heat at the current time, causing performance setbacks and charging issues. There are also communication issues between AirPower and devices placed on the mat, and the multi-device charging mechanism has resulted in interference that reduces efficiency.
It's not clear how or when Apple will solve these problems, and almost all mentions of the AirPower have been scrubbed from the company's website. That the AirPower is mentioned in the packaging materials for the 2018 iPhones suggests Apple is still attempting to solve these issues, so we could see an AirPower launch at some point in the future.
When the AirPower was announced, Apple said it would launch in 2018, but the company has not provided a more specific shipping date and it's not clear if the 2018 shipping goal is still realistic.
It appears UPS may be having iPhone XS and XS Max shipping issues in the United States as several MacRumors readers are reporting that their UPS tracking information was recently updated with a Monday delivery date instead of a Friday delivery date.
Affected customers seem to have tracking information that indicates their iPhone orders are located in or have just departed Anchorage, Alaska. Those who have had their shipping dates change seem to have ordered 256GB and 512GB iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max models.
These customers were expecting to get their iPhone deliveries on Friday, September 21, aka launch day before receiving the updated September 24 delivery date from UPS.
It's possible that the delay listed on the UPS tracking site is in error and that the iPhones will still be delivered on Friday, but some customers may be waiting until Monday to receive their new devices. One Twitter user told us that he spoke to a UPS representative who said that it's a computer error and the iPhones are still on track for Friday delivery.
The first customers in Australia, New Zealand, and across Asia who ordered one of the new devices have already started receiving shipments. Deliveries are set to start in a few hours in Europe before expanding to the United States.
Update: Many customers have now been told by UPS that the 9/24 delivery date listed is in error and that iPhones are still on track to be delivered by 9/21, so there is a chance that delayed iPhones will indeed be delivered to customers on launch day.
Update 2: Some users who saw their iPhone delivery dates change to 9/24 have had the dates re-updated to 9/21 once again.
In iOS 12, Apple added a new Effects camera in Messages that's similar to the live camera features in Snapchat and Instagram, allowing you to take a photo in the Messages app and then edit it with stickers, filters, text, and more.
On devices with a TrueDepth camera system, the Effects camera even works with Memoji and Animoji, allowing you to overlay cartoon emoji heads over your own head.
The Effects camera lives in the Messages app, and Apple's made it easy to locate.
Open the Messages app.
Choose a conversation with someone.
Tap on the Camera icon next to the App Store icon.
Make sure you're in either standard Photo or Video mode.
To get to the available Effects, tap on the small star-shaped icon to the left of the shutter button.
The Camera in the Messages app is located in the same place that it was in iOS 11, but instead of opening up a smaller camera window that also provides access to your already-captured photos, it is a full-screen camera complete with editing tools.
To get to photos you've already taken in the Messages app, you need to open up the app drawer by tapping on the App Store "A" icon and then choosing the Photos icon.
Available Effects Camera Features
There are multiple tools for editing your photos, all of which are displayed in a bar above the camera shutter, organized by icon. Here are the options, in the order that you'll see them in the app.
Animoji/Memoji (TrueDepth devices and front-facing camera only)
Filters
Text
Shapes
Sticker packs
After the four main sections, every other icon represents a different sticker pack that you have installed on your device.
All of these options work in photo and video mode with both the rear and front-facing cameras, with the exception of Animoji and Memoji, which only work with the front-facing camera.
You cannot use the Effects camera with slo-mo videos, portrait mode photos, square-shaped photos, or panoramas, but you can access these types of images in the Messages camera.
Animoji and Memoji
With the Animoji and Memoji filters, you can choose an Animoji or a previously created Memoji that will be displayed over your own face when using the front-facing camera of a device with a TrueDepth camera system.
The Memoji and Animoji filter looks similar to what you might expect from a Snapchat filter, and because it uses the TrueDepth system, the Animoji and Memoji stay lined up with your head while you move and talk, mimicking your facial expressions just like when you use Animoji in Messages.
Filters
There are more than a dozen filters you can add to your photos or videos, which display in realtime. The filter section of the Effects Camera is accessed by tapping on the icon that looks like three RBG dots.
There are standard filters for making a photo or video warmer or cooler, several black and white filters, and a selection of fun filters like watercolor, ink, and comic book, that give you a sketched or painted look.
Text
Text can be added to a photo or video by tapping on the icon that looks like "Aa," with plain text, text in bubbles, and text in shapes as available options.
Pick the text design that you want and then type in your message. After you tap "Done," you can resize the text with pinch gestures.
If you choose the icon that looks like a smiley face, you can add any emoji that you want to the photo or the video, and resize it just like standard text.
Shapes
With the Shapes tool, you can insert a variety of shapes in a sketched style, with options that include arrows, fireworks, circles, checkmarks, and squiggles.
There are no options to draw your own shapes, so you can only use the stock options. Shapes are static when used in photos, but will animate when used in videos.
Shapes can be resized with pinch gestures and relocated by placing a finger on the shape and dragging it to a new location.
Stickers
After the four available built-in options, all of the additional icons in the Effects camera will be the sticker packs that you have installed. These sticker packs will vary based on your own downloads and apps, and it will look different for everyone.
Like Text and Shape Effects, stickers can be placed anywhere on the photo or video and resized using pinch gestures. You can drag the sticker anywhere on the photo and reposition it using the same gestures you would use to put stickers within iMessages.
For stickers that animate, you will see the animations when using them in video mode, but there are no animations in photo mode.
New sticker packs for use with the Effects camera can be downloaded from the Messages App Store using these directions:
Open the Messages app.
Tap on the gray App Store Icon to make sure the app drawer is open.
With the app drawer open, tap on the blue App Store logo to open up the App Store.
From here, you can browse through popular stickers, search for sticker packs, or find games and apps that come with stickers you can use with the camera.
Some of the sticker packs are free, while others are available for $0.99 to $1.99 on average.
Stacking Effects
All of the different effects can be stacked up, so you can combine multiple options. You can use filters with Animoji, for example, and also decorate photos and videos with stickers.
To use multiple effects, select your first option, such as Animoji, and choose what you want to apply. From there, tap the "X" in the upper right corner to go back to the Effects camera options and you can choose another category.
Using this method, you can stack up all of the effects if desired, using filters, stickers, shapes, and text with Animoji and Memoji options.
Make sure not to tap the Effects camera again while applying your different filters and effects because when you tap it, it will clear all of your set options.
Removing Effects
To remove an Animoji or Memoji filter, tap on the Animoji icon and then tap on the big "X" all the way at the left of Animoji/Memoji list.
To remove a photo filter, open up the filter menu and then scroll over to the first option, which is "Original" and select it.
To remove text, stickers, or shapes, tap the item you want to remove in the photo or video field and then tap the "X" to delete it.
If you want to remove all of the effects that you've put in place at once, tap the Effects icon again to go back to the main camera interface. This clears all of your settings, and if you tap the Effects camera icon again, you'll have a blank slate to work with.
Apple has given a straight-to-series order for drama series "Defending Jacob," which will star Chris Evans, known for his roles in "Captain America" and "The Avengers," reports Deadline.
"Defending Jacob" is a thriller based on William Landay's bestselling novel of the same title. The book covers the murder of a 14-year-old boy and his friend Jacob, who may have committed the crime.
According to Deadline, the tv adaptation is described as a "gripping, character-driven thriller."
The series was created and written by Mark Bomback, known for the "Planet of the Apes" trilogy. Morten Tyldum, known for "The Imitation Game," "Counterpart," and "Jack Ryan," is set to direct.
"Defending Jacob" is just one of more than a dozen television shows Apple has in the works. The first of the TV shows could debut as soon as March 2019, and the content may be distributed through an as-of-yet unannounced streaming service.
In iOS 12, Apple has introduced new password-related features that are designed to make it easier for iPhone and iPad users to create strong, secure, and unique passwords for app and website logins. In this guide, we'll show you how to use two of those features: automatic strong passwords and password auditing.
Automatic strong passwords ensures that if you're prompted by a website or app to make up a password on the spot, Apple will automatically offer to generate a secure one for you. Password auditing meanwhile flags weak passwords and tells you if a password has been reused for different account login credentials. Here's how to use the two features.
How to Use Automatic Strong Passwords in iOS 12
Launch Safari and navigate to the site asking you to create new login credentials, or launch a third-party app asking you to sign up for a new account.
Enter a username or email address in the first field.
Tap on the Password field – iOS will generate a strong password.
Tap Use Strong Password to accept the password suggestion and save it to your iCloud Keychain.
Pro tip: Next time you need one of your passwords, you can ask Siri. For example, you could say: "Siri, show me my BBC password." Siri will then open up your iCloud Keychain with the relevant entry, but only after you authenticate your identity with a fingerprint, a Face ID scan, or a passcode.
How to Identify Reused Passwords in iOS 12
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Passwords & Accounts.
Authenticate via Touch ID, Face ID, or your passcode.
Scroll down the list of passwords and tap on any entries with a triangular warning symbol.
Tap Change Password on Website to open the associated website and make the change.
Note that the last screen shows you on which other websites you've used the same password.
Pro tip: You can share passwords with other people directly from the iOS Password Manager via AirDrop. Simply tap the password field and an option to AirDrop the login will appear. The login can be AirDropped to any device running iOS 12 or macOS Mojave.
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 have started rolling out in Australia and New Zealand where it is after 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 21, and in other countries, as the launch date approaches, customers are queueing up with the hopes of purchasing one of Apple's new devices.
At the Orchard Road store in Singapore, where the new smartphones and watches will be available in a few hours, hundreds of people are waiting and have been camped out since much earlier in the day.
It's hot in Singapore, so potential customers have been provided with numbered wristbands to mark their place in line and are allowed to leave for up to one hour for meal breaks.
There's a similar scene at Apple's Berlin store, where customers have been lining up overnight. Berlin customers still have several hours to wait before the new devices are available in the country.
Most U.S. stores don't appear to have significant lines, but people will likely start lining up late at night as the launch date approaches.
Apple's iPhone XS and XS Max were not particularly constrained when pre-orders launched, but some iPhone XS Max models began selling out for launch day shipments within about a half hour of when pre-orders went live. Apple Watch Series 4 models were harder to come by and sold out quickly.
Orders placed for iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch orders from Apple today will not ship out until October, which is likely why many customers are trying their luck waiting in line for a walk-in purchase.
Customers in the United States who did not pre-order and who are hoping for a launch day device should get to an Apple retail store or carrier store as early as possible.
Are you planning to wait in line for an Apple device this year? Let us know in the comments.
Apple customers in Australia and New Zealand are always the first to get their hands on new devices on launch day because of time zone differences, and the iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 are no exception.
It's just after 8:00 a.m. in New Zealand, and customers who pre-ordered one of Apple's new devices are beginning to receive their shipments and have started sharing the first customer photos of the new device on Twitter, Instagram, reddit, and the MacRumors forums.
There are no Apple Stores in New Zealand, so customers in Australia will be the first to be able to purchase devices from an Apple retail location. Available stock in Australia should give us an idea of what we can expect in other retail stores as it rolls around to September 21 across the globe.
Following New Zealand and Australia, iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 sales will kick off in Asia, Europe, and finally, North America. Apple Stores globally are opening up at 8:00 a.m. local time to allow customers to pick up reserved devices and make walk-in purchases.
Image via Dan
Apple is likely to have stock available for walk-in customers at most of its retail locations around the world, but supplies of some devices, like the Apple Watch Series 4, could be limited. As always, customers hoping for a new device on launch day should try to get to the Apple Store early.
Other retailers, including carriers and big box stores, are stocking the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 and could also have some supply available for launch day purchase.
In the United States, the first new device deliveries will take place on the east coast starting at 8:00 a.m.
Make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors both tomorrow and throughout next week, because we'll have plenty of iPhone XS, XS Max, and Apple Watch Series 4 coverage to share.
Rain Design, a maker of accessories for Apple products, released three laptop stands made of anodized aluminum to match Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro models earlier this year: the mBar, mBar Pro, and mBar Pro+. The mBar is a minimalist MacBook stand with fixed arms that's not meant to be portable, and the mBar Pro and Pro+ have folding arms for easy portability.
A laptop stand can be a critical accessory for a home or office workstation to elevate your laptop to a more comfortable and ergonomic position for extended use. But a portable laptop stand is more of an option than a necessity, and size and weight are crucial factors in determining if it's worthy of adding to your bag.
I received the mBar Pro to review and tested it with a 15-inch MacBook Pro. I've personally owned several Rain Design stands, including the iLap, mStand, and iLevel (which is a permanent fixture at my treadmill desk at home).
Design and Materials
All three mBar models are made of anodized aluminum and come in silver or space gray. All have rubber strips on all contact points to protect your laptop, as well as rubber feet for stability.
The mBar Pro folds up into a rectangle with two nubs that stick out on one side. It measures 9.6 inches (243 mm) wide, 3.6 inches (91mm) tall, and 1/2 inch (12.4 mm) thick when folded. The nubs are on the extendable legs and prevent your laptop from sliding off. It folds up tightly though it takes a little trial and error to figure out which leg flips out which way to set it up.
When the legs are extended, it measures 9.6 inches from front to back and it and raises the rear of a MacBook Pro by 3 inches. It feels solid yet light, weighing in at 4.6 ounces (130 grams). I found that my MacBook Pro felt stable and didn't wobble at all while on it.
Overall, the mBar Pro feels solid and well-designed. It's definitely an attractive accessory that complements Apple's laptop line.
Usage
It's compact when folded and is light enough to not be noticeable as extra weight in my laptop bag. The mBar comes with a lightweight microfiber case with a snap closure. While the stand doesn't have any sharp edges, it feels like it could mark my laptop if placed next to it in the laptop bag I use the most. With the included carrying case—or if you use a protective sleeve for your laptop—this won't be an issue for you, of course.
I used the mBar while working at coffee shop tables and standing at kitchen counters. General ergonomic principles for laptop use dictate that you should keep your wrists in as neutral a position as possible. Depending on your height or chair position, the height of the table or counter, the mBar may or may not help with that. When standing at a counter, I tend to rest my wrists right on my laptop below the keyboard and have to focus on keeping them neutral while using the mBar Pro.
When sitting at a table, the mBar Pro raises my MacBook Pro to a level that allows me to keep my neck in a more neutral position. If you've heard about "text neck," which is neck strain that results from looking down at a phone (or your favorite electronic device), the mBar Pro can definitely help avoid this, at least while you're using your laptop. As an avid iPhone user, I definitely want to avoid neck strain as much as possible and I'm all for a product that helps me with that.
The height of the mBar Pro isn't adjustable, so if that's a feature you need, you'll need to look elsewhere (or use magazines, books, or other impromptu items on hand to add some height).
An added benefit of the mBar Pro's minimalist design allows for excellent air flow around your laptop. If you're doing processor-intensive work, it can help keep your MacBook Pro a little cooler since heat can dissipate more quickly.
Bottom Line
The mBar Pro is a lightweight, attractive, and functional portable laptop stand that aesthetically matches Apple's MacBook line. It can help relieve neck strain, though without any height adjustments, its ability to help will vary based on the furniture you use and your own habits.
However, it's not cheap at just under $55. At this price point, I can't recommend it as a must-buy but if you have the cash and need a light, easy solution to elevate your MacBook Pro, it's one of the nicest portable stands I've seen.
Amazon held a big hardware event today at The Seattle Spheres, located at Amazon's headquarters campus in Washington state. The event was notable for Amazon, with senior vice president of Amazon Devices Dave Limp stating that it marked the largest number of devices and features that Amazon has ever debuted in one day.
The first product unveiling was a new and upgraded Echo Dot, which includes a brand new mic array for better performance. The company says the driver is much larger -- increasing from 1.1" to a 1.6" driver -- resulting in more powerful sound with lower distortion, enhanced bass reproduction, and increased overall max volume.
Echo Dot
Through all of the upgrades, Echo Dot's footprint still hasn't increased and the price will remain at $49.99, just like previous generations. The new Echo Dot ships in October, and pre-orders go up today.
There's also a new mainline Echo device, the new Echo Plus. This generation has more powerful sound with stronger bass and clearer playback. There's a new equalizer feature that lets you use your voice to adjust the bass and treble through Alexa, a built-in smart home hub so you can set up devices by stating "Alexa, discover my devices," and an integrated temperature sensor so you can trigger routines based on how cool or hot the room is.
As part of its digital health initiative in iOS 12, Apple has introduced some improvements to the way app notifications can be managed, enabling users to more easily reduce the number of daily distractions their iPhone or iPad throws their way.
One of these new features is called Instant Tuning, which allows you to quickly adjust the future behavior of app notifications whenever they appear in the Lock Screen or the Notifications Center. Here's how to make the most of it.
How to Use Instant Tuning in iOS 12
Next time an alert appears in your device's Notifications Center or on the Lock Screen, swipe left on it, then tap Manage. Alternatively, if your device supports 3D Touch, hard press on the alert and then tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the expanded notification.
A Manage Notifications pop-up will appear on the screen featuring two blue button options. Deliver Quietly ensures future alerts from this app only appear in the Notification Center (accessed by swiping down from the top of your device's screen).
Note that selecting this option means alerts will no longer show in the Lock Screen and you won't see any banner notifications on any other screens. Deliver Quietly also turns off any sound or vibration alerts set for the associated app.
If you tap Deliver Quietly and then decide you'd rather not stick with the setting, open the Manage Notifications pop-up again in the same way and tap the Deliver Prominently button to reinstate the previous settings.
The second option, Turn Off..., completely disables all notifications for the related app. Tap this button and you will be prompted to confirm it's what you want.
Below the two large blue buttons is a less prominent Settings button that takes you to the individual app's various notification options, usually accessed via the main Settings app.
From here you can adjust where alerts should appear (if at all), enable or disable sounds and badges, select alert preview options (Always, When Unlocked, Never) and choose how notifications should be grouped (Automatic, By App, Off).
Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.1 update to its public beta testing group, two days after providing the beta to developers and three days after releasing the tvOS 12 update.
The tvOS 12.1 public beta can be obtained by going to the Settings app on the Apple TV and navigating to the Software Updates section under "System." "Get Public Beta Updates" will need to be toggled on, and once it is, the Apple TV will download the beta software.
We don't yet know what fixes and changes the tvOS 12.1 update might bring, but it likely focuses on bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 12.
Apple's tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale and Apple does not often provide us with detailed notes outlining what's new. No obvious outward-facing changes were found in the first developer beta.
