While the HomePod did not rank among the top five smart speakers in worldwide shipments last quarter, it is dominating the premium end of the market, according to research firm Strategy Analytics.
Among smart speakers of any price, the HomePod accounted for just six percent of the market, as Strategy Analytics estimated last month. If accurate, the data shouldn't come as much of a surprise, as the top five best-selling smart speakers are all regularly priced between $49 and $129 in the United States.
The world's most-shipped smart speakers last quarter were the Google Home Mini, Amazon Echo Dot, Amazon Echo, Chinese company Alibaba's Tmall Genie, and the Google Home, according to Strategy Analytics. As always, it's important to remember that shipments don't necessarily reflect sales to customers.
David Watkins, Director of Strategy Analytics' Smart Speaker Service:
Unsurprisingly, Amazon and Google models dominated the best-selling list of smart speakers in Q2 2018. The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot accounted for a combined 38% of global shipments although they contributed just 17% towards the value of the market due to their low price.
Apple on the other hand has focused its smart speaker efforts at the premium end of the market, promoting the HomePod's audio prowess ahead of the device's voice control capabilities.
As noted by Watkins, Apple has marketed the HomePod's premium audio quality more than its Siri capabilities, as justification for its $349 price. Reviews do agree it sounds a lot better than offerings from Google and Amazon.
All in all, the smart speaker market is shaping up to be a lot like other product categories Apple operates in. Apple dominates the premium end of the smartphone market with the iPhone, for example, whereas Samsung and many other Android smartphone makers offer a variety of devices at a wide range of price points.
Apple in iOS 12 introduced Screen Time, which is designed to provide you with information on how you're using your time on your iPhone and iPad.
With Screen Time, you can see how often you pick up your iOS device, which apps you're using, which apps are sending the most notifications, and other details.
There's no dedicated app for Screen Time, so it might not be immediately obvious how it's accessed when you first install iOS 12. All Screen Time features are actually available in the Settings app.
Open up the Settings app.
Scroll down to the "Screen Time" section that's grouped with Notifications, Sounds, and Do Not Disturb.
Tap on "Screen Time" to see your usage statistics.
Screen Time Syncing
Screen Time statistics are collected from all iOS devices running iOS 12 where you're logged in with your iCloud account. That means it will aggregate data from all iPhones and iPads that you use during the course of a day.
You can view your data across all devices or on a per device basis. To view other devices, tap on the "All Devices" label on the main Screen Time screen and then choose "Devices" from the upper right hand corner.
Info Available in Screen Time
When you open up Screen Time, a chart is displayed with information on your last 24 hours of iPhone usage, organized by each individual app or which app category you've used the most, such as Productivity, Games, Creativity, or Messages.
If you tap on that chart, you can see even more information from either the last 24 hours or the last 7 days, including your longest usage setting, the number of times you picked up your device during the day, and how many notifications you got, along with details on which apps are sending you the most notifications.
Other Screen Time Features
In the Screen Time section, you can set scheduled Downtime for yourself to restrict yourself (or a child) from using apps outside of those that have been allowed with App Limits, you can set specific time limits on app categories like social networking or games, and you can access Content & Privacy Restrictions, useful if you're managing a child's device.
If you use Family Sharing with a spouse, friend, or child, and you're the family manager, you'll also see family members' names listed under "Family" and will be able to see and control their app usage.
These features are relatively simple to use, but we'll be looking into them in more depth in future how tos.
Disabling Screen Time
If you don't want to use Screen Time, you can turn it off in the Settings app.
Open the Settings app.
Tap "Screen Time."
Scroll down to "Turn Off Screen Time" and tap it.
Turning off Screen Time on your device will delete all app, website, and notification history. You can re-enable Screen Time at any time, but it does not save data nor does it begin collecting data until enabled.
While the iPhone X and iPhone XS have identical overall dimensions, a new report suggests that iPhone X cases may have a slightly imperfect fit on the iPhone XS due to very slight changes to the camera bump dimensions.
iPhone X in Apple's new iPhone XS Leather Case
No, the camera bump is not any thicker, as Daring Fireball's John Gruber confirmed in his iPhones XS review on Wednesday. However, eagle-eyed Japanese blog Mac Otakara has discovered that the camera bump is ever so slightly longer and wider on the iPhone XS than the one on the iPhone X.
Head over to the translated report for specific numbers, but the gist is that the iPhone XS camera bump is up to a millimeter or two longer and wider than the one on the iPhone X, potentially affecting case compatibility.
We expect that most iPhone X cases will more or less fit the iPhone XS without issue, but Mac Otakara provided a photo of an iPhone X in Apple's new iPhone XS Leather Case, and you can see that it isn't quite a perfect fit. The camera bump should be flush with the opening in the case, and it's off just a bit.
In other words, the camera cutout on the iPhone XS Leather Case is a bit larger, to accomodate for the new iPhone XS camera bump dimensions. In reverse, the camera cutout on an iPhone X case may be a bit too small for the iPhone XS.
All in all, treat this as a warning that some iPhone X cases, especially ones with a very tight fit around the camera bump, might have an imperfect fit on the iPhone XS. It's not really a big deal, but something to keep in mind.
Just over two years after the European Commission ruled that Apple was receiving illegal state aid from Ireland -- where it had reportedly paid less than 2 percent in taxes compared to the country's headline 12.5 percent corporate tax rate -- Apple has now paid back the entire 13.1 billion euros ($15.3 billion) it owed in back taxes (via Reuters).
The European Commission confirmed the payment this week, and furthermore said that EU antitrust regulators now plan to drop all legal action against Ireland. The EU had originally taken Ireland to court for failing to recover the $15.3 billion in tax due from Apple.
The confirmation of the withdrawal of litigation came from an email sent by European Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso:
“In light of the full payment by Apple of the illegal State aid it had received from Ireland, Commissioner Vestager will be proposing to the College of Commissioners the withdrawal of this court action,” Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said in an email.
Although the EU gave its final ruling in August 2016 regarding Apple's tax loophole in Ireland, the regulatory body had first kicked off an investigation into Apple's tax arrangements back in 2014. The ruling eventually found that Apple was allowed to pay an effective corporate tax rate of 1 percent on its European profits in 2003, down to 0.005 percent in 2014. Specifically in 2014, Apple paid 0.005 percent tax on EU profits, which means that "For every million euros in profits, it (Apple) paid just €500 in taxes," said European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager at the time.
Apple and CEO Tim Cook were adamant that the ruling was based on "fundamental errors" and Cook referred to the tax avoidance accusations as "total political crap." He elaborated, stating that Apple pays all of the taxes it owes based on the laws of each country in which it operates. Likewise, the Irish government said it did not give favorable tax treatment to Apple and added that it "does not do deals with taxpayers."
Apple and Ireland eventually moved to appeal the ruling, but as things escalated the European Commission decided to open litigation against Ireland in October 2017 for its failure to procure Apple's back taxes. Eventually, Apple began paying the back taxes it owed around March 2018, and in a report from earlier in the year sources stated that payments were expected to finish around September.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
The battery capacities and RAM inside the new iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR have surfaced in regulatory filings Apple is required to submit to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, often shortened to TENAA, is sort of like the FCC of China. Apple has filed many products with the regulatory body over the years, as required, and there is a track record of them being factually accurate, so there's no reason to doubt these latest ones.
Chinese website MyDrivers was first to share the filings, but only provided screenshots. MacRumors uncovered direct links to the filings below.
The filings reveal that the iPhone XS has a 2,658 mAh battery, around 2.2 percent less capacity than the 2,716 mAh battery in the iPhone X that it replaces, despite both being 5.8-inch devices. Nevertheless, with continued performance and power optimizations, Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone XS gets up to 30 minutes longer battery life than the iPhone X per charge cycle.
As the largest iPhone ever, the iPhone XS Max naturally has the largest battery capacity of any iPhone ever at 3,174 mAh, according to the filings. That's roughly 16.8 percent larger than the battery in the iPhone X, and 19.4 percent larger than the battery in the iPhone XS. Apple's tech specs indicate that the iPhone XS Max lasts up to 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone X per charge cycle.
iPhone XS Max regulatory filing in China
Last, the iPhone XR is listed with a battery capacity of 2,942 mAh, roughly 8.3 percent larger than in the iPhone X, 10.6 percent larger than in the iPhone XS, and 7.3 percent smaller than in the iPhone XS Max.
Despite having a smaller battery than the iPhone XS Max, the iPhone XR has the longest battery life of any iPhone ever, according to Apple's tech specs. A big reason may be that the iPhone XR has a smaller 6.1-inch display with a lower resolution compared to the iPhone XS Max. Less pixels, less power consumption.
The filings also appear to confirm that the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max each have 4GB of RAM, while the iPhone XR has 3GB. That's exactly in line with information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Taiwanese research firm TrendForce earlier this year, so the filings are very likely accurate. By comparison, the iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus have 3GB of RAM, and the iPhone 8 has 2GB.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch this Friday, so it won't take long before iFixit teardowns and Geekbench benchmarks confirm these battery capacities and RAM for good measure. iPhone XR launches October 26.
The first reviews of the Apple Watch Series 4 have been published online today, just a couple of days before the new smartwatch is available in stores.
The Apple Watch Series 4 features a new design with a slimmer body, a 30 percent larger display, and electric sensors for taking ECG readings. Despite the larger displays, the Series 4 has a thinner, smaller case.
All Apple Watch Series 4 models feature a black ceramic and sapphire crystal backing, and the Digital Crown includes haptic feedback for what Apple says is a more mechanical, responsive feel. Inside, the Apple Watch features a faster, more efficient S4 chip that offers twice the speed.
With all that in mind, several reviewers have been trying out Apple's new smartwatch for five days, and most of them agree that while the Series 4 model is a great smartwatch, it "isn't the kind of refresh that justifies upgrading from the last generation," as TechCrunch's Brian Heater puts it.
Likewise, iMore's Rene Ritchie thinks Series 3 owners looking to vindicate the purchase will "have to really want the new capabilities, never mind the new design," although he thinks that upgrading from a Series 0 or Series 1 is a "no brainer" and Series 2 owners will also find the new model "compelling".
In terms of design and wearability, Heater found that the Series 4's larger, wider case was "not really noticeable unless you happen to have two side-by-side," although for those who have used an earlier model with any regularity, "the increase in surface area is pretty readily apparent."
The Verge's Dieter Bohn found that the difference between a 42mm Series 3 and the Series 4's 44mm size is "only subtly bigger" and "feels about the same." However, Wired's Scott Rosenfield found more of a difference when actually interacting with the device:
The watch still looks like a watch. But in practice, the larger screen feels as significant as going from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6. The rounded edges and thinner bezel give you substantially more screen space, which make it easier to read and tap.
That changed how I used the watch: I crammed in more complications on each watch face, and I found myself scrolling through texts, looking at heart rate and workout data, and even playing with the News and Photos apps in a way that I hadn't since the watch first launched.
TechCrunch's Heater took particular liking to the watch's new haptic Digital Crown, which "feels like turning a mechanical dial... And when there’s nothing on screen to move by spinning it, the feedback simply shuts off." iMore's Ritchie concurred, noting that "the new clicking absolutely feels more precise and more fun to use."
The new watch faces were also a hit with Ritchie, who called the new Infographic (analog) and Infographic Modular faces "informational escalations that manage to be denser without sacrificing legibility."
You can fill them with communications apps and contacts, if you're running around playing secret agent. You can fill them with world clocks and trackers if you're traveling. You can fill them with fitness features if you're off to a workout. Or you can mix and match to best suit your average activities.
Elsewhere, Wired's Rosenfield came away impressed by the accuracy of the watch's new optical heart-rate sensor as well as the automatic workout detection, while noting that "runners will love the new rolling mile measurement, cadence, and target pace notifications."
The improvement in the Series 4's speaker was also particularly noticeable. The Verge's Bohn called it "way louder," while iMore's Ritchie said "everything from Siri to calls now boom... I can make out conversation from a good dozen feet away."
Speed-wise, Wired's Rosenfield felt the Series 4 was generally faster than previous models, although not as big a jump as with past iterations:
In everyday life, the Series 4 does feel snappier, but it doesn't feel to me to be as significant as the jump from the Series 2 to Series 3. The exception: I found the initial watch pairing process to be much faster with the Series 4 than with prior models.
Despite the speed improvements, the reviewers agreed that general battery life is largely unchanged from the Series 3 – TechCrunch's Heater felt that most users would be able to get through a day's use without worrying about finding a charger.
Reviewers were unable to test the ECG feature, which won't be available until later this year. Likewise, when it came to Fall Detection, Apple advised against trying to trick the Apple Watch Series 4 into thinking they have accidentally fallen, although Wired's Rosenfield couldn't resist: "I tried to trigger a false warning by tripping onto a yoga mat, jumping on the bed, and flailing around while attempting to powerlift. No dice."
Summing up, The Verge's Bohn concludes: "The Apple Watch has earned its place as the best-selling watch" and is "at least an order of magnitude better than other smartwatches and fitness trackers."
Other publications have shared Apple Watch Series 4 reviews that are worth a read. We've rounded up some links below and will add more when we find them.
Spire, a company that makes small Health Tags that are designed to clip on to your clothing, is now selling its products in Apple retail stores.
The Spire Health Tag, available as a single tag for $50, a 3-pack for $129, or an 8-pack for $299, tracks sleep, stress, and activity. It's meant to be an activity tracker that you can forget about, clipping it onto a shirt or pajamas and then not worrying about it again.
It's sold in multiple packs so you can keep one attached to each of the clothing items that you use most often. It's small enough that it can clip into the waistband of a pair of pants or attach to the strap of a sports bra.
The Health Tags can be washed, so you can clip one to a piece of clothing and leave it there permanently if desired, for no-hassle tracking and no device to worry about. Health Tags feature a 1.5-year battery and don't need to be recharged.
Spire Health Tags measure activity, heart rate and heart rate variability, sleep quality, breathing patterns, and stress levels to offer up an overall picture of a person's health.
According to TechCrunch, Apple retail stores will be offering the Spire Health tags in one, three, and eight pack configurations, with stores set to get the new accessories soon. The Spire Health Tags will also be available on Apple's website, but aren't showing up just yet.
Apple also sells Spire's Mindfulness and Activity Tracker, a $130 activity tracker that clips to your clothing and senses respiratory patterns to detect changes in your state of mind.
If you live in Canada and haven't pre-ordered an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max yet, you might still be able to score one on launch day.
Apple has activated its Reserve and Pickup system in Canada, allowing customers to place an in-store pickup reservation for an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max at an Apple Store across the country, subject to availability.
The page often says Apple is "not taking reservations to buy an iPhone right now," but limited supplies are added each day, at which point the page becomes functional. When live, the page allows you to reserve an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max in whichever colors and storage capacities are available at the time.
The best part is that the reservations are for Friday, September 21, the day the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch in stores, so if you missed out on middle-of-the-night pre-orders, this is a good second chance.
Instead of constantly refreshing the page, we recommend following Robinhood Monitor on Twitter. The account parses the backend of Apple's reservation system and automatically tweets when an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max in any color or storage capacity becomes available to reserve at any Apple Store in Canada.
Since inventory runs out very quickly each time an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max reservation becomes available, the key is to enable push notifications on the Robinhood Monitor account to receive real-time alerts. As soon as more stock is added, head to Apple's reservation page as soon as possible.
Placing a reservation allows you to pick up an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max at an Apple Store within a designated 30-minute window. Apple recommends bringing a government-issued photo ID with you for verification.
Note that payment for the iPhone is not collected online in advance, but rather upon arrival to the Apple Store for the in-store pickup.
I used the Reserve and Pickup system to buy an iPhone X at the Eaton Centre in Toronto last year, despite not placing a pre-order, so I can vouch that it works. Another option is to simply wait until Friday, line up at an Apple Store, and make a walk-in purchase, but lines are often long and stock runs out.
Another benefit to the Reserve and Pickup system is that, at some Apple Stores, there is a dedicated queue for customers with reservations.
Unfortunately, the Reserve and Pickup system is currently only working in Canada. The page eventually went live in Australia, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom as well last year, so it may be worth keeping an eye on those links. In the United States, the page simply says that reservations are no longer required.
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch in stores this Friday, September 21, with most locations in Canada opening early at 8:00 a.m. local time.
Reviews for the iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max went live this morning ahead of Friday's launch, and in a new press release, Apple has highlighted reviews from several members of the media who were able to spend some time with the new iPhones.
Apple shared key passages from sites that include Mashable, TechCrunch, Daring Fireball, The New York Times, Best Products, Hypebeast, Tom's Guide, Dailymail, TechRadar, Hardwarezone, Sydney Morning Herald, and photographer Austin Mann.
Daring Fireball's John Gruber, for example, praised the iPhone's custom silicon and software and its always-in-your-pocket convenience for photography.
"iPhones can't compete with big dedicated cameras in lens or sensor quality. It's not even close. The laws of physics prevent it. But those traditional camera companies can't compete with Apple in custom silicon or software, and their cameras can't compete with iPhones in terms of always-in-your-pocket convenience and always-on internet connectivity for sharing. In the long run, the smart money is to bet on silicon and software."
The New York Times praised the way Apple increased the iPhone XS Max's screen size without adding bulk or compromising usability, while Tom's Guide did some benchmarking on the A12 and declared the iPhone XS models the fastest iPhones available.
"[To transcode a 2-minute 4K video to 1080p,] iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max knocked it down further to 39 seconds. ... The Galaxy S9+ took 2 minutes and 32 seconds to complete the task, and that's the fastest we've seen from an Android phone. ... Based on our testing, the A12 Bionic processor inside the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max make these the fastest phones you can buy."
Apple, of course, focused on the positive elements in these reviews and while reviewers did generally offer praise for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, especially for the camera improvements and the larger screen size, most agreed that iPhone X users may not be tempted to upgrade just for a new processor and a better camera.
Customers who pre-ordered an iPhone XS or iPhone XS Max will be able to get their hands on the new devices starting on Friday, September 21, the official iPhone XS and XS Max launch date.
With the release of iOS 12, tvOS 12, and watchOS 5 yesterday, Apple made some quiet changes to its iTunes and App Store privacy policy on iOS devices and the Apple TV.
Newly updated language in the iTunes and App Store privacy policy states that Apple is using a new device trust score to help identify and cut down on fraud.
Apple says that information about how you use your device, including the approximate number of phone calls or emails you receive is used to compute the device trust score when you make a purchase.
To help identify and prevent fraud, information about how you use your device, including the approximate number of phone calls or emails you send and receive, will be used to compute a device trust score when you attempt a purchase. The submissions are designed so Apple cannot learn the real values on your device. The scores are stored for a fixed time on our servers.
This warning shows up on both iOS devices and the Apple TV, which can’t send emails or make phone calls, so it appears to be blanket wording Apple is using for all of its iTunes and App Store privacy updates.
Apple has always been committed to protecting users from fraud, and the trust score is a new anti-fraud technique introduced in iOS 12. Like many of Apple’s data collection practices, the trust score has been designed with user privacy in mind.
Data used to calculate the trust score is on-device and related to usage patterns rather than the content of communications (Apple won’t know who you called or emailed or what you talked about), and when sent to Apple, the trust score is encrypted and stored for a short period of time.
Apple does not receive information beyond the score itself because the data used to determine the trust score is stored on device, as previously mentioned. A single trust score number Apple uses actually contains data from thousands of accounts, which protects your individual data and prevents Apple from seeing a single user’s device usage patterns.
Apple says the new iTunes and App Store trust scores are used solely to identify and prevent fraud and have no other purpose.
Apple uses many anti-fraud techniques, but malicious entities are always aiming to circumvent fraud measures, so Apple has to develop new fraud detection methods to protect customers and assess overall transactions for potential fraud. The trust score will help Apple better separate legitimate transactions from fraudulent transactions, cutting down on the number of false positives.
According to Apple, a lot of work went into building a trust score that provides the company with the tools to detect fraud while also protecting user privacy.
Apple’s iTunes Store & Privacy documentation was updated on September 17, just after the iOS 12 release, and prior to then, it did not include the bit about creating a trust score.
There are few other changes that have been made to the document, and the new section joins a pre-existing policy where Apple says that it collects device information, location information, download and purchase history and other interactions with its stores to prevent fraud.
Back in March, Mazda became one of the last major car manufacturers to announce launch plans for CarPlay support. Mazda's first announced vehicle with CarPlay is the 2018 Mazda6, with owners of Touring trim and above able to bring their vehicles to a Mazda dealer for a free upgrade starting this month. CarPlay will be available pre-installed in Mazda6 vehicles with Touring trim and above as of November, while Mazda's 2019 CX-9 is also just starting to roll out with CarPlay available pre-installed.
2018 Mazda6 Signature in Soul Red Crystal
While the general CarPlay experience is consistent across car brands, as it's driven by your connected iPhone, there are some differences in how CarPlay interfaces with manufacturers' various infotainment systems and hardware, so it's worth taking a look at the CarPlay experience in a Mazda. I've had a chance to spend some time with a CarPlay-equipped 2018 Mazda6 Signature, and CarPlay is a welcome alternative to the built-in Mazda Connect infotainment system that has garnered mixed reviews over the years.
Mazda Connect
Before we touch on CarPlay, it pays to take a look at Mazda Connect, as that's the software and hardware CarPlay sits on top of. Mazda has opted for multiple control options in its vehicles, with both an 8-inch touchscreen on the dashboard and a commander knob with associated buttons on the center console. A smaller dial next to the commander knob lets you adjust volume without reaching up to the dashboard, or you can adjust the volume from the steering wheel. Voice control through a button on the steering wheel is also available.
Controller knob and other controls on center console
Touchscreen operation is unsurprisingly straightforward, while the commander knob offers a flexible array of input methods including twisting, rocking, and pressing the knob to navigate around. The cluster of buttons around the knob lets you jump quickly to navigation, music, favorites, the Mazda Connect home screen (or CarPlay home screen if active), or back to the previous screen. Navigating the interface with the commander knob can be a bit clunky at times, particularly if you have to navigate through several menu levels, but overall it's a satisfactory experience similar to that offered by a number of other manufacturers.
Mazda Connect home screen
One important thing to note is that while the Mazda Connect system includes a touchscreen, it's locked out while driving in order to reduce distractions, requiring you to use the commander knob or voice to control the system. (The lockout is only while the car is in motion, so the touchscreen does work while stopped at a stoplight, for example.) Mazda is one of the most conservative carmakers in this regard, but forcing users to the commander knob can actually be a detriment in some cases where reaching over to the display for a quick tap would likely be less distracting than using the knob to scroll over to the desired option.
Navigation search menu
A significant part of what makes CarPlay such a welcome addition is that Mazda Connect has a few shortcomings. I found overall navigation of the interface passable but a bit clunky with the commander knob. The user interface layout is decent enough for touchscreen control, but when you're forced to use the commander knob it can be something of a chore to navigate through the options.
The overall look of Mazda Connect isn't bad by car infotainment standards, although it could certainly stand to see some modernization, and there are some curious design decisions such as not allowing enough characters to display song titles completely. With a nice, big 8-inch screen, it shouldn't be the case that song titles are routinely cut off.
SiriusXM Radio interface
Built-in navigation through Mazda Connect also leaves a bit to be desired, as I found the system unable to parse some of the destinations I tried to input by voice and the POI database seemed rather weak, making it difficult to find some destinations.
Navigation search results
In one test trip, the onboard GPS tracking seemed to be improperly calibrated, and navigation was useless as the map continually showed me driving off into the woods. On all other trips, however, the GPS location and directions were accurate, so the problem I experienced may have just been a one-off bug. It's also an issue I've occasionally seen with my iPhone, so maybe there isn't really that much difference in performance here.
Turn-by-turn directions with simulated road signs for easy recognition
Otherwise, the navigation system performed well with helpful turn-by-turn directions and depictions of road signs at major junctions. A handy optional feature also displays cross streets as you approach you them, even if you don't have a navigation route running. Another helpful view displays along the right side of the screen which amenities like gas, food, and auto repair are available at upcoming exits.
General map view
Mazda Connect also isn't known for being speedy, with the most significant chokepoint being at initial boot. Upon starting the car, it took 15 to as much as 40 seconds for Mazda Connect to boot up, display a warning to keep your eyes on the road, and become available to use. Loading directly into navigation can take a few seconds longer. It doesn't necessarily sound like a huge amount of time, but when you just want to hop in your car and go it can feel like an eternity. Unfortunately, CarPlay doesn't help with this, as Mazda Connect has to fully boot up before CarPlay can be recognized as available, so you still have to wait.
CarPlay
Once you're into CarPlay, things work mostly as expected. All of the familiar CarPlay apps are there, and you can navigate through them by touch (with one big caveat discussed below), the commander knob/buttons, or voice.
CarPlay home screen
One important difference for Mazda is that the touchscreen lockout while driving also extends to CarPlay, which means you'll need to use the commander knob to scroll through highlighted user interface elements. It's an officially supported input method for CarPlay, but ultimately it's less convenient for an operating system that's designed to be manipulated by touch with minimal distraction.
Touchscreen input works fine with CarPlay when the car isn't in motion, so it's simplest to get as much set up for your drive as you can before you set out and make adjustments at stoplights. Commander knob ease of use will obviously improve as you spend time using it and muscle memory takes over for some tasks, but it's rarely going to be as convenient as a direct touch interface.
While the commander knob can be a little inconvenient for navigating the user interface, some frequently used functions like play/pause (press the knob) and back/forward (rock the knob) are simple and intuitive. It's the more complicated operations that involve scrolling through various UI elements to make a selection that are more cumbersome to accomplish with the knob than a touchscreen tap.
As with the touchscreen lockout for Mazda Connect, Mazda tells me the extension to CarPlay is a "conscious choice" based on its feeling that the knob is less distractive than using a touchscreen while the car is motion. I'm not sure I necessarily agree when it comes to CarPlay, as Apple has put considerable thought into keeping the interface simple enough that you can grab relevant information at a glance and quickly tap what you need.
Apple Maps in CarPlay
Beyond the knob itself, the associated hardware buttons surrounding it do come in handy for CarPlay. The navigation and music buttons make it easy to jump back and forth between frequently used screens, and it hops in and out of CarPlay as needed – such as when you have Apple Maps active while listening to XM radio and the buttons correctly take you to the proper music and maps apps. The system also remembers if CarPlay is active when you turn off the car, and takes you back to it when you start up again.
Apple Maps in CarPlay
One other thing to note is that if your phone is plugged into the car, pressing the talk button on the steering wheel appears to only activate Siri. I was unable to find a way to activate the Mazda Connect voice system while the phone was plugged in, even if CarPlay wasn't necessarily active.
Some systems like BMW's offer dual access via the talk button, bringing up Siri with a short press or the onboard system with a long press. Mazda tells me it decided not to offer dual access because its research concluded that customers found it confusing. Changing terrestrial/satellite radio stations is the only thing Mazda Connect's voice system can do that Siri can not, and that task can also be accomplished in some regard by using buttons on the steering wheel.
Ports and Connectivity
Mazda has been thoughtful with the placement of various ports, helping to keep cords and devices tucked away. Two USB ports (one designated for connecting a phone to Mazda Connect), an Aux port, an SD card slot used for loading maps into the onboard navigation system, and a 12V power port are all hidden away in the center console compartment.
Ports inside center console compartment
The compartment isn't particularly roomy, as the gearshift, commander knob, and cupholders take up much of the console space, but it lets you keep your phone out of sight. If you prefer to have your phone in a cupholder or the storage tray at the front of the console, there's a sufficient gap on either side of the console compartment lid to easily run the cable out without pinching it.
Rear armrest with USB ports
In the rear, the middle seatback folds down to offer a pair of cupholders, controls for heated seats (if equipped), and a shallow storage compartment housing a pair of 2.1A USB ports, which is great for keeping the kids' iPads charged up. Mazda does not, however, offer a Wi-Fi hotspot option to keep those devices connected to the internet.
Wrap-up
With CarPlay adoption growing rapidly over the past several years, it's become more of a must-have feature for car buyers, so it's great to see Mazda finally get on board with the technology. I know several Mazda owners who have been waiting patiently for CarPlay support, and while it's unfortunate there are no signs yet of retrofit availability beyond the current Mazda6, at least those loyal Mazda owners can look forward to it in their next car.
Infotainment systems from car manufacturers across the board are notorious for design and performance that don't reach the level of polish we've come to expect from our smartphones, and Mazda Connect is no different here. The whole Mazda Connect system could use a refresh to modernize the look and improve performance, but once you get familiar with the operation it's a decent system beyond the issues I had with navigation.
Of course, any shortcomings in onboard systems like Mazda Connect serve to increase the value of CarPlay support, which lets you use the apps you're already familiar with right on the dashboard and have all of your contacts, music playlists, maps history, and more at your fingertips without needing to rely on incomplete and sometimes cumbersome syncing of data to built-in car systems or audio-only connections over Bluetooth or Aux. And with CarPlay expanding to support third-party maps apps like Google Maps and Waze, even more iPhone owners may be willing to become regular CarPlay users.
The 2018 Mazda6 and the new 2019 CX-9 will be the first Mazdas to get CarPlay support, but it's reasonable to expect that the rest of the lineup should get it as the new model years are introduced. Unlike some other manufacturers, Mazda isn't charging extra for CarPlay, so far simply bundling it into all tiers above the entry-level Sport trim. The company has not, however, announced any plans to offer retrofit CarPlay support on any models other than the 2018 Mazda6 that's currently in the middle of its production year.
The 2018 Mazda6 starts at an MSRP of $21,950, although the minimum Touring trim required for CarPlay begins at $25,700. The new 2019 CX-9 starts at $32,280, with the Touring trim beginning at $35,330 needed for CarPlay.
The iPhone XS and XS Max are Apple's most expensive iPhones yet, with the top-of-the-line iPhone XS Max coming in at a cost of $1,449 for 512GB of storage.
If you want to outfit your pricey iPhone with a case that's just as expensive, we've hunted down a list of the most ridiculously priced iPhone XS cases you can get.
Gray's Alter Ego line of cases available in Titanium, Stealth, Gold, and Aurora start at $1,457. The cases are all made from aerospace grade titanium and offer a minimal design with an X shape that covers the back of the iPhone along with protective covers at each of the corners to protect from drops.
The Aurora version of the Alter Ego case, priced at $2,763 for the XS and $3,000 for the XS Max, features hand-torched titanium to achieve a colorful finish, with each piece offering a unique array of colors. The Aurora and the Gold Alter Ego cases are limited to 100 pieces, while there are 500 of the Stealth edition available. The cases can be purchased from the Gray website.
Gresso, a company that makes high-end titanium sunglasses, also makes titanium iPhone cases and has a new line out for the iPhone XS and XS Max. The Gresso Magnum cases feature an interior cover crafted from flexible, high resistance TPU for protection and an outer shell made of grade-5 titanium for strength and durability. All of Gresso's Magnum Titanium cases for the iPhone XS and XS Max are priced at $595.
Hadoro is selling a selection of luxury iPhone XS and XS Max cases made from exotic animal skin materials like lizard, stingray, python, ostrich, alligator, and calfskin. The priciest is an 890 euro Alligator Folio Case available in a range of colors.
Luxury brand Louis Vuitton makes a line of super fancy, super expensive iPhone cases like this Eye Trunk for iPhone X and XS, which resembles one of the company's classic trunks. There's no iPhone XS Max version just yet, but one is probably in the works. The Louis Vuitton case costs a whopping $1,320.
Luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana also makes iPhone cases and has a line of pricey options that will fit the iPhone X and the iPhone XS. The most expensive is a leather iPhone case with a green rabbit fur bracelet that's priced at $795, but you can also get a plain logo case in leather with what looks like fur for $675.
Though not cases, Brikk and Caviar are the ultimate experts in super expensive iPhones, and both have debuted iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max devices that feature entire casings replaced with high-end materials.
Caviar's gold-plated mother of pearl diamond-encrusted iPhone XS is priced starting at $5,420, and there are all kinds of other casing options with carbon bodies, snake skin, alligator skin, gold accents, and diamond accents.
Brikk offers the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max in carbon, ceramic, and gold, with pricing on the carbon models starting at $9,995 and pricing on the ceramic models starting at $12,995.
Have you seen any outrageously priced iPhone XS and XS Max accessories? Would you buy one of these? Let us know in the comments.
Code in the iOS 12.1 beta released this morning suggests Face ID has built-in support for landscape orientation, according to information shared by developer Steven Troughton-Smith.
A rendering of the upcoming iPad Pro said to be based on leaked CAD drawings
According to Troughton-Smith, landscape support for Face ID has likely been built into the update for upcoming iPad Pro models that are expected to offer Face ID.
Face ID has support for landscape orientation (presumably for iPad only), and iOS 12.1 seems to care a lot more about whether an external display is connected (perhaps due to iPad USB-C rumors; it won't have the Lighting HDMI adapter as an intermediary for video-out)
— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2018
Troughton-Smith says that landscape Face ID requires a different alignment for the front-facing sensors of the TrueDepth camera system, which is why it won't be available for iPhone models that have Face ID.
From what I gather, landscape Face ID would require a realignment of the front-facing sensors, so you won't see it on existing hardware https://t.co/gVyB4Hz3pW
— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) September 18, 2018
Previous iPad rumors have also suggested Apple would introduce Face ID support for landscape orientation specifically for the new iPad Pro models, because being able to unlock only in portrait mode would be inconvenient with a larger tablet form factor that's most often used in a horizontal orientation.
Right now, Face ID on the iPhone X and the new iPhone XS and XS Max devices works only in portrait mode, with the devices unable to recognize a face when held in landscape mode.
There has been some confusion over how Apple will implement Face ID in the iPad Pro models, though, as some rumors have pointed towards the inclusion of a new mystery port that's supposedly a Smart Connector located at the back of the device in leaked cases and CAD drawings.
A rendering of the upcoming iPad Pro said to be based on leaked CAD drawings
According to Japanese site Mac Otakara, which has somewhat of a mixed track record when it comes to rumors, the Smart Connector allegedly works with a new vertically oriented Smart Keyboard. Mac Otakara believes Face ID in the iPad Pro will work only in vertical orientation, but both today's information and prior hints of horizontal Face ID support suggest that's inaccurate.
Troughton-Smith shared a few other tidbits he found in the beta. There appears to be code to support an upcoming change to MFi game controllers that will offer up compatibility with clickable thumb sticks, and iOS 12.1 "seems to care a lot more about whether an external display is connected," which could be related to rumors of a switch from Lightning to USB-C.
Apple's iPad Pro models are rumored to feature edge-to-edge displays with no Home button, no headphone jack, and a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. We're expecting Apple to introduce the new iPad Pros before the end of the year, perhaps at an upcoming event in October.
If you updated your iPhone to iOS 12 this week and noticed that some Activity Challenge awards are missing, you're not alone.
In a new support document, Apple has acknowledged that five limited edition awards may be temporarily unavailable in the Activity app after updating to iOS 12, presumably due to a minor software bug of some kind.
They include:
Thanksgiving Day Challenge 2016
Mother's Day Challenge 2017
Veterans Day Challenge 2017
Thanksgiving Day Challenge 2017
China National Fitness Day 2018
Apple is aware of this issue and will address it in an upcoming software update, according to the support document.
MacRumors has been affected by this issue on at least one of our iPhones, with a few awards missing on both iOS 12 and the first beta of iOS 12.1, seeded to registered Apple developers earlier today. There's a chance the awards could be restored in a subsequent beta version of iOS 12.1 in the days to come.
Of note, the Mother's Day Challenge award was still visible on another one of our iPhones running Monday's publicly released version of iOS 12, so it appears that not everyone is affected to begin with.
The watchOS 5 update, introduced yesterday, brought several new watch faces that weren't available during the beta testing period. These faces are designed to work with the Apple Watch Series 4 and were shown off when the device launched, but they are available on existing Apple Watch models as well.
There's a new Breathe face that's designed to let you launch into quick relaxation breathing sessions by following the motion of the icon on the watch face. The Breathe watch face features three styles: Classic, Calm, and Focus, each with a unique look.
As with the Breathe app on the Apple Watch, the Breathe face uses the same rhythm and 8.5 second timing to invoke relaxation. The Breathe app can be outfitted with three complications, one at the top left, one at the top right, and one at the bottom.
Along with the Breathe watch face, there are three new watch faces that are designed to take advantage of the larger screen on the Apple Watch Series 4 with fluctuating materials that move and shift when you raise your wrist.
The new watch faces include Fire and Water, Liquid Metal, and Vapor. Fire and Water, as the name suggests, lets you select either fire or water animations, while the Liquid Metal face features liquid metal in silver, gold, black, and an option to cycle through the colors.
The Vapor face features a vapor-like substance that shifts around on the wrist in colors that include Blue/Green, Black/White, and Pink/Orange. With all of the watch faces, you can choose to have them switch between the various options when your wrist is in motion.
Fire & Water, Vapor, and Liquid Metal all support three complications, two at the top and one at the bottom.
Apple has other watch faces in store that are going to be exclusive to the Apple Watch Series 4 models, but we'll need to wait until the new devices launch this Friday to see those faces.
What do you think of the new watch faces Apple has added in watchOS 5? Let us know in the comments.
Google today updated its popular Google Maps navigation app, introducing support for CarPlay. With iOS 12, third-party mapping apps work with CarPlay for the first time, giving CarPlay users an alternative to the built-in Apple Maps app.
Prior to iOS 12, CarPlay users were forced to use the Apple Maps app as other mapping apps were not supported. Google's update release notes:
Things we're excited about: rainbows, puppies, and navigating with Google Maps on Apple CarPlay. Check it out to get the best of Google Maps right in your car's built-in display!
For CarPlay to work with third-party apps, those apps need to introduce CarPlay support through an update. Google is the first mapping app to have done so, but other apps like Waze and TomTom are expected to debut support for CarPlay in the near future.
CarPlay is available in the Google 5.0 update that can be downloaded from the iOS App Store starting today. [Direct Link]
For a special giveaway this week to celebrate the launch of Apple's new iPhones, we've teamed up with iMobie to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 64GB iPhone XS Max and a copy of the company's AnyTrans software, which is designed to let you manage the content on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
The iPhone XS Max is Apple's latest flagship device, equipped with a 6.5-inch OLED display, Face ID support, an impressive dual-lens rear camera system, an A12 Bionic chip, Gigabit LTE, more durable glass, and improved water resistance.
The new iPhone, like other iPhones and Android devices, is compatible with the AnyTrans software. AnyTrans is an iTunes alternative that lets you transfer files to and from your iOS devices, moving music, photos, contacts, messages, and more from device to device with a click.
AnyTrans lets you manage your music and create custom ringtones, backup your photos, clean up your lists of contacts and messages, and manage your apps from the desktop. It also creates complete backups through a wireless Air Backup feature and it has a built-in iCloud Manager option for handling your iCloud files.
AnyTrans is a useful solution for everything from securely creating device backups on your computer to switching to a new device to moving content like music from one iPhone to another without a hassle. It's also handy if you want to switch from Android to iPhone.
The AnyTrans returns many of the features that Apple eliminated in iTunes with iTunes 12.7, allowing users to save apps for local backup, install app updates with one click, categorize and arrange apps on your iPhone or iPad's home screen, and backup home screen layouts.
AnyTrans is available from the iMobie website, and while it costs $39.99, a free trial is available. We have one free copy of AnyTrans to giveaway alongside an iPhone XS Max. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter 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, 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 (September 18) at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 25. The winner will be chosen randomly on September 25 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.
Apple this morning seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.1 update to developers for testing purposes, just one day after releasing the tvOS 12 update.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 12.1 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
We're not yet sure what fixes and changes the tvOS 12.1 update might bring, but it's likely to focus on bugs 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. We'll update this post should anything be found in the beta.
Just over two years after the European Commission 
