Apple's Twitter account for the Apple Card today announced that customers can get six percent Daily Cash back on most Apple products purchased through December 31.
The six percent savings will be delivered as Daily Cash in Apple's Wallet app, transferred to the Apple Cash card. Apple highlights products like the iPhone 11, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro, and AirPods Pro as part of the promotion.
Save 6% on gifts at Apple this holiday season. 🎁
Through December 31, get 6% Daily Cash back on iPhone, AirPods Pro, MacBook Pro, and more. Apply now.
— Apple Card (@AppleCard) December 10, 2019
However, it excludes purchases made on iTunes, AppleCare+, and payments made to Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program. Users have until December 31 to take advantage of the offer.
Outside of the holidays, Apple offers three percent Daily Cash back for Apple product purchases. Partners like Uber, Uber Eats, Walgreens, Duane Reade, T-Mobile, and Nike also now support three percent Daily Cash back. Apple says additional partners will be added over time, while all other purchases made with the Apple Card via Apple Pay will continue to receive two percent Daily Cash.
To apply for an Apple Card, simply open the Wallet app on an iPhone running iOS 12.4 or later, tap the plus button in the top-right corner, and follow the on-screen steps. The process takes just a few minutes, and if approved, your digital Apple Card will be ready for purchases immediately. Daily Cash is unlimited and paid out daily to your Apple Cash account. For more details, make sure to check out our Apple Card guide.
Apple Pay came to two additional big banks in Germany today, bringing the digital payment platform to millions more people in the country just over a year since it launched there.
As of this morning, customers of both Sparkasse and Commerzbank can add their Visa and Mastercard credit cards to the Wallet app. The Sparkassen-Karte Basis debit card is also compatible, but support for the Sparkasse giro card is coming later, sometime in 2020.
Apple's mobile payment system allows users to make contactless payments for goods and services in retail stores using their iPhone or Apple Watch.
Apple Pay made its long-awaited debut in Germany back in December 2018 with multiple partners immediately jumping on board, but support from Sparkasse and Commerzebank was conspicuously absent on rollout day. The two banks previously said in June 2019 that Apple Pay support was coming later in the year.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that Apple Pay would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019. Apple Pay first launched in the United States in October 2014. You can view the full list of Apple Pay countries and regions on Apple's website.
Apple today asked a federal court to continue monitoring two Chinese-born former employees accused of stealing trade secrets, citing "deep concerns" that the two could attempt to flee the country before their trials.
According to Reuters, prosecutors argued that Xiaolang Zhang and Jizhong Chen should have their locations monitored because they are flight risks.
Zhang was charged with theft of trade secrets back in July 2018 after he attempted to steal data on the car project that Apple has in the works. Prior to when he was caught, Zhang worked on Apple's compute team, designing and testing circuit boards to analyze sensor data in autonomous vehicles.
Zhang had "broad access to secure and confidential internal databases," and after announcing his plans to leave Apple for China-based XMotors, an investigation was launched due to suspicious behavior. Just ahead of leaving, Zhang accessed sensitive content that included prototypes, power requirements, low voltage requirements, battery systems, and more. Zhang was ultimately arrested at the airport in July 2018 attempting to leave for China.
In a separate incident, Apple caught Jizhong Chen, another Apple employee, taking photographs "in a sensitive workspace." After launching an investigation, Apple security officials found that Chen's personal computer contained "thousands" of Apple Car-related files, including manuals, schematics, photographs, and diagrams.
Chen had recently applied for a position with a China-based autonomous vehicle company and was arrested for theft of trade secrets one day before he was set to fly to China. Recently, it was also discovered that Chen had classified files from the Patriot missile program that belonged to Raytheon, his ex-employer.
Both men have been monitored electronically after being released on bail ahead of their trials, and they are now seeking to have that monitoring end. The lawyer for the men has said that they have not shown signs of violating pre-trial conditions thus far and did not actually share Apple's intellectual property with a third party.
The lawyer has also argued that each man was going to China to visit relatives, not to escape prosecution, and that both have strong ties to the United States. Chen and Zhang are both facing multi-year prison terms and hefty fines if convicted.
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News 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.
Apple in November released the 16-inch MacBook Pro, a replacement for the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The new MacBook Pro features a larger display, a new scissor keyboard that's more reliable, 9th-Gen Intel processors, and higher storage space and RAM.
For those of you who recently purchased a new MacBook Pro, we did a roundup of Mac-related accessories that you might find useful over on our YouTube channel.
Power Adapter Extension Cable ($19) - Apple's MacBook Pro models ship with a Power Adapter and a USB-C cable for charging purposes, but Apple no longer includes a Power Adapter Extension Cable in the box, so if you need a longer charging cable, you're going to need to purchase one yourself. Apple sells the cables on its website for $19, and while there are third-party options, it's probably safest to stick with Apple's version.
Incase Icon Lite Backpack ($50) - If you already have a laptop backpack designed for a 15-inch MacBook Pro, you should also be able to use it with the 16-inch model. If you're looking for something new, we like the Icon Lite Backpack, which has a minimal look but with plenty of storage space. There's a dedicated MacBook Pro sleeve, zippered compartments of various sizes, and some extra pockets to hold all of your gear. It's wrapped in Incase's Woolenex material, which is good at resisting water.
Native Union Stow Sleeve ($80) - For those looking at a more minimal protection solution that works with existing bags and backpacks, sleeves are a good option. The Native Union Stow Sleeve features a simple, no frills design with a leather and fabric exterior and a protective interior for the MacBook Pro. There's also an external pocket for papers you need to get to quickly. It's $80, but we suspect that the high-quality craftsmanship will hold up over time. There are, of course, plenty of other cheaper options that are just as attractive, so make sure to do some research before purchasing.
LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 ($649) - If you want to create a nice desktop setup for docking your MacBook Pro and you're someone who needs a ton of storage, the LaCie 2big Dock Thunderbolt 3 is a good option, with storage capacity that starts at 8TB and goes all the way up to 28TB. There are two swappable drive bays at the front of the device, along with a USB-A port, an SD card reader, and two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports
Logitech MX Keys ($99) - Those who use an external display with their MacBook Pro might also be in need of a new keyboard. The Logitech MX Keys Keyboard features keys that are soft and easy to type on, plus it's backlit and has useful function keys.
Logitech MX Master 3 ($99) - Likewise, if you need a mouse for a desktop setup, the Logitech MX Master 3 pairs well with the Logitech MX Keys. The mouse is similar to the MX Master 2 but with a better scroll wheel, custom function buttons, and a new thumb scroll wheel. Both of these accessories support Logitech Flow for easily transitioning from one machine to another, and there are apps for customization options.
Do you have other favorite MacBook Pro products? Let us know in the comments, and we may include them in a follow up accessories video.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Google today announced that it is extending Incognito mode to Google Maps on iOS devices, allowing users to look for directions privately without that information being saved to a Google Account.
Google introduced Incognito mode for Android devices earlier this year as part of a 2019 focus on making it easier to control, manage, and delete Location History information.
When you make a search in Google Maps while logged in to your Google Account, the places that you search for are saved to power features like restaurant recommendations and are added to your Location History.
When searching for a location in Google Maps in Incognito mode, the iPhone will not update Location History so places visited will not be saved to the Timeline, nor will personalization features in Maps be available.
Google Maps is also gaining a new bulk delete option for the Timeline, which uses Location History to help users remember the places and routes they've visited. With the bulk delete option, it's easier to find and delete multiple places from Timeline and Location History all at once.
Apple today updated its dedicated Apple Store app for purchasing Apple products, introducing a redesigned Shop tab.
According to Apple, the new tab features richer visuals, better personalization, and more relevant info for each individual shopper. Apple says that the new shopping experience is better tailored to "you and the devices you own."
An introductory splash screen for the update says that users can go from browsing to buying with a tap or dive into detailed product stories before adding something to the shopping bag.
There's also now an option to save passes for in-store pickups right in the Wallet app, which will make picking up items ordered online much easier when you arrive at your local Apple Store.
The Apple Store app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Apple will have a presence at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that's set to take place in January, but the company won't be showing off new products.
Apple will instead be discussing consumer privacy, as Bloomberg points out. Jane Horvath, Apple's senior director of privacy, will be attending a "Chief Privacy Officer Roundtable" alongside privacy executives from Facebook, Procter & Gamble, and the FTC.
The roundtable will focus on "what consumers want" when it comes to privacy. It will be held on Tuesday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m. at the Las Vegas Convention Center's North Hall, room N257. Attendance is included with CES registration.
Privacy is now a strategic imperative for all consumer businesses. "The future is private" (Facebook); "Privacy is a human right" (Apple); and "a more private web" (Google). How do companies build privacy at scale? Will regulation be a fragmented patchwork? Most importantly, what do consumers want?
Apple stopped attending CES in the 90s, and Apple's last official appearance took place in 1992 at the Chicago show, where then CEO John Sculley introduced the Apple Newton.
While Apple doesn't officially attend CES, it does send its employees to the show for meetings and to check out emerging technology. Last year, Apple also touted its privacy policies through a huge privacy-focused billboard right near the Las Vegas Convention Center that read "What Happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone."
Apple's wearables shipments nearly tripled in the third quarter of 2019 due to the growing popularity of the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats headphones, according to research firm IDC.
IDC estimates that Apple shipped 29.5 million wearables last quarter, up from 10 million in the third quarter of 2018. Apple remained the world's largest wearables vendor, and the launch of the AirPods Pro and discounts on Apple Watch Series 3 models should keep the company in the lead, the research firm said.
Apple does not disclose wearables sales on a product or unit basis, so emphasis should be placed on IDC's figures being estimates, but all signs do point towards the Apple Watch and AirPods selling very well.
Apple's "Wearables, Home and Accessories" revenue was a record-setting $6.5 billion in the third quarter of 2019, up 54 percent from $4.2 billion in the year-ago quarter. In addition to the Apple Watch, AirPods, and Beats, the category includes the HomePod, Apple TV, iPod touch, and both Apple-branded and third-party accessories.
AirPods Pro are currently estimated for delivery in January for orders placed on Apple.com, demonstrating how popular the new earphones are, although they remain available at select resellers.
Today is Green Monday, another shopping event that offers savings on electronics and other products as we get closer to the holidays. At B&H Photo, this means you can get all-time-low prices on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, MacBook Air, and Mac mini.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can find all of these sales in the lists below, and browse even more discounts at B&H Photo on the retailer's website. Given the limited run of the event, many of these deals are expected to expire either later tonight or sometime this week, so check out the discounts soon.
2019 13-Inch MacBook Pro
1.4GHz, 8GB, 128GB - $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00 ($200 off, lowest price)
Apple TV+ series "The Morning Show" has received a Golden Globe Award nomination for best drama series, while stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are nominated for best actress in a drama series, according to Variety.
"The Morning Show" is up against HBO's "Big Little Lies" and "Succession," BBC America's "Killing Eve," and Netflix's "The Crown."
The 77th Golden Globe Awards will honor the best in film and television of 2019, as determined by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The ceremony will air live on NBC on January 5, 2020.
Update: Apple has highlighted its Golden Globe nominations in a press release.
"Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for today's historic nominations," said Zack Van Amburg, Apple's head of Worldwide Video. "After the debut of Apple TV+ just last month, today's nominations are a true testament to the powerful storytelling that went into 'The Morning Show,' as well as all of our Apple Originals."
As noted on Reddit, Best Buy recently updated the terms of its My Best Buy rewards program to indicate that Apple and Beats products are no longer eligible to receive points unless they are purchased with a Best Buy credit card.
We have made changes to confirm that members are eligible to receive points for Apple and Beats products and Apple services only when purchases are made on standard credit with the My Best Buy Credit Card. Otherwise My Best Buy members will not be eligible to receive points for purchase of Apple and Beats products and Apple services.
My Best Buy program members may still receive special pricing on Apple and Beats products from time to time, according to the terms.
Swiss telco Salt, which includes an Apple TV 4K in its domestic broadband TV bundle, has today launched an "alternative" bespoke Apple TV remote control for users of its 250+ channel television service.
Costing just under 20 Swiss francs, the optional remote was reportedly developed in close collaboration with Apple, after a sizable section of Salt TV's customer base apparently complained about the poor usability of the Apple Remote that comes with every Apple TV 4K.
Thanks to Apple's input, the alternative remote doesn't require any pairing with Apple TV and works out of the box. It includes directional arrows in place of the Siri Remote's glass Touch surface, a power button in addition to a Menu button, along with separate volume and channel rockers and traditional media playback buttons.
There's no microphone button in evidence, presumably because Siri on Apple TV isn't officially available in Switzerland, and there's no numerical channel buttons because tvOS doesn't support the function. Otherwise, it resembles a standard TV remote that should be more amenable to Salt TV's users, who can also look forward to an updated Salt TV app interface on Apple TV.
It's unclear if this is a one-off Apple TV hardware collaboration between Apple and a regional third-party, although having said that, Apple recently made Microsoft and Sony controllers compatible with tvOS and iOS, so maybe this indicates a new trend.
Either way, Apple has obviously listened to feedback and decided its Siri Remote isn't the most optimal design for enjoying multi-channel TV navigation after all.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has been touring Tokyo, Japan over the last few days, meeting with local employees, developers, healthcare experts, and others. Cook has been documenting the trip on his Twitter account.
Cook has traveled to several countries for meets and greets during his eight-year tenure as Apple CEO, including France and Germany in September. He has also visited Canada, China, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
What a treat to reunite with Masako san and Hikari san, some of our imaginative developers who prove that no matter your age, coding opens up new opportunities to follow your dreams! Wonderful to see you at Apple Omotesando! pic.twitter.com/YAr4M6jSXw
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 8, 2019
Wowed by the many talents of Gen @gen_senden. Thanks for showing me how you bring your creative vision to life in the studio. Loved the izakaya too! Have a great show tomorrow! 楽しかったです！ 🏮🎶 pic.twitter.com/Seqzd9Pkme
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 8, 2019
Technology is pushing the boundaries of healthcare, enabling innovations and discoveries at a pace we‘ve never seen before. It’s amazing how Dr. Kimura and experts at Keio University School of Medicine use Apple Watch and CareKit to help patients better understand their health.⌚️ pic.twitter.com/ssqNurYJ6T
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 9, 2019
Coding is one of the most important skills you can learn. Loved celebrating Computer Science Education Week with students from Rikkyo Primary School at Apple Marunouchi! 🇯🇵 #TodayatApplepic.twitter.com/lBv78PRGxk
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 9, 2019
Update: Cook has now arrived in Singapore and has met with local employees, developers, students, and photographers.
Hello Singapore! Thanks to iPhone photographers Darren Soh (IG: darrensohphoto) and Aik Beng Chia (IG: aikbengchia) for sharing their love of Tiong Bahru’s rich heritage—and amazing food! 🇸🇬 pic.twitter.com/XVibmLad8w
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 11, 2019
I am so impressed with the high school students in Singapore’s Swift Accelerator Program. They’ve been busy learning to code with @Tinkercademy teachers, and already have everything from AR to productivity apps live on the @AppStore! Nice work! #EveryoneCanCodepic.twitter.com/41LDv9eh1f
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 11, 2019
When you bring everything you are to everything you do, it’s amazing what’s possible. Paralympian @theresagoh_ is a force inside and outside the pool. Loved seeing how you use Apple Watch to take your training to the next level! 🏊♀️⌚️ pic.twitter.com/M9NtS0mRuw
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 12, 2019
We'll keep this post updated as Cook continues his tour in Asia.
2020 iPhones may have a custom battery protection module that is nearly 50 percent smaller and thinner than the battery protection circuit in previous iPhones, according to industry sources cited by Korean website The Elec.
The smaller module could free up some internal space in iPhone 12 models, potentially paving the way for a slight increase in battery capacity.
The report claims the smaller module would be supplied by Korea's ITM Semiconductor.
A battery protection circuit helps to prevent over-charging and over-discharging. The new module from ITM Semiconductor combines the protection circuit with a MOSFET and PCB, eliminating the need for a holder case.
Apple is expected to release four high-end iPhones in 2020, including one 5.4-inch model, two 6.1-inch models, and one 6.7-inch model. All four devices are expected to have OLED displays, 5G support, a new iPhone 4-like metal frame, up to 6GB of RAM, up to triple-lens rear cameras with 3D sensing, and more.
The iPhone 11 Pro Max has the largest battery life of any iPhone ever, lasting up to five hours longer than the iPhone XS Max per charge.
Procreate 5 for iPad got its official release today, introducing a completely rebuilt graphics engine and several notable new features.
Under the hood, the new Valkyrie graphics engine takes full advantage of Apple's Metal architecture and is designed to get maximum performance out of iPad, utilizing new sophisticated shaders and running at 120fps on supported devices.
On the feature front, an all-new Animation Assist toolset aims to make the creation of animatics, looping GIFs and storyboards an easier process for newcomers and more streamlined for experts. Meanwhile, the same applies to custom brush creation thanks to the powerful new Brush Studio, which allows finer control over every aspect of how brushes look, react and behave.
Procreate 5's new Clone tool allows you to use any brush style to give a cloned area the look of that brush, or to lock the clone area in place to plaint with a multicolored brush based on your selection. The Color Panel can also now be detached and minimized into a new Mini Color Panel, for moving it out of areas that you want to work on.
Elsewhere, new Color Dynamics offer tactile control of hue, saturation, brightness and more to a brush, through the tilt or pressure of the Apple Pencil. There are also 18 individual sliders to allow for more control.
This version also includes new importable CMYK and RGB ICC profiles for print-based users, a new Photoshop Brush Import feature for using Photoshop brushes in the app, a new Color Harmony section in the Color Panel for easily picking complimentary colors, and a new 10-step Color History palette.
Lastly, the Procreate 5 interface has been refined and improved to make it more accessible and unobtrusive, while retaining the familiarity of previous versions.
Procreate 5 for iPad can be purchased on the App Store from today for a one-time payment of $10. [Direct Link]
Apple plans to release the new Mac Pro and the Pro Display XDR on Tuesday, December 10, according to "Save the Date" emails that Apple began sending out to some customers this afternoon.
Apple in November confirmed that the Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR would come in December, but until now, the company had not provided a specific date. Apple's emails say orders will begin on December 10, so presumably shipments will begin soon after orders open up.
The new modular Mac Pro was first introduced in June at the WorldWide developers Conference, with the machine aimed at Apple's pro user base.
The Mac Pro was designed with a heavy focus on upgradeability and expansion, and it features a traditional PC shape with an Apple-esque stainless steel frame with a lattice pattern that maximizes airflow.
Internal specs include workstation-class Xeon processors with up to 28 cores, up to 1.5TB of high-performance memory, up to two Radeon Pro II Duo GPUs, and eight PCIe expansion slots, along with an Apple Afterburner accelerator card.
Pricing on the Mac Pro will start at $6,000, and will go up based on configuration. The base Mac Pro features an 8-core Xeon W chip.
Apple plans to sell the Mac Pro alongside the Pro Display XDR, a 6K display with a resolution of 6016 x 3384 and more than 20 million pixels. Pricing on the Pro Display XDR starts at $5,000, with an add-on stand priced at $999.
After a relatively slow Thanksgiving and Black Friday holiday week, rumors came in fast and furious this week. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was on a roll with several reports outlining expectations for new iPhones in 2020 and 2021 as well as Apple's plans to shift to Mini-LED displays, starting next year with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Other news included some issues with unexpected shutdowns on the 2019 entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro and speaker popping noises on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, and a controversy over Location Services behavior on the iPhone 11 lineup. And finally, Jony Ive's departure from Apple was finally made official. Read on for details on all of these topics.
Apple May Launch 'Completely Wireless' iPhone Without Lightning Connector and 'iPhone SE 2 Plus' With Touch ID Power Button in 2021
Earlier in 2020, Kuo expects Apple to release the widely rumored "iPhone SE 2" with a 4.7-inch LCD display and a traditional Touch ID home button. The device is expected to resemble the iPhone 8, but with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM. Pricing is estimated to start at $399, and one new rumor claims the device could be called the iPhone 9.
16-Inch MacBook Pro and 12.9-Inch iPad Pro With Mini-LED Displays to Launch in Second Half of 2020
Ming-Chi Kuo had even more predictions to share this week beyond iPhones.
Kuo has previously said that Mini-LED displays will allow for thinner and lighter product designs, while offering many of the same benefits of OLED displays used on the latest iPhones, including good wide color gamut performance, high contrast and dynamic range, and local dimming for truer blacks.
iPads and MacBooks currently use LCDs.
Apple Acknowledges Issue With Some 2019 13" MacBook Pro Models Unexpectedly Shutting Down
There is a fairly lengthy thread in our discussion forums where some users experiencing the issue have gathered to try to diagnose and troubleshoot their machines.
Meanwhile, Apple is investigating an issue with speakers making popping noises on the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro. Apple says this is a software issue that will be addressed in upcoming software updates, so there's no need to exchange or repair machines exhibiting the issue.
New iPhones Access Location Info Even When Settings Are Disabled Due to Ultra Wideband, Toggle Coming in Future Software Update
Earlier this week, security researcher Brian Krebs found that Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro models access user location data even when all apps and system services on the iPhone are set to not request the data.
"Ultra wideband technology is an industry standard technology and is subject to international regulatory requirements that require it to be turned off in certain locations," said Apple in a statement. "iOS uses Location Services to help determine if iPhone is in these prohibited locations in order to disable ultra wideband and comply with regulations."
Jony Ive Leaves Apple
In June, Apple announced that Ma gref="https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/27/jony-ive-leaving-apple/">Jony Ive would depart the company as an employee by the end of 2019 to form an independent design company named LoveFrom with his designer friend Marc Newson. Apple said it will remain one of Ive's primary clients.
Ive led Apple's design team since 1996 and he heavily influenced the look and feel of iconic products like the iMac and iPhone.
MacRumors Newsletter
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.
In an internal document shared with Apple Authorized Service Providers today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple has indicated that some customers may report that the camera button on the Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max does not function correctly.
Before providing service, Apple has advised technicians to ensure the iPhone is updated to the latest iOS version, noting that the camera button will not function correctly unless the device is running iOS 13.2 or later.
Apple has also advised technicians to remind customers that a single quick press of the button will not launch the Camera app in order to avoid unintentional presses. The button must be pressed and held for the app to open. Holding the button for too long, however, will close the Camera app and return to the Lock screen.
All in all, Apple does not appear to be acknowledging an actual issue with the cases here, but rather helping to clear up some confusion.
Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max launched late last month and are priced at $129 for all models. The cases are available in White and Black, and the Pro versions also come in Pink Sand.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
