Nine out of every ten iPhone users who upgrade their smartphone will stick with the iPhone, a recent survey suggests.
Consumer Intelligence Research Partners surveyed 500 consumers in the U.S. who activated a new or used phone in the final three months of 2018 and found that 91 percent of iOS users upgraded to another iPhone. Android users were also loyal, with 92 percent of respondents upgrading to another Android smartphone.
CIRP said loyalty for both iOS and Android has steadily increased, reaching the highest levels it has ever measured last quarter.
"Loyalty hit the highest levels we've ever measured," said CIRP co-founder Mike Levin. "Learning a new operating system takes effort, so fewer and fewer customers have found the need to switch. This, coupled with the quality and reliability of new phones is likely contributing to the longer upgrade cycles we are witnessing."
In the next official update to macOS Mojave, Apple's Safari browser will enable automatic Dark Mode for websites that support it.
Since the release of Safari Technology Preview 68 in October, Apple has been building support for the use of Dark Mode CSS, which can be enabled via its Develop -> Experimental Features menu. The experimental feature has now also made its way into the latest macOS Mojave 10.14.4 developer beta.
macOS Mojave enables users to switch between Light and Dark mode via System Preferences -> General. With the latest macOS developer beta installed, websites that support the new CSS query will automatically adapt their color scheme to match whichever system-wide option the user has enabled.
As noted by iDownloadblog, developers running the macOS 10.4.4 beta can test out the new feature by visiting software engineer Kevin Chen's website, which already supports the new Safari CSS media query. Everyone else can give it a spin by downloading the latest version of Safari Technology Preview, which can be run alongside vanilla Safari in any version of macOS Mojave.
AppleInsider reports that Apple engineers and key personnel were continuing to show interest in AR (Augmented Reality) technology companies at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
More than half a dozen incognito Apple representatives, including employees of known subsidiaries, visited AR waveguide suppliers like DigiLens, Lumus, Vuzix and WaveOptics at CES 2019, according to a person with knowledge of the meetings.
Apple has been known to be interested in AR / VR technology for years with reports of hundreds of employees working on the technology. Tim Cooknotably said in 2017 that the technology to do AR glasses in a "quality way" didn't yet exist, indicating that they would wait until Apple could deliver the best experience.
Rumors of an Apple AR Headset reignited when a report in April of 2018 suggested that a headset was actively being developed with a launch target of 2020. Since that rumor, it was revealed that Apple had also purchased Akonia Holographics, a startup that makes lenses for augmented reality glasses.
At CES this year, Vizio announced that their SmartCast TVs would be receiving support for AirPlay 2 and HomeKit in a free over-the-air update later this year. This would allow iOS and Mac users to stream music and video to SmartCast-enabled Vizio TVs, as well as allow users to control the TV from their Home app on iOS or via Siri voice commands.
Vizio promised that beta testers would be allowed access to the software in the first quarter of 2019. Vizio has now posted a blog post (via Engadget) describing the upcoming features as well as a link to sign up for beta access (scroll to bottom).
If you have a SmartCast-enabled VIZIO TV and an updated iOS device, you could be selected to participate in the beta. Provide your email, and we'll get back to you soon with more details on how to get started.
Vizio has said that specific models as far back as 2016 will be getting the update.
Earlier this month, Apple lowered its revenue guidance for the first quarter of the 2019 fiscal year by up to $9 billion due to fewer iPhone upgrades than it anticipated, particularly in the Greater China region.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, however, believes the "worst" will be "soon over" in regards to the slowdown. In his latest research note with TF International Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo opined that the "share prices of Apple and most iPhone suppliers are generally priced in the negative."
Our report published on December 14, 2018, was the first to cut the estimation of 2019 iPhone shipments to 190mn units or less; the current market consensus on 2019 iPhone shipments (160–180mn units) is much lower than our estimation and we believe the share prices of Apple and most iPhone suppliers are generally priced in the negative.
We maintain our forecast of 188–192mn units for 2019 iPhone shipments. We believe the downside risks of share prices for the Apple and iPhone supply chain are limited in the near term given that 2Q19 iPhone shipments will likely be better than the market consensus.
Kuo has slightly cut his estimate for iPhone shipments in the first quarter of 2019 from 38–42 million units to 36–38 million units because the "demand for new models in China and emerging markets is lower than expected," but he believes the decline will begin to ease starting in the second quarter.
Specifically, he estimates iPhone shipments in the second quarter of 2019 will reach 34–37 million units, slightly higher than the market consensus of 30–35 million units. That would still be a roughly 14 percent decline on a year-over-year basis, but far better than an estimated 29 percent drop in the first quarter.
As long as the US-China trade war does not worsen, Kuo expects the improvement to continue into the second half of 2019, with iPhone shipments likely to be generally flat compared to the second half of 2018 thanks to stronger replacement demand, trade-in programs, and market share gain in European markets.
Kuo maintains his forecast of 188–192 million iPhone shipments in 2019.
National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman, and star players Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, sat down with Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller on Thursday to discuss how technology is improving the game of hockey for players, coaches, and fans.
From left to right: Schiller, Bettman, Matthews, McDavid
The discussion took place at the Town Hall auditorium at Apple's Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino, California, less than 10 miles from the SAP Center arena in San Jose, where the 2019 NHL All-Star Game was played this weekend.
One way the NHL has incorporated technology is by making iPad Pros available behind the bench, providing real-time video footage that helps players make shift-by-shift adjustments during games, and gives coaches a better idea of when to challenge a referee's offside or goaltender interference call.
"We love the collaboration that we have with Apple," said Bettman. "It has helped transform the game without changing the game itself."
"The game has never been as fast as it is," said McDavid. "You get out there, and these guys are flying around. We have two refs that are looking to call penalties, we have two linesmen, and it's not enough. You can't bring more refs. So what are you going to do? You've got to turn to technology."
"I usually use it to prove to Hitch that it wasn't my fault," quipped McDavid, referring to Oilers coach Ken Hitchcock. The comment drew laughs from the audience of about 300 or so Apple employees, according to NHL.com.
Matthews said he and the Leafs coaching staff use the iPads to study the face-off tendencies of opposing players.
Earlier this month, the NHL announced that teams will soon have access to a new Coaching Insights App for iPad developed by the NHL, Apple, and SAP. The app will provide 35 player stats and 30 team stats in real time, such as time on ice, face-off percentages, shot attempts, and chances for and against.
"Our collaboration with Apple and things like the Coaching Insight, which we do with SAP and their cloud platforms, are all designed to make it better for the players, make it better for the coaches and most importantly make it better for the fans," said Bettman. "So we're grateful for all we do together."
The app is expected to be available at some point after the All-Star Game break.
In related news, the NHL brought the Stanley Cup to Apple Park on Wednesday, providing Apple employees with an opportunity to take a photo with the iconic trophy at the company's new headquarters.
Following a report last week that Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji was on Intel's list of candidates for CEO, The Motley Fool's Ashraf Eassa says that Srouji has informed his team that he will be staying at Apple.
Eassa, who follows Intel very closely, has offered no other details on the situation, so it's unclear whether Srouji was never seriously considered, withdrew his name, or was passed over as Intel narrowed its list.
I’ve heard that Johny Srouji is NOT a candidate for $INTC CEO. He apparently told his staff that he’s not going anywhere. $AAPL
— Ashraf Eassa (@TMFAshrafEassa) January 26, 2019
Srouji spent over a decade at Intel from 1993 to 2005, bookended by a couple of brief stints at IBM. He joined Apple in 2008 to lead development of Apple's custom A-series chips starting with the A4 that appeared in the iPhone 4.
Since late 2015, Srouji has been a member of Apple's senior executive staff, reporting directly to Tim Cook and overseeing Apple's custom work on batteries, application processors, storage controllers, sensors silicon, display silicon, and other chipsets.
Earlier today, registration info for seven new iPad models was discovered in the Eurasian Economic Commission Database, and now signs of new iPads and a 7th-generation iPod touch have been found in iOS 12.2.
Developer Steven Troughton-Smith has discovered references to four new iPad models, ranging from iPad 11,1 to iPad 11,4, two of which are WiFi and two of which are cellular. These model numbers do not correspond to any known iPad models.
Troughton-Smith speculates that the iPad model numbers could be new iPad mini devices, which would be in line with rumors suggesting a new iPad mini 5 is in the works. According to Troughton-Smith, none of the iPads have Face ID, which is what we would expect as a new iPad mini is likely to be positioned as an affordable, lower-end device.
There's also a reference to "iPod 9,1," which does not match up with any known iPod touch devices, suggesting it is a new next-generation model. The current sixth-generation iPod touch is "iPod 7,1," for reference. The iPod listed in iOS 12.2 does not appear to have Face ID or Touch ID, which is in line with the current iPod touch.
Previous rumors have indeed suggested Apple is working on a 7th-generation iPod touch, an iPad mini 5, and a new version of the lower-cost 9.7-inch iPad, which may actually be upgraded to 10 inches in its next iteration.
In theory, iOS 12.2 references four new iPads in WiFi & Cellular variants (perhaps mini, and 9.7"?), all without Face ID, and a (seventh-gen?) iPod touch with no Touch ID nor Face ID pic.twitter.com/xiJN6kmmTe
— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) January 25, 2019
Apple earlier this week registered seven iPads with the Eurasian Economic Commission, and at least some of those could be the four iPad models Troughton-Smith has discovered in iOS 12.2. Those model numbers included A2123, A2124, A2126, A2153, A2154, A2133, and A2152.
We first began hearing about Apple's work on a refreshed iPad mini in late 2018, and since then, chatter has picked up. Rumors have suggested a new fifth-generation iPad mini will be released in the first half of 2019, and with signs showing up in iOS 12.2 and the Eurasian database (where Apple is required to register all new devices), that prediction is sounding more and more accurate.
There's been mixed information about what to expect from an iPad mini update. A case leak suggested a vertical camera and quad speakers, but a photo of an unreleased iPad mini, which could be the new iPad mini, featured an older A9 processor and a design that's similar to the fourth-generation iPad mini.
A leaked case allegedly for the iPad mini 5
We'll need to wait for additional information to figure out just what features the iPad mini will include, but it sounds like it's going to be more similar to the current 9.7-inch iPad than an iPad Pro. As for a launch date, it's looking like it could potentially come when iOS 12.2 is released, perhaps in late February or early March. The rumored 7th-generation iPod touch could be released at the same time.
A photo of a leaked, unreleased iPad mini that could be the iPad mini 5
Apple has held events in March for the last few years, so it would not be a surprise to see yet another March event in 2019.
As iMore points out, in the Touch ID section of the Settings app on macOS 10.14.4, there's a new "Safari AutoFill" listing you can enable.
Image via iMore
With Safari AutoFill enabled for Touch ID, you can place a finger on the Touch ID home button to automatically fill in web form content.
Right now, you can use AutoFill to enter usernames, passwords, addresses, phone numbers, and credit cards, and more right into web pages, but you generally have to click into a form and then start typing before the AutoFill option comes up.
It sounds like the new Touch ID Safari AutoFill feature will streamline the process, filling forms with a touch.
macOS 10.14.4 also expands Apple News to Canada and it introduces automatic dark mode themes for websites, so if you have Dark Mode enabled and visit a website that has a dark theme available, it will be activated automatically.
After Apple released its AirPods in late 2016, other headphone manufacturers have been attempting to compete with their own wire-free earbuds, most of which can't match the AirPods' comfort level, battery life, Bluetooth range, and ease of use.
Jabra is one such company, and its Elite 65t Wireless Earbuds have been named as one of the better AirPods alternatives. In our latest YouTube video, we compared the Jabra Elite 65t Earbuds with the AirPods to see just how they measure up.
Design wise, Jabra's earbuds are denser and heavier than the AirPods, because each one is equipped with a battery, speaker, microphone, and other tech, and Jabra hasn't been able to condense these features down in the same way that Apple is able to.
That said, they are small and tight fitting in the ear, which is a plus, but the weight makes them uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Given the snug fit, you can likely use these for working out, though Jabra does offer an "Active" version specifically for that purpose.
Like the AirPods, Jabra's Elite 65t have buttons for doing things like pausing a song or changing the volume, and once you figure them out, the controls are easier than the double tap on the AirPods. One benefit - the Elite 65t look like a "normal" pair of headphones because there's no tail coming down out of your ear like there is with AirPods.
Sound quality is one area where the AirPods fall short, with the Elite 65t offering noticeably better audio. In fact, when it comes to wireless headphones we've tested, Jabra's are some of the best sounding. Jabra offers an app where you can customize the headphones with music presets and an equalizer.
Like AirPods, Jabra's earbuds offer five hours of battery life, with the case serving as a way to store and charge them. Jabra uses micro-USB to charge the case, which is not as convenient as Lightning or USB-C.
There are four microphones in the Elite earbuds, so phone calls sound great, and the microphones are also used for voice commands. The Elite 65t have Alexa support built in, and there are options to use Siri on the iPhone or Google Assistant on Android as alternatives. Apple recently partnered up with Amazon to let Alexa activate Apple Music, but that's only on Echo devices.
Jabra's earbuds are IP55 certified, which means they'll hold up to a bit of moisture, and there are some AirPod-like features, such as an option to pause music when an earbud is removed. In the app, you can also set soundscapes or do things like activate an option to amplify the sounds around you.
The Elite 65t earbuds have some useful features, but as with all AirPods competitors, there's no way Jabra's earbuds can match the functionality added with Apple's proprietary W1 chip. The W1 allows the AirPods to connect to an Apple device automatically, and it extends Bluetooth range quite a bit.
All in all, there are some areas like sound quality where the Elite 65t outperform the AirPods, but when it comes to comfort and ease of use, the AirPods win.
What do you think of Jabra's Elite 65t earbuds? Let us know in the comments.
Back in November, I took a look at Fiat Chrysler's Uconnect infotainment system and CarPlay integration in the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan, discovering a quite positive user experience that nearly seamlessly incorporates CarPlay into Uconnect. That seamlessness comes thanks to an 8.4-inch Uconnect display that keeps a top status bar and a bottom menu bar visible at all times for easy navigation.
FCA isn't stopping at an 8.4-inch display, however, with the company's 2019 Ram 1500 offering a gigantic 12.3-inch portrait display as an optional upgrade. I've had a chance to spend some time with a Ram 1500 Laramie, so I thought I'd share my impressions of this large portrait display.
Uconnect on the Big Screen
Given my previous look at Uconnect 4, I'm not going to spend much time looking at the infotainment system in general, other than differences unique to the larger display. Suffice it to say, I've found Uconnect to be one of the better infotainment systems out there, and its persistent status and menu bars at the top and bottom of the screen make it easy to shift between functions. The interface is relatively clear and easy-to-use, and the various functions perform well.
When it comes to hardware on the Ram 1500, it's impossible to miss the gorgeous 12.3-inch portrait display with rich, vibrant colors. It simply dominates the entire center stack in the car, with a selection of hardware knobs, buttons, and switches framing it.
You might think a giant 12-inch rectangle of glass could generate a significant amount of glare, and that can be a bit of an issue in certain situations with direct sunlight. It's really not enough to make it difficult to see the screen, but it is noticeable at times. The display is also a bit of a fingerprint magnet as you might expect, but again, they're generally not too noticeable in person unless you're in the right light.
What the large portrait display allows for Uconnect is a choice between a unified single app interface or what is essentially a pair of 7.5-inch displays stacked on top of each other. Regardless of which setup you choose, the status and menu bars at the top and bottom remain visible.
Full-screen audio app
The single app view can be a bit of overkill for some functions, but it allows for large, easy-to-hit buttons and an impressively broad map view. I generally found the split-screen interface to be more useful, allowing a full view of navigation and audio functions simultaneously, for example.
Navigation on top, card selection screen on bottom
Configuring the split-screen display is as easy as hitting the Home icon in the top left corner and then choosing what you want displayed on the top and bottom cards from five available options: Media, Comfort, Nav, Phone, and Sirius XM Travel Link, which offers data such as nearby gas prices, sports scores for your favorite teams, and more.
Split-screen navigation and audio
If you want to swap the positions of your two screens, there's an icon in the top left corner of the bottom card that will do that. And the menu bar at the bottom remains active to easily jump into a full-screen app, for example.
CarPlay
CarPlay isn't designed to be used on a large portrait display by itself, so you're limited to the split-screen Uconnect interface when using CarPlay, which allows you to display a Uconnect app simultaneously for convenient access to vehicle systems outside of CarPlay. While Uconnect normally lets you swap the top and bottom app cards, CarPlay is restricted to the top card, so you won't be able to customize that layout.
CarPlay home screen on top, SiriusXM audio controls on bottom
The CarPlay interface, particularly maps, can start to feel a bit cramped on smaller screens, but thankfully the Ram 1500's display is big enough that even in split-screen mode you still have a roughly 7.5-inch screen devoted to CarPlay, which is in the range of normal infotainment displays.
Apple Maps on top, Uconnect climate controls on bottom
There are a few quirks with the integration of CarPlay and Uconnect in this setup, driven largely by the fact that the systems are designed to only allow one of each app type to be open simultaneously. For example, you understandably can't run Apple Maps and Uconnect navigation at the same time, as you'd end up with confusing conflicts of information. Similarly, the system is designed to prevent you from accessing your phone through both CarPlay and the Uconnect Bluetooth setup at the same time.
These restrictions are present on all vehicle infotainment systems, but they stand out a bit more on the Ram 1500's portrait display because it's one of the few systems that allows you to view CarPlay and a full native infotainment app at the same time.
In certain cases, you can get CarPlay audio and Uconnect USB audio controls to show up simultaneously
The upshot of this is that if you activate CarPlay, it populates the top app card on the system and still offers the full set of app options for the bottom card, but if you tap navigation or phone, it simply activates Apple Maps or the Phone app up in the CarPlay screen rather than bringing up the Uconnect versions in the bottom card. It's not a huge deal, but it takes a little getting used to when things don't necessarily react as you'd expect.
As on the Pacifica Hybrid and other Uconnect vehicles, there is no "Ram" icon on the CarPlay home screen to take you back to the Uconnect system, thanks to Uconnect's bottom menu bar that lets you easily hop in and out of CarPlay controls from wherever you are in the system.
Google Maps in CarPlay
Both Uconnect and CarPlay can of course also be controlled via voice using a button on the steering wheel, with a short press bringing up the Uconnect voice assistant or a long press bringing up Siri.
Steering wheel controls with voice assistant button at right edge of left cluster
Finally, while CarPlay is best controlled via the touchscreen, you can also control it using the hardware scroll/enter knob to the right of the display. As with other knob-based control systems, it's not as easy to navigate the CarPlay system as it is through direct touch manipulation, but the option is there if you prefer a more tactile input method.
Climate Control
While Uconnect offers access to extensive climate controls via the touchscreen, FCA has thankfully retained hardware buttons along the left and right sides of the display to control the most commonly used climate control options.
Temperature overlap pop-up
Adjusting the temperature via the hardware buttons, for example, briefly pops up a temperature display over top of your existing screen content rather than completely exiting to Uconnect's full climate control app.
Ports and Charging
As a work truck, the Ram 1500 unsurprisingly has a number of available power ports scattered throughout the cabin, including a 12V power port on top of the dash and two 115V traditional power outlets, one at the bottom of the center stack and one on the rear of the center console.
The Ram 1500 also has no shortage of USB ports, including both USB-A and USB-C variants. The center stack has two easily accessible sets of ports, with each set including both a USB-A and a USB-C port. Either set can be used to connect to the Uconnect system, including for CarPlay.
Rear USB ports and power outlet
Rear passengers will find two more sets of USB-A and USB-C ports, with one set allowing Uconnect/CarPlay access while the second is for charging only. There's also a single USB-A port with Uconnect/CarPlay access inside the lid compartment of the center console if you want to keep your phone and cable completely hidden away.
Wireless charger at bottom of center stack, with USB ports and power outlet also visible
My test vehicle also included a Qi wireless charger down near the bottom of the center stack. A rubbery holder keeps the phone upright and pressed against the vertical charger, with a blue light letting you know that your phone is charging. Its location low on the center stack means you won't really be able to see the screen of your phone while you're driving, but it's best to not be looking at your phone anyway.
Wireless CarPlay is not supported in the Ram 1500 or in any Uconnect system, so you'll need to have a Lightning to USB (Type-A or Type-C) cable on hand to hook things up. The rubbery phone holder in the center stack can hold a second phone to the right of the Qi charger, although larger phones with a cable sticking out may get in the way of the some of the toggle switches for parking sensors.
Wrap-up
The available 12-inch portrait display on the Ram 1500 is a rare feature among automotive infotainment systems, and it strikes an impressive look when you first encounter it. It's certainly handy being able to see two full-size app screens simultaneously, although some other manufacturers have been able to get away with nearly as much functionality packed into a split 75/25 widescreen display.
I appreciated that Ram maintained hardware buttons for the most important climate control options, as well as volume and tune/scroll knobs for those times you want to make changes by feel. And I really like the way Uconnect makes it easy to access frequently used functions through the customizable menu bar at the bottom of the screen.
Even more so, as with the Pacifica, I love the way CarPlay feels so integrated into Uconnect, making it incredibly easy to jump back and forth between the two systems. The split-screen portrait display even helps integrate things further by giving you access to both systems without even needing to switch.
Yes, there are a few quirks introduced by the fact that CarPlay usurps some of the traditional infotainment system functions, quirks made more obvious by that double app screen that lets you interact with both systems simultaneously. But overall, it's a net positive.
I do also still have some concerns about the shift toward increasingly large touchscreens in vehicles, which can make it harder to make changes by feel and end up taking your eyes off the road for longer. A portrait display magnifies these issues by bringing significant portions of the display lower on the center stack and away from the driver's line of sight. I would have appreciated it if the display could have been moved all the way to the top of the stack to minimize this issue as much as possible.
Pricing The 2019 Ram 1500 starts at $31,795 for the Tradesman trim, but that only comes with a 5-inch Uconnect 3 infotainment system that doesn't support CarPlay. If you want CarPlay, you'll need to step up to at least the second-level Big Horn/Lone Star trim with the Level 1 Equipment Group that bumps up to an 8.4-inch Uconnect 4 system, bringing the total up to at a bit over $40,000.
The 12-inch portrait display reviewed here requires a minimum of the Laramie trim plus the Level 1 Equipment Group and the 12-inch display upgrade, which tips the scales at a little over $44,000. You can of course add all sorts of other upgrades to the Ram 1500, with my tester approaching $55,000 and a maxed out Limited model coming in at over $65,000.
Pickup trucks like the Ram 1500 have to serve a wide range of needs, so they're generally highly customizable with a variety of options across all different price ranges, and the Ram 1500 is certainly no exception. It would be nice if the 12-inch display system could be an option on lower-tier trims for tech-heavy users who may not have a need for some of the other upgrades you get as you move up the trim chart, but it's certainly not unusual for top-end technology to be limited to higher vehicle trims.
Apple is rumored to be working on a subscription-based service that will be offered in the Apple News app, and hints of that service were discovered in the iOS 12.2 beta.
Apple in 2018 acquired subscription-based digital magazine app Texture, leading to rumors suggesting Apple would develop a subscription-based news and magazine service.
Apple appears to be testing such a service internally based on images found in iOS 12.2 by 9to5Mac. A hidden landing page indicates Apple is going to call the service "Apple News Magazines," with customers able to subscribe in the Apple News app.
Billing appears to be handled through iTunes, much like Apple Music, and there are also reportedly hints of a "bundle subscription," suggesting rumors that Apple will develop an all-in-one subscription option for TV, Apple Music, and magazines could be accurate.
The interface for Apple News Magazines is similar in design to Texture. Texture, which is still available via the App Store, provides access to over 200 popular magazines like People, The New Yorker, Time, National Geographic, Shape, Newsweek, and more, all for a $9.99 per month fee.
Apple News Magazines could work similarly, though rumors have suggested it will also include news subscription options, and pricing is unclear. In September, Apple was rumored to be aiming to get major newspapers like the Washington Post and the New York Times to join its subscription service.
Late 2018 rumors indicated that Apple would launch its subscription news and magazine service in spring 2019, which could line up with the launch date of iOS 12.2. Apple has also held a March event for the last several years, and if such a service is in the works for spring 2019, a March event would be an ideal time to unveil it.
Early 2019 is also the prospective launch date for Apple's rumored TV streaming service, so it's quite possible both this news service and the TV service will be announced at the same time.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Function 101 to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of the company's new BentoStack Charge accessory organizers.
We've covered the handy BentoStack accessory organizers before, but this new version, the Charge, does even more. In addition to keeping all of your cords, cables, and odds and ends organized, it includes a 5,000 mAh power bank and wireless charging pad.
The BentoStack Charge, priced at $99.95 and available in three colors, features multiple layers, which can be used together all at once when at home, or separately when traveling if you only need to take a few things with you. The top layer is the power bank, which also doubles as a Qi wireless charging pad for Apple's latest iPhones.
There's a USB-C port built into the charger for keeping it powered (USB-C to USB-A cable included), and an extra USB-A port for charging a second device. With the BentoStack Charge on your desk, you can plug it into a USB-C cable and place your iPhone on top for a convenient charging location that doubles as storage.
Underneath the cover, there's a slot to hold an Apple Pencil (which also doubles as an iPhone stand), and below that, there's a main compartment with a set of dividers for holding things like cables, AirPods, power adapters, and more.
Below the first main compartment, there's a divider that's able to hold extra Apple Watch bands, and underneath that, you'll find a second main compartment with dividers for holding whatever else you need to store.
All of the dividers within the compartments are adjustable so you can customize the BentoStack Charge to fit your needs, and a thick band holds it all together, much like a traditional bento box.
The BentoStack Charge can be used at home to keep all of your important gear together, but it's also a useful way to make sure everything stays organized while traveling, too. The original BentoStack was useful, but the version with the wireless charger and power bank adds even more versatility.
We have five of the BentoStack Charge organizers to give away, and Function 101 is including an extra top piece so you can use it with or without the wireless charging component.
We also have a discount code for the first 50 U.S. MacRumors readers who want to order a BentoStack charge. Use the code RUMORS30 when checking out on the website to get 30 percent off and $10 shipping.
To enter to win our giveaway, 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, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (January 25) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 1. The winners will be chosen randomly on February 1 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
In the latest versions of the apps, 2018 iPad Pro users can now take advantage of the new Apple Pencil's double-tap functionality to switch between drawing tools, activate the color picker, and zoom in and out of the canvas.
The double-tap gesture can be set to one of the following options in the Settings app under the Adobe Sketch or Adobe Draw menus:
Switch between brush and eraser
Switch between current and last used brush
Activate the color picker
Zoom in or out
None
Check the updates tab of the App Store for version 4.7 of each app.
With the trade in of an older iPhone at an Apple Store in the United States, customers can get a new iPhone XR for as low as $18.99 per month or a new iPhone XS for as low as $29.99 per month for 24 months as part of a limited time promotion.
Paying in full remains an option, with the iPhone XR and iPhone XS starting at $449 and $699 respectively with the trade-in of an iPhone 7 Plus or iPhone 8. Trade-in values are up to $100 higher than usual as part of Apple's promotion, which doesn't have an end date in the U.S. yet but ends February 28 in Asia.
The monthly payment trade-in option is not available online. There is zero interest collected and a credit check is required.
Apple has been heavily promoting iPhone XR and iPhone XS trade-ins with a banner on the homepage of its website, store signage, emails to older iPhone users, and more since shortly after the smartphones launched last year.
Earlier this month, Apple slashed its revenue guidance by up to $9 billion for the first quarter of its 2019 fiscal year. In a letter to shareholders, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company is undertaking and accelerating multiple initiatives to improve its results, including making it simple to trade in a phone at its stores.
Apple has registered seven unreleased iPad models in the Eurasian Economic Commission database this week, including models A2123, A2124, A2126, A2153, A2154, A2133, and A2152, according to the Indian blog MySmartPrice.
The filings are legally required for any encrypted devices sold in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
These models could represent new versions of the iPad mini and the 9.7-inch iPad, which may become 10 inches based on recent rumors.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is planning to integrate three disparate messaging services -- Facebook Messenger, Instagram messaging, and WhatsApp -- into one "underlying messaging infrastructure" (via The New York Times).
Facebook Messenger
These services will continue to operate as their own standalone apps, but the company's work will make them interoperable with one another. This means that a Facebook user could send an encrypted message to someone who only has a WhatsApp account, and vice versa. The company is still in the early stages of the unification, with plans to be finished by the end of 2019 or early 2020.
According to sources familiar with the plans, Zuckerberg's idea is the newest effort to keep people within the Facebook ecosystem, and off of rival texting apps like iMessage.
Mr. Zuckerberg has also ordered all of the apps to incorporate end-to-end encryption, the people said, a significant step that protects messages from being viewed by anyone except the participants in the conversation.
By stitching the apps’ infrastructure together, Mr. Zuckerberg wants to increase the utility of the social network, keeping its billions of users highly engaged inside its ecosystem. If people turn more regularly to Facebook-owned properties for texting, they may forgo rival messaging services, such as those from Apple and Google, said the people, who declined to be identified because the moves are confidential.
In an official statement, Facebook said it's "working on making more of our messaging products end-to-end encrypted and considering ways to make it easier to reach friends and family across networks," alluding to the upcoming change. As of now, WhatsApp is the only one of the three main Facebook messaging apps to support secure end-to-end encrypted text messages, which ensures that texts are only read by you and the person you send them to.
This also raises privacy concerns for Zuckerberg's plans, since it's unclear how an end-to-end encrypted app would integrate with apps like Facebook Messenger. To sign up for WhatsApp, only a phone number is needed, but in contrast personal identities are the central part of apps like Facebook and Instagram, including their messaging services.
Today, WhatsApp requires people to register only a phone number to sign up for the service. By contrast, Facebook and Facebook Messenger ask users to provide their real identities. Matching Facebook and Instagram users to their WhatsApp handles could give pause to those who prefer keeping their use of each app compartmentalized.
In the wake of last year's Cambridge Analytica scandal, internal sources state that Zuckerberg has renewed his focus on WhatsApp and Instagram as the main Facebook brand was hit hard with negativity. In September, Bloomberg reported that Instagram was expected to soon become "more tightly integrated" with Facebook, in the wake of Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger leaving Facebook.
WhatsApp founders Jan Koum and Brian Acton have also left Facebook for similar reasons. According to today's reports, employees are still clashing with Zuckerberg over the new shift in focus to WhatsApp and Instagram, with dozens of WhatsApp employees arguing with Zuckerberg over the upcoming messaging integration plan on internal message boards, as well as during a "contentious" staff meeting last month.
During this meeting, WhatsApp employees reportedly asked Zuckerberg why he was so focused on making the messaging services integration a priority for 2019. According to sources, his responses were "vague" and "meandering," and as a result several WhatsApp employees have left and more are planning to leave because of the plan.
The Los Angeles rail and bus transit system should allow iPhone-owning members of the public to use Apple Pay for fare payments before the year is out.
MacRumors can confirm that LA Metro, the transit agency that manages integration of the TAP card system in the Los Angeles Area, said it is working with Apple to support mobile payments for iPhones, with rollout scheduled for this fall. The information was obtained in a public information request under California law.
The support comes as part of a major update to the TAP system currently underway, which includes upgraded fare boxes across the transit system that will receive real-time data about fares purchased by the public online, a new TAP mobile app with TAP Wallet support to debut in late summer, and eventual support for Android phones with NFC, although the timeframe for the latter is unknown.
Apple Pay support would enable commuters to hold a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch near a TAP card reader to pay their fare on buses and at turnstiles in subway stations throughout the TAP system.
The process is similar to using Apple Pay for in-store payments. Depending on the iPhone, that means double-pressing the home button or side button, authenticating with Touch ID or Face ID, and holding the device near the card reader. Apple Watch payments are also activated by double-pressing the side button.
Los Angeles would join a handful of cities with transit systems that already support Apple Pay, including Chicago, Portland, and Salt Lake City in the United States, Beijing and Shanghai in China, and other global cities like London and Tokyo.
LA Metro's introduction of Apple Pay support is expected to increase public use of the transit system, which despite offering good accessibility, has seen its ridership figures wane in recent years.
A 2016 study by the University of Minnesota found the LA Metro to be the third most comprehensive system in the entire United States. However, in a metropolitan area of 13 million people, only about 360,000 people use rail on an average weekday, and just 855,000 ride the bus.
By contrast, in New York City, which has a population of around nine million, about five million people ride the subway on an average weekday.
