Apple this evening shared several new Apple Watch Series 4 tutorial videos on its YouTube channel, walking Apple Watch owners through features that include watch face customization, Walkie-Talkie, Activity rings, customizing workout metrics, locating an iPhone from Apple Watch, and streaming Apple Music.
All of the videos are about 30 to 40 seconds in length and are designed for those who are new to the Apple Watch, though the content may also be useful for those who have forgotten about the existence of some Apple Watch features. A full list of the new tutorial videos is below:
Each video includes a simple set of step-by-step instructions for completing a given task on the Apple Watch, making the content easy to follow for Apple Watch owners.
Apple regularly does tutorial videos for various features on Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but most of these videos are released on its Apple Support YouTube channel. Apple does, however, occasionally share tutorial videos for new products on its main YouTube channel.
These quick Apple Watch Series 4 tutorial videos may be shown in ad spots on TV or shared on social networks like Instagram and Twitter in the near future.
Apple released the Apple Watch Series 4 in September. The new device features a larger display, a slimmed down body, a more powerful processor, an ECG feature in the U.S. that works through a new sensor in the Digital Crown, a louder speaker, and more.
Apple recently released a series of six audiobooks that have been narrated by celebrities that include Kate Beckinsale and Kelsey Grammer, making them available to Apple Books users for free.
The titles are all in the public domain, but are unique because of their celebrity narrations. A list of available titles is below:
Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen and narrated by actress Kate Beckinsale
All six of the books are available for download through the Audiobooks section of the Apple Books app on the iPhone and iPad. You can also get them through the audiobooks section of the iTunes Store on the Mac, where they're listed as a featured download option.
The United States Committee on Foreign Investment, aka Cfius, has approved T-Mobile's planned takeover of Sprint, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The government agency reportedly told the two companies on Monday that their planned union was approved following months of negotiations with company representatives.
The U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment reviews foreign deals for potential national security issues. Sprint is mainly owned by Japanese telecom group SoftBank, while German company Deutsche Telekom AG is a majority shareholder of T-Mobile's U.S. arm.
Under the terms of the merger, neither SoftBank nor Deutsche Telekom will be required to make significant changes to their operations.
Sprint and T-Mobile first reached a merger agreement in April 2018, which, if approved, will combine two of the four major carriers in the United States.
The new combined company, which will have nearly 100 million customers, will be named T-Mobile and current T-Mobile CEO John Legere will serve as the Chief Executive Officer.
Before the merger can move forward, it needs to be approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the Justice Department. T-Mobile executives believe the approval process will be finished by the second half of 2019.
Sphero, known for its popular BB-8, BB-9E, and R2-D2 iPhone-controlled droids, today confirmed that it is discontinuing all licensed products.
In a statement provided to The Verge, Sphero CEO Paul Berberian confirmed that Sphero is cleaning out its remaining licensed inventory and has no plans to produce more.
Sphero will no longer make BB-8, BB-9E, R2-D2, Lightning McQueen cars, or talking Spider-Man toys. None of the products are available from the Sphero website anymore, with Sphero instead selling its own Bolt, Mini, and SPRK+ products.
The licensed products are now "legacy products" no longer in production, though App Support is set to continue for at least two years.
Berberian said that Sphero is discontinuing its Disney partnership because the licensed toy business "required more resources" than it was worth, with sales waning over time after a movie was released.
"When you launch a toy, your first year's your biggest," he says. "Your second year's way smaller, and your third year gets really tiny." The opposite is true of the company's non-licensed educational robots, he says, which become more popular year after year.
With its licensed partnerships at an end, Sphero will now focus on expanding its educational ecosystem with the goal of getting more products into schools.
Update: Sphero has provided a statement on its plans not to renew its Disney licenses:
At Sphero, our goal is to keep kids learning through the excitement of play. Through our Disney partnership, we were able to develop robots that allowed iconic personalities to come to life. As we develop a roadmap for the future, Sphero products will continue to build on our successes, expand interactive play and STEAM learning efforts, while keeping products accessible for all ages.
In today’s world, we know STEAM education is more important than ever. There’s a huge opportunity to inject our technology into this field to teach kids crucial real-world skills, through fun, interactive learning. Sphero robots are currently in 20,000+ schools and in many more homes; our vision is to bring coding into every classroom and living room.
In 2019, we will not be renewing our Disney licenses. We’re looking forward to a future of many new products that continue to encourage STEAM learning through play. Look for a new product to be announced at CES that inspires creativity and taps into the A of STEAM learning.
With the new announcement about Sphero's focus on education, the online Apple Store is now selling Sphero's Bolt robotic ball, introduced back in September. Bolt is aimed at teaching children basic programming with advanced sensors, an LED matrix, and infrared communication.
Have you ever woken up to your iPhone or iPad alerting you to the fact that "You Have a New Memory" on this day, in the form of photos and videos you shot years ago? If the answer is yes, you've been the willing (or unwilling) recipient of a Photos feature notification called Memories.
In iOS 12, the Photos app automatically curates photos and videos that you've taken into specific memory collections. Essentially, these are homemade movies of past events like family gatherings or vacations which your device generates without any input required on your part (although you can edit them).
Despite Apple's good intentions, the risks inherent in its Memories feature are pretty obvious. So if you're less than enthusiastic about the idea of your iOS device digging up bygones from the annals of your Photo library, here's how to switch off those Memory alerts.
How to Disable Memories Alerts in iOS 12
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap Notifications.
Select Photos from the list of apps.
Tap Memories.
Toggle the Allow Notifications switch to the OFF position.
Note that this doesn't disable the automatic Memories feature, which will still appear in the Photos app's For You tab, but at least you won't receive unexpected reminders about events that you intentionally consigned to the history books long ago.
If you still need to purchase holiday gifts for friends and family, Apple is now offering free next-day delivery on any in-stock item ordered by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 21.
Apple was previously offering free next-business-day delivery on all items purchased before that date, but to make sure presents arrive on time, that's been upgraded to free next-day delivery, which includes weekends.
For several years now, Apple has offered upgraded shipping options over the holidays to attract last minute shoppers who may not otherwise be able to get delivery of Apple products and accessories.
Apple is also offering an extended return policy, which will let customers return products purchased between November 14, 2018 and December 25, 2018 until January 8, 2019.
If you're still seeking gift ideas for the Apple fan in your life, we've created an extensive 2018 holiday gift guide with suggestions from MacRumors readers and editors.
Update: In Canada, Apple is also offering free delivery of in-stock items by December 24 if ordered by noon PST on December 19.
Update 2, 12/19: Apple is now offering free next-day delivery of an in-stock item ordered by December 22 at 11:00 a.m.
Apple today released iOS 12.1.2, the fourth update to the iOS 12 operating system since its September launch. iOS 12.1.2 comes just two weeks after the release of iOS 12.1.1, and one week after Apple seeded the first iOS 12.1.2 beta to developers.
The iOS 12.1.2 update is available exclusively on the iPhone and it can be downloaded over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update. As with all iOS updates, iOS 12.1.2 is free to download. iPads and iPod touch models continue to run iOS 12.1.1, the prior version of iOS 12 released on December 5.
According to Apple's release notes, iOS 12.1.2 is a bug fix update that focuses on addressing issues with eSIM activation and a cellular connectivity issue in Turkey. From Apple's release notes:
iOS 12.1.2 includes bug fixes for your iPhone. This update:
- Fixes bugs with eSIM activation for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
- Addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
The timing of the iOS 12.1.2 release is curious as Apple often seeds more than one beta before launching a software update. It's likely that iOS 12.1.2 is addressing a bug that Apple did not want to wait to fix.
Today's iOS 12.1.2 release may also include software tweaks in China that remove patented Qualcomm functionality. A Chinese court last week issued an iPhone sales ban on certain devices in China after ruling that Apple had infringed on two Qualcomm patents related to resizing and reformatting photos and managing applications using a touch screen when using apps.
Apple said it would issue a software update for iPhone users in China to address "the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case."
eSIM functionality was first introduced in the iOS 12.1 update and expanded with iOS 12.1.1. In the U.S., T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are all now supporting the eSIM feature, as are multiple other carriers around the world.
Update: The iOS 12.1.2 update is now available for download.
Update 2: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that it is only available for the iPhone.
Apple today announced that Paul McCartney's new music video "Who Cares" is available to watch exclusively on Apple Music.
"Who Cares" is a six-minute video starring McCartney and Emma Stone that calls for an end to bullying.
"My hope is that if there are kids being bullied, and there are, maybe by listening to this song and watching this video, they might just think it's not as bad," McCartney said. "It's the kind of thing you can just stand up to and laugh off and get through."
Back in 2014, iPhone user Garrett Wilhelm was using FaceTime on his iPhone 6 Plus while driving, causing him to crash into the back of another vehicle.
The crash resulted in the death of five-year-old Moriah Modisette, and her father, James Modisette, launched a lawsuit in 2017 against Apple for not offering safety warnings or a feature that disables FaceTime while a person is driving.
The lawsuit contended that Apple had, at the time, patented technology that would have prevented FaceTime from being used while a vehicle is being operated, but had not installed it in the iPhone 6. The plaintiffs requested damages from Apple for its "wrongful failure to install and implement the safer, alternative design for which it sought a patent in December 2008."
"At the time of the collision in question, the iPhone utilized by Wilhelm contained the necessary hardware (to be configured with software) to automatically disable or 'lock out' the ability to use [FaceTime] ... However, Apple failed to configure the iPhone to automatically 'lock out' the ability to utilize FaceTime while driving at highway speeds, despite having the technical capability to do so."
The lawsuit against Apple was dismissed after a court decided that Apple was not at fault for the crash, and as of today, a California appeals court has agreed with that decision.
According to the BBC, the appeals court ruled Apple "did not owe the Modisettes a duty of care," and that it was not up to Apple to take responsibility for the actions of individuals using its apps. The family, said the court, could not establish that the design of the iPhone was the cause of the injuries suffered.
Garrett Wilhelm, the driver of the vehicle who killed the girl, was indicted on manslaughter charges. His trial has been delayed several times because the FHI has not yet been able to gather data from his iPhone, but if he is found guilty, he could serve up to 20 years in prison. Wilhelm is set to be tried before a jury on June 3, 2019.
While Apple was not found to be responsible for the crash, the Cupertino company has since implemented a Do Not Disturb While Driving feature designed to prevent iPhone users from accessing apps like FaceTime while operating a vehicle.
Do Not Disturb While Driving was implemented in iOS 11 and it is designed to block incoming messages and phone calls if a phone is not connected to a car via Bluetooth.
Third-party Apple Watch bands have been around since Apple debuted the original Apple Watch back in 2015, typically offering customers a low-priced alternative to styling their watch, as opposed to Apple's bands, which start at $50.
From left to right: Rosé, Orchid, High Tide, and Denim Braxley Bands
A new option for shoppers is now offered by an Austin, Texas-based company called Braxley Bands, which sells $30 Apple Watch bands with a unique twist: they're unibody bands that are fully elastic and stretch over your hand to lay on your wrist.
Installation
Like all other Apple Watch bands, Braxley Bands snap onto the Apple Watch case by sliding the lugs into the cutouts at the top and bottom of the Apple Watch. There is a logo on each band, but they face inward when wearing your Apple Watch, so they won't be visible.
The Braxley Bands didn't fit in my Apple Watch Series 2 quite as snug as the bands made by Apple itself (like my Sport Loop and Classic Buckle), so there was a bit of a wiggle when I would check each side of the band. This wasn't so bad that I worried the Braxley Bands would disconnect, however, and is a reality of some third-party Apple Watch bands.
Once installed, Braxley Bands have one of the simplest processes to place on your wrist: you stretch the band until it's big enough to go over your hand, and slide it up onto your wrist. Some of the company's materials make this more difficult initially, including the Denim and Rosé options I received, leading to a bit of a struggle to stretch the material over the larger part of your hand before it snaps back into place on your wrist.
Apple has signed an exclusive TV development deal with Justin Lin's Perfect Storm Entertainment company, reports Variety.
Justin Lin is known for directing several of the movies in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, including the 2009 "Fast and Furious" revival movie, "Fast Five," and "Fast and Furious 6." He also directed "Star Trek: Beyond" and has worked on episodes of "Community" and "True Detective."
Lin's deal with Apple comes after he spent six years working with Sony Pictures TV. His company, Perfect Storm Entertainment, developed several Sony TV shows for CBS including "Scorpion," "S.W.A.T," and "Magnum P.I."
Under the terms of the deal with Apple, Andrew Schneider, who has previously worked with Free Association and Fox 21 Television Studios, will run Perfect Storm Entertainment TV.
Specific details on television shows that Lin will develop for Apple are unknown at this time, but Perfect Storm Entertainment will be exclusively creating content for Apple.
Apple has dozens of original television shows and projects in the works at the current time as it prepares to launch a subscription television and movie service that could debut sometime in 2019.
A full list of the company's television and movie projects can be found in the original content section of our Apple TV roundup.
T-Mobile today announced the launch of its new T-Mobile eSIM app (via VentureBeat), designed to allow iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max users to sign up for T-Mobile as a second carrier via the eSIM feature in the newest iPhones.
U.S. customers who want to try T-Mobile, existing customers that want separate lines, and people traveling to the United States can add T-Mobile as a secondary prepaid line to any iPhone XS, XS Max, or XR using the new T-Mobile app.
T-Mobile is offering three different prepaid eSIM plans:
T-Mobile ONE Prepaid with unlimited voice, text, and data for $70; 30 day expiry
Simply Prepaid with unlimited voice, text, and 10GB of LTE data for $40; 30 day expiry
Tourist Plan with 1000 minutes, unlimited text, and 2GB of LTE data for $30; 21 day expiry
Adding T-Mobile as a secondary carrier on a device is as simple as downloading the T-Mobile eSIM app, entering an email address, and following the activation steps within the app.
At the current time, T-Mobile is only offering prepaid eSIM plans, but the carrier says it will also offer postpaid ongoing eSIM plans in the future. For those looking for an immediate postpaid solution to add an ongoing T-Mobile service plan as a secondary eSIM option to an iPhone, our forum members have outlined a possible solution that some users have been able to get working.
The eSIM, or digital SIM, is designed to let new iPhone users activate a cellular plan from a carrier without the need to use a physical SIM card.
With eSIM support, dual-SIM functionality is available on the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max, enabled through the existing physical SIM slot and the eSIM in all countries with the exception of China. In China, the new iPhones have two SIM card slots.
T-Mobile is the third U.S. carrier to implement support for the eSIM, following Apple's activation of the feature in iOS 12.1. Verizon and AT&T both added eSIM support to their services last week.
The T-Mobile eSIM app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Amazon this week has discounted the all-new 11-inch iPad Pro by as much as $70 for select configurations. Both Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi + Cellular models are available in the sale, with the lowest priced iPad starting at $759.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $799.00. These are currently the lowest prices available online for the configurations listed below, although they are being matched at MacMall and B&H Photo in a few instances.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Also on Amazon, Anker has a new crop of promo codes available for shoppers this week, aimed at anyone looking for a few last-minute holiday shopping ideas. Amazon Prime members have until Saturday, December 22 to order items with free two-day shipping in time for Christmas, which would put items to arrive on Christmas Eve.
In another sale, Best Buy has the Apple Watch Series 3 discounted by as much as $50 this week. The cheapest Apple Watch in the sale is the 38mm Aluminum model with GPS, priced at $229.00, down from $279.00. Those looking for the larger sized Apple Watch can purchase the 42mm Aluminum model with GPS for $259.00, down from $309.00.
There are GPS + Cellular models available at a discount as well, starting at $329.00, down from $379.00 for 38mm Aluminum. Those looking for Stainless Steel cases will also find a few devices discounted in Best Buy's sale, with these options starting at $579.00 for 42mm Space Black Stainless Steel and rising from there. Head to Best Buy to check out the full list of Apple Watch Series 3 devices on sale.
Best Buy's 20 Days of Doorbusters event is nearly over, and today has a few notable deals. The main discount is Sony's Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones for $114.99, down from $249.99. You can also save on Anki robots: Vector is available for $164.99, down from $249.99, and Cosmo is priced at $125.99, down from $179.99.
Be sure to visit our Deals Roundup for more information on all of the best sales to keep an eye on during the final week of holiday shopping.
One year ago, Apple awarded the meditation app "Calm" as the iPhone app of the year, and since then the company has dethroned the previous #1 meditation app on the iOS App Store, "Headspace." In a new report by The Wall Street Journal out today, the two companies talk about how they are in a "mindful competition" with one another, and about the merits of Apple's best of the year awards system.
Calm (left) and Headspace (right)
Headspace predates Calm (founded in 2010 and 2012, respectively), and dominated the iOS App Store's meditation space throughout its life, until 2018. According to Calm chief product and growth officer Dun Wang, "Since winning App of the Year, we seem to have a much higher growth rate than they do, and we'll surpass them from now on."
Since December 2017, Calm has topped the meditation category in both downloads and mobile revenue, earning $50.7 million in revenue through October 2018, compared to $34.3 million for Headspace, according to Sensor Tower data. One Headspace spokeswoman pointed out that Sensor Tower's data didn't account for subscriptions paid for through its website and corporate partnerships. Both Calm and Headspace cost $12.99/month, but differ when you upgrade to a yearly subscription: Calm is priced at $69.99/year and Headspace is priced at $94.99/year.
Apple's award is said to be "a touchy subject" at Headspace.
“I think people are blowing App-of-the-Year way out of proportion,” says Ben Spero, a managing director at Spectrum Equity, a Headspace investor. “It’s good P.R., but it’s not determinative. It’s not that Apple was saying that Calm is a better app—they’re big fans of Headspace, too,” he says, pointing out that the App Store often features Headspace on its landing page.
Calm co-CEO and co-founder Michael Acton Smith on the competition with Headspace:
“We’re both growing the sector. This is such a huge market, there’s going to be room for a few different winners,” Mr. Acton Smith says. “We want Calm to be the number one, of course—and we wish the others the best for second place.”
Calm and Headspace offer largely the same experiences, with slightly different variations on meditation. A Calm subscription grants you access to a new "Daily Calm" meditation every day, new featured Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, mindful music, and a central meditation tab with dozens of classes that offer 7 to 21 days of focusing on anxiety, stress, happiness, self-esteem, and more.
Headspace offers classes for focus, exercise, and sleep; an "Everyday Headspace" with new meditation topics each day; mini-meditations; sleep sounds; and more. Both apps have coaches that guide you through everything so that you can follow the exact steps for each meditation.
Recently, Headspace has signed deals with more than 300 companies to integrate the app into employee health and wellness benefits, but according to a Calm investor these are just vanity partnerships: "Calm has managed to overtake Headspace because they've been laser-focused without getting distracted by the types of vanity partnerships, like with sports teams, that look good in the press but don't move the needle."
Still, Dun Wang at Calm says that sometimes companies approached by Headspace will then contact Calm and ask if they want to put in an offer as well. "It's working out great for us. We don't need to be the ones making the cold calls to win these projects."
Next, Headspace plans to make waves by becoming the first prescription meditation app for certain chronic illnesses, by seeking Food and Drug Administration approval. If granted, Headspace could be covered by health insurance.
As of writing, Calm is #1 on the Health & Fitness iOS App Store chart for top free apps, while Headspace is #5. You can download Calm [Direct Link] and Headspace [Direct Link] for free from the iOS App Store.
Apple is rolling out a new promotion that offers customers a 10 percent bonus when adding funds directly to their Apple ID account in the United States between December 17-20. The bonus applies once on up to $200 and was first highlighted by Japanese blog Mac Otakara.
The funds can be used towards purchases on the iTunes Store and App Store, an iCloud storage subscription, and so forth.
To add funds directly to an Apple ID, go to Settings > Your Name > iTunes & App Store and tap your Apple ID > View Apple ID. Sign in if necessary, tap "Add Funds to Apple ID," tap the amount that you want to add, and confirm your selection. There's also a shortcut available at the bottom of the App Store.
Adding funds to an Apple ID requires having a valid payment method on file and is particularly useful for prepaid credit cards.
Some customers might report that after they've updated to iOS 11.3, the microphone on their iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus doesn't work and the speaker button is grayed out when they make or receive a call.
Symptoms: - The speaker button is grayed out during calls - Other people are unable to hear the customer on cellular or FaceTime calls - If a customer plays back a video or voice memo that they've made after installing iOS 11.3, there is no sound
Apple's document then provided troubleshooting steps for its service providers to follow, including disconnecting any Bluetooth headsets or accessories connected to the iPhone. If the issue persisted, and the iPhone was out-of-warranty, Apple advised service providers to "request a warranty exception" with the company.
For a short time, Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers were able to proceed with repairs at no cost to the customer.
"I just had my wife's iPhone 7 replaced this morning," wrote one MacRumors forum member on July 30, 2018, in a discussion topic about the issue. "Out of warranty and Apple took care of the bill. The mic on the device had failed."
The exemptions abruptly ended in July of 2018, though, when Apple deleted its internal document related to the microphone issue and prevented free repairs from being processed through its service portal. Since then, many Apple retail and support employees have refused to acknowledge the policy ever existed.
MacRumors has received several emails from affected customers since we published our article in July, but there has been little we can do to help. Apple did not respond to our original request for comment, so we've followed up today.
The microphone issue appears to remain a problem as of iOS 12.1.1, but Apple's document never identified a cause. Based on the number of users affected, it is almost certainly a hardware defect, so it's unclear why Apple is no longer offering free repairs and forcing customers to pay out of pocket for a fix.
Apple's out-of-warranty repair fee for this issue is over $300 in the United States, according to affected customers on the MacRumors forums and Twitter. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus devices still within Apple's limited one-year warranty period or covered by AppleCare+ remain eligible for a free repair.
"I had this issue a month ago and paid $349 for a replacement," said one MacRumors reader in an email. "Two weeks ago my brother in law started having the same issue with his iPhone 7 Plus and today my wife's iPhone 7 started doing the same thing. It's a new phone and barely 15 months old."
"Unfortunately, I like hundreds have been told by Apple that 'we don't know what you're talking about,' and Apple wants $319 to send me a refurbished phone that they can't tell me won't have the same problem," another reader emailed.
Twitter is home to similar complaints:
so ios 12 broke all of my iphone 7’s microphones and apple wants $320 to replace it... what do i do
— michael (@meantomatoes) December 6, 2018
Called @AppleSupport because iPhone 7+ microphone stopped working during calls. It’s a common issue, not damage. Their answer: pay us! Apple doesn’t support its products or customers. #Pixel3 looking pretty good... https://t.co/LQJS37yEYc
— Michael Seth (@wolfms) November 24, 2018
@Apple I upgraded my Iphone 7 to IOS 12.1 - it just stopped working, does not work speaker, microphone, does not make calls, I do not hear anything. It was u updated the software to 12.1 and stoped everything.
— Ana Carol Oliveira (@anacsso) November 3, 2018
@AppleSupport@AppStore you guys have some shaddy gray policies about your products. I have an iphone 7 Plus with a grayed out microphone, issue wich applies for a recall product, i went to an apple store and they told me I have to pay 475 usd to get it solved.
— Paola Valdez (@paola0666) October 21, 2018
It's worth noting that a few customers have managed to argue their way to a free repair, but this is not the common result.
Apple has a track record of great customer service, and it offers several different public repair programs for hardware issues on various products, but it appears to be leaving customers in the dust here for reasons unclear. We'd love to hear Apple's side of the situation if the company chooses to respond.
In the meantime, repairs can be initiated by booking an appointment at a Genius Bar or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider via the Contact Apple Support page: iPhone → Repairs & Physical Damage → Unable to Hear Through Receiver or Speakers → Built-in Speaker → Bring In For Repair.
Senior Tesla designer Andrew Kim has left his role at the automotive company to join Apple (via The Verge). Kim is the the latest in a long line of Tesla employees who have left the company for Apple, including Tesla lead engineer Doug Field's return to Apple this past August.
Kim's work history includes user interface design at Microsoft, contributions to HoloLens and Xbox One S, and designs for Tesla's Model 3, S, X, and Y. His LinkedIn profile confirms his move to Apple this month, but doesn't specify what he'll be doing at the company outside of being a "Designer." Due to his history, it could be work on Apple's rumored AR glasses, Project Titan, or something else entirely.
Project Titan is Apple's long-rumored vehicle project, which is believed to have originated in 2014 and could see a consumer Apple Car available between 2023 and 2025, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. This estimate came from a report in August, but previous rumors suggested that focus on Project Titan has shifted to autonomous driving software for cars instead of a vehicle specifically designed by Apple.
Kuo's report and news about Apple's hiring of Tesla employees -- now including Kim -- have reignited the speculation that Apple could again be planning to build its own vehicle. If accurate, the future Apple Car would have Apple's autonomous driving software built inside of a car designed by the Cupertino company.
Chinese smartphone maker Huawei today introduced the Nova 4, featuring what has become known as a "hole-punch" display.
The "hole-punch" design refers to the tiny hole for the 25-megapixel front camera, rather than the controversial notch, allowing for a nearly edge to edge display. Of course, this means the Nova 4 lacks the necessary sensors for 3D facial recognition and instead relies on a fingerprint scanner for authentication.
The display still has a thicker bottom bezel, known as a "chin," so this still isn't a completely full-screen design.
As noted by The Verge, the Nova 4 follows in the footsteps of Huawei's View 20 and Samsung's new Galaxy A8s as the latest smartphone with a "hole-punch" display. The Nova 4 also has a triple-lens rear camera setup, including a main 48-megapixel lens, a trend that some 2019 iPhones are expected to follow.
Galaxy A8s
There's a slim chance that Apple ever adopts the "hole-punch" design for iPhones due to the TrueDepth system for Face ID, unless it invents new ways to integrate all of the various sensors under the display. The more likely possibility is that the notch is here to stay for now, but gets slimmed down over time.
The Nova 4 is currently limited to China, priced around the equivalent of $490. Huawei will likely expand availability to select other regions soon, although its devices aren't available through any major carriers in the United States.
Have you ever woken up to your iPhone or iPad alerting you to the fact that "You Have a New Memory" on this day, in the form of photos and videos you shot years ago? If the answer is yes, you've been the willing (or unwilling) recipient of a Photos feature notification called Memories.
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