When an over-the-air iOS update starts downloading on your iPhone or iPad, you can monitor its progress in the Settings app via General -> Software Update.
The lack of a cancel option on this screen seems to imply that there's no way to prevent a software update from downloading once it's started, but don't be fooled. You can stop the update process in its tracks at any time and even delete the downloaded data from your device to free up space. Here's how.
First, you'll want to pause the download by temporarily disconnecting your iPhone or iPad from your Wi-Fi network. The easiest way to do this is by enabling Airplane mode: swipe down from the upper right of your device's screen (on iPhone 8 or earlier, swipe up from the bottom of the screen) and tap the Airplane button in the top left of the Control Center grid.
Now that's done, follow these steps.
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap General.
Tap iPhone Storage.
Locate and tap the iOS software update in the app list.
Tap Delete Update and confirm the action by tapping it again in the pop-up pane.
How to Turn off Automatic Updates
As some of our readers have pointed out, there's currently no option in Settings to prevent iOS software updates from re-downloading the next time your device is connected to Wi-Fi. What you can do though is prevent an update from automatically installing once it has downloaded: To so, simply launch the Settings app, tap Software Update, and toggle off the switch next to Automatic Updates.
Apple is offering the iPhone SE with 32GB of storage for $249 and with 128GB of storage for $299 on its clearance store in the United States. These are brand new, unopened, and unlocked models with unchanged tech specs, including a 4-inch Retina display, A9 chip, Touch ID, and 12-megapixel rear camera.
Prior to being pulled, the iPhone SE was available with 32GB and 128GB of storage for $349 and $449 respectively, so Apple is offering $100 to $150 off. The device was originally released in March 2016 and was popular among fans of smaller smartphones and those who preferred the iPhone 5-like design.
It's unclear why Apple is selling the iPhone SE again, but it would appear to be clearing out stock. The iPhone SE remains on sale at select authorized resellers, as reflected on Apple's compare iPhone models page when the iPhone SE is selected.
Of course, with Apple recently lowering its revenue guidance for the quarter just ended due to fewer iPhone upgrades than it anticipated, speculation will certainly mount that Apple is doing everything it can to boost iPhone sales.
Apple today uploaded a new series of iPad Pro videos to its YouTube channel, showing off the different features and capabilities of the new devices.
There are five videos, focusing on taking notes, going paperless by scanning documents, hosting a podcast, designing a space with the Measure app, and creating a presentation in Keynote. Each video is about a minute long and is done in a tutorial style to walk users through each task.
In the videos, various iPad Pro features and functions are shown off, like multitasking, the Apple Pencil 2, the camera, Files drag and drop, AirPlay, augmented reality, the USB-C port for attaching accessories, and more. A few specific apps are mentioned, such as Keynote, GarageBand, and Notability.
This is Apple's first set of iPad Pro tutorial-style videos, though the tablet was previously featured in a video focusing on five reasons why the iPad Pro can "be your next computer."
Apple's 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models were first introduced in late October and shipped out in November. The iPads feature edge-to-edge displays with Face ID and no Home button, powerful A12X processors with performance on par with many Mac notebooks, USB-C to connect to 4K monitors and USB-C accessories, and thinner bodies.
The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799 for 64GB of storage, while the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $999, also for 64GB of storage.
So you've been using an iPhone for years now and think you have it all figured out? Don't be so sure. We've gathered up 7 tricks obscure enough that even the most seasoned iPhone user is likely to learn something new, so make sure to check out our latest YouTube video and read below for a little spoiler of all of the tips that are included.
Reopen Last Closed Safari Tab - In Safari, if you press on the "+" button at the bottom of the display, you can reopen tabs that you've recently closed.
Set a Music Timer - Like to listen to music when falling asleep but want it to turn off after a set time? In the Clock app, choose "Timer," scroll to the end, and select "Stop Playing" as an option. That'll stop your music when the timer runs out.
Move Multiple Apps - When you're moving apps on your Home screen, if you long press on one, drag it away a bit and then tap others while continuing to hold the first, you can group them all up and move them together.
3D Touch for Folder Notifications - Have a bunch of apps in folders? If one of your folders has a little red badge, you can 3D press on the folder to see which app has a pending notification at a glance.
Simple Settings Access - In an app like Messages or Photos and want to get to the Settings quick? Just say "Settings" to Siri and it will open right up.
Siri Song History - In the iTunes Store app, you can find a list of all the songs you've ever asked Siri to identify. Just tap on the three line icon at the top of the display and then choose "Siri."
Passcode Lock Apps - Apple doesn't let you passcode individual apps, but there's a Screen Time workaround. In the Screen Time section of the Settings app, choose "App Limits," and set a 1 minute timer on "All Apps & Categories." Go to "Always Allowed," add apps you DON'T want to lock, and then the rest will require a Screen Time passcode to access.
Did you learn something new? Now it's your turn. Let us know your most obscure, hidden iPhone trick that MacRumors readers should know, and we might feature it in a future video.
Future's newest album, "THE WIZRD, is now available on Apple Music along with an exclusive documentary. Apple is highlighting the new content on its main Apple.com website.
"THE WIZRD" includes previously released singles like "Crushed Up" and "Jumpin on a Jet," along with features from Travis Scott, Young Thug, Tay Keith, and more.
Accompanying the album is access to Future's documentary, also titled "THE WIZRD."
The hour long documentary gives a peek into Future's "formative life moments." It features guests that include Rico Wade, DJ Khaled, Metro Boomin, Yo Gotti, and André 3000, who share details on Future's "obsessive work ethic" and "unique rhyme style."
Apple in November launched Smart Battery Cases designed for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Max to add additional battery life to Apple's newest iPhones. The Smart Battery Cases for the 2019 iPhones join Smart Battery Cases designed for the 2018 iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. 2018 was the first year that Apple reintroduced battery cases for its devices.
Priced at $129, the Smart Battery Cases come in either black, white, or pink sand (limited to 11 Pro and Pro Max) and are made from the same material as Apple's silicone cases. From our hands on article:
How does it work?
The Smart Battery Cases are similar in design to a silicone case but with an extra bump on the back that houses the battery pack. While attached to the iPhone, the Smart Battery Case functions like an external battery pack, providing additional power to the iPhone.
A Lightning connector built into the case connects to the Lightning port in the iPhone, but Lightning access remains available due to an additional Lightning port in the case itself.
When you have the Smart Battery Case on your iPhone, your iPhone will use all of the charge in the case before expending its own battery.
What's the capacity?
Each of the Smart Battery Cases features two 1,430mAh battery cells inside. Because there are two battery cells wired together, the cases run at a higher voltage that offers 10.9Wh of energy, making them higher capacity than previous battery cases introduced for iPhone XR and XS.
How much extra battery life does it add?
Apple does not list the specific amount of additional battery that each case adds, instead suggesting that the cases all deliver up to 50 percent longer battery life.
If we add an additional 50 percent battery life to the normal battery life for each of these devices, we can see the estimated battery life times are as follows:
iPhone Alone:
iPhone 11 - Up to 17 hours video playback, up to 10 hours streamed video playback, up to 65 hours audio playback.
iPhone 11 Pro - Up to 18 hours video playback, up to 11 hours streamed video playback, up to 65 hours audio playback.
iPhone 11 Pro Max - Up to 20 hours video playback, up to 12 hours streamed video playback, up to 80 hours audio playback.
iPhone With Battery Case (Estimated):
iPhone 11 - Up to 25.5 hours video playback, up to 15 hours streamed video playback, up to 97.5 hours audio playback.
iPhone 11 Pro - Up to 26 hours video playback, up to 16.5 hours streamed video playback, up to 97.5 hours audio playback.
iPhone 11 Pro Max - Up to 30 hours video playback, up to 18 hours streamed video playback, up to 120 hours audio playback.
Battery Case Alone (Estimated):
iPhone 11 - Up to 8.5 hours video playback, up to 5 hours streamed video playback, up to 32.5 hours audio playback.
iPhone 11 Pro - Up to 9 hours video playback, up to 5.5 hours streamed video playback, up to 32.5 hours audio playback.
iPhone 11 Pro Max - Up to 10 hours video playback, up to 6 hours streamed video playback, up to 40 hours audio playback.
These are, of course, estimates based on the iPhone battery life and Apple's 50 percent extra battery life listing. The actual battery life that you get from each Smart Battery Case is going to vary based on what you're doing on your smartphone.
The new camera button
The Smart Battery Case has a new feature this year that sets it apart from prior Smart Battery Cases -- a dedicated camera button.
With the camera button, which is located on the right of the device under the side button, you can press it to automatically open up the camera app, regardless of whether the iPhone is locked or unlocked.
It provides a handy physical alternative to using the camera button on the Lock screen or the main camera app when the iPhone is unlocked. A press and hold will open up the camera app, and then another press will capture a photo.
If you press and hold while the camera app is open, you can record a QuickTake video. The camera button works with both the rear and front-facing cameras, and is a useful little addition that's great for getting to the camera quickly.
How does the case charge?
Apple built Qi wireless charging into the Smart Battery Case, so both the case and the iPhone can be charged using any Qi wireless charging accessory.
You can also charge the case via Lightning, and if you use a USB-PD compatible charger (aka a USB-C charger paired with a USB-C to Lightning cable) the case will charge up even faster. For fast charging, you can use one of Apple's USB-C Power Adapters for MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or MacBook, but third-party USB-C chargers over 18W also work.
Your iPhone will always charge before the case if the battery is low, and once the iPhone's battery is full, the case will charge. You can also charge the case all on its own without your iPhone inside using any of these charging methods.
Note: The Smart Battery Case does not come with a Lightning cable for charging purposes, so you will need to supply your own.
Can I use the Lightning port with the case on?
The Smart Battery Case’s Lightning port acts as a passthrough, so you can use Lightning-based accessories like headphones and adapters with your phone while it’s inside the case.
How can I check remaining battery life?
When the Smart Battery Case is attached to the iPhone, the battery life of the case is displayed on the Lock screen when you put it on a wireless charger, attach it to an iPhone for the first time, or attach a Lightning cable.
You can also check the battery life at any time by swiping to the right on the Home screen to open the Today view of the Notification Center. There's a battery widget that lists the battery life of the iPhone, the case, and other attached devices like AirPods or the Apple Watch.
Does the 2019 cases work with the 2018 iPhones?
Yes, with some caveats. The case is designed for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models, and there are some differences with the camera cutout. You can get the iPhone XR, XS, or XS Max into the new case and it will charge, but the new side camera button is nonfunctional.
Where can I buy the Smart Battery Case?
Apple sells the Smart Battery Cases for iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max both online and in its retail stores. The cases are priced at $129.
iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR Smart Battery Case Replacement Program
For iPhone owners who have a Smart Battery Case designed for the iPhone XS, XS Max, or XR, Apple has launched a Smart Battery Case Replacement Program and is offering free replacement cases to customers who have had issues with charging the case or getting the case to properly charge an iPhone.
Apple and Qualcomm are embroiled in a bitter legal battle over licensing and royalty fees that's lasted for two years now and has led to the breakdown of the relationship between the two companies, but there may have been other factors in the breakup.
Leaked emails between Apple COO Jeff Williams and Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf seen by Bloomberg suggest the two companies may have cut ties over software access.
Williams wanted to continue to work with Qualcomm despite the legal battle, but Qualcomm accused Apple of leaking Qualcomm computer code needed to customize mobile chips. Williams offered to "firewall" the Apple engineers using the Qualcomm software and said nothing of value could be obtained from the code anyway.
"In my wildest imagination of some evil intention of Apple, I have trouble coming up with a real scenario where anything of significant value could be leaked based on this code," Williams wrote in September 2017.
Mollenkopf told Williams that he was concerned about protecting Qualcomm's proprietary information, and while he offered to provide software access to Apple, he asked Apple to commit to using Qualcomm chips in at least 50 percent of iPhones over the next two years.
Qualcomm in September 2018 accused Apple of stealing confidential information and trade secrets and passing it on to rival chipmaker Intel. From Qualcomm's lawsuit against Apple:
Although discovery is ongoing, it is clear that Apple's conduct went far beyond simply breaching the contract originally sued on. Indeed, it is now apparent Apple engaged in a years-long campaign of false promises, stealth and subterfuge designed to steal Qualcomm's confidential information and trade secrets for the purpose of improving the performance of lower-quality modem chipsets, with the ultimate goal of eliminating Qualcomm's Apple-based business.
As Bloomberg points out, it appears the software dispute was a key reason the two companies cut ties, as both were willing to continue to work together despite the legal battle. The fight has heated up since then, though, with Qualcomm winning import bans on iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models in China and Germany.
Qualcomm is in court this week facing an antitrust lawsuit levied against it by the FTC, with the FTC accusing the company of using anticompetitive tactics and exorbitant licensing fees to remain the dominant baseband chip supplier.
Executives from many companies have testified against Qualcomm, including Jeff Williams. Earlier this week, Williams said that Qualcomm had refused to sell Apple chips for the 2018 iPhone models.
Apple in 2017 purchased Beddit, a company that makes a sleep monitoring system designed to track your sleeping habits to help you improve your sleep hygiene.
Apple hasn't said much about the purchase, nor what it's doing with the data it collects from the Beddit system, but in December, Apple quietly pulled the original Beddit Sleep System and introduced a redesigned model with an updated and revised feature set.
There have been quite a few complaints about the new 3.5 version of the Beddit Sleep Monitor (and its accompanying app) because it removes some functionality that was available with the first model Apple offered. I've been using the original Beddit since 2017, so I decided to check out the new model to see how it compares.
As it turns out, the complaints about removed features are valid, but the improvements introduced in the updated version shouldn't be overlooked.
Design
The 3.5 version of the Beddit Sleep Monitor is similar in design to the previous models, consisting of a fabric-covered strip outfitted with a number of sensors designed to track movement, heart rate, and other parameters that can impact sleep.
Measuring in at 2.5 inches wide by 30 inches long and 2mm thick, the Beddit Sleep Monitor is meant to be placed on top of a mattress right about where your heart is located when you sleep.
The idea is to put the fitted sheet over the sensor once it's been placed across a mattress. You need to make sure nothing else is over it like another blanket or a pillow -- sheet only between the sensor and your body.
On one side of the Beddit, there's a USB cord that plugs into a small 5W iPhone-style power adapter, and underneath, there's a rubber-like material meant to keep the Beddit from slipping and sliding. The older model used something similar, but the new one uses a sturdier, more rigid material.
Apple has been ordered to stop using a part of a recent press release that claimed the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 would still be available in Germany through carriers and resellers, reports Bloomberg.
Apple released the statement following a preliminary injunction in December that prevented the company from selling older iPhones in Germany. Apple at the time said that while it would stop selling the devices at its own retail stores, they would remain available via other means.
Qualcomm yesterday got another preliminary injunction to stop Apple from using that statement because it was "misleading." The court's ruling, said Qualcomm, also required Apple to stop offering the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 via resellers, too, and the court agreed.
"The press release is misleading because it contains statements that are at least potentially deceptive about the availability of the goods," the judges wrote. "The statement conveys the impression of unlimited availability."
Apple has not been selling iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models in its retail stores or online in Germany since January and prior to the order about the press release, was also ordered to pull iPhones from partner stores. Some German resellers have continued to sell the devices, however.
Apple's newest iPhones, the XR, XS, and XS Max are not affected by the sales and import ban and continue to be available in the country.
Qualcomm also won a preliminary injunction against the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 in China, but Apple was able to skirt the ruling via a software update that removed patented content.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Scosche to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win one of the company's MagicMount Pro Charge wireless chargers.
Priced at $69.99, the MagicMount Pro Charge is a versatile, upright wireless charging mount that can go anywhere, offering charging capabilities and easy access to the iPhone wherever it might be.
You can use the MagicMount Pro Charge on a desk, in the car for access to maps, in the kitchen for viewing recipes, and more.
The MagicMount Pro uses magnets to hold your iPhone in place, with no base or cradle required, keeping it at an optimum viewing height with an unobscured display and accessible ports.
There are magnets built into the MagicMount Pro Charge, which work with a metal MagicPlate that attaches to the iPhone. The magnets do not impede wireless charging, with the MagicMount Pro Charge offering 7.5W charging for Apple devices and 10W charging for Android devices.
The MagicPlate attaches to the back of an iPhone or an iPhone case using an adhesive, with the iPhone plate able to be easily removed.
A StickGrip suction base at the bottom makes sure the MagicMount stays in place while you're using it, and the charging portion can be swiveled, rotated, or tilted so you can adjust your iPhone's display to where you want it.
A power adapter is included with the MagicMount Pro Charge, with the cord routed through the base of the device. As with most wireless chargers, foreign object detection is included to prevent accidents from overheating.
MagicMount Pro Charge is Qi-certified and has been laboratory tested to ensure safety, energy efficiency, interoperability, and more. The charger works with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XR, XS, and XS Max.
We have eight of Scosche's MagicMount Pro Charge accessories to give away. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, 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 18) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on January 25. The winners will be chosen randomly on January 25 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
With support for the now-discontinued Windows 10 Mobile devices set to end on December 10, 2019, Microsoft is recommending that its current Windows 10 Mobile customers move to an Android or iOS device instead.
Microsoft made the recommendation in a Windows 10 Mobile support document (via Thurrott) explaining its plans to stop offering security updates and patches for Windows 10 Mobile.
With the Windows 10 Mobile OS end of support, we recommend that customers move to a supported Android or iOS device. Microsoft's mission statement to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, compels us to support our Mobile apps on those platforms and devices.
Microsoft ended support for Windows Phone in July 2017 and stopped active development on Windows 10 Mobile in October of that year, leading to the death of the platform. Microsoft struggled to get app developers to write apps for the device, and it was also never able to establish a strong user base.
With the abandonment of Windows 10 Mobile, Microsoft has been focusing on other platforms and has a wide array of apps available for both iOS and Android devices.
All customers who have a Windows 10 Mobile device will be able to keep using it after December 10, 2019, but no further updates will be available.
AAPL closed at $157.92 on January 2, immediately prior to Cook revealing the shortfall in an after-hours letter to shareholders, and is now trading just cents below that level. The stock has gradually recovered over the past two weeks since establishing a new 52-week low of $142 on January 3.
Apple share price now returned to level before Tim Cook’s letter to investors.
— Horace Dediu (@asymco) January 18, 2019
Apple originally guided for revenue of between $89 billion and $93 billion in the three-month period ending in December, but revised its estimate to $84 billion due to "fewer iPhone upgrades" than it anticipated, primarily due to "significantly greater" economic weakness than it projected in the Greater China region.
The letter sparked concerns among some investors and analysts that Apple has reached "peak iPhone," especially given Apple's revelation that it will no longer disclose unit sales in its quarterly earnings reports going forward.
While the iPhone accounts for around two-thirds of Apple's revenue, the company has repeatedly touted the continued growth of its services, including the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, iTunes, and so forth, which combined for a nearly 19 percent increase in revenue on a year-over-year basis in the quarter.
In his letter to shareholders, Cook said Apple is undertaking and accelerating multiple initiatives to improve its results, including making it simple to trade in a phone at its stores. Back in November, Apple launched a promotion offering up to $100 in extra trade-in credit towards a new iPhone XR or iPhone XS.
AAPL will report its earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2019 on January 29, followed by a conference call to discuss the results at 2 p.m. Pacific Time.
Apple supplier Foxconn has let go around 50,000 contract workers at its iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, China, with the first cuts happening in October 2018. As one source with knowledge of Foxconn's plans told Nikkei, the scale of the cuts is not what stands out, but the fact that it's significantly earlier than previous years.
"It's quite different this year to ask assembly line workers to leave before the year-end," the source stated. Foxconn typically renews workers' contracts every month from August until January, at which point the workforce is scaled back for slow iPhone production season. This year, those cuts came as much as three months early.
The same is true for other Apple suppliers according to today's report, with Pegatron canceling monthly labor contracts last November. One source said that Pegatron's cuts "happened sooner than in the past because of poor demand," referring to the iPhone.
Even smaller companies in Apple's supply chain reportedly cut down on their workforce, with one unnamed component supplier based in Shenzhen asking 4,000 workers to take an extended vacation from October to March. On March 1, the company will decide whether or not to lay the workers off.
For Foxconn, the company is preparing for restructuring throughout the company, merging business units that make iPads and MacBooks with the division making Dell and Acer computers. This means "steep cuts" to management, human resources, administrations, accounting, and utility support jobs, totaling 100,000 jobs removed by the end of 2018 and costs cut by $2.96 billion in 2019.
Apple in late December told its suppliers to cut production on new iPhones by 10 percent over the next three months, coming on the back of reports about weak iPhone sales during the holiday quarter. In early January, Apple CEO Tim Cook called reports claiming the iPhone XR was a flop "bologna," stating the device has been the most popular iPhone "every single day" since it launched.
Amid all of this, many Apple suppliers cut their 2019 sales forecasts, including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Nidec. Specifically for the China market, these suppliers noted an "extraordinary" drop in demand for high-end smartphones.
Austrian non-profit organization NOYB, the "European Center for Digital Rights," has reportedly filed a complaint against Apple and seven other tech companies for allegedly failing to comply with GDPR in the European Union.
NOYB said it tested each company's compliance with GDPR by requesting private data held about 10 users and found that "no service fully complied."
"Many services set up automated systems to respond to access requests, but they often don't even remotely provide the data that every user has a right to," said NOYB founder Max Schrems. "This leads to structural violations of users' rights, as these systems are built to withhold the relevant information."
Other companies named in the complaint include Amazon, Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, and three more, according to Reuters.
GDPR was implemented in May 2018 and gives European Union residents the right to access any personal data a company has stored on them. The regulation led Apple to launch a Data and Privacy portal that allows its customers to download a copy of any data associated with their Apple ID account that Apple maintains.
Google and watchmaker Fossil Group today jointly announced a $40 million deal that will see the search giant take ownership of a portion of Fossil's smartwatch technology.
Fossil Sport smartwatch
The deal, which is being described as "transactional" and will see some of Fossil's R&D division join Google, will lead to the launch of a "new product innovation that's not yet hit the market," said Fossil VP and chief strategy officer Greg McKelvey.
Speaking to Wearable, McKelvey said the new product is based on technology that Fossil has been developing out of its $260 million Misfit acquisition in 2015. "It's new to the market technology and we think it's a product that has features and benefits that aren't in the category today," he added.
Google confirmed that the new product line will join the Wear OS family, although neither company revealed when the products that eventually emerge out of the partnership would be launched.
The deal is naturally fueling speculation that Google is planning an own-branded direct competitor to Apple Watch. Tentatively billed the "Pixel Watch" by market watchers, the new line is said to be made up of three models, codenamed Ling, Triton, and Sardine, although the details end there.
Google is known to be working on new fitness and health tracking features for its Wear OS, which could theoretically make their debut in the rumored watch, while Fossil recently diverged from its step-counting wristwatch range by announcing a Wear OS-based dedicated Sport smartwatch with built-in GPS and heart-rate sensor, suggesting today's deal could result in a new fitness-focused device.
One of the biggest ad data brokers has come out in support of Apple CEO Tim Cook's call for federal privacy legislation to regulate the collection and use of personal data in the United States.
In a statement Thursday evening provided to Business Insider, data broker Acxiom confirmed its support for federal privacy legislation. "Acxiom, like Mr. Cook, also supports a national privacy law for the US, such as GDPR provides for the European Union," it read.
A data broker acts as a middleman, transferring user data between different companies and parties. In his TIME op-ed yesterday, Cook called such an entity "a company that exists purely to collect your information, package it and sell it to yet another buyer."
In a message consistent with Apple's policy that privacy is a "fundamental human right," Cook railed against this market for user information, which he said operates in a "shadow economy" that's largely unchecked, "out of sight of consumers, regulators and lawmakers."
Responding to Cook's clarion call, Acxiom said that it had been "actively participating in discussions with US lawmakers" for years but denied that it partook in a "shadow economy" that operates unchecked.
We agree that we must root out the nefarious players in the ecosystem, and Acxiom’s data privacy impact assessment (DPIA) process ensures we don’t do business with questionable companies. We look forward to working with people across the industry, including Apple, to ensure transparency, access and control is available to all people.
In his TIME op-ed, Cook argued for the creation of a "data-broker clearinghouse" that all brokers would be required to register, which would enable consumers users to track transactions that include their data and delete it forever if desired.
"As this debate kicks off, there will be plenty of proposals and competing interests for policymakers to consider," said Cook. "We cannot lose sight of the most important constituency: individuals trying to win back their right to privacy."
Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Earlier this month, Weibo user C Technology (via Wccftech) shared some alleged details about the upcoming successor to the iPhone XS Max, which may or may not be accurate.
The next iPhone XS Max has been pegged as the 2019 iPhone that will feature a triple-lens camera in 2019 by reliable sources, and the Weibo post offers additional details about the lenses. Apple will allegedly use a wide-angle lens, a super wide-angle lens, and a 3x telephoto lens. This would be similar to something like the Huawei P20 Pro, which also offers two wide-angle lenses and a telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
The second-generation iPhone XS Max is said to have a 4,000mAh battery, something that seems unlikely because the form factor of the device is not changing. Rumors have suggested Apple's 2019 iPhones will look quite similar to the 2018 lineup, with the exception of changes to the rear camera and perhaps some tweaks to front-facing TrueDepth camera system to make the notch smaller.
We've heard multiple rumors about a smaller notch, a detail also included in the Weibo post.
Other alleged features coming to the iPhone XS Max include 15W wireless fast charging, which would be an increase from the current 7.5W wireless charging speed, and a display with a 90 to 120Hz refresh rate.
Apple uses a 120Hz ProMotion display for the iPad Pro, allowing for a smoother, crisper, more responsive experience, so it's not out of the question.
C Technology has been known for sharing early iPhone information in the past, but the Weibo user aggregates leaks, rumors, and images from multiple sources, some accurate and some inaccurate. For that reason, and because some of this information sounds a bit unlikely, we're not confident about the veracity of these rumors.
We'll need to wait for secondary sources to back up this information before we can confirm its accuracy.
(Thanks, Tim!)
Update: The alleged 2019 iPhone details posted on Weibo appear to be fake and just a rehash of a mobile leaker's iPhone wishlist shared via Twitter on January 10.
Apple on Tuesday released new Smart Battery Cases for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, offering a convenient but expensive way for iPhone users to get additional battery life.
The Smart Battery Cases will be in stores starting tomorrow, but we got our hands on the iPhone XS Max and XR versions early to check out the features and to see if they're worth the $129 price tag.
Apple is offering the Smart Battery Cases in black or white, and while there are separate versions for the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, each case costs $129 and appears to have the same capacity.
The cases look similar to the prior Smart Battery Cases Apple offered for the iPhone 7, consisting of a silicone shell with a bump at the back that contains the battery. The cases are easy to grip, but bulky, and the iPhone XS Max version adds a decent bit of weight.
There's a 10.1 Whr battery inside of the cases, which is higher capacity than previous Smart Battery Cases. You can expect to get about 50 to 75 percent additional battery from each case, depending on what you're doing.
Specifically, on the iPhone XS Max with the Smart Battery Case, you'll get up to 37 hours of talk time, up to 20 hours of internet use, and up to 25 hours of video playback.
The iPhone XS with XS Smart Battery Case offers up to 33 hours of talk time, up to 21 hours of internet use, and up to 25 hours of video playback, while the iPhone XR with iPhone XR Smart Battery Case offers up to 39 hours of talk time, up to 22 hours of internet use, and up to 27 hours of video playback.
The cases support Qi wireless charging, so you can charge them using a Qi-based charger (though it won't fit on some upright models) or a Lightning cable. You can even fast charge if you have a USB-C to Lightning cable and a compatible USB-C power adapter, such as the 30W MacBook charger. You don't have to use Apple's solutions -- any 18W+ USB-C PD power adapter will work.
You need to attach the Lightning connector in the case to the Lightning port in the iPhone, but because the case has its own Lightning port, you can use it as a passthrough for Lightning accessories like headphones.
With the Smart Battery Case attached, you can check how much battery life is left in the case using a widget in the Today section of the Notification Center or via the Lock screen. Your iPhone will always use the battery provided by the case before expending its own battery, but when charging, your iPhone will charge first.
All in all, the Smart Battery Case is one of the simplest ways to get extra battery life for the iPhone because it doesn't require an extra external accessory or a cable and there are multiple ways to charge it, but that convenience definitely comes at a cost.
Do you think Apple's Smart Battery Cases are worth shelling out $129? Let us know in the comments.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
Biggest design overhaul since iOS 7 with Liquid Glass, plus new Apple Intelligence features and improvements to Messages, Phone, Safari, Shortcuts, and more. Developer beta available now ahead of public beta in July.
