MacRumors

Apple is in early discussions with record labels about bundling Apple Music and Apple TV+ as part of a "super-bundle of media content" for one flat monthly rate, according to a report from the Financial Times.

While some record labels are said to be open to the idea, the report claims at least one big label has voiced concerns, adding that the industry is growing more wary about its relationship with Apple. In particular, the report claims record labels are worried that the bundle would lead to lost revenue.

The report adds that the two sides have not yet discussed a pricing formula, so it is unclear what Apple would charge for its Apple Music and Apple TV+ bundle. It is also unclear if the bundle would extend to Apple's other subscription-based offerings like Apple News+, Apple Arcade, AppleCare+, and iCloud storage.

Apple Music costs $9.99 per month for individuals in the United States, with a $4.99 tier for students. Apple TV+ will cost $4.99 per month, with a free one-year subscription available to customers who purchase any iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, or Mac as of September 10 and later.

The total cost of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+, and Apple Arcade rounds to $30 per month, so the bundle would presumably undercut that amount to incentivize customers to subscribe to all of the services.

Apple TV+ launches November 1.

MacRumors reader Daniel Marcinkowski has uncovered a reference to an unreleased Sleep app for the Apple Watch.

In the App Store listing for Apple's preinstalled Alarms app on the Apple Watch, there is a screenshot of an unreleased version of the Alarms app with a "Sleep" label and fine print that reads "set your Bedtime and wake up in the Sleep app."

Similar functionality is available on the iPhone through the Bedtime tab of the Clocks app.

There is no Sleep app or references to a Sleep app in the Alarms app on watchOS 6.0.1 or watchOS 6.1 beta, but MacRumors uncovered evidence of Apple working on a Sleep app for the Apple Watch in an internal build of iOS 13 last month, so Apple likely shared this screenshot too early by accident.

The new Sleep app on the Apple Watch will provide users with an overview of their sleeping patterns, as well as send users bedtime and battery charging reminders. Apple Watch users will be recommended to have at least 30 percent of battery life to wear it to sleep, according to an iOS 13 string seen by MacRumors.

Apple's sleep tracking functionality is referred to as "Time in Bed tracking" based on internal iOS 13 code, with one string noting that "you can also track your sleep and get woken up silently by wearing your watch to bed."

When released, the Sleep app may have a dedicated watch face available, according to the internal iOS 13 build.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman was first to report that Apple was testing sleep tracking on the Apple Watch. Back in February, he said Apple plans to roll out the feature by 2020 if the testing is deemed successful. This follows Apple's acquisition of the iPhone-connected sleep tracking accessory Beddit in 2017.

Spotify today updated its mobile app to include Siri support, which means iPhone and iPad users running iOS 13 can now use ‌Siri‌ to control their favorite music streaming service, just like Apple Music subscribers.

After updating the app, users simply need to invoke ‌Siri‌ on their device and ask the voice assistant to play an album or song "with Spotify." Commands for playing playlists work the same way.

According to Spotify's release notes, ‌Siri‌ support is compatible over connected AirPods and also extends to CarPlay and HomePod via AirPlay. On iPhones and iPads running iOS 13, Spotify will also now turn on its Data Saver feature when a device has Low Data Mode enabled.

In addition, the streaming service says Spotify is "now available on Apple TV," although it isn't showing up in the tvOS App Store as of writing, so rollout is likely scheduled for later in the day.

Apple will sell around 10 percent more iPhones in the first quarter of 2020, thanks to strong replacement demand for its iPhone 11 series devices and next year's launch of the "iPhone SE 2," claims Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in his latest research note, seen by MacRumors.

We expect that combined iPhone shipments in 1Q20 will grow around 10% YoY thanks to the iPhone 11's replacement demand boosted by more affordable prices and iPhone SE2's shipments starting in 1Q20. We estimate that iPhone shipment in 1Q20 will be 45–50mn units (iPhone 11 Pro series and iPhone 11 to be 13–15 and 22–24mn units, respectively), which is better than around 42mn units of iPhone shipments in 1Q19 (iPhone XS series and iPhone XR to be around 12 and 14mn units, respectively).

The TFI Securities analyst estimates that iPhone 11 series shipments will reach between 70 and 75 million units in 2019, and he believes that figure may have been higher but for supply constraints. A Nikkei report previously claimed Apple has upped orders from suppliers after stronger-than-expected demand for its latest flagship phones.

Specifically, Kuo estimates that shipments of the iPhone 11 Pro in 2019 will be around 37-40 million units, and shipments of the iPhone 11 will be around 36 to 40 million units.

If those figures are accurate, Kuo says Pro series shipments will be lower than last year's equivalent iPhone XS shipments, but only because of a tighter supply caused by "increased production difficulties" of specific iPhone 11 Pro components. Meanwhile, shipments of iPhone 11 will be higher than 2018's iPhone XR, mainly because the iPhone XR didn't start shipping until the middle of the fourth quarter.

Kuo says Apple has increased some suppliers' shipment forecasts or capacity requirements in the fourth quarter to ensure that shipments going into next year meet demand. Boosted by more affordable prices, the high replacement demand for the iPhone 11 could run into the first quarter of 2020, the analyst believes. As a result, Kuo estimates that "iPhone 11 shipments in 1Q20 (22–24mn units) will be better than those of iPhone XR in 1Q19 (14mn units) significantly."

Kuo has previously claimed that Apple plans to release a lower-priced "iPhone SE 2" in the first quarter of 2020. Earlier this month, he said the device will feature a similar form factor design and specifications as the iPhone 8, with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM.

Eight years ago today, Steve Jobs passed away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56, one day after somewhat subdued Apple executives introduced the iPhone 4s at a media event on the company's Infinite Loop headquarters campus.

As he traditionally does, Apple CEO Tim Cook today marked the anniversary of Jobs' death with a tweet, sharing a Jobs quote and a photo of him at the iconic cube at Apple's Fifth Avenue retail store in New York City.

Apple today flipped the switch to launch Apple Arcade for users currently running the macOS Catalina beta, which itself was updated to the golden master version just yesterday.

The launch of ‌Apple Arcade‌ on Mac will complete the rollout of Apple's subscription gaming service, with the service already up and running for all users on iOS, iPadOS, and Apple TV. While Apple touts ‌Apple Arcade‌ as having 100+ games overall, not every game is available on every platform and the Mac version of ‌Apple Arcade‌ currently offers about two dozen titles including Sayonara Wild Hearts, Operator 41, Big Time Sports, Card of Darkness, and more.

‌Apple Arcade‌ requires macOS Catalina, and users currently running macOS Mojave are being presented with a "Welcome to ‌Apple Arcade‌ on Mac!" feature story in the Mac App Store. The feature outlines the ‌Apple Arcade‌ service and offers a "Check for Update" button, suggesting a public macOS Catalina launch may be imminent.

‌Apple Arcade‌ is priced at $4.99 per month across all platforms, with Family Sharing allowing up to six members of a single family to access the service at no additional charge. A one-month free trial is also available.

Apple today launched a new repair program for iPhone 6s and 6s Plus devices that may fail to power on due to a faulty component. Affected devices were sold between October 2018 and August 2019, and users can check their serial numbers on Apple's support site to see if their devices are part of the affected batches.

Customers with an eligible iPhone model can have their device repaired free of charge by Apple or at an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Affected customers can contact Apple support for a mail-in repair, visit an AASP, or visit an Apple retail store.

Affected devices are covered for two years from the date of first retail sale of the unit. Repairs may be limited to the original country or region of purchase.

London's National Portrait Gallery has announced its latest commission: a portrait of Apple's departing design chief Jony Ive at Apple Park, shot by internationally renowned photographer Andreas Gursky.

Ive is pictured in a nearly all-white outfit on an outside ledge of the main Apple Park building, which he played a major role in designing.

National Portrait Gallery:

Jony Ive is one of the leading figures in contemporary design. Described by founder Steve Jobs as 'his creative partner' Ive joined Apple in 1992. From his early cutting-edge designs for the iMac and iPhone to realising the vision of Apple Park in 2017, his role has been central to Apple's progressive ambition and success. As one of a few portraits by Andreas Gursky and the only portrait commission he has undertaken for a public museum, this newest addition to our collection reflects a long-standing professional admiration between two leading creative figures.

Ive:

I have been obsessed with Andreas' work for a couple of decades and vividly remember the thrill of our first meeting seven years ago. His very particular and objective presentation of what he sees, whether voluminous landscapes or the rhythm and repetition of supermarket shelving is both beautiful and provocative. Mindful that he rarely makes portraits, this is a conspicuous and particular honour for me.

Gursky:

It was fascinating to take photographs in the new Apple HQ, a place that plays such a historically crucial role in our present and future. And above all, it was inspiring to work with Jonathan Ive within this setting. It was he who found the form for the technological revolution that was initiated by Apple and his aesthetic has left a mark on an entire generation. I admire his immense visionary power and have tried to express this energy in my portrait.

Ive's portrait is on display in room 32 of the gallery. Entry to the gallery is free, but some special exhibitions cost money.

Ive has led Apple's design team since 1996. In his current role as Chief Design Officer, he has been responsible for all design at Apple, including the look and feel of Apple products like the iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch, packaging, and major architectural projects such as Apple Park and Apple Stores.

In June, Apple announced that Ive will depart the company as an employee later this year to form an independent design company named LoveFrom. Apple said it will remain one of Ive's primary clients.

"Jony is a singular figure in the design world and his role in Apple's revival cannot be overstated, from 1998's groundbreaking iMac to the iPhone and the unprecedented ambition of Apple Park, where recently he has been putting so much of his energy and care," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Multiple rumors have suggested Apple is working on an updated iPad Pro that could launch at some point this fall, and some of those rumors have said the next-generation version could potentially come with a triple-lens camera.

In mid-September, images of an iPad Pro dummy model with three cameras popped up, and with some help from Sonny Dickson, we got our hands on a physical model for our latest YouTube video.

Design wise, the tablet is identical to the current ‌iPad Pro‌, with the exception of the triple-lens camera setup. As with the iPhone, the dummy model has a square-shaped camera bump that houses three lenses, which will presumably be the same lenses in the iPhone 11 Pro: ultra wide-angle, wide-angle, and telephoto.

The design of the camera bump resembles the design we saw in some iPhone dummies ahead of the launch of the 2019 iPhones, and we don't think it's representative of what the cameras will actually look like should this year's ‌iPad Pro‌ be upgraded with an iPhone-style camera setup.

In all likelihood, the actual cameras would more closely resemble the look of the iPhone cameras with a square-shaped bump housing three distinct lenses.

Other than the triple-lens camera setup, the design of the dummy ‌iPad Pro‌ is identical to the current ‌iPad Pro‌ with 12.9-inch display, slim bezels, Face ID and no Home button, and a smart connector on the rear of the device.

Dummy models like these are often used by case makers to create cases ahead of the launch of new devices, because there can be a lot of money in being one of the first companies to come out with a case for a freshly launched product.

These dummy models are typically based on leaked schematics and info from the suppliers that make components and assemble Apple devices, so more often than not, when we see a dummy model, it's an accurate representation of what we can expect.

That said, there is some question about this ‌iPad Pro‌ dummy and we can't be entirely sure that the next-generation ‌iPad Pro‌ is going to get a triple-lens camera, mostly because we've heard so little about it.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often provides accurate insight into Apple's product plans, has said that Apple is planning on an ‌iPad Pro‌ refresh this year but has given no detail on what to expect, while Bloomberg, another reliable source, has said that we can expect faster processors and "upgraded cameras," but it's not clear if "upgraded cameras" means a triple-lens camera system.

Japanese site Mac Otakara, which has a mixed accuracy record, is the source for the triple-lens camera rumors. Citing a Chinese supply source, ‌Mac Otakara‌ in August said that the new ‌iPad‌ Pros will feature the same camera system that's in the 2019 iPhones.

Rumors aren't clear on the camera setup of the new ‌iPad Pro‌, but they do agree on one point: a fall refresh is expected. Multiple rumors indicate some kind of new tablet is coming this year, but there's no solid information on when just yet.

Because we're still expecting new ‌iPad Pro‌ models, the already announced Mac Pro, and the much-anticipated and highly rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple may be planning to hold an October event as it has done in years past.

If there is an October event, it's likely Apple will hold it at the end of the month, perhaps somewhere around Tuesday, October 29. The 2016 and 2018 events were held on Thursday, October 27 and Tuesday, October 30.

For more on what to expect from the ‌iPad Pro‌ update in 2019 and the bigger update rumored for 2020, make sure to check out our iPad Pro roundup.

Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro Max has taken the top spot in Consumer Reports' smartphone rankings, with the smaller iPhone 11 Pro claiming second place, after years of Apple being consistently edged out by Samsung smartphones.

Consumer Reports said the iPhone 11 Pro models earned the top spots for having significantly improved battery life, excellent cameras, and other improvements, like a greater degree of water resistance, more durable glass casing, brighter displays, and faster performance powered by the new A13 Bionic chip.

On battery life:

For one thing, the battery life is much better. The iPhone 11 Pro Max lasted a more than impressive 40.5 hours in our testing. That’s the longest stretch of any phone currently listed in our ratings. And it marks a big turnaround for Apple. Just a few years ago, iPhones tended to lag behind the competition in this area.

On the cameras:

In the case of the 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max, our testers say they notched some of the highest scores in our ratings for still-image quality. The iPhone 11 also rated Very Good in this category. And all three phones received Excellent ratings for rear-video quality.

While the iPhone 11 Pro models top the list, Consumer Reports emphasized how tight the scoring is at the top of its smartphone rankings. In some categories, it said just fractions of a point separate the top models.

Consumer Reports believes those with own an iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, or even an iPhone XR can probably save their money and wait. Despite marked camera and battery life advancements, the non-profit firm said there just may not be enough in the way of new features to justify spending $999-plus on a new model.

A subscription to Consumer Reports is required to view the full smartphone rankings.

Amazon Prime Video is currently unavailable in the App Store across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Amazon had updated the iOS version of the app shortly before it was removed from the App Store, but it is unclear why the app was pulled or whether this is a temporary move.

Apple deferred comment to Amazon, which has yet to respond to our email. We'll update as we learn more.

Update: MacRumors has been informed this was a technical issue and the app should be back up shortly.

Update 2: Amazon Prime Video has returned to the App Store.

The U.S. Congress has requested information from Spotify related to its anticompetitive allegations against Apple, according to Reuters.

From the report:

The U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee reached out to the music streaming service with broad requests for information, according to one source, who added the request to the company was narrowed in follow up telephone calls.

In March, Spotify announced it filed an antitrust complaint against Apple with the European Commission over unfair App Store practices. Spotify took particular issue with Apple charging a 30 percent "tax" on only certain App Store purchases, calling it "discriminatory."

Apple only charges a commission on in-app purchases tied to digital goods, so apps providing real goods and services like Uber are exempt.

Apple also forbids Spotify and other developers from alerting users that they can sign up for a subscription or complete a purchase outside of its iOS app, and disallows Spotify from advertising deals to its customers in the app or by email, as these practices would circumvent Apple's in-app purchase system.

Apple labeled Spotify's complaint as "misleading rhetoric" and claimed that "Spotify wants all the benefits of a free app without being free," later adding that Spotify pays Apple a 15 percent commission for only about 0.5 percent of its paying subscribers, as part of its official response to the complaint.

Apple has faced increasing scrutiny as of late over the way it runs its App Store. In response, Apple said the App Store "welcomes competition," noting that it was created to be "a safe and trusted place for customers to discover and download apps" and "a great business opportunity for all developers."