Noted leaker Evan Blass this morning tweeted a render of an iPad Pro that features slimmer bezels, no Home button, and what looks like an inline TrueDepth camera system that does away with the need for a notch.
Blass did not offer any information on the render, apart from the cryptic message "Of course I just bought a Pro not too long ago," which suggests that he received the render from a case maker. Blass typically only shares leaks that he believes are from credible sources.
The new iPads Pros are set to gain a TrueDepth camera system that will replace Touch ID with Face ID for biometric authentication purposes. At first it wasn't clear whether the iPad Pro would have a notch similar to the iPhone XS and XR, but a notch-less design of the iPad Pro has been discovered in several leaked icons discovered in iOS 12.
Face ID on the new iPad Pro will reportedly allow users to unlock a device when it is held at a horizontal angle, rather than limiting unlocking to the vertical orientation. However, initial setup of Face ID is said to be performed in portrait orientation.
The new iPad Pro models should be available in 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, both powered by Apple's faster A12X Bionic processor. The Lightning port on the devices is expected to make way for USB-C, which would allow for faster charging and new functionality not possible via Lightning such as the ability to drive a 4K monitor.
In addition, rumors suggest Apple could be about to announce a new Apple Pencil 2 with support for tap and swipe gestures, a new design, and a new charging method. It's possible the accessory will charge wirelessly when docked to the iPad Pro, with Apple eliminating the Lightning port, although no further information is available at this time.
It's not long to go before we'll know for sure. Apple's October 30 event takes place today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (that's 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time and 2:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time) with Apple planning to live stream the event on its website and through the Events app on the Apple TV.
Apart from new iPad Pros, we'll expecting a new Mac mini, a low-cost Retina Notebook, and possibly more. MacRumors will have live coverage of all of Apple's announcements, both here on the site and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Update: It appears the "rendering" is a fake photoshopped image of a UAG case marketing shot, as shown here with the original wallpaper.
Apple's "There's more in the making" media event will be kicking off at 10:00 AM Eastern / 7:00 AM Pacific tomorrow, and some MacRumors readers who can't follow the event live are interested in avoiding all of the announcements and waiting until Apple posts the recorded video of the event so as to experience it without already knowing the outcome.
For those individuals, we've posted this news story, which will be updated with a direct link to the presentation once it becomes available from Apple. No other news stories or announcements will be displayed alongside this story.
Apple has become quicker about making event videos available for replay over the past several years, and videos are now frequently available within an hour of an event's conclusion.
Users waiting for the video to be posted are welcome to gather in the thread associated with this news story, and we ask that those who follow the events refrain from making any posts in the thread about Apple's announcements.
The iPhone XR and the iPhone XS models share many similarities, but one major difference is the rear camera setup. While the iPhone XS features a dual-lens camera system with both wide-angle and telephoto lenses, the iPhone XR has a single wide-angle camera lens.
In our latest YouTube video, we compared the cameras of the iPhone XR and the iPhone XS Max to see how much of a difference you're really going to see with the single lens camera vs. the dual-lens camera.
Though the iPhone XR doesn't have two lenses to work with, it still has many of the same features that are available in the iPhone XS, enabled through a bit of software magic.
Smart HDR, the feature that combines multiple images to bring out more detail in the shadows and highlights of photographs, is available on both the iPhone XS and iPhone XR, as are Portrait Mode, Portrait Lighting, and Depth Control, which is an option that lets you adjust the amount of background blur in an image.
iPhone XR vs. iPhone XS Portrait Mode
On the iPhone XR, Portrait Mode, which blurs the background of an image while keeping the foreground sharp, only works when a person is in the frame. That means you can't get Portrait Mode shots of pets, flowers, food, or other objects.
You can do non-person Portrait Mode photos on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max because two cameras are used together to calculate depth information. The single camera on the iPhone XR provides less detailed depth information for photographs, so it needs to use person detection to separate the foreground from the background.
On the plus side, because the iPhone XR exclusively uses the f/1.8 wide-angle lens for Portrait Mode photos and does not need to rely on the smaller aperture f/2.4 telephoto lens that's in the iPhone XS, Portrait Mode images taken in low light can turn out better than Portrait Mode photos on the XS because the wider lens lets in more ambient light.
iPhone XR vs. iPhone XS Portrait Mode in low light
With Portrait Mode photos, the iPhone XR struggles a bit with edge detection and the images can be softer than those captured with the iPhone XS due to the lack of a telephoto lens and less depth information to work with. Portrait Mode photos on both devices can be edited with different Depth Control and Portrait Lighting features, though there are two less Portrait Lighting options on the XR.
When taking standard non-Portrait Mode photos, there are few differences between the iPhone XS models and the iPhone XR because the two smartphones are both using the same f/1.8 wide-angle lens. Images taken in standard zoom mode, for example, look the same.
You will, however, see some differences using the iPhone XS telephoto lens for 2x optical zoom in conditions where lighting is good, because this feature isn't available on the iPhone XR. With no second lens, the iPhone XR ls limited to digital zoom that maxes out at 5x. The iPhone XS can do 2x optical zoom and up to 10x digital zoom, but it's only going to be using the optical zoom in ideal lighting conditions.
If you take a 2x photo in a low lighting situation on the iPhone XS, there's a good chance it will look identical to the same photo taken on the iPhone XR because the iPhone XS defaults to digital zoom over optical zoom when the wider lens will produce a better picture. If you take a 2x photo with bright lighting on the iPhone XS, it's going to be sharper than the same 2x photo on the iPhone XR because of the difference between true optical zoom and digital zoom.
4K video using the wide-angle lens looks identical on both the iPhone XS and the iPhone XR, and both phones feature the same video capabilities like 1080p 240fps slo-mo, optical image stabilization, and stereo sound recording. You are, however, limited to 3x digital zoom on the iPhone XR vs. 2x optical zoom or 6x digital zoom on the iPhone XS.
When it comes to the front-facing camera, you won't see differences between the iPhone XR and the iPhone XS models because all three of the smartphones use the same TrueDepth camera system with a 7-megapixel front-facing camera and full support for Portrait Mode images, Portrait Lighting, Depth Control, Memoji, and Animoji.
Front-facing camera on iPhone XR and iPhone XS
All in all, when it comes to camera performance, unless you're someone who takes a lot of Portrait Mode photos or often uses the optical zoom feature on the iPhone, you may not notice much of a difference if you choose the iPhone XR over the iPhone XS.
To get a clearer look at the camera quality of the iPhone XR compared to the iPhone XS Max, make sure to check out our Imgur album, which features full-resolution versions of the photographs that we shared in this article and in the video above.
What do you think of the iPhone XR camera? Do you prefer the iPhone XS camera? Let us know your thoughts on the comparison images in the comments.
Popular Reddit app Apollo was removed from the App Store this afternoon after developer Christian Selig released an update that adds push notifications as a premium feature, Selig explained on Reddit.
After introducing the latest version of the Apollo app, which has a paid feature enabling push notifications, Apple informed Selig that he was in violation of rule 3.2.2 that prohibits apps from monetizing Push Notifications and other iPhone and iPad capabilities provided by the hardware or operating system. The email Selig received from Apple:
Hello, We are writing to let you know about new information regarding your app, Apollo for Reddit, version 1.3, currently live on the App Store. Upon re-evaluation, we found that your app is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines. Specifically, we found:
Business - 3.2.2 We noticed that your in-app purchase auto-renewable subscription product provides access to built-in Push Notification capabilities, which is not appropriate for the App Store. For this reason, your app will be removed from sale on the App Store at this time.
Deliberate disregard of the App Store Review Guidelines and attempts to deceive users or undermine the review process are unacceptable and is a direct violation Section 3.2(f) of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement. Continuing to violate the Terms & Conditions of the Apple Developer Program will result in the termination of your account, as well as any related or linked accounts, and the removal of all your associated apps from the App Store.
Future submissions of this app may require a longer review time, and this app will not be eligible for an expedited review. If you have any questions about this information, please reply to this message to let us know.
Selig said that he's "quite confused" by Apple's decision, as he had worked with Apple on the implementation of the premium service after the app update was previously rejected for the same reason.
For background, several weeks ago, Selig said that the 1.3 update of Apollo had been rejected by Apple because it included the in-app purchase for unlocking push notifications. Selig explained at the time that he needs to charge to add push notifications due to the server costs associated with implementing them.
In an update earlier this month, Selig said he was able to develop a workaround with Apple by bundling the feature with other premium options like app theming and custom icons for an "Apollo Ultra" service, and the update was released on Saturday.
It's not clear why Apple pulled the Apollo app after telling Selig that it was appropriate to implement push notifications as part of a paid bundle of features, but Apple has been known for making confusing App Store decisions in the past. It's likely the issue will be solved quickly, and Selig says he will keep Apollo customers updated on the status of the app.
Update: Apollo is back in the iOS App Store and the app will be able to keep the Apollo Ultra in-app purchase option with push notifications as a paid feature.
Apple today announced that it plans to release iOS 12.1 to the public tomorrow following its Brooklyn event that is expected to see the debut of new iPad Pro models and refreshed Macs.
As we've discovered in the iOS 12.1 betas that have been available since September, iOS 12.1 brings several important new features to the iPhone and the iPad.
The update brings support for Group FaceTime, the feature designed to let users chat with up to 32 people at one time. Group FaceTime was present in the iOS 12 beta, but it was removed from the iOS 12 launch to provide Apple with additional time to develop the feature.
Other FaceTime features are included in iOS 12.1 as well, such as automatic detection of active speakers to surface the icon of the person who is speaking, ringless notification to let you join a call without being disruptive, and Messages integration for starting a Group FaceTime call right from the Messages app from a group chat.
iOS 12.1 will also bring more than 70 new emoji characters, such as cold face, woozy face, hot face, red hair, white hair, leg, foot, teddy bear, llama, raccoon, kangaroo, mango, cupcake, bagel, and tons more. A full list of all of the new emoji is available here.
On iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR, iOS 12.1 introduces real-time Depth Control so you can adjust the amount of background blur before a photo is even captured, and support for the digital eSIM, which will allow two SIMs to be used at one time.
iOS 12.1 should be released alongside new updates for tvOS, watchOS, and macOS right around 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, Apple's typical release time for new software updates.
The second-generation Apple Pencil that Apple is rumored to be working on will feature support for gestures, a new design, and a new charging method, according to leaker Benjamin Geskin.
Geskin, who sometimes provides accurate information on Apple's plans sourced from Chinese social networks, says the upcoming Apple Pencil will feature a design that's "more minimalistic" with no silver band at the top.
Apple Pencil 2018:
- Design is even more minimalistic, the silver rail on top is now gone. - Tap and Swipe gestures along the pencil. - Magnetically attachable to the new iPad. - New charging method. pic.twitter.com/tS1ptCWgnh
— Ben Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) October 29, 2018
It will attach magnetically to the side of the new iPad Pro models, and it is said to feature a new charging method, though there are no details on what that charging method might be. It's possible the accessory will charge wirelessly when docked to the iPad Pro, with Apple eliminating the Lightning port.
Previous Apple Pencil 2 rumors have suggested the accessory will also feature a new pairing method, connecting to an iPad Pro device wirelessly much like AirPods rather than through a physical connection, which would be in line with the rumors of a new charging method.
Geskin also says that the new Apple Pencil will support tap and swipe gestures, a rumor supported by code in iOS 12.1 shared by 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo over the weekend. The gestures are said to allow iPad Pro users to do things like change the size or color of a brush within a sketching app using the sides of the Apple Pencil.
We don't have long to wait for full details on the second-generation Apple Pencil and the new iPad Pro models. Apple's October 30 event takes place tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time or 7:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with Apple planning to live stream the event on its website and through the Events app on the Apple TV.
In 2015 and 2016, Apple aggressively expanded its retail presence in China with 30 new stores, according to the Apple Storefronts tracker. Since the start of 2017, however, Apple has opened just five new locations in the country.
Apple's newest store in China in Suzhou
The Information's Wayne Ma has shared a report today that offers explanations for the slowdown, including China's bureaucratic government, scalpers, previously-reported fraud, and increasing competition from Chinese smartphone makers. The report is based on interviews with 17 former Apple employees.
On government bureaucracy:
Apple had to navigate a maze of government bureaucracy to obtain everything from business and tax licenses to construction, fire and customs permits for imported building materials, former employees say. The regulatory framework in China is far more complicated than in the U.S., with many more layers of government, these former employee say, and it’s far more opaque. Employees frequently scrambled to chase down permits and local approvals to keep store openings on track, they said.
On scalpers:
Apple, too, had to contend with scalpers, known as "yellow cows" in colloquial Chinese. These scalpers swarmed its stores and elbowed out other customers during product launches and in-store promotions. …
Apple executives worried they were losing control of the customer experience in their stores, and along with it opportunities to interact with real consumers. The scalpers showed little interest in the accessories and add-on services Apple likes to offer customers.
Other factors, according to those interviewed, included low-level government officials asking for free iPhones and other products as a form of bribery, a tug-of-war between the Beijing and Shanghai local governments over taxes, and a vibrant gray market for iPhones smuggled from Hong Kong.
As a result of these difficulties, Apple is said to have "abruptly changed" its retail expansion plans in mainland China in 2017, resulting in the dramatic slowdown in grand openings. Apple's latest store in China opened in the city of Suzhou on September 21, coinciding with iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max launch day.
Last quarter, Apple brought in revenue of $9.5 billion from the Greater China region, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao. Greater China accounted for 17.9 percent of Apple's revenue in the quarter, making it the company's third largest market, behind the United States and Europe.
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.
Twitter is reportedly planning to remove "likes" from the social media platform as its CEO Jack Dorsey told employees at an in-house event last week that he was "not a fan of the heart-shaped button," and that it would be eliminated "soon" (via Variety). In a Tweet, the Twitter Communications team said it is "rethinking everything" about the platform to incentivize healthy conversation, neither confirming nor denying the rumor.
The removal of the like button is said to be aimed at improving the quality of debate on Twitter, preventing people from showing favoritism in a tweet thread by liking the comments they agree with. Everything else in terms of tweet interaction appears to be staying intact, however, so users can expect retweets and replies to look the same as they currently do if the like button disappears.
It has now been three years since Twitter first rebranded "stars" and "favorites" to "hearts" and "likes." At the time, the company said that the original star system was "confusing" for new users and that hearts would be more straightforward. Since then, Twitter has come under fire for its lax responses to certain user harassment claims and safety practices in its tweet threads, leading to privacy updates and reporting features.
More recently, the company confirmed that it will bring back the classic reverse chronological timeline as an option for users. Over the years, Twitter has introduced a curated timeline that mixes in ads, Tweets liked by friends, follower recommendations, and more, instead of the original and simple reverse chronological list of tweets. The return of the reverse chronological timeline will kick off as a test for some users this fall.
Apple on Tuesday will take the stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, where it is widely expected to unveil the next-generation iPad Pro with Face ID and updates to a wide range of Macs, including the MacBook, iMac, and Mac mini.
Ahead of the keynote, which starts at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Hungarian industrial design student Viktor Kadar has created concepts that imagine a new Mac mini paired with a new Apple Display and a Magic Keyboard with a Touch Bar.
Before anyone gets too excited: it's unclear what the new Mac mini will look like, a new Apple Display isn't coming until 2019, and there haven't been any recent rumors to suggest Apple plans to add a Touch Bar to the Magic Keyboard. But who doesn't love some sleek mockups to hype up tomorrow's Apple Event?
The new Mac mini as Kadar imagines it would feature a Space Gray finish with the addition of four Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the new Apple Display would be similar to Apple's discontinued Thunderbolt Display, but with slimmer bezels.
Two reliable Apple scoopsters in Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman both expect the new Mac mini to feature upgraded processor options, while Gurman added that the portable desktop computer will gain new professional-focused features. Neither source has revealed details about its design or other tech specs.
Way back in April 2017, the blog Pike's Universum said that a new high-end Mac mini would be released with a design that "won't be so mini anymore," suggesting the most expensive configuration might have a larger or taller design to accommodate for upgraded tech specs. The blog has a hit-and-miss track record.
We do know Apple is working on a new professional display to complement a new Mac Pro. Apple made the rare move of confirming both products will be released in 2019, as part of its reassured commitment to professional users. Apple could surprise us with a sneak peek of those products tomorrow, but we haven't heard anything.
In any case, we'll find out tomorrow. MacRumors will be live on location at Apple's event inside the Brooklyn Academy of Music, with coverage on MacRumors.com and through @MacRumorsLive on Twitter.
Looks real nice. I’d take that.
Related: here’s a look back on the history of Mac mini: https://t.co/VCQig8dodu
— Brian Stucki (@brianstucki) October 29, 2018
There are many third-party apps available for Mac that will batch convert images for you (Permute is one example). And then there's Preview, the powerful file viewer that's built into macOS.
Preview will happily convert several images for you in one go. If you have lots of photos on your Mac in Apple's HEIC format, for instance, you can use Preview to quickly convert them to the more accessible JPEG format.
In fact, what's not obvious to many users is that Preview is capable of converting files in 18 different image formats, including the following:
GIF
HEIC
ICNS
JPEG
JEPG-2000
KTX
Microsoft BMP
Microsoft Icon
OpenEXR
PBM/PGM/PPM
PDF
PNG
PVRTC
Photoshop
PostScript
QuickTime Movie
TGA
TIFF
The secret to accessing all of the available format export options in Preview is with the Option (⌥) key. Keep reading to learn how it's done.
How to Batch Convert Images in Preview
In a Finder window, hold down the Command (⌘) key and individually click all the images you want to convert; if they're grouped together consecutively, hold down Shift and click the first and then the last file, and all of them will be selected.
Double-click one of the selected images to open them all in Preview. If Preview isn't your default image viewer, right-click (Ctrl-click) instead and choose Open With -> Preview from the dropdown menu.
Click inside the Preview sidebar. (if it's not showing, click the View Menu button and select Thumbnails.) Alternatively, if you're using the Contact Sheet view, drag a box over all the images to select them.
Select Edit -> Select All from the Preview menu bar, or use the Command-A keyboard shortcut to select all the open images.
Select File -> Export Selected Images... from the menu bar.
Choose a location to export your converted images.
Click the Options button in the Export window.
Drag the Quality slider to the desired level (keep an eye on the file size).
Select an image type from the Format dropdown. Pro tip: Hold down the Option (⌥) key when you click the Format button to reveal several more image formats available to you.
Click Choose.
A progress indicator bar will replace Preview's Export window. Once it has completed you'll find your exported images in the chosen location and format, ready for use in your projects.
Note that you can also batch resize images using the method outlined above. After Step 4, select Tools -> Adjust Size... from the menu bar, input the resolution you want all the selected images to take, and click Resize. Note: You may need to select all the images again for export.
Just prior to rebranding as Eve Systems to focus on HomeKit devices in late June, Elgato launched its Eve Aqua water controller, a HomeKit-enabled device that attaches to an outdoor water faucet to control and monitor water usage.
While Eve Aqua can be used with any hose connection, it's primarily intended for use with sprinklers, which can be set to run automatically on a schedule for optimal watering. I've been testing out an Eve Aqua at my home over the past few months, and I've found it to be a helpful automation tool to assist with irrigation needs.
Installation
Installation of Eve Aqua is simple, as it comes with two AA batteries needed for power and simply screws onto your existing exterior water faucet. The bottom of the Eve Aqua has a male connector that allows you to screw a hose with female connector directly on, or the Eve Aqua comes with an adapter that can be screwed on to support quick connections.
I did have initial issues with some water leaking around the top connection, but after several attempts and making sure things were screwed together quite tightly, I was able to mostly eliminate the problem. I've retightened it a couple of times over the past few months after slight drips have appeared, and that's kept things under control.
Once you have the Eve Aqua installed, the Eve app walks you through the rest of the setup process: scanning the HomeKit code, assigning it to a room, giving it a name, and configuring options such as schedules. If you need to change the unit settings such as liters to gallons, you'll find that in the Eve section within the iOS Settings app, which can be a bit tricky to discover.
Controls
With schedules, Eve Aqua can run your sprinkler automatically at the optimal watering times, but you can also control things on demand through a number of methods. The Eve app and Apple's Home app both offer manual control, while Siri lets you turn things on and off with just your voice. And if you prefer not to use a device or someone else needs to control things, there's a button on the Eve Aqua itself that will start and stop the water flow. A "child lock" option in the Eve app settings can disable the button to prevent kids or others from manually turning on the water.
Schedules are stored locally on the Eve Aqua, so they will run automatically regardless of whether it has a wireless connection. A connection is of course required to add or modify schedules or to control Eve Aqua on demand. Notably, the schedules used for Eve Aqua are limited to the Eve app, so you won't be able to use the Home app to set them up.
Beyond controlling watering schedules, Eve Aqua is also able to estimate water usage, which can be handy if you want to keep tabs on how much water is going into maintaining your lawn or garden. Eve Aqua doesn't measure water flow directly, but if you use the Eve app to input the flow rate for your sprinkler attached to the Eve Aqua, the app will calculate your estimated usage based on the duration of your watering sessions. It does, of course, mean that you need to know the flow rate for your irrigation device.
Similar to how Scenes work in Apple's Home app, the Eve app also supports Scenes, and Eve Aqua can be used as either a trigger or as a part of a scene if you wish to automate multiple aspects of your home simultaneously.
Connectivity
Eve Aqua connects wirelessly over Bluetooth Low Energy, allowing you to control it via the Eve app, Apple's Home app, or Siri right from your iOS devices. If you have an Apple TV, iPad, or HomePod, you'll also be able to remotely access Eve Aqua.
Siri and Home app controls generally work well, although I did have a couple of instances where it failed to connect to Eve Aqua. It wasn't a consistent problem, however, and most of the time the Eve Aqua responded to my Siri commands within a few seconds.
I'm not sure how long to expect the batteries in the Eve Aqua to last, as the Eve app is still reporting a 100 percent battery level even after three months of occasional use. Obviously the more often you access Eve Aqua wirelessly, the faster the batteries will run down. But once they do get low, it's a simple process to swap in new AA batteries, and it's a good idea to remove batteries anyway while storing it over the winter.
Weather resistance
As an accessory that will likely remain mounted on the outside of your home for weeks or months at a time, the Eve Aqua needs to stand up to the elements, and Eve Systems has done that, with the device carrying an IPX4 water resistance rating. That means the Eve Aqua can stand up to splashing water from any direction, which is what you'd expect with exposure to the elements. The rating doesn't cover exposure to forceful water jets or immersion, both of which your Eve Aqua is very unlikely to encounter in normal use.
Eve Aqua also has UV protection under an Australian certification program, assuring that the device will stand up to sun exposure for an extended period of time without being damaged. I've had mine attached to an external spigot for three months, and aside from some dirt and leaf matter it's picked up over time that can be easily cleaned off, it's still in great shape.
While Eve Aqua can stand up to sun and rain, it is not protected from frost or freeze exposure, so you will need to remove it and bring it indoors for the winter, depending on your location. That's to be expected, as any freezing of water inside the device could easily damage the internals, and homeowners in colder areas should generally be turning off water supplies to their exterior faucets for the coldest parts of winter anyway in order to avoid frozen faucets and potentially burst pipes.
Wrap-up
Eve Aqua is a handy accessory if you want to regularly schedule sprinkler watering sessions, and if you're a data geek you might appreciate the estimated water consumption graphs provided within the Eve app. The conveniences come with a price tag, however, and $100 is a bit of an outlay, so you'll need to consider whether the cost is worth it for your specific situation.
Connectivity can occasionally be spotty, but for the most part, the controls work well and even when connections aren't working, the issues seem to resolve fairly quickly and already-set schedules will continue to run thanks to the onboard memory. And hopefully, Eve will be able to address some of the connectivity issues in future firmware updates.
If this is the sort of accessory you're interested in, it's Eve or nothing, and the Eve Aqua is the only HomeKit product we've seen in this niche. Rachio's irrigation controller has recently gained HomeKit support, but that device is for controlling dedicated irrigation systems rather than traditional spigot-and-hose systems.
Eve Aqua is priced at $99.95 and is available from Amazon, Apple, and other select retailers.
Note: Eve Systems provided the Eve Aqua to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon and may earn commissions on purchases made through links in this article.
Apple today said it is "urgently investigating" a report that claims Apple Watch manufacturer Quanta Computer has subjected teenage students to illegal work conditions at its factory in the Chinese city of Chongqing.
"We are urgently investigating the report that student interns added in September are working overtime and night shifts," Apple said, in a statement issued to CNN. "We have zero tolerance for failure to comply with our standards and we ensure swift action and appropriate remediation if we discover code violations."
In a report last week, Hong Kong labor rights group Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior said Quanta was "using significant numbers of student workers aged 16-19 years" to assemble the Apple Watch, under working conditions that do not comply with Chinese regulations or Apple's own standards.
Based on an investigation during the summer of 2018, SACOM found that many students were forced to complete internships at Quanta, or face the risk of delayed graduation. The internships were often unrelated to each student's field of study, and lacked an educational component, according to the findings.
"Our school told us that we will be deferred if we don't do the internship," said a student majoring in early education. "If we resign then we will also receive our graduation certificate half a year later than others."
The report also found that students were often illegally required to work at least a few hours of overtime per day and overnight shifts.
In its statement, Apple said it audited Quanta's factory in Chongqing three times between March and June, and found "no student interns working on Apple products at that time," but noted students may have been hired in September. Apple has promised to take appropriate action if it discovers any violations.
On its Supplier Responsibility website, Apple says it holds itself and its suppliers to the "highest standard" when it comes to human rights, environmental protections, and responsible business practices in the supply chain.
In its 2018 Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, Apple said it has enforced a limit of "no more than 10% student workforce at a supplier facility." The report adds that suppliers can offer overtime "only on a voluntary basis" and factories must give employees "one full day of rest for every six days worked."
Last year, Apple and its largest manufacturer Foxconn confirmed instances of students working overtime to assemble the iPhone X, and both companies vowed to take remedial action. Apple said the overtime work was completed voluntarily, with proper compensation and benefits, but in violation of Foxconn's policy.
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.
Apple's lower-cost iPhone XR is just as breakable as the higher end iPhone XS and XS Max, according to new drop test results from warranty company SquareTrade.
Much like the glass-bodied OLED iPhone XS, the iPhone XR's LCD display and aluminum-framed glass back panel both suffered serious damage when dropped on a hard surface.
The iPhone XR was subjected to the same tests that SquareTrade did for the iPhone XS and XS Max back in September. During the face down drop test, which saw the device fall six feet onto concrete, the iPhone XR's LCD display shattered after the first drop.
The drop was serious enough that the XR's screen malfunctioned and became unusable, which was the same thing that happened to the XS during its drop test.
A back down drop test from six feet also saw the iPhone XR shatter on the first drop, resulting in loose glass right around the camera.
The XR successfully survived a bend test, beating out the iPhone XS and matching the performance of the larger iPhone XS Max. The iPhone XR bent at 260 pounds of pressure but didn't crack and continued to work fine, the same result SquareTrade saw with the iPhone XS Max. The iPhone XS, though, cracked at 250 pounds of pressure.
The LCD screen in the iPhone XR has a similar level of durability as the OLED screen featured in the iPhone XS and XS Max. Our tests show that across the board - with both LCD and OLED screens - the all-glass designs of all three new iPhones are susceptible to cracking from drops, which is the most common cause of damage," said Jason Siciliano, vice president global creative director at SquareTrade.
It doesn't cost as much to repair a broken iPhone XR as it does an iPhone XS or XS Max, but it's still pricey. Out-of-warranty iPhone XR screen repairs cost $199, while fixing other damage, which includes a cracked back panel, will cost $399.
Apple offers AppleCare+ for the iPhone XR for $149, which allows for two incidents of accidental damage coverage. With AppleCare+, screen repairs cost $29 while other damage costs $99.
Apple revealed the Apple Watch Series 4 during an event in September, highlighting a new electrocardiogram (ECG) app that will be coming to users in the United States through a watchOS software update later in the year. Regulatory clearance is required for the ECG feature, and because of this it will be limited to the U.S. at launch, although the company is working on approval for other countries.
In a new post by 9to5Mac today, code found within iOS related to the ECG feature suggests that the ECG limitation is based on software, not hardware. This means that gaining access to the ECG app in a non-U.S. territory will be as simple as changing the region of the Apple Watch Series 4 and connected iPhone to the United States.
iPhone region can be changed by going to the Settings app > General > Language and Region, and then selecting the Region of your choice. Those who switch regions should note that the time, date, currency formats, and more will be affected by the change.
The ECG app on Apple Watch Series 4 works by placing a finger on the Digital Crown while wearing the watch. The electrodes in the Apple Watch detect the electrical impulses from your heartbeat and route the data to the S4, where it is converted into a signal for Apple's algorithms. This results in a heart rhythm classification that can vary between a normal rhythm to an atrial fibrillation. All of your ECG results are stored in the Health app in PDF format and can be easily shared with your doctor.
While the FDA has granted de novo clearance for the ECG feature, that's not the same as FDA approval and the agency does not recommend that the ECG feature be used by those under 22 or those who have already been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The FDA warns that Apple's ECG app is not designed to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment and is intended for informational use only. The Series 4 is the first ECG product being offered over the counter directly to consumers.
Developers behind iOS camera app Halide say that they are planning to ship a version of the app that enables Portrait Mode on iPhone XR for "all sorts of things," and not just people (via Reddit). Because the iPhone XR has a single-lens rear camera (and not a dual-lens like iPhone XS), the cheaper smartphone doesn't capture as much depth information and the Portrait Mode bokeh effect in Apple's own Camera app only works on people.
As Wired explained in its review, if you try to take a Portrait image of a pet or object, the camera app will state "No person detected" at the top of the screen. Now, Halide says that it has already gotten the iPhone XR camera to work with Portrait Mode on pets and inanimate objects, but results haven't been consistent and some subjects can be harder to create a depth effect around.
We think with some more tooling, we'll be able to ship a version of our app that enables portrait mode for all sorts of things. It seems it'll be a bit more 'temperamental'; in some settings it won't work if there's not enough variance in relative distance of objects, but a can of soda water on my desk worked just fine.
Still, as Halide's Reddit post explains, this means that third-party camera apps on the iOS App Store will be able to provide users with a form of Portrait Mode on iPhone XR that enables bokeh effects around more than just people. Halide mentions that the iPhone XR's depth map is "way lower resolution" than the dual cameras on the iPhone XS, "but it seems usable."
iPhone XR launched a few days ago on October 26 and was met with positive reviews from the media, which praised its LCD display, bright colors, and iPhone XS-level performance. Thanks to the smartphone's lower price tag in comparison to the iPhone XS and XS Max, most outlets agreed that the iPhone XR will be the smartphone that most people will want to choose when looking at the new 2018 lineup of iPhones.
Update 12:00 p.m. PT: Halide has submitted version 1.11 to the iOS App Store, which unlocks the ability to take photos with Portrait Mode effects on pets and objects using iPhone XR. Now that it's been submitted, Halide says the update will be out soon, once it passes App Store review. More information can be found in the company's blog post.
A newly discovered icon in iOS 12 appears to confirm recent rumors surrounding Apple's redesigned iPad Pro, which is expected to be unveiled on Tuesday.
Similar to a previous icon found in iOS 12 beta 5, the new icon discovered by 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo features a tablet with slimmer bezels and no Home button, and more importantly, no notch.
A recent case maker's rendering of the upcoming iPad Pro displayed many of the same design elements shown in the icon, including the rounded corners and a small top and bottom bezel, with the top bezel housing the TrueDepth camera system for Face ID.
Dimensions sourced from the same case maker indicate the smaller iPad Pro will be 7 inches wide and 9.7 inches tall, while the larger model will be 8.5 inches wide and 11 inches tall.
Icon elements aren't always proportional relative to the physical dimensions they represent, but the way the iPad Pro's bezels are drawn suggests Apple has also left plenty of room for holding the device without unintentionally triggering the touchscreen.
The new iPad Pro models are said to be equipped with an A12X Bionic processor that's even faster than the A12 chip in the new iPhone lineup, with a USB-C connector potentially replacing the Lightning port, and a new version of Face ID that works in both portrait and landscape orientation.
The new iPad Pro devices are expected to be announced at Apple's second fall 2018 event, set to be held on Tuesday, October 30 in New York City at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Apple is planning to live stream the event on its website and through the Events app on the Apple TV, but for those unable to watch, MacRumors will have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
For more details on everything we could see at the product unveiling, check out our comprehensive What to Expect event roundup.
Update: In related news, 9to5Mac's Guilherme Rambo has tweeted that the rumored Apple Pencil 2, codenamed B332, will support gestures. A user will be able to change properties of the drawing stroke by sliding a finger along the sides of the pencil, for example, according to his tweet.
Apple Pencil 2, model B332, will support gestures. The user will be able to change stroke properties by sliding along the sides of the pencil.
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) October 28, 2018
The new Apple Pencil is expected to be unveiled at Apple's event in Brooklyn on Tuesday.
Apple owes $7 billion in royalties to Qualcomm since halting payments because of its ongoing dispute with the mobile chip maker over unfair licensing practices, according to a court hearing on Friday (via Bloomberg).
Apple began withholding the payments through its manufacturers last year, after the tech giant filed a lawsuit against Qualcomm claiming that the chipmaker was charging unfair royalties for "technologies they have nothing to do with." However, Qualcomm maintains its technology "is at the heart of every iPhone," and that the royalties are entirely valid.
"They're trying to destroy our business," Qualcomm lawyer Evan Chesler said at the hearing in federal court in San Diego. "They're now $7 billion dollars behind in royalties. The house is on fire and there is $7 billion of property damage right now."
The two companies have been locked in the wide-ranging legal battle since 2017, with Apple accusing Qualcomm of unfair patent licensing practices and Qualcomm accusing Apple of patent infringement.
Apple argues that the mobile chipmaker is forcing it to pay for the use of its chips in iPhones and then again through patent royalties, a practice Apple refers to as "double-dipping." However Qualcomm claims it is doing nothing illegal and that Apple has agreed to the business model for years.
Both Apple and Qualcomm have filed multiple lawsuits against one another, with Qualcomm also seeking import and export bans on some iPhones in the United States and China.
While Apple introduced iPhones back in September, there are still a number of products that the company is planning to refresh before the end of the year, necessitating a second fall 2018 event, set to be held on Tuesday, October 30 in New York City.
Apple's October event will focus on the iPad and the Mac, and below, we've rounded up everything we expect to see along with a few other products that might possibly make an appearance at the keynote.
Apple is working on updated iPad Pro models that adopt an iPhone XS-style design with slimmer bezels and no Home button, with the iPads instead set to gain a TrueDepth camera system that will replace Touch ID with Face ID for biometric authentication purposes. The design of the iPad Pro has been confirmed by Apple in several leaked icons discovered in iOS 12.
Though the iPhone XS uses a notch for the TrueDepth camera, the upcoming iPad Pro models are expected to feature slim top, bottom, and side bezels all around the display. Apple is not planning to use an OLED display for the new iPads due to cost and production issues.
2018 iPad Pro mockup via iDropNews
Recent CAD drawings sourced from a case maker along with additional leaks have given us some insight into the dimensions of the new iPad Pro models. The smaller iPad Pro is expected to be 7 inches wide (178.52mm) and 9.7 inches tall (247.64mm), while the larger model will be 8.5 inches wide (215mm) and 11 inches tall (280.66mm).
The smaller of the two iPad Pro models may be as thin as 5.86mm, and it's not clear how thick the larger iPad Pro model will be. It could be as thin, or somewhat thicker like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Bezels for both iPad Pro models could measure in at around 6mm at the top, bottom, and sides.
Based on multiple leaks, Apple is apparently relocating the magnetic Smart Connector on the new iPad Pro models from the side to the bottom near the Lightning port, which could perhaps require a new vertically oriented Smart Keyboard. It's not clear why Apple is making this change, and it's not known if Apple is indeed releasing a new Smart Keyboard that connects differently.
Originally, it was thought that Apple was relocating the connector because Face ID would be limited to portrait orientation since that's the way it works on the iPhone, but code in iOS 12.1 suggests that after being set up vertically, Face ID will work on the iPad in both portrait and landscape modes.
Design wise, the new iPad Pro models are said to feature a "diamond cut" at both the front and the back, which suggests the tablets could have a design similar to the iPhone SE with beveled edges. Antenna lines on the device may also be located at the top and bottom, similar to the iPhone 7, rather than in a block at the top.
Renderings of 12.9-inch iPad Pro based on alleged CAD drawings
There are other major changes in store for the iPad Pro. Apple is said to be planning to eliminate the headphone jack from the iPad lineup like it did in the iPhone starting with the iPhone 7, and it's rumored to use a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port.
A USB-C port would allow for faster charging and new functionality not possible via Lightning such as the ability to drive a 4K monitor.
Inside, the new iPad Pro models are said to be equipped with an A12X Bionic processor that's even faster than the A12 chip in the new iPhone lineup.
Renderings of 12.9-inch iPad Pro based on alleged CAD drawings
Alongside new iPad Pro models, Apple is said to be planning to introduce a second-generation Apple Pencil with a new design.
Little detail is known about the new Apple Pencil, but it could feature an AirPods-like pairing experience with the ability to switch the Apple Pencil between devices without the need to plug it into a Lightning port.
It will attach magnetically to the side of the new iPad Pro models, and it is said to feature a new charging method, though there are no details on what that charging method might be. It's possible the accessory will charge wirelessly when docked to the iPad Pro, with Apple eliminating the Lightning port.
Rumors have also suggested new Apple Pencil will support tap and swipe gestures, which would allow iPad Pro users to do things like change the size or color of a brush within a sketching app using the sides of the Apple Pencil.
iPad mini
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple is working on an upgraded iPad mini that features an upgraded processor and a lower-cost display panel, which suggests it will be more affordable than the current version.
Kuo wasn't entirely sure if Apple plans to release the iPad mini at its October event or at a later date in 2018 or early 2019, but there's a possibility it will be unveiled alongside new iPad Pro models.
We don't have any other information about the new iPad mini at this point in time, but it sounds like it's not going to get the same design refinements that are coming to Apple's iPad Pro lineup.
Apple has a 13-inch MacBook Air replacement in the works, which has been the subject of rumors for more than a year now. It's still not clear whether Apple plans to label the machine as MacBook Air or a MacBook, but some concrete details about the upcoming notebook can be gleaned from everything we've heard.
Positioned as an entry-level low-cost machine in Apple's product lineup, the notebook will be 13 inches in size and it will feature a Retina display. It is said to be similar in design to the current 13-inch MacBook Air, but with slimmer bezels.
It's not entirely clear how Apple will distinguish this machine from the 12-inch MacBook if it's going to be a MacBook Air with a Retina display, but if the design is similar to the current MacBook Air, the 12-inch MacBook will still be Apple's lightest machine, justifying its higher price tag.
Various pricing rumors have suggested that it could be available for anywhere from $799 to $1,200, but the most reliable source, Bloomberg, believes it will cost under $1,000.
Whiskey Lake chips appropriate for a MacBook Air-like machine were announced by Intel in August, and so Apple could potentially be planning to use these chips in the device.
Regardless of whether the rumored lower-cost 13-inch notebook is positioned as a MacBook Air or a MacBook, rumors suggest Apple is planning to maintain the 12-inch MacBook lineup and a MacBook refresh is said to be in the works.
Upgraded 12-inch MacBooks are likely to feature Intel's 8th-generation Amber Lake Y-series processors, announced in August. These chips bring processor and battery improvements, so new MacBooks could offer both faster performance and longer battery life.
Aside from upgraded Intel chips, there's been little information on what else Apple might add to a refreshed MacBook lineup.
Apple refreshes its iMac lineup on a regular basis, and reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that an updated model is in the works and set to launch at Apple's October 30th event.
We're expecting new iMacs that feature upgraded 8th-generation Intel processors, improved GPUs, and perhaps the adoption of the T2 chip that was introduced in the iMac Pro and has since been added to the MacBook Pro.
Apple is working on a refreshed version of the Mac mini that's focused on the pro user base. The upgraded device will feature new storage and processor options, and because Apple is aiming it at pro users, some models could be more expensive than previous Mac mini products.
We don't have a lot of additional information available on what to expect from the Mac mini, but one rumor suggested the higher-end model "won't be so mini anymore," hinting at one configuration with a larger size to accommodate higher-end components.
Given that the new Mac mini is going to be a pro-focused machine, it's not clear what chips it will adopt, but Intel this year has announced 8th-generation processors appropriate for both desktop and notebook machines. Past Mac mini models have used the same chips as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but Apple may be planning to opt for more powerful chips for a pro Mac mini model.
Apple last year announced work on a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro that will facilitate regular upgrades to meet the needs of Apple's pro user base.
Apple has said this new, redesigned Mac Pro will launch at some point in 2019, but in the past, the company has provided us with early previews and the work on the Mac Pro is no secret, so it's possible we'll get a little taste of what to expect at this fall Mac-focused event.
As should come as no surprise, Apple is working on a next-generation iMac Pro model, which Bloomberg confirmed this afternoon. There are no new chips available that would be appropriate for an upgraded iMac Pro right now, but it's possible Apple will give us some details on when we can expect a refreshed iMac Pro machine.
AirPower and AirPods
We're still waiting on the AirPower, the three-device charging mat that Apple introduced in September 2017. When it made its debut, Apple said it would launch at some point in 2018, and we've got a few months to go, so it could potentially make an appearance at the October event.
We're not counting on it though, as Apple made no mention of the AirPower at its September iPhone-focused event, where a launch would have made more sense.
The AirPower is designed to charge the Apple Watch (Series 3 and 4), glass-backed iPhones, and AirPods all at the same time, with a wireless charging case required to enable wireless charging for the AirPods.
Alongside the AirPower, Apple is supposed to be introducing a new AirPods Charging Case that adds wireless charging to the earbuds, so if we see the launch of the AirPower, AirPods are likely to launch alongside it.
In addition to wireless charging, refreshed AirPods could gain an upgraded wireless chip that supports hands-free "Hey Siri" functionality. With "Hey Siri" support, AirPod owners will be able to activate Siri without needing to double tap on the AirPods with a finger.
Existing AirPods Charging Case next to redesigned AirPods Charging Case with wireless charging capabilities
No other major changes are rumored for the AirPods this year, but there have been some hints that Apple is working on a set of Apple-branded high-end over-ear headphones that could launch in late 2018 at the earliest, so we may see a mention of them. Rumors on a launch date have been mixed, though, so Apple may not be ready to debut these until 2019.
Apple's event will kick off at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, three hours earlier than events are normally held. This year's event is happening earlier because it's taking place on the East Coast instead of the West Coast.
Apple is planning to live stream the product unveilings on its event website and through the Events app on the Apple TV.
For those unable to watch, MacRumors will have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, along with continuing coverage over the course of the next few weeks.
What are you most looking forward to seeing Apple introduce this year? Let us know in the comments.
Popular Reddit app Apollo was removed from the App Store this afternoon after developer Christian Selig released an update that adds push notifications as a premium feature, Selig 
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